Roxie

I wanted to meet Cross, and I met him. And now my hands won't stop shaking and my breathing won't return to normal, and I want to see him again. It's a stupid, purely hormonal wish, totally independent of the logical, sane part of my brain, and I hope it passes soon.

There's a knock on my door just as I think it, and my voice's all shaky as I say, "Come", because I'm both hoping and fearing that my wish is about to come true.

But it's the principal who sticks her greying head through the door. "Do you have time to talk?"

"Sure," I say, since any distraction is more than welcome right now. Especially by the principal, who is the embodiment of the reason why I can't get involved with the father of a student.

She comes in and closes the door behind her, then comes to sit in the chair Cross just vacated.

"What did you and Lily's father discuss?" she asks.

"A few things," I say slowly, trying to figure out a concise way to relate it to her. She doesn't say anything, just peers at me over her glasses and waits for me to speak.

"I told him about the fight yesterday, and the fact that Lily will be expelled, if her behavior doesn't improve," I say. "I also tried to make him understand he needs to take a more active role in modifying her behavior, so that she can stay in school."

The principal nods slowly. "And how did that go over?"

"He basically said she's our problem to deal with," I answer truthfully, wishing I could've done more, because that knowing grin on the principal's face doesn't bode well for Lily, I'm sure.

"So in other words, no progress at all. It's what he's been saying since Lily came here," she says.

"I'm even more afraid now, after speaking to him, that she won't get an education at all, if you expel her," I say before she can continue her assessment of the situation, because I sense it's not going any place good.

"I was up half the night thinking about Lily," she says. "You can't know this, since you only just got here, but we've been giving her second chance after second chance all of last year. She's up to at least her 100th chance and when I draw a line under all of that to try and sum it up, nothing has been gained. She's still the same troublemaker she was when she came to us, and she has no intention of changing. If I draw another line, I must conclude that we don’t have the necessary skills to deal with her."

You're talking about a twelve year old girl! I want to shout at her, but that's no way to behave.

"It was a hard decision to make, but I've decided to expel her for this latest transgression," she says.

"I think that will be the end of her formal schooling," I say as calmly as I can.

The main reason I was able to pick myself up after the destruction of my father's MC was because I had finished high school and knew how to exist in the world outside the MC. Lily needs that chance too, just in case something happens to her father and his club. If they expel her, I'm afraid he'll just pull her into the MC and keep her there forever. I've seen girls like that, girls that grew into women who became club whores and servants, because they simply never learned that they didn't have to put up with the abuse. Didn't know there is a whole world out there, and that everyone has free will and can choose the kind of life they want to live. MCs can be worse than cults that way. I'll do what I have to so that Lily doesn't grow up believing she has no other choices.

"That's why we'll also be handing over her case to social services," the principal says. "A social worker is coming by tomorrow morning to assess her case."

"No!" I say without thinking, earning myself a very shocked look from the principal. But involving social services is the surest path to Lily never seeing a world outside her father's MC again.

"I'll take on her case personally and make all the necessary inquiries to determine whether outside authorities need to become involved," I plow on, ignoring the shocked expression still on the principal’s face. "I'm a certified social worker, so I know what to look for. And I know I can reach Lily, and make her behave in an acceptable manner from now on."

I'm also pretty sure Cross will be more willing to help now that social services getting involved is a real threat. The principal doesn't say anything after I finish speaking. She isn't even looking at me anymore, and I have no idea what that expression on her face now means.

"Can we please give Lily another chance?" I ask once I can no longer stand the silence.

She nods. "You make a good case, and I'm willing to let you give this a try. But if you fail, I will take matters into my own hands. I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into. Her father has made threats. Ones I'm certain he would carry out. I'm old and willing to risk it, but you have your whole life in front of you."

She says it like Cross had actually threatened to kill anyone who made too much of a problem with his daughter's schooling. But I can't believe that. The principal must have just jumped to the most horrible conclusion.

"I think he wishes the best for his daughter," I say to avoid answering her directly.

She gets up and gives me a piercing look. "Alright, Ms. Connor. I wish you luck, and I want you to keep me in the loop."

"I will," I assure her.

I dial Cross' mobile number as soon as she leaves, and before I have too much time to think about it.

