Sandman's Awakening: Twisted Iron MC

by Liberty Parker

  Shifter approaches. “Are we done here or?” he leaves his question hanging, waiting for one of us to respond.

  “Uh, Talia and I have some business to tend to in the ladies room if you wouldn’t mind standing guard?” I ask him, inviting myself along with Talia. Knowing that Shifter will have to comply if we ask him, I feel safer having him close by. Especially considering Talia’s past and my own.

  “So it’s like that, huh?” Harmony asks. “You get to be the one who goes to the restroom and have all the fun?”

  “What exactly are y’all planning on doing in the bathroom?” Shifter asks. “I’m supposed to be looking after you ladies and anything y’all do or any kind of trouble you get into falls back on my ass. So, if it’s something crazy, I need to run it by your old men first.”

  “You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Harmony blurts out. “You left us here wide open for all the crazies to just have their way with us if need be while you went and took a piss. But now you wanna call our old men because we wanna go to the restroom together? Yeah, don’t think I haven’t taken a mental note of that. And if you don’t want me telling my daddy about this incident, you’ll let these women go as they please. There’s an opening to the hall that adjoins the restaurant and restrooms. So, you can stand there and do your job simultaneously. How about that?”

  Like a scolded and frightened child, Shifter knows she’s right so he just nods his head before replying, “Yes, ma'am. You got it.”

  “Let’s go, Talia,” I take this opportunity to nudge her out of the booth. Shifter waits so he can walk behind us. Talia leads the way and I am hot on her heels.

  Turning her head over her shoulder she admits, “I gotta admit I’m a little nervous here.”

  As she says this, I try to keep my focus on her, but something catches my eye as it appears to cross from one end of the hall to the other where the women’s restroom is. Now I’m convinced I’m going mental. Maybe I wasn’t fully ready for this public outing. Having heard what Talia said, I try to forget what I think I just saw and reply to her, “I can only imagine. Just remember what I said in the vehicle earlier. Whatever’s meant to be, will be.” I notice her head bob up and down as she silently agrees with me.

  As we push the door open, Shifter declares, “I’ll just be right out here.”

  We both pause and simultaneously turn our heads, giving him a look that he’s speaking the obvious. Or at least he better be.

  “I don’t want anyone else in here with us while I do this,” she admits.

  So, I peek under every stall, looking for any sign of another body being in here. “Nope, all clear,” I advise her as I notice no other set of feet or shoes. I can feel myself exhale in relief knowing that my mind was in fact playing tricks on me.

  Swiftly, she takes each test out of the box. They’re each individually wrapped. Once we have the instructions read, I think, and hope we’ve got this figured out. “How am I supposed to pee on two sticks at once?”

  “That is a damn good question.” I shrug my shoulders as I contemplate this in my mind. “Hold on,” I tell her. Peeking my head out the door, I order Shifter to go grab us a to-go cup from one of the waitresses. It only takes him a moment before he’s back knocking on the door. Opening it, I take the styrofoam cup from him before slamming the door shut in his face. Turning to Talia, I hand her the cup. “Just pee into this. It says on the instructions to place under your urine stream for ten seconds. So, I’m sure if we just dip the tip of the stick in your pee for the same amount of time it will be the same, right?”

  A puzzled look crosses her face before she shrugs her shoulders. “I would think so.”

  I gently pat her arm for some encouragement. “Now, go get ‘em, slugger.” Slugger? Did I really just call her that as if this is some athletic game we’re playing here? She gives me a befuddled look before my palm scrubs my face. “I know, I heard it out loud after I’d already said it. I’m just anxious and ready to get this over with I guess,” I admit.

  “You’re anxious? Feel free to trade places with me by all means,” she remarks, extending the cup in my direction.

  Pushing her hand and the cup back toward her I reply, “No thanks. Just go and pee in the cup already. I know the other women are impatiently awaiting outside.”

  “That’s exactly what I thought.” She turns on her heel and closes the door to the stall she’s entered.

