by Jayne Blue
He was driving me home one early morning when I ventured some conversation that was really more a dig for information.
“Bunchie, Devil’s Hawks, don’t you think the police will catch you guys? I mean, it’s a lot of well, bad stuff you do. Dangerous stuff.”
“Where you hear this?” Bunchie shifted in his seat. I saw him swallow hard.
“I’m at the club all the time, I’d have to be deaf not to.”
“Listen, Danny, it’s better if you’re deaf and dumb, you get me?” Bunchie looked from the road to me, and for a second, I was sure his eyes held a warning.
I didn’t say anything else. Or question him further about what I’d heard.
When Rex and I were together, I didn’t ask the questions I’d asked Bunchie. I looked the other way.
The final thing was personal, and when you put it on top of the other things I was worried about with Rex Lynch, it was enough to help me make up my mind.
“Bunchie’s coming for you after your shift.” That was the text I got from Rex while I was at the restaurant.
I had planned to visit my granddad in the home. I used to go three times a week, but since my whirlwind relationship with Rex, I’d gone less frequently. My granddad didn’t recognize me half the time, and I justified my absence by telling myself that he thought the brunette aid was me and vice versa. But my conscious was getting to me. I knew sending half my tips to his old folks home wasn’t the same as being there.
I texted Rex back and told him I wasn’t available right then.
Sitting in the club, waiting was getting less romantic, especially now that I suspected the club was dangerous, illegal, and these bikers weren’t posers. They were outlaws. I didn’t want to sit in that booth and wait for hours.
I visited my granddad. And that time, he did recognize me. We watched Family Feud, his favorite show, and then even played some cards in the community room.
“Your granddaughter is a beauty, Bernie!” one of his friends said.
“She sure is, and on the inside too.” It was the best evening I’d spent in weeks, and I realized my time with Rex was going to have to be over.
This life with family, such as it was, was better than whatever was happening with Rex. The sex, the power, the thrill? It was fading fast as a reason to stay with someone I didn’t love. And there it was. I didn’t love Rex, and I liked him less every day. The idea that Rex was going to take care of me, the gifts, the obsessive attention when we were together – it was time to end whatever we were doing.
It wasn’t even a tough decision. And I didn’t think Rex would be all that busted up either. He had the other women in his phone. He didn’t love me. We weren’t married.
I made a colossal mistake when it came to who Rex Lynch was.
I walked out of the Gray Acres Assisted Living after my visit with my granddad. I was headed to my car. I whipped my head around at the sound of a bike, a sound I’d gotten used to.
“Rex!” He’d put his bike between me and my car.
“Get on.”
“I have my car here, I can drive.”
“I said get on.” He wasn’t asking. His voice had an undercurrent of rage that I hadn’t heard before.
I did as he said.
We drove to his place. He lived behind the club. He yanked me off the bike and dragged me inside. For the first time, I was scared. He wasn’t treating me like something that could easily break. He was treating me like he was the one who wanted to break me.
“I said Bunchie was getting you.”
“I had to visit my granddad, I’m all he’s got. And you usually don’t have time to be with me until later anyway.” I tried to stay calm, but anger was mixed in with the fear. I didn’t deserve his rage or mistrust.
“I need you where I can see you, where I can touch you when I want.”
“What? That’s crazy. You have your meetings, you don’t even give me two words until after midnight.” I fired back at him. It was even more proof that it was time to move on. I’d never fought back against his strange schedule or controlling ways.
“You’re being a bitch!” Rex picked up a chair and threw it at the wall.
“Calm down! It’s not a big deal.” I backed up, but there was nowhere to go.
“I’ll fucking marry you, and then you’ll be there. You’ll be quitting that job at the restaurant, and there’d be no fucking reason you’d have to be anywhere but where I say.”
