Chapter 2: “Fire” Barns Courtney
Alexis:
“Woman! That bike is perfection!” Bree yelled over my shoulder briefly making me jump in surprise. Settling back into my groove, I finished my work up on one of the members bikes I’d been working on for two weeks on a complete rebuild from the frame up.
“Yeah, she is.” I stood up and admired my work as I wiped my hands on a red shop towel and looked the bike over for any imperfections.
“Is it one of the member’s bikes?” She glanced around the side of the shop at the club house, knowing very well they run their bikes into the ground.
“Yep. Mercy’s, his present to himself, I guess.” Mercy was the club's Road Captain or Enforcer depending on which position was needed. He came off as a bear of a man till he spoke then you find that he’s very polite and knowledgeable about all sorts of things. He’s great with a guitar and we played together at some of the clubs events. He also worked in the shop part time with me. We had talked some outside of work but he remained a pretty mysterious person.
I turned just in time to see a line of motorcycles coming down the dirt road, the dust they’d kicked up filled the sky behind them. They pulled into the parking lot and Bree had to yell over the noise. “Are you coming to the party tonight?” I raise my hand and shake it in a knocking motion, sign language for yes. We had picked it up in school as our own language. “Are you planning to see anyone in particular?” I give her a look as most of the engine noise dies down.
“Nope. I think it’s a member’s only night. Which mean you get D all to yourself and I get to sit at the bar all night.” D and Bree were still my favorite couple, completely in love with each other since high school. He was a club member so she got to be in all the action. Well as much as one can be being married to a member.
I’m allowed in because I basically live here. I respect the club and don’t cause trouble. None of the members or nonmembers here would touch me with a ten foot pole. That was Ky’s doing. Amazing for someone who didn’t want me went to all the trouble to make it clear that no one else could either. It made me feel like I was a disease.
So I had to see people outside the ranch. In the last three years it’s been pretty slim pickings. It wasn’t lost on me that three years was exactly how long Ky had been President of Malicious Intent.
I take my phone out of my pocket and snap a quick picture of the bike I’m working on, as a trophy for later viewing. “Don’t be such a downer it doesn’t look good on you. One day Sadist will either get his shit together or you will get yours together and leave like you always said you would,” Bree said.
I rolled my eyes “Don’t tempt me. I’ll see you tonight after I finish up here.” I refused to talk about it anymore. Bree nods her head, her beautiful blonde curls bobbing in tune with the motion.
“Alrighty, Sweet cheeks. Go home get changed, do something with your hair and for the love of all that’s holy put on something that shows off your tits!” she yelled already turning around to head to her car as I flip her the bird. Without missing a beat she shoots one back. The woman knows me well.
A few hours later when I return to my house, my fluffy black cat meets me at the door like a dog then promptly showing me his bum as he heads to his food dish to howl. Feeding him and looking at the house around me I feel a sense of pride.
Out of everything I had accomplished this was the one thing that I was most proud of. Working on bikes has been a profitable experience and I had saved money for years living in the tiny apartment I’d rented as a teen. When I hit twenty nine this year I knew it was time to find a place that felt like home. My blood, sweat, tears, and most of my paycheck went into the small three bedroom house. It had been built in the 1940’s and had seen its fair share of occupants through the years. I had redone the wood floors after ripping shag carpet that smelled of dog piss and cigarette smoke out. Recreated the bathroom to its former glory. Repairing its old claw foot tub, and spending long nights replacing its small white and black circular tiles on the floors. This home was my pride and glory.
I turned on my favorite music and stepped into the shower feeling the day's work and stresses leave my body. No lights on and only a couple of my favorite candles lit, their warm glow reflecting off the white tile walls, creating a peaceful atmosphere to combat my anxiety about tonight. I let down my hair washing it thoroughly and scrub off the oil and grime from the work I’d put in at the shop. I stepped out of the tub and entered my walk-in closet, studying its contents. I put on lacy undies no one will probably ever see. A pair of my favorite jeans, a tank top with the shop's logo that's faded and soft but low enough it shows off my breasts perfectly, as per Bree. I added enough make up to compliment my lovely shade of dead skin tone. The wonderful thing about being a redhead is that I never, like ever, tan. Therefore can never find a foundation that doesn’t make me look orange. I leave my red locks to hang down my back and dry naturally. Then I put on my favorite ginger scented lotion rubbing it into my tattoos making their color pop a bit more with its rich moisture. I figure I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be and head out the door.
