by Nikki Pink
Goddamn it feels good to be part of this.
CHAPTER FIVE
6:30pm
He'd left his motorcycle at home today. This was a truck day. And most importantly it was a truck that had no connection to him whatsoever.
Before he made his move he checked in the mirror to make sure he looked perfect. He didn't want a hair out of place for tonight's work.
The sawed-off shotgun was loaded and ready for action. He pulled on dark sunglasses before he exited the van and headed down the street. Although the sun was beginning to set it wasn't yet difficult to see, even with the glasses.
He spied his targets from across the street. The neighborhood was quiet, and there were no cops in sight. This was the riskiest part of his plan, but it was imperative it be done this way. It should only take 45 seconds, maybe a minute maximum. Little chance of the cops rolling by in that time frame.
There they were. The two young Hispanic men were always on the corner at that time. Like clockwork. A car drove by, slowed down, a deal was made, and then they were alone again. Perfect.
He walked by an ATM and crossed the now deserted road. Innocent people, civilians, didn't spend much time in this part of town. Almost everyone here was doing something or part of something, or related to someone who was.
The two men were having a heated discussion in Spanish as he approached and didn't even notice him until it was too late.
As far as the Mexicans were concerned they weren't at war at the moment. It was a brief time of peace and their guard was down. This was their territory and it had been for years. No one else even wanted it; it was their people's land. A black gang, or anyone else, wouldn't even want it.
He walked towards them confidently, not running or walking. His steps were quiet but this came naturally to him. He wasn't a small man, but he was a quiet one. When he was just a few yards away he reached under his leather jacket and pulled out the firearm. Neither of them even saw the gun until it was too late.
One minute they were talking, the next minute one of them had a newly formed red cavern in his chest as the other was deafened by the roar and splattered with blood. The first man didn't make a sound as he dropped to the ground, his body already lifeless.
The second blood-spattered Mexican futilely reached behind him to pull out the handgun he had secreted in the back of his jeans. Before his hand had even clasped the grip of the gun it was already too late. The shotgun spoke again and the second man dropped to the floor on top of his dead friend.
Breathing fast now the man pointed the shotgun down at the two bodies, and pumped and fired three more times, ruining any chance of an open casket at their funerals.
Panting with the exhilaration of the kills he slipped the the now warm firearm back under his jacket. Blood roared through his veins and he took a deep breath, heady with his success. He felt great, he felt alive.
He turned around and walked up the sidewalk before crossing again to get back to the truck.
As he walked away the security camera in the ATM continued to silently record the two bodies on the street in front of it. They'd captured everything.
CHAPTER SIX
7:30pm - Nicole
By the time we arrived it was dark and I was shivering hard, my legs and bare skin covered in goose bumps. We must have been riding nearly an hour. I had been pressed up against Jase for warmth, using his body to block the wind, but it wasn't enough. I'd know to bring something warmer to wear next time.
Two younger guys in leather jackets rolled back the entrance gate as we turned up. There was a sign up reading "S.O.M.E. Security", and then another saying "S.O.M.E. Debt collection"
We gently rolled up to a well-lit one story building. Loud rock music poured out from inside, mingling with yells and laughs and the occasional shriek and moan.
Here we go. I jumped off the bike next to Jase who wrapped an arm around me. "You're freezing!"
"I'm okay," I lied.
"Let's get you inside and all warmed up." That sounded like a fine plan to me. Before we headed indoors Jase removed his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, on my smaller frame it enveloped me and the bottom of the jacket hung lower even than my shorts. If I did the zipper up, it'd look like I was naked except for the jacket. I giggled to myself. Jase raised an eyebrow at me, but then shook his head and grinned as if he knew what I was thinking.
When the jacket covered me I was engulfed in a heady scent I'll never forget. The smell of man and leather. Sexy man and leather. I felt like I was already drunk as we headed inside with his arm wrapped around me.