“Marry me? We’re not at that point, I mean.” But my voice was soft, weak, unsure. Fear made it so. Rex grabbed me by the shoulders. He kissed me, hard. His rage turned into something else. I kissed him back, and the attraction that had pulled me to him returned. But it was the last gasp of a dying flame. We made love, and, if I was unsure before if there was even a moment of doubt, it was gone after he rolled off me. I didn’t want this anymore. I didn’t want him anymore.
Rex was sleeping peacefully, but I was not. My emotions were swirling in my body, my stomach felt sick.
I didn’t talk to Rex. I didn’t ask about how marriage would work with him in this club, or with my job, or my granddad.
Rex’s arms were around me, like a steal beam the whole night. The passion he’d shared with me wasn’t right. It was suffocating. We’d started because he protected me, from Dirt, from my boss’s anger. Now I saw that protection was twisted into something strange with Rex Lynch. Love and possession were two sides of the same coin with him.
The things that at first seemed generous now seemed like ways to control me. And the temper I’d seen him deploy against some of the guys in the club was now dangerously directed toward me when I had disobeyed his orders. Rex nuzzled into my neck. He was sound asleep, content that he had me where he wanted me.
But his rage was my cue to get the hell out, now. I wasn’t going to be on the other end of it again. I made up my mind as Rex held me tight throughout that long night.
Bunchie drove me back to my car the next day. I decided to test the waters on what I was thinking of doing. Maybe I could figure out the best way to break it off with a little insight from people close to Rex.
“Bunchie, anyone ever break up with Rex?”
“What, break up like it’s high school?” Bunchie laughed, so I pressed forward.
“I just wondered. He’s pretty possessive.” I looked out the window as we drove.
“Look, I like you, Danny. You’re sweet to me. And you’re good for Rex. You calm him down. Just don’t push it, okay?”
“What do you mean push it?”
Bunchie was quiet. He didn’t respond to my question at first.
“I’ll put it this way. No. No one has ever broken up with Rex.” Bunchie looked at me with a face that was as serious as I’d ever seen.
I nodded. It was a warning. He was trying to warn me.
“And, it ain’t going to be me anymore, picking you up.”
“Why?”
“Rex is putting Dirt on it for a while.”
“Dirt?”
Dirt was mean, rough, and scared the shit out of me. While Bunchie was a big lug, a teddy bear in leather clothing, Dirt was a hard little cockroach. I felt nothing but hate coming from Dirt when he looked at me, heck, when he looked at everything.
And now, Dirt would be driving me to and from Rex Lynch, instead of Bunchie. I hated everything about that idea. And I knew exactly where it had come from. Bunchie had become too close to me, almost a friend. Rex didn’t want me to have allies, only him.
I realized I wasn’t going to be breaking up with the Prez of the Devil’s Hawks.
I was going to be running away.
Five
HAMMER
We were meeting in the middle of the state, just outside of Lansing.
Sawyer, Steel, and I sat at a greasy diner table. Flakes of an egg and salt remained after the last diner. None of us were interested in the food.
Across from us were two Devil’s Hawks. Our fucking enemies, any way you sliced it. We’d c
ome from an hour west; they’d come from an hour east. And here we were, in the middle.
It was as a compromise. A mother fucking compromise with the Hawks. I hated it already and didn’t know any more about why I was stuck at a table with these sons of bitches.
Sawyer was doing the talking. I stared at their Prez, Rex Lynch, and two of his lieutenants. One patch read Dirt, the other said Bunchie.
“Looks like the Hellz Rebels boys have shitty aim,” Rex Lynch said as he nursed a cup of black coffee.
“My guys saw it coming,” Sawyer said. It was good to let the Hawks, and anyone else who wanted to try it, know that we’d stop a bullet, without question, for our Prez.
“Hellz Rebels are looking to expand territory any way they can,” Sawyer said. Rex Lynch didn’t respond.
“You all a little thin up there in Grand City, need The Hawks to help out? The downside of going legit, everyone knows you’re pussies.”
Lynch’s two idiot henchman laughed. I clenched my fists under the table. Steel and I looked at each other. There was unconcealed fury in his face, and I was sure it was on mine as well. But Sawyer had made it clear before we walked into this place: we were to stay cool. We weren’t going to react to their bullshit, no matter how much they spread.
