Rust: A Bad Boy Romance (Courage MC) (11 page)

“
W
e should get going
.” I suggested, while looking at the kid. “We still gotta get some answers from
him
.”

“Yeah, but where do we take him?” Rust asked.

“I can’t believe you even have to ask. Your club, of course.”

“The safe room?” Rust’s eyes raised.

“You got it.” I said, kissing him. “You know, you’re really cute when you get excited.”

“Drop it.” he laughed, getting back on his bike. And we were quickly off toward his burned down club.

When we finally
did
reach the area, we carefully looked around for any cops or Darkhorse figures. “All clear.” Bruce said, grabbing the kid and running toward the safe room. We followed and Rust typed in the necessary code to get in.

The inside of the room was dark, damp, and empty. The only thing inside was a long table, pushed into the corner. Bruce turned to Rust and asked, “You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”

“What? What’re you going to do to him?” I asked.

“Throw him on the table.” Bruce demanded. Rust grabbed the kid and took the bag off his head, pulling the gag off his mouth. I looked at Rust with worry.

“We should at least hear what he has to say, Bruce.” We stood around the boy, arms crossed, waiting for an answer.

He looked up at us and smiled. “Fuck you!” He spat at Bruce’s face. “You’re all traitors! All of you!”

Bruce angrily wiped away the spit and grabbed the boy by his hair. He lifted him off the ground and said through clenched teeth, “What did you call me, boy?”

“You’re a rotten traitor. And my father would be ashamed of you all.” He whispered, trembling against Bruce’s fist.

Bruce slammed him down on the ground and grabbed his gun. He hit his cheek with the butt of his pistol. “Say it again. I dare you.”

But the boy only laughed. “It doesn’t matter anyway. The war’s over. You’ll all hear soon enough.” Blood poured down from his cheek as his laughter grew louder.

“What’re you sayin’, boy? C’mon. Spit it out.” Rust said.

“You know those papers you saw me give Don? Those were the addresses of all of your gang members. All of those who swore an oath to the
holy
Bruce will now suffer the consequences of blindly following his leadership. They should’ve got out when they had the chance. Instead, they decided to stay and fight against the one true noble cause.”

“What the fuck.” I whispered, astonished by his revelations. This was not good and it came at a time when we thought everything was about to go our way.

The boy went on, saying, “We are the new era of bikers, the ones who don’t answer to the big elites, the ones who don’t play by any of the old rules. You see, this life is the only life we know. We got here by our fathers when their fathers before them hadn’t a clue what to do with their lives. They had no purpose, but we do. No more leaders. No more territories. There is only the one crew, the Darkhorse crew, and all that fall before it. It’s no use to threaten me with violence. Death is but a door.” The boy pushed his mouth over the barrel of the gun. “Pull the fucking trigger.” he said.

“What the fucking fuck?!” Bruce yelled. “What’s this kid talkin’ about? Death? A door? Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?”

“Hell if I know.” Rust said, shaking his head.

“Sounds like he’s a part of some cult or something.” I whispered. “You guys, we have to warn the rest of the guys. Fast!”

The boy fell to the floor, writhing against the tile, and practically foaming at the mouth. “Uh, you guys, look! Someone help him!”

“He’s dying!” Rust yelled, picking him off of the cement.

The boy’s eyes were wide with fear and anger, sometimes rolling in the back of his head. And then he tried to speak, between rapid breaths. He said in strain, “The key to winning this is in the pill. Watch your back. They’re coming for you. And they’ve already infiltrated the ranks.” He fell forward, completely unresponsive.

“Help him!” I cried.

The two men picked the boy up and set him on the table. They ripped his shirt off and tried to resuscitate him as best they could, but they weren’t doctors. They were just two bikers, trying their best. When it was obvious nothing could be done, they gave up. “He’s gone.” Rust whispered. I even saw a tear fall from his eye. “God dammit.” he muttered.

