Fueled in Fire

by Ryan Michele

  “The night of my old man’s funeral. Did you see me kiss Sophia?”

  He nodded. “Yep. Did it right in front of the club.”

  “Was something off with me?” I asked, rubbing my hands over my face. This situation was bothering me more than I cared to admit, but it was there nagging in the back of my head.

  “Other than shocking the shit out of me considering Rhys was there. Thought maybe you had a death wish,” he replied.

  “Brother, I don’t remember that shit. Somethin’s not right.”

  Brewer sat up putting his elbows to his knees. “What are you thinkin’?”

  My head shook. “Not sure, but I’m gonna have Wrong Way look through the feeds of the club to see if anything was off.”

  “Let me know what I can do.” He leaned back. “Whatever it was, since she’s comin’ here, it’s good?”

  “It will be.”

  “Now who’s the one doing the counseling,” Brewer teased, and I shot him a glare that was anything but.

  “Enough of that shit. What’s goin’ on?”

  It was time to get down to business and get some of this shit off my plate.

  Brewer started in, “Damien is meetin’ us at the Warf at seven tomorrow night.” The Warf was a local bar that was a hole in the wall, but the people running it were our kind of people. Therefore, the location worked in our favor.

  “Sounds good. How’d he sound?”

  “What do ya mean?”

  I continued, “Jittery? Confident? Strung out?”

  “Just like any other asshole trying to take something that wasn’t his in the first place.” That I could accept.

  “You said you had info on The Pride,” I said, moving us along.

  Brewer sat up in his chair. “First, Simon is pissed as shit he was moved out of Sophia’s place.”

  “He givin’ her shit?”

  “Ethan had to physically remove him from the property. He’s going to be a problem that will need to take care of.”

  Placing my arms on my desk and leaning forward, I responded, “That would give me great pleasure to do.” It also made me feel good that even though Sophia was pissed at me, she knew I’d never put her or my boy in danger. She listened.

  “Figured as much.” He paused. “She hasn’t let him in, so whatever you said got through to her.” Confirmation. Liked that.

  “Good.”

  “Those two in the back of the pack, the sweaty and jittery.”

  “I remember them, Brewer.”

  “Right.” He reached in his cut and pulled out a stack of papers that he handed to me, and I started looking through. “We got the drop on them.”

  In my hand were pictures of the two assholes, addresses, phone numbers and their rap sheets, which didn’t give me much, but the kicker was one named Barry Alabaster. Dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a somewhat pudgy face. “You’re shittin’ me.”

  Brewer shook his head. “Nope. For a man who likes to beat women, he appears to be a pussy. And he changed his hair dark from the pictures found at his house.”

  “Men who beat women are pussies. He’s goin’ full off radar. Fucker.”

  “True. The problem is Barry is still invisible. No word on the money from the safe. The other guy, Rodney Burman, we haven’t had time to scope out.”

  “Scope it and then put Jimmy on it so we can get the fuckers.”

  Brewer nodded, but didn’t reach for his phone. “Ebony’s men say she’s due back by the end of the week.”

  “Hopefully we know what we’re dealin’ with before then.”

  “Right.” He lifted his phone. “I’ll get calls out.”

  “Guns?”

  “We’re meetin’ Wells not tomorrow but the next night. He’s got the cash, and we’ll do the swap. Any decision on Starling?”

  “No. It’s not changin’, so don’t ask me again.”

  He knocked on my desk once. “Right. I’ll get on this.”

  “Get the guys to make sure the load is taken care of.”

  “Already done.”

  “Good.”

  With a little time to spare, I took a drive by Jenny’s old house to see if she happened to be around. While it was true, I was done with her, there was hope she’d pull her head out of her ass and get clean for her kid.

  Unfortunately, it was a small hope, but it was there nonetheless. She wasn’t there. The house empty.

  Riding around Rebellion, I gave low waves to those I knew or chin lifts. This was my town. Mine to protect. Mine to look out for. Mine to take care of.

