by Nicole James
“There’s a very wild side of Holly you’ve never seen.”
“Hmph.”
“You know what happens when you lock that in a cage?”
“No one’s locking her in a cage.”
“Part of her will die. Do you want to be responsible for that?”
“Don’t be so dramatic; she’ll get over it.”
“Will she?”
“And here I thought you’d be thanking me for not sending you deep into Death Heads territory all alone.”
“Oh, I definitely appreciate that, make no mistake.”
“So, what’s your problem?”
“She’s gonna be disappointed and pissed off about not going with her friends, and I’m the one that’s gonna bear the brunt of it.”
Undertaker grinned. “I see your point.”
“But you ain’t gonna do anything about it, are you?”
“What the fuck you want me to do?”
“Find someone else to take my place.”
Undertaker chuckled. “Sorry. You’re shit outta luck. Besides, I think she’s growin’ on you.”
“Right.”
“Get out of here. I’m busy.”
Joker went downstairs and found Holly standing by his bike. “You okay?”
“Thanks for all your help in there.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I warned you this wasn’t gonna fly with him.”
“Whatever. Can we go?”
“Sure.”
He dropped her off, and she went inside without a word to him.
Chapter Fourteen
The sound of a Harley going through the gears headed Joker’s way. He knew that bike—could tell by the sound of the pipes it was So-Cal. They’d changed the plugs, and still that thing misfired.
He stood on the back of the barge he was converting into a houseboat. It was a labor of love he’d been working on for almost a year. He’d bought the barge from a salvage yard and built it from the hull up. It was eighty feet long and thirty feet wide. The living space he’d built was fifty feet long, leaving fifteen feet of open deck on either end as well as a six foot walkway on the waterside facing the Irish Bayou where he had it moored on a small waterfront lot he rented. There was enough room on the gravel lot to park half a dozen cars or the bikes of his entire club.
He leaned on the rail, took a drag off his smoke, aimed his shades down the road to the right, and spotted the sun reflecting off the chrome of So-Cal’s bike. As the Harley pulled off at his place, he tossed the butt in the water.
His brother climbed off his bike, dug in his saddlebag, and then walked up the plank gangway. He held up a six-pack.
“I brought your favorite beer. Does this get me on board, bro?”
Joker chuckled. “Come aboard, bearer of good brew.”
So-Cal hopped on deck and greeted him with a bear hug. “Happy birthday, brother!”
Joker slapped his back and accepted his present. “Thank you, thank you.”
“You been workin’ on the place all day?” So-Cal asked.
“Most of it. Little Brat’s got a midterm, so I figured it was safe to leave her alone.”
“Little Brat… cute. She know you call her that?”
“I’ve called her that to her face.” He grinned. “She probably just doesn’t know it’s her official nickname yet.”
So-Cal kicked back in one of the deck chairs. “Man, it’s hot today. Glad the sun’s goin’ down. Least you got shade on this side of the place.”
Joker took the seat next to him, pulled two bottles of beer from the pack, and passed him one. They both twisted off the caps.
So-Cal held his to Joker and they clinked bottlenecks. “To good friends who come to get you drunk on your birthday.”
Joker chuckled. “You better have more than this six-pack with you if you’re plannin’ to get me drunk.”
“I’ve got more comin’.”
Joker pulled the bottle from his mouth. “What did you do?”
“What? It’s your birthday. You wouldn’t come out drinking, so I’m bringin’ the party to you.”
“The party?”
“Most of the club. Sandman’s bringin’ the booze. The girls are bringin’ the decorations and food.” So-Cal grinned. “And don’t give me that look, we ain’t had a party out here since you finished the place—”
“Place ain’t finished yet.”
“You’re done with most of it.”
“Well, it’s not fixed up yet.”
“Good enough for this bunch.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. Place’ll be wrecked before it’s finished.”
“They get too rowdy, we’ll throw their asses overboard.”
“You know how much Sandman weighs?”
So-Cal chuckled. “No, do you?”
