She doesn’t look away from me but she doesn’t say a word.
Mark throws his arm around Rayna’s shoulders and he leads her into the bar.
“You might not tell me but she will tell him and he will tell me, either you tell me or he will,” I push on.
“You don’t need to know everything, John,” she sighs, “We’re both fine and I’ll pay Rayna for the window repairs.”
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me? I leave you this morning smilin’ and happy, and then you’ve been cryin’ and something’s obviously happened. Why won’t you tell me?” I urge, starting to lose my mind.
What could be so bad, she’d hide things from me. Things that have upset her enough for her to cry over.
“Because it’s nothing to do with you and it’s over, I’ve said I’ll pay for the repairs, just leave it,” she starts to shout, her tone taking me by surprise.
“You expect me to leave it?”
“Yes, if I wanted you to know, I’d tell you myself.”
“So this is how we’re gonna work, is it? A need to know basis?”
Her anger breaks slightly and she squeezes her eyes shut.
“No, but please, all you have to know it really is over and I’m fine.”
The urgency in her plea overwhelms me. I step closer to her and warp my arms around her.
“I really want to take you word it’s over but I have to know, I’m not feelin’ you cryin’ and I’m not likin’ you lying to me,” I tell her.
Kissing her quickly on the top of her head, I let her go and head for the bar. I don’t expect her to follow and when I look back, she is walking into the house.
Mark and Rayna aren’t anywhere to be seen, I walk to the backroom and it’s empty, last place they’ll be is his office.
Knocking softly, Mark calls out and I open the door to see them on the couch.
“Did she tell you what happened?” I ask him.
“She, is sitting right here, Oak,” she snipes.
“Sorry, tell me what happened.”
“I promised I wouldn’t tell you…”
“What are we? Fuckin’ twelve?” I cut her off.
“Hold up, brother, Ray drove her to her parents’ house in town so she could get some of her stuff.”
“She didn’t come back with anything,” I point out.
“That’s because her brother’s showed up and caused trouble, they’re the ones who smashed the window as they drove off.”
I slump into one of the chairs by the desk and blow out a heavy breath. I asked her if she had any family around here and she didn’t say anything about having brothers.
“How many brother’s does she have?”
“Two, they kept calling her a biker whore and tried to stop her from leaving. Her shit ended up on the front lawn and her drunk of a mother came out. It sounds messy but nothing we can’t deal with.”
“Are you going round there?” I ask him, surprised he would get involved.
“They disrespected my wife and smashed her car up, of course I’m going round there. It’s about time people in this town know we’re here to stay and if they don’t want trouble from us, they shouldn’t give us reason to. Obviously, Shellie is your old lady now, it’s for you to decide what you want to do.”
“I’m comin’ with you.”
I don’t need to think about it. Balling my hands into fists, I feel the strain of my skin and can’t wait to split them open on her brother’s heads. I won’t let no one make her cry again.
****
Mark decided we would wait for nightfall before riding into town and we’re backed up with fifteen brothers.
It’s more for intimidation than it is for our protection. According to Rayna through Mark, she has two brothers’ and her parents living in the house. All drunks and no good wasters.
My gut sinks when we ride onto their street and head for the address Rayna gave us. It’s the only house whose yard is overgrown and looks like it hasn’t been cared for in years.
Mark gets what he wanted when curtains start twitching to see what the hell is going on. Fifteen bikes pulling onto the street isn’t going to go unheard. Parking up side by side in front of the house, only Mark and I climb off our bikes.
Shoulder to shoulder we head up the front path and I notice a case and clothes thrown everywhere on the lawn.
Mark raises his fist to bang on the door but I swing it open and walk straight into the lounge to a full house.
“Who the fuck are you?” One of the brothers ask.
“Get out of my house, call the cops, Rob,” the woman, who I presume to be Shellie’s mother screeches, cutting her son off.
“Which one of you threw the rock that smashed my old lady’s car window?” Mark calmly but seriously asks, looking around the room.
The room falls quiet and we walk into the middle of them all sat around and stand and back to back, keeping our eyes all around us.
“Someone better answer me, because I’m ten seconds away from losing my shit and smashing everything you own, not that you’ve got much.”
He’s not wrong, the place is a dump. Her father rises out of his armchair and moves to stand behind it, putting distance between him and us.
“I wasn’t even here when she came home, I don’t know nothing,” he tells us, completely throwing his family under the shit.
What a great man he is, two bikers show up uninvited and instead of defending his home and trying to protect his family, he hides behind a chair and puts the blame on his sons.
“Just tell me who it was who caused the damage, I’ll collect payment and be on my way,” Mark repeats, producing his gun from his inside pocket.
Her mother shrieks in fear and her father nearly pisses his pants. Her brothers pale before us and slide up the couch towards where their father stands digging through his pockets.
“Empty your pockets, boys, give them all you have.”
Bills start falling to the floor as the they throw everything they have at us.