  Phoenix and Tex met up with me flanking my sides as we continued our ride through. Home. One that I was going to make damn sure Rylynn felt good in.

  On the outskirts of town, a small eatery lay that was the hidden gem of Rebellion. The Corner Square was a mom and pop shop, been here since before I was born. Food was fabulous. It reminded me I needed to bring Rylynn here.

  The door to the shop opened, and two men exited. The two men who were at the football game that called us a gang saying the Panthers sucked. I stuck out my hand getting my brothers attention as the two men began to walk into the parking lot.

  Sticking out my hand, my brothers followed me into the parking lot. We pulled up and parked, the two men oblivious to their surroundings. Another one of their many mistakes.

  We swung off our bikes, Phoenix and Tex coming up beside me. “Fuckers from the football game.”

  Phoenix maniacally grinned, while Tex cracked his knuckles.

  Blocking the men’s paths, they jolted.

  “What the…” the stubby one said then hit his friend stick’s arm. “Those are the …” Fear flashed in both of their eyes. Good.

  “See you remember us,” I said as Phoenix and Tex charged them, grabbing them around the neck and marching them behind The Corner Square. The assholes feet dragged, and hands needed to be clamped around their mouths to shut them up.

  Luckily, we were able to get them behind the building before they caught attention.

  “Seems you missed our message the first time,” I growled. “You’re not welcome in Rebellion.”

  At the same time, both Tex and Phoenix punched the asshole they held in the gut. They fell to the ground.

  I stepped up closer. “This will be a reminder and your only one.”

  The three of us descended on them, fists flying and legs kicking. Their cries were muffled with bone-crushing punches in the jaw.

  I let the frustration of my life pour out of me, releasing it on these two dicks.

  They moaned on the ground as we stepped back. “Stay the fuck out of Rebellion.” On a spit down at them, we walked away.

  You didn’t fuck with Rebellion or the Ravage MC.

  21

  Rylynn

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Austyn said, wrapping her arms around me tight. Yeah, I’d miss her like crazy. “Not only that, you’re going to live with my brother. How weird is that?”

  “It is strange I guess.”

  She pulled away. “I’m actually jealous you get to go there. I feel like I don’t even know him, and we have the same dad. Here you are going to him.”

  “Don’t be throwin’ that green-eyed monster my way.” I gave a smile trying to break her mood. It didn’t work. “You can come and see us, and I’ll be sure to bring him here.”

  “Promise,” Austyn demanded.

  “Promise.”

  She hugged me once again, and that was when the Ravage MC descended on me. Coming at me from different angles. Some happy for me. Others threatening to murder Crow if he hurt a hair on my toe. But all of them missing me before I had even left.

  This was family. My family.

  I couldn’t say I wasn’t nervous because part of me was. Starting an entirely new life wasn’t easy. New friends, clients, job, man, club—all of it wrapped up together as a monumental change. Hopefully a year from now it wouldn’t feel so tedious to climb. I would just be celebrating having made it to the to
p.

  Nox was one of the last ones to come up to me in the clubhouse. I loved Nox like a brother. He had my back during the in-between phase of my grandfather’s death. He even gave me closure letting me know his death was avenged. He’d been there for me in a way no one else had and fuck, I was gonna miss him.

  “Really packin’ up and leavin’ the good life?” he questioned, taking a pull on his beer.

  “Looks like it.”

  He turned fully to me getting in my space. Therefore, I had to look up at him. “You need any-fuckin-thing, I’m only a phone call away,” he said, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me deep into him. He let go and walked away.

  Yeah, that one hurt. So much so, I needed the bathroom so I wouldn’t break down.

  My Jeep was packed with the things I needed while other stuff was staying in a storage unit that Ravage owned. My apartment would be put up for rent once again and that was that. I was really putting one foot in front of the other and moving on with my life.

  Never thought that move would be away from one Ravage MC and into another. Same, but different. Life had a funny way of showing itself sometimes.

  But it was time to start anew. Crow and I had a hill to climb, but I had faith he’d show me there was nothing to worry about. It would take time, but like I told him, I was all in for the ride.