  Feels like it’s taking forever as I nervously pace the floor, stopping every once in a while as I peek at myself in the mirror. Good grief I think to myself as I notice the wreckage otherwise known as my windblown hair. Opening my mouth, I smile wide into the mirror to check for any food particles in my teeth when Talia comes blazing through the stall door, cup in hand.

  “What in the world are you doing?” she inquires as she makes a poor attempt at holding her smirk back as she sets the cup down on the sink.

  “Checking for food in my teeth as a means to pass the decade-long pee you were taking,” I reply casually, as I place a hand upon my hip. “Now, it’s showtime.”

  As Talia tears each test from their packaging, she looks at me and speaks in between. “Seriously, Aria. This is not a main event. Your treating it as such is causing me to be more nervous to even do this.”

  “Okay, okay, once again, I apologize.” Picking up the instructions to the blue-colored test, I read through the instructions again. “So that one,” I say as I point to it, “just remove the cap from the end and stick it down in the pee. Hold it in there for ten seconds.” Picking up the instructions to the pink-colored test, I read and am reminded that it’s the same thing for this test. “Yeah, so that other test requires the same thing. Want me to hold one while you hold the other? We can count together?”

  Talia’s eyes grow wide and I remember from my past pregnancy scare exactly how the moment of truth feels; and it’s scary. “Sure you really wanna play in my pee like this?”

  I grab the pink test and yank off the cap at the end. Talia has the blue one. “You really gonna keep stalling, because here I go?” I warn her just as I go for it. Quickly she follows suit and we begin to count.

  Once the ten seconds is up, we both remove the tests, placing the caps back on the end and setting them down flat. “Now we wait for...what was it? Five-minutes?” she asks me.

  “It’s what it says. But it also says results can be viewed much sooner, but to discard after a maximum of ten minutes. You’re looking for a plus sign as a positive on the blue one and I’m looking for two pink lines on this one,” I answer back.

  We both look down at the tests. “I don’t wanna just stare at these in anticipation.” She grabs the cup, dumps the contents into the toilet before flushing and heads back to the counter. Simultaneously, we both turn the faucets on and begin washing our hands.

  The door flies open and it’s Outlaw and Harlow. “Good grief what’s taking so long in here?” Outlaw questions almost demandingly as she peeks over at the counter to the tests with Harlow peeking over her shoulder.

  “There are two tests and I needed a cup. Plus, the tests say to wait at least five-minutes,” Talia fires back at her. “My pee, my tests and I would appreciate it if you all would give me just a little bit of breathing room.” She fans her arms out and we all scoot backwards. “Blue plus sign and two pink lines for positives, right? Isn’t that what you said, Aria?” she asks as her eyes zero in on the tests.

  “Yes,” I answer.

  “Oh, boy...or girl!” she snatches up both pregnancy tests and holds them up in our direction with a smile plastered on her face. “They are both indicating that I am pregnant!”

  We instantly crowd her and pull her into an embrace, showering her with love and congratulations.

  “Oh my God! How are you going to tell Edge?” Harlow intertwines her elbow with Talia’s as she and Outlaw basically pull her out of the bathroom chatting about ways to inform poor Edge of his upcoming fatherhood. Shaking my head, I once again look in the mirror, and I a
m enjoying the smile I witness on my face. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen what I’d call a true, and honest smile, grace me. My appearance is glowing, and I know that today’s day out was just what the doctor ordered. An eerie feeling comes over me out of nowhere causing a shudder to trail down my body. Deciding enough is enough, I square my shoulders and say to myself in the mirror, no one can hurt you anymore. You’re strong, protected and loved. But that feeling just won’t subside.

  I hear the door open and close behind me. Thinking it’s one of the girls I say, “I was just coming out.” I go to turn around, but hear the lock engage on the door. My flight instincts kick into high gear and I begin looking for any means of escape.

