Thank you:
I would like to thank my husband who is my biggest supporter. He is my rock, my sounding board, my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for standing by me and always letting me know I am your best person.
Thank you to my entire family for supporting me.Thank you to Nicole Lloyd for being the best PA I could ever hope to have. She is the best at what she does.
Thank you to Darlene for stepping up and editing for me at the last minute. You saved me lady.
Thank you to Liberty Parker for stepping up and formatting. You too saved me. Thank you to Nikki Horn for the fabulous trailer. I love your work. Thank you to Amanda DiPierro for the great blog cover reveal.
Thank you to Reggie Deanching and RplusMphoto for the beautiful photo for my cover. It was a pleasure working with you.
Thank you to Alfie Gordillo for being in the photo that became my cover.
Thank you to Tracie Douglas for the beautiful cover.
Thank you to Joanne for always being the best beta reader.
Thank you to all the bloggers who put my books out there and share my cover and teasers.
Thank you to every reader who takes a chance on reading my books and I hope I never let you down. Thank you again for taking the time to review my books. It helps tremendously.
Table of contents:
Copyright
Disclaimer
Characters
Blurb … Joy
Prologue
Vera’s Thoughts
Chapter 1 … Joy
Chapter 2 … Hacksaw
Chapter 3 … Joy
Chapter 4 … Hacksaw
Chapter 5 … Joy
Chapter 6 … Hacksaw
Chapter 7 … Joy
Chapter 8 … Unknown
Chapter 9 … Hacksaw
Chapter 10 … Devil
Chapter 11 … Hacksaw
Chapter 12 … Joy
Chapter 13 … Hacksaw
Chapter 14 … Joy
Chapter 15 … Hacksaw
Chapter 16 … Joy
Chapter 17 … Hacksaw
Chapter 18 … Hacksaw
Chapter 19 … Micah
Chapter 20 … Joy
Chapter 21 … Hacksaw
Chapter 22 … Devil
Chapter 23 … Joy
Chapter 24 … Hacksaw
Chapter 25 … Tara
Chapter 26 … Rome
Chapter 27 … Devil
Chapter 28 … Maddie
Chapter 30 … Hacksaw
Chapter 31 … Joy
Chapter 32 … Hacksaw
Chapter 33 … Maddie
Chapter 34 … Hacksaw
Things to Come
Ways to follow Vera
Teaser book … Severed Ties that Bind
Other work by Vera
Keep up with Vera
BONUS BOOKS: Never Forever Never Ever Catching Forever Never Ever Pt. 2
I have been in a downward spiral since I gave birth over three years ago to the most beautiful little girl with the sweetest smile. An experience I will never forget. I carried her for nine months. I felt her grow, felt the first kick, and felt relief when she was finally born and she was completely healthy. Adeline Destiny Black came into this world screaming her little lungs out and it was the sweetest sound to my ears but I am not Adeline’s mom. I was the gestational surrogate. I have never wanted children of my own. Em was the one who got all the maternal feelings in our family. Em is my younger sister and she was born to be a mom. Me, not so much. How could a club girl and a motorcycle club bartender want a family of her own? I am a party girl or at least, I was. I’ve never had the tendency to want my own children or even be in a relationship with one man. My friends and sister look at me like I am crazy and Em says in time I will change my mind but I never believed it until after Adeline was born.
Laurie and Driller are good people. Trent “Driller” Black is the VP of the BlackPath MC and Laurie is a grade school teacher. The BlackPath MC is where I became a club girl. I know, I am too old at over thirty years old to be referred to as a girl but it is better than what some people called us. Bitch, slut, whore and that is some of the better ones. I own who and what I am but people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I have never pretended to be anything that I am not. I do not lie or steal. I don’t fuck married men or men with ol’ ladies. I am loyal to the bone. That’s why I stayed with the BlackPath MC, they didn’t make you do anything you were not comfortable with. They accepted me for who I am and there were no double standards with the club members if I remembered my place and that is something I had a very good grip on. I wasn’t looking for a patch on my back. I moved up from being just a club girl to taking care of the bar and keeping the other girls in line. I quit being just another pretty face that was around when one of the members had an itch to scratch to being part of the family. I didn’t know how much I needed that until it happened. Driller always treated me with respect. Laurie didn’t come around much when I was at the clubhouse and I never understood why until she experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage when I was at the club. Laurie spiraled into a deep depression after that and Driller was away from the club a lot. It wasn’t the first miscarriage that Laurie had suffered. Laurie and Driller had tried for years to have a child. Each time it ended in miscarriage. When Em, my sister, started coming to the clubhouse and ended up marrying the President, Chief, I started spending more time with the families. Laurie and I formed a friendship and I volunteered to be their surrogate when all their other options had been taken away. Driller was not on board with this plan to begin with but after the doctor explained to Driller the process, Laurie coaxed him into it.
The day I found out the process had worked I held Laurie as she cried tears of joy. The day Adeline was born Driller cried. I had never seen a big biker cry before and I knew I had done the right thing. The day that I left the hospital was the first time that I felt an emptiness inside me that I couldn’t fill. I went to my counselor and talked it out. I got a handle on the feelings and threw myself into other things in my life. Then three months after Adeline was born, Laurie approached me about being a surrogate again and I was hesitant but then Driller asked me to do it and explained he and Laurie wanted Adeline to have a sister or brother to grow up with. I remember growing up with Em and I wanted that for Adeline too. I had kept my distance from the new family so I could heal but when they approached me again I knew it would not be that easy. Em tried to talk me out of going through with it and I knew I should listen but I just couldn’t. I wanted Adeline to have every experience in life she could, including a sibling. We started the process again. I visited the doctors and there was no way that the reproductive endocrinologist would even consider it until the six- month mark and only then after me having a complete physical examination and a thorough mental review. That gave us the time to speak with an attorney and have the birth order drawn up. Once I passed the physical exam and got the green light, I went to my counselor and she warned of the things I may be feeling after the birth again but gave us an okay. Then Laurie and I synchronized our cycles through hormones and the harvest was done and the embryo was fertilized and then transferred to me. That day a peace overtook me and I knew the next nine months were going to be another blessing for me to experience. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an overly religious woman, but carrying a child and giving birth can only be described as a miracle and a blessing.
Thirty-nine weeks later, Lucas Whisky Black weighed in at eight pounds and six ounces and twenty-one and a half inches long. He wasn’t screaming when he came into the world but it didn’t take him long to get there. They didn’t even let me hold him and my heart broke watching Laurie and Driller swaddle the newborn to them. I know Lucas is their baby but I knew then I wouldn’t be able to go back to my old life. I wanted this family to have their happy ending but I couldn’t watch it.
So, four months after giving birth for the second time it was time for me to move on. I hated leaving my sister and her family and the family I had made with the BlackPath MC but I went to Chief and he helped me find a place to land. He arranged with Callie, his daughter married to the President to the Feral Steel MC in Oklahoma, to help me find a place to work and live. I have decided it is time to give up on the club life. No more bikers for me and to tell you the truth the last thing on my mind is a man at all. I just want to work on getting my life to a place I can survive. A small place of my own and a job that will pay my bills. If I can keep in touch with Em and her family then that is all I need. Callie and I have always been on friendly terms and she agreed to help me out. Her dad is married to my sister so we are practically family. I have saved all my money, so I have a good little nest egg to start this new life outright, but I need to find a job to keep my mind off other places.
My first week here I stayed with Callie’s three best friends which is kinda weird. They are all from Texas and they followed Callie to Oklahoma and they have their own lives but they still live on the Feral Steel property in Devil and Callie’s first house. Fe, Hanna and Sarah welcomed me with open arms, but I still needed my own space. Luckily for me the Feral Steel MC had bought some apartments and they had some available immediately. A filled-out application, a good look around the apartment complex and my first, last, and deposit paid and I now have my own apartment. It took all of one day to get settled. It’s been a long time coming. Now for a job. Tara, Rome’s ol’ lady, told me about a diner she used to work at but waiting tables is not really my thing. It requires being nice and smiling all the time. I haven’t felt like smiling for a long time. Devil gave me a heads up about a job at their gym and I am applying today. Hopefully I will qualify and then my new life will be set. Now, if only my heart would just quit hurting. I have picked my phone up a dozen times since I have been here and started to dial Laurie or Driller’s phones but I hang up every time. I start texts but delete them. Distance, that is what I need. I have a new life and new friends. I can do this.
I barely get my eyes open when I realize my mistake from last night is still here. Indigo has her arm wrapped around me like I am going to snuggle with her ass, like I would snuggle with any woman. Hell, I don’t even know what a snuggle is good for. We sweated our asses off while we were fucking last night. Who wants to be next to a sweaty ass if you don’t need to be. I don’t want to be an ass to Indigo but she knows my rules. I start snoring then your feet hit the floor and get out of my space. My mouth is dry with the taste of stale alcohol and too many smokes. It reminds me that we were both drunk off our asses last night so I will cut the woman some slack. She may have just fallen asleep. Hell, it happens. Her and her sister Teal are our newest recruits for pussy. Both are up for any action a man could want, together or alone. Any hole they have are up for action. I throw her arm off me hard enough to wake her but not so hard to hurt her just get her awake and out of my bed. Indigo doesn’t open her eyes but I know she is awake. I’m not playing these damn games. All thoughts of being the nice guy go out the window. Who the hell ever said I was a nice guy? Not me or anyone who knows me. “Out, now!” I tell Indigo. She opens one eye and I give her the look.
“I must have fallen asleep last night.” The way she says it, I know that is not the case. “Since I am already here how about we have a little more fun today. You might like having me around.” That gets me moving. I roll over to the edge of my side of the bed and stand up. I see that my morning wood has Indigo’s attention but I ignore it and walk to my closet and grab the first pair of jeans my hands hit. I don’t bother with anything else. I fix my sights on Indigo and give her the stare down.
“I’m getting in the shower. I want you gone when I get out and st ay clear from me until you can remember the rules. They are simple so you should be able to get a grasp on them but until then, stay away.” I don’t raise my voice and I put no malice with them. I am calm and state it quietly.
“I just thought we had a good time. We always have a good time but you keep me at armslength.” I try to hold my calm with this woman but it is hard. I take a close look at her. Indigo is a beautiful woman. Too skinny for my taste but she can suck a cock like a pro and yes, I know how a pro sucks a cock. The closer I look I realize Indigo is young. Too damn young for my old ass. I try to keep calm. Indigo and her sister Teal haven’t been here that long but I hate breaking in new club pussy. They are all the same and never learn the rules.
“Let me save you a lot of grief her e, babe. I am not now or any time in the future looking for an ol’ lady and if I did it wouldn’t be a club girl all my brothers have fucked. I’m not trying to be an ass by saying this; it will just save us both time if you have that clear in your head. I will treat you no different than any other piece of ass in this clubhouse. There is nothing wrong with being a club girl if that is the life you choose but you need to learn your place. Makes it easier for us brothers. I will only tell you this once to not make the mistake of falling asleep in my bed again. We fuck and then you leave. You suck me off and then you leave. Same thing every time. I have been over this with you before. We may fuck more than once. We may fuck and then you suck me off or the other way around but in the end, you always leave. Now get your ass out of my room and stay clear of me until that sinks in. When I get out you better be on the other side of that door and it better be locked.” I don’t wait for Indigo to say anything. I know I wasted my breath but I tried being a nice guy, now she gets the real me. I slam the bathroom door and lock the door for good measure. I start the shower and wait until the room starts to fog over from the hot water. I grab the bar of soap and wash away another wasted night. I have been restless lately and I have no idea why. After the situation with THC Hempcan was settled, things have been quiet. We know it is only a matter of time before Douglas rears up again but for the time being it has been normal living, whatever the hell that is. We’ve been keeping eyes on Douglas and he is regrouping and taking on new players and one day we will have to put Douglas in the ground if one of his other business partners doesn’t do it first. We haven’t decided if it is easier to deal with the evil we know or an unknown evil but that is not what has me living on edge the last few weeks. The Feral Steel MC is not afraid of anything and neither am I. I don’t mind getting my hands bloody sometimes as compared to sitting in an office pushing papers around. Maybe that is it. Maybe I need to tell Devil to put me somewhere besides that damn gym I have been pushing papers around in. Don’t get me wrong it has its perks. I can work out any time I want to. I get to see the gym bunnies in their tight little shorts and barely-there tops. Those women are no better than the club girls except they hang around the gym instead the clubhouse. They crave the attention of the men that hang out in the gym. You can tell the difference of the women that go to the gym to work out to the ones that go there to get attention by what they wear. Then we have the middle-aged women that are trying to turn back the hands of time by getting a little action on the side by someone younger than the old man they have paying their bills. Cougars on the prowl. I don’t judge, I just observe and avoid any random hands that want a walk on the wild side with a random biker. It’s the bad boy syndrome. Right now, I am just tired of all the bullshit. I want to get on my bike and head to the first open road. I miss the runs we used to go on. We still have some runs for the community and the occasional security detail, but I need more. Maybe I just need to go back to the garage. At least then I am working with my hands. I shake my head as I rinse the shampoo out. I would never leave the Feral Steel. This is my home and my family. Maybe I just need a fucking vacation. I turn the water off and jerk the shower curtain back and grab my towel. It doesn’t take me long to dry and then take care the rest of my morning routine. I leave the bathroom and see that Indigo followed my directions and she is gone. I get my phone from the table and check the time. I still have plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before I am expected at the gym. I grab my jeans from the floor where I took them off last night and empty my pockets and put everything in the right place in my clean jeans. I open the closet and grab a t-shirt and slip it on and then my cut. I sit down and put on my socks and boots. Then I head out to find me something to feed my face. Coffee sounds good about now, who knows what today will bring.
I have been sitting here waiting for the gym to open for thirty minutes. I admit I was here fifteen minutes early but who in the hell opens a business fifteen minutes late? I thought Callie said to be here early so I could talk to this guy before classes started. I think about what kind of classes they could be offering at a gym and then I think this might be a sweet gig if I get to take some of them. My ass could always use a little tightening. Curse of a short woman or like Em likes to put it, vertically challenged, is if you like to eat then you must exercise to keep the weight off your ass. Why can’t the extra weight just go to my boobs or go to make me taller? I so wish I was five nine with a willowy build. Nope, I am five four with birthing hips and a jiggly ass. My boobs are more than a handful but not nearly as perky as they once were. Long legs, nope. I have muscular legs from all the walking I do, the one exercise I enjoy. I eat healthy but I refuse to starve myself. After giving birth to two children I am still only one size larger than my original weight and that thought stops me. I will not go there. I am brought out of my thoughts by the sound of a motorcycle. This sound used to thrill me but not so much now. I watch as the biker that I have been waiting on parks his bike next to my truck. I can see that this is going to be an interesting interview from the smirk on the man’s face. “This is what I love about my life.” I wait for the rest of the line from this delicious biker. Yes, I’ve sworn off bikers but I would have to be dead not to see the pure sex appeal radiating off this man. His eyes are a deep blue and his body is massive. Broad shoulders, muscled up arms with tattoos running down them, his chest is broad and the tight t-shirt he is wearing shows off the definition of his pecs. He is a reckless man or likes a bit of danger because he isn’t wearing a helmet. I am taking in all that is making my mouth water with need but I tamp that shit down fast when I hear a laugh come out of his mouth. My attention is brought back to his face. “A beautiful woman waiting on me and the look of want and lust in her eyes.” This reminds me exactly why I need to stay away from bikers. I smile at him and give it to him straight.
“That look in my eyes is need, I need a job, but the rest is impatience because the gym should have been open fifteen minutes ago. Haven’t you ever heard time is money?” I keep my voice as even as I can. I see the surprise in his eyes that I am not trying to flirt with him. Then he has the nerve to wink at me and smile a smile that I am sure has gotten plenty of women to drop their panties for him.
“Well, sugar, I don’t punch a time clock but if I had known you were waiting on me I would have been here earlier. I like my women feisty but you are on the verge of mouthy. I don’t like that so much but I bet we could find a way to make you happy.” Does this man not know that sexual innuendoes are not going to impress me?
“Give me the job that I am applying for and we will be good. If not then I have other applications to fill out,” I tell him calmly while trying to keep my eyes anywhere but on this man in front of me. When he dismounts his bike, I step back and try to catch my breath, but this man is tall and his legs look like they were poured into his jeans. Very muscular legs in very tight jeans. He takes a step towards me and I take a step back. I do not need to be any closer to this man. He sticks his hand out to me and I look at it and then I put my hand in his and we shake hands. My breath catches and I feel a little jolt in my hand. I sneak a glimpse at his eyes and he is smiling. He brings my hand to his mouth and I know I should stop this but it is like I am frozen in time. He kisses my hand softly and I try to pull it back but he holds it and turns it over and runs kisses over my wrist and my panties are soaked. How could he know to do this? My pulse point in my wrist has always been sensitive to kisses and this man just drenched my panties. I am mesmerized until I see the smirk on his face and right then I know he knows exactly what he is doing to me so I jerk my hand away and wipe it down my jeans and step back to get some distance.
“Sugar, you afraid of the heat between us?” I try to get myself together. I clear my throat and try to turn on my inner bitch.“Callie told me to come by for an interview and I am here for that. I am not interested in anything else so let’s do the interview or I can find something else.” I hope by mentioning Callie’s name it will get his mind back on track.
“You’re Joy, the woman from Texas and the BlackPath MC?” A strange look crosses his face. I guess I should have started with that part. “We don’t have club girls here at the gym. Don’t you think the clubhouse would be a better fit for you?” That just pisses me off.
“Not that it is any of your business but I am not a club girl anymore. I’m looking for a job, here. Can I have your name so I know who I am talking to since you seem to know who I am?” He’s looking me up and down.
“Name’ s Hacksaw. I am the VP of the Feral Steel MC.” He points to his name on his cut that I already scoped that out. I was trying to be a bitch. Guess that flew right over his head. “Let’s take this inside so we can a have a sit down in my office.” Hacksaw walks around me and towards the gym. I can’t help but watch his ass in his form fitting jeans. Damn, he fills them jeans out. Hacksaw walks up to the door and opens it with his keys and then steps inside to disarm the security system. I stand outside until he looks back out at me and then I follow him inside and across the gym to an office. He puts in another code and then opens the door and steps in and turns the light on. He looks back at me and then walks back out. “Have a seat while I turn the rest of the lights on and check everything out.” I do as he had said and wait. I look around in the office and there is nothing much to look at. There is the chair I am sitting in and another chair beside it. A desk with a chair and a filing cabinet. There’s an old sofa that has seen better days. There’s a computer and a phone on the desk but there is nothing else in here. No pictures and the desk doesn’t have one paper on top of it. I see a tall metal trash can but even it is empty. They must have a cleaning service. No way bikers keep this place this clean. I was in a clubhouse for years and bikers do not clean up after themselves. Hacksaw walks back in and sits down behind the desk. “Alright sugar, let’s try this again. Why do you want to work here instead of the clubhouse?” I am ready to lose my mind with Hacksaw’s attitude.
“Do you know that there are questions that you can and can’t ask during a job interview? This line of questioning is inappropriate.” I am trying not to get too much of an attitude. I really want this job. Hacksaw surprises me when he starts laughing. Then his eyes go completely serious and I can see why someone would be intimidated by his stare.
“Sugar, the Feral Steel Motorcycle Club owns this damn gym and I am the vice president so I can ask any damn questions I want to. My job as VP is to make sure no outside threats get into our inner circle. So, get off your high horse and answer the questions or get back in that truck out there and go back to Texas.” Oh no, he didn’t.
“I’m not your sugar. The name is Joy and the only thing I want is a damn job. If you are not hiring I will find another place of employment which might not be a bad idea since you are such an ass.” I want to say more but I don’t want this biker going psycho on me. Hacksaw just smiles which is irritating the hell out of me.
“Sugar, did Chief send you to keep an eye on us? We are friendly w ith the BlackPath MC so I can’t see that being the case. Why would someone who is used to spreading her legs for a club want out? Nothing wrong with being a club girl if that is what you want. You look like you have a few more good years in you. You have a good rack, not the best, but decent. An ass for days which is nice to look at and hips for grabbing onto. I’d let you blow me or let you ride me for a night. What is your deal? You a patch whore?” My head feels like it is going to explode. I could kill this man. I put my rolled-up fists under my legs to hold them down. I do not trust myself. I do the thing I am good at. I turn my emotions off and answer him with my teeth gritted.