“Do I look like I pick shit up off the fucking floor?” Mark yells, “you, pick it all up and hand it to me.”
One of the brother’s scrambles off the couch and quickly picks the cash up, thrusting it into Mark’s hand. Satisfied he has enough to cover the cost of the repairs, he shoves it in his pocket and puts the gun away.
“My turn,” I smirk, facing off the two pricks, “stand up, side by side,” I order.
They’re hating this, I can see the urge to attack us as they do as I say, but they don’t because they know they wouldn’t stand a chance.
“I don’t know which one of you called your sister a biker whore, so I’m gonna…” Before I finish, I swing a right hook into one brother’s jaw and then a fast left into the second brother’s cheekbone. They both land back on the couch and don’t make a move to get back up.
“If any of you see her about town, act like you’ve never seen her before. You see her, you take your asses to other side of the street so you don’t even breathe the air around her. If I find out you’ve looked at her, spoken to her and especially if you’ve made her fuckin’ cry again, I will come back and so help me God, I will murder the lot of ya.”
It’s not a threat, it’s a promise and one I intend to keep.
“Okay, Okay, we get it,” her mother slurs, bored of our presence.
Glaring at her, the sight of her makes me feel sick. No wonder Shellie didn’t want me knowing about her family, I’d be ashamed as well if they were mine. I’m glad I know now, I’ve got her now and I’ll make sure she doesn’t need them again.
Back at the clubhouse, I hang back out of sight and watch her work. Always keeping herself busy and not letting anything keep her down, she is amazing.
Chapter Six
Oak
Nearly three days of Shellie’s mom and dad, their shit pit of a house and her brother’s voices calling her a whore have integrated themselves deep in my mind. When Michael called her a whore she defended herself
and threw his drink over him. When her brothers call her one, it breaks her. I can’t wrap my head around it.
I’ve laid eyes on her family one time and it is one time too many. I hate them, it explains why Shellie doubts herself all the time. I can’t begin to imagine what else her family have called her over the years. The house was a pig sty, I’m glad she didn’t bring any of her belongings to the club. Before I left for the run, I left her five hundred dollars to go shopping with Rayna and Flo. I told her in a note to get everything she needed and if she needed more, to let me know.
My legs are stiff and my back aches to Hell and back, all I want to do is crash as soon as I get to my room. It’s later than we thought when we return and all I can see as I try to keep my eyes open is the last memory I have of Shellie lying in my bed three mornings ago.
Music filters out from the bar and lights shine from all windows around the clubhouse as the sun long ago set and the stars offer no help.
Ray and Flo are sat on the steps of the main house and Flo jumps up and into Micky’s expecting arms when he runs up to her. Rayna always being more reserved than her best friend, stands and waits for her man to come to her.
My heart begins to pound when I don’t see Shellie around, Rayna and Flo aren’t acting like anything has happened, why wouldn’t she be out here with them?
“She’s up in your room,” Rayna murmurs, over Mark’s shoulder.
I don’t waste another second, I’m through the front door and taking the stairs two at a time to get to her.
Sitting on the bed, she knows I’m home and an uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach of her waiting for me away from everyone else.
The shopping bags in the corner of the room gives away she spent the money I left her and nothing can be that bad if she’s been shopping.
“Hey.”
It’s all I can come out with when she looks at me and her eyes are wide and questioning.
“Why did you leave me that money?”
“Why do I have to have a reason?” I retort.
“Please answer me, John.”
“Because you need clothes and shit, and it looks like you got them,” I say, pointing to the bags in the corner.
“I have clothes at home…” Her argument is weak to both our ears and she gives up.
“You know I went to your parent’s house, don’t you,” I say, sitting next to her on the bed.
“You shouldn’t have gone there, I never wanted you to know where I came from. I’m nothing like them.”
“I don’t care where you came from, all I care about is where you’re goin’, darlin’. Do you know, Mark and Michael’s parents are the only ones I know who really loved each other. My mom and dad couldn’t stand the sight of each other, my dad was a mean bastard and my mom was more interested in what the neighbours thought than she did what I thought. You’re not the only one who wants to hide where they came from. Don’t be embarrassed, not with me.”
“I guess we still have a lot to learn about each other,” she smiles, weakly.
“We have all the time we need for that, you’re with me now and all you need to know is I’ll look after you. You don’t need anyone but me, I made that clear to your family too. I told them if they ever came near you or made you cry again, I’d murder them.”
Her eyes dart to mine and she gasps.
“You didn’t,” she huffs.
“I fuckin’ did, and I meant it. Seein’ you upset the other day is not something I want to see again, darlin’ and I’d kill if I had to keep it from happenin’ again,” I vow to her.
“It shouldn’t feel good to hear you say those kind of things.”
“Yes it should, it’s only the truth.”
Closing the space between us, I lean down and meet her mouth with mine. Her lips feel like home.
“When we wake up in the morning, it will be me and you all the way. No families apart from the one we have with the club. Loyalty means more than blood around here and you’ll come to see that.”