I gulped as Jase pushed open the door and I got my first glimpse of the home of the life changing world of the outlaw motorcycle gang. I'd only known the tattooed man with his arm wrapped around me for a few hours, but I already felt like I belonged to him. We'd been through so much in such a short time it seemed.
A handsome looking man with an English accent approached us, "I was worrying about you Jase." Cute.
Jase laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "It'll take more than a couple of methaholics to bring me down Lonnie."
"Oh I didn't mean that, I meant her," he said nodding his head at me.
What does that mean?
"Very funny." Jase turned away from his friend back to me. "C'mon lets get something to warm you up." Jase pushed me towards the other side of the dimly-lit room to where a bar appeared to have been set up.
As we walked across I surveyed my surroundings. There were tables and chairs scattered about and a few booths along the walls. Towards my right was a pool table. Presumably the pool table on which Lucy had been playing with a different kind of balls to what were currently being cannoned around the table by two long-haired and leather-jacketed men.
My eyes widened slightly when I saw what appeared to be two girls around my age passionately kissing while two guys cheered them on. Of course I'd seen girls doing similar things to impress the boys at frat parties, in fact Lucy had even made me do it with her once much to my embarrassment, but it seemed strangely much more erotic in this den of bikers. It seemed more real. These were people with real jobs and lives doing real things, not like the fake bubble of living that most students at Farmington College surrounded themselves in.
Jase saw me looking around. "It's usually a pretty fun time here on a Saturday night. Or a Friday. Or I guess any day really." I wasn't sure if Jase was proud or embarrassed. I got the impression that he didn't necessarily think it was all as fun as it looked.
"Yo BK!" Jase called to the pledge working behind the bar, "Do us a couple of hot toddies. The lady here is cold." I don't think I'd ever been called a lady; at least not since I was a little girl in trouble getting called young lady in a disapproving tone.
I smiled at Jase. "Sit down," he said. So I did. Yes sir. I climbed up on to a barstool and was pleased when he pushed another one closer to mine before sitting next to me.
"What's a hot toddy?" I guessed it was a drink but I didn't know exactly. I hope it doesn't have chili in it.
"It'll warm you up. A bit of whiskey, lemon, honey, ginger. That kinda stuff. Good if you're cold, great if you have a cold. Good for getting kids to sleep too."
I laughed. "No chili?"
He grinned. "Want me to put some tabasco in it?"
I smacked him on the arm with a smile, again noticing how hard it was. "Don't you dare."
I wanted to ask him about the club, but didn't want to step on any toes or ask things that an outsider like me didn't have any business asking. Fuck it, I don't know any better. I'll never learn if I don't ask. "So the club. What do you guys actually do?"
Jase raised a hand to his chin and tapped it before speaking. He's cute when he's thoughtful. If a guy like that can be described as cute. "A bit of this, a bit of that. We got a little security company – Sons of Mayhem Expert Security. And a bit of debt collecting. Some of us have regular jobs too."
"So what do you do?"
"I manage the security business. Cl
ubs, concerts, stuff like that."
"Shouldn't you be working now then?" It was a Saturday night, after all.
Jase laughed and took my hand in his. "I'm the boss. I manage when the others fuck up. That and I do the boring stuff during the week; talking to clients and shit."
Boss of a company? Vice President of a motorcycle club? Not bad. Not bad.
"But that's enough about my boring little life. I want to hear about you, Nicole." He gave my hand a squeeze and then let our hands drop to my thigh.
I raised my eyes in disbelief "Boring? If that'd boring then I must be an eighty year old grandmother, I'd hate to see exciting!"
He laughed. "Tell me about you. What's your major? When do you graduate? What do you want to do? C'mon, fill me in!"
I sighed. My life is boring. I want to know about you. "There's not much to say about me. Let's see, I'm majoring in Business Management and Communications, I'm twenty one years old, I'm--" My litany of boring facts was interrupted by a pleasant looking man in forties. Well, as pleasant as a leather jacketed man with tattoos across his hands can look.
