KATRINA

 

“Oh… Oh, God… No! No, no, no! No!”

The smoke billowing from the hood of my car made it impossible for me to see in front of me. My car sputtering to a halt made it an easier decision to pull over.

“Dammit…”

I hopped out and watched as the smoke continued to rise. In the middle of the night, on a random street in Ivory, my return to town was abruptly interrupted.

I reached into my pocket and dialed for my brother.

No response.

I sent him a text message while sitting on the curb.

No response.

Considering how much he was drinking, it probably wasn’t a good idea for him to drive over and help me out.

The streets were empty. The night was silent except for the sound of music and conversation coming from inside the nearby bars. It was a strange feeling to feel so alone in the town I had grown up in.

With no other choice, I started searching on my phone for a tow. I was so distracted that I didn’t notice the loud rumbling of exhaust growing next to me. I finally looked up when a lone bright headlight shined on me.

“Need some help?”

I put my hand up to block the headlight just as it went out. I looked toward the voice and saw someone hop off of his bike.

He was a biker. If the bike itself weren’t enough, the leather kutte only confirmed it.

“It looks like it,” I sighed.

He didn’t walk toward me. He sort of sauntered instead. And when he got closer, I realized just how tall he was.

I looked up at him and for some reason, I was surprised at how young he looked. The dark blond scruff along his chin matched his hair, which was slicked back over his head.

“Do you want me to take a look?” he asked.

He gave me a smirk, staring at me with these deep blue eyes. The lone streetlight cast a shadow on his face but I could make him out clearly.

I’d been around bikers all my life. Jordan had been in a club for as long as I could remember. But none of them looked like this guy.

Things sure have changed in this town.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

I blinked and shook my head when I realized I didn’t respond to him. I was staring at his face for so long that I lost myself in my thoughts.

“Oh,” I said. “If you want to take a look, be my guest. Be careful of the hood. I think it’s still hot.”

“I’ll be all right.”

The grin on his face was growing. He looked away from me before I could stare at him any longer. The stranger lifted the hood up and released all of the smoke up into the night sky. After a few seconds passed, he peered over my engine.

I looked him over as he bent over the engine of my car. His jeans were baggy, hiding a pair of boots beneath. His arms were covered with ink all the way down to his wrists. The giant patch on his vest had BLACK REAPERS and a matching logo emblazoned on the back. I wasn’t too familiar with the clubs in this town, despite my brother being so involved.

“How does it look?” I asked.

“Well…”

He turned around, a confident smile on his face as he shrugged.

“I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” he said, slapping his hands together. “What do you want first?”

“What’s the bad news?” I sighed.

“The bad news is you’ve got an oil leak. You probably shouldn’t be driving this thing around until you get it fixed.”

“Are you serious? Oh, great… My apartment is just a few blocks from here.”

“I wouldn’t risk it. Not unless you want even more repairs.”

“Yeah, yeah… What’s the good news?”

“The good news is I can fix it for you. Not right now, but I’ve got a garage. All you have to do is get it towed and I’ll take care of it there.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

Who is this guy?

There was something about the way he looked at me. It was like that smirk of his was tattooed on his lips.

I shook my head, trying to figure him out.

“You could be lying to me,” I said. “How do I know you’re not just some mechanic trying to sucker people into overpaying for repairs?”

“Who said anything about paying?”

“What? I mean… I… Why would you want to fix my car for free?”

“I didn’t say for free. You still owe me.”

“…I suppose I do.”

“I could use a drink.”

“A drink?”

“This place will work.”

He looked over my shoulder. I turned around and noticed the bar I had inadvertently pulled up next to.

“Let me get this straight,” I said. “You’re going to fix my oil leak for a drink?”

“And some company.”

I glared at him, looking into those deep blue eyes of his to try and figure him out. The way he grinned at me made it hard for me to not smile back at him. He sure was confident.

“All right,” I said with a nod. “Sounds like a deal. It doesn’t make any sense, but that could work.”

“Who said good ol’ Ivory hospitality never made any sense?”

“And that’s what this is? Ivory hospitality?”

“You must not be from around here.”

“Oh, I’m from around here. It’s just… It’s been a long time.”

“Why don’t you tell me about it? Over that drink you owe me.”

He was smooth. I had to give him that. I bit my tongue to stop from smiling.

“…You’re not like some serial killer, are you?” I asked as I winced.

“Is that what I look like?”

“Judging from the tattoos and the leather kutte, do you really want me to answer that?”

“Fair enough,” he said with a chuckle. “But you’re not gonna get a better deal in Ivory to fix an oil leak. I can promise you that.”

Oh, what the hell…

I shrugged and turned around to walk into the bar. The stranger followed closely behind me.

There were only a few people in the place. The music was soft and everybody seemed to be keeping their conversations to themselves. Considering I just came from The Bone Pit, I thought it was strange that a bar could be so calm.

The lights were dim but there was just enough to see my peaceful surroundings.

I took a seat at the bar and the stranger leaned up against the counter next to me.

“What are you having?” the bartender asked.

“I’ll have a shot of whiskey,” the biker said.

“And for you?”

“I’m not drinking tonight,” I said.

“That wasn’t a part of the deal,” the biker said.

“W-what? I said that I would get you a drink.”

“And your company. I can’t drink alone. I’d be at home if I wanted to do that.”

I sighed a deep breath and shook my head.