  “Been looking to get you all to myself for years now. You disappeared for awhile. I almost thought you’d skipped town for good. But no, not Aria, she just can’t be a good little slut without Hawke nestled firmly between her thighs.” Oh fuck, I know that voice. The ghost of my past, the reason I became Hawke’s in the first place, the first man who tried, yet failed, to assault me. Hawke rescued me then, but I pray to whoever is listening to me now, that Sandman is the one who saves me this time around.

  “Bobby Kelson, w-what are you doing in the ladies room?” I attempt to change gears and shift this into a conversation instead of a confrontation. I’m not ready for a verbal or physical sparring match with a predator. I’ve come a long way, but I’m not at that level of security in myself. The self-defense lessons the guys have taught me suddenly vanish from my mind and my body freezes when the son-of-a-bitch leaps forward. My eyes close in fear and a hopelessness mentality takes hold, one that screams in my mind; if I can’t see him, this isn’t really happening. He grabs my arms and hauls my front to where it’s touching his. My body vibrates with the repulsiveness that runs through me at his handling and of my skin being touched by his. I try to get out of his tight grip, but my body and mind aren’t working cohesively as a team, and he tightens his steel-like arms around me.

  “Open your eyes, bitch,” he snarls, and my body shivers as I feel the spit leave his mouth and land on my face with his every word. “Today is a day I’ve been looking forward to for over a decade now. One I have been praying almost nightly to come true, for a very, very long time now. I’ve been fantasizing of the day that I could pay you, and that man of yours, back for destroying my life!”

  “You did that all on your own,” I sputter out through fear-laced teeth. “Isn’t it time to move on now, Bobby?” My mind is spinning with thoughts and ways that I could save myself from this situation. Where the fuck is Shifter? Why can’t I remember everything I was taught? I stomp my foot in frustration and must land it perfectly on his foot because he howls when I make contact. My arms slide up between us and his grip loosens. Once he goes to grab his foot, my knee comes up and makes contact with his jewels.

  “You fucking cunt! I’m going to make you wish you’d never been born. I’m going to rip that pussy wide open so your man can never fuck you again; then, and only then, will I give you enough relief and begin draining the life from your body.” His wicked words do the opposite of what he had hoped for. My mind may not remember it’s teachings, but my body does and everything comes together. My foot comes up as he lifts his head from his bent over form and syncs perfectly, making contact with his nose. Blood spurts out of his nostrils like a water fountain, and is spraying all over the floor and countertops. He forgets about me and rushes over to the sink, grabs a paper towel and attempts to stem the flow as the copious amounts of blood also interfere with his vision. Being as inconspicuous as I can by curling in on myself, I sneak my way over to the locked bathroom door. Bobby is staring at himself in the mirror, talking to himself like a lunatic, cursing me up one side and down the other. My hands are shaking as I reach out to unlock the slab of wood that separates me from my freedom. As I slowly click it the other way, I feel the lock give and edge the door open. I only make enough room for me to slide through, as soon as my body is on the other side, I run as hard as my short legs will allow me.

  Not paying attention to my surroundings I run face first into what feels like a steel wall. “Woah. Aria, are you okay?” Shifter asks me as he grabs my shoulders with his oversized hands. “Aria, talk to me.” The worry on his face, and the tone of his voice, breaks me from my frozen-like state.

  “B-bathroom,” I’m finally able to wheeze out after he shakes me a few times. “Bobby, he’s in there. Tried to, he tried to hurt me.” The tears finally break free from my watery eyes. He pushes me behind him, draws his gun and hauls ass to the women's restroom. Gasps and a few screams can be heard from the patrons at the diner.

  Arms band around me and I jump. “It’s okay, everything’s going to be alright, now,” Talia whispers comfortingly in my ear.

  “Dar’s Diner, now!” I hear Outlaw shout into her phone before she ends the call, also drawing her weapon but keeping it low and to her side. “Harlow, take them and go crouch down in front of the nearest booth to the exit. We have no idea the gravity of the threat here. The men will be here shortly. We just need to stay calm and safe until they get here.”