But the recording informs me the number can't be reached. And the longer I listen to it, the dumber this proposition of mine starts to seem. Because in the world of outlaw MCs, nosy state employees and authority figures have a tendency of disappearing, if they stick their noses in too far into club business. But that's not the only reason my fear is mounting.

Even though the man I was claimed by is the president of an MC based in Illinois, he could still be Cross' best friend, for all I know. And even though Lizard hasn't even come close to finding me in the last six years, he might still be looking for me. If nothing else, I know exactly what he did to my father, and it's also a matter of pride for men like him to get their runaway property back.

Not that he'll ever get me. I'll die before that happens.

I've never been a coward and Lily needs me. Her father will just have to see it that way too.

* * *

Cross

With the sun beating down on my neck, as sweat runs down my back, I'm reminded all over again why I hate doing business in Southern California. We're waiting for the Vagos to meet us in the desert in the middle of nowhere. They picked the spot, since it probably reminds them of home, those fucking third world bastards, and I wasn't about to show weakness by suggesting we meet somewhere more populated. I have over half my brothers with me, guarding every inch of every path that leads to this spot, and we've done security for meetings exactly like this one a thousand times before.

The Vipers and the Vagos like to look down on Devil's Nightmare MC as not being their equals, and, sure, we never had a vast network of weapons trafficking, or whore trafficking, or even drugs trafficking. We only dabbled in those things, but our main line of business has always been providing extra man power to other MCs all across the country when they needed it. And acting as assassins for hire when they wished someone done in, but didn't want it traced back to them. We're known as the Mercenary MC, famous and feared for it all across the US and most of Mexico too. We've even done jobs in Canada.

But that's dangerous business, and I decided to get out of it when Lily came to live with me. The Vipers' offer to hand over their entire weapons trafficking operation couldn't have come at a better time. I just have to hold onto it and everything will be smooth sailing from now on.

The cloud of dust that's been announcing the Vagos arrival for awhile is growing larger.

"Fucking finally," Tank says and flicks his cigarette into the sand, stomping on it for good measure. "These cholo bastards need to be taught a lesson in punctuality."

Tank is not best pleased with my decision to cut down on the guns for hire arm of our operations. But since he's the VP, I'm having him take over that part of our day-to-day business, so he won't get too disgruntled.

"We'll keep it civil today," I tell him. "But after today, it's on you to make sure it stays that way."

"And I fucking mean to," he says just as the first of the Vagos rides into view.

It seems only ten of them came here today, which could mean that's all the men they brought. But they could also be trying to fool us into thinking that. Either way, I trust the men I have guarding this meeting to figure it out and make sure we walk away alive.

My phone rings just as Chappo, the Vago's Prez, dismounts and starts approaching me. But it's not any of my men calling me, warning me that shit is going down. It’s a restricted number, so I think it's that damn guidance counselor whose bouncy round ass still hasn't quite left the back of my mind since this morning. I cancel the call and stuff the phone back into my pocket.

"You have moved up in this world, it seems, Cross," Chappo says, and I'd love to erase that wide grin off his face. But I'm determined to keep this meeting civil. "A congratulations is in order, I think."

He's holding out his chubby hand for me to take. Tank is so tense I can feel it from two feet away. One wrong move from the Vagos and he'll snap.

I shake Chappo's hand. "It was never wise to fuck with us, and it's even less wise to do so now. You leave us alone, and we leave you alone. Pretty much the same agreement we've always had. And if you ever need a new supplier of guns, just let us know."

Most of the ten guys he brought with him chuckle or snort at my suggestion. Chappo chuckles and snorts.

"We have our own guns," he says, and I think he means it to sound like a threat.

So it's time for me to make some of my own threats.

"Just because we're shifting our focus to guns, doesn't mean we can't still squash you on a whim," I say. "Remember that Chappo, as you're making your plans for the future."

His eyes turn hard, but mine are harder. He knows I mean it, and he knows it's not an empty threat. I can back it up. He never struck me as the sharpest tool in the shed, but I think he understands that I'm coming after him personally first, if he decides to make a move against me. People know my work, and they know I'm more efficient than the grim reaper. The threat makes his men freeze too, some with those stupid grins still stuck on their faces.

