Grim: The Beginning (6 page)

"When?"

"About two months ago," she shrugs.

"Damn it," rearing back I punch the fence post and split my knuckles wide open.  Headed straight for my bike, I am jerked to a stop by a hand on my shoulder.

"Welcome home brother," Romeo embraces me. "Missed you brother, shits not been right since you left. How was LL?" Too big of a pussy to find out for himself, but he still needs to know about her.

"It's good to be home, but why in the hell did Red leave?" Not that it's a question that needs an answer, I know why she left. Two months ago I broke her trust and her faith in us. Not that I can blame her for leaving, but why in the hell didn't Slim or anyone else tell me this news before now. I shouldn't have to come home and discover the shit on my own.

**

"W
hat did you expect to happen, Grim? Did you think time would freeze. That I wouldn't pick up the pieces of my life and move on. I spent enough time being done like shit by Benji, to take it from you too. I knew it would happen the day you said you were leaving. We shared an attraction, it was fun while it lasted. " Her arms are crossed in a defensive manner. Red is closed off to me and isn't receptive to anything I have to say.

"Baby, please." I start walking  towards her.

She holds her hand up to me. "I'm done Grim. I wish you the best.  When you are ready, we need to make an appointment with Inkman to get our brands removed."

"You don't mean that Red. It's not over. Don't say it's over. I'm home now, we can try to make this work." I cross the living room and enter the kitchen where she has been standing behind the counter. She is trying to be strong, but I can see the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes.  I'm not above getting down on my knees and begging. Pulling her arms away from her chest, I kiss her hands as she cries, and that's when I see the perfect little bump protruding from her waist.

Reaching out I rub her stomach,  "Are you..."  I can't say the words. The thought that she is with my child and I hurt her is unbearable. "Is it mine?" the thought crosses my mind that she could be carrying Benji's baby, or someone else's. Is this the reason she left, did she cheat on me? Fuck, my heart feels like it's in a blender. My palms are sweating, I'm trying so hard to control my emotion. I don't want to hurt her or say something I will live to regret.

"Explain this," motioning to her stomach I get up from my knees. Her eyes are cast down, she can't look me in the eyes. I realize there are so many thing about this woman that I do don't know. How many secrets is she hiding?

"You left, you cheated on me, I found out I was pregnant and I left that pretty much covers it."  Stepping around me she goes to the sink for a glass of water. "Can we not discuss this right now?" She takes a long hard drink from her glass.

"Hell no, we are having this conversation. For six god damn long ass motherfucking months I've thought about you. And I finally come home to find that you have walked out on me. Why and the fuck did I just find this shit out today?" Kicking a chair out with my feet I order her to sit.

Taking her seat she shocks the hell out of me, "it was a club decision. Slim thought it was best I wait until you came back. Said he needed you in Chicago and if I told you I was leaving you would have come home early."

Slim is going to hear it from me, he might have just cost me the only thing I have ever wanted. "The bay is yours, you can be a dad or not, choice is yours. I won't stand in your way. But right now I am late for work, I'll come by the club sometime and you can tell me what you want to do."

Late for work? "Baby, you shouldn't be working. My money is your money, you know that if you need something you just have to say the word." Scooting back her chair she stands and her hand brushes my cheek, "Goodbye Grim, I'm glad you are home safe." How do I walk out of here without her? How do I walk away from the only person I have ever wanted to be with?

"Who's keeping you safe?"

"Slim, he always sends over a potential to check up on me."  That shit boils my blood, I feel like a hornets nest is swarming through my veins.

"Where are ya working at? Don't look at me like that, I won't cause no shit. Just give me a piece of mind ok?"

"Foxie, got me a job working for her daddy at the carryout."  Well that eases my mind a little, the carryout is under the club's protection. I'll leave for now, but this is far from over.

**

"T
onight we welcome our brother Grim home, who's ready to celebrate?"

"Hell yeah," the Roadhouse erupts with whistles and cheers. 

Fuck it, tonight I'm going to have a good time. If Red wants space I'll give her some motherfucking space. Betty slides up on the stool next me at the bar and hands me some apple pie shine.