I covered the boy’s eyes and wrapped my arms around Rust’s shoulders. “It’s not your fault. Something happened to him, Rust. It was weird. It was like his body just shut down. I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either.” he said. “Things are getting dark, baby. It’s like we’re the only ones left who care about what we used to have. Loyalty, honor,
courage
. All those things have gone out the window. And what did he mean when he said ‘the key is in the pill’? Was that some kind of code or something?”

“Gotta be about some kind of drug, right?” Bruce shrugged. “But what could it be that we don’t already know?”

And then it hit me. “Check his pockets. Now!” I yelled. They emptied the contents out onto the table and stood over them. There were some loose cigarettes, some trash, notes, and
pills
! There they were, right below our noses! The question was, what was in them?

“You think this is what he was talking about?” Rust asked, stroking his chin.

“It’s gotta be.” I said. “We have to bring it to Glen. He’s the only one who could figure out what they are.”

Bruce looked at me like he questioned all of this. “You guys really think these pills are the answer? In what way?”

“I’m not sure yet.” I shrugged. “But it can’t hurt to look into, right?”

“S’ppose you’re right.” Bruce mumbled. “Things are way too complicated these days. Too many research chemicals, drugs, and weaponry. What happened to the good old days? What happened to
just
guns and booze?”

“Welcome to the modern world, Bruce.” I said. “Rust, call someone to clean up the body.”

“Ay ay, captain.” he winked.

“Alright, let’s go warn the others. Glen will help us out, I know it.” We grabbed our guns and left the building.

A
ll the members
of Courage and the Hell’s Wheels were warned. We were in full lockdown mode. In a safe house not too far was Glen, the elusive chemist, waiting for his time to head back into isolation. That time was soon, but not quite as soon as he had hoped. There was still work to be done.

I threw the bag of pills on the table and looked at him. “What are these?” He grabbed them and looked at the logo: a pale horse, hollow and dying, with a skeleton rider, complete with scythe and all. “Whoa.” he whispered.

“What?” Rust said. “You know what these are?”

“So the rumors are true.” His face turned morose and filled with dread. “Shit.”

“What the hell are you talkin’ about? What rumors?” Bruce asked, pacing around the room. He was anxious. We all were.

“There were some rumors on the streets that a drug like this was being developed. I had always blown it off, like it wasn’t realistic. But here it is.” He suddenly looked up at us with a huge sense of urgency. “We have to get out of here. Now!” he screamed, slamming his fist against the wooden table in front of him.

“Get out of here? You’re not making any sense. Where would we go to?” I asked him. This was starting to get really weird. I demanded to know more.

“Look, this drug is like a fucking parasite unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. It changes the chemical properties of the mind. It turns you
evil
. It makes you do things you would never do. Whoever gets ahold of this stuff could possibly be the most powerful human in the world. If the Darkhorse gang has got a hold of this, you have to leave!” He stood up and looked toward the door. “I’m leaving, man. I don’t want any part in this.”

Rust stepped in front of him, blocking his only exit. “Like hell you’re leaving.”

“Is he serious? A parasitic drug? This sounds like some bullshit.” Bruce laughed. “Come on. We’re better off without this guy.”

“Wait, Bruce. See what he has to say before we dismiss him.” I was actually pretty worried about all of this. Despite the outlandish claim, it was possible that something like this could exist. A drug that turned you into a full blown war machine? Why not? This was, after all, the modern fucking world. Anything was possible.

“Tell us more.” Rust demanded. “If you do, we’ll guarantee your safety, as well as your freedom.”

Glen shook his head, sweating profusely. “Alright. I’ll tell you what I know. Look, it starts out small. At fist, you do what you’re told. Whoever holds authority in your environment is who you listen to. Whatever rage you subscribe to becomes your dogma. Then, after a few days of taking this stuff, you start to lose muscle mass. But you actually end up becoming stronger. Your mind resists all types of pain.”

“Sounds like some real
bunk
shit.” Bruce kept laughing and shaking his head. I had to admit, it did sound bizarre. Still, there were new drugs made on a daily basis.