“Let’s get to it,” Sawyer cut to the chase. “You have a little problem, I heard, and you’re looking for some help to solve it.”
Lynch looked down at his coffee. He picked it up and took a sip as the steam floated up over his face. He was the one who wanted a favor, but he was acting like he had something on us. I knew he didn’t have shit.
I take that back. The Hawks did have one thing we needed, and that was numbers. That was what Sawyer was after.
“We need you to find this girl.”
Lynch looked at the Hawk with the patch that read Bunchie. He slid a picture across the table. Sawyer took it and looked at it.
“Who is she?”
“Her name’s Daniella Moore,” Lynch replied.
“What do you need her for?” Sawyer asked, and he slid the picture to Steel. I kept my eyes on Lynch. I didn’t trust him for a second. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled out a gun and tried to shoot all three of use. Devil’s Hawks were scum. I was still pissed at Sawyer for taking this meeting.
“None of your business. She’s ours, we need her back,” Lynch said.
Steel passed the picture over to me. I didn’t look at it. I wasn’t going to be drawn into this shit. I was here to keep Sawyer safe, that was it.
“I’m going to need a little more than that. We just stopped a ring of human trafficking scumbags in our neck of the woods. So, you see, if you’re into that vile bit of business our meeting’s over,” Sawyer said.
“Aren’t you just saints? No, this little lady is in danger, not by me or The Hawks. We’re just working to get her back under our wing because she can make our drug supplier and some of our operational details. Our enemies would love that information. So she needs to be safe with us, and not free range. Don’t worry, boy scouts.”
Sawyer took in the information. I didn’t care why he was lying, but I would bet on the fact that everything Lynch said was crap.
“Okay, we’ll track her down for you,” Sawyer said. I had to stop myself from shaking my head no. But Sawyer was making this deal.
“Good, bring her back, and we’ll keep Hellz Rebels from pushing into the south, can’t make any guarantees from the west. You’ll have to handle your own shit there.”
Sawyer and Lynch stood up. They shook hands. Fuck, we were doing this shit.
“Report to Bunchie,” Lynch said to Sawyer like he was his flunky. I was going to punch him in the face. It was total disrespect. Sawyer just smiled. Lynch turned and walked away with Dirt.
Bunchie stood there a beat more.
“Here’s my cell,” Bunchie said to Sawyer and wrote a number down on the half-crumpled paper napkin, another remnant from a previous guest.
I took the garbage from Bunchie. They weren’t going to treat Sawyer like a damn probie, or like he worked for them. Not while I was there. He was the toughest Prez in Michigan and always handled our shit like a boss. Except for this little deal he was making, I never questioned a step he made.
Bunchie switched his focus from Sawyer to me. He was a Hawk, but I got a slightly less asshole vibe from the guy. I relaxed a millimeter. Bunchie was young, and softer than the other Hawks I’d seen.
“Danny’s only family is her granddad. He’s at Gray Acres, outside of Flat Rock,” Bunchie added.
“Thanks, we’ll be in touch,” Sawyer said. Bunchie turned and caught up with the rest of his crew.
The three of us made our way to our own rides after watching The Hawks ride toward the highway on-ramp.
“Are you really letting the GWMC run errands for The Hawks?” I had held it in as long as I could.
Sawyer turned and looked at me. His jaw was set, and he was controlling his temper, where mine was barely contained.
“We have got to shore up Grand City. We’ve made enemies of The Russians, and Hellz Rebels are coming for our territory. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the Hawks have big numbers.”
“But they’re the scum of the earth.”
“We’re not marrying them for fuck’s sake. You’re doing one job, giving one favor, so if I need them on the south side of Grand City, I’ve got ‘em.”
“I’m doing a job?” Up to this moment I was here only to guard Sawyer, same as Steel.
“Yeah, you. I can only spare one of us to do this. We need to be full strength in Grand City,” Sawyer said.