“Hacksaw, I am not embarrassed about my past and I do not try to hide it. I was a club girl, a whore for bikers of the BlackPath MC. I let men have their pleasure in me and on me but I have never been a patch whore. I got mine. I own what I have done in my past but I will not let you or anyone else judge me for doing the exact same thing as bikers have done since the beginning of clubs or even before. I fucked men and I enjoyed it but I would never let one patch me even if they asked or begged. You see, Hacksaw, I have seen what the members do when their wife or ol’ lady is not around. The BlackPath MC never force women to do what they don’t want to so I had the choice if I fucked a man with a ring on his finger or a woman sitting home waiting on them. I wouldn’t and I didn’t. I never tried to trap a man and I know how to keep my mouth shut.” I have had enough. I stand up and start to the door but stop at the door and look back at the smiling fool. “Fuck you for trying to make me feel like shit for being me. I am not asking for your approval of my life choices nor do I want it.” I walk through the door but I hear the chair move against the floor. I don’t stop by the time I get to the front door he grabs my arms. I turn to look up at him.
“Sugar, you are one hot piece, aren’t you? You have the job but you need to keep that attitude in check. I like my women feisty but if you ever talk to me again like that I will put you over my knee and blister your ass red and not in the good way.” I jerk my arm away from him and he lets me. I’m not done sassing yet.
“Sugar, you stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours. When do I start?” I say in my sassiest sweet voice. Hacksaw winks at me and it makes me see red.“Nine sharp, tomorrow.” Then Hacksaw does something that I don’t expect. He pulls me into him and kisses me. I am stiff until he nibbles on my bottom lip and I melt and open for him and he kisses me. He devours me and owns me. Damn, that man can kiss. He finally pulls away. “Maybe that will cool your jets. There is always more of that where it came from.” I step back and try to get myself to calm down. I take a long breath and realize this job is going to be a mistake. I should run, run fast. I steal myself and look up to him.
“In your dreams, asshole. I don’t do bikers anymore.” I turn and start to leave but Hacksaw holds the door shut.“You keep telling yourself that sugar. You will be in my bed.” Hacksaw pushes the door open and I run to my truck and I never look back.
This has been a shit day. After the interview with that feisty little woman this morning everything has been downhill since then. I had to cancel both exercise classes this morning because the bitch teaching them couldn’t bother to come to work or even call to let us know she wasn’t going to be here. Then I had to listen to skinny ass bitches whine about it. How this job landed in my lap I have no idea. I’m not a damn paper pusher or a man that wants to sit behind a damn desk all day listening to all the moaning and groaning. If my brothers weren’t depending on me I would have been on my bike and out of here right after Joy left. I am waiting for Rome and his woman Tara to get here and take this shit over. Rome is normally the one handling this shit but he was tied up this morning at the apartments that the Feral Steel own, helping Tara, his ol’ lady. Since the Feral Steel MC has started doing things the legal way there has been less bike riding and more managing businesses we never thought we would have a part of. Besides this gym, we own a garage that is expanding from not only building and working on motorcycles but muscles cars and classic restorations, a couple of sets of apartment buildings, a parts store, and we just bought a drag strip east of town. Those along with the bar, a restaurant and a strip club is stretching our manpower out. If I can’t work in the bar and strip club then I usually end up here in the garage or gym. The brothers that don’t possess a specialty or technical job rotate different positions and hours. We are in the process of hiring civilians for some positions but we are picky about who has their hands in our businesses. Any lucrative business that comes up for sale is on our radar. We need to keep the money coming in so we can keep expanding our reach. We’ve even discussed opening another chapter of the Feral Steel MC further north in a city a little larger than ours so we can bring more members in. We’ve also been thinking about letting some guys go nomad to find the perfect place for our expansion. Either way, we have a need to keep expanding because our family is growing. After the fiasco with Steel and Stone I thought it would be only a matter of time before the Feral Steel MC was disbanded but Devil took over from Steel and he has a vision for us. A vision most of the members of the Feral Steel MC thought was impossible but in the time Devil has been President he has kept us moving forward. We’ve stumbled a few times but it only makes us stronger. I look at the clock on the wall and I wonder what is keeping Rome. I walk to the door and open it and see that Rome and Devil are coming in the gym doors. About damn time. I can tell by the way Devil is walking he is pissed. Who the hell pissed Devil off this time? I go back into the office and it isn’t long before Devil and Rome walk in. I take a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Rome sits in the other and Devil walks around to the back of the desk and sits down.
“We have problems.” That brings my attention to Devil.“Don’t I know it. That bitch Becky didn’t show up for the exercise classes today and I have had nothing but whiney bitches all morning long.” By the expression on Devil’s face he is not caring about my morning.
“Becky didn’t show up because someone killed her sometime late last night or early this morning. The PD guy that is in our pocket said she was beat so badly she was barely recognizable and then shot.” Devil isn’t finished but he is having a hard time containing his anger to get it out. “There was a message on her wall to us written in blood.” I wait for Devil to finish. “It said Feral Steel, I’m coming for you. No one is safe.” I can see that Devil is worried and so is Kane.
“O z did a background search on Becky Flowers and there were no red flags,” I say out loud but thinking more to myself. Maybe something was missed. Becky wasn’t a bad person, just a little flighty and she liked to talk a lot. She didn’t act like a slut always coming onto the brothers but that mouth of hers was never quiet. She was a health food nut. I heard Becky more than once telling one of the women in her class the evils of refined sugars and red meat. Trust me, I tried to block it out, but she preached that shit religiously. I can’t imagine anyone beating the woman and killing her. She was a slip of a woman, probably didn’t weigh much over a hundred pounds. “Anything else but the message pointing it had anything to do with us? Maybe an abusive boyfriend wanting to point the investigation away from him or her?” Things have been quiet for us for the last few months and except for THC Hempcan, Inc., the Feral Steel MC hasn’t had any problems with anyone.
“Do you not know anything about the people you work with?” Rome asks me. I am at a loss to what he is talking about. “Becky has a partner, not a boyfriend and she still hasn’t made it home. Don’t even know if the cops have contacted her yet. She’s been in Canada on a photo shoot for the last month. Tara is waiting for our go ahead to reach out to their parents in Florida. Becky moved to Oklahoma with Lisa Becker, her partner, about a year ago. They moved here for Lisa’s work. Lisa and Becky have been together since they were in high school. Right out of college Lisa got a job at a magazine as a photographer. They were both from the Tampa area in Florida so they chose our small town to live in to stay away from big city life and Lisa commuted. Lisa is out of town a lot for work so she felt more comfortable with Becky in our small-town setting.” I look at Rome like he is crazy.
“What?” I lift my eyebrow in question. “Tara and the two are friends. They live in one of our apartments at the complex.” That has my attention. Not only our employee, but at our apartment complex and then the message.
“I see you finally put the pieces together,” Devil says with an edge to his voice.“ Are Oz and Tito doing their magic on it? They’ll find the link if there is one to find.” Our tech guys are good at what they do. “Are we putting the families on lockdown?” I know Devil is worried about Callie and his children. Devil looks like he is trying to think it out.
“Not right now. I am putting extra men on Callie and the children. Felix and Hanna are staying close too. Sarah doesn’t want protection. I’ve told Slick to keep an extra eye on Gertie or bring her to the clubhouse and the same thing with Tara. We’ve got eyes on all our businesses but we can’t be everywhere at one time. The security cameras are being monitored twenty-four seven from today on, but we are going to need to do this in shifts if we can’t find the answers soon,” Devil tells us.
“Do you think Douglas had anything to do with this?” Rome asks.“We have had him under surveillance and there has been nothing going on
with
THC Hempcan since Durfee was taken out. Just regular business shit. They haven’t
even been stirring shit up in Colorado. By everything we have found, they are going
legit or close to it.” I doubt that. They have just learned to hide their shit better. I
know Devil doesn’t believe it either.
“You don’t believe that any more than we do but until we get more information
“You’re right but we need to be vigilant in security. We just clean ed our club up and we are building a good reputation in our town. We don’t want to fuck that up and we need to keep our family safe and that includes our employees. As many businesses as we have acquired, if we can’t keep our employees then we can’t operate and that limits our income. We have too many positions to fill them all with members of the Feral Steel,” Rome adds to the conversation and he is right.
“We are closing everything up for rest of the day. The bar and strip club will be open tonight but I want escorts for the women when they get off work. I want to make sure they get to their vehicles safe. I want church after lunch tomorrow, late afternoon. We should have an update from our man in the PD by then. Hacksaw, I want you available in case I need you. I’ll get Bo to help train Joy so she can be here at the gym.” Devil hasn’t talked to Joy since she left. I figured the way she hightailed it out of here she would have called Callie. I smile at the thought of the sassy woman.
“I’m not sure she is a good fit for the gym. I was thinking we may need to let her take a place at the clubhouse.” Devil and Rome both stare at me.“Why the hell would you think that? She came to us as a favor to Chief and he said she was looking for legitimate work.” Devil has a scowl on his face while Rome has absolutely no emotion on his face.
“She spread her legs for the BlackPath clubhouse, I just figured she would be more comfortable doing the same here. She has a few more years left in her. I’d tap that ass.” I hear someone come in the door and then the door slam.
“Says the biggest man-whore known to man.” Callie is standing there with Tara beside her and neither look happy. Well shit, not my problem.“Did you just cuss, Callie? I thought you were a good girl and didn’t do things like that.” Callie’s face goes from unhappy to pissed off in a flash.
“Oh shit,” I hear Devil say under his breath. Rome is smiling. Tara goes to Rome and sits in his lap. Callie comes closer to me but stops at the edge of the desk.
“I try to refrain from talking like a biker just because I am married to one and I was raised by one. I have children you know.” Callie never smiles she just stares me down. I scare most grown men but Callie doesn’t find me intimidating at all. “Hacksaw, for your information, even though it is none of your business, Joy has not been spreading anything for anyone for three years. She’s the woman that became a surrogate for my uncle Driller and aunt Laurie. She’s had two children in the last three years.” Callie acts like this is something that should change my mind. Now I just know I would never fuck the woman that had me tied in knots this morning.
“Joy just gave two kids up for someone else to raise. What kind of woman g ives up her own kids?” I don’t even think I could talk to this woman again let alone work with her, after the memories of my childhood flash in my head. I try not to ever let the memories come back but a woman abandoning her children brings it all back. The many foster homes I was placed in - some good, some bad - but I never belonged. It pisses me off thinking about it.
“They weren’t her children, Hacksaw. She was a gestational surrogate.” Callie sees the lost look on my face. I know what a surrogate is but the other word has me lost. “Driller’s sperm and Laurie’s egg fertilized and Joy carried it for them. She was an incubator for nine months and then she did it again six months later. It takes someone with a huge heart and a giving nature to do what Joy did. Laurie could get pregnant, but she always miscarried, but she wanted a child so bad. After her last miscarriage she had to have a partial hysterectomy. Joy is my stepmom, Em’s, sister and she was there during the last miscarriage and Laurie and Joy became friends so Joy volunteered. After Adeline was born, Laurie wanted her to have a sibling so Laurie and Driller approached Joy again and she agreed. Now Joy is having problems separating from Adeline and Lucas. She has been through therapy and that is why she relocated. Joy will forever be my family and we help family. Before Joy ever became a surrogate, she had given up being a club girl and had started taking care of the bar and the club girls at the BlackPath MC clubhouse. Anyway, who are we to judge Joy?” What Callie has said cools my temper even if I don’t understand the gist of it all. I may have misjudged Joy. I don’t think before I say the next words.
“Callie, you are the one who has problems with club girls, not me. It seems to me you would want to keep Joy away from Devil with all the trouble you have had with club girls in the past.” I know I have gone too far when Devil glares at me. Devil doesn’t like to think about all the club girls that have caused trouble between him and Callie. Things have settled down since the last incident. Callie isn’t one to miss a beat when it comes to giving my shit back to me.
“Hacksaw, Joy has never been a patch whore. She chose to be a club girl but she has never wanted anyone’s patch on her back. Is that what is bothering you? Did she not fall for your manwhore ways?” Callie is not being bitchy in the way she is saying any of this to me. It’s not her style. She genuinely likes Joy and considers her family. I can respect that. Since Callie has been Devil’s ol’ lady she has earned all the brothers’ respect including mine, so I don’t call her for talking out of turn. Callie knows women, even ol’ ladies, have no place in club business and us giving Joy a job is club business.
“Callie, if I wanted Joy in my bed, up against a wall, or in the middle of this gym in front of everyone, I would take her and she would love every damn second of it but you can’t make an upstanding citizen out of a whore. If Joy belongs in the clubhouse spreading her legs for the brothers then that is where she needs to be. The club does not have time to be training people for jobs that they have no business doing.” Tara takes in a breath and lets it out. Everyone looks at her.
“That is the most judgmental thing I have ever heard. Everyone deserves a fresh start when they want it,” Tara says barely where everyone can hear it. “I agree,” Callie says.“It’s a good thing neither of you are the brothers who will be voting on shit.” I try to soften it as I say it but there really isn’t a way to achieve it.
“You want a vote on who we hire for the gym? We all agreed that once Oz clears the applicant’s background and they have a drug test the one interviewing decides. I would hire Joy for here or the apartments, either one. When I have been around her she has been nothing but nice and she is easy to talk to. She doesn’t dress provocatively and she carries herself like a capable employee,” Rome challenges me. I look straight at him and give him my opinion.
“Joy may be exactly what she seems to be but it se ems strange to me that she shows up in town for a job and the woman we have teaching classes here at the gym is attacked. Coincidence, maybe. I don’t believe in coincidence until I view it from all angles. Callie said Joy was in counseling and was having troubles adjusting with the separation from the children she had. Joy lives at the apartment complex where Becky lived. I just think it deserves some considering. No stone left unturned to protect our family.” I don’t like unanswered questions. Callie is glaring at me but she hasn’t said anything else.
“Enough!” Devil yells. I know he is trying to diffuse the argument that Callie and I are headed toward. “Hacksaw, bring up your thoughts in church tomorrow. I’m taking my woman home. Shut the gym up and leave a note on the front door that we are closing for a few days due to a death in the family. Bring all the contacts for the members to the clubhouse and we will send out an email to give notice.” The way Callie is glaring at Devil, I know I just dumped a load of shit for him to deal with at home but it is my job to protect our family and that is what I will do no matter who likes it.
I have been sitting out here on my little patio enjoying my coffee. It is still dark outside and this is my favorite part of the day. The quiet helps me get my thoughts straight for the day. I thought I would be starting a new job today but Callie texted me last night and let me know that the gym is closed for a few days but Tara is going to contact me later today about some work here at the apartment complex. I don’t care where I work just so I have money coming in to pay my bills and something to occupy my mind. The last couple of days I have had to fight myself from calling Laurie or Driller just to check on how things are going with Adeline and Lucas. I have been close to giving in to temptation but I am determined. The fight is an on-going battle. I can do this. I am determined. I just wish I wasn’t so lonely. My mind goes back to my run-in with Hacksaw yesterday and my blood still boils from it. The man is beyond infuriating. He has the self-confidence and stubbornness of an alpha biker. I think all bikers have that arrogance about them. Some just hide it better, and I can’t believe I used to find it sexy. I know Devil and Chief are nice enough men but piss them off and the alpha part of them shows itself. Hacksaw is just his own special type of asshole. I could have strangled him with my bare hands. I knew Hacksaw was nothing but trouble as soon as I laid eyes on him. I don’t know why we haven’t met before. The Feral Steel came to Texas many times while I was at the BlackPath MC clubhouse. I guess I just never had the misfortune of being in the same room as the asshole. My first thoughts yesterday were just to forget the offer of a job from Callie and Devil, but I would not give Hacksaw the satisfaction of knowing he had stopped me from doing exactly what I came here to do, start over. Hacksaw made it very clear that the only thing he thought I was good for was spreading my legs. I will not be revisiting that part of my past and I will not let a man who probably has stuck his dick in hundreds of women make me feel insecure about exactly who I am now.
I do have to admit that Hacksaw is one sexy ass biker. He personifies sex on a stick. I could see myself getting lost in all the heat Hacksaw puts out. Hacksaw is tall, probably close to six-foot five or maybe a little taller. His chest is broad and there is something about a broad chest that makes me weak in the knees. I noticed the hint of hair sticking out of his t-shirt around the collar, not that I was looking that close, but it was there. Who wouldn’t see it? Some women prefer a slick chest or just barely-there hair but a hairy chest for me to rub my face on is a weakness that I have never been able to resist. Then, his muscles on his arms have muscles. He must work out hours a day to get his arms and his long muscular legs that big. Damn, his jeans looked like they were poured on him. The jeans he had on looked special fit. The waist hung down low and a little loose but not enough to hang, snug around the ass, and what an ass he has, and then the clinging on the legs. Damn, why does he have to be so infuriating, because that kills it all. I slap myself upside the head. What the hell am I doing? I do not need to get lost in any man, let alone a damn biker. I need to concentrate on me. I just need to buy me a new vibrator with a lot of batteries. Yep, that goes on top of my to do list. I walk back into the apartment and go straight to my refrigerator and add batteries and a question mark beside it. No need to advertise if someone happens to see my grocery list. I laugh at that thought. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have cared or even thought about something so trivial. Times are a changing. I am brought out of my thoughts by a tapping on my front door. I look at the clock on the wall and it isn’t even six o’clock yet. Who would be knocking at my door? Then my mind goes to a bad thought. Maybe Callie came to give me some bad news about something from home. I rush to the door and jerk it open without even looking to see who it is. I know it is stupid but my mind can’t think of anything good this early in the morning but nothing could have prepared me for what is waiting on the other side of the door. The woman looks destroyed.
“Can I come in for just a few minutes?” Lisa, one of my neighbors , is standing there and it looks like she has been crying for hours. Her hair is a mess and the clothes she has on are rumpled like she has slept in them. I have never seen Lisa look this way. Lisa and Becky live in one of the apartments in my complex. Our complex is a total of eight buildings and each building has four apartments in it. I live in the front building and there are only three apartments and the office located in it. Tara and Rome live in one of the apartments and then an older lady, Mrs. Billings, lives in the other one. I lucked out because each apartment building shares a laundry room. We have less people to share it with and Tara explained we hardly ever have a wait. Becky and Lisa live in a building at the back of the complex. I don’t see them every day but I run into them occasionally. They are the cutest couple and I thought Lisa had been working out of the country for the next few days. Lisa is a photographer for a magazine with its offices in Oklahoma and she loves her work. Becky works at the gym and I thought maybe with one of my neighbors and new friends working there, it would make my transition easier. It’s true, I don’t know the two ladies very well, but we have always had pleasant conversations and Becky and I have shared coffee more than once. She and I are both early risers and we both have a love of strong black coffee to wake us up. Becky explained to me that coffee is her one guilty pleasure. She doesn’t like putting caffeine in her body or anything unhealthy. Our balconies are small, barely big enough for a couple of chairs and a small grill but we have both enjoyed our coffee there. Maybe they just had a misunderstanding and Lisa needs some space and someone objective to talk to.
“Sure, come in hon. Is everything alright?” Lisa walks in and I see the tears are still running down her face.“No, nothing is ever going to be okay again. Becky was killed in o ur apartment the night before last.” I knew the cops had been around the apartments yesterday, but I thought maybe there was a break-in or something. How anything could happen in these apartments is beyond me, they are owned by the Feral Steel club. Who the hell would mess with them? Tara hadn’t been around and the office was closed so I had no one to ask.
“Can I call someone for you or get you some coffee? What can I do to help?” I know I am rattling but I am shocked. I take a breath to collect myself. I step up to Lisa and pull her into a hug and then I step back to look at her. “Come sit down. Can I get you anything?” We make our way to the sofa and I sit down. Lisa sits beside me and rubs her eyes dry but the tears are still coming. I don’t know what to do in this kind of situation. I’m not the touchy-feely type of woman. That has always been Em’s department. I am the one who goes in like a bull in a china store so to say I am uncomfortable is an understatement but I can’t imagine the pain that Lisa is going through. I want to ask her a bunch of questions but I am not sure that Lisa can take them right now.
