Chapter Eight
Rem
You could hear the bikes coming down the street like a thunderstorm, creating vibrations through the air and earth. Skinny already had the gate open for our guests while Greyson and I waited at the front of the clubhouse, the other members and Hearts at our back.
Greyson told Isabel to stay out of sight for now. It would be better if she came into the crowd tonight, after the bar opened and the mood had settled.
A stream of motorcycles came through the gate followed by a couple of vans and trailers. It was the Wraiths MC, our allies to the west. Their president, Jackson Wyatt, pulled up to where we were standing while the others made their way to the back lot to set up camp.
Jackson and Greyson gave each other a manly hug. “You’re early,” said Greyson.
“What can I say? The boys were eager for the party.” Jackson cracked a smile, his teeth looking perfectly white against his swarthy skin. His Italian heritage made him look like an old time Hollywood lover. We might have called him Valentino if he wasn’t such a cold bastard.
Jackson offered me a nod as Greyson escorted him inside the clubhouse.
We offered rooms in the clubhouse to officers, but the rest had to make do with trailers and tents in the field out back. It was a normal to sleep on the ground during these gatherings. The next three days would be a party/orgy with the occasional meeting fit in where possible.
Within the next few hours, we had our nomads, the Bulls MC, and two Aces charters arrive. I stayed outside to help organize and settle everyone in while Greyson played host inside with the other officers.
The field behind the clubhouse was filled with trailers, RVs and tents. The clubs had begun to socialize, forming little circles of conversations. The only groups that didn’t mix were the old ladies and the whores. It was rare to see a woman with a property patch standing next to a woman without one.
I caught myself looking back at the clubhouse quite a few times, at one window in particular. I’m not sure why I was surprised when I glanced up again to see Isabel staring down at me from the window. She gave a friendly wave, but I ignored it and kept walking.
I approached Duncan and Jackal who were sitting at a picnic table near the club’s boxing ring.
“Is she hot?” I heard Jackal ask. No doubt, Duncan was filling him in on the girl I just snubbed.
“Yes,” Duncan responded as I straddled the bench to sit next to Jackal.
“VP.” Jackal offered a hand for a quick shake. He was young kid in his early twenties, and he decided to ride with the other nomads to see the country a few months ago.
“Duncan says we have a new toy.” He gave me an ominous grin. Jackal had a thin face with high cheekbones, making him seem almost angelic. But when he smiled it looked a bit evil, hence the name Jackal. There had also been discussions to give him the road name of Hound, since he could sniff out a willing woman wherever we went. Of course the model-like features didn’t hurt. Normally, I didn’t care who he fucked, but Isabel was not going to be another one of his conquests.
“Just for show. She is under our protection so keep your dick in your pants.” I tried not to snarl as I warned him.
“I know. What if she comes on to me? I imagine a girl in her situation might need some comfort.” He nodded toward Duncan, looking for back up.
“I’m going to get us some beers,” Duncan said as he stood up, ignoring the comment altogether.
“How was Vegas?” I asked, wanting the conversation off of Isabel. I knew he had a great time because he texted me pictures every other day, usually of something that shouldn’t be shared.
“Paradise. Nothing but booze, cash, and girls named after precious stones.”
“What about the others?”
Jackal’s chipper mood vanished, and he shrugged. “They’re all right.”
He was playing it off, but I was sure the others weren’t the easiest to be around. Legend and Cougar had their own reasons for becoming nomads, and they were not as simple as Jackal’s.
Legend had lost a young son a few years ago, making it hard to live here with the memories. Being nomad meant he was still an Ace but didn’t have to endure the family atmosphere.
Cougar was another story. He had been the VP but stepped down a few years ago, leading to my election. He didn’t explain why he did it, but rumor was that Greyson asked him to step down. Ever since then, Cougar was not the nicest guy. He undermined me every chance he got. I nearly fainted in relief when he decided to become a nomad.
“You should settle in,” I said to Jackal.
He nodded and stood up. Before he walked away, he asked, “Amy still around?”
“Yeah, have at it.” I pointed at the clubhouse, happy he was looking for her and not asking about Isabel anymore. Jackal would do Amy right before the night was over.
I leaned back against the table and looked up at the window where Isabel was standing earlier. I needed to speak to her about tonight, but I found myself nervous to see her again.
This morning when she offered me breakfast, I wanted to take her up on her offer. Yet, at that moment, my first reaction was to make a mean comment about her new haircut. Not that it was bad, but I didn’t like it. I liked her hair simple, and the red made her seem more … slutty.
I was incapable of being nice to her. I didn’t know why. The physical attraction was nothing new, but something was different about Isabel. My attraction to her was so overpowering that when I was around her I felt dazed. As a result, my mouth seemed to spout cruel nonsense that I didn’t even mean.
I had to get it under control if I was going to survive the next few weeks.