"Jason, sorry to hear about the little bit of bother you got yourself in today. We should sue."
I watched on bemused as Jase rolled his eyes. "Yeah we'll get right on that Eag. What do you want?
"Sorry to drag you away from the young lady," What's with all the 'ladies'? "But you're wanted. Bigfella wants to see you. He's in his room."
Jase nodded. "Is he alone? I don't need to see that again..." What's 'that'?
Eag laughed. "Don't worry. Some young chick in a nurse costume just left. You better get in there quick though if you want your turn at him."
I grinned as Jase rolled his eyes at Eag. "Fuck off."
Jase pushed his barstool backwards and turned to me. "Sorry. It's about that thing earlier. I'll be back soon. Promise. Don't go anywhere, okay?" Before I could respond he pressed his warm lips against my cold ones for a second then turned away. I could get used to that.
I watched him as he walked away until he disappeared down a hallway off of the main room. The bartender drew my attention back in his direction by thumping down two steaming cups on the counter. Two cups, but he'd already gone.
I wrapped my hands around a hot mug and was relieved when Eag sat down to join me. I wasn't exactly ready to go and mingle with this crowd yet. If Jase was with me I would though.
Eag clinked his bottle of beer against my steaming mug.
"Eag. Nice to meet you."
"Nicole. Likewise."
"So how do you know Jase?"
"Oh, I met him through my roommate."
"Who's your roommate?"
"Lucy. Lucy Bennigan, I think she got initiated or something today."
"Lucy? I don't know any... oh! You mean Juicy, right?"
"Uh, I guess." What's with all these nicknames?
I took a sip of the drink savoring the burn of the alcohol and the sweetness of the honey. Not bad. "So umm, 'Eag', that's an unusual name."
He laughed. He placed his bottle down on the wood counter and held his hands out in front of me. What's he doing?
"Hold on." Eag stood up, and before I knew it he was standing behind me, his body pressed up against the back of my barstool. What the hell is he doing?
Ahhhh. I finally understood now that the letters on his hands were the right way around in front of me. Across the knuckles it read "L - E - G - A - L" on his left hand and "E - A - G - L - E" on the other hand. Legal Eagle.
I understood the writing, but I still didn't exactly get it. When Eag had sat down again I asked him, "So Eag is short for Eagle right. Why? Do you like the law or something?"
He frowned. "I don't like the law. I am the law."
I laughed. "What, like Judge Dredd?"
He frowned again. "I don't know what that is. No, I'm a lawyer."
"Was." As if from nowhere Lonnie had appeared again. "You were a lawyer."
Eag looked insulted. "Same difference."
"Well, not in the eyes of the law. Maybe that's why you're not a lawyer anymore."
"Yeah, well at least I'm not from England."
Lonnie laughed at him. "Ah that razor wit is a delight. If I ever leave the Land of the Free, then the one thing I'll miss is the wit of Eag."
I laughed at the pair of them. Lonnie's funny.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nicole 7:45pm
I sipped my hot toddie and felt the warmth begin to spread through my body. My goose bumps were gone and I was beginning to feel good.
While Lonnie and Eag traded insults I let their voices fade into the roar of the loud rock music, my attention drawn by something equally interesting. Behind the bar was a mirror, and in the reflection of the mirror I could see the front door. As I took a sip that was closer to a gulp I saw an unlikely looking spectacle which caused me to turn around and watch.
At the front door a rather out of place man entered. He was wearing round glasses which made him appear to be squinting, and he was wearing an expensive looking dress shirt and tie, and carrying a briefcase. What on earth is he doing here? Surrounded by rough looking men in leather he seemed very out of place.
Then I watched something strange unfold. Lonnie went over and greeted him, and they shook hands and hugged. I couldn't hear a word they said over the din of the loud rock music, but they clearly knew each other.