“I don’t drink coffee, that was Becky’s thing.” Lisa starts crying harder. She is on the verge of hysteria. I am so out of my element here. I do the only thing I know to do. I go in the kitchen and get a bottle of water from the refrigerator and go to the cabinet and pick my phone up and send Tara a text so maybe she’ll know what to do. Tara is only across the hall but I don’t know if she’ll be awake yet. I walk back into the living room and sit beside Lisa. I loosen the lid on the water and hand it to her.
“Hon, drink some of this.” She does as I tell her , “I don’t want to pry because I can’t even begin to understand the hell you are going through so just tell me what you can or don’t say anything and we’ll just sit here together. Whatever you need. I didn’t know anything had happened. I noticed cops around yesterday but I just thought it was a break-in or something.” I watch Lisa as she looks like she is thinking to herself. When she speaks I can barely hear her voice and it sounds raw like she had been crying for hours, of course she has.
“The police department contacted my office. I was Becky’s in case of emergency contact and my office contacted me on site. My boss had me on a flight within two hours.” Lisa stops for a minute and then she puts her face in her hands and cries louder. I move over next to her and pull her close to me and hug her and she breaks my heart when she starts talking. “How can I call it home? Becky was my home.” Lisa looks at me. “Do you know that Becky and I were each other’s first love? I knew for a long time that I was not attracted to boys but Becky just thought she was going through an awkward time. We were in high school and had been friendly for years but we were never close. Then our freshman year of high school we had the same Biology class. We hated it but we became lab partners. I knew Becky was special to me from the get go. I just had an attraction to her. I had already come out to my parents the summer before. My dad is a doctor and my mom a nurse and they handled the news very well but no one else knew my secret. It was new to me when I realized it so I wasn’t sharing and the attraction I had for Becky was new to me. Becky and I became best friends. We shared almost everything. I had to listen to her talk about the cute guys in school. My Becky loved to talk.” Lisa stops but then goes on. I just listen and I hope it helps her to relive some good memories. “The whole first year of high school I fought my attraction to Becky. I didn’t want to lose my friend. When we started tenth grade we had a lot of classes together. We were best friends and when she was asked out by the captain of the basketball team and she accepted I tried not to let it bother me. I was there to support my best friend. Becky wanted me to find a guy so we could double date and of course I came up with every excuse and tried not to hurt her feelings. I wouldn’t date a guy and give them the idea I was interested when I most certainly wasn’t. After Becky’s first date she went on many dates. She was a social person and she still tried to get me to date. She even got some guys to ask me out. I finally broke down and confided in my friend that I wasn’t attracted to guys and I was hoping Becky would still be my friend anyway. Becky never even thought about it. She hugged me and asked me why I hadn’t just told her so she wouldn’t have been harping about guys to me. From that day forward there was nothing we didn’t share. The summer between tenth and eleventh grade everything changed for us.” I see the smile on Lisa’s face. I know she is lost in her memories and for now that is alright. “We snuck out and went to a bonfire. We were some of the youngest ones there and there was alcohol. We both got more than a little tipsy and snuck back into my room. Becky wanted me to explain what it felt like to be kissed by a girl. I kissed her and it took my breath away. The second time, she kissed me.” Lisa quits talking. I see her fingers are touching her lips like she is feeling the kiss. I don’t know if this is good or not. I speak to her softly.
“Don’t leave me hanging girl. Did you rock Becky’s world?” She looks at me and smiles.“At the time , Becky denied it but later when we were together she confessed to me that her body was in shock overload. We both had too much to drink and we fell asleep with her lying beside me and we were holding hands. The next six months was a crazy train ride. Becky pulled away from me but I didn’t give up on her. She confessed to her mom what happened and her parents banned me from their house and forbade Becky from seeing me. It was a mess but we worked it out and by the beginning of our senior year, Becky’s parents came around and we were an official couple even if everyone at our school didn’t know. We lived in a moderate sized town, but all our parents’ friends and our friends would not have been accepting so we waited until after graduation to go completely open with everyone.” Lisa stops and her tears start rolling again. “We loved each other and now she’s gone. All our hopes and dreams are just gone. Who would hurt my Becky? She is…” Lisa stops. I hug her to me. I don’t know what to say or do.
“What did the cops say? Do they have any leads? Have you been in that apartment?” Once I start, the questions just keep coming. I hope this distracts her for a few minutes, as if anything could.
“I stayed at a hotel last night but I couldn’t stay still so I started driving. I drove back by the apartment and they still have tape up. The police haven’t said a lot. They asked me questions that made no sense, like who had a grudge against Becky. No one dislikes Becky.” Lisa stops again and it takes me a minute to realize why. Lisa is talking like Becky is still alive. Shit, this situation sucks donkey balls. My heart is breaking for this woman. Lisa’s life has just been screwed in the biggest way. How did I not know what was going on? I have been so self absorbed that I don’t even know what is going on around me.
“Do you need any help with anything? Can I make calls for you? Anything you need, hon, I am here.” I just want to help comfort Lisa.“My mom is flying in today to handle everything. We are staying until the police coroner releases Becky’s body and then we are taking her home. Becky’s mom and dad wanted to come but they are inconsolable and Patricia has had to be sedated. Mom said Dave isn’t very far from it and he is staying in touch with police here through his office.” Lisa looks at me. “Dave is a detective in Daytona. Patricia works at the courthouse so they have some connections. I just don’t understand how any of this could have happened. Becky and I live a low key life. We aren’t partiers. We don’t do drugs, we barely drink alcohol, a glass of wine here and there. We live in a small town. We don’t own anything that anyone would want to steal. We own a small television and a computer but surely no one would break in to steal a computer. It’s the most expensive thing we own. I have my cameras and lens but they are always with me. We drive vehicles that are three and eight years old. Why?” I don’t know what to say or if there is anything to say. I don’t even know if Lisa is talking to me or herself. I just let her talk. I hear a knock on my door. I know it must be Tara. I get up and walk to the front door and open the door. I realize I didn’t even lock the door when Lisa came in. I need to remember to lock my door. Tara is standing there looking like she just rolled out of bed. Her hair is flat on one side and she is wearing a big t-shirt and some sweats that must belong to Rome because they are falling off of her. Tara walks in and sits down beside Lisa on my sofa. “Can I get you some coffee?” I ask Tara.
“God, yes ,” Tara tells me and then she looks at Lisa. “Lisa, I thought you were staying at the hotel until your mom arrived.” I walk over and pour Tara a cup of coffee. I know she takes it strong and black like me so I take it and hand her the cup. I swear that Tara and I are sisters from another mother. Our attitude and love of coffee, something we shared with Becky.
“I couldn’t stay in that room any longer a nd I remembered the last time I talked to Becky that she was telling me about her early morning coffee drinking with Joy.” Lisa takes another deep breath. “She mentioned you too, but she said that you didn’t always make it to drink coffee because of that man of yours. You two becoming friends with Becky meant so much to her. We have friends but they live too far away to run over for an early morning coffee fix. Becky was always talking about one of you when I called to talk to her. We talked every night usually. To tell you the truth, I was a little jealous of the time the two of you got to spend with Becky.” Lisa softly laughs, sort of. She looks at us. “We were fine and in my head, I know I was being silly, but I spend a lot of time away. I wished I could have spent every morning with Becky even if I don’t…or didn’t have her love of coffee and now our time is up. I will never get a chance to spend those moments with her.” That’s all Lisa gets out and she falls apart. She’s crying so hard and I have no idea what to do. What does one say at a time like this? Tara takes her and hugs her close. I have never felt so useless. There’s a knock at my door and I walk over and open the door. I need to remember to start locking that damn door. Rome is standing there with two of his club members with him. I don’t know their names but I have seen them around the apartment complex. I step back and let them enter my apartment. They all have solemn looks on their faces. Rome goes over by the sofa and stands next to Tara. The other two stand over by the wall, opposite the sofa. Tara looks up at Rome. Rome kneels so he is on the same level that Lisa and Tara are on. I don’t know exactly what to do or where to stand so I just walk around Rome and sit on the other side of Lisa.
“L isa, Edge and Ridge are going to take you back to your hotel. Devil is having a doctor friend of ours come over and give you something to help you sleep until your mom arrives later this morning. You need some rest. Gertie is going to meet you there and stay with you until your mom arrives. Can you do that for me? You are going to need to make a lot of decisions today and you need a clear head to do that,” Rome is speaking quietly to Lisa.
“I don’t even know you that well, why are you and your club helping me?” Lisa stops and starts again. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful and I know Becky worked at the Feral Steel’s gym but the things that Devil offered to help me with and you trying to help me makes no sense and right now, I need something to make sense. All of this makes no sense to me. I keep thinking I am going to wake up and this is just going to be a bad dream.” Lisa is almost pleading for an explanation.
“You are too tired for anything to make sense right now. When is the last time you slept or even ate anything?” Lisa looks like she is thinking about it. “If it takes that long to answer the question then it has been too long. Becky hasn’t worked at the gym that long but we still valued her as an employee and we all liked her. You and Becky have lived here and never given us a bit of worry and this apartment complex is owned by the Feral Steel MC also. We are trying to help in a time that you need it. You are far away from your families and so we want to help.” I know that Rome is only telling half the truth but right now that half of the truth is what Lisa needs. “Now I want you to give Edge your keys. He is going to drive you because there is no way you should be driving right now. Edge will go in and stay in the hotel with you until Gertie gets there with the doctor. The doctor is not going to give you anything that will hurt you but will let you get a few hours of sleep after you eat. Tell Ridge what you want to eat and he will stop off somewhere and pick you something up.” Lisa starts to interrupt but Rome raises his hand. “Don’t argue.” Rome looks at the one I am guessing is Ridge. “Just get her a hash brown and some breakfast sandwich.” Ridge nods his head alright. Rome looks back to Lisa. “Eat a few bites. The medicine will work better and maybe it won’t upset your stomach that way. Take the medicine the doctor gives you and try to sleep. Gertie will sit with you until you wake up or your mom gets there. Ridge will pick your mom up from the airport. Gertie will call us when your mom arrives so one of us can be there for the decisions that will need to be made today. The Feral Steel MC will make sure whatever you and your mom decide on arrangements is done. We will be the buffer between you and the people you need to deal with. You are dealing with enough, let us do this for you.” Lisa looks like she is going to ask more questions or argue but then a look of complete defeat comes over her face.
“That will be alright. I just want answers from someone.” Tara hugs her tight and then lets Lisa go. Rome stands up and steps back so Lisa can stand up and she hands her car keys to Rome. Rome hands them to one of the men.
“Lisa, we are here if you need us
,” Tara tells her.
“Me too, Lisa,” I add.
“I will get a message to the detective in charge of the case and as soon as I get word back I will give you a call,” Rome tells Lisa and then he looks at his brothers. “Go get her car and bring the cage around so she doesn’t have so far to walk.” Rome goes and sits in the lone chair closest to the hall.
“My car is
parked in our parking space,” Lisa says.
“They’ll get it.” The two men leave the room.
“Do you have enough clothes and everything with you until you have access to your apartment? You can borrow something of mine. I don’t know if we are the same size but I am sure we can find something to work,” I volunteer. Lisa looks back to me.
“That is very kind of you but no. I mean, yes, I have enough clothes for now. I never unpack when I am on the road. I just threw everything thrown around back in my suitcase.” I nod my head okay. Then we just sit in silence until Rome gets a text on his phone. He looks at it and then gets up and walks back over to Lisa.
“Ridge and Edge are out front. I’ll walk you out.” Rome reaches for Lisa’s arm and helps her up. Lisa smiles up to Rome. Both Tara and I stand up. Lisa reaches back to me and hugs me. Rome steps away and moves closer to the door. When Lisa lets me go she reaches for Tara and hugs her.
“Thank you both for listening to me and please be careful around here. You never know when your time is up. Becky and I thought we had forever. A friend once told me never ever love one person. I know now never forever. Lesson learned the hard way.” That’s a strange thing to think at a time like this or maybe just to me. Something about the way Lisa says it makes me think that Lisa is never going to come back from this. I guess I have no way of knowing the depth of her sorrow. I’ve never been in love. My heart breaks all over again for Lisa. I look at Tara and she has a puzzled look on her face. I’m guessing if I could see my own face it would look close to the same. Rome takes Lisa by the arm and guides her out of my apartment. Tara and I are left staring at each other.
“That was chilling. Do you mind if I get another cup of coffee?” Tara asks me.“Of course. I’m sorry. I guess I should have asked Rome and his brothers but my mind is in shock. What the hell happened?” I watch Tara fill her coffee cup so I keep talking. “I had a bad interview with Hacksaw and then I went shopping and by the time I got home, I noticed some cops around but I would have never guessed a murder occurred. I fixed myself something to eat and filled out some applications to drop off today in case the gym doesn’t work out then took some medication and went to sleep. I think I woke up one time last night but I got up and went to the bathroom and got a drink of water and went back to sleep.” I wait for Tara to answer.
“It’s all crazy. The only thing I know is what the cops told me when they came to do a well check on Becky yesterday.” Tara takes another drink of her coffee. “They came in the office and said they had an anonymous tip that something was wrong with Becky and she wasn’t answering her phone. I tried calling her and then I called Rome. I made the cops wait until he arrived and he opened the door for them and that is when they found her.” I shake my head. That is scary.
“The cops didn’t say anything?” I ask.“Not to me. Once they found Becky, Rome cut me out of the loop. I am not allowed to leave without a prospect or brother with me. Orders from Devil,” Tara tells me.
“Is the club on lockdown?” I ask her.“Not yet, just careful,” Tara says and then there is a knock at the door and it opens and Rome walks in.
“Joy, lock your doors and plan to stay with Tara today. We have one prospect to watch the two of you so where one goes so does the other one.” Tara’s eyes move to me. I want to argue but I know it is for our safety. I have learned to pick my battles and this is one I know I will not win.
“Let me get a quick shower and I will cook us some breakfast.” I smile letting Rome know he is getting no argument from me.“Finally, a woman who doesn’t argue.” Tara slaps Rome’s belly. Rome grabs her hand. I laugh.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” I sit my cup down and head to my bathroom.
I walk through the clubhouse and it is empty. I have been busy all day trying to run down leads on who would murder a woman who, by all appearances, has no enemies. I have talked to every contact we have in this town to put out feelers on who wants to take the Feral Steel MC down. There’s nothing to be heard from anyone. No one has heard anything against us and Becky wasn’t even on anyone’s radar. I hope Oz or Tito has dug something up. I don’t know why Devil won’t take my suggestion about this other woman serious. Joy, that’s her name. I hear voices in the back of the clubhouse and it looks like everyone has already showed up for church. I walk into the room and make my way over to the table that holds the weapons and put mine down and put my phone beside it. Bowie is standing guard over it as usual since he is our SAA. Crocket stands up and walks to the doors and closes them. I guess I am the last one. Devil looks at me and then stands up and pounds his gavel on the table. I take my chair to the right of Devil. I look around at all the brothers and not a one of them look like they have had a better day than I have. I notice Ridge and Edge aren’t here.
“Has anyone turned up anything new today because I have nothing?” Devil looks at us and waits for an answer.“Every contact I have has nothing. They’ve heard nothing for a while and they didn’t even know who Becky was. No threats made against us. I went over to the diner and talked to Bud and he said he never heard anything bad about Becky. Everyone seemed to like her. I called Sal and the same thing. Those two old men hear everything going on in this town and they have nothing.” I let Devil know my patience has grown short. I hate dead ends.
“Rome, what about the security cameras around the apartments? We just updated them, they had to catch something.” Devil looks to Rome.“Oz knows more than I do
,” Rome says as he looks to Oz.
“A man dressed in black with a mask on his face walked up the stairs just before
midnight. He shot out one of the lights with a slingshot from the stairs. Why a sling
shot is beyond me. The asshole knew exactly where the cameras were located. He
spray painted over the cameras. I couldn’t see one inch of skin to get any kind of
idea who he could be but I did see the head of another man waiting on the stairwell.
I just know he had brown hair. The man in black knew too much, so he had been
there before.” Oz lets us absorb that much and then goes on. “I looked at the
security tape for the parking area and again the man knew exactly where the
cameras were located. He waved at the damn thing and then just walked away as if
he hadn’t just mutilated and shot a woman in her own apartment. The other man
never showed up on any camera and how that is even possible, I cannot explain.”
Oz is pissed. He is the one who helped with buying and having the cameras installed
and he is not happy someone got around them.
“The clothes that the person was wearing could have been man or woman but if it was a woman she is an amazon of a woman. This person had to be close to six feet tall but the other one I couldn’t say. It was just hair I saw but I will look again to make sure,” Oz tells us and then something crosses my mind.
“How could you tell how tall the man was?” I ask.“When he came up the stairs, he stopped at the top and turned towards the camera and he was up against the wall for just a few minutes and I went and looked at it and he had to be close to six feet tall.” Sounds reasonable.
“What makes you think one of them could be a woman? I saw the pictures the PD have, and I am telling you Brother, not many women could do that damage.” Tito looks convinced of his statement.
“Did you see all the crime scene photos or just the one our guy in the PD could get?” Devil asks Tito.“I hacked and got all that are available so far. I have them for everyone to look at. I just didn’t want to send them out. The PD also did a rape kit.” Tito gets up and walks to Devil with his laptop and Devil takes it and looks at the screen. I slide over so I can see and the pictures are horrific. I have seen a lot of death in my time, even caused some of it, but this is brutal. I have seen enough. I sit back up.
“Hacksaw, why would you think a woman is involved?” I look at Devil and he looks back at me but I answer the question.“I just find it odd that it has been quiet for a while now and just when the woman from Texas shows up, we have problems. I just don’t like to leave unanswered questions. The message on the wall was addressed to the Feral Steel MC. Becky worked for us. Becky also lived in apartments owned by us. It’s not going to be long before the PD is knocking on our door and asking questions. I want to get a jump on answers and even if the Texas woman has nothing to do with it then we still need to ask and answer that question. Just to watch our own asses,” I answer but then I need to add the last part in my mind. “I think it is a long shot she would have anything to do with it but we can’t be too careful with this. One woman is already dead.” I see the brothers shaking their heads in agreement.
“The woman’s name is Joy and Tara and I have spent some time with her since she has moved here and I don’t think she has anything to do with it. Joy just wants a fresh start,” Rome says. I know the brother sympathizes with the woman, since Rome himself wanted a fresh start not that long ago, but now is not the time to ignore anything or any possible lead.
“I agree with both of you ,” Devil speaks up. I smile at him because I never thought he would admit it even if he thought it. I should have known that Devil wouldn’t let a question go unanswered. “I have known Joy a while before she ever moved here and I don’t think she is involved but we do need to cover our asses and make sure. That goes for anyone who is new to us. Employees, hang arounds, and prospects included.” Devil hands the laptop back to Tito. “I want all of you to get with Tito later and look at these photos. Whoever did this had a rage inside them and you need to see what these people are capable of. Look at them close to see if you might see anything you find as out of place or strange.” Devil thinks about what he said. “Stranger than crime photos. We are at a big disadvantage because none of us knows much about Becky or her partner. Rome, ask Tara if she’s ever been in their apartment. They were friendly, weren’t they?”
“They had coffee a few times a week. I don’t want Tara looking at those photos.” Rome sounds set on his decision.“If we can get around it then it won’t happen but Tara may have seen something in the apartment we wouldn’t know,” Devil tells Rome.
“Joy was friends with her too,” Rome answers back.
“If it comes down to it , maybe when the cops release the crime scene we can do a crime scene reconstruction so the women don’t need to look at the pictures.” We all look at Slick. “What?” Slick is our oldest member and never says much anymore so we pay attention when he does.
“What are you talking about?” Creole asks him.“The cops do it all the time. We look at the pictures and set the apartment up exactly like in the pictures then walk the women through it. See if they pick up on anything different or off. That way they don’t see the pictures. It’s not like we don’t own the damn place. We’ll have it cleaned a bit first.” Slick sounds like this is an everyday thing. I laugh.
