Page 100 of Rigid

“My…ring…” she murmured, her voice almost inaudible.

I sat up and then looked at her swollen hand.

The ring was gone.

I stood, looked around, and saw it glistening between me and the dead piece of shit who tried to rob her.

I picked it up, and tried to slip it on her hand, but her fingers were far too swollen.

“I’ve got it, baby. I’ve got the ring,” I whispered.

The side of my car illuminated from the flashing lights from the approaching police and ambulance.

In an instant, there were police officers everywhere.

There was no way I could let anything happen to her ring. She’d almost lost her life trying to keep it.

I slipped it on my finger, stood, and waved my arms back and forth. “Here! I need you right here!”

Ambulance attendants rushed into the yard at the same time the police officers did.

Everyone was screaming, and asking questions, but no one questioned whether or not Eddie needed help. It was the first thing that happened.

As they loaded her on the stretcher, I leaned over her. “I love you. You’ll be just fine, my baby. I promise.” I kissed her forehead, pulled away, and then pressed my hand to hers. “Girl Power.”

Upon saying those words, tears ran down along each side of my nose.

Then, everything went black.

THIRTY

Smokey

Attending club functions wasn’t my bag of tricks, but when the club needed muscle, I was always willing to show up. More accurately, I wasn’t willing, I insisted on it. I had yet to miss any event that required a patch to intimidate, beat, or threated the life of anyone who the club decided needed it.

Standing around an old warehouse with 200 of So-Cal’s finest 1%ers, I stood amidst the only bunch I cared much for, the Hells Angels.

One of Hells Angels senior members, Bama, and Pee Bee were talking about the day Pee Bee’s father had a heart attack. On that day, Bama had gathered all the Angels at the rally, and led the way on a 150-mile trek to the hospital, providing an escort for the entire trip.

Bama stroked his long gray beard. “That family in the fuckin’ Chrysler Magnum was what I thought was funny.”

“The white one?” Pee Bee asked.

Bama nodded. “When we shot past him, he swerved so hard his tires smoked and his fuckin’ eyes were like this.”

He went wide-eyed and then looked hard to the left.

“That was funny as shit,” Pee Bee agreed.

“You alright, Brother?” Bama asked. “You look sick.”

I nodded. “I’m good. Just...”

I took a long breath, exhaled, and then met his gaze. “Nothing big. Daughter’s on a date, and my Ol’ Lady was supposed to call every hour. She hasn’t called in three.”

He looked at his watch. “It’s 2:00 a.m., Brother. Hell, they’re sleeping.”

I nodded. “She’ll wish she’d called when I talk to her next.”