The bespectacled man placed his briefcase on a table and raised his hands to his face. The man removed his glasses, and then undid his necktie. As he began to undo the buttons of his shirt I noticed that he actually filled it out very well; although he'd looked kind of dorky when he first entered, he was actually quite well built underneath.
The man stripped off his shirt and my eyes bulged. The geek had been transformed. Underneath the dress shirt he was wearing a Harley Davidson wife-beater and I could now see the very visible tats completely covering his arms, giving him a full set of sleeves. Holy shit. Appearances can be deceptive.
"That's the doctor." Eag hadn't said a word while I'd been staring. Apparently he'd been watching me watching the man.
"He's actually a doctor?" I asked, surprised and somewhat impressed. When I'd first scene him enter I would have believed it in an instant. But after seeing him turn himself into a full on biker-bad-boy the idea almost seemed preposterous.
"Yep. A real doctor and a real Son."
"No shit?"
"No shit. He's also the other VP."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "I thought Jase is VP?"
He looked at me like I was an idiot. How the hell am I supposed to know this stuff? "Well he is. And so is the doc."
I watched as The Doctor made his way over to us.
"Good evening Eag," he looked at me seemingly confused, "you." You?
"It's Nicole," I said
"Uh-huh." He didn't seem interested in the slightest. Well fuck you buddy. The Doctor sat on the barstool on the other side of Eag and as they turned to face each other I was once again left alone.
I finished my hot toddie and then reached for Jase's. I'd just taken my first sip of my second drink when a welcome face appeared. I was beginning to get bored, but Jase made sure that didn't happen.
CHAPTER EIGHT
8:30pm Nicole
I felt a thrill run through me as we left the raucous din of the main clubroom and headed down a hallway. Where's he going to take me? My hand felt small inside his. Small, but it fit perfectly.
He was giving me a tour, but I think we both knew that's not all he, we, had in mind. Will we get more than a few minutes alone?
"There's a kitchen there. If you want something I'll get a pledge to cook something up for you. Then down here are the rooms."
"The rooms?" What rooms? Is he going to take me into a room? My mind began to wander as I thought about what he might do to me, and what I might do to him.
"Yeah, sometimes the guys stay here. This one here, that's Bigfella's. This one is Brodie's. Then the next one is Bottle's. The ot
hers are for whoever."
I frowned. "You don't get one?"
"Nope," he grinned at me. He's hiding something! "I got the penthouse, baby."
I laughed. "The penthouse? Uh-huh. Sure."
He laughed again. "Seriously. Okay, it's not a fancy penthouse or anything, but it's still the penthouse. I mean, it's what we call it."
I was intrigued. What did he mean? I continued to follow him as we passed the doorways and reached the end of the hallway. Jase opened a doorway that led outside to what I figured was the back of the clubhouse.
The cool desert air filled my lungs and I breathed deeply. It was refreshing to be outside again after the mayhem of the clubhouse interior.
I followed Jase around a corner to a metal spiral staircase. "Come on." He continued to hold my hand behind him as he led me up the winding stairs to the roof of the Sons of Mayhem headquarters.
When we got to the top he stopped. "Look." He waved his hands up towards the sky.
I looked up and gasped. It was beautiful. The music from inside was faint and now the night time sounds of the living desert were dominant. Up above the sky was blanketed with stars. It was a perfectly clear night.
"Come on." I was disappointed to look down, and then saw where Jase was leading me. Ahead of us, in the middle of the roof, was a trailer. Penthouse. Haha. Whoever heard of a trailer penthouse?
Jase grinned, he seemed proud of it. "I told you it's not much. But it's mine. And it keeps me away from the ruckus downstairs. Wanta see?"
"Sure." What's he going to show me?
***
We stood facing each other inside his small trailer, his jacket still wrapped around my shoulders. My head spun, just a little, but I wasn't sure if it was from the drinks or from the man in front of me.
I thought back to a week before, when I'd finally decided I'd had enough of my boring life, and wanted something more exciting. Well holy shit, I guess my life certainly did get more exciting. And where the hell is Lucy?
