Chapter 10
Avery
The next day...
I’m still confused about what’s going on between the three of us. I know I love Ares and Silas dearly, but I can’t help the worrying thoughts creeping in about if we can have a real relationship. Everything is couples based, but we seem to fit better as three, not two.
I didn’t realize 2 Piece’ feelings ran so deeply for Ares. I had no freaking idea they were even being intimate; I had the suspicion from before but nothing definite. I would have been irate in any other case, but I love them both, and to find out that they both love me, makes everything seem okay.
Ares can give 2 Piece something that I can’t, just like Ares can give me the kinkier side that I crave, whereas 2 Piece can’t. At the same time, 2 Piece can give me the stronger emotional connection that I need sometimes, but Ares is more distant. We all fit in this circle that completes the others. That has to count for something, right?
That’s another concern I have. Ares has been through so much in his life. I’ve heard the stories, the whispered things said about him. Will he even be able to have a real relationship with us? We have to talk about it all and set boundaries and what not about everything.
I climb into Cain’s car ‘Loretta,’ closing the door and fastening my seatbelt, as London revs the engine. The car thunders around me, as the 702 horsepower Hellcat begs to be put to use. London stole the damn car again, but this time it’s because she wants to ride out to Prez’s ex’s house and see if we can help out. I don’t know the lady, but the guys informed us she’s really sick with cancer. Surely she could use someone, even just to tidy her house up or something.
London cranks the radio up, blaring ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ by Five Finger Death Punch. She and Cain both are hooked on that band. The clubhouse door swings out, opening as Cain and a few brothers storm out. London lowers the window, giving a little finger wave and romping on the gas.
My ass sinks back into the leather seat as the speedometer climbs higher. I’ve gotten used to London driving like a damn crazed maniac. Usually we’re in her little slow ass Civic though, this is a whole new ball park and she seems to be eating it up.
“Shit!” She suddenly shouts, drawing my attention after we’ve been driving for a few minutes.
“What’s wrong?”
London huffs, “They’re behind us.”
“Wait, who’s behind us?”
She squints, staring into the side mirror for a few beats. “Well shit. I thought it was the guys from the club but I don’t know who’s on the bikes behind us. I don’t recognize any of the bikes, and I can’t make out their faces—they’re covered in bandannas.” She rolls her window back up quickly, encasing us in darkness from the tint.
Turning in my seat, I attempt to see if I can make them out any better, but the windows are nearly black and I can’t see them. “Should I roll down my window even more to see if I can get a better look out of my mirror?”
“No, I don’t think they saw me. For all they know, we’re Cain. I don’t want anyone to know it’s us, just in case. Roll up your window.” She orders loudly, turning down the music.
London hits a button on the car in the center of the dash and ringing sounds over the speakers.
“Yeah?” Cain answers loudly. We can hear the rumble of the bike, he must be using his headset.
“Some bikes are behind us. You wouldn’t happen to be behind me, would you?” London asks sweetly.
“Nope, but bet your fuckin’ ass I’m behind those motherfuckers. Floor it, baby, and lose these fucks, so I can take care of it. Be careful.”
“Okay, babe, love you.”
“Love you.”
The car goes silent as the call clicks off, then returns to the low beat of music. London turns my way, takes a deep breath, and exhaling with a sigh, “Ready, bitch?”
“Let’s do it.” I nod, grabbing the ‘oh shit’ handle. She gives the powerful black beast some gas and the car feels like it freaking flies. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the tires actually came off the pavement.
London grips the wheel at ten and two, leaning forward, focusing on the road just like the last time she was driving erratically. We speed down the old highway, the exhaust rumbles loudly, almost as if we’re in a race. If only that really were the cause; I’m getting tired of these damn chases. First some guy chased 2 Piece and me on the motorcycle which resulted in me getting shot, then London and I race away from the grocery store like our asses were on fire, and now this. I hope London doesn’t lose her lunch this time.
“The turnoff is coming up here soon, so take that farm road out to Mona’s house.”
“We’ve been driving for thirty minutes already?” I gape at her.
“Hell no, we’ve been driving way faster than the speed limit, so it’s not going to take thirty minutes. I think the bikes are far enough back now they won’t see us turning off, but just to be safe I’m going to turn quickly and haul ass again, so be prepared. I hope we don’t spin or anything crazy.”
“Why on earth would we spin?” I inquire nervously.
“Because that road is dirt just like the back road to the club.”
“Shit-fuck, okay I’ll say a prayer for us, while you keep watching that road.”
Right as I get the words out, she slams on the brakes causing the car to skid and fishtail as she takes a corner at God-knows-what speed.
“Ohhhh shiiittttt!” I groan, and my tummy starts flipping inside. The car makes the turn but the back tires spin over the gravel, swinging the rear end from left to right, before finally getting a good grip and propelling us forward.
