Chapter 32
Ella
As the crash truck draws up to the clubhouse I bend to reach for the bag at my feet, giving a little wince as I do. Slick smirks and gets to it before I can. I punch him on the arm.
“Shut it,” I growl, but there’s a smile in my eyes. He’d made good on his promise and muscles I didn’t even know I had are certainly making their presence known today. It’s a glorious feeling, a reminder of last night, which is sure to stay with me all day.
“Listen up.” Drummer steps out of the clubroom and gets our attention. “Right, ladies. Sophie, Sandy and Carmen, you’ll be ridin’ up behind your men. Ella, you, Jayden, and Sam will be in the back of the truck with Amy. Bit of a squash I know, especially with the child seat, but it’s important no one sees you leave. Once you get out of our territory you can stop and someone can go in the front. No one will think twice about a prospect drivin’ the crash truck and followin’ the bikes.”
“Jayden can sit on my lap, no problem.” I’m not going to protest a bit of discomfort if it’s going to keep us safe.”
“What about the sweet butts?” Carmen asks, her mouth twisting.
“They’ll travel tomorrow.”
I’d ask why, but I don’t particularly care, just feeling relieved Jill won’t be coming with us.
Slick’s worked so hard at keeping my mind and body occupied, that it only just dawns on me when Drummer starts indicating it’s time to get going, what this might mean. Getting all the women off the compound can only indicate one thing, they’re expecting serious trouble. Trouble my man is going to be right in the midst of. Grabbing hold of Slick’s leather I stand on tiptoe and curl my hand around the back of his head. As our lips press together I kiss my man as though I’m never going to see him again.
“Hey, you’ll see me at rest stops, and I’ll be stayin’ overnight. No need to say goodbye just yet, darlin’” But his hands linger on the side of my face, and his eyes flare with emotion.
But yes, he’s coming too. Along with Blade and Dart and Joker as Road Captain, making it look like a standard run to visit another chapter. Drummer and Peg will be staying at the compound. I’m happier knowing that Slick will be there to at least get me settled in the Vegas club, as there’s still a big part of me that’s nervous about meeting new bikers. At least he found a way to stop me worrying about it last night. By the time he’d finished showing me just what he can do with his biker cock I was too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
But in the cold light of day I start feeling guilty, knowing Jayden and I are somehow at the heart of what’s ahead, something so dangerous they’re shipping out the old ladies and disrupting their lives. As Slick holds my hand until I’m settled in the truck, I can’t help fearing what might happen, that maybe I won’t be able to come back, or that something will happen to Slick. The compound has slowly started to feel like home, and the thought that this could be the last time I’m here with my man is sobering. But the way it’s all been organised, like a well-oiled machine, I know there’s no point in me protesting. I have to go along with what they’ve got planned.
There’s no lingering now that we’re ready to get going. The gates slide open and the crash truck follows the bikers out.
Four hundred miles is a long way for the old ladies who are riding. Even with numerous stop offs they walk around with stiff bums. We’re not much better off, being confined to the truck unless it’s to nip out for an unavoidable visit to the restrooms. They take every precaution to make sure we’re not seen. At one stop a patrol car pulls in, and Sam covers Amy as Jayden and I sink down to the floor. It pulls out without giving us a second look. But each mile we travel makes detection less likely, and our spirits rise. At last, early in the evening, we arrive at the Vegas chapter’s clubhouse.
To my disappointment, it’s out of the city, on the edge of the desert that looks brown and dry without the vegetation and cacti of that surrounding the Tucson club. I suppose it was naïve of me to have visions of their base being within walking distance of the strip with its over-the-top hotels and gaudy light displays. Like Jayden, when I’m able to put my worries to the back of my mind I’m quite excited, hoping it won’t be long before we’ll be able to get out and see the famous fountains at the Bellagio. Oh, and I want to go to the Venetian as well, and Sophie wants to have a gondola ride. That sounds fun. There’s so much to do and see. And then my mood changes again when we arrive at our new temporary home.
The compound is protected by ten-foot-high steel gates and, as they slide open my stomach drops as I see what looks like a warehouse in front of the truck, masses of bikes parked to one side. As Wraith and the men position theirs in line, the truck waits and then pulls into a space alongside. While realising how spoiled the Tucson chapter is with their amazing and unusual setting, I hadn’t expected the Vegas clubhouse to be so different and, unfortunately, there’s much similarity between this place and the Rock Demons’ club.