  The last three goodbyes were going to be the worst, and I avoided my parents and Mazie like the plague. Not wanting to do it, yet knowing I had to. It wasn’t a goodbye forever. Rather a see you later.

  They weren’t that far away, and I could make it here in a few hours if I was needed. The thing was, I’d never lived away from home. Away from my folks, at least like this. It was a huge step for me, and no doubt a huge step for them as well.

  They weren’t losing me, but it might feel that way to them. It was time though. Time to get them away from the crowd. It was one of the few times that I was fully nervous, but that was because this was going to hurt in a way that I'd leave marks deep inside. I hated it, but understood it at the same time.

  Walking into the kitchen area of the club, my mom was talking to Angel, GT’s ol’ lady. When I approached, Angel gave me a knowing smile, hugged me, and left us alone.

  “You’re really goin’?” my mom asked, but it really came out as a confirmation of fact.

  “Yeah.”

  She smiled. “I should’ve told ya he was no good and not to listen to your heart. That he was a dumbfuck who didn’t deserve to breathe your air.”

  A chuckle escaped. “Yeah, you probably should.”

  She pulled me into her arms and wrapped me up tight. “I’m so proud of you, Rylynn. The woman you’ve become. It’s damn admirable how you’ve built your business and did it all on your own. Know starting new in Rebellion you’ll take a hit with that but, baby girl, swear to you, I know you’ll make it work.”

  Her arms pushed me back as she stared into my eyes, hers glistening with tears. “You have always had a good head planted on your shoulders. Don’t ever lose that. Life is bumpy. So many twists and turns, but once you reach the other side, it’s a beauty you’ll never regret.”

  Tears spilled down my face. There was no use in even trying to hold them back, because it wasn’t happening. Loved my mom with everything inside of me. And I’d miss her like crazy.

  “What if this decision is fucked up? What if I learn it’s not where I want to be?”

  She smiled warmly. “Then you can always come back to Sumner. We aren’t goin’ anywhere, but don’t go into this as Sumner bein’ your way out. You only go into this if you feel in your heart and soul it’s the right move for you.”

  My throat caught, and I had to clear it. “It is. It’s the right move.”

  Mom squeezed my arms, giving me a broken smile. I felt her sadness of me leaving, but she was right.

  “Then you go and build your life, Rylynn.”

  “Love you.”

  Tears fell from her eyes matching my own as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Love you. Always and forever, my girl.”

  She held me for long moments, before pulling away. “You talk to your father yet?”

  “No. Figured I’d talk to Mazie first, then tackle Dad.”

  “He’s havin’ a hard time with this, Ry. You’re his baby, no matter the age.”

  This choked me up again. “Yeah.”

  Mom gave me a smile, then another hug. After wiping my face, I searched for my sister who was outside the clubhouse. Booker, Breaker and Shaina’s kid, was there looking down at Mazie and sneering. Lord only knew what those two were up to.

  The way she didn’t back down and the way he was confident even at thirteen-years-old. It was going to be a match made in hell. Those two always fought. Mazie was young and didn’t see it the way I did. Booker would move heaven and earth for her, and she had no clue. Hell, he probably had no clue.

  That was something I’d miss watching play out over the years.

  Putting my fingers between my lips, a high-pitched whistle caught my sister’s attention. Her head swung around, saw me, and she ran full on colliding with my legs. Her head came up to my stomach now, and she for sure would be as tall as me one day. We hugged for a bit, until she looked up at me and said, “You’re going now.”

  She was so damn smart. I hoped she got a handle on the brat side. She had so much to give the world, if she did what our father said and learned to control it.

  I grabbed her hand and led her out to the picnic table, hopping up on it, she followed. “Yeah, monkey.”

  Mazie started crying, and I wrapped her in my arms. “I’ll be back to visit a lot. Remember about the texting and video chats? We have that.”

  “Gonna miss you,” she said, laying her head on my chest as her body shook.