Joker took a hit off his beer, and So-Cal lit up a cigarette.
Blowing out the smoke, he commented, “It’s peaceful out here. I see why you like it.”
Tires crunched across gravel and a half dozen giggling girls poured out of a car.
So-Cal grinned. “Party’s here. Best part of it, leastways.”
“I hope they brought alcohol. They ain’t drinkin’ my good stuff.”
So-Cal started to get up. “Oh, you got good stuff? Where?”
Joker watched him head inside, leaving him alone to deal with the women. “Get back here!”
“Nope,” So-Cal called from around the corner. “I’m goin’ to find the Grey Goose.”
“You suck!”
“And so does Carla.” He stuck his head back around the corner, waggling his tongue. “She might just give you a birthday blowjob. And she got an upgrade, bro.”
“An upgrade?”
“A new set of implants. She’s sizing up.”
Just then the women poured aboard carrying bags of food. The scent of BBQ, Crawfish, and Shrimp wafted through the air. Joker inhaled and knew the food would be good tonight.
“We brought all the fixings for a Louisiana boil, darlin’. I hope you got a big pot on this boat.” That was Mama Ray, leading the pack. She pointed the girls inside, and they filed past with bags of food.
“Happy birthday, son. I’m just here to cook. Once the food’s done, I’ll be leavin’ you youngins to it. I can’t keep up with y’all anymore.”
Joker stood and hugged her. “Thanks, Mama Ray. Love you, but you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“I take care of all my boys on their birthday. Got eighteen of ‘em in the club and haven’t missed a birthday yet.” Then she put the back of her hand to her mouth and leaned in to whisper. “Watch out for Stella and Carla; they mean to have you tonight.”
He chuckled. “Thanks for the heads up.”
***
It was close to eleven p.m. when two squads pulled up for their second noise disturbance call of the night.
Joker looked over at So-Cal. “This is the part where I hold you responsible.”
“Oh my God, the burden.”
Joker glanced over his shoulder toward the flashing lights, wondering who called them. The Thibodeaux brothers, Billy and Pete from the fish camp across the road, were at the party, and Ol’ man Cormier, the next lot over was away. That left the Landry sisters. They were two sweet old ladies who often waved to him, but they didn’t like noise. He could understand that. Quiet was one of the reasons he’d moved out here in the first place.
He was ready for this party to be over anyway. It was getting rowdy, and he didn’t want any more damage than the spilled beer and broken chair he’d already sustained.
Wicked ambled down the gangplank to talk to the officers, and Joker turned to Blood. “You mind runnin’ everybody out of here, bro.”
Blood’s brows lifted. “Your boat, Captain Clueless. You do it.”
“I’m the birthday boy.”
Blood chuckled. “That may get you a blowjob from the girls, but I’m not playin’ bouncer for you.”
Sandman s
tood. “I’ll do it, son.” Then he turned and bellowed. “Party’s movin’ to Blood’s place! Mount up!”
Blood glared up at him from his deck chair. “You douchebag.”
Sandman chuckled, watching the crowd head down the plank. “Look, it worked.”
So-Cal plopped in the chair next to Joker and took a hit off a bottle of Jack, then passed it to Joker, who waved him off.
“I’ve had enough, man.”
So-Cal looked over his shoulder toward land. “Everybody’s headin’ out. Cops break up the party?”
“Nope. Sandman did.”
“You asked me to!” Sandman huffed.
Joker grinned. “And you did a slam-bang job of it. Thank you.”
They all heard a retching sound, and Sandman moved to the railing on the waterside and peered down the boat to the other end. “FYI…you’re gonna need to clean your gunwale. Carla’s puking over the rail.”
Joker turned a pissed off look at So-Cal. “Now, see? This is why I did not want to do this.”
So-Cal just shrugged.
“Squads are pullin’ out,” Blood announced.
“Good,” Joker grumbled. “One less problem.”
