Chapter 6

Elijah

The next two days passed slowly. I couldn't get Quinn out of my mind. Didn't matter what I did. Even the properties that interested me before held no interest. When I opened my eyes, when I closed my eyes, the only thing I could see was Quinn.

We had another few days until the poker run. Still trying to work out logistics on that with Bryce. Thirty years with that man, and knowing the half smile he has been giving me for the last couple of days, means he’s up to no good.

Somewhere along the long years, it became more about the competition with me and less about being brothers. I love him, but when mom died, I was lucky. Bryce, not so much. My dad had long ago hit the road, never came back so I got live with the other officers and eventually, got a job with Mike when I was fourteen. Working the ranch gave me the know how around even the most rowdy of beasts and helped me when I came of age in the club. Beat and battered my way to where I am, but I also know I’m respected.

Bryce not so lucky. His old man was the President of the club. Given more to fists than to any kind hand. When he stepped down and they voted me in as vice president and him as road warrior, that’s when it got bad. The last few years I’ve had to deal with shit from him I wouldn’t have taken from any man. I don’t have much of a temper, but I have a huge right fist and all it takes is one love tap to keep them in line.

I glance again at the clock, the slowly spinning second hand making me feel with every tick tock that Quinn is moving further and further from me. I have the “creepy crawlies,” as mom called them, walk their legs up my spine.

I head out of my room and out to the front of the MC. I grab my sidecar, hook it up to my bike, find Gareth digging in the trash, and put him securely in his seat.

As I’m revving up my bike, a prospect, I think his name is Danny, walks up to me.

“Hey, Elijah. You seen Bryce?”

“Naw, why?”

“I’ve been looking for him for a couple of hours. His bike’s not here and I called his cell. I did everything he asked and just wanted him to check me off on it.”

“You know how he is. He’s probably with one of the properties, laying low and smoking some grass. Have him give me a call when you see him.”

“Sure thing.”

As I take the journey into Rapid, going by my old haunts, memories of things from being part of a motorcycle club come through. It’s all about family. I never had any but the club. Mom was an ol’ lady so I grew up here. It’s all about the brotherhood. Yeah, there’s the illegal shit. Any club that says they’re not doing it is lying.

Then there are things like our poker run. A good cause. God knows with the economy, we have plenty to choose from.

But brotherhood, that’s where it all is. My mind circled back to Quinn. I don’t know what it was, but as soon as she saw my cut, with all of its decals, it was game over. I’d like to find out why.

Even when I’m not thinking of her, my thoughts float back.

As I pull up to the pet hospital, I see Quinn locking up and at the same time, I see Bryce turning the corner of the alleyway heading towards her. She’s obviously heard my bike because she spins toward me as I see Bryce saunter over to her.

At about this time, Quinn also saw him. She’s not too happy to see him…or maybe me, either. I get the bike kicked, get off, and walk over to them.

“Hey, man. What are you doing here? Your prospects are asking for you.”

“Don’t care man. I’ll take care of them soon enough.”

“What I’d like to know is why either of you are here?” asked Quinn, once she found her voice.

I walk over to her and man, she’s even more beautiful than I remember. And I got a damn good memory.

“Listen, Bryce, as VP, I think you should leave.”

Normally, that show of my rank has Bryce falling in line. Tonight, Bryce was going to be a problem. And that problem, led with his right, smacking me hard enough in my eye to temporarily blind me and I staggered against the wall of the hospital. Bryce comes back with his left, like he always does, and I block it. Not before, he sends his right back into my face, smashing my lip. I feel it tear and blood flows. I step back, get my position, and some room between us. As he sets up the next right, I smash him with a hard left, shattering his nose. A hard push from my two hands sends him ass down on the pavement.

A cop drives by, Stanley Wheaton.

“Elijah, all good?”

I wave him off.

“Just a brother thing.”

Stanley nodded, looked down at Bryce, and took off down the street, clearly wanting none of this.

“Get your ass back on your bike, and get the hell home,” I say through my mushed lips.

Bryce stands up and dusts himself off, holding his nose, blood flowing, but not without an evil look at Quinn and me. He goes around the corner. I step closer to Quinn, intimately close.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, but you’re not.”

A moment later as I bend down to her, Bryce flies around the corner, gunning his engine and pulls away. Not before giving me the one finger salute, however.

“What in the hell where you thinking, coming down here?”

“I…”

“Jesus Christ, you look like shit.”

“Can't help how I look. Bryce is bad news.”

“Bad news or not, I don't need either of you around.”

I turned around to get ready to leave, setting sun hitting my face, giving Quinn a full view of the damage.

I hear a gasp.

I look down at her and it’s like she is suddenly really seeing me.

“Holy hell, Jesus Christ. Stay right here.” I walked over to the bike and got Gareth.