"Welcome home," her fingers trail up my arm seductively. Taking a swig from my jar of shine, I take Betty by the hand and lead her upstairs, just like old times. Taking my keys out I unlock my door, fucking room smells stale. I've not been in here since Red, fuck. I slam the door shut and tell Betty to go please someone else. Red doesn't want me, and I haven't been with her in months, but her pussy still has a hold on me.

Slim still has a lot of fucking explaining to do, I am down for doing what's best for the club, but he had no right to play with my life like that. It wasn't his secret to keep. How could they not tell me I'm going to be a father? Walking behind the bar, I grab a case of shine and take it to my trailer. I'm feeling pretty fucking betrayed , even if good intentions were meant.

**

"G
rim, come on man open up.  Romeo is hurt bad. Someone raided the cabin." Slim is beating on my bedroom door. I've not left my trailer for three days, been drinking my way through this case of shine. Rolling my sorry ass out of bed, I sling the door open.

"Co-me on bro-ther, let's ride the-n," comes out in a slur.  my legs feel like spaghetti noodles.

"Fuck man, your ass ain't riding no-fuckin-where. Get your stinky ass in the shower and meet me at church in twenty." He looks as mad as I feel.  Me and him are going to have real fuckin' talk at church tonight.

**

"W
e have bigger problems than whatever shit you go going on with Red. All of our fucking shine at the cabin is gone. Two motherfuckers showed up in the middle of the night and fucked Romeo up pretty bad. We have a good supply in the warehouse in Chicago, but shits already been sold. Our payment for Hook is due and if we pay him, we can't pay the rest of our bills this month."

"Has to be Hook," Skully chimes in.

"No evidence to prove that it was,"  Bucky, Slim's brother-in-law throws his hat into the conversation.

"Someone's gone dirty, that cabin has been our best kept secret for six years." I'm not buying this bullshit, they know fucking Hook has put a tail on Romeo and hit us where it hurts to prove a motherfuckin point. Shits just not sitting right with me. Lots of decisions have been made in my absence. Makes me think Chicago and losing Red is Slim's way of letting me know my place. Starting to think my vice president patch doesn't carry the same weight it use to. Not sure when we started patching members in without my vote. Bucky was a potential before I left—a potential I have voted down for the past two years. Something about that boy rubs me the wrong way.

"Who's been watching over Red, just because she's not living on club property doesn't mean she doesn't fall under our protection and her being pregnant with my child solidifies her has untouchable."

Bucky shifts uncomfortably in his chair, "I've been keeping an eye on her at the carryout. There is something you should know."

Slim cuts him off before he can finish what he was about say. "now's not the time brother."

"If the kid has something to say about Red, now is as good of time as any."

"Later, Grim, let it go." Slim closes the meeting, but that doesn't stop me from cornering Bucky to get what I want.

"Well we have been watching her for her protection of course, but she has had contact with the Devils Rejects. Not sure what kind of information she has, but she knows shit and is sharing it with the Devils Rejects. We didn't want to preach it to the choir without proof, but now that you are back maybe you could find out what's going on." My irritation just reached an all time new level. Are they saying Red played me to get in with the club? Are they saying she fucking took advantage of me? No fucking way, I don't believe it. Bucky has put shit in Slim's head, Giving the impression that Red is a rat or better yet that so am I. I'll prove them wrong.  If Red has had contact with Hook or his men, there has to be a good reason. Only reason comes to mind, she'd do anything to get Sarah back.

**

F
or the past three weeks I have been watching Red—sitting outside of her apartment...watching her at work...checking her mail. There hasn't been anything suspicious on her end until today. A man clearly wearing a Devils Rejects cut just showed at her apartment.  My first instinct is to bash in his skull and ask questions later, but I know I need to see how this plays out. It's not only Red I have to worry about, but my unborn child as well.

Waiting til the motherfucker walks through her door, I get off my bike and stand outside her door to listen.

"Do you have my package?" I hear Red ask.

"Yea, I got it."  Not liking the sound of this, I draw my piece and kick the motherfucking door in.

With my gun pointed at this piece of shit, I start demanding answers. "you've got til the count of three to tell me what you are doing having a secret meeting with my woman."