Blood tossed his empty bottle in a garbage can and glared at Sandman. “Well, guess I better go home and lock all the doors. You seen my woman?”
“She’s cleaning up the kitchen.”
Blood let out an ear-splitting whistle. “Babe! Time to go!”
A minute later she appeared. Taking a seat on Blood’s lap, she looked over at Joker. “The kitchen’s clean, darlin’.”
“Thanks, honey,” he replied. “You’re an angel.”
“Remind my ol’ man of that.”
Joker grinned at Blood, who gave his wife a kiss on the neck. “He knows.”
Blood wrapped his arms around her and asked, “You gonna give me a birthday blowjob when we get home, babe?”
“It’s not your birthday,” she reminded him with a grin.
“We can pretend.”
Joker chuckled as his phone vibrated in his hip pocket.
Call me asap! There’s a little situation happening here.
It was from Miranda.
He glanced at his remaining guests, Blood, Cat, Sandman, and So-Cal. “I gotta make a call.” As he stood he pointed to So-Cal. “Don’t go anywhere.”
So-Cal took a toke off a freshly lit joint. “Hadn’t planned on it.”
“We’re takin’ off, brother,” Blood said, standing and clasping right hands with Joker to bump his shoulder. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks. Ride safe.” Joker gave Cat a hug and slapped Sandman on the back. “Take Carla with you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
He grinned, then headed around the corner to call Miranda. She picked up on the first ring.
He could hear loud music, and then it muffled as if she’d closed a door.
“Joker?”
“Yeah, babe. Where are you?”
“Um, see, it wasn’t my idea, but I came along to watch out for them.”
“Who?”
“Holly and Chelsea.”
“Where are you?” he repeated.
“We’re at a fraternity house. They’re having a pre-spring break party. I guess they’re all leaving for the beach in the morning.”
“Holly told me… no, promised me she’d stay in tonight. She knew I had something goin’ on tonight.”
“Yes, and I’m sorry I bothered you, it’s just…”
“What?”
“There’s this guy…”
Joker felt his gut tighten.
“…and well, he’s talked her into going with him tomorrow.”
“Going where?”
“The beach. Corpus Christi, Texas.”
Fucking son of a bitch. “Are you shittin’ me right now?”
“No, sir.”
“Sorry, Miranda. My anger’s not directed at you, but Holly knows she can’t go. She’s been told she can’t by my president. I can’t believe she’d disregard that.”
“Well, in her defense, she’s been drinking, and I don’t think she’s thinking clearly, and I can’t get her to leave the party.”
“She’s not in a room with this guy, is she?”
“No, at least not yet. I mean, she wasn’t when I left the room to take your call.”
“Where is this place?”
“Corner of Greenway and Fortier Place. Big green house. Lots of noise and people. You can’t miss it.”
“Do me a favor, babe. Stay on her. Make sure she doesn’t go off with him. I’m on my way.” With that he disconnected.
Rounding the corner, he found only So-Cal left. “I hope you’re not too drunk to ride.”
So-Cal looked up at him. “I’m never too drunk to ride, brother.”
“Good. Come on.” Joker headed to the gangplank.
“Where we goin’?” So-Cal followed.
“To kill a college coed.”
“Fun. I’m in.”
***
Sixteen minutes later the two Harleys rumbled to the curb half a block down from the frat house. Joker and So-Cal dismounted. There were drunken kids coming and going and lawns littered with empty red Solo cups.
A fistfight broke out on the adjacent property’s lawn as they approached.
Joker couldn’t believe the police hadn’t come to break the party up, but glancing around the block, every building had Greek letters above the door, so that explained it.
So-Cal dug in his saddlebag, pulled out a hammer, and slid it through his belt loop. He looked over at Joker. “You knew her last midterm was today, you knew spring break was starting, you knew all her friends were leaving for the beach. You didn’t see this comin’?”
“Some guy showed up at my place with beer, and I got a little distracted.”
“Right, blame me.”
“I always do.”