As I stare at the building that looks frightening familiar, causing memories to slam into my head, Slick comes to help me out of the truck. When he takes my bag in his hand I hold back in reluctance.
He urges me forward, glancing down with a furrowed brow. “Hey, you okay, Ella?”
“It’s like…”
“No, it’s not,” he says firmly, quickly realising what I mean. “Come on inside. It’s not much to look at out here.”
As he puts his arm around me I tug the sides of my cut together, hoping it will be sufficient to protect me from what I expect to find when I take a step through the entrance and let him lead me on over. I’m holding my breath as we walk through the door…
And into a brightly lit large area which I can immediately see is clean and welcoming. A couple of, who I assume to be, old ladies are laying out food on tables, and there’s not a scantily clad woman in sight. Red, the president, who I remember meeting at the Tucson compound, is stepping forward and enveloping Wraith in a bear hug. He then lifts Sophie and swings her around, giving her a smacker on her cheek, before setting her back carefully on her feet.
Wraith growls, then laughs.
Red next greets the men with us, and then turns to us females. “Ladies, welcome.” He indicates the women, who come over, one with a bowl of salad still in her hands. “I’ll get the introductions started. This is Rosa.” He puts his arm around an older woman. “She’s the mother hen here and keeps us all in line.”
Rosa tosses him a quick look of disbelief and gives us a wide smile.
“And this is Tiffany, she’s Fox’s ol’ lady.” As I return her nod I wonder why he didn’t say who Rosa’s old man was.
Sam starts the round of saying who we all are. The men drift off, following Red. When I notice Slick’s left me, I feel panic rising, but I’m not allowed time for my mind to conjure up fears as Sophie touches my arm and brings me back into the conversation. Soon we’re going outside to where grills are grilling, and the two Vegas women start introducing us to the bikers.
Despite my concerns, the men we meet seem polite and respectful, and tolerant of Amy who, fed up with hours in the truck, starts running around. Sam tries to keep hold of her but she might as well be trying to catch a greased monkey. Amy thinks it’s a great game and goes running off.
“Leave her be,” says a grey-haired biker who’d made known he goes by the highly inappropriate handle of Titch, being closer to seven-foot-tall than six and towering over most of the others. “Out back here is all fenced. She can’t go anywhere. And look, she’s found Tom and Trist, Rosa’s twins. They’ll look after her.”
Turning my head, I see he’s right, and she’s now being introduced into a game of baseball with two boys who look about twelve. At my side, Sam sighs with relief.
Jayden tugs at my sleeve. “Want me to keep an eye on Amy?”
It’s Sam who answers, “Jayden, yes, please.”
I watch my sister, who’s soon chatting with the two boys who look slightly younger than her, but probably close enough in age to have things in common.
There’s so many men here that apart from Titch, who stands out above the others, I know I’ll have difficulty remembering everyone’s names. In the end, I give up. The Vegas chapter seems to have more members than Tucson, and it had taken me long enough to learn theirs. At least I’ll be able to rely on the names on their cuts.
Meat’s soon ready and served, and the bikers carry overflowing plates into the air-conditioned clubroom and set it out with the rest of the offerings. Plates are filled and refilled, drink starts flowing, and when Slick returns to my side I’m surprised to realise I’ve completely stopped worrying about being in a different club. Jayden seems happy too, taking her role as babysitter seriously, and Carmen and Sandy are talking with Rosa.
I’m rubbing my stomach, unable to take another bite, when Slick’s voice murmurs into my ear. “I think you’re wanted.”
Looking around, I see Rosa is standing and beckoning toward me and my sister. Leaving Slick, I go over to see what she wants. Tiffany’s with her, and they’re waving to summon Carmen, Sam, Sophie, Sandy, my sister and Amy too.
“Let’s leave the boys to it. The sweet butts will be coming in soon. Come with me. I think you’re going to like this—I don’t believe you have anything like this at Tucson.”
Intrigued, we follow Rosa away. She takes us out past the kitchen and into an enclosed part of the warehouse. As we step inside I think we all give a collective gasp. It’s a comfortable bright and airy room with floral covered sofas and comfortable, colourful cushions lying on the seats, a big flat screen TV on the wall, and a small bar set up to one side. There’s no need to point out this is the women’s area.
“Wow! We need something like this.” Sophie looks around with interest.