"It is not our plan to move against you," Chappo says. "I wish for us to be friends, not like it was with the Vipers. But I wanted to meet here today because this is the border where our territories meet. Everything south of here is our turf, and I expect you to respect that."

"Done," I say and offer him my hand to shake. He doesn't take it immediately.

"Your threats do not scare me," he says, before finally taking my hand.

"Yeah? They should."

He doesn't look like he wants to be friends. But I'll take him at his word for now. And I'll also leave extra men to guard the warehouses near Chappo's border.

"Done," he says quite unnecessarily, then turns to leave.

I glare at them retreating until they're once again just a cloud of dust on the horizon.

"That went well," Tank says, lighting another cigarette.

"I don't trust that fat man," I say. "Leave a few guys here to do some preliminary surveillance on him and his club, just in case he is the lying sack of shit I think he is. I want to be ready to move against him the second he decides to go back on his word."

"Done," Tank says imitating Chappo's somber tone, then chuckles at his own joke.

The Vagos are not a threat for the moment, but that guidance counselor might be. She's called three more times, while we were talking, and as much as I don't think it's a good idea I see her again, I maybe better at least hear what she has to say now.

Talking on the phone isn't the same as seeing her. But if I have to see her again, I might be forced to go back on my promise to stay the hell out of her pants.

* * *

"This isn't a good time, Roxanne," I say once she calls back, and I pick up on the first ring. I like the way her name feels on my tongue. But I think Roxie would sound even better…sexier.

She gasps like I took her completely by surprise, then clears her throat. "The principal came to see me after you left, and she said Lily will be expelled and social services called to take over her case."

Motherfucker. It's my turn to gasp, and very few things make me do that. Some of the brothers warned me that putting Lily in school could bring down all sorts of shit on us, and that’s exactly what this is. But Lily fucking needs to learn some things before she quits school.

"I won't have no social worker poking around in my business," I say harshly.

"I know," she says and sounds like she actually does. "I've convinced the principal to give Lily one last chance, on the condition that I take an active interest in her case. Which means visiting her home, speaking to her privately, and assessing your parenting skills."

My parenting skills are severely lacking. Practically non-existent. But I don't say that.

"That would make you the social worker poking around," I say instead, but nowhere near as harshly as before. Because I kinda like the idea of seeing more of Roxie.

She gasped again and has been silent for almost a minute now. Enough to make me realize that's possibly an even worse idea that letting in some random state worker. Because jilted women can do more damage than any ten incorruptible sheriffs, and I'm not gonna do more than seek a few nights of passionate fucking with her.

"I want to help your daughter stay in school," she finally says.

"Because you care about her that much?" I ask wryly. Something is telling me a few nights of passionate fucking is what Roxie wants too. But it's too big a risk to take.

"I do. Is that so hard to believe?" she snaps.

"Yeah, it is," I say. “You’ve only known her for a couple of weeks, and people don’t do things out of the kindness of their hearts very often.”

My unspoken suggestion that she’s doing it, because she wants to get fucked is loud and clear, at least to my own ears.

"Well, I do," she says, her resigned, slightly outraged tone telling me she missed the real meaning behind my words. "I'd like to visit tomorrow afternoon to see where Lily is living."

Maybe it's the desert sun beating down on my head, but her proposal actually sounds like a pretty good idea. Better her than some random social worker, anyway.

"Let’s make it around dinnertime," I say. "I won't be home before then."

If she caught the undertone in my voice, the real suggestion that I’d like her to stay after dinner too, it's not evident from her even breathing. Man, she’s talking about a really serious thing here, and all I’m picturing is her lips moving and wishing I could be watching them for real. She brings out the twenty-five year old Cross in me, the one that rarely thought about anything other than sex, unless it was killing, and I thought that guy was gone forever.

"Alright, I'll be there at seven," she says. "Where do I come?"

I think you meant, when do I come, Roxie. And the answer's the first time we're alone together. And it won't be just one time either. But I don't say that. It's bad enough that I thought it. Damn, it's been a long time, since a woman's messed with my mind as bad as Roxie does.

"Come to the foot of Resolution Hill at seven, and I'll pick you up," I say.

"OK, I'll be there," she assures me.

And right after she hangs up, and her sexy, sultry voice is just a fading echo in my head, I once again know setting up this visit wasn't a good idea. Because now there's no turning back anymore.