“I like that idea better than Tara having to look at the photos,” Rome says. Tara is new to the biker life and I am sure Rome thinks this might be the thing that sends her running. Tara is made of stronger stuff than that. She is Bourbon Black’s daughter and he is one tough biker. She may have just found out they are blood but his blood is in her DNA.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Devil says.“With all this going on are we still recruiting? We need to get our numbers up for the security on all our businesses,” Bowie asks.
“If your nephew is still wanting to prospect and you and Crockett are both willing to sponsor him then send him to see me tomorrow. Anyone else outside of family is on hold until we see what is going to happen. This may have nothing to do with us and someone is trying to send the heat away from themselves so they put the message on the wall so the PD would look at us. I hate this happened but that would be the best scenario for us. I have an appointment with the PD tomorrow for a sit down. Our attorney is going with me to make sure it is all on the up and up,” Devil informs us.
“Can I sit in on that interview? That way if they show you anything to get a reaction out of you and I haven’t seen it I can get a look at it,” Tito asks Devil.“I was going to ask if you wanted to. I’ll get the suit to arrange it with the PD ,” Devil answers. “As of right now we need to keep our eyes open. No one goes out alone and eyes on our families. Every family member gets a prospect or member on them if they go anywhere. Oz, I want you to get a few new cameras installed on all our properties. I want you or Tito to take care of it personally. No one outside these doors know about it. Do it inconspicuously over the next few days. If you need help then take Creole or Thrasher and use a cover story if anyone asks questions.”
“Does that include ol’ ladies and extended family that don’t know?” Rome and Devil both look at me. “What? It’s a legitimate question.”“Brother , if you have shit to say spit it out because the shitty remarks are wearing on my last damn nerve,” Devil yells at me. I turn sideways in my chair and level him with a glare. Devil is my President but no man disrespects me.
“All you had to do was ask!” I give Devil a straight look. “You and Rome have both taken ol’ ladies and even though you don’t share all the Feral Steel business with them they have more access to the goings on in our club than anyone else has before. I’m not saying I don’t like the two women but they aren’t members of the Feral Steel MC. It is true that Callie comes from the club life but she has an entourage that wasn’t in the life before. These people are in and out of your home and the clubhouse so they can hear anything that is said.” I see when Devil gets what I am talking about but his eyes tell me he is still pissed but I press on anyway. “Speaking of Callie’s little entourage, we are stretched manpower-wise just keeping eyes on all our businesses and our own family and these people are taking more eyes that we just don’t have right now. Then we add Joy to the mix, more manpower. Something has to give until we recruit more prospects and you just put a hold on recruiting.” I look at Rome and he is as mad as Devil. Club first brothers, that’s the way it is. I see that Devil is thinking before he says anything. I glance around the room at the rest of the brothers and they are waiting for Devil to go off.
“Hacksaw, we have been brothers for many yea rs. We prospected together and we were friends years before that. I have not ever put this club in danger since I put the president patch on.” Devil’s voice is quiet and calm. I start to respond but he cuts me off. “You’ve had a stick up your ass for a while now. If I need to reach out to another club for help then that is exactly what I will do but right now we are just taking precautions. If any of you think I cannot do my job then I shouldn’t be wearing this patch.” He points to his president patch. “If anything is said where anything can be heard at my home that is on me. Do you think I would risk this club? If you have a problem with me Hacksaw, you need to man the fuck up and spit it out.” Devil never raises his voice but I know I have gone about this all wrong.
“I know you would never intentionally risk us and I don’t have a problem with the way you handle your position and you have my respect, but mistakes can happen.” I don’t know what my problem is but I am trying to rectify it the best I can.
“Don’t blow smoke up my ass, Hacksaw. Apparently, you have a problem with something that is going on. My house is tight. I share nothing with Callie that can get her or my children hurt. I trust everyone in my home and as far as that goes, I trust Callie’s friends. They are family and have earned my trust but I would never bring them into my confidence on anything that would put the club at risk. Feral Steel members only means just that. Only who is in this room, means just that. You have had a problem ever since Joy arrived. Tomorrow night, church and we update after my interview with the PD and we vote on how we proceed and what we are going to do with Joy.” Devil hits the table and stares me down. “Joy is under my protection and if the club decides not to extend its help because of the circumstances then I will protect Joy myself. If I need to move her into my home, then that is exactly what will happen. Do we understand each other VP?”
“Crystal clear,
Brother,” I tell Devil. I need a damn drink.
“Joy has my protection too,” Rome states solemnly.
“Anything else we need to cover?” Devil asks. No one says anything. The quiet in the room is almost unbearable and I can feel the tension. “Let’s get a drink then.” Devil bangs his gavel. The brothers are up and out the door. Crockett is hanging around the door and Bowie stands by the table where our phones are. Rome and Devil don’t move. I know I need to clear the air. Devil is my oldest friend and I trust the man but no one can control everything happening around them.
“Devil, I just want to go into this carefully and not miss anything. I trust you and you know it. You are my oldest friend and I respect you as my brother and president.” Devil seems to relax a little.
“That’s good to hear, Brother, but the words you said before did not relay that. What is your problem with Joy? She seems to be the trigger to all this shit storm from you.” Devil has me there. I look around the room and I see Bowie and Crockett by the door with smirks on their faces.
“I don’t know what it is that sets me off about the woman. I’ve had one conversation with her and everything about her gets under my skin in a bad way.” Rome laughs. I look at him. “Do you care to share what you think is so damn funny?”
“ Maybe you should look at your shit a little closer instead of spouting off about all of Callie’s friends and insinuating Devil would be careless with club information. Tara has no one here to include her in the conversation. She is my ol’ lady and that comes with protection. That is not cool, brother.” Rome has an irritating smile on his face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask Rome.“Seems to me it wasn’t that long ago you were giving me shit about trying to push Tara away any way I could. Maybe this dislike you seem to have for Joy is more along the lines of pushing her away because you want to get closer to her.” Rome is serious but he must have lost his mind. No way I want this bitch anywhere near me.
“I’m not giving my balls to any woman. This is just about club securi ty and manpower available.” I sound rattled even to myself. “Maybe I expressed my thoughts the wrong way but that is all it is. There are enough club girls here to keep my dick sucked so I don’t know where you got this stupid idea.” Devil laughs this time.
“I don’t know Hacksaw, something has you wound up. We have been brothers a lot of years and friends even longer but do not ever bring my judgement into question again. The Feral Steel MC is my life along with my family. I intend to make sure that my sons have a club to belong to when they get old enough and my daughter has its protection. I will lay down my life for this club or any of my brothers and when I don’t have that dedication then I will take this cut off and let someone else step up. Do we have this clear?” I see the truth in Devil’s eyes.
“Abso-fuckinglutely.” I let Devil know I do trust and believe him. I need a beer, a smoke, and some willing pussy. Maybe then my head will be clear.“Then let’s get a drink,” Devil says. We all stand up and I look at Rome. Yeah, he’s still smirking.
“About damn time,” Bowie says behind us. I need to get my shit straight.
I have been helping Tara in the office at the apartment complex today since Rome is insisting that we stay together so they only have one prospect keeping an eye out for the two of us. Rome informed me that until the gym is reopened I will be helping Tara at the complex so it will free him up to help at the clubhouse or where he is needed. I have been busy doing credit checks and personal references. I guess I was a little naive because I didn’t even know that anyone even checked personal references. Maybe the Feral Steel club is just being thorough but it seems like something they would have a tech guy doing. It’s a boring job anyway. Most times all I get is a voicemail and I am not supposed to leave a message. Tara said if they want to call back they will and if we can’t verify everything then just mark the application and they will catch it in the second go around at the clubhouse. I thought I would enjoy this job more than the gym since I won’t need to see Hacksaw but this is about to bore me to sleep. I must admit that I didn’t sleep very well last night after the visit from Lisa yesterday. I have seen death. Being around the BlackPath MC it was inevitable, especially with everything that went on a few years back but it just seems unusual when the woman had no enemies. There was something nagging at me last night and I couldn’t put my finger on it until right before I fell asleep early this morning. Why would Lisa come to my apartment for someone to talk to? I haven’t lived at the apartment complex that long. I had barely run into Lisa at all. She’s always gone on assignments. I had coffee with Becky a couple of times but Becky had known Tara longer and surely there was someone that Becky had known better than myself. Becky was an energetic bubbly type of person. She talked to everyone that walked by her. She seemed familiar with most people in the apartment complex, giving me the down low on all my neighbors, so why me? I feel guilty for the thoughts even crossing my mind. I am glad I could help Lisa even a little bit but it seems odd. I guess it’s just my groggy mind playing games with me. I get up from my desk and walk over to the coffee maker. I pour me another cup hoping it will help to wake me up some. The longer I am in this office the more I am beginning to think that maybe I am not cut out for office work. I hear the door to the office open and I watch Tara walk in. She looks like she is feeling bad. She goes to the other desk and sits down.
“I’m sorry Rome stuck you with those applications. I hate that job and that is why Rome does it. I don’t know why we even need to do it. Oz goes over them again before anyone comes in for the final interview and walk through of the apartment,” Tara tells me as she is going through the stack of papers on her desk.
“You don’t look like you slept any better than I did.” I could really use a nap. “I think I may have gotten a stomach bug. I’ll try not to breathe in your direction so maybe I will keep my bad germs.” Tara gives me a weak smile.“I can handle the office if you need to rest for a while. There is nothing going on at all. No one has come through that door since Rome left earlier. The phone rang a few times but Rome told me to let the machine get it until the Feral Steel have a statement ready to give to the tenants about what happened to Becky. He said that if anyone came asking questions to get the prospect in here to take care of it. I am to say nothing to anyone.” It seems to me it would be better if the club presence wasn’t as visible right now but that is not my decision to make.
“Trust me, I have heard the exact same thing. Devil is making a statement at the police department today and I am not to say anything about the subject until it is approved by the club, end of subject,” Tara says the last part with a sigh. “I am not to ask any questions about it again. Sometimes, that gets old, but Rome says it is for my own protection.” I can see that it annoys Tara but I also know there is nothing she can do about it.
“Can I ask one questions?” I look to see Tara’s reaction.“You can ask it but I am not sure I can answer it. I don’t repeat anything that Rome shares with me and Rome is sharing no more than what I just said on this subject.” I can tell Tara is being truthful.
“It has nothing to do with the club.” I see Tara relax a little and she is wai ting for me to continue. “Did you find it a little odd that Lisa came to my apartment yesterday?” Tara looks like she is thinking about it so I continue. “I mean, I have only seen Lisa a couple of times and Becky and I only had coffee a few times. I mean, we were friendly but it just seems odd. I am glad I could be there for her the little I did but I just wish I could have known them better so maybe I would have known something better to say or do.” Now I feel bad for even voicing it.
“I haven’t really interacted with Lisa much but I met Becky the first day I moved in. She came in and introduced herself. I don’t think the woman ever met a stranger and she put me right at ease. I have never had a lot of female friends or friends at all, so it felt good to talk to her. Becky’s the one that got me drinking coffee every morning. She would come in with an extra mug every morning for me and I finally bought a coffee machine for the office,” Tara tells me. “I’ve never seen Lisa talk to a lot of people around here. She’s gone so much for work so maybe she just came to your apartment because you were the one Becky had been telling her about when they talked.” That makes sense. Now I feel silly. I decide to change the subject.
“So how far along are you?” The shocked look that comes over Tara’s face is priceless.“I’m not pregnant. Why would you say such a thing? I thought you liked me.” Tara is laughing.
“So, you don’t want a little Rome or little Tara running around?” I watch Tara’s face turn red.
“Someday, years down the road. I’d like to be living in a house we own before we have children and be more settled.” Tara sounds like she is sure about what she is saying.
“When I was pregnant…” I start but stop. I hadn’t thought about Adeline and Lucas today. I don’t know how I feel about that. I see a look in Tara’s eyes and I know she knows where my mind went. “I had morning sickness a few times with Adeline but with Lucas it was every day. Em, my sister, was lucky. She only had morning sickness a few times.”
“I am on bir th control, so we don’t need to worry about me being pregnant,” Tara says as she is flipping through her calendar on her desk. “Oh, damn.” I look closely at Tara.
“Something wrong?” I ask her but I can tell by the look on her face exactly what it is. Tara’s eyes swing to me and I can see the tears in her eyes. I get up and walk over to her. “Are you alright?”
“I’m late, two weeks late. I’m never late.” Tara looks at me. “Maybe it is because of my nerves. I mean a freaking dead body was found in this apartment complex.” I give Tara a little smile.
“That just happened. It wouldn’t make you two weeks late. When we go to lunch we can get a pregnancy test for you to take. It could be anything. Don’t freak on me now.” I try to be positive for Tara.
“We can’t leave for lunch. The prospect has orders to keep us here so he can keep a close eye on us. Rome is a bit protective.” I laugh.“Aren’t all bikers with their woman and children?” I think about it and I know exactly who to contact and hope I don’t get her in trouble. I go to my desk and pick up my phone and send a text to Callie to bring two or three pregnancy tests. It doesn’t take long to get a response. “Callie is under house arrest too but she is sending Felix with what we need.”
“Will Felix say anything to th e prospect out front about what he is bringing?” Tara is really upset. I send Callie a quick text asking her to tell Felix not to mention anything to anyone. It’s not long for the response to come back in. I laugh at her reaction. Tara is staring at me.
“Callie asked me if the test was for me and I replied no to her. She’s telling Felix not to mention it and she is sending us some cookies that her and the children made to cover but she said not to eat the cookies.” I laugh as I reread her message. “The boys put the whole egg in the recipe when her back was turned so they have eggshells in them.” I shake my head. “Tara, it’ll be alright.”
“I know. It’s just not how I had planned everything. I like to plan to get used to an idea.” Tara shakes her head but I can tell she is in her own head instead of paying attention to our conversation. “I’m getting ahead of myself. Everything is fine. Next year Rome and I are going to buy a home and then we are going to save a little money and then we will talk about children.” I hope if that is what Tara really wants that she gets it. She and Rome are good together and I can tell they love each other. I hope they get exactly the life they want. “It’ll be alright,” Tara says again. I go back to the applications and try to put my mind anywhere but on pregnancies and children. Tara is pacing the floor and I can tell she is on edge and I wish I could take her worries away but nothing but peeing on a stick and waiting a few minutes will do that. “Maybe I should call Rome.” I put the phone down and walk over to her and give her a hug. Tara is not a touchy-feely person but she finally relaxes.
“There is no reason to call Rome. Do the test first and then there may not even be anything to call about. It’s not like if it is positive you won’t be taking a dozen more and then going to the clinic. Just wait. If it is positive then call and you two can freak out together.” I want to laugh at the poor girl but I sort of feel for her. She’s young and she has her plan she wants to stick to. Tara hasn’t realized in life sometimes your plan needs to adapt to change. It’s a lesson that is usually learned the hard way. Felix comes in the door and he takes in the scene of Tara freaking out.
“Well Callie said the test wasn’t for you , Joy, and from Tara’s face I am guessing she is the lucky woman.” Felix half laughs. “I brought some pizza to go with the cookies that you do not want to eat. Love those boys to pieces but they not only put eggshells and all in the batter but they also poured the salt shaker in there.” I can just see the two boys doing exactly that but I do not get why Callie didn’t stop them.
“Why didn’t Callie catch them?” I ask laughing.“That one is easy. Katy Bug is teething and had diarrhea and was crying. Callie was trying to soothe her and do the cookies with Kellan and Killian at the same time. She also had Hanna puking her guts up in the bathroom and trying to hold her own lunch in. Callie does not know how to say no to those boys. She had promised them they would do cookies and she didn’t want them to think she was picking the baby over them so super mom thought she could do it all.” Felix is shaking his head. “Then Hanna shows up sick. Long story short, Callie needs help at home. Sarah hasn’t been around for a few days so we are a hand short for help.”
“I could give her a hand. Is there a virus going around?” I ask Felix.“The nine -month virus. Hanna is knocked up. I’m telling you that Devil needs to give my girl, Callie, a break. Callie’s test thankfully was negative but it won’t be long until he has her knocked up again.” Well, wow. I am running from babies and I have run right into a baby boom. “That is the reason there are three different kinds of pregnancy test in this bag. I already had to make a run to the pharmacy.” Tara’s face is pale. “I brought cheese pizza on half and meat lovers on the other half. Didn’t know what you both liked but I was picking me up one on the way to work and I thought you ladies might like a pizza since I know you are both on lock down just like Callie,” Felix finishes.
“We can share with the prospect. What’s his name?” I look at Tara.“Bo…his name is Bo ,” Tara answers. Her head is still with those tests in the bag. Felix looks at me over her head and I smile at him and lift my shoulder. He shakes his head in understanding.
“Well you ladies enjoy. I need to get to work and I hope everything turns alright with those.” Felix points at the bag he has set on Tara’s desk. Tara is looking at the bag like it might reach out and bite her. I guess it is time for me to put my big girl boots on and be the friend to Tara that she has been to me.
“Later Felix and thank you for everything,” I tell Felix who is still looking at Tara like he wants to say something else.“Later beautiful ladies.” Felix walks out the d oor but I can tell he is going to be on the phone to Callie as soon as he is far enough away. She’ll be texting later for an update. I stand up from my desk and walk over to Tara’s and pick up the pizza and the bag with the pregnancy tests in it.
“Why don’ t we take the pizza and this bag and go back up to my apartment so you can decide if you are ready for your answer.” Tara looks up to me and smiles. “That way we won’t be disturbed by Bo or anyone else. We can take an early lunch and eat while the pizza is hot.” Tara looks at the bag and then back at me. She takes a deep breath and stiffen her back.
“Sounds like a plan. I want to do the test before I eat. I might as well get my answer. Everything will be alright. I love Rome and he loves me. We can do this. We just need to tell Bo that we are going upstairs,” Tara says.
“Well we have to walk right by where he is parked so that isn’t a problem,” I tell her.“We need to lock the office up too. Rome said to lock it even if we are going to be gone just a few minutes. Security is tight.” I follow Tara to the door. She opens the door but stops and looks at me. “Thank you for being here for me and thinking of contacting Callie. I know I am a little weird about my planning things out but it is the only way I have been able to keep my life straight for so long. It’s a hard habit to break. I know I can lean on Rome now, but for so long, I was the only one but my brother Joey. It’s hard to realize I have a man and a bigger family and friends I can depend on. I like it, but it is still hard to grasp sometimes.” My heart is breaking for the things this woman must have been through. I don’t know her story except for a few things she has said here and there but I know she had a lonely childhood and she had to grow up fast to take care of her younger brother. Em and I always had each other. We may have chosen different life paths but we have always just been a phone call or text away. I know how lucky that makes me. I hold the door open and Tara walks through it. I just hope she is ready for this because no matter what, her life is about to change. She can’t go back to having her head in a cloud after a pregnancy scare and the way she reacted. No, Tara’s life is going to change.
I watch as the two women come out of the office and go up the stairs that leads to their apartments. This time next week one of the bitches will breathe her last breath. The Feral Steel have upped their security details on their families because they fear me. They need to fear me. It won’t be long until they find the second body and when they do it will fill them with the fear that I crave. I have the perfect place for them to find her. They need to feel the fear my family must have felt. I have taken one of their own this time and she will be dead by the time they find her. It was too easy but I need to have patience and patience has never been something I am good at. I will put my other plans in action while the Feral Steel scramble to keep their family safe. They can’t. I have planned everything out. I will not fail, failure is not acceptable. The Feral Steel took my family from me and now it is my turn to return the favor in spades. It is my time to make them bleed and when they think they have nothing left to lose I will prove to them that they do and it is just the beginning of the reckoning that I am going to rain down on every one of them. No one will be left untouched by my wrath. They are arrogant and they have gotten sloppy. Sloppy in their line of work will get you dead. They want everyone in this piss ant town to believe that they are working inside the law. It’s too late for them to be law abiding citizens. What about the people they destroyed along the way? I won’t let them forget. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a damn life and the Feral Steel MC and their families better be ready to pay with blood because that is the only payment I will accept. I have worked for two years to make this happen and I won’t be stopped. First, I need all the players in one place. My revenge doesn’t stop with the Feral Steel MC. It goes much deeper. I am going to make the innocent pay first so it will bring the club to their knees and then go in for the kill of the ones my plan is aimed at. The thing is that they are not even going to see me coming.
