clubhouse that they hung out in. Blackjacks gang moved constantly and left a trail of burnt out buildings behind them. She suspected that they didn't torch the country shack because they had some other snitches to dispose of.
The bike banked smoothly as it turned into a long smooth curve. Linda rested her head against Blackjack and held him tightly. She knew she would have to seduce him as quickly as possible if she wanted to stay by his side. The only line on his file under the heading "other", scrawled in shaky block letters was; "He likes to fuck black women".
The soothing noise of the bikes engine and the hum of the tires on the asphalt relaxed Linda and she began to doze slightly as she rested her head against him. She jerked awake as the bike went over a ramp in the road and she rubbed her eyes as the bike sped up again. They were on a small dirt road flanked by wide open fields. The road was at a gentle incline and at the top of the hill stood the ranch. The house had clearly seen better days, it was of a style that was popular fifty years ago. Shutters hung broken from the windows. Piles of empty beer cans were strewn across the front porch and broken glass twinkled in the large unkempt lawn. Parked outside were six or seven motorbikes.
Even before they pulled to a stop outside Linda could hear the music playing at ear busting levels from inside. She could hear men shouting and laughing from inside one of the front rooms. Blackjack slowed the bike to a stop and kicked out the stand. As Linda dismounted the bike every fibre of her body shouted to run from this place. This is were her training kicked in, it was normal to feel fear, it was how she dealt with it that mattered. She pushed it down inside readying herself for whatever was next. Blackjack looked back at her and a momentary look of confusion crossed his face.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
She had frozen to the spot without even realising. Linda looked up at him as she could feel a genuine sense of fear and panic bubble up from below. Fuck she thought to herself, I'm going to blow this before the operation has even begun.
Blackjacks face softened as he realised what was going on. He reached out to Linda to take her hand.
"Don't worry about these guys. We can go somewhere a bit more private if you don't want to be around anyone," he said with genuine warmth.
The reality of the situation snapped back for Linda and she pushed all fear and doubt away. She was a professional, a bad ass cop,and this is what she does best she told herself only believing some of it. Self doubt has no place here. There will be plenty of time for that once she has all these scumbags in jail.
"Sorry, my husband, I mean my ex... last night came back to me. It was the mens shouts. They scared me," she said her voice cracking slightly at the end.
"You are with me now and no one will ever hurt you again. I will make sure of that" he said squeezing her hand for emphasis.
Against her better judgement she believed him, for such a legendary figure, whose deeds of violence where whispered tales of horror on the streets he sure seemed to have a softer side. Linda thought that in another life he probably could of made an ordinary woman very happy. His intense sincerity, while almost naive in its strength was hypnotising. Linda felt a tightness in her throat and her palms tingled against his touch. She believed him when he said no one could ever hurt her again. She would cynically leverage this against him.
They enter the house and the first thing that hits Linda is the smell, stale beer and an underlying stench of rotten garbage. Empty beer cans are strewn about the floor and whole chunks of what was once an expensive carpet were ripped up from the floor. Everybody turns to greet Blackjack when he enters. Curt nods are passed back and forth.
A pool table is set up and two burly and heavily tattooed men are playing, they pause for a few seconds to acknowledge Blackjacks presence.
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