He continued, “I know. I know it sounds crazy. But it’s the truth. It’s not far off in chemical makeup from methamphetamine or speed. So think of it like that if you must. The Darkhorse is known for that kind of shit, right? The thing is, once you start taking it for a couple of days, your body
needs
it. It’s like food to the user. If he doesn’t get more, he dies a horrible death. Seizures, writhing, heart palpitations, and major strokes. It’s not good, guys. I’m telling you. If the Darkhorse has an army of ultra-speed freaks, you’re done for.”

“But only if they have it right? Only if they have the supply.” Rust said.

“Yes, but they clearly have it! You just proved that to me.”

Rust looked at me in disbelief. I couldn’t tell if he believed him or not. “What do you think, Jackie? You buy this shit?”

I was dumbfounded. I strongly exhaled and rubbed my hands against my forehead.
God, what has our world come to?

“I think so, Rust. I mean, what else is it? Glen’s the most skilled chemist in the region. If anyone would know, it would be him.”

“Fuck!” Rust screamed out of hopelessness. “So what do we do?”

Bruce stepped forward, leaning against the table. “We find Dan.” He said confidently. “We find Don.”

W
hen shit hits the fan
…

Shit had hit the fucking fan. Our world was thrown into a state of fear. Oh, fear? What did that emotion give us anyway? It was simply the precursor to chaos. Absolute chaos. That was the only thing I saw coming for us. We had to stop it. We had to. And yet, you can't stop a tidal wave that's been building and building for years on end. It all has to come to culmination, crashing down on our whole world.

“It don't mean I won't go down without a fight.” I declared.

“You're out of your mind, Rust.” Jackie told me. If I had a dollar for every time a woman told me that, I'd be rich as hell.

“Crazy? For wanting to fight? Fine, I'll let you call me that. Hell, maybe I
am
crazy. But what's at stake is too important. This is my entire life, Jackie. I know it's yours too. You're just gonna back down? What about your father’s legacy? Doesn't that mean anything to you?” I asked her sincerely, running my hands across her body. This could be the last time I saw her and I wanted to feel her as much as I could. I needed to know how eternal our love went. Shit, was I really saying this? Eternal love? Well, I guess I was. And if that made me weak to the rest of the gang, then I was weak. I didn't care anymore. This was everything to me. Everything.

“They're jacked up on drugs! You won't be able to fight them off. Besides, what about what we said? I thought this was a new era.”

“It is. And I'm in this with you. Forever. I promise you that. But things are different now and our people need an immediate response. This isn't a full on declaration of war that I'm talking about. This is a stealth operation. I'll find Don and force him to tell me where they're getting these drugs manufactured. That's it. No killing, okay?”

She started to tear up. It always hurt to see her sad like this. It was like the damn world was crumblin’ around me. I felt powerless. How was a man supposed to fight against these trying emotions? I vowed to break Don and the Darkhorse, and eradicate them forever. Once and for all.

She wiped her tears from her eyes and said, “But what if they kill you, Rust? What then?”

I grabbed her shoulders gently and looked into her eyes. “I'm not going anywhere, you hear me? Nowhere. I’m with you in this life. Always. We’re going to grow old together. We’re going to have a house and two kids, a nice porch we can sit on and drink whisky together, while we stare at the setting sun. I promise you. Once this is all over, we’ll find peace.”

She trembled against me and breathed in the air around us. “I believe you, baby. I do. I'm just…”

I ran my hands through her hair and cradled the back of her head. “You're just overwhelmed. I know. I am too. That feelin’ ain't going away anytime soon, unfortunately. But all we fight for won't be for nothin’. I promise you that. I swear on my parents’ grave.” I kissed her. I kissed her deeply, as if I had never kissed her before in my life. She was beautiful, she was everything, and she was my wife. No. She was my family now and we were one, together. Our lips unlatched and pulled away. I came back and kissed her cheek. These were the remnants of love. Pure and simple. Perfect in every damn way.

