Chapter 11
We all meet up at our bar and when we walk in, I motion for everyone to go to the meeting room. The meeting room is a soundproof area we often meet in when we have to discuss anything we don’t want people to hear.
The higher-ranking members all come in and sit around the table. Chris sits at the head and I stand next to him with Schuy.
“The reason I brought you all here is because I want to talk to you about what happened today. I have shared the evidence with our president. Just know he agrees with me. Schuyler Guiler is from the Strykers MC.”
Mumbling starts to erupt around the table and I hold my hand up to halt them.
“She is no longer part of the MC. She was abused…” I trail off to keep my anger in check over it. “She left them over a year ago, and has never looked back.”
The Strykers don’t just let people go, Vice, you know that. Hell, we all know that,” Alex, our Master at Arms, says.
“Look. I know you all are thinking the worst of me right now. Hell, I would probably do the same as you. But what you don’t know is, my father wanted to marry me off to his VP. That doesn’t sound so bad, right? Other than the little fact that I wasn’t interested in him. However, he is a drug lord, and he gets all his women hooked. When I say all of his women, I mean all of the ones he has at once. If I was to marry that man, I wouldn’t have been his only. And I would have been forced to take his drugs every day until I became so addicted to them, I would be dependent on him. I didn’t want that to be my vice. So, I told him no, told my dad no, and moved out of the clubhouse. My dad came to me a few days later, acting like I overreacted and asked me to come have a conversation with him. When I told him no, he beat me and forced me into his car. In my dad’s MC, you’re not allowed to go into the clubhouse unless you’re a higher officer. I’m not, so I had to go into the lower rank house and wait for him to finish his business. As I waited, I had gotten a drink and it was spiked. It knocked me out, and when I woke up, I was being beaten and raped; over and over. And if I’m going to be honest with you guys, using the word ‘rape’ feels like I’m putting it lightly. You see, no, my dad’s club doesn’t let people just walk away. You’re right, but if I was your daughter, hell, even your sister or friend, would you do that to me? Hire your VP to drug me, and have his way with me? And then expect me to stay put out of fear? I might not be a part of his club anymore, but the man did raise me in his twisted way, and fear isn’t something that confines me. I ran. I ran away, to make a life for myself. And I did. Then I met Vice. And man…the thought of my past coming back to hurt him or anyone he cares about,” I look around to everyone. “I know you guys don’t know me personally. I know it. But let me make one thing clear to you guys. I’ve chosen my vice. It isn’t with the Strykers. Just thinking about the thought of my past coming for your VP or your MC, has me itching to run back to my father to keep it away from y’all. However, like I’ve said – I’ve chosen my vice, and I will protect him with my life. Brock isn’t the only one who is a badass with his blades.” She shrugs at the end of her statement with confidence.
“Well, that is pretty badass.” T winks at her. “Also, we have Vice’s back, and because of that – we got your back, Schuyler.”
That’s my boy, I think to myself. Knowing he has her back is all I want.
“If anyone has any issues with this, speak now, or else you will be depended on for anything we will need. Your brother is asking you guys to have his back on helping his ol’ lady. One day you might just need the favor returned,” Chris’ voice booms across the room.
No one speaks up, and they all look as fierce now as they do whenever we have to face a storm together.
“If we are being honest, even if she wasn’t your ol’ lady, I think I’d still help. Something about a man forcing himself onto someone doesn't sit well with me or anyone else at this table. I don’t like speaking for anyone else, but that’s one thing I think we can all agree on, yeah?” Brock says.
Everyone grunts their yes around the table and Brock nods his head.
“Also, if you ever want to practice those blades of yours, hit me up. I’ll spear with ya,” he smiles smugly.
“Only if you have Bandaids handy,” she replies looking unsure.
“Oh, I promise not to cut you up, darlin’,” he draws out.
“Oh no, not for me. I was worried about you, Viking.” She winks at him,
Everyone erupts in laughter.
“Viking!” Chris slaps his leg. “I think I’m going to call you that now.” He laughs.
Brock just flips him the bird as we stand up, ready to leave.
Hawk and Alex walk toward me and I put my arm around Schuyler.
“Hey, VP, got some shitty news and some even worse news. What do you want first?” Hawk asks. Chris walks over to us to listen in.
“Give me the worst first,” I tell him, wondering what now?
“Well, Nathan pulled a slip somehow. I had Stewart on him, but he just called and said he went and took a piss and came back to an empty stall.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Hawk?” I roar.