Call out! How long has it been since the Feral Steel MC got a call out at two in the morning? The last time a situation was going south for us. There is nothing besides a good party to call us out at two in the morning and the clubhouse was unusually quiet when I received the text that brought all the brothers on the road in the middle of the damn night. We don’t even know what the hell we are walking into or where we are going. Devil and Tito both received a picture from an anonymous number. Rome said that some of the surroundings look like the cabin he owns outside the city limits. That’s what brought us out here on this empty farm to market road. The place holds bad memories for Rome and Devil. It’s where Rome had to take his blood brother, Stacks, out. Stacks had to be put to ground because he was never going to stop trying to hurt Devil’s family. Stacks was a drug addict and he was convinced in his head that he was entitled to the Feral Steel MC and meant to take it by bringing Devil to his knees by taking Callie. Stacks found out that taking Callie from Devil was not an easy thing to do. Rome saw that Stacks would not stop so he did what he had to. In the process, family history was brought to light and Devil found out that Rome was his half-brother and it forged a bond between the two. Rome stuck around and prospected for the Feral Steel MC and he earned his cut. Now he is a Feral Steel brother. We finally turn down the dirt road that will take us back to the cabin. We travel slow down the dusty road so we don’t have to eat too much dust. Rome is leading us with Devil and myself close behind. Kane is the one that knows the road the best. The rest of the brothers are behind us. Rome slows down and pulls into the cabin drive. It’s more like a path. We stop the bikes and I look at the cabin and I can see the work Rome had started on before him and Tara decided to live in the apartment complex that Tara manages for the club. The grass has grown up and I see some fallen limbs from the storms we have had. I don’t think I would consider living in a cabin that was so far from neighbors. I may not like civilians around a lot but being with my club brothers is something I have become accustomed to. Then again, maybe I need to think about some distance with the way I have been feeling lately. The rest of the brothers are checking things out around the cabin like I am. None of us but Rome and Devil have been here often since Stacks’ death. Devil and Rome stop in front of the cabin. We all move in closer so we can hear what Rome is saying. “There is a pond about a half a mile down this path.” Rome is pointing to a walking trail at the side of the cabin. “About half of the way down this trail there will be a fork in the trail; both paths take you to the pond but on opposite sides. The pond is narrow but long. The trees in the picture could be on either side so we need to split up,” Rome tells us.
“No. We a re going to be in three groups. Rome, Hacksaw and I will go to the right. Bowie. Thrasher, and Ridge go to the left. The rest of you stay with our bikes and check out the cabin. I don’t want someone coming at us from the rear. This could be a trap.” Devil looks at each of us. “Crockett, make sure someone keeps an eye on the road and do not let our bikes out of your sight. We are too easy of a target out here.”
“Gotcha ,” Crockett answers. Rome starts down the path and it has briars and there are roots that try to trip us. This trail has not been used very much and we are careful to watch our step so we don’t land face first on the ground. We veer off to the right as the other brothers go left. I have a flashlight in my back pocket but I don’t want to have to use it because it will draw attention to us if someone is waiting to ambush us in the woods. The further back we go, the darker it gets. The moon is shielded by the tall trees. Rome stops and looks around. I see the flash of something on the other side of the pond. Someone has put a flashlight on but it is gone as fast as it was on. Rome stops and I see the trees that resemble the ones in the picture but there is nothing there but the trees. There is a foul smell. A skunk has sprayed the area.
“Do either of you have a flashlight?” Devil asks. I go for mine but Rome already had his out and he flashes it in the trees and there is nothing there. “Maybe I was wrong. This could be a waste of our time,” Rome says.“Over here! Hurry, she’s still alive! We need an ambulance!” We all three take off towards where Bowie had yelled from. We try to hurry but on this trail, there is no hurrying. We make it over to the others and I still don’t see anything. I pull the flashlight out of my pocket and shine it on the trees and that is when I get the first glimpse of the woman hanging strung between two trees. I don’t recognize the bloodied woman.
“Get Sarah down from there !” I hear Devil yell. I look at the young woman and I don’t recognize the woman hanging from the trees as Callie’s friend Sarah. I don’t know how Devil can be sure. Devil pushes past me, he must be seeing something that I am not. Rome is right behind Devil. I see Bowie and Ridge have the woman down but Devil takes her from them and lies her on the ground. I walk up to the two men that are trying to help the woman. I still don’t see how they can tell who she is with the cuts and bruises that cover her body. Her eyes are swollen shut. I flash the light down on her and I see the tattoo right below her collar bone. It’s a four-leaf clover. Early last year Sarah, Hanna, Callie and Felix went and got the same tattoo on a different part of their bodies. Sarah’s is done in metallic ink. They explained they were lucky the day they met each other when they started school and they have been friends ever since. Together they are unique but take one of them away and they become ordinary. I thought it was some of the corniest bullshit I had ever heard. The woman I have my eyes on now doesn’t even resemble Sarah. Her hair is full of dirt and blood. There are places on her head that have no hair. It looks like it was pulled out. She has so many cuts on her body and she only has a t-shirt on. She has blood running down her leg. She is unconscious and her breathing is shallow and labored. I see Bowie talking on the phone so I know an ambulance is on the way. “Sarah, can you hear me? Open your eyes for me. It’s Devil and we are here. You are safe.” Devil is talking soothingly to Sarah like he is talking to one of his children. I know the ambulance cannot drive down the path we came down.
“Ridge, go and meet the ambulance. Bring them carefully down the path. See if there are any lights in the cabin so we can light that path.” We could try and move Sarah but I don’t think that is a good idea. We don’t know the extent of her injuries.
“I’ll go with him. I know where the lanterns are ,” Rome says. I move in closer to Devil to help him keep Sarah’s body off the ground. When I get closer I flash my light on her to be able to see her wounds easier. That’s when I spot it. There’s blood all over her stomach but there is something carved into the skin. I shine my light on it and that is when Devil sees it too. I lay my flashlight down and take my cut off and remove my t-shirt and hand it to Devil. I put my cut back on and pick the flashlight up. I take the shirt from Devil and try to gently wipe some of the blood away. I hear the ambulance in the background. I see the first two words but only for a second. I wipe right below it and I see what the message is.
“What does it say? Can you make it out?” Devil asks me. I see the brothers standing close waiting for my answer.“It says one of yours next,” I answer. “It has the number 1 and then of on the first part and then yours spelled urs and then next. It’s a message just like the one at Becky’s apartment. Whoever is doing this is sending us messages.” I feel the need to fucking kill someone for doing this to Sarah.
“Te xt Creole and Edge to get my family locked down. The same with Tara and Gertie.” Devil looks down at Sarah. “Tell them to get Hanna, Felix and Joy too. I want our clubhouse locked up tighter than Fort Knox!” Devil is taking no chances. Devil looks down at Sarah. “Oh shit! She’s not breathing! Hacksaw get down here and help me.” I know the ambulance has pulled into the drive. What the hell is taking so long? I move in closer so I can help Devil. Devil positions Sarah so her head is tilted back. I have never done CPR before but once and it was on a brother. Devil bends down and breathes into Sarah’s mouth. He stops and looks at me and I start the chest compressions. I hope I don’t break something in this woman. Devil and I takes turns with Devil breathing into Sarah and my chest compressions until the paramedics make it to us. I move away as one of the men takes my place. Devil doesn’t want to let Sarah go but they finally get him out of the way. I don’t know how long they work on her but they finally get her to breathe again and they get her on the gurney. I don’t know which brother is more relieved when they say she is breathing. I think we were all holding our breaths for Sarah’s next breath. We follow up the trail with my flashlight helping us avoid the roots and briars. Bowie is in front so the paramedics can see their way. The paramedics get Sarah loaded up but she still has not regained consciousness. Devil has answered any questions he could to the paramedics. I see the sheriff has made it with backup. It’s not long after the ambulance leaves before the sheriff is approaching Devil. Sheriff Taylor does not like the Feral Steel MC so I know he is going to give Devil a hard time. I just don’t know if Devil can control his temper to answer his questions. Devil’s mind is with Sarah and with how he is going to tell his woman that one of her best friends is in bad shape and she has been attacked because of her association with the club. Callie is a strong woman but the people she loves are her weakness. I approach Devil from the other side and reach him just as the sheriff does.
“Sheriff Taylor, I’ll take care of the questions. Devil nee ds to get to the hospital,” I tell the man who is looking at us with a look of disgust. I look around at the position of each of the deputies. Bowie is watching me and I nod my head at him. He gets Crockett’s attention and Crockett positions himself to where he is in a better advantage point to see all the deputies. Sheriff Taylor looks at me as if he is shocked I spoke up to him before he got a chance to say anything. I look the sheriff over and I see he does not have a body cam on him. I get up close to him so that only he and Devil can hear me. “We were all here when Sarah was found and each of us can all give you a statement. Sarah is a friend of Devil’s wife, Callie. He needs to make sure that Sarah’s family, in Texas, is notified and get to the hospital.” Sheriff Taylor looks at me closely. I know I am intimidating him but that is exactly what I want to do.
“Mr. Bridges, I am the one making the decisions here. Don’t interfere in an official investigation or you will be sitting in one of my cells tonight,” the sheriff tells me, trying to get me to back down. I don’t back down to no one. I know all the secrets of this hick town’s law enforcement officers. Taylor has a proclivity for the town hookers and our strip club. He also likes to occupy our backrooms where we have cameras. The cameras may be for the girl’s protection but they have come in handy to get the cooperation of the old cronies that run our small town. I bend down slightly so only Taylor can hear me. Me being over six feet five inches it is not easy since Taylor can only be five feet eight at the most.
“Let Devil go or your wife will be receiving some visual looks into your extracurricular activities with the hookers on Eighth Street and your frequent visits to our strip club. I can give you the answers and you can talk to Devil tomorrow. Be a decent human being for once. Don’t test my patience.” I straighten back up and step back. Taylor looks at me carefully. He’s trying to size me up and get inside my head to see if I will be a man of my word. He shouldn’t need to look so hard. I am and will do exactly as I have said if he does not cooperate. His eyes go to Devil.
“Mr. Steel you can go and follow the ambulance. Be sure to report to my office first thing in the morning to answer questions.” Devil looks at me and then back to Taylor. I see the relief on his face.
“I’ll do that.” I watch Devil go to his bike. I know he will be making a stop by the clubhouse to get Callie. My mind goes back to Joy. I hope she is safe.“Mr. Bridges follow me so we can have a private talk.” I know I am not going to like what this asshole is going to say but I will listen so Devil can take care of what he needs to. It’s time to protect our own.
I see the clubhouse coming into sight. I am dreading this talk but I need my eyes on my family to make sure they are alright. Callie and Tito are not going to take this very well. I should have texted ahead, but I am a selfish bastard that wants to hold my woman when she gets bad news. I need to be the one she leans on when she falls apart. Callie is a strong woman and she doesn’t fall apart very often. She keeps her shit tight but when she falls I am the only one to catch her. Sarah, Hanna, Callie, and Felix have been best friends since their first day in school. That explained the matching tattoos. They don’t always like each other but they always love each other and they stand together. To tell you the truth, I have always been a little jealous of their relationship. Not that I would ever express my feelings. It shows how possessive I am of my woman and the double standard situation of our relationship. Yes, I admit it. I have my brothers and I would bleed and die for them but I am jealous of my woman and her friends. It’s not that I don’t like her group of friends, they have proven to be loyal to my woman but sometimes I wish I could be Callie’s everything. That is where the bastard part of me comes in. I know it is irrational and my brothers would laugh at the thoughts going through my head. I would never admit to it anyway except to Callie. Who am I trying to kid, Callie is and always has been my weakness since she has been in my life and I love every fucking minute of it. Her and our children. Not too many people know that Sarah and Tito started fucking each other right after she moved to Oklahoma from Texas. Sarah moved here to be with her three best friends. After Callie graduated and we went through so much Sarah went her own way. She moved out to California. Her parents have money and they sat her up with a place to live, part-time job and paid for her schooling. Callie thinks Sarah was running from Tazer, Callie’s brother. Tazer had patched in with the BlackPath MC and he was nailing every woman he could. Sarah and Tazer had a little something going on but Sarah wanted more. I think Sarah’s parents couldn’t ignore the way their daughter ran after the biker and sent her away to get her as far away from Tazer as they could get her. They didn’t want their daughter becoming a biker’s woman. It worked but after a failed marriage she ended up in Oklahoma with us and she is a big part of our family. During the time, I was trying to convince Callie to marry me the first time, Tito spent time with Sarah and I think he genuinely liked the young woman. At the time, Tito was our tech man and he was helping get information on Callie through her friend. They spent time together but when everything went south with Callie and me, Tito and Sarah went their separate ways. Tito has never been like the rest of our brothers. He’s smart with computers and numbers. That’s what made him our go-to brother for anything to do with computers and surveillance. He became our tech guy but when it comes to a fight he is the first one to jump in. He’s good with a knife and a gun. To say the least, he is not your ordinary tech nerd but he also doesn’t drink and party like most of the brothers. He’ll throw back a few drinks but doesn’t get sloppy drunk and he is very respectful of women. He was raised by a single mom and he has three younger sisters. He doesn’t want anyone disrespecting them so he doesn’t disrespect other women. That’s not to say he hasn’t been with some of the club girls but he keeps it quiet and doesn’t flaunt it. When Oz joined us, Tito was voted in as our numbers man and is now the treasurer, but he still does his computer thing. Right after that, Sarah moved in with Felix and Hanna. Sarah began coming to the family parties at the clubhouse and Sarah and Tito picked up their friendship again and it has evolved from there but they don’t tell a lot of people. I think it is more that it is new and they want to know where they are going before they put themselves out there. Sarah is high maintenance and Tito is laid back. Opposites attract. I wouldn’t know myself if I hadn’t seen Tito coming out of the house Sarah lives in on more than one occasion in the mornings. Neither of them volunteer information and I didn’t figure it was my business to ask. If they don’t make it a club issue or a Callie issue then it is not my business. I stop my bike in front of the clubhouse. I see Callie’s SUV is parked not too far away. I know she will be waiting for answers. Tito, Oz, Creole, Slick and the prospects were left here with family but everyone should be here now. I see Tara’s truck and Gertie’s car. Creole and one of the prospects was on the gate. I get off my bike and make my way in the door. I see Callie, Gertie, Tara, and Joy sitting at one table. The kids must be asleep. I see the club girls at another table. Bo is behind the bar. Tito must be in his office.
“Bo, where is Tito?” Bo is one of our newest prospects but it won’t be long before he is patched in.“He took Gully and Possum to do a perimeter walk. Said he had a bad feeling and he needed air,” Bo tells me. Tito’s feeling was right.
“Go get Tito. Tell the two prospects to finish the walk. You get back here with Tito,” I give the order. I guess he can tell by my voice something is wrong because he starts for the back door. “Stay alert and be sure everyone is carrying.” He nods his head and he is gone. Felix and Hanna come walking out of the kitchen with mugs in their hands. Callie gets up and walks over to me. I open my arms up so she can walk into them. I am home. My woman is safe. “Where are the kids? Asleep?”
“I put them in the office for now. We weren’t given an explanation on why we had to be here but I know it is bad and we can’t find Sarah. We have been texting and calling. Tito even tried the app to find her phone. Nothing. Oz is still trying to find something on her.” Callie is babbling but as I hold her close I feel her shaking.
“Baby girl, calm down. Why are the kids in my office instead of my room?” I ask her. “We are going to be staying here for a while.”“The children were already asleep and since I had no more information I didn’t want them so far away. I had the baby’s monitor so I put them in your office and locked the door. The boys are on a pallet and Kaitlyn is in her pack ‘n play. I wanted them closer.” Callie points to the monitor on the table. “What is it Kylar? What’s happened?” Tito walks in the back door with Bo behind him. I need to just get this out. We are wasting time and we need to be at the hospital. My phone vibrates and I take it out and look at the text. More bad news. Chief has had trouble too in Texas and it makes it even worse that I have to add to what I am going to have to tell Callie. I take Callie by the hand and guide her over to the table to sit down. Tito walks up behind me. I nod to him.
“We found Sarah and she is on her way to the hospital.” Callie starts to ask something and I hold my hand up to keep her quiet. “Just listen. We got a picture of a woman sent from an anonymous number and we couldn’t tell who she was. Rome recognized some of the scenery so we went to check it out. Sarah is in bad shape. She was strung between two trees out by the cabin that Rome owns. She’s not recognizable.” I hear Tito leave. I can’t blame the brother, if it was Callie I wouldn’t wait either. I look back at Callie, she has tears running down her face. “You need to pull it together for Sarah, babe. We need to contact her parents. Gertie, watch my boys until we can get back. The rest of the brothers will be here when the sheriff is finished questioning them. Tara, you and Joy help Gertie. No one is to leave this clubhouse. One of you women stay in the room with my children. Chief has had trouble in Texas too. He’s going to let me know more as soon as he can.” I stop and hug my woman.
“Her parents cut Sarah out of their lives. The only thing Sarah has left is her trust fund from her grandparents.” I look at Hanna.“They need to be here if they want to see her. She stopped breathing before she was put in the ambulance. This is serious and I don’t care how mad I ever was at one of my children I would want to be there. Call!” I hear the gasp from Callie.
“I’ll take care of it,” Felix says.“We need to go now. We have her medical power of attorney if decisions need to be made so we can make them,” Callie says. “Her doctor has a copy at his office.”
“I’ll call her doctor too,”
Felix says.
“Is everyone alright at Dad’s?” Callie asks.
“I don’t know babe. I told you everything the text said. Let’s get g oing. Give Gertie the key to my office. There should be a key to my room on there too.” Callie takes the key out of her pocket and hands it to Gertie. Gertie pulls her in for a hug and whispers something in her ear. I hear the side door open. Slick walks in with two of the prospects. Oz is walking in from the hall his office is on. “Slick, we are on lockdown. No one in or out of here that does not have a Feral Steel MC cut on or family. The club girls can stay but their asses better be pulling their load. Put them to cleaning and cooking but if they leave then they don’t come back. Get a list of groceries and supplies we need and we can take care of it tomorrow. Oz, I want you checking out the BlackPath situation. Chief sent me a text so contact him or one of the members. Bo, you are with us. The rest of the brothers should be here soon.” Callie is ready to go. “Felix, you and Hanna are riding with us. We’ll figure rides out later if we need to do this in shifts. Let’s move.”
“Kylar, you need a fresh shirt.” I look down at my shirt. I don’t know how any of them kept their heads looking down at all the blood on my t-shirt. I go to my office and open the door quietly so I don’t wake my kids. I get in and I see my two boys and they look so innocent lying beside each other. I bend down and kiss Kellan and then Killian on the head and then make it over to Kaitlyn. I give her a kiss too. I would kill anyone who tried to hurt my children. I don’t care how much we ever argue, it happens in families, if someone called and said one of them was hurt I would move heaven and earth to get to them. If Sarah’s parents don’t show then they never deserve to set eyes on her again. Sarah is part of our family now and we don’t turn our back on family. Gertie and Joy come in and pick each of the boys up as I open my filing cabinet and grab one of the club logo t-shirts out. I take my cut off and walk into the bathroom and grab a towel to try to wipe it clean. I get off what I can. I jerk my t-shirt off and throw it in the trash. I put on the clean shirt. I turn to the sink and wash my hands and grab a wash cloth to clean my face. I need a shower but there is no time, this will just have to do. I see that the women have left with my boys and that Tara is getting Kaitlyn with Callie’s help. I’ll get Possum to move the bed.” Tara nods her head yes but leaves the room.
“Hanna and Fe are waiting in the SUV. Can we go? I want to be there… in case.” Callie can’t finish it. She starts crying. I walk up to her and pull her in my arms and kiss the top of her head.
“Babe, Sarah needs you now. We need to roll out. We need to take care of our family.” Callie looks up at me and she kisses my cheek and then steps back and wipes her face on the bottom of her t-shirt.
“Let’s go.” I take her hand and we w alk back into the common room. I see Possum and Gully behind the bar. It looks like they have moved a couple of coffee makers and are setting up coffee cups.
“Possum, move Kaitlyn’s bed into my room. Bo let’s go. When the brothers get back send at least two our way,” I tell whoever is listening. I move Callie out the front door with Bo right behind us. Hanna is sitting inside the SUV but Felix is waiting for us.
