Chapter 9

Alex

I wanted to ask Dart to explain more about what I’m apparently about to walk into, but don’t have a chance as Tyler doesn’t give up for a moment. But hearing him so excited as he prattles on about his beloved motorcycles puts a smile on my face. As does the way Dart so patiently answers him, so different to Ron, who’d have told him to shut up. Hmm. I grin as I catch the last part of the conversation. Dart has the fastest bike? I think I might need to take a spoonful of sugar with that.

It doesn’t take long before we’ve navigated the city and turn off the highway and head up an asphalt track that’s a bit rutted in parts. I don’t know what I expected from a biker compound, but as we approach, anything I imagined could have been nothing like what appears in front of me.

As we wait for the gates to be opened, I hush Tyler and ask a question of my own. “What is this place, Dart?”

“It’s an old vacation resort. Club bought it for a song after it was burned out. We rebuilt it, and now it’s a pretty good home for us.”

He’s now pulling up in front of a long, low building. “See? That used to be the reception area of the old hotel, with bar and restaurant. It’s now a damn fine clubhouse. We all live in the units you see up the roadway.”

Tyler’s impatient to get out, bouncing in his seat as he spies the lined-up Harleys.

“Hey, patience, little man. You’ll be able to see them all.” Dart’s laughing as he gets out, then comes around to my side while I release my son and lift him out. Dart places his hand on Tyler’s shoulder, holding him back. “Right, Tyler, some things for you to understand. You never touch another brother’s bike without permission. No climbing up or sitting on them, okay?”

Tyler’s eyes widen, and he nods at Dart, taking in everything he says so seriously. I suppress a grin, wishing I could get through to him like that. I’d probably have got a sullen look accompanied by an ‘Oh, but Mom’.

There’s a couple of heavily tattooed men standing, beers in their hands, bikers I haven’t met before. They look tough, muscular, and rugged, and if Dart wasn’t with me, would make me feel uneasy. They’re staring at us. Dart takes a deep breath, then starts walking over to them, swinging around and gesturing we should follow him.

“Peg, Tongue. This is Alex and Tyler.” Both men look down at me and give me a lift of their chins. Then, lowering their eyes even further, take in my son.

“Hear you like bikes, kid.”

Tyler gives a shy nod, then shrinks back into the protection of my body. Both men look one step away from violence, and I don’t blame him for seeking my comfort.

The one introduced as Peg ignores his reaction. “Wanna see my ride?”

Another little nod. Tyler’s thumb has gone into his mouth, a soothing action left over from babyhood when he’s not sure of a situation.

But the biker called Peg has got it in hand. “I’ve got a Wide Glide Sports. Which do you think it is?”

Tyler pushes away from me, and with an intent expression starts looking along the line of motorcycles. I have no idea if he knows what he’s looking for, but his thumb comes back out of his mouth. Eventually he makes a decision. “That one?”

Peg laughs. “No, but close. It’s that one there. Wanna see it?” As Tyler nods, Peg holds out his hand, and my son takes it. “You gonna look at the bikes with me and Tongue while Dart takes your mom out back?”

While I might be a little apprehensive, Tyler has lost any qualms he might have had as he almost drags Peg along. Peg grins, and calls back over his shoulder, “Go on, Momma. Little man and me, we’ll be just fine.”

Dart links his arm through mine, and with his free hand, waves towards the two bikers who dwarf my small son. “I’d trust them with my life, doll. They won’t let no harm come to the boy. Come, let’s go around the back and you can get to know everyone.”

With a few lingering reservations, and one last look at Tyler, who seems to be having the time of his life, I let Dart lead me through their clubroom and out the back where fire pits are burning and a couple of bikers are manning grills. There are several women around who are going back and forth, bringing out dishes of salad and stuff. Apart from the preponderance of males and that all the men are wearing those leather cuts, it could be any large family barbeque.