When I walk into the club, I’m met with the sound of music blaring from the clubs speakers, couples are grinding against each other or preforming more explicit acts in time with the music. I see Ky over at the bar with a brunette attached to his side. Her eyes shoot daggers at me, while his silvery one’s scan me over silently following me as I move through the club.
Amazed after all this time that I still didn’t understand why women hated me, or how knowing his eyes were on me still managed to affect me so much. I ignored them both and approach Bree at the other side of the room speaking with one of the other wives. She turns and spots me.
“I don’t think I’m staying long tonight,” I say looking back at the bar briefly. The brunette was snaking her hand up Ky’s thigh.
She looks over my shoulder at the bar and hands me a beer.
“Yes, you will. They already have the stage set up for you to sing, and you haven’t gifted us with that beautiful voice of yours in ages, so get your ass up there and do your thing!” I give her a look. Then look at the stage that I had somehow managed to miss walking through the door.
“How did they know I was going to sing tonight?” She looks up innocently.
“Well you’ve been so stressed out lately, I thought I’d take things into my own hands. You sing. You get all your rage out on the stage and everything's good again. Like a volcano. You erupt. Kill everyone and everything and then you're peaceful.” She laughs.
“Thanks.” I say with an exaggerated amount of sarcasm.
“Away with you!” she says and shoves me towards the stage where the guys are already busy setting up to play.
I approach the stage with the same lump in my throat I get before every show. And I wasn’t even expecting to sing tonight. My lip quivers giving me away to Mercy. We aren’t a real band but we’ve played and worked around each other enough to know each other's issues well. He winks at me setting the mic to a lower level. Perfect for my height or lack of it.
I scan the crowd. The club is packed tonight. I’m sure the fire marshal would have a panic attack if he walked through the door. Leaning to the mic, I instantly have everyone's attention. The music shuts off, and our speakers crackle to life. I look up and scan the crowd, seeing that Ky has now moved to the center of the room to a table, the brunette now sitting in his lap. I lock eyes with him as I tell Mercy what song to start with. I feel myself come alive and everything making me anxious leaves my body as I give myself to the beat of the music and start to sing using the look in Ky’s eyes as my fuel. I begin belting out the lyrics to “The Lion The Beast The Beat” by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals. The entire club is hanging on every word I give to them, like a lifeline, and everything fades. Nothing exists but me and the music.
We play for an hour and half. My voice has grown deep and throaty from the abuse. I find Ky in the crowd again. His face unreadable his icy gaze locks with mine as I begin my slow dance intoLissie’s version of Danzig’s “Mother,” Moving my hips with the beat of the song while raising my hands to emphasize the words. I glare the crowd before me down as if I’m singing the words to them. I finish the song and open my eyes to see Ky has left. My eyes search for him, lost in applause, whistles and cheers that have erupted around me. I find him again carrying the brunette over his shoulder the back of his tattooed head fades as he exits the room.
Pinky-O, Ky’s right hand man, and former friend, appears to give me a bear hug before tossing me off the stage into the hungry crowd.
I crowd surf my way back to the rest of the club, as he gives my ‘thank you’s” and ‘goodnights’ for me. How thoughtful, of him I think sarcastically, as I’m groped and prodded in places I didn’t think possible til I reach the end, where a happy Bree looks at me and giggles “You killed it out there! Sadist can go fuck himself! I saw him and your face when he left. Don’t let him ruin your night. You are amazing and you just did an amazing show! Plus, there’s plenty of other men here tonight!”
She wastes no time walking over to the large crowd. Striking up a conversation with a few of the men as I’m dragged along. Finding one she likes she introduces me to him. Telling him we have so much in common and so on. The man tells me his hopes of joining the club. I nod along drinking my beer. Tired from the day and sweaty from giving it my all on stage I can’t imagine getting anywhere with anyone tonight. But the thought of seeing Ky walk out with that woman is playing in my head on repeat and I hadn’t seen him come back yet. Same shit different day I guess but for some reason I let it bother me tonight. Then I do something completely out of character. I interrupt the man in front of me. “Michael? Do you have a girlfriend? Wife? Side chick of any sort?” He shakes his head no. “Do you wanna fuck?”
He looks me over surprised at first, eyes taking in my body as my shirt clings to my curves and nods. “Yeah. Alright where do you want to go?” He asks.