“You haven’t seen the best bits yet,” Rosa notes smugly. She closes the door and shows us the bolts on this side. “It’s reinforced steel, and those inside can control who gets in or out. Keys, our security guy, put in a hidden camera so we can see what’s going on in the clubhouse. There’s bulletproof shutters we can close if we have to as well.”
“And here,” Tiffany pulls aside a curtain, “is another way out of the compound. It leads to the back of the parking garage. If it’s safe we can escape by car, if not, there’s another exit that’s hard to spot.”
They really seem keen to keep their women safe here. “Have you ever had to use it?”
“No.” Rosa smiles at me. “And there’s no particular threats that we’re aware of. When we suggested a room for us the brothers built it and went a bit over the top. And we have the comfort of knowing our security is important to them.”
Jayden puts her hand over her mouth to try and not very successfully stifle a yawn. “Sorry.” She shrugs. “I’m tired.” Sometimes I forget she’s only fourteen and needs the sleep of a teenage body. And the long journey was fatiguing.
Amy’s already asleep in Sam’s arms.
Rosa suggests she shows us our rooms, and then those who want to can come back down for a drink. My plan of staying with Jayden is thwarted when she suggests we leave Amy in with her so we can all go down and enjoy ourselves. As she seems happy enough, I’m content to leave her. And that’s how, an hour later, I find myself coming under the spotlight.
We’ve already discussed Heart’s non-improving condition and the lengths his mother-in-law is going in trying to get her hands on his daughter, and Jayden’s story has drawn disgust and compassion from the Vegas women. As they show their concern for my sister, having now had the results back from Doc, I’m able to reassure them that luckily everything came back clear, so she’ll have no lasting physical reminders. Rosa suggests they’ll do all they can to turn her mind to different things while she’s here. You can’t be depressed in Vegas, they tell me. Unless, that is, you lose all your money.
In the company of the women, I’m able to completely relax, particularly as we ignore the elephant in the room and avoid any discussion of what will happen when our men go back to Tucson.
I’m just thinking about what good company they all are when Sophie turns to me and asks, “What I don’t understand, Ella, is why you ever wanted to be a club whore?”
My mouth drops open at Sophie’s seemingly innocent question. At my surprise, she seems to know it all. She shrugs. “Jill’s got a loose tongue.”
Shit. Now everyone knows. I really don’t know what to say.
“She was ranting the other day. She doesn’t like you monopolising Slick, or that’s how she put it. And when he gave you your property patch I thought she was going to explode. She was spitting out you were a whore, just like them.”
Sam glares at Sophie and puts her hand on mine. “We know you’re not like them, Ella.”
“Huh!” Rosa laughs. “Might not know you as well as the Tucson crowd do, but it’s easy to see you’re no slut, Ella.” She curls her legs underneath her on the sofa and sits back, getting herself comfortable. “There sounds like there’s a story there, so why don’t you spill?”
I could keep my mouth shut, and probably should, but the cocktails I’ve been drinking have loosened my tongue, and even the new women I’ve met seem friendly enough. Slowly I nod. “Okay, I’ll try to explain, but I need another drink first.”
Obviously eager, Tiffany jumps to her feet and gets me another glass of something blue and decidedly alcoholic.
I take a deep swallow and then begin. “I was living a deadbeat life, you know, hand to mouth, just surviving. I’ve had a few boyfriends, but nothing to write home about, and wasn’t in a position to meet the kind of man I was on the lookout for.” I pause for another gulp of the blue drink. It warms my throat going down. Looking around at my rapt audience I continue, “I knew Jill at school, we were cheerleaders together, we used to get along well and had a few laughs, but lost touch after we left. Then, a few months ago I bumped into her. We began to meet up regularly for coffee. She told me what she did…”
“She what?” Sam’s eyes open wide. “She should be more discreet about that.”
Rosa growls. “She shared club business.”
I do defend her. “I doubt she tells everyone. A biker approached her and eventually she ended up telling me how she knew him. We’d met a few times by then and had rekindled our friendship.”
Sam doesn’t look mollified. “Still…”
“Anyway,” I move swiftly on, “I was amazed. Part intrigued, mostly disgusted, so I asked her how she could do what she did.”
Sophie’s sitting forward. “I always wondered how the girls started out. Go on, Ella, it’s fascinating.”
I nod and go on to explain what she’d told me that long ago morning before all this had started.
Carmen’s looking at me oddly. “So, the thought of biker cock on tap excited you? You obviously weren’t afraid of bikers then, honey. But when you came to the club, you were fuckin’ terrified.”