Two cute but drunken coeds stumbled by, and So-Cal flashed a big smile at them. “Ladies. Want a ride on a Harley?”
Joker grabbed his vest and tugged him down the street. “Don’t get us arrested. We’ve got shit to do, and I don’t have bail money.”
“Fuck, you’re my one phone call.”
They paused at the walk, looking up at the frat house.
“You ever been in one of these places?” So-Cal asked.
“Nope. Have you?”
“House full of guys living together...” He shivered his shoulders then looked over at Joker. “We gotta do this?”
“Yep. We gotta do this.”
“Goddamn it.”
They walked up the step and were met by two guys. One of them stepped in his way, getting in his face, which was comical if Joker had taken the time to think about it, but he was too pissed off right now.
“This is a private party,” the dude said.
“We’re on the list.” Joker shoved him out of the way like he was a gnat. He and So-Cal made their way inside, clearing a swath in the crowded downstairs room. People turned to look, taking in the leather vests and MC patches, and a hush moved over the room, leaving only the blaring music.
Guys tripped to get out of their way as they moved through the room. Not one soul dared say a word. No one was suicidal enough to stop them.
Joker’s eyes scanned one side and then the other. He spotted Miranda standing near the wall. She was too afraid to look like a narc and wave him over, but she nodded toward the sofa.
He couldn’t see through the crowd if Holly was sitting on it, but he didn’t have to guess.
The red sea parted for him as he strode that way.
His eyes flashed down over her. She wore a pair of slinky pants and matching mid drift baring tank top in a deep rose color that set off her tan.
She was busy kissing the guy next to her on the sofa, and the kid’s hands were all over her. She must have felt his presence because she pulled back and looked up. Her eyes climbed his body as he stood over her, boots apart, fists flexing, jaw ticking.
“Oh, crap.”
“Let’s go. Now!” he snapped.
The guy next to her stood, as if he was going to do something—play the big man, defend his girl. Joker wasn’t worried.
So-Cal turned to the crowd to make sure none of the kid’s friends decided to join in.
“She’s not going anywhere,” the dude said.
Joker lifted a brow. “I say she is.”
“Well, there’s a roomful of my fraternity brothers in here who say different.”
Joker chuckled. “I’ve got brothers, too. You want me to call ‘em? They can be here in ten minutes. We can compare dicks, if you want. See who’s got the biggest.”
The kid swallowed, but he was too inebriated to think it through. He shoved Joker, and Joker snapped back, decking him with a powerful right hook.
The guy flew over the sofa, head cracking against the wall. He was out for the count.
Joker’s furious eyes flashed at Holly. “You comin’ or you want me to keep goin’?”
She stood. “Fine. I’m going. Just don’t hit anyone else.”
He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her through the crowd. No one made a move to stop them.
Miranda followed them out and down the sidewalk.
“Apparently, they found their balls, brother,” So-Cal warned as they reached the bikes.
Joker glanced back to see guys pouring out of the frat house. He nodded and jerked his chin toward Miranda. “You take her. I’ve got Holly. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
They scrambled on, and the Harleys roared to life, the powerful sound echoing down the block. The angry mob ran toward them throwing beer bottles that smashed harmlessly to the pavement as the big bikes thundered down the street.
Joker felt Holly’s arms tighten around him, pressing close against his back, and he wondered briefly if she were frightened.
Taking a left toward I10, he split off from So-Cal who headed across campus to the girl’s apartment to take Miranda home.
There was no way in hell Joker was dropping Holly back off there just to have her sneak right back out again. He was done playing the trusting fool. He headed back toward Irish Bayou.
***
When Joker finally stopped the bike, Holly stumbled off the back and glanced around. There was a road, some houses up on stilts across the street, and the unmistakable hissing of a gator in the distance somewhere. She could smell the musky swamp water of the bayou, but she couldn’t see it. She did see a dark hulking structure. Was that a boat or a house? “Where the hell are we? We’re in the middle of nowhere!” Her hands landed on her hips for effect.