I start walking expecting him to follow to the bathroom down the hall. “The rooms are for members only,” I explain over my shoulder. He’s right on my tail as we pass Ky just returning from his room buttoning up his jeans and instantly stopping in his tracks to see if I have the guts to follow through. The brunette walks past me, smug smile on her face and tries pulling on Ky’s arm attempting to pull him back to the bar.
“Come on Sadist, that was amazing I need a drink after all that energy we just used.” she pouts. Ky ignores her completely as his silver eyes bore into mine before looking to Michael like he might slit his throat right then and there. The thought thrills me briefly. But I choose to push him and the slut on his arm vying for his attention. I’m on a mission and Michael’s not paying attention to anything but my ass. Looking Ky in the eyes I push Michael against the door to the bathroom, pressing my breasts into his chest and kissing him. He kicks the door behind him open.
It gives easily, swinging open and banging against the tiled wall loudly. Briefly, I thought twice what I’m about to do, but Michael is unfazed and still going strong as he presses me against the counter while kisses me and runs his hands over my body.
I let him lift me onto the countertop and he immediately begins to pull off my jeans, before he can come back for another kiss I push his head down, showing him where I want him to be. He goes down on his knees in front of me just as the first booming knocks come through the door. He’s momentarily distracted, I roll my eyes and yell before I can think at the door.
“Fuck off Sadist!” I instantly realize the mistake I’d made once the words are out and I lose his attention entirely. His eyes going wide as realization hits. “Three...two…one.” I count off. In those few seconds Michael is up and I’m slowly attempting to pull my pants up as the door flies off its hinges. It hits the wall so hard, the metal knob cracks a few of the tiles before falling to the floor. “Hi there! So happy to have you join us!” Anger spilling into each word as I finally manage to pull my jeans over my ass and see the crowd forming behind the wall of man that’s in front of me. Ky’s face is a mask of fury as he looks at me our eyes locked. “Michael you can leave now.” I tell him and he doesn’t hesitate to run past Ky and out of the club. Safe from Ky’s wrath as long as we are in a power standoff. “What the fuck are you doing?” his voice almost a growl. He looks like he's going to eat me alive, his silver eyes daring me to say something. I have something up my ass tonight that I have to prove. I just want to pick a fight with the great and powerful Ky.
“I’m just trying to get laid. I notice you didn’t have a problem in that department.” I say, venom seeping into my tone as he gets a wicked smile on his face and swings his fist into the mirror. It instantly splinters and fragments to the floor. The action sparked something deep within me urging me on, we probably have the whole club's attention right now. But I’m not done I can’t hold back the anger building in me “Do you realize this is probably the most you've spoken or even fucking interacted with me at all in the last TEN years? And you think you have a right to have a say in who I choose to fucking sleep with? You have some unspoken claim on me that everyone is aware of but you won’t do a goddamned thing about! Can’t touch or be touched like I’m a fucking curse! You have isolated me and won’t even talk to me!” I was rambling, I was screaming, I had tears streaming down my cheeks. Part of my brain was telling me I would regret this the other half was cheering me on. This is not how I wanted the night to go.
“Don’t push me Alexis. Not right now.” That just re lit the fire. I get as close to him as I can without touching him glaring up into his silver eyes.
“Why? What are you going to do about it? Ignore my existence entirely and cut me off? Hmm, seems you've got that part covered.” I literally push him then. I push him out of the way like he isn’t a freaking wall of muscle and walk out of the club of staring faces with my head held high. The only sound breaking through the silence in the club is the sound of Ky losing his shit and smashing things in the background. The blunt crashing sounds of his pain make me smile through my tears.
I showered again when I got home, put my hair up in a messy bun before digging out my favorite comfort clothes my favorite worn thin, Frankenstein’s monster leggings, a purple tank top with paint stains and my cat in my lap to complete my look. I check my phone after it vibrates itself off the kitchen counter where I’d thrown it as I’d come in the door. Fifteen missed calls and a string of texts
Bree: Well the club is finally getting that bathroom remodel it needed.
Bree: Are you okay?
Bree: They finally got Sadist out of the club before he could rip another room apart. No idea where’s he’s at now.
Bree: Did you make it home safe? Love ya girl check in when you can.
Bree: PS. Go you, you were awesome tonight!
Bree: PSS. Your badass took on hurricane Sadist and won!
Bree: PSSS. You're my hero! Women rule!
I can’t help but laugh she knows how to cheer me up. I send her a quick text back and decide to settle in for the rest of the weekend to deep clean my house and binge watch the weekend away with the seven seasons of a popular show I’ve been hearing about for years.