“Sarah’s parents aren’t coming. They said they don’t have a daughter anymore.Dr. Ren is calling the hospital so they can get Sarah’s records. He’ll be there as soon as he can get dressed and drive there,” Felix informs us. “I got Chief on the phone. Em was shot. She’s going to be alright but someone needs to tell Joy.” We don’t have time right now.
“Are you sure she is going to be alright?” I look at Felix to make sure he is telling me everything.“Yes, Chief s aid it was a graze. It went through her side and didn’t hurt anything going through. Two men tried to grab Maizy and Em. Maizy fought them off. Em was carrying and shot one of the men but the other one shot back and hit Em. Maizy said the driver of the van almost backed over Em after she fell from being shot. Chief and Tazer are beyond pissed,” Felix tells us.
“Aren’t you?” Felix doesn’t say any thing he just nods his head. “Let’s get to the hospital.” Felix goes to the back and gets in and I take the driver seat. I hope like hell this night gets better.
I walk into the clubhouse and it is full in the common room but it is eerily quiet. I was the first person Taylor talked to and the last he let leave. Bowie stayed with me and rode back. Devil sent a text that no one is to be alone. For now, we are on the buddy system, no one gets caught alone. That’s the last word I received and that was three hours ago. I stopped to talk to Slick at the gate to see if Devil had checked in and no one has heard anything else. It seems that Chief’s woman was shot and some men tried to grab Em and Maizy. They didn’t find that an easy job. Maizy may be a quiet woman but she is a trained MMA fighter. She may not underground fight anymore but it’s not something that you forget. Her skills kicked in and she kept her and Em safe enough until one of the BlackPath MC members was there to help. Em took a hit but it is not serious. I hate the woman was hurt but I think our problems are a bit worse with the shape Sarah is in. From what Slick says, Devil thinks they may be connected. Devil is running on emotion. This hit close to home but how the two incidents could be connected is not clear to me. Better safe than sorry though. Even if they aren’t connected we still have problems here at home. Oz approaches me and I can tell he has some news. “Chief wants to talk. He said he can’t wait for Devil to get back. He’s waiting to skype.” I am not Chief’s favorite person and he is not mine so this should be…interesting. “I have it set up in my office.”
“Alright. Let’s do this. Bowie and Crockett ,” I call to the two. They walk over to me. “I want you two in the room with Oz and me when I talk to Chief.” Bowie shakes his head.
“You know it is not going to do any good , the two of you going off on each other. If he has information to give us we need to listen. It may help.” Crockett may be our enforcer but he always keeps a level head and thinks before he acts.
“That’s why you and Bowie are going to be in there. I want you to pay attention to every word he says. Chief and I have a way of butting heads. I want you two to stand or sit where you can’t be seen and listen to everything. If we start to go at each other just throw something at me. I don’t know what it is about that asshole that sets me off.” Crockett and Bowie both laugh.
“You two are too much alike,” Oz says what the other two are thinking. Devil has said it more than once. I don’t see it. I’m not the asshole Chief is.“Bullshit! Let’s get this done.” I walk back down the hall to Oz’s office. I am wondering where Tito is at. I didn’t see him in the common area. Devil probably has him on the computer trying to find us a lead. Whoever did this will be paying in blood. I get to the door and open it and I am surprised that Tito is not busy at his desk. I stop when I get to Oz’s desk. Oz walks behind the desk and does something to his computer. Bowie and Crockett sit in chairs around Tito’s desk. Oz waves me around to his side of the desk. He stands back against his filing cabinet. It’s short enough that he sits on top of it. I walk around and I see Chief’s face on the computer. I’m not real tech savvy but I sit in the chair and wait for Chief to talk.
“ We have a mutual problem and it needs to be handled quickly. At least three people tried to grab Em and Maizy in front of the grocery store. Two men with ski masks on and neither of them saw the driver. White nondescript van. They grabbed Em because she was closer. Maizy jumped in to help. Em had time to pull her piece while Maizy was fighting with the two. Em shot one of them but the other one shot her. The two jumped back in the van and sped off. I texted Devil but he said that the Feral Steel had a situation of their own.” Chief doesn’t give me a chance to say much. He’s to the point.
“Sarah was taken. We didn’t even know she was gone. She was beaten and cut. She’s at the hospital now. Devil and Callie are there but we don’t have an update. She quit breathing before the ambulance arrived but we got her back so it is serious.” Chief doesn’t have a reaction on his face. The man never gives anything away. “Why do you think the two are connected?”
“Driller and Tazer both received an ano nymous text. It is a fucking riddle, ‘Two sets of four bonded together by a clover tattoo. Some will die but all are hunted. Innocents will die until I get the ones I want. The body count will build until the guilt will be too much. It’s time for the clubs to pay for their past transgressions. The first death is the beginning of the reckoning.’ The trouble with Em and Maizy is the first time we have had trouble in a while. Brain tried to trace it but came from a damn burner phone and it hasn’t been used since,” Chief tells me. I am trying to rack my brain but it goes back to the clover tattoo.
“There was a murder at the apartment complex we own and the woman worked for the Feral Steel at the gym. That was her only link to the club and then Sarah. You do know that Sarah, Hanna, Callie and Felix all have clover tattoos. They had them done over a year ago but that is the only ones I know of. Do you have anything else?” This puts us in the middle of a shit storm.
“There’s someone else there with a clover tattoo, Joy. Joy, Em, Micah and Maddie also have clover tattoos.” I feel like someone is clutching my heart and I don’t know how to feel about it. I barely know Joy but I have the strong urge to find her and lock her down so no one will get to her. I listen as Chief goes on. “Callie told them about the tattoos and they took it upon themselves to do the same. Has anyone contacted Sarah’s parents?” I look to Oz.
“Felix was going to take care of it
,” Oz tells us.
“I’ll give them a call,” Chief says.
“There was a message written on Becky’s wall when she was found. It said that the murderer was coming for the Feral Steel MC but it didn’t say anything about the BlackPath MC. Oz could make out two people in the stairwell on the security tape until it went black. They knew where the camera was and spray painted over it. The asshole was arrogant about it. He knew where the cameras were in the parking lot and waved at them. He walked off through the woods behind the apartment complex. Didn’t even run, he walked.” I am getting more pissed off the longer I think about the arrogant asshole. “We need eyes on Micah and Maddie.”
“Micah is on the road with the rodeo circuit and not answering calls or text s. I have talked to her aunt Deb and she is not sure where she is. She was in Wyoming and cell reception is not always good there. Her next event is in Nevada but not for another week so she could be anywhere and she is not good about checking in. I called Sarge so he can track her down. If anyone can get a reaction out of Micah it will be him.” I smile at that. Micah is Callie’s younger sister and she has a twin, Maddie. They may both be beautiful women but that is where the similarities end. Micah is too much of a ball buster and Maddie too meek. I haven’t been around them that much but anyone that meets the two know the differences. Micah is loud, the life of the party and in your face obnoxious and Maddie is reserved and doesn’t want to stand out. Callie is just a little bit older than the two but she rides the road in the middle when it comes to personality. All three are too much drama to me. I am ready to tell Chief to keep us updated when the door opens and Devil walks in. I can tell the news is not going to be good. “Maddie is home with Deb and I am going to make arrangements to send someone there or bring her here. Deb said she had it handled for now but I will feel better when we have eyes on them.”
“Devil is here so you can get an update from him on Sarah ,” I tell Chief. I get up and walk around the desk and lean up against the wall and wait for what Devil says. Devil sits down. He wipes his hand over his face and clears his throat.
“Sarah had a heart attack when they went in to do repairs. Her lung collapsed and they had to go in and put a tube in so she could breathe and they were trying to repair some internal injuries. She had a lacerated liver and they were going to take her spleen out but before they could get very far into the procedure she had the heart attack. The preliminary blood test they ran on her to find out if she had drugs in her system showed high quantities of ketamine in her bloodstream. They think she might have had an underlying heart condition and it, mixed with the amount of ketamine in her system, caused the heart attack. She coded and they couldn’t get her back. With the amount of blood she lost from all the cuts and stab wounds she was lucky to be alive when we found her. Some of those wounds they said were over twentyfour hours old. We’ll know more when the autopsy comes back.” Devil leans back in his chair and I can see the toll this has taken on him.
“How’s Baby Girl, Felix and Hanna?” Chief asks.“In shock. Going through hell knowing what their friend endured the last hours of her life. I didn’t tell them everything because Callie doesn’t need that picture in her head and neither do the other two. When we get our hands on this bastard he is going to know and feel the hell that woman had to feel before she died,” Devil yells. Oz reaches down and opens the filing cabinet that he is sitting on and takes a bottle of Jameson and hands it to Devil. Devil takes the lid off and downs a big drink and then puts the lid back on and hands it back to Oz. Devil collects himself. Chief hasn’t said anything but when he does we can hear the anguish in his voice.
“That girl was like a daughter to me. I watched her grow up beside the other three and all three of them are going to feel the loss. Sarah was difficult at times but she was a good girl. We need to get ahead of this. Whoever is doing this has targeted Callie, Felix, Hanna, Em, Joy, Micah, and Maddie. They know our loved ones are our weakness and they are going to exploit it. I’ll let Hacksaw fill you in. I need to reach out to get more eyes on our family. You do the same. You keep my girl and them babies’ safe. Call Bourbon and Rye, they are the closest. This asshole just called open season on all Feral Steel MC and BlackPath MC family members.” I am watching Devil and waiting for him to explode. He doesn’t take orders.
“Old man, you take care of yours and I’ll take care of mine. Do you think after what I seen tonight I don’t know to keep everyone safe?” Devil is calm, too calm. “I figured since you are a father that you would understand where I was coming from,” Chief says and tries to go on but Devil cuts him off.“I get it, alright. I’m just not in the right state of mind to be understanding. Callie is in my room falling apart with Felix and Hanna. I will move heaven and earth to take care of everyone,” Devil says, still not raising his voice.
“Understood. We’ve both had a long day. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” Chief must have disconnected because things stay quiet. Then Devil looks at me. “What happened in Texas?” Devil waits for my answer.“Some me n in a van tried to take Em when she was coming out of a grocery store. Maizy was with her and fought them off long enough for Em to get her gun. She shot one of the men and the other one shot her. The driver of the van picked the two of them up and they got away. Em is alright it was a graze but Driller and Tazer got anonymous messages from a burner. All the people with the clover tattoo are targeted but he will take out whoever he can get. Those are the ones he is hunting.” I stop and wait for his reaction but he is giving me none. “We have four of the people here.” That gets Devil’s attention. “Callie, Felix, Hanna, and Joy. Then there is Em, Maddie and Micah.”
“What the hell?” Devil shouts. Devil looks at the screen of the computer in front of him and then he speaks. “I already texted Bourbon and Rye. They will be here sometime tomorrow. Everyone is on hard lockdown. That means any of you go outside to smoke or take a piss then you have a shadow. No women or children leave for any reason. Tomorrow we get supplies here to do at least a couple of weeks. Tito and Sarah had been involved to some extent. He is not handling this very well.” Devil looks at all of us. “No better than any one of us would if it had been someone we cared about. Watch him from a distance but give him space. When he is ready he will come to his brothers. The Feral Steel will be taking care of the arrangements for Sarah. Her parents want nothing to do with it. I talked to her dad on the phone and once this situation is handled we will be handling him too. Perimeter walks every hour, two men on the gate and only family enter without prior authorization. Same order for the club girls, if they leave they don’t come back. It’s time to keep our family safe.” Devil stands up.
“What about running our businesses? We can’t close them down indefinitely,” I ask.“We will have church after arrangements are made for Sarah. The businesses that have managers will use them. That’s why we hired them. The apartment complex has a mail slot so payments that aren’t direct deposit can be dropped off and they have the emergency number to call for repairs. Do we have anything pressing at the shop?” Devil asks me.
“No, we are waiting on parts for a couple of projects. We still need to do deposits for the bar and strip club and someone needs to be there to walk the dancers and waitresses out at night. The gym is still closed too.” That’s all I can think of.
“Have the parts store call here when the parts are in. Rotate four men for the bar and strip club and the deposit can be dropped at the bank when that is done. I am not taking any chances with Tara at the apartment complex or the gym. An employee died, people will just need to understand. Offer them something free to keep the complaining down. I’ll contact Sal tomorrow and see if he would be willing to work some shifts for us when we can reopen.” Devil walks around the desk. Bowie and Crockett have been silent until now, and then Crockett speaks up. “We’ll do the first rotation at the bar and strip club. We’ll each take a prospect. That way we can make sure no one is lurking around,” Crockett says.
“We can do a drive by the rest of the businesses and look too ,” Bowie agrees. “Just be sure to keep your eyes open and keep us updated on your locations,” Devil tells them. “I need to get back to Callie. Keep the tattoo thing to yourselves until we talk about it in church.” No one says anything. We all stand to walk out but we all know that changes are coming. “Hacksaw, I need a word.” Crockett, Bowie, and Oz walk out. I wait and close the door when they are gone and then turn and wait for whatever Devil needs to say.
“Anything I can do, brother, you know that.” I know Devil is taking this hard.“When I took Callie as my ol’ lady I knew she came with not only her family bu t her friends. Those four have been close for so long and all three have proved they were not only friends but family. Sarah is gone but now not only is my woman in danger so are all her closest friends.” Devil looks at me. I see the pain in his eyes no matter how much he is trying to hide it. “I am going to need to keep a very close eye on Callie. She has a way of acting before she thinks when someone she loves is threatened. She loves that hard and deep. I am going to have a brother on each one of them. I have Callie but I need eyes on all of them, at all times. Whoever this is, does not feel threatened by the Feral Steel MC or the BlackPath MC. That tells me they are stupid and stupid is dangerous. Stupid is only worried about taking out as many people as they can and not caring who gets hurt in the process.”
“Whoever took Sarah wasn’t sloppy. They didn’t leave anything around the scene that we could see as dark as it was. Maybe I should head out there. It will be daylight soon,” I tell Devil.
“Those damn deputies would have trampled any evidence that was there. Well, what we didn’t because it was so damn dark when we got there. If you get caught out there, Taylor will throw your ass in a cell. Oz can get the crime scene photos like he did Becky’s. When Tito gets a hold of himself he can help. That’s someone else we are going to need to keep an eye on so he doesn’t go after someone before we have all the facts.” Devil is right. Taylor would love to arrest me.
“Alright, then what can I help with? Name it and it is yours,” I tell my president. “I want you to watch Joy.” I laugh. Never would I have thought Devil would ask this of me.“I’ll watch her in my bed as I fuck her.” Devil smiles and relaxes a little. I watch as Devil picks his phone up and texts someone. I’m guessing Callie.
“I don’t think Joy would be on board with that. She said she has sworn off bikers but if you get her to agree, hay, makes it easier on me.” I look at Devil. I know this is a serious situation but since when are we glorified babysitters? Joy has been in my head more than I care to think about the last few days but if I want her then she is mine and the thought of having to ask pisses me off. I don’t fucking ask shit. I know I should calm a bit but I don’t. This is just who I am. I look at Devil straight on.
“The body count is growing. How the hell am I supposed to protect a woman that won’t stay put? Send her back to Texas, at least then she’ll still be alive. It’s either that or get out of my way and let me handle it my way!” I yell at Devil. I know I surprised him as much as myself.
“Whoa! What the hell are you talking about? When has Joy taken off and since when do we make women do what they don’t want to?” Devil yells back. I step back.“Look, I didn’t me an to be an ass, all I’m saying is no one expected Joy to take off from Texas when she landed here.” I half laugh. “I wouldn’t be forcing her once she let down them damn walls she has built up. There’s no reason why her and I can’t enjoy our time together and we might even find out we like it.”
“Is that so? Just how are you going to convince Joy of this?” Devil has a sarcastic look on his face that I am not sure I like.“How did you convince Callie? I do believe that when you two first met she didn’t like you too much,” I throw back to him.
“Uh huh, are you claiming Joy as yours?” Devil asks.
“I don’t know, brother, I’ll have to get back to you on that.” Am I claiming Joy? The woman is taking up my head space but only one woman. I don’t know if I can do that but I can’t even lie to myself that there isn’t something about the woman I want.
“You be sure and do that. Hacksaw, it is an order for you to protect her the rest is up to you to handle. I told Bowie to put her in your room.” I shake my head. “This could be a bumpy road.” I am thinking about Joy and her being in my bed.I know I have other things to concentrate on but somehow the image I have of Joy in my bed is doing a number on my head. “I’m going to need to tell her about the tattoo thing to get her to listen.”
“As long as we all make it out on the other side then I’ll take it. Nothing in life worth having comes easy. Tell her the bare facts. We’ll get everyone together after the arrangements are made for Sarah. Everyone will need to know. Let’s get this done.” Devil has never said anything that I agree with more. I know I am going to have a fight on my hands.
I lay here and look at the ceiling wondering how I got here again. When I left Texas, I was determined to have an ordinary life. No more big parties, no more bikers and, no more danger. I didn’t think I was running away from anything but running to my future. I thought I was making intelligent decisions. The first couple of months were fine but in the last few days not one death but two. I had just met Becky but Sarah, Sarah I had met right after I started going to the BlackPath MC clubhouse. She hasn’t even had a chance to live and now she is gone. That young woman had her future ahead of her and now because of some sick asshole she is gone before it even had a chance to start. I know the Feral Steel MC have no blame in this in my head but that doesn’t change the circumstances. I am going to try and get a few hours of sleep and then I am hitting the road again. No, I can’t do that. Callie may need me. Sarah and Callie are as close as sisters. Not are, was. I feel the tears running down my face again. I MISS Em and I need one of her big hugs right now. I turn over into the pillow and I smell him, Hacksaw. I don’t know why Bowie brought me here and he damn sure wasn’t sharing anything other than Devil’s orders. Why would I be put in Hacksaw’s room? I wonder if Hacksaw knows of this arrangement. He doesn’t like me very much, more like at all. He’s liable to lose his shit when he finds out I am in his room. Maybe he is going to be occupied with club business for the time being. I need to try and get a couple of hours of sleep so I can be up and help with Callie’s and Devil’s children. Since everyone is on lockdown there will be meals to prepare and clothes to wash and rooms to keep clean. I know the drill and if I am going to be here then I need to pull my weight until the all clear is given. The Feral Steel will deal with this psycho and then I can be on my way. My body is beginning to relax, maybe just a few hours’ sleep. I know I am drifting off but then I hear someone come in the door and light floods the room and I am squinting to see who the hell is in Hacksaw’s room. When my eyes adjust I see the man himself and he has an evil grin on his face. Okay, it’s been a while since I slept but it looks evil to me.
“Sugar, you need to get on the side of the bed you are claiming because as soon as I get out of the shower I am crawling in there to grab a couple of hours of shut eye.” I look at Hacksaw. Surely, he is joking. I am not sleeping with this man.
“Bowie brought me to your room and said Devil said for me to stay here. Didn’t he tell you? I’m sorry. I’ll get dressed and go back to the common room and sleep. I’m sure there is some space somewhere,” I tell Hacksaw. I know I am babbling but Hacksaw just took his t-shirt off and his chest and abs are making me silly drunk. It has been a while since I have seen a man this undressed this close and the smirk on Hacksaw’s face tells me he knows exactly what he is doing to my libido. I start to get up but I remember I took off my shorts and bra. They are across the room slung over a chair. I’m not shy about my body by any means but it’s not what it once was. I’ve had two babies in three years. I have stretch marks and my belly isn’t as flat as it once was. I’ve lost my weight and then some since Lucas’s birth, but I’m just not as tight as Hacksaw is used to seeing with the club girls running around the club and his body is a work of art. I lick my lips. My lips and mouth have gone dry. Then Hacksaw does something that pisses me off and the spell is broken. He laughs. Not a small snicker, nope, a full belly laugh and he is looking right at me. “What the hell are you laughing at?”
“Sugar, you are looking at me like you are a starving woman and I am an all you can eat buffet. See something you like?” Hacksaw is still laughing.“Just get in the shower so I can leave. My clothes are on the chair, could you hand them to me?” I point to my shorts and bra hanging on the back of the chair.
