Colson (The Henchmen MC #20) - Jessica Gadziala Page 0,30
climbed out of the vehicle, making our way casually into the other side of town.
"Screaming," Che admitted, and I slowed my pace to allow for him to take it easy. "The wrap is helping, but just barely."
"Only bruised my rib once. I felt like I couldn't get comfortable for three weeks. Did you bust it?"
"Two. But we had to get on the road two days after," he said, shrugging in a very 'what can you do" way.
"Things been crazy down there?" I asked. "Since West came back," I clarified, realizing how little the majority of us were up-to-date on the goings-on at the new chapter since then.
"Ever see one of those action movies where everyone is out to get the main guy despite all the gunfights, never manage to kill him? It's been a lot like that," he admitted. "Turns out, everyone wants the gun trade in that part of Florida. Close to the ports like here."
"Before the new chapter," I said, keeping my voice low even though the only people we'd passed so far were a couple old people, a single mom, and dog walker, "you chopped cars, right?"
"Yeah. And before that, I raced cars. I've been in this kind of life for a long time, and never met with a fifth of the action we've seen over the last year or so."
"It's been calm here," I told him. "For the most part. Until now," I added.
"We'll find him," Che assured me. "Someone, somewhere, sometime, is going to talk. One perk to no criminals having any code these days is everyone gets loose lips eventually. With as many allies as the Henchmen have around here, someone will overhear.
Five hours of lingering around later, turning down the sex workers two separate times, and hearing not a damn thing, Che and I decided to head home to relieve the other guard shift.
It was right then that I saw a familiar face.
A very young, familiar face.
That did not belong in this part of town.
That should have been in his room one house over from my place.
Whose mother likely didn't realize he'd snuck out again.
Who was rubbing shoulders with fucking gang members.
At fourteen years old.
"Fuck."
"What?" Che asked, following my gaze. "I know these guys start young, but he seems really young."
"I know him. And his mom is going to lose her shit."
Torn, I stood there for a long moment, unsure what to do.
"You gotta get him out of here," Che said, shrugging like it was that easy. "If he's got a mom that gives a shit where he is, he doesn't belong here."
"Jacob," I called, giving him a nod when he looked over, guilt creeping across his features as I gave him a chin jerk, a silent command to follow, then turning and starting to walk.
I wasn't surprised when he followed behind.
"I can expl—"
"No, you can't," I corrected. But you are going to get in that car."
"You don't under—"
"Nope," I agreed, opening the backseat door, waving him inside. "I don't," I agreed. "And none of the crap you are going to say is going to change that."
With that, Che and I climbed in, driving around town a few times before making our way back to the clubhouse.
"What are we doing here?"
"Can't exactly bring you home. You won't stay."
"My grandmother is alone."
"Yeah, you should have thought about that, huh?" I asked, reaching for my phone, shooting out a text to Lo, asking her to send someone over to Eva's place to keep an eye on Eva's mother. "Here I was thinking you were growing up, becoming a man when I saw you trying to protect your mom. Then you go out and do this shit? You have any idea how much she worries about you?"
It wasn't my place to scold him. He wasn't my kid. I wasn't related to him.
He slunk out of the SUV, following me into the clubhouse as I reached for my phone again, shooting a text to his mother about finding him and taking him to the clubhouse, that she could pick him up on her way home.
I gave Che my room to crash in since the other beds were full-up, and stuck Jacob on the couch while I lounged in one of the chairs.
Sleep was a nonexistent thing, so I made pot after pot of coffee until I felt like I was fucking buzzing.
"Yo, Colson, your woman is here," Virgin declared, giving me a chin jerk.