There’s a small child, laughing and giggling, being chased by a girl in her mid-teens. Fondly looking on is a biker who barely seems out of his teens himself. A small smile plays on his lips as his eyes follow the girl. Turning my attention away from him, I watch the other men, amused and put at ease by the way the burly bikers just sidestep when the girls almost run into them, and the doting smiles they cast their way, help to remove the last of my apprehension.

Having been engrossed in watching them, I hadn’t noticed we’d been approached until a man’s standing right in front of me. The flash on his cut is directly at the level of my eyes, so it’s easy to read the word ‘President’, making me swallow knowing this is the man in charge of all these men, and, the boss of my boss. A pretty woman comes up alongside him.

“Alex. I’m Drummer. President of this unruly lot. Pleased to meet you, and glad you could make it. Have you brought your son?”

I smile to acknowledge his warm welcome, and then say with a chuckle, “Lost him already, Drummer. Couple of your men are showing him their bikes. He’s in seventh heaven.”

As Drummer raises his eyebrow toward Dart, the man still with his arm entwined with mine informs him, “Peg and Tongue.”

“Your son likes bikes?” The woman now asks, and then remembers her manners. “I’m Sam, by the way, Drum’s ol’ lady.”

She seems to be about my age, not old at all, making me remember this is how they refer to their women. “He’s bike mad,” I reply with a chuckle. “His uncle’s got a bike and I suppose he’s learned it from him.”

“What does he ride?”

Again Dart answers for me, thankfully, as I wouldn’t know. “Dude’s got an Indian.”

Drummer seems interested, but Sam steps in. “If—Tyler, isn’t it?” At my nod of confirmation, she continues, “If Tyler likes bikes, why don’t we show him yours, Drum?”

Drummer draws her into his side and plants such a deep kiss on her lips it almost makes me blush to watch them. At last pulling away, he says, “Ain’t got no problem with that, darlin’. Later, perhaps. Now, Sam, d’ya wanna go introduce Alex to the rest of the ol’ ladies?”

“Okay. Alex?”

As Dart pulls his arm away, I again nod my head. “Come on then. They’re sorting out the food over there.” She leads me in the direction she’s pointing.

I hadn’t missed the fond way the president looked at her stomach before walking off, or the way her hand unconsciously rubs the small bump there. A woman’s intuition makes me ask, “How long you got?”

“I’m only three months along, but I’m already showing. Think it’s going to be a big baby.” She grimaces and points back at her man. “But just look at its father. He doesn’t do anything by halves.”I laugh, but her face is serious as she continues, “Can’t imagine what you went through when you had Tyler. Drummer’s told me your story.” For a second I’m taken aback that Dart’s shared what I told him, but hell, it’s no secret, so it doesn’t bother me none.

Eyeing her up, I wonder if knowing what I’d been through concerns her. After all, I understand more than most how pregnant women worry about their unborn child. I try to set her mind at ease. “In my case, having a child with a severe problem was a probability. If my husband had been honest, I wouldn’t have taken the chance. But,” I continue more fiercely, “Tyler’s here and he’s a wonderful child. While I hate he has to suffer in the way that he does, I could never wish he hadn’t been born.”

“I can’t wait to meet him.”

But there’s something more I want to say. “We all hope for a perfect child, Sam. But in the end, we cope with whatever’s thrown at us. I’ve no regrets. Wishes that things could be different of course, but no regrets.”

She stares at me for a second, her hand again poignantly rubbing her stomach, and then nods. “Hey, there’s Sophie. She’s a bit further along than me.” Drawing me over to the table, she points to a lovely blond woman, and then to the auburn-haired girl sitting alongside her. “This is Ella, she’s with Slick. And if she’s not pregnant yet it’s not for want of trying.”

Ella gasps and reaches out to mock slap Sam’s arm. Sam jumps out of reach, laughing. Then she introduces an older woman. “Sandy’s with Viper, who’s my dad.”

“And we’re definitely not pregnant,” Sandy says with a laugh.

“I’m Carmen, I’m married to Bullet. And I just love your hair!”

