Outlaws: Inside the Violent World of Biker Gangs Read Online Free PDF Page B

Subculture’ and had since become the official Angels public relations man, presenting a far more articulate, intelligent and media-friendly face than previously possible. He had also become the envy of most of the MC scene by being appointed an official tester of Harley Davidson in the UK. But most importantly, Maz was also a regular in the Colonnade pub, three doors down from the Pagans clubhouse.
    ‘What’s this got to do with Maz?’ asked Boone. ‘They’re after us, not him.’
    ‘Yeah, but if it spills over and he gets caught up in it and hurt, then we’ll have the Red and White on our backs as well. Someone needs to get over there and tell him to piss off.’
    Tank drew the short straw and found himself heading to the pub to pass on the news, desperately hoping the enemy didn’t turn up at that precise moment. He arrived to find Maz sitting in his usual seat at the bar sipping at a pint. Herushed over to him, almost breathless with excitement. ‘Listen mate, you’d better get the hell out of here,’ he told him. ‘There are eighty fucking Ratae tooled up to the eyeballs and on their way over so I suggest you make yourself discreet.’
    Maz simply shook his head. ‘Listen Sonny, you’re only young. You don’t know what you’re on about because it’s all new to you. I’ve been around for a while so you should listen to what I’m about to tell you. Here’s the thing: if the Ratae are in Coventry brandishing weapons and what not, I can tell you now they’ve got no intention of coming here. No intention at all. It’s all a show. They’re doing it to scare you. They’re doing it so you get in touch with them and stop all this trouble. That’s all. It’s all a storm in a teacup. You’ve nothing to worry about. You should calm down.’
    Tank couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing: it was as if he was speaking to someone from another planet. Tank may have been young but the events of the past few days had left no doubt in this mind that the Ratae were deadly serious and not the type of gang to simply put on a pointless show of force. But it didn’t really matter what Maz thought. They had covered themselves with the Angels by telling him what was going on. If he didn’t feel the need to act on the information, that was down to him. And if he ended up getting hurt, he’d only have himself to blame.
    Back at the house, Boone sat at the base of the stairs and slipped out of his patches. He unzipped and took off his leather jacket so he was wearing only his t-shirt. He put his patches back on and zipped his jacket over the top of them. Dozer, who had been sitting on the beer-stained sofa at theside of the room, was looking on, his face slowly morphing into a confused frown.
    ‘What you doing bro?’
    ‘They’re not getting my fucking patches,’ said Boone.
    Dozer shook his head slowly. ‘Really? I’m dying with mine on.’
    The words took Boone’s breath away like a kick in the gut. So much had happened so quickly that there had been precious little opportunity to take stock. Now for the first time the full reality of the situation they were facing, of what was about to happen, began to dawn on him. This was serious. This was totally fucking serious.
    ‘What do you mean dying?’
    ‘Come on Dog. You don’t think we’re getting out of this alive do you?’
    ‘Shit. Fuck. I don’t think we are as it goes.’
    ‘Exactly.’
    Boone was surprised to see how steady his hands were as he unzipped his jacket for the second time, removed his patches, replaced his jacket and restored his patches to their rightful place over the top. He then turned to Dozer, a sudden wave of absolute calm washing over him.
    ‘I’m with you. I’m dying with mine on as well.’

SIEGE
     
    Stationed downstairs at the front of the house, his view of the street obscured by the barricades and boarded-up windows, Boone could only hear, not see, the arrival of the Ratae raiding party. Tyres screeched and screamed as