“Whiskey,” I sighed.

While the bartender poured our drinks, I took a better look at the man who was apparently my savior.

He looked out into the bar with his back against the counter. I got a better look at the intricate ink on his arm and noticed just how bulging his bicep was.

Wow…

When he noticed me staring at him, he turned and gave me that arrogant smirk of his.

“Cheers,” he said as he picked up his whiskey.

Along with the shot I had earlier, I had more than I was used to. The alcohol didn’t burn as much it did the first time but I wasn’t in love with it either.

As soon as it was down, I sighed a deep breath of relief.

“So… What brings you to Ivory?” he asked.

“What brings me to Ivory? What makes you say I’m not from around here?”

“I would have remembered someone like you. There aren’t that many places in Ivory to hide in.”

“Maybe I was hiding in a really secret place.”

“You don’t look like the type.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re not the type to sit around and do nothing in a secret place.”

He leaned in closer to me. His face was just a few inches from mine as he stared into my eyes. I looked back into his blue eyes as he narrowed his gaze at me.

“I can see it in you,” he said. “You like to go out. You’re a free spirit. An adventurer.”

As I stared back at him, my throat felt dry suddenly. I swallowed just as he pulled away from me.

“Am I right?” he asked.

“Does that work?” I said.

“Does what work?”

“Oh, come on! You’ve been smooth this whole time. You say that to all the girls. Don’t play dumb.”

“…You really are from Ivory, huh?”

“Born and raised.”

We shared a laugh. Even though I just met him a few minutes ago, I was comfortable around him. I guess that’s what two shots of alcohol could do to you.

“…Blake,” he said.

“Katrina. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blake.”

“The pleasure is yours.”

“I… I don’t think that’s how it goes.”

“Oh, that is how it goes. Trust me.”

He winked at me. His confidence was so overwhelming that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“All right, Blake. You sure do know how to make a girl smile. I’ll give you credit for that.”

“I aim to please.”

“First you tell me what’s wrong with my car. Then you grace me with the pleasure of your company. What else can you tell me about yourself?”

“There isn’t much else to tell.”

“Oh, I think there is…”

I didn’t know what came over me. But it had been so long since I’d been around a man and none of them were as interesting as him.

I reached over and ran my hand over the patches on his vest. I trailed my index finger over the text and read it out.

“Needle. That’s an interesting name.”

Blake didn’t say anything, instead turning to the bartender to order himself another drink.

“How did you get a name like Needle?” I asked.

He downed his second shot of whiskey and looked down at me, that same smirk still on his lips.

“What do you think?” he said.

“Needle… Let me see…”

I leaned back in my seat, examining him while I tried to figure him out.

“Needle… I bet you killed a guy with a needle. You look like you know how to handle weapons.”

“Interesting theory…”

“Or… Maybe it has something to do with drugs. No, you don’t look like the junkie-type. Steroids? You cheating there, big man?”

I reached over and playfully squeezed his bicep. I held back my surprise when I discovered it was harder than it looked.

Blake chuckled softly at me and nodded.

“That’s a possibility,” he said. “Working out is always better when you’ve got a little help.”

“That must be it. Or…”

“Or?”

I giggled softly to myself and shook my head.

Oh, what am I thinking?

I thought about it. I knew I shouldn’t have said it. But something about the way he looked at me brought out the wrong kind of thoughts.

“I know what it is,” I said.

“And what is it, Katrina?”

“Needle is short for needle dick. You’ve probably got a dick like a pencil. Am I right?”

I wasn’t even trying to hide my blushing face now. The pretense was gone. Now it was just a matter of waiting to see whether or not I was reading his signals correctly.

He smiled as he chuckled softly. He leaned in close to me again and whispered.

“Do you wanna see?”

His warm breath against my cheek sent an involuntary shudder through my spine. I felt hot and cold at the same time. A feeling began to stir in my stomach and it wasn’t because I was getting sick.

Blake pulled away from me and nonchalantly leaned up against the bar. I stared off into the distance and considered what he just said.

Do I really wanna do this?

I just got back to Ivory. My first night in town and I was talking to a stranger.

Only in Ivory could they make them rugged like him. But I was still having doubts about whether or not he was the man I wanted to welcome me back to Ivory.

“How about another drink?” he asked.

I nodded, hopeful that the alcohol would help clear my thoughts. It wasn’t like I was driving tonight. Another shot of whiskey down, it only made me more inclined to play the game that he wanted me to obviously play.

“So… What do you think?” he asked. “Your car is gonna be out of commission until I can repair it. Do you need a ride?”

“My apartment is just a few blocks from here. I can walk. But…”

He narrowed his eyes. I was as red as a tomato at this point.

“…I could use a lift,” I said.

“I’m just trying to help you out.”

“Good ol’ Ivory hospitality. I get it.”

I got up from my seat and stood next to him. The bar was quiet, so I whispered to make sure that he was the only one listening.

“Got an oil leak,” I said. “Feel like fixing it?”

“I can fix it. But I will have to take a look underneath the hood.”

Looking into his eyes, I still wasn’t sure he was the right choice. This was my last chance to back out. I could walk away and never have to see him again.

But I knew I wasn’t going to do that. It had been too long.

Ah, screw it.

“Give me a ride?”

He downed another shot of whiskey and winked at me before he gave me the confirmation I was suddenly craving so badly.

“Let’s go for a ride.”