“Sugar, you want them clothes get up and get them. I don’t bite and you’re not going anywhere. You’re mine.” What did he just say? I jump out of bed and I am to my clothes before Hacksaw can react. I step into my shorts. To hell with the bra. I pull my shorts up and zip and button them and then I turn on him.
“I belong to no one! I am out of here.” I push my bra into my front pocket. Hacksaw steps in front of the door and blocks the door.“Cool your jets, woman. You are mine to keep my eyes on. Devil wants to make sure everyone has eyes on them and for some reason, you are mine to protect. Devil gave you to me.” Hacksaw is f inding this amusing. Me, not so much. Hacksaw starts walking towards me. Each step he takes I go back until I feel his dresser behind me. “Now for the rest of the story. I like to call it my version of a bedtime story so listen carefully.” Hacksaw looks at me closely to make sure I am listening. I wish I had a way out of here. “You are a single unattached woman. I am a single man that likes a lot of sex, and when I say a lot, I mean as frequently as possible. We are happening. You are going to be my woman. Somehow your sassy smart mouth has gotten under my skin. I am not going to take you on a date but we will be together when we go out. I am not asking you to marry me or even promising you anything past day to day but I want to see where this can go with us. It may last a day or we may have a long run together, regardless, you will always be safe. You don’t bitch at me for leaving the toilet seat up and I won’t yell at you when you are spending too long in the bathroom. I’ll pull my weight and you pull yours. If we are honest with each other and both of us have our eyes wide open going in, then I don’t see why this can’t work. We’re not damn teenagers anymore that don’t know how life works, so what do you say?” My mouth is hanging open. Did this overgrown ox just say all that garbage to me?
“I’m not your woman now nor do I ever intend to be. What the hell has gotten into you? Have you bumped your head? You don’t even like me! Devil can’t just give me to you. He doesn’t own me.” I am waiting for an explanation of this lunacy.
“Woman,” Hacksaw starts but I interrupt him.“My name is not woman, it is Joy.” Hacksaw grins and he starts shaking his finger at me.
“See, usually, that is too much sass out of a woman but from you Joy, I like it. It’s cute as hell.” Hacksaw puts his hand on his hip and leans against the door. “Now as I was saying, two murders in one week this close to home means precautions. You know the routine. You’ve been around the BlackPath MC for how many years?” He waits for an answer but I don’t give it. “Anyway, we are stepping up security on everyone but especially Callie, Hanna, Felix and you. So, like it or not you are stuck with me.” I look at Hacksaw and take in what he has just told me. Why us four?
“What are you talking about? Why the four o f us? I know Hanna, Felix and Callie. And I knew Sarah. They were around the BlackPath clubhouse when I was there but I barely knew Becky. Why do you think the two deaths are related?” I watch Hacksaw and I wait. He is taking too long to answer. This must have something to do with the club surely. If not he wouldn’t keep me in the dark. Have they already told Callie what is going on? The idea of leaving seems like a better idea more now than ever. Hacksaw finally looks up at me.
“This is on a need to know basis. Do not share it. Devil will update everyone when the time is right. Do you understand? Not complying is not an option. Are we clear?” I know Hacksaw is waiting on an answer. I finally nod my head. “I need the words sugar.”
“I understand and I won’t say anything to anyone.” I just hope I can stand by my word.“We don’t want a damn panic.” Hacksaw is still watching my face. I nod. “Alright. The BlackPath MC was hit too. Em and Maizy were targeted.” My heart clinches. My sister. It is hard for me to breathe. “Calm down sugar.” Hacksaw backs me up to his bed and sits me down.
“Is Em alright? Do I need to go to her?” Hacksaw sits beside me and then takes my hand.“Em is going to be fine and no, no one is leaving.” Hacksaw pulls me in for a hug and it is the best damn hug. I breathe his sent in. It’s a familiar smell of the leather on his skin but different with Hacksaw’s own scent mixed in with it. I calm a little enough to relax but I need to know more.
“Were her children with her? Are they okay? Do they need me there? I can help watch over Em,” I rattle off.“Breathe Joy ,” Hacksaw tells me, and I do. He pulls away from the hug. “Em and Maizy are good. Two men tried to grab Em and Maizy fought. Em pulled her gun and shot one of the men and the other shot her.” I start to panic. My sister has been shot. “It didn’t hit anything major. It was just a graze like a bad scratch. She’s going to be sore but she will recover. Maizy was banged up but there were three of them. The one driving the van got them out of there but Tazer and Driller received an anonymous text from a burner phone.” I wait for Hacksaw to finish. I can’t get my train of thought on the right path. I don’t know what to ask. “Whoever they are, they know a lot about Callie and her friends and family. They are targeting everyone with the damn four leaf clover tattoo. Chief gave us the information and let us know the fact that you had one too. That is why Devil put me with you. Everyone here that has one now has a shadow, always. I’m yours. We are attracted to each other so why not take the next step? It may only last until this situation is taken care of but if you are mine that gives you the safety you need.” Is this man crazy? I may not be thinking clearly but I am in a better state of mind than this idiot.
“Are you crazy? I can go home and I will be just fine. I need to be there for Em. I can help Chief keep an eye on her. Em is my little sister and it is my job to make sure she stays safe.” Hacksaw laughs at me. Why the hell is he laughing? This is not funny.
“This is your home now , Joy. Chief and the BlackPath MC will keep Em safe. The BlackPath members only have one woman to protect that is targeted. Do you not think they can do that? We have four of you here. Where is your self- preservation? Do you not think it would be more dangerous to be running off half-cocked? Do you not think we are being watched? Use your head. Trust us, trust me. Do you not think I can keep you safe?” This man has not figured out I am not worried about me.
“I don’t know you well enough to trust you. I am worried about Em.” I watch Hacksaw. He is nodding his head yes.“You’re right, we don’t know each other very well but I trusted you to tell you club business. Devil trusted you enough to give you this much. Can’t you meet us half way?” Hacksaw gets up and starts to pace the room. Then a pissed-off look comes over his face.
“What?” I ask him.“Woman, I just did more explaining than I have done in a lifetime in the la st half hour. Just to get you on board with this, but the thing is, my patience has run out.” Hacksaw stops right in front of me and looks down on me with a menacing look. “Since the first day you showed up at the gym you have been in my thoughts. That by itself pisses me off. You are going to listen to me and keep your ass put. We are happening. I am claiming your ass. That means you are mine so get it through that head of yours. I will protect you with the help of my brothers. You have anything to say about that just save it because I need a fucking drink! Keep your ass in this room until I tell you different and keep your yap shut! It’s for your own good.” Hacksaw is yelling by the time he finishes. He walks to his dresser and pulls out a clean t-shirt and puts it on and then grabs his cut and turns for the door.
“Hacksaw, I may need to listen to you now but if you come back to this room smelling like one of the club girls then I am out of here,” I tell Hacksaw point blank. I know that there isn’t a member of the Feral Steel MC that would make a woman do anything they weren’t willing to do. If I am going to need to come to terms with what Hacksaw is telling me he needs to know I have rules I live by too. I may have been a club girl at one time but I will no longer share a man with anyone. It may make me a hypocrite but I was once told if you don’t have boundaries in a relationship then there is no respect and I will not be disrespected and I know the rules of an MC club too well. Hacksaw looks at me with a smile on his face and winks at me.
“Sugar, I wouldn’t push too hard. I might begin to think you like me.” Then he turns and leaves. The only thing I can think is asshole.
That woman is infuriating. She wants me as much as I want her but for some damn reason she thinks she is going to deny us both. Not happening. As I am walking back to the common room to get a drink I am trying to calm my ass down. I let that woman get to me again. It’s time I let Joy know who the man is in this relationship. She says no but her eyes were saying yes. I saw the look of want when I took my shirt off. I know I went about the situation all wrong. I can’t let her know she gets to me but I will have her. It pissed me off when she said she knew none of the Feral Steel members would force a woman to do anything. Of course, we wouldn’t, but I will make Joy want me so bad she will be begging for my cock in her. It’s time I went about this with a different approach. I just had to get out of there so I could calm down. As I walk out to the common room the place is almost empty. There’s only Tito, Bo, and Crockett at the bar. Bo is serving and the other two are both standing with a beer and it looks like Tito has a bottle he is taking shots out of. This situation could get out of hand. We all need to have our heads together right now. A drunk Tito is not a good situation. The few times I have seen him drunk since he has been in the club have been few and far between. He’s just not the type of brother to not have control of himself and the man is a force to be reckoned with when he is drunk. Hard alcohol turns Tito into one mean son of a bitch. It’s been a hell of a day and Tito has lost someone he cares about.
“Beer , prospect.” Bo’s head raises from whatever he is looking at behind the bar. He hands me my usual beer. I take a seat on the opposite side of Crockett. I pick up the bottle of whiskey and hand it to Bo. “Put that away.” Tito looks at me.
“You have a problem brother?” Tito asks me.“Not at all, brother. It has been a fuck ed day but we need to keep some sense about us so no one else gets hurt. You know that you and whiskey are not friends. I know you want retribution but to get that we need to find out who is fucking with us. That takes a level head from you. You and Oz are our best bet to find leads. No mistakes can be made,” I tell Tito as calmly as I can.
“Don’t you think I know that? Do you think I would let my personal shit interfere with the way I take care of business?” Tito is looking for a fight. I know he needs it to release some of his torment he must be going through.
“Maybe you wouldn’t but whiskey brain would.” Tito is up and he punches me in the side of the face. It knocks me back but it is nothing I can’t take. I knew it was coming. I let him have that one. Tito takes a step back and waits. I am on my feet and I punch him in his gut, it bends him over but he comes right back with a haymaker to my eye. Damn, that is going to be black. Crockett is up and starts to grab Tito but I shake my head at him and he steps back. I know if Tito doesn’t get this out it is going to destroy him. It’s not like I have ever lost a woman to death but I have lost people I have cared about. Brothers gone way too soon. Both my parents. If you let the dark suck you in then it is hard to find your way back. If I need to take a few punches to help a brother then that is exactly what I will do. I get my balance back from the punch and send an upper cut to Tito’s jaw. I’m not giving it my all, just enough to give back as good as I am getting. Tito acts like I didn’t even hit him. He hits me in my gut and then hits me in the same eye. I swing and I only mean to give a punch to the side of his head but Tito turns and blood spurts from his nose. My eye is swelling but I see Devil come into the room and grab Tito and Crockett has me pushed against the bar. Bo throws Devil a bar rag and he is trying to stop Tito’s nose from bleeding.
“What the hell are you two doing? We have enemies to fight not each other,” Devil yells at us.“Tito needs to let it out. I’m man enough to step up for a brother.” Crockett has let me go. He knows I am not angry. Devil looks at Tito who has blood all over his shirt and cut.
“He’s right Devil, it’s my fault . I was hitting the whiskey and Hacksaw was just giving me something else to focus on.” I can barely hear Tito with the rag up to his nose. It looks like the bleeding has slowed down. Devil looks at us both.
“Where’s Joy?” Devil asks me.“My room.” I don’t elaborate on the conversation I shared with Joy. Joy is mine now and it is our business and no one else’s. “I’m claiming Joy.” Devil looks at me.
“Does she know that? It’s a shit time to be having trouble inside the club with trouble knocking at our door,” Devil tells me. I look at Crockett and he is smiling. Tito drops the towel on the bar.
“I told her. I’m not asking permission just letting everyone know. You want to put her with me then this is the way I am handling it. I can’t protect Joy if she doesn’t listen to me. The easiest way for that to happen is to claim her. Joy has been around club life long enough to understand what is expected from an ol’ lady. You put this in my lap then this is how I am handling it.” I know I am not giving my brothers the whole truth but right now, I don’t want to examine the feelings I have for Joy. I don’t understand them myself so I can’t explain them to Devil.
“You want to tell yourself that then do it but we have all seen the way you have been looking at Joy since she has been around. Joy gets a reaction out of you like no other woman I have ever seen you around. And brother, you and I have known each other for years,” Devil tells me. “We are not going to sit around and talk about relationships like a bunch of women. What is important right now is keeping everyone safe but walk lightly, brother. If you push a woman too far you are likely to find yourself all alone.” Tito gets up from his stool and looks at me.
“I know what you were trying to do and I appreciate it. Did it help, maybe? A little advice, if you care about Joy even a little, hold on to her. You don’t want what happened to Sarah to happen to Joy because you will be filled with regret.” I look in Tito’s eyes and he has a tortured look in his eyes. “Sarah could be difficult at times. We had been seeing each other since right after she came to live in Oklahoma. She wanted everyone to know about us at first. I wanted to wait and make sure we were solid before we let everyone in on the fact that there was an us. Sarah wasn’t asking for my patch or even a ring, she just wanted to share with our family. We fought about it. All I wanted was just a little more time. Time ran out. No one is promised a tomorrow and I will forever be the asshole who wouldn’t even be honest with our family about us. Sarah was the one for me and how do I live with that now? All she wanted was me. Don’t let it happen to you Hacksaw. If Joy is who you want then take care of her.” Tito walks away. Well, damn.
“She knew you loved her Tito. She told Callie that she loved you and you loved her.” Tito stops and turns around and looks at Devil.“She had all the faith in the wo rld in us. It was me that didn’t at first and then when I was ready to let everyone know she was already hurt and she was trying to get back at me for hesitating at first. Time ran out for us to make it right,” Tito tells us.
“We’re here if you need us,” Crockett tells Tito. Tito nods his head in understanding. He turns and walks away. Devil is looking at me.“Tito is right about Joy. I have regrets with Callie when I was being an ass. The re was a block of time that we missed because I was being an ass. I lied to myself as much as I lied to her. It was a life lesson and one I won’t repeat,” Devil tells me.
“Alright, message received. I am hitting the shower and getting a few hours of sleep.” I rub the side of my face. I am going to be sore as hell.“I had to get Doc to give Callie and Hanna a sedative. I’ve never seen my woman lose it like she did except for one other time. She’s a strong damn woman but this brought her to her knees. She will be out for blood so we need to get this nipped in the bud and find whoever is doing the killings. When Callie goes off half-cocked, destruction is left in her path. I won’t let my woman be hurt again so be ready.” Devil doesn’t need to tell me this. I know their history. When Callie thought Dra was dead she went on a tear.
“We’ll handle it , we just need a lead or a direction to go. This took a lot of planning and there must be a group of people. We need to find the link between the BlackPath MC and the Feral Steel MC. It involves Callie because she is the one that bonds us. That means whoever it is has touched her life there and here,” Crockett deducts from the happenings over the last few days.
“All that is true but I think whoever did this also knew abo ut Sarah and Tito and they also knew Becky worked for us. That means they are closer to home. I think we have been watched for a while,” Bo speaks up. We all look at the prospect.
“How do you get that? Do you know something we need to know?” Devil asks.“It’s all a hunch. I’ve only been around for over a year. I’m not as invested as the rest of you so I am looking at this with an outsider’s eye,” Bo tells us to make sure we are following. “Tito and Sarah were sneaking around but some of us had seen them around town together. So, if someone was watching they would have known too. Tito is one of your go-to brothers when there is something to be found out. If it can be found on a computer, then he and Oz can find it. With that woman, Becky’s death and what was wrote on the wall we were being careful but no lock down, but it still knocked our tech guys for a loop because the men got around their security setup. Then to take out Tito’s girl. That once again is a hit to our tech people. With anonymous texts and mysterious messages, we need our techs. If they are out of commission then we have a problem.” The prospect makes sense. “With Callie upset that leaves our Prez distracted plus the extra security for anyone else threatened. I don’t know everything that is going on, just what I overheard Tito and Crockett discussing and I wasn’t eavesdropping, they just weren’t quiet.”
“He’s right. Plus, everyone knows if we have an issue that the BlackPath MC is who we call and if they are already scrambling themselves…” Crockett adds.“Maybe whoever it is thought we would all go to one clubhouse and try to figure it all out. One big target at once. Are we sure this has nothing to do with Hempcan? If Maddie and Micah are included in the mix maybe they thought we would call in Krill and Sarge’s clubs too. Hempcan is the only thing we all have in common,” I think aloud.
“No, it’s not. My woman is who we all have in common. Callie has been a part of each of the clubs and she is the one that each of the ones with the tattoo have in common,” Devil says. His voice has an edge of anger and hate. He looks at Bo. “I want you in church later. We need an opinion of someone who knows how we work but isn’t as attached as we are. The sun will be up soon, let’s try to grab some sleep.” We all agree. I have a woman I need to handle. I may have approached this the wrong way. Only time will tell.
No one owns me. I’m not a dog he can tell to sit and I just obey. I don’t want this lifestyle. I’m scared. I am doing what I do best when things go south. It’s time to run. No one can hurt me if they can’t find me. The further I am from Hacksaw the better. If I keep saying these things in my head maybe I will get them through to the rest of my body. I know I shouldn’t be attracted to the Neanderthal that stood in front of me and told me what I was and wasn’t going to do. Hacksaw stood there and told me we were happening. No matter how much that man’s voice sends tingles to all my girlie parts I do not want this biker life. I want a voice. I want to be able to make my own decisions. I jump up off the bed and pull my bra out of my pocket. I finally get it on and I check my phone, dead battery. I grab my purse off the dresser and put my phone in it. I know what I need to do and I am going to do it. I am getting out of here. I am making my way back to my apartment and pack a bag and then I am getting in my truck and I am out of here. When I am far enough away I will call and check on Em and her family and then I am going to disappear. If I can’t be found then no one can kill me and no one can use me against anyone else. When I find a place to stop I will get a disposable phone and call Em and let her know I am alright. That is my plan. It’s a good plan. I open the door enough to look up and down the hall. No one out there. I just hope I can get past the security cameras and over the damn wall. I walk out into the hall and make my way to the exit. It’s a side door and I know it has a security camera around it somewhere. I just hope a damn alarm doesn’t go off when I open the door. I push the metal bar to get outside and I don’t hear anything. I know when I shut this door I can’t get back in. Here goes nothing, I shut the door as quietly as you can a metal door and I turn to run. I come out on the backside of the building and I look around. I start to run and someone grabs me from behind. I start to fight whoever is holding me. I will not go easy. I do the only thing I can do, I start yelling. I throw my head back hoping to hit whoever is holding me. The back of my head meets a very hard head. I think I see stars. Yes, stars, but I don’t stop kicking.
“Cool it babe!” I know that voice but I don’t stop fighting. The person picks me up off my feet from behind in a bear hug and starts walking back around to the front. The front door opens and Hacksaw walks out. “Did you lose something?” the man holding me asks Hacksaw. The fact he is heaving like he is out of breath gives me a little satisfaction.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay in our room? Let her go!” Hacksaw yells.“Babe, I am going to let you go but do not hit me again or Hacksaw is going to blister your ass red and I am going to watch,” the man says. He puts me so my feet touch the ground. I go still. He releases me and I move away from him and turn to see who it is. It’s Oz. Damn, I head butted Oz. “It’s not safe out here alone.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you. Are you crazy grabbing me like that?” I ask Oz.“Oz was doing what he has been told to do by Devil . Perimeter walks hourly. Did I not tell you to stay put? Have you got a death wish?” Hacksaw is pissed. Well so am I.
“I have a wish to be away from you.” Hacksaw grins and moves faster than I thought was possible. I am up over his shoulder and hitting him in the back before I can even think straight. I hit on his back out of reflex. Hacksaw slaps my ass. I yell and he does it again. “That hurts, you asshole! Stop!” He slaps my ass again twice real fast and in the same spot.
“No, that stings. If you don’t behave yourself it is going to hurt and you r ass is going to be bright red. If you hit me again I am going to take those shorts off and spank your bare ass right in front of Oz.” I go still. Hacksaw laughs. “Oz, she either doesn’t like that idea or she likes it too much and her panties are wet now.” They both laugh. I’m not an exhibitionist but the thought of Hacksaw’s hand on my bare ass did make my panties wet. Damn, that’s not good. No, I do not want this man. I will not let him own me.
“You have your hands full with that one. Good luck,” Oz says as he walks off. Hacksaw starts walking towards the front door.“I can walk you know,” I yell at Hacksaw. He smacks my ass again. “Stop!”
