Page 9 of Celtic Dragon
“Honey, if you are sure you don’t need any help, I’m gonna try to get some work done.”
“Absolutely, hun. You do what you need to do.”
I grab my laptop and set it up on the open spot on the counter, get myself a glass of tea, and settle myself in to an afternoon of work.
Chapter 4
Caden
Not long after I arrive at Betty’s, I hear Hawk’s Superlow 1200. It sounds like a fucking weed eater. I stand out front and wait for him as he parks his bike right next to mine.
“When you gonna get yourself a man’s Harley?” I rag him as he dismounts from his bike.
“What the fuck you talking about? There’s nothing wrong with my bike,” he says defensively. Then he adds, “And you think that Fat Boy you ride is a man’s bike?”
“No, Hawk, I don’t think. I know. Bigger bike, bigger engine, more power. Need I say more?” I state smugly.
“Fuck you, man!” he says. I can tell he’s pissed at me, but I can’t help it; he does need a better bike. At least it’s a Harley and he’s not riding a pussy bike like a Honda or a BMW.
“Hey, watch it! Is that any way to talk to your prez?” I tease. I put my arm around him and say, “Come on man, tell me how glad you are that I’m back. Go ahead, you can tell me.”
“Fuck you!” he says again. But I know it’s just an act; he’s glad as hell to have me back. He’s my best friend and we’ve both been through a lot of shit together.
We walk inside, give our hellos to Betty, and go straight upstairs to the little office she’s provided us until the clubhouse is finished.
As Hawk closes the door behind him, I plop myself down in one of the chairs at the table. He walks over to the table and joins me. “So what’s going on?” he asks.
“Like I said last night, Rebel’s family …” I pause then add, “hell,myfamily is in trouble.”
“Your family?” he asks.
Oh shit, he doesn’t know.“Rebel’s mom and Ace were brother and sister. So I guess that makes Reb and me cousins.”
“Damn. Will the Jackson family drama ever end?” He laughs.
Now it was my turn to say, “Fuck you, Hawk.” He continues to laugh and after a few seconds, I can’t hold the laughter in either. “It’s like a fucking soap opera!” I add and we laugh harder.
I have to admit it feels damn good to have a good laugh. We haven’t had much to laugh about lately. But we’ve got business to attend to, so I continue, “Anyway, Rebel and I and some of the guys are going to Ireland.”
“Who else is going?” Hawk asks.
“I haven’t decided yet. I plan to discuss it during church.”
“So, why Ireland?”
“Rebel’s parents are heavily involved in the IRA. They have been missing now for a couple of weeks. Rebel just found out last night and he thinks they may have been taken prisoner by British security forces. Even if they weren’t my family, I can’t say no. Rebel never asks for anything.”
“Yeah, I get it. So what do you need me to do?”
“What you do best, man. Run this club as I would. I don’t expect us to be gone long, I’m guessing it’ll be an in and out kind of thing.”
“I don’t think it’s gonna be that easy, Ice. You’re talking about the IRA. This isn’t a bunch of outlaw bikers. This is an organization that has dedicated its life to a cause that’s bigger than they are. An organization that is so deeply entrenched in its country that you can never be sure who is and who isn’t IRA. You’ll never know who you can and can’t trust.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
“I don’t think you’re hearing me. The IRA is the largest and most active of the dissident republican paramilitary groups operating against the British. The attacks against British security forces are extensive and they don’t think twice about what weapons they use to achieve their end result. These guys mean business, Ice. They’re dealing with some serious shit. You could get yourselves killed,” he says. I can tell by the tone of his voice he’s genuinely concerned.
“It can’t be that bad. I mean, all that stuff with the IRA ended years ago. Didn’t it?”