“I was so angry with you for going behind my back but I missed you more.”
“Yeah, I missed you too, darlin’ and I hope you’re not plannin’ on leavin’ this room tonight cause I’m not lettin’ you go,” I say, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her back with me.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she grins, before pressing her lips on mine.
She breaks the kiss before I can get into it and sits back up.
“While we’re being open, I want to say two things.”
“Go ahead,” I say in the midst of a yawn.
“First, thank you for the cash, I did need to get new clothes and bits but it was way too much and I put what I didn’t spend in your drawer,” she says, nodding once at the bedside table, “and secondly, I’m not going to worry what other people think. I’m glad I met you and I don’t care how fast this is going, being here with you seems right and I’m not going to ruin it by continuously doubting you or myself.”
“That’s real good to hear, darlin’, now come lay with me. I want to hold you and know I’m truly home.”
Chapter Seven
Shellie
The clubhouse is packed and tension is running high. Working behind the bar, I usually hear most guy’s conversations. Not tonight, everyone is keeping their voices down and talking fast. Throughout the day, it’s been getting worse. Guys have been showing up and disappearing into the back room.
John normally hangs out with me but he’s been in the back room all afternoon, only venturing out once for a bathroom break.
Even Rayna and Flo haven’t come in, they usually pop in and out constantly. The only woman hanging around is Kitty and I don’t like her. She’s always angry and dare you look at Michael, she’ll pounce on you and make it clear he is hers. She’s welcome to him.
I don’t think she likes me either, and I think it’s because I get on with Rayna and like everyone knowing about Michael being in love with Rayna, everyone knows Kitty would rather scratch her eyes out then make nice with Ray.
Personally, I’d rather be friends with Rayna than Kitty, so I stay away from her and try not to look at Michael. The less interaction I have with them two, the better.
Cheering and hollering erupts from the back room and what sounds like someone pounding on the table. The doors open and this time John walks out and heads straight for me.
“Hey, darlin’, can you get me a beer?” he asks, sliding onto the same stool he always sits on.
“Sure.”
I slide him a beer over and he leans over, taking my breath away before planting a quick kiss on me.
“I don’t know what I need more, this beer or your lips,” he grins, teasingly.
“If you need the beer more, then we have a problem,” I chuckle.
“Yeah, definitely your lips,” he winks, swigging the beer from the bottle, “we’re heading out soon, I, um, don’t know when I’ll be back so don’t wait up.”
“Okay, you don’t sound so sure you’re coming back at all,” I mention.
His face falls a sickly green before turning a cold sheet of white.
“You are coming back aren’t you?”
I’m beginning to panic; why would he react like that?
“Of course I am. I just don’t want you waitin’ up all night if that’s how long I’m gone.”
I don’t know how he expects me to sleep now, I probably won’t get no rest until he is back.
“Where are you going?”
It’s been two weeks since he declared I was his old lady and I haven’t asked him once what he was up to when he leaves. He’s always made it clear he will be back and most of the time, he tells me, but tonight feels different.
“I don’t want to tell you.”
He keeps his eyes on me and he’s hard to read. He gives nothing away.
“So that’s how we’re going to work?” I spit, throwing his own words back at him, “you get to keep things from me, but you go behind my back when
I do the same to you? Because if that’s the case, then I’m sure Ray or Flo, or even Kitty would tell me and I’m sure they know.”
Sliding off the stool, he comes behind the bar and holds my hands in his.
“I’ll tell you myself so you don’t freak out when I’m not around to deal with it, but don’t freak out because there is nothin’ to make a fuss of, okay?” he rambles on.
“Okay,” I agree, but I’m not sure if I’m actually agreeing or just agreeing to find out what’s going on.
“We’re riding to the Raging Riders clubhouse and we’re gonna attack them on their own ground, payback for Mark and Ray’s wedding night, payback for Benny.”
Okay, so I agreed for the sake of finding out what was going down. Inside, I’m starting to freak out.
The last time the two clubs were in one mile of each other, someone died. He has made such an impact on my life already, I can’t bring myself to think about losing him already.
“Say something, your face is startin’ to freak me out,” he murmurs, closing the space between us.
“I don’t know what to say,” I tell him, truthfully.
I know I can’t ask him not to go, he is a member of a motorcycle club and he is doing what he has to, but it’s on the tip of my tongue and I have to bite it hard to stop myself from saying what I really want to say to him.
“Tell me what you’re really thinkin’?” he begs.
Closing my eyes, I gather the strength to say the words. I asked for the truth and he gave it to me, he’s now asked and I owe him the same.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I have to, darlin’. If we do nothin’ they’ll come back and it could be you who gets hit, it could be any one of us anyway. We have to show them what happens when they come on our territory.”
I was expecting his answer, but it doesn’t mean it sucks any less to hear it.
“Then you should go and get ready,” I mutter, pulling away from him.
He pulls me back to him and lifts my chin, forcing me to look at him.