“Be still and keep quiet so you don’t wake everyone in the clubhouse up. There are children trying to sleep.” Now I feel bad so I shut up. Hacksaw opens the front door and he walks us through it. He never slows down. I see Bo still behind the bar and he has a smile on his face. Everyone thinks this is funny but me. I need to regroup and come up with another plan. Hacksaw pushes his room door open and shuts the door and locks it. He walks over to the bed and throws me on it. Good thing it is a soft bed or that might have hurt. Hacksaw takes his cut off and puts it on the dresser and then pulls his t-shirt off and throws it in the floor and undoes his belt and jeans. His face looks like he has been in a fight but it takes none of the beauty away. No, it gives it an edge that has my clit on alert and my panties wet. I can’t take my eyes off him, his chest is a chiseled work of art. His pecs are making me want to touch him. I put my hands under my legs so I don’t do it. My eyes run down his torso to his abs and they are well defined, and he has a six pack that makes me want to lick my way down. The sexual tension is thick enough it could be cut with a knife and I have a burning desire to let this man consume me. Hacksaw slowly brings himself down on me and I move my legs apart so he can fit. I know I should stop this. We are both going to regret it but there is no fight left in me. I want this man like I need my next breath of air and I accept that. I will deal with the consequences later. I pull Hacksaw closer and he takes my mouth in a scorching kiss that I feel all the way to my toes. My panties are drenched and I wrap my legs around Hacksaw’s waist.
“I’m taking this as a yes. If it isn’t you better say no now,” Hacksaw says in a deep voice that has my body humming with want.“Yes.” It’s that simple. No need for more words. I pull my shirt over my head. Hacksaw gives me the room I need, standing up and taking his jeans and boxers off. His cock is erect, and I can see that Hacksaw is very well-endowed. I squeeze my thighs together with need. I undo my front clasp bra and take it off and throw it at Hacksaw. He walks back to the bed and I scoot back closer to the middle of the bed and spread my legs wider and unsnap my shorts.
“Stop. I’ll unwrap my gift. Just lean back further.” I do what Hacksaw says. He moves between my legs again and lays his hard body on mine but keeps his weight on his arms. He palms my left breast while kissing me slowly. His fingers begin to tweak my nipple and it hardens into a hard bud. Hacksaw pulls his mouth away from my mouth and kisses down my jaw to my neck leaving kisses that are setting my body on fire. I am close to begging this man to just fuck me already. When he runs his tongue over my nipple my back comes off the bed with the electricity running through my body. Hacksaw sucks my nipple in his mouth and I hear the moan that leaves me. He moves to the other side and gives the right side the same attention that has me on the edge of an orgasm. He kisses his way down my stomach and pulls my shorts and panties off and throws them. He starts kissing my shaved mound. I reach down and try to pull him up to me.
“Please, Hacksaw, I need you inside me.” Hacksaw laughs. I look at him and he winks at me.“In good time , sugar,” Hacksaw tells me. “I’ll take care of you but first I need to taste you.” This is not me. I am not some shy young thing. I turn Hacksaw over and I am on top of him. I know he let me but I’ll take it.
“That might work with the club girls around here but I am a woman that knows what the hell I want and I am not a woman who sits back and lets her man do all the giving. Buckle up biker boy, I am going to rock your world. Condom.” I wink at Hacksaw and let him know I am taking what I want.
“Damn, woman. I usually like control but you are too fucking hot not to let you do just that. Rock my world if you can and I am clean. I am tested regularly and I don’t go ungloved so we are doing this bareback. You are mine.” Challenge accepted. I straddle Hacksaw as he lays there smirking at me. I give him a tantalizing kiss that has him trying to pull me closer to him but I am having none of it. I push him back and position myself and have his cock lined up and I let myself fall on his steel hard cock all at once. Yes, it burned, but it burned so good. I loved the grunt that I heard come from Hacksaw. He tries to grab my hips to gain control but I am having none of it. I sit straight up on him and grind back down, never slowing down. “Sugar, I’m not going to last this way,” Hacksaw says in a deep husky voice that tells me that he is as into this as I am. It has been too long since I have had a man inside me. I feel the tingle and heat down to my toes. I let his cock slide almost all the way out and then slams back down and grind against him. My clit is swollen and each grind brings me closer. I feel my walls squeezing him. Hacksaw reaches up and teases my nipple with his fingers. Hacksaw sits up and slows my pace. He takes my other nipple in his mouth and I lean back on my arms and wrap my legs around Hacksaw’s hip and ass. I try to pick up the pace again but Hacksaw won’t let me have the deep thrust my body is craving. I feel his engorged cock hit the soft inner walls of my pussy and I just need a little more to cum. Just a little more friction or a faster pace.
“Damn it, fuck me harder!” I yell.“You are one hot piece of ass, sugar. You want it hard then stand up.” I start to get up like he told me but Hacksaw doesn’t wait. He scoots us to the edge of the bed and stands, holding me and before I know it I am dropped to my feet and Hacksaw has me turned around. “Hold on to the bed and don’t fucking let go. This pussy is mine and I am going to own it. Do you hear me sugar? You are mine. Say it!” Hacksaw has my feet apart and I am holding on to the end of the bed post. I feel Hacksaw line the head of his cock up and it is sitting at my entrance. I want to shove back on it but Hacksaw has me by one hip so I can’t move. I try to wiggle back and he slaps my ass.
“That hurt.” I lie.
“Hurt so good. Say it sugar or this is done.” I am on fire and need a release.
“My pleasure, sugar. I am going to fuck my pussy just the way it needs.” Hacksaw slams into me with no warning and it hits the spot in me I need and I am so close. Hacksaw’s thrusts are so hard they move my whole body and they give my body what it has been craving. “Play with your clit.” I put my hand between my legs and find my hardened bundle of nerves and begin a circular motion and apply just enough pressure to make my muscles clench harder around Hacksaw’s cock. “That’s right, milk my cock.” I can’t think or speak. My mouth is dry from panting so much. I bring my other hand to my nipple and I am on the edge of an orgasm. I rub my clit between my two fingers and it sets off my orgasm. My muscles spasm and I can barely breathe.
“Oh god, yes! It is so good ,” I barely get it out. Hacksaw doesn’t slow down. He’s pounding me with all he has and then I feel him tense and then his voice is almost unrecognizable.
“You are fucking mine! Say it, Joy!” Hacksaw says and I can’t deny him.“I’m yours. Yes, oh yes. All yours ,” I respond in a husky voice. Then I feel Hacksaw’s orgasm fill me. He keeps pumping. I go limp and he bends over my back and kisses my back and then the back of my head. When he is spent, I start to move to go to the bathroom, but Hacksaw stops me and kisses me long and hard and I would be ready for round two, but I can feel the evidence of what we have just done start to run down my leg. Hacksaw picks me up bridal style and carries me into the bathroom and sits me on the counter top. He reaches under the cabinet and gets a rag and wets it and cleans me and then throws the rag in the basket. He turns around and I think he is finished but he turns around and starts the shower. He pulls out some towels and sits on the cabinet beside me and then gets a rag and puts it inside the shower. We haven’t said a word but it’s not a strange quiet, just a very satisfied quiet. Hacksaw picks me up and I let my feet hit the floor. I walk into the stream of warm water. Hacksaw follows me in and starts to wash my body with the bar of soap. Damn, his hands feel good on my warm wet skin. He lathers the soap over my body and runs the rag between my legs and my breath catches. My body is on fire with need. I take the soap from his hand and lather Hacksaw’s body and my hands glide over his hard, slick wet body. Hacksaw bends down and takes my mouth with a passion that takes my breath away. I back up from him and run the bar of soap over his stomach and down his v until my hand slides down his steel hard cock. I place the bar of soap in the soap dish so I can concentrate on gliding my hand up and down Hacksaw’s shaft. Hacksaw backs up to the wall of the shower and lets his head go back against the wall. I hear the moan that escapes him and it makes me want more. I want to watch this man come unwound and lose control. My clit is throbbing just from working Hacksaw’s cock. I am working my hand up and down sliding and then back up and tightening around the head and twisting my hand. I see the precum leaking from the head and I can’t wait anymore. I bend down on my knees and lick the moisture from the tip. I run my tongue under the head and then close my mouth around the head and pushing down, take as much of Hacksaw’s cock as I can.
“Oh shit, that feels amazing. Take more ,” Hacksaw moans out in a deep voice that has me wanting his hands on me. Hacksaw puts his hand on my head but doesn’t press down. Instead, he caresses the side of my head. I relax my mouth and take as much of Hacksaw in as I can. Going deep and then making my way back up and swirling my tongue around the head. “Enough.” Hacksaw pulls me up to him and kisses me roughly and turns me around so I am facing the shower wall. He brings his lips to my ear. “Sugar, I need to feel my cock buried in your wet pussy. I need to hear you scream my name when I make you cum.” Hacksaw lines his cock up with my wet pussy and he pushes in with one stroke. He goes still and I try to look back at him but he brings one of his hands around and pinches one of my nipples and then massages it with slippery fingers. My body is alive with want.
“Move! God please, move!” I yell. He starts pumping in and out of me slowly. It is driving me crazy.“Not god sugar, Heath. When you come you scream my name!” My pussy clenches and I try speeding Hacksaw’s moves but he is in control. He brings his hand to my clit and starts to rub it slowly with a soft touch but I am not having it. I put my hand on top of his and start to move his hand on my clit only I am not getting the friction I need. I move his hand and move my own hand over my clit rougher. I slide my hands back across the bundle of nerves and the throb is beginning to speed up and I feel the burn. I give the hard bud a little pinch and then resume the sliding across the nub. Hacksaw has grabbed my hips and he is bent down a little on his legs to make up for our height difference and he is pumping faster. We are both chasing a release we need. I feel my pussy clench down on Hacksaw’s cock and the flutters of my orgasm begin. “That’s it sugar! I feel it, you’re going to cum. Say my name.”
“Heath, oh god that’s it. So good,” I moan as my orgasm consumes me. Hacksaw continues his pace chasing his own bliss. He goes deep and then stills and then pumps a few more times.
“Joy, so damn good!” Hacksaw yells out my name as he empties his seed in me. We didn’t use a condom again and I know I should be scared out of my mind but I’m not. I trust Hacksaw. Hacksaw stands up straighter. “We need to get cleaned up and get some sleep.”
“I think you’re right.” I’m not going to ruin the moment by griping about something we both forgot. Hacksaw washes himself and then me. We get out and he dries us off and then Hacksaw picks me up and carries me back to the bed. “You know I can walk.”
“I know you can but I want to take care of you so get used to it. Now quit giving me attitude and let’s get some sleep.” I look at Hacksaw and he looks at me and I kiss him tenderly and just when things are heating up again Hacksaw pulls me to him. “Goodnight sugar.” I could argue with Hacksaw but right now I am too satisfied to do anything but sleep so we do.
I slipped out of bed and showered and Joy never moved except to roll over and take my pillow to snuggle up to. I know she is going to wake up in a snit. I may have fucked her into silence last night, but I am not going to try to convince myself I fucked her into submission. I fucked her into exhaustion but there is no way that woman doesn’t have some sass left in her. Joy underneath me in my room and in my bed, is the thing I have been needing. I still feel the need to hit the road on my bike but I can see Joy being on the back of my bike with me on the road of life. I don’t know for how long or where it will lead us but I am damn sure going to find out. Isn’t that what a life of freedom is all about? Finding our way and doing it our own way? I never thought I would want just one woman for more than just one night let alone riding on the back of my bike. In my past, any woman would do, but not for all night, just until I have had my fill and then she is out or they as the case has been at times. I’ve never been one to be selective in the type of women that I fuck. Short, tall, curvy, stick thin, blonde, brunette or redhead - anything and everything in between. Every woman has been a means to an end, my end of reaching a release, but Joy has gotten under my skin and in my head. I like her sass, her stubbornness makes me hard but when she gave herself to me last night for the first time, I felt like I had won the lottery. We have a physical attraction that combusted into the best sex of my life and I am not ready to let Joy walk away yet. The thought of her with another man is enough to make me want to kill someone. My first thought this morning was I need to find a way to keep Joy safe. There’s something that kept nagging at me in the back of my mind and it is time that we discuss our situation with the whole club. I know Devil wants to wait until after all arrangements are made for Sarah but Tito is one of the best tech guys that I have ever known. If Tito wakes up and he has no direction to point his thoughts then he is going to head back down the road he was headed last night. We need his head in the game and I think that may be the exact reason why Sarah was targeted first. To take our asset away. Oz is good but he is only one man. Bo was right last night. That prospect has a good head on his shoulders and he is going to make a good brother. It won’t take him much longer until we take a vote on him. I already texted Crockett, Bowie and Oz. Oz is going to drag Tito out of his bed. Tex, Creole, and Thrasher are doing perimeter duty and gate duty with a prospect. Ridge, Edge and Cowboy are sleeping. Bowie is texting Rome so it is just Devil we need to find. I am tempted to knock on his door but I am afraid to wake up his family. I am walking down the hall and about to text him when I hear his voice coming from the common room. I walk into the room and I see Devil with a cup of coffee in his hand and talking to Slick at the bar. I make my way over to the bar and motion for Possum to pour me a cup of coffee. The prospect looks like he could use some sleep. I sit myself down on the barstool next to Devil.
“Since when do you call church?” Devil gives me a hard look.“Since there is something pestering the piss out of me.” I smile at Devil. “You said we would meet after you take care of Sarah’s arrangements and I think it is a mistake to wait.” Devil looks at me in either astonishment or like he going to take a swing at me. I know emotions are running high so I better get to the point. “If what I am thinking is correct then we need to address it before you make arrangements that will be hard for you to change. My head was cleared a bit last night but I realized whoever it is that is doing this knows a lot more about us than we do him. He must have been watching us for a while and the BlackPath MC too to be able to coordinate the events of the last few days. That means they know some of how we operate. If we want any breaks we are going to need to break some patterns and to do that we need a plan. If the arrangements for Sarah are made without thought first we may be walking straight into a trap. I know once Callie, Felix and Hanna decide on how they want to say goodbye to their friend you aren’t going to want to change anything but if you are in a mindset when you go with them to make the arrangements maybe you can point them in the right direction so it doesn’t blow up in our faces.” Devil looks like he is considering what I have said.
“What brought this revelation of clarity to you?” Slick asks. “Not that I think you’re wrong, but you aren’t exactly known for your patience.”“I was put in charge of Joy’s safety and I am going to keep her safe.” I will not let any asshole touch Joy. Devil looks at me closely.
“You have something to share?” Devil asks me.
“Better if we do it with all the brothers. Tito needs to be kept occupied or he is going to lose himself in a bottle. He’s no good to us that way.” It’s not what Devil was looking for but it is a matter that needs to be thought about.
“Then let’s do it.” I finish my coffee and put the cup on the bar. De vil and Slick do the same and we go to talk to our brothers. We walk down the hall and as we enter the room I can see most of the brothers are here except for the ones keeping an eye to make sure no one is entering the compound. Devil walks to the head of the table. Bowie is standing where we usually put our phone and weapons but no one has bothered to hand anything over. Crockett is by the door. I see Bo is standing by Bowie. Prospects are not usually allowed to attend church but Devil wants him here today. Devil bangs his gavel. “Everyone is to hold onto their phones and weapons until this situation is settled and that includes during church, so everyone sit and we can do this. Hacksaw you wanted this meeting, so you have the floor,” Devil tells me. Devil sits down and I sit back in my chair and look at Tito. This is going to be hard on him but he needs to hear it all.
“ Before I say anything else I want everyone to know that I have no facts to back up anything I am about to say. It’s just something that has been nagging at me since yesterday. I think Bo is onto something and it is exactly what is bothering me,” I tell all the brothers. All eyes go to Bo.
“I told Bo to be here today. He had the idea last night that we may have had someone watching us for a while and that Sarah may have been targeted first because of her relationship with Tito. Bo’s observation may have some merit,” Devil says. The brothers look at Bo but my eyes are on Tito and how he flinched when Devil mentioned his relationship with Sarah.
“It’s not your fault Tito. It’s just you and Sarah weren’t as secretive as you thought you were. Someone could have caught on to it like Bo,” I try to ease Tito’s mind but I know if I was in his place I would blame myself.
“Hacksaw just tell us what you are thinking and why it couldn’t wait a few hours. I need to get back to Callie.” Devil is getting impatient.“That’s exactly part of it.” I watch as Devil’s face turns red.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? You think me wanting to be there for my woman means I am not pulling my weight around here?” I stare Devil down.
“No asshole, I think anyone that knows anything about the Feral Steel MC knows that is exactly what you are going to do.” I let that sink in before I continue. “Ever since Callie has been with you we have fallen into some patterns.”
“Are you blaming my ol’ lady for keeping me away?” Devil is sitting on the edge of his chair and I expect him to come at me fists flying any minute. I raise my hand up to try and calm him down.
“I am not sa ying that Callie is to blame for anything. Just listen, you damn hothead.” I wait for Devil to calm down a little. “Look, you must admit that since Callie has been here and you took the gavel up that when shit hits the fan we have a pattern. We don’t spill blood first and ask questions later. We talk about things and try to do things the legal way. It’s not a bad thing but it is a predictable situation.” I see when Devil understands what I am getting at. I look around the table and see my brothers are with me so I go on. “When we need someone to watch our asses we call the two chapters of the BlackPath MC. Again, not a bad thing, just predictable. If it goes further and we need people that still ride the line of working outside the law we call on Krill’s club but if we need someone outside the law we call on Sarge’s club. All four clubs have battled the same people for more than a few years. So, what do you think anyone watching us is going to think we are going to do this time? Reach out to the BlackPath MC would be anyone’s bet. Don’t you think it is a bit of a coincidence that all the women and Felix have ties to all four clubs?” I see I have everyone’s attention. “That tells me that we aren’t hunting for a new enemy but an old one. Someone that knows us well or who has a beef with us over something in one of our pasts or all of our pasts.”
“He’s right ,” Oz says. “When I was looking at the crime scene photos they have of the Becky girl it has to be something personal. It’s too bloody not to be. Nothing has come up on Sarah’s case yet but if someone just wanted to send us a message they took a big chance going into an apartment building with security cameras and they knew we would see them. They were so arrogant in the camera. They took a lot of risk for someone who wasn’t even directly connected to the club. What did they gain from it?”
“Sarah was an easy target. She refused club protection and she was sneaking around with me so it made it easier to get her away from the clubhouse. I was supposed to meet with her for lunch the last day anyone saw her. I was running some background checks and the time got away from me and I texted her I couldn’t make it. I never got a response. I figured she was pissed at me for waiting so late to contact her and let her know I wasn’t going to make it. I made it easy for the son of a bitches to grab her. I couldn’t pull myself away from my damn computer for an hour to eat with my woman and now I will never see her again,” Tito says in a low voice. He is here but his mind is on regrets. I don’t want to have those regrets. This is something that is always going to haunt him and I hate it but there is not a damn thing any of us can do to convince him he is not responsible. All the brothers see the pain written all over his face.
“Tito, Sarah wouldn’t let the club protect her. We tried putting someone on her before and we all know that has nothing to do with you it has to do with her not wanting anything to do with any club. I don’t know the whole story but it is her past with Tazer. This isn’t on you,” Devil tells Tito in a quiet voice.
“I know exactly who it had to do with. I wanted to claim Sarah but she couldn’t get over being cheated on by Tazer and her ex-husband, especially after I didn’t want to share with everyone when we picked up our relationship. I thought I had time. I didn’t want to force the decisions, I wanted her to want it as bad as I did. Now I know I was wrong. If I had …” Tito is hurting.
“Stop that shit!” I yell. “You can either wallow in that pity party you got going on or you can put your talents to work and find us something. This is exactly what the people doing this want. We need to stop reacting and start making things happen by finding answers.” I am trying to snap Tito out of this. If he doesn’t get retribution for his woman it is going to destroy him. Devil bangs his gavel.
“I don’t have time to babysit. Hacksaw, you have something else to say then spit it out.” Devil is looking tired.“Did Sarah have a will or let anyone know what her last wishes are?” I ask, glancing at Tito and Devil.
“Callie has her power of attorney but I don’t think she had even thought of a will,” Tito answers.
“Sarah wanted to be cremated and put in the cemetery close to the plots Callie owns,” Devil says.