Sam shoots her a look, and then stares at me intently. I remember she hadn’t seen me the first time. I throw her a silent plea for help. How much should I disclose?
“Ella, there’s more to it,” Carmen insists. “What happened to make you so scared?”
I look down at my glass, which is now empty again. “Look, it’s club business. But Slick came to see me. Told me if I’d do something for the club they’d let me in as a sweet butt.”
Rosa’s gazing at me. “Did you really understand what it means to be a club girl, Ella? They’re here to do anything and everything the men want. Any time, day or night. When your girls come here tomorrow, they’ll be expected to service our men too. It might suit a nympho, but you don’t seem like someone who just likes sex and doesn’t care who it’s with.”
I give a shiver. While I liked Titch, for example, he’s got to be sixty if he’s a day, and the thought of deep throating an old man’s cock fills me with disgust. “No, I don’t think I understood that at all. Jill made it sound glamourous.”
Now they all laugh. Sam’s frowning. “They must enjoy it. They can leave at any time, but they don’t, they stay.”
“It’s not just the sex, they like feeling wanted and needed. Jill said she had control over the men.” I’d had plenty of time to think it through. “Let’s face it, being somewhere I’d be appreciated sounded good at the time. I had no prospects, no man. It would have been a roof over my head, food, and company who wanted me. Jill said there’d be a chance that one of the bikers would take a particular liking to me and I might become an old lady.” Which as it turned out, was exactly what happened. Just not in the way I’d originally expected.
“They all think that. One of the main reasons they do it. But they’ll be disappointed. It’s very rare a man wants a woman all his brothers have already dipped their cocks in every hole.” Now everyone nods sagely.
I nod at Rosa. “I know that now. But then?”
Carmen is still like a dog with a bone. “So you weren’t afraid of bikers at that point, when Slick came to see you?”
Giving a small smile I reply, “No, and I even thought if they were all like him it wouldn’t be a hardship at all.”
“You liked Slick?”
I admit it. “Very much. I was attracted to him from the start.”
“What happened?” Now it’s Sandy who probes.
My voice drops to a whisper, and I glance toward Sam again. “I went into a biker club…” My voice breaks. I hadn’t noticed her get up, but Tiffany brings me another drink. I take a hefty swallow and find the strength to continue. “They made me pull a train.”
“Why the fuck did you agree to that?”
Sam jumps into my rescue. “There wasn’t agreement or consent, ladies. And the whys and wherefores come under club business. Ella here did the club a favour, and it’s thanks to her all the men are alive. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“I wasn’t meant to get hurt.” I give a small smile of thanks at Sam’s concise explanation.
“But you did.”
“And that’s why they wanted to look after you,” Sandy puts in. “I did wonder. Oh honey, I’m so sorry what you went through.”
Tiffany comes and sits down next to me. “So that’s why you looked like a lamb going to the slaughter when you arrived? You thought the Vegas chapter was going to be like the club you went to? Oh honey, you’ve nothing to worry about here. The brothers are pussy cats. Wouldn’t dream of hurting a woman or making her do something she didn’t want to do. Anyway, you’re wearing your property cut. Ain’t no one gonna touch you with that on.”
I start to thank her, then change my mind as a term she used registers. “Pussy cats?”
“Perhaps sometimes they can be tigers. Or maybe that’s just Fox. Mmm mm.” Tiffany laughs, and the amount of drink we’ve all consumed makes that one of the most hilarious things we’ve ever heard.
“Talking of sweet butts, when are your lot coming up?”
“Tomorrow,” Sam answers Rosa. “The prospect’s taken the truck back tonight and will be driving them here in the morning.”
“Hmm. Well there’s rooms on the upper floor where they can bunk with our club girls.” She waves her hand around the room. “Don’t worry, this is an old lady’s only retreat.”
That’s good to hear, and as they seemed to have finished with me being the topic of conversation, and I’m let off the hook, I start to relax once again. I finally discover that Rosa was married to the chapter’s old president, who’d died of cancer a couple of years back. That she’s still got a home here and they’ve made her feel wanted is the final nail in the coffin of my fears as I at last understand I can’t tar all bikers with the same brush.
Having had a relaxing evening, I go to bed, sliding in next to an already sleeping Slick. But he’s only dozing as though he’d been waiting. The bed dipping wakes him up, and he turns and pulls me into his arms.