  “I’ll miss you too but, Mazie, this is just a change in location. I’m still here.” I tapped her chest.

  “Grandpa is there too.”

  This choked me up because in all of this, the ups and downs of what had happened, I hadn’t put those two things together. It made me feel like shit. “Yeah, always. But I’m not dead, Maz. I’m just livin’ somewhere else. Gotta know there’s a huge difference in that.”

  “It sucks.”

  I kissed the top of her head. “Yeah. It does.”

  “You don’t get to stop being my sister,” she added in.

  This made me smile. “Never.”

  We sat there until her tears subsided and only got up when a car came through the gates of the clubhouse. I knew instantly who it was and took off to it, Mazie on my heels. The passenger side door swung open, and my breath caught.

  “Grandma.” I moved to her as she gave me a small smile. She was doing better, but still a bit weak. Her strength just hadn’t returned to normal. The hang around from the other night got out of the car, asked if we needed help, and took off.

  I helped her out of the car and Mazie went to wrap her arms around her, but I grabbed her arm stopping her. Mazie could be a bit rough.

  “Let’s go over there,” Grandma, also known as Mearna, said, nodding at the lawn chairs over by the fire. She could walk but was fragile, and I hated that.

  After getting her set down, Mazie started chattering on, and Grandma let her get it all out. This took a long time, but when Mazie finally hopped off, Grandma’s full attention was on me.

  “Just because I’m not my full self doesn’t mean you get to leave Sumner without talkin’ to me, young lady.” I made to speak, but she held up her hand. “Talkin’ to me is not going to make me sicker.”

  That wasn’t entirely true since the doctors said that the stress of my grandpa’s death didn’t help with her recovery, and anything could make it veer in the wrong direction. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with her. I just didn’t want to hurt her more.

  “Sorry, Gram.”

  There were no excuses for avoiding her except stupidity. I didn’t need to lose both grandparents. Shit.

  “Now, your moth
er tells me you met a man and are movin’ to Alabama,” she started, then recited pretty much the entire story I’d given my mother the other day. No surprise there. They were tight.

  “Yeah. I’m goin’,” I answered as she reached over and grabbed my hand. It looked so frail compared to mine. Not the grandma I’d known for nineteen years. I hated that for her.

  “When I met your grandfather, he was it for me. Loved that man more than my next breath.” She shook her head, looking around the club. “One time and that was it for me. He was it for me.”

  “Know that, Gram.”

  She gave a sad smile. “I lied.”

  This shocked the shit out of me, and my body tensed. “What?”

  “Stupid. I was young and dumb, never knowing what I wanted to do with my life. Met this man in a biker bar and fell head over heels.” She looked my way. “But, Ry, I didn’t just leave because I didn’t want your momma to grow up here,” I said nothing, waiting. “Your grandpa was a ladies’ man. From the moment I met him, I knew this for fact considering he had three women pawing at him for his attention.”

  This didn’t surprise me one bit.

  “I’m not gettin’ where you lied, Gram.”

  She stared off into the distance. “At the time, I wasn’t strong enough to hack seeing the women all over him. It drove me mad, but I was a girl from a small town just tryin’ to make my way in life. When I ended up pregnant, I left. It wasn’t the MC lifestyle, but it was. It was my insecurities of not being enough for him. The women around him were beautiful, and here I was pregnant with his child. He wouldn’t want me for long. So I left.”

  My heart squeezed for her.

  “Gram, you’re beautiful. He said he loved you from the very beginning.”

  Her smile widened. “Yes, I know that now, but I didn’t know that then. I let my fears hold me back and missed out on so many years with that man.”

  “What are you tryin’ to tell me here?”

  Her legs twisted so her knees were now touching mine. Connected. “Life is a big puzzle.” This made me smile, her knowing my love for them. “Each action you take has a reaction somewhere down the line. For me, my action was leaving Dagger. The reaction was missing more than twenty years with him and causing my daughter to grow up without a father. It was a reaction that I brought on myself, yet killed me at the same time.” She paused, letting that hang before she continued.