“You better not puke!” she calls loudly, and I groan again.
“Don’t even say that word, London,” I mumble, holding my stomach. I start to take a few deep breaths, attempting to calm down my nerves.
After about ten minutes of straight bumpy, dirt road, we take a turn around a bend full of trees and bushes. An older, light blue ranch-style house comes into view. It has an unattached garage next to it and a chain link fence surrounding the entire piece of land it rests on. Out front an old grey 1979 Chevy pickup sits, appearing forgotten, next to a newer dark blue, Chevy Malibu sedan and Prez’ bike. I’m going to guess someone is a Chevy person here and my bet’s on Prez.
“Oh thank God!” I huff out, excited to be able to get out of Cain’s muscle car. I like the Challengers, but geez, his should be in a class alone.
“Hush your mouth, hooker; I did just fine getting us here safely.”
“Um, yeah, you got us here, and it’s a freaking miracle Cain’s dash isn’t wearing my stomach contents right now!”
She laughs, putting the car in park. Prez is on the small front porch with a shot gun before London even gets the car turned off. He’s in wrinkly clothes appearing as if he slept in them and then wore them an extra two days. His long blond hair hangs to his shoulders, a greasy mess.
“Fuck, the old man looks tired. Don’t say anything about the bikes following us just now, okay?” London observes quietly.
“Sounds like a plan, and quit giving him shit about his age. He’s not close to being old, he’s just stressed out.”
I open the door, clambering out after being sucked into my seat for so long.
“Well heya’ Shug’, what are you girls doin’ out here?” He looks at me, surprised but pleased and props the shot gun against the house.
“Hi Prez, London and I wanted to come check on you, and see if we could maybe help out around here some?”
“Aww, honey, that’s sweet of you girls, but I doubt Mona would want any company right now; she’s not feelin’ too well.” He gazes at the ground sadly.
London walks up to him giving him a giant hug, holding him tight and responding quietly, “We know, Prez; that’s why we’re here. We want to make sure the house is picked up, y’all have some clean clothes, and there’s food already prepped to eat. My best friend’s granny fought with cancer. Emily’s granddaddy always told us about how hard it was during that time. Avery and I want to make sure you have all the tools you need to help Mona get through it and get back to feeling well.”
Prez has always been the strong, more silent type, so to see a tear run down that man’s face completely shatters my heart for him. He rests his forehead on London’s shoulder, bringing her close for a moment, collecting himself.
“My brothers are some lucky fuckers landing the two of you. Come on in and let me introduce you.”
London smiles as I approach them. We walk through the front door and Prez throws his arm over my shoulder. Leaning in, he quietly mumbles, “Hey Shug’. Thanks for doin’ this. My boys bein’ good to ya?”
“No problem, really. Yes, they are being very good to me.” I shoot him a small smile and his lips turn up in a miniscule grin. He leans in, kissing my forehead and releases me as he shows us the way to his Ol’ Lady.
2 Piece
My mind was fuckin’ racing when Cain came rushin’ in, warning us that the girls had taken off again. I had never run to get on my bike so fast in my damn life. I wasn’t about to let her go get hurt this time. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by bikes, as Cain, Ares, and Twist all sped after them alongside me.
Blasting down the highway, I can see the other bikes up ahead of us. Ares gives me the signal and as we get closer, I pull one of my weapons from my boot. It’s hard as fuck trying to steer my bike and shoot straight at the same time, but I’ve been getting better at it. Hell, if it’s to keep Avery safe, I’ll shoot any fucker in sight.
After a few moments I don’t see Cain’s beast anymore, so the girls must have been able to lose them. They must be doing well over a buck fifty and that shit makes me nervous as hell, knowing something could happen to Avery if they were to wreck at those speeds.
I watch one biker on a red Harley giving hand signals to his buddies as we start to get closer to them. Their cuts are a deep crimson with a large white fist in the center. Fuck. That’s an Iron Fists’ cut. Glancing to Twist, I see it register on his face on what kind of shit we may be in after seeing just who it is we’re following and will be shooting at.
One biker turns slightly, flashing his Glock and I immediately get on one of Are’s sides. Being VP, I have to protect him. I would regardless; I love him too much to want anything to happen to him. Cain speeds up, riding on the other side of Ares, both of us shields.
Instead of Twist staying close, he speeds ahead of us getting much closer to the Iron Fists. Shaking my head, I breathe in through my skull bandana, attempting to stay calm and focused.
The fucker in the middle, on the red bike, raises his arm, and clutches his hand in a fist. The guy beside him throws something on the ground. I can’t tell what it is because they look tiny.
Ares must know what it is as he screams at a deafening tone, ‘Twiiiiissstttt!”
Twist can’t hear over the pipes or he ignores him, when suddenly his bike swerves, careening off to the side of the road, and I see his body fly through the air completely off his bike.
