Lacey tossed and turned all night, terrified of what the next day may hold. She knew she didn’t have to go and she could tell Charlene that he was bribing her and making her feel uncomfortable. But now that Lacey had put herself in his presence, he knew what she looked like and who she was. It wouldn’t take much for him to find her in a small town like Clay Springs.
She stared up at the ceiling and wiped a tear away. What was going to happen to her if she went back? What could he realistically want from her? She tried to recall the features of his face in her mind’s eye, but they were all blurred and distant… it reminded her of when she had a crush on someone when she was younger and she couldn’t remember what they looked like.
She knew he was handsome, and she knew she had been attracted to him on first sight… But she was also afraid. He was dangerous, an outlaw who was threatening people to settle debts. Charlene had said he could be capable of killing people if they didn’t do as he asked. Lacey bit her lip and sat up. She knew she had no way out of the situation. Matt had asked to see her, and she was going to have to go…
***
As soon as noon had passed, she left her apartment and made her way back to the Satan’s Riders clubhouse. She decided to walk and as the sun beat down on her hard from above, she found herself wondering if it would be the last time she saw daylight.
You’re going to get yourself killed, she thought. Turn back and run.
She shook the thought off, knowing there was no way back from this. She had been foolish by putting herself in the situation, and now she was going to have to deal with it. She still had her money. As soon as the day was over she was going to make a run for it. Disappear out of town and never see bad influences like Charlene ever again.
She turned a corner and saw the building looming in front of her. It was dusty out front and there were around ten bikes in different positions, all empty and cold as if they’d been there from the night before. It didn’t look anything like the previous night. In daylight, it looked like any other building in town, but she knew what lay inside.
She approached the two steps and climbed them before crossing to the door and trying the handle. It was locked, so she knocked lightly. Inside it was quiet, but she could hear men’s voices getting closer and then the dull thump of boots as someone made their way across to the front door. It swung open and a man with a long beard stood there, shielding his eyes from the light.
“What?” he barked before realizing she was a woman and looking her up and down with a satisfied grin.
“I’m here to see Matt,” she said nervously.
The man looked at her as if she was insane and then slammed the door on her. She turned and looked back to the road, confused and worried.
Okay, she thought, this is good, now I can leave and it isn’t my fault… I tried.
She was about to skip quickly down the steps when from around the side of the building a familiar set of eyes came into view. Matt walked towards her in a pair of low-slung ripped jeans and a black vest. He was dirty, covered in oil like he had been working on one of the bikes and sweat glistened all over his tanned skin. Lacey stopped in her tracks and stared at him. His face cracked into a grin.
“Lay-cee,” he said her name slowly again. “Wasn’t sure you’d show.”
She felt frozen to the floor. Her legs wouldn’t move and she just stood there staring at him, not knowing whether to speak or just do whatever he asked.
“You don’t have to look so nervous,” he laughed. “Come down here.”
Lacey walked down to meet him and followed him around the back of the clubhouse. There were around ten garages, all in differing states. Some were locked up tight with no way of seeing what was inside, while others had their doors wide open with bike parts and stacks of boxes. Matt led her around to the last garage where a bike was on its side, with rags and oil canisters littered around it. He kneeled down and continued what he was doing.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said.
Lacey looked around to see if there were any other people, but the back of the clubhouse was deserted.
“What am I here for?” she asked quietly.
“To help Charlene pay her debts,” he sniffed before he held a cigarette to his lips and clamped it between his teeth. “You want to help your friend, right?”
“I’m not so sure she’s such a good friend anymore…” Lacey said as she thought back to her frantic calls to Charlene’s cell phone as soon as she had left the clubhouse the night before, which had been ignored… Charlene had no doubt been somewhere getting high and drinking herself into oblivion.
“I thought as much,” Matt said. “That’s why I wasn’t about to take your money.”
He pointed at a large rock not far from where he was working.
“Wanna take a seat?” he asked.
Lacey walked past him and sat down. The rock was blisteringly hot but she pulled down her shorts so they covered enough of her skin.
“Matt,” she said, “I don’t want to be rude, but I just want to know how I can help…”
He looked up at her and smiled.
“I thought you were all about the money,” she stammered. “I, I thought you would take the thousand and that would be the end of my involvement…”
“And like I said, I’m not taking your money,” he said as he took a drag on the cigarette. “Good girl like you, bet it took you a while to save… Bet you work hard…?”
Lacey nodded.
“Fuck-ups like Charlene don’t deserve the easy way out. I’ve been like you, I’ve worked hard and I’ve been taken advantage of, I can spot it a mile off… And if there’s one thing I don’t like is seeing good people lose out through no fault of their own.”
Lacey realized her mouth was gaping open. She couldn’t stop staring at his muscular arms as they flexed each time he moved.
“I suppose you’re right,” she agreed.
“Plus,” he stared at her, “You’re pretty hot.”
No one had paid Lacey attention in such a long time she had almost forgotten what it felt like to get a compliment. She felt herself blush and she looked down at her feet. He was nothing like she had imagined when she had turned up there. His hardened exterior was still there visually, but as he spoke to her and she got to know him more, it was as if he was genuine and kind on the inside.
“I’m trying to get this place in a better position,” he said, “Will probably never happen but my father started this club thirty years ago and these fuck-ups have run it into the ground… I was never going to have anything to do with it, but I felt like I had to come back.”
“Maybe we’ve got something in common then,” Lacey smiled, feeling herself relax. “I was never supposed to be here, either… I made my escape but got sucked back in.”
“Well at least we’re on the same page,” Matt smiled. “All the outstanding debts, I want them gone so we can start again. Then I can get the hell out of here.”
Lacey was jealous of his plan and wished she had a solid one herself. Not just the idea of making a run for it in the middle of the night.
“Instead of giving me the money,” he said, “I want to spend today with you.”
Lacey looked up and locked eyes with his.
“Let’s not beat around the bush,” he said suddenly. “I like you, Lacey,” he leaned towards her. “I don’t know what it is…but I have to have you.”
Lacey felt her sex pulse. Did he mean what she thought he meant? Her heart began to pound and she looked up at him with innocent eyes. He held out his hand and she took it as he pulled her to her feet.
“Take a ride with me?” he asked her.