“You better get ready.” she sighed. “Bruce is going to wonder if you backed out of the plan or not.” I felt the pressure build up inside me.
Shit.
It was all too much, even for a guy like me.

“I guess you're right.” I said, grabbing my phone. “I better call him and tell him everything is set to go.”

I called Bruce up. “I'm good to go.” I lied. Sure, I had my things in order. My guns, grenades, three sticks of dynamite, and a whole case of ammo. But my heart ached to no end. No one could be ready for something like this when you were so in love with the person you were leavin’ behind.
Damn this world. Damn it all to Hell.

“Is this it?” she asked as I hung up the phone.

“It’s just the beginning.” I said, holding her in my arms.
One last kiss before I go. Just one last kiss.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smiled.

We kissed and separated, like all couples do. Only this was different. This was much different.

I walked out of the door, never looking back. I couldn’t. When you do that, you regret too many of your own choices and you start to doubt yourself. It sure as hell wasn’t the time for any doubt. I hopped on my bike and rode against the wind, against time, and most important, I rode against myself. In the distance was one of the Darkhorse houses. If Don was anywhere, it was there.

I rode and rode, winding through the streets of my mind. Was this really all there was for me? A life of crime, anger, and revenge? Or was there more waiting, outside on the edges? Those were the questions that penetrated my thoughts. I couldn’t let go of them.

My whole life was a static image, reflected in the dusty desert. I had no family. Not a real one, at least. All I had was Jackie. Of course, she had transformed me forever. But all of the choices I had made before I met her had sucked the life out of me. They had dragged me into an endless loop of danger and self-hatred. Drugs, women,
fun.
It wasn’t fun at all. It was just a way to run away from the pain. This could be the end of me. This whole thing could kill me. And then what? I’d be without her and she’d be alone. God damn. What had I done?

When I finally reached the house, all was dark and empty. It seemed as if no one was even in it. Yet, there was one solitary candle, flickering through the glass of the window on the second floor. At one point in time, this had been Bobby Farole’s home, the toughest criminal around. But Courage ended his legacy with only a few bullets. Now it serves as a reminder, a means to channel their anger.

I got off my bike and crossed my arms. “Don!” I yelled against the silence. “It’s Rust! Come on out and talk to me!”

Silence. Up above, I could see a faint shadow next to the light of the flame. And then it moved closer to the glass. Closer. Closer.
Closer.
The window opened and the barrel of a rifle pointed right at me.

“Speak your truth.” A voice said.

“I aim to. But I want you to face me and look me in the eye. This has gone too far, too fast. I don’t want any more of our men dying.”

The voice broke out into an eerie laughter. “
Our
men?” he said. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I have no men. I serve only myself. No one bows before me. I come and go as I please.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Don? Get down here!” I was getting frustrated. Enough of the riddles. It was time to stop all the nonsense.

And then the man bent his face outside the window and looked at me. It wasn’t Don, nor was it any member of Darkhorse that I knew of. It wasn’t anyone I had ever seen before. He said, “Come up. If you want to know more about your fate, you’ll come to
me.”

“Who else is in there?” I called out. I wasn’t about to walk into some kind of ambush. That wasn’t part of the plan.

“It’s just me. You want to know more? Then you talk to me. If you don’t, then you’ll turn around and go home at once. Those are your current options. Well, that and all out war. But I don’t think you want that. Do you, Rust?”

“How the hell do you know my name? Who are you?” I asked.

“Upstairs. Now.”

I took a giant deep breath and mentally prepared myself. I had to do what he asked. There was no other choice, other than to go back empty handed. And I wasn’t about to do that.

I kicked open the door, gripping my pistol and aiming at each corner. No one was around. The house was completely empty. “I told you no one was here.” the man said. I quickly turned around and aimed my gun at him.

“You. Who are you? Tell me, god dammit.” My palms were sweating. My eyes were twitching. This whole thing was nerve-wracking.

“Put the gun away and sit down, you fool.” he said. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”