“Why me?” I didn’t want any part of working with The Hawks.
“You’re doing it for our M.C., for Grand City,” Sawyer said.
“I am not reporting to that asshole,” I said this though I was resigning myself to the situation, even as I resisted.
“Fine, Steel, you take Bunchie’s number. Hammer, you call Steel. He’ll update me and Bunchie.”
Sawyer got on his bike, and Steel handed me the picture.
“Sorry Brother, it’s a shit assignment.” Steel and I clasped hands, then he hugged me.
“I got it because I was bitching the most.” The one who protests the most gets the shit. It was so true.
“You’re doing it because you’re fucking smart, tough, and damned efficient,” Steel said.
“Yeah, so great that Sawyer doesn’t need me to help the club in town?” I was resentful that if something happened in Grand City, I’d be on a wild goose chase.
“You’re going because I trust you, and yeah, I am sick of your bitching.” I looked over at Sawyer. The corners of his mouth were turned up.
I walked over to his bike.
“Hawks are shitty partners,” I said to Sawyer, and now he clasped my hand.
“I know Brother, but we are running out of options. I don’t like sending out lone wolves and wouldn’t do it if it weren’t necessary. Make this as quick as you can and be careful. I put cash in your pack. Keep your head on a swivel.”
“Will do.” Some of my anger at the situation receded. Sawyer always had to think of the whole club. I was only thinking of his safety during this meeting.
“Where do I start looking for Danny Moore?”
“I’d say to granddad’s house you go,” Steel said.
“Flat Rock here I come.” I nodded goodbye to Steel and Sawyer and watched them head out.
Flat Rock was forty-five minutes south of Detroit, which meant I still had a little bit of a ride before I got there.
I looked down at the picture of Danny Moore. Daniella.
In the picture, a stunningly pretty girl stood outside a diner, not too different from the one we’d just met in. It looked like she was wearing a uniform; she must have been a waitress there. The logo on her t-shirt matched the sign above the place. Her cinnamon colored hair was pulled into a ponytail on the top of her head. The t-shirt didn’t reach the top of her jeans and exposed a lit
tle of her flat mid-drift. She was young, had a banging body. And then I noticed her eyes. They were green, and they looked straight through the lens of the camera.
People remembered eyes like that. Hopefully, I’d be able to get this job done, fast.
Then I could get back to Grand City and stand side-by-side with my brothers against whatever was coming our way.
Six
DANIELLA
I wasn’t proud of it, but I’d pawned the gifts that Rex had given me. In the few short weeks, we were together, I had the necklace, a bracelet, a pair of diamond earrings, and that fancy cell phone. I got rid of all of it right before I left town. I pawned it in town, turned right out of the pawn shop instead of left, and headed for the highway with cash in pocket.
Plus, when I was at the shop, I had a short blonde wig on, a baggy Lion’s sweatshirt, and fake glasses. I even tried to stand differently, kind of slouchy, so the pawn shop owner wouldn’t describe me accurately if Rex or Bunchie came looking.
I walked out of the pawn shop with five grand. At that moment, five grand could have been a million dollars. It also made me realize again that Rex Lynch had a lot of cash to spend. We had not been together nearly long enough to spend that kind of money on me. I felt a little guilty. Was this stealing? No, it wasn’t, I justified. He had given the gifts to me. They were mine.
But still, it felt crappy pawning them. I thought back to Rex’s rage at my not answering his call, at him smashing the chair against the wall, to Bunchie telling me that no woman ever left Rex Lynch. That made me feel a little better about running out of town. I wasn’t selling this to get rich or cash in. I was doing it to get out of Rex Lynch’s life and away from The Devil’s Hawks with as little a trail as possible.
I made one final stop on my way out of Flat Rock, and that was to Gray Acres. Granddad’s retirement was paying for most of his rent. I picked up the rest with my waitressing money. I would keep doing that. I wasn’t worried about that. I was a good waitress, I made a lot in tips. But I did worry he would miss me when he did remember me.
