"What are you looking at?" Hannah asked, noticing Jack's constant looking around.
"Why are these guys so well-behaved? I thought these motorcycle riders would be… less law-abiding," Jack whispered in Hannah's ear.
"This is Texas, and these local motorcycle groups usually keep their distance from ordinary people and never provoke them. Look at their average age."
Perhaps because most of them had shaved heads or various unusual hairstyles and distinctive beards, Jack hadn't paid much attention to their ages before. After Hannah pointed it out, he realized that many of the riders looked to be in their late sixties or seventies, and the youngest was at least forty or approaching fifty.
Hannah continued her explanation, "These guys aren't like the gangs you're familiar with. There are two groups here. This group is the infamous 'Thugs'. They often go to orphanages to bring toys to the children and take them for rides."
Jack looked at their badge, which featured a small, pot-bellied figure wearing a sombrero, holding a knife in one hand and a gun in the other.
"The other group is called the 'Cossack Club.' About three or four years ago, these two groups got into a fight at a Double Winds restaurant in Waco because of a dispute over a woman. It escalated into a shootout, resulting in nine deaths and 18 serious injuries."
"Then, after the police arrived, they united and exchanged fire with the police, ultimately resulting in the arrest of nearly 200 people."
Hannah's voice wasn't quiet, and an old man wearing the 'Thugs' badge next to her heard her and imdiately retorted.
"Those damn cops were playing dirty. They called in the SWAT team, hid on the roof, and only ca down after we were done fighting."
The old man in the ripped denim vest was clearly one of those present. Seeing him staring fiercely at Hannah for a long ti, just as Jack was ntally calculating how to protect Hannah and escape when the fight broke out, he heard him shout, "Hey guys, look who's here, Stephens' little girl, she's back!"
"Whoa!"
The restaurant erupted in screams and wails, almost everyone's eyes turning towards them. Hannah had to stand up and wave to everyone.
"Ah ha, didn't expect you to be so famous here." Jack was speechless, feeling like he'd almost strained his back from this sudden turn of events.
With a bang, two bottles of ice-cold beer were slamd down in front of them.
"Welco back, Stephens' little girl, your parents are good people."
The old man threw Jack a provocative look as he served the drinks.
"Hey kid, that car you modified is pretty good."
So this was one of the riders Jack saw in Sonora. Still chasing girls at his age, truly young at heart.
"Daddy had a pretty good relationship with so of them back in the day. When our family was in trouble, many wanted to help, even though there wasn't much they could do," Hannah continued, her tone sowhat complicated. "These people have their own values. Although so of them traffic in arms, transport drugs, and collect protection money, they'll also help if they see soone harming the poor or children."
"It sounds a bit like those 'rogue knights' from stories," Jack scoffed, sowhat unconvinced that the seemingly criminals would be good to others.
[A/n: If B*ritain didn't give profits for the opium, you guys went to war, where the chingchongs carried pot chambers filled with female urine to protect themselves from the B*ritain fire power, so you lost so badly that now you start becoming a hypocrite.]
"Take that shootout I ntioned before, for example. There were quite a few onlookers, including many children, but no innocent people were injured. Before the police arrived, they were just waving chains and fighting each other. Later, the police couldn't do anything about them, and a few months later they released everyone they arrested."
"That's because we were united enough. Back then, we and the 'Cossack Club' organized thousands of people to take to the streets to protest against those cops." The old man, who had been eavesdropping, wore a smug expression.
Hannah didn't speak, but smiled and lifted her denim jacket, revealing the FBI badge at her waist. Only then did the old man turn away dejectedly.
"Hey handso, we et again! Rember to vote for !"
Feeling a nudge against his arm, Jack instinctively turned his head and saw the sa waitress he'd t at the gas station.
The waitress placed a steaming tomahawk steak on the table, winked at Jack, and pointed to a small note in the tray.
"My na is Barbie, the fourth na up here."
Jack asked curiously, pointing to the first na, 'Bobby,' which was clearly male. "Who's this?"
The waitress nad Barbie winked at him again. "That's our chef. Our rule is that male chefs can participate, but you wouldn't want to vote for him, would you?"
After the waitress left, facing Hannah's interested gaze, Jack had to cough lightly and try to explain, "You won't believe it, but just a few hours ago, she gave the middle finger."
As he spoke, he picked up a pen and put a checkmark next to 'Bobby.' Hannah picked up her beer bottle and took a sip, but still couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
The tomahawk steak was alright, and the fries were cooked just right. Jack felt that he hadn't wasted his vote for the chef.
After he and Hannah finished their second beer, the atmosphere in the restaurant reached its peak. A host started loudly announcing the votes into a microphone, and the sounds of banging on the table and cheers mingled together, occasionally erupting into enthusiastic applause.
Even Jack, who usually disliked joining in the atmosphere, was swept up in Hannah's enthusiasm. Every ti the host added a vote for the chef nad 'Bobby,' he joined the crowd in banging on the table and cheering.
Sure enough, 'Bobby' lived up to expectations, winning the restaurant's 'Miss Double Wind' title with a six-vote lead over second place. He was dragged out of the kitchen, his greasy white chef's hat knocked off, and a delicate silver crown was placed on his head.
The scene then spiraled out of control. Apparently, because the two girls supported by 'The Thugs' and 'The Cossack Club' were both eliminated, the riders on both sides went from arguing to shoving each other. So children nearby were also frightened and started crying loudly. It looked like the conflict was about to escalate into a fight.
"If you want to fight, go outside! There are children here!" Hannah suddenly jumped onto the table and roared like a lioness.
The restaurant fell silent instantly, even the children's cries were silenced. The ringleaders looked around and saw that the ordinary people around them were also glaring at them with hostility, their hands on their hips.
A few old n spat angrily and actually began to scuffle and pull each other out of the restaurant, exchanging punches in the parking lot.
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