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could see all the Disciples down by the
    scooters, waiting.
    Hudat was pissed. “Damn, prospect, I could’ve sworn I told you
    to keep your ass put and watch the scooters.”
    “Right,” I mumbled.
    “And what were you doin’ with those Angels? You think I didn’t
    see you hangin’ with them? Are you with us or are you with them,
    boy?”
    “I’m a Disciple,” I said.
    “Not no more,” Hudat told me. “Why don’t you run off and
    find your other buddies.”
    I was too wasted to calm myself down and think straight. My
    P r o s p e c t i n g f o r t h e D i s c i p l e s
    29
    eyes started tearing up. “Oh yeah? Well, as far as I’m concerned, all
    of you can go fuck yourselves!” I yelled.
    Hudat took a step back and looked over to where Tom was
    standing next to his bike. “Your prospect’s talking all this b.s. here,
    man. You better put a leash on that puppy.”
    Without hesitation, Tom lunged over and ripped me down to the
    ground.
    “Keep your mouth shut right now,” he told me.
    I pushed Tom off and got up on my feet. My rage was out of
    control. For a second, I actually thought about swinging on him.
    “Fuck you, Tom! And all you punks!”
    I could have gotten the worst beating of my life for getting out
    of line like that, but I didn’t. None of the Disciples would even look
    in my direction. I had completely embarrassed myself by disre-
    specting the entire gang. Without another word, they thundered out
    of the parking lot and left me behind.
    In their eyes, the Dog no longer existed. I was crushed. I stood
    alone, wondering what I had just done. I’d come so far, just to
    throw it all away. I’d let my anger and frustration ruin everything I
    so desperately wanted. I got on my bike and headed home. I had to
    think of something to get back in.
    C h a p t e r F i v e
    THE SHOOTOUT
    ON MISSION HILL
    When I heard the rumbling of motorcycles outside of my
    apartment a few days later, I knew it was the Disciples.
    A dozen of them barged in and took over my place like it was
    their own. Hudat was walking around, tracking mud all over my
    carpet. He was just waiting for me to say something to him, but
    I kept my cool. He sat on my couch and put his boots up on the
    coffee table. He was trying hard to get me to react, but I wasn’t
    budging.
    “A real tough puppy, huh? That’s what you are?” he asked.
    A couple of the other guys were taking Hudat’s lead, trying to
    provoke me, to get a response. I wasn’t taking the bait. I tried my
    best to have no reaction, but the tears starting running down my
    face.
    Little Pat, the club’s sergeant at arms, saw me crying. “Look at
    this, boys. Puppy’s a little crybaby!”
    Little Pat was a pretty tough guy. He was always riding me,
    probably even more than the rest of the guys. Tom Tom told me
    that sooner or later I’d have to take him on. I looked Little Pat dead in
    the eye, but I knew it wasn’t the right time to make my move. I was
    confident I could destroy him if I had to. Hudat got up from the
    couch. “What if we ended up giving you your patch and then some
    motherfucker came along and tried to snatch it away from you?”
    “I’d kill him dead,” I shot back at him.
    Th e S h o o t o u t o n M i s s i o n H i l l
    31
    The whole reason the Disciples came up to my apartment that
    day was so I could apologize to them. They wanted me to admit
    that I had screwed up. If I did, they’d reinstate me as a prospect, but
    I’d have to start all over again, which meant ninety more days of
    taking their bull. I wasn’t interested. Either they made me a full-
    fledged Disciple or I was out.
    “I ain’t prospecting no more,” I said to Hudat. “I’m a Disciple.”
    Little Pat started laughing and heading for the door.
    I wasn’t kidding. I stared Hudat dead in the eyes. “You want to
    see what I’m made of for real? Why don’t you give me your patch
    and see what happens when you try to take it away from me?”
    Everyone stood silent,