  5

  Sandman

  There are tread marks indented on the floors in the clubhouse as well as the asphalt parking lot outside from all of the pacing I’ve been doing. I’ve burned through a pack and a half of cigarettes with the jitters that I’ve been experiencing since Aria walked out the door.

  Out of the blue, my brothers come storming through the doors. “Let’s roll, let’s roll, let’s roll,” Rogue orders as he gives the universal sign for us to leave promptly.

  Each beat of my heart feels more intense and heavier than the last and my breathing increases. Adrenaline begins to speed up as it slithers through my veins. “What? What the fuck is going on?” I ask, hoping to gain some clarity before my mind gets the best of me and I do something irrational and break form.

  “There’s a threat to the women at Dar’s Diner,” Merc tosses out as he mounts his bike.

  Without hesitation, I do the same and as we begin to ride off, I glance back to see Fox staying behind with baby Mel.

  I knew what I was feeling in my gut was right. Never should’ve agreed to let her venture into the outside world too soon. So help me God if one fucking hair on her head is out of place I will burn this town to the ground until someone has paid.

  It takes us less than five minutes to get to the local diner. I skid into the parking lot and slam on my brakes. Not paying attention to any of my brothers, I jog up to the door and slam it open. Making my way inside, I scan my surroundings and find the women all huddled together in a corner booth and Outlaw standing guard with her gun drawn and by her side. “In the bathroom!” she hollers, her finger pointing us in the direction of the hallway. I take a minute and scan Aria’s body from head to toe and my shoulders lose some of the tension when I notice she’s physically unharmed. Her face has track marks leading down her cheeks where tears have dried. My fear for her leaves and anger wraps itself around me. My body begins shaking as the adrenaline reignites making its way through my veins. When I do another sweep of her, the blood on her clothing stops my eyes from traveling any further up. The fact that I missed it the first go around makes me livid with myself for not paying better attention to the details. All I was searching for was if she was able to sit upright and if there was any outward signs of trauma. My eyes widen in surprise and then they narrow in concern. As I begin to make my way over to her, Harlow holds up her hand and stops me dead in my tracks with her words.

  “The blood. It’s not hers,” Harlow interjects.

  “She’s right, it’s not mine.” Aria raises her head and I see the truth in her expressive eyes. “I’m fine, Sandman. I promise.” Her using my road name makes me wince in apprehension; thinking about how brash I was with her just this morning makes my stomach drop. I was an asshole, knew I was being one, but had no idea how her not using Hawke would affect me. I send her what I think is a small smile of s
upport, but most likely comes across as a mean look. I’m not exactly feeling happy-go-lucky about right now. She smiles back reminding me of how well she knows me and my lack of emotions. I turn back and put myself back on the course I was previously on before checking on Aria.

  My feet pound as I stomp my way down the path indicated to me. My mind is in a whirlwind of activity as my overactive imagination begins coming up with ways to avenge my old lady and whoever it was who dared to cause tears to form in her eyes. My vengeance won’t be swift as I skin the motherfucker alive. Aria’s been through more than any one person should suffer and I vowed when she came back to me that I wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her in any way.

  When we all breach the doorway, we see Shifter there spinning around taking in the destruction and blood shed all around him. “Brothers,” he stutters out. When his vision stops on me, he pales and then begins opening and closing his mouth without any words leaving him.

  “You and I,” I say, pointing from him to me, “we’re gonna have a long motherfucking talk later.” He hangs his head in shame and I watch as he shakes it side to side.

  Not being one to tiptoe around anything I ask the question everyone is wondering around me. “What the fuck happened? I want an answer and I want it right the fuck now.” Once again I turn my attention toward the prospect.

  “I was escorting the other ladies from the restroom, I thought she was following behind,” he begins to defend himself.

  “You thought,” I whisper; the tone comes out deadly even to my own ears.

  “Patience, Sandman. Let’s get all of the facts gathered before you go off on a tangent.” Rogue places his hand on my shoulder and gives it a firm squeeze, letting me know it’s more of an order than a suggestion. “Where’d the fucker go? Was there only one? Answers, I need answers now,” he demands from Shifter.