“‘’fraid not,” he replies just as angry.
“He has to fucking go. This is the third time he was where something didn’t play out right,” Chris says, pissed. “Strip him of his prospect cut and send him on his way. Something isn’t right about him and get him to take his bitch, Anne, with him,” he adds.
“His bitch?” I ask.
“Yeah, that’s his ol’ lady,” Chris answers and everyone looks at him like he’s lost his mind. “What?” he asks.
“She plays like she’s a curb monkey. She is trying to get into everyone’s bed. Fuck, she just tried to get in mine again this morning.” I tell him.
“Again?” Hawk asks with a tilt to his brow.
“Not like that, you jackass. I mean, she keeps trying, and she tried again,” I clarify and feel Schuyler relax under my arm. I grin at her noticing her subtle way of showing her jealousy. She scrunches her face up and punches me in the chest. I love that in this tense moment, she can still make me feel human.
“Well, that makes me wonder more then. Who the fuck is he and why is he here?” Chris thinks for a second longer. “On second thought, don’t do anything. Let me deal with Stewart.”
“Ten-four, boss,” Hawk says.
“What’s the shitty news then?” I grumble, just wanting to get Schuyler home.
“Ahh… well. Your ma called,” Alex says hesitantly.
“And?” I drawl out.
“Well, she’s sitting in a jail cell and wants you to go talk to the cops because she knows we are friends with some of them,” Hawk says.
“Jesus Christ.” I run my hand down my face.
Schuyler runs her hand up and down my back and when I lock my eyes onto hers, that fire is blazing bright in them.
“Remember what I said. It’s not your job to do her bidding,” she says, softly.
“You just don’t get it though,” I reply, sounding like a broken record.
“I don’t?” she says back with a humorless laugh.
“That’s not—” I start to say and she cuts me off.
“What you meant? Yeah, I know. I get you, Vice, I do. And, you’re about to hear me out on this matter. I never have met your mom. I don’t know what she’s like, or what she’s done in the past to have you so tightly wrapped around her finger. But I can tell you one thing I do know, she’s done.” She rests her hand over my heart. “She made sure her boy had the best heart out of anyone. And I will always be thankful for that. However, it’s not fair of her to take advantage of the heart you have,” she whispers the end.
“Schuyler is right, VP,” Chris says. “Not to mention, your mom is the reason Nathan was here. Didn’t you pay him off yesterday? I thought that’s what you told Doc on the phone when he called ya.”
“Yeah, I thought I did,” I say, while thinking of what she did with that three grand I gave her.
We stand there in silence while they wait for my move. I look down at Schuyler and I see the smile she has on her face for me.
“Whatever you choose to do, I’ll support you,” she tells me with so much raw emotion on her face.
With that, I’ve made up my mind to ghost my mother. But today, I want to just take Schuyler home and cook her dinner, and just be with her before this war hits.
“We will worry about this tomorrow. Right now, I’m going to get my ol’ lady home, and have one night of quiet before the chaos starts from the war we are going to win,” I tell them.
“Alright, brother, keep me updated. Let’s get out of here,” Chris says as he walks to the door.
All the other members have left already; it’s just Prez, Schuy, Hawk and Alex.
“Where has Doc been, anyway? I thought that thing with your friend was over,” I ask as we walk out of the bar.
“It is. Well, it is for now. We still have not seen sight of Brandon. But there was a woman in the house where they found Bridget that needed his care. He had to go back to his day job after that, but he said if we need him, just give him a ring,” Chris says as we walk toward our bikes.
“You know,” Schuyler starts to say as she tilts her face up into the sunshine. “I never understood as a kid why a dog sticks its head out of the window.”
She kicks her leg over her motorcycle and she looks at me and Chris.
“But I get it now. There is just something about the wind in your face, and the worries of the world are stripped off your shoulders. I think more people should ride, maybe they wouldn’t be so depressed in this world, you know?” She shrugs her shoulders as she pulls on her riding gloves.
Chris looks at me and his face must match mine because we both laugh.
“What?” she asks, looking back between us.
“Just you, sweetheart, you have a way of thinking,” I tell her as I mount my bike next to her.
“It’s refreshing,” Chris adds in as he starts his bike.
She tilts her head and soaks up the sunshine.
“Sometimes if you don’t find new ways of thinking, you’ll always get stuck with the same ol’ thoughts. And when you get stuck with the same ol’ thoughts, in the end you get stuck with the same actions. If you want to change your actions, change your thoughts.” She winks before she starts her bike.