Self-consciously, my hand goes up to my head as the last woman introduces herself. “It needs a trim, but I haven’t found anyone to do it yet in Tucson.”

Sandy laughs. “There’s your chance, Carmen.” Then explains to me, “She’s a hairdresser.”

But Carmen’s shaking her head. “I’ve never learned to do Afro hair, and I suspect that’s your problem. I can ask around, see if I can find anyone to recommend.”

“Is it so different?” Sophie asks, looking perplexed.

“Yeah, it’s a different texture and needs someone who knows the right cutting techniques.”

Sam chuckles. “First time I’ve seen you stumped, Carmen. We’ll have to call Alex, the one who got away.”

Carmen purses her lips. And now everyone’s laughing at her.

“Move your asses and let Alex sit down.”

When they do as Drummer’s woman requests, I squeeze myself onto the bench. The autumn sun’s blazing down, but it’s a comfortable temperature and, for some reason, these women seem to accept me as one of their own. Ron had dissuaded me from making friendships, and his sneering attitude discouraged me from bringing anyone back to the house. Apart from my sister, I can’t remember the last time I had female company like this. I settle back to enjoy it, and happily listen as they tell me a little about themselves and their men.

“A wedding in Vegas? And you rode up the aisle?”

Ella’s grinning widely. “Yeah, it was only three weeks ago. It was a complete surprise. I’m still getting used to it.” As she’s talking, the teenager I’d noticed earlier comes up with the young child.

The little girl climbs on Sam’s lap, and the older girl rests her hand on Ella’s shoulder. “When’s the food ready? I’m starving.”

“The hungry one’s my sister, Jayden. Jayden, meet Alex.” We exchange smiles.

“And this here is Amy.” As Sam introduces her, I notice the child is staring at me. She cocks her head on one side. It suddenly hits me she might not have seen a black person in the flesh before, or perhaps not up so close. We’re not exactly common in Tucson. Suddenly Amy leans forward and curls her fingers into my hair.

“Pretty.”

I’ll take a compliment from anyone. And when she reaches her arms to me, it’s natural to let her slide off Sam’s lap onto my own.

Sam’s grinning widely, as if something good has happened. The other women seem pleased about it too.

“She’s coming along,” Carmen says, quietly.

Sam nods, then seeing my quizzical expression nods at the child and tells me softly, “I’ll tell you later.”

I’d assumed she was her daughter, but I might be wrong.

There’s a jug of margarita on the table, and I’m offered a glass. Can’t remember the last time I had one of those. Ron didn’t like me to drink. What the heck, he’s not here and I’m not driving. I take a glass, and even accept a refill. Then the meat is ready, and we’re filling our plates. As if summoned by some magical intuition, Peg appears with Tyler. Once we’ve eaten, Tyler gets involved in a game of chase with Amy and Jayden. I’m pleased to see he’s gentle with the small child, pretending to be unable to catch her.

Noticing, Sam nods at him. “He’s a good kid, isn’t he?”

I have to agree, while keeping a close eye to watch he’s not getting out of breath.

And now she tells me something that breaks my heart. That Amy’s mum has recently died, and her father’s recuperating away from the club. The thought that these men and women have looked after a child who wasn’t theres, and succeeded in making her happy, makes me realise what a good bunch of people they are. Even if they’re a one percenter club and thought of as criminals by most of the outside world.

The kids come back to the table just as Drummer and Dart step up. Dart leans over and speaks into my ear. “Drum wants to discuss somethin’ with you. Wanna come up to his house and Sam can show Tyler the bikes he’s got there? He’s got some vintage ones he might be interested in.”

“Can we, Mom?” There’s obviously nothing wrong with Tyler’s hearing as he tugs at my sleeve.

I slide off the bench, and take hold of his hand. “Haven’t you seen enough bikes for one day, Ty?”

As he pouts, Drum puts his hand on his shoulder. “Ain’t possible to see too many sleds, is it young man?”