Red comes rushing down the hallway. "Grim, what the fuck are you doing. This is my brother."

"Your brother," I put my gun away, not wanting to scare Red anymore than she already is.

"Yea my brother, he is trying to get Sarah back for me. We have different dads, and I was raised in foster care so Hook hasn't connected us. What are you doing, are you spying on me?"

"No, yes. One of the brother's has been watching the two of you and now the club thinks you were using me to get in with the club, they think you are a spy for Hook. Are you, is he threatening you with Sarah in exchange for information?"

Walking up to me, she shoves her finger in my chest, "is that what you really think of me Grim? You think I used you, that I got pregnant with your child for shits and giggles—all for an elaborate scheme to get your secrets. If Hook wanted to know your secrets he wouldn't have to go through me to get them. Tell him Scooter...there's a traitor in the Black Rebels."

Scooter doesn't dare speak, kid looks like he's shit his pants, but he nods backing up his sister. Now that I look at him I can see a small resemblance between the two of them.  "You want to help your sister?"

The kid nods again, "Well you got to disappear. I mean you fucking hightail it out of Kentucky and never look back. If anyone else was to find out that you two are related and sharing information, you'll both be dead. And fuck I can't have that, I can't protect you like this, Red. Answer me this, have you been telling him anything about my club?"

"Nothing besides what a lying piece of shit you are."

"I've never fucking lied to you,  I was honest with you."

"So you didn't tell that whore Betty that she could be your bitch on the side?" Her eyebrows are raised, her hands resting on her belly, caressing our baby. Never knew a pissed off pregnant woman could look so damn sexy.

"Fuck no, I told her I no longer needed her. Can you say goodbye to your brother so we can finish this shit in private?"

"You really want him to disappear, he is my inside link to Sarah."

"I'm sorry baby, but it has to be this way. I promise you that I will get Sarah back for you, or I will die trying. I need you to trust in me. Trust in my love for you." Shit, just said I love the bitch. But fuck, guess I do, just didn't realize it til now.

A coy smile plays on her lips, "you love me..."

"Shit, yeah I love you, I fucking love the shit out of you."

Scooter speaks up, "The Rebels are selling drugs for Hook."

"You know that for a fact boy?"

"Yeah, I delivered some stuff to this kid Squirrel, few weeks back. He took a bunch of crank to sell." Shit don't sound right. We have never dealt drugs. We might smoke a little weed, but no heavy shit. Is this what Slim meant by taking care of it?

"Thanks, man, sorry I almost shot your ass."

"I understand, comes with the life. I don't have the money to get lost, exactly." Poor kid looks scared. He must not realize how deep and serious this shit is. This ain't TV, this is fucking real life. It's a ride or die life. I take out my wallet and hand the kid all the cash I have on me. It's not much in way of getting him far, but it's a start.

"You burn that motherfucking cut, and get the next bus out of town. I don't care where you go as long as you put as much distance possible between yourself and Kentucky. Don't ever look back kid. Don't worry I'll take care of your sister."

**

S
hit with me and Red ain't exactly squared but she has agreed to dinner with me this weekend. But first things first, I'm going to send Betty's ass packing and let anyone of my brothers try and stop me.

––––––––

"F
ound our rat brother, Betty has been fucking a Reject on the side. Was sending him to harass Red. Found the motherfucker lurking outside of her apartment. Nearly shit himself when I confronted him. Little pussy took off after spilling his guts. Doubt he will be an issue, he knows I have his number."

"Alright, lets put it to vote. All those in favor of getting rid of Betty say aye."

There is an unanimous, "aye," reverberated around the table.  I don't like killing women, but Betty fucked with my family. Skank bitch told Red, I had been seeing her on the weekends when I was in Chicago. Fucking whore, gonna get what's coming to her.

Bucky needs to prove he is worthy of his patch, so gets to deal with offing Betty. Sure going to miss her cooking, but that's about it. I might have stretched the truth about her some, but  Red is my woman whether she likes it or not and that makes her brother family, and I protect what's mine. Slim obviously has his secrets and now I have mine. Now's not the time to discuss the drugs, he will want to know where I got my information.