“Fuck! Twist!” I yell, slowing my bike down as quickly and as safely as possible. Ares and Cain do the same and stop beside me. I put my kickstand down, jumping off my bike to get to Twist.
“The fuck was that?” I yell back to the guys.
Ares catches up and runs beside me to get to Twist, while Cain stands by the bikes with his gun out in case the fucks decide to come back for a drive-by or some shit.
“It was motherfuckin’ shrapnel,” he huffs as we run.
“Are you fucking serious?”
“Yep, as a goddamn heart attack.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing; those dickwads threw fucking shrapnel at us? Bunch of fuckin’ bitches is what they are. Fuck throwing it; I wanna shoot the shit straight into their goddamn bodies. We get to Twist only to find him lying sprawled out and unconscious.
Sitting at his side, I shake him a few times. “Twist, you ugly fucker, wake up!”
Ares grabs my shoulder, “Stop, brother, we don’t want to move him in case somethin’s fucked up.”
“Then what do we do with him?” I’m normally the one playing doctor for the club, but I have no fuckin’ clue what to do for him. It’s not like he needs me to feed him some whiskey and sew up a few stitches somewhere.
“I think this time we’ll have to call an ambulance; fuck if he ain’t gonna be mad when he finds out.” Ares shakes his head, his gaze meeting mine. “Do you have anything on you?”
“Naw, just my Glocks, but their registered and shit. Nothing in my bags either, I just cleaned the unmarked guns out of my bike the other day.”
“All right, I’m gonna go make sure Cain doesn’t have any blow on him and then call an ambulance. You stay with Twist until they get here, and I’m gonna have Cain call the girls back, to make sure everything’s straight with them. I’m going to send out Exterminator to watch Mona’s crib. Make sure none of those fucks stop by. I’mma tell the ambulance he lost control and flew off the bike.”
I nod, and he takes off jogging back to Cain and our bikes.
Rubbing my forehead, I peer down at Twist and quietly begin to talk, “Look motherfucker, I may not approve of you with my sister and all, but fuck if you aren’t doin’ some good with Sadie. Who the fuck knows why, but anyhow she will never forgive my ass if I let anything happen to you. You better be okay, ‘cause I love my younger sister, and if you happen to stick around with her, then I reckon’ I might could deal with that. Don’t go tellin’ nobody that shit though, ‘specially Sadie.”
He’s unresponsive and I’m by no means a praying man, but I have to sit here and hope that if anyone’s listening that they will take care of my brother. I ain’t tryin’ to go to no fuckin’ funerals. That’s the last thing Ares needs to have to worry ‘bout, with all the shit goin’ on.
After a few minutes of the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, the air is littered with the loud shrieks of sirens as the ambulance nears, along with a police cruiser.
The two medics unload from the truck, going to the back of the vehicle to get supplies. Ares approaches them as the cop starts looking around the road and at Twist’s fucked up bike. Fuck, that cop’s gonna see that shit in the road and ask questions.
The medics start walking toward me with a portable stretcher board. Ares pulls his wallet out, handing the blond cop a large wad of cash when no one’s paying attention. Well, no one but me anyhow. The cop nods, shaking Ares’ hand.
“Is he responsive?” the younger medic asks, nodding to Twist.
“No, he hasn’t moved at all.”
“Okay, thanks. Please step back so we can take a look and get him loaded.”
“Yeah man, no problem.” I backtrack a few paces. “You know what’s wrong with him?”
“Not yet, but hopefully soon,” the older medic replies as they secure Twist in a neck brace.
All that jostling around, and yet the brother doesn’t stir at all. It makes me worry even more for him and my sister. I don’t know what the fuck they have goin’ on exactly, but I know she don’t need this kinda stress being pregnant and all.
They lift him up and start to carry the stretcher to the ambulance, so I follow along. They load him up as we all stand around and watch.
“You going to the hospital, brother?” I ask Ares.
“No. I just called Scratch; he’s gonna come get Twist’s bike, and I need to help him load it up. Brother is gonna be lit the fuck up when he sees his bike all smashed up and shit. You should head to the hospital so you can keep me updated, especially if Sadie heads over. Don’t want no Iron Fists around to fuck with her, too.”
“What about Avery?”
“Trust me 2 Piece, I will make sure she’s safe.”
“What about that cop? He gonna be a problem?”
“No, that was actually Dom’s older brother. He just saw a biker lose traction and wreck. Gotta get this shit outta the road though; I gave him my word.”
Nodding, I fist-bump him and Cain, climb on my bike, and follow the ambulance to the hospital.
This shit with the Iron Fists MC better get squared away quick. If need be, I’ll take Avery and get the fuck outta here if it means keeping her safe this time. I won’t have her gettin’ shot or terrorized every time she fucking leaves the goddamn compound. We should be able to keep our women safe, not be the reason they get hurt in the first place.