Tyler straightens and gives his serious nod, a sharp dip up and down, which he seems to have copied from the men. “No, sir,” he replies, earnestly.

Dart snorts as though disguising a laugh.

Wondering what the president has to talk to me about, I walk alongside Dart as we go up to the top of the compound. I’m taking it all in as we go. There are a number of interlinked blocs which were presumably originally built to house guests. This really is an unusual biker compound. Not that I have much to base my observation on.

At the top, there are some more traditional-looking houses, one of which belongs to Drum and Sam. Using the side entrance, we go around to the garage. As Drum hits the remote and the interior is revealed, Tyler squawks and starts jumping on the spot. All I can see are a few bikes, some looking rideable, others decidedly not. Sam takes hold of his hand and walks him over to one that’s little more than a frame. In a patient voice she begins explaining, pointing things out. Tyler’s lapping it up.

Tilting my head in surprise, I listen to Sam spout all kinds of jargon. Drummer notices my expression and clarifies, “Sam knows her way around bikes almost better than I do. And,” he points to my son, “reckon we’ve got a little mechanic there in the makin’.”

The interest Tyler’s showing suggests that he might be right. With ease of long practice, I successfully choke back the sob which threatens whenever my son’s future is discussed.

Drummer points to a work bench and, without asking permission, Dart picks me up and puts me down on the top. He leans by my side, and only then looks at me and shrugs. His action so natural, as if he’d been doing it all his life. A startled laugh bursts from me.

The president stands in front of us, his arms folded. Before he speaks he twists around and gets thumbs up from Sam, and I realise she’s keeping Tyler occupied.

“Your son needs treatment,” he starts without preamble. “And you need money for that.”

I raise my shoulders, Dart’s obviously told him.

“We’re thinkin’ of doin’ a charity ride to raise some funds. Ain’t gonna be a lot, but a start perhaps.”

My head jerks forward and my eyes open. Out of everything I could have thought he might say, I never expected something like this. It’s the first time anyone’s offered me anything, well, apart from my sister, but she can’t afford to do much more than give me a roof over my head.

“Drummer, I don’t know what to say.” Tears come to my eyes. These people don’t even know me.

“You’re one of ours now.”

“As you work at the club,” Dart explains quickly, and as my eyes flit to his I see them narrowing at his president.

Giving a quick grin, Drummer continues, “A poker run, we’re plannin’. Dart can explain what that is. And we’ll get as many clubs interested as we can takin’ part.”

“It will take some organisin’, so won’t happen tomorrow,” Dart adds, presumably so I don’t get my hopes up too fast.

“I don’t know what to say.” I really don’t. I’ve no idea how much they’ll be able to raise, but anything could help. I’ve never thought about soliciting money, it goes against the grain to ask strangers to give up their hard-earned cash, but this is my son’s life we’re talking about. Up to now I’ve been fighting just to help him live day by day. Why shouldn’t I up it a notch to give him a real chance at life? As long as I can find a doctor willing to give the op a try at this late stage.

The corners of my mouth start turning up. “I don’t know how to thank you,” I tell Drummer.

The president turns to where Tyler is studying an engine with Sam. I can see from here he’s got grease on his clothes and a smudge on his face. It’s simply adorable how much fun he’s having today. Drum chuckles. “Dart told us he was a good kid. He deserves everythin’ we can do for him.”

I turn to Dart, and, unable to resist, put my arms around him and give him an impulsive kiss right on the lips. Embarrassed, I immediately go to pull away, but his hand whips up and presses against the back of my head, holding me to him. His lips are softer than I expected, warmth transferring from him to myself. A tingle that I haven’t felt for years starts building between my legs. Oh my God. I can’t deny it any longer, I really am attracted to this man.

He doesn’t push for more, our contact is only for a second. When we part I see a slightly dazed expression in his eyes, which I suspect is reflected in mine. He steps away from the workbench, offering me a hand to get down, then both of us turn our heads, looking in different directions.