Tattooed Love

by Simone Elise

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “You’re clumsy,” he pointed out.

  “Am NOT!” I yelled softly.

  “Are,” he argued back.

  I picked up my pace and took the stairs two at a time.

  Once at the top, I swung around to give Jax a pointed look, but, before I could, I tripped on my own feet and fell backwards, and the case whacked into my leg as I fell.

  I cursed under my breath, lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

  I think Jax’s laughter would have woken anyone up.

  I sat up and glared at him.

  He clutched his side and had a pained expression on his face as laughter emanated from him.

  “You could help me up,” I pointed out.

  His laughter slowly died and his eyes stared into mine.

  Our eye contact broke as he walked past me and up the hall, not showing any signs of helping me up.

  Reaching his bedroom door, he turned to face me.

  “Not clumsy at all,” he teased with a wicked grin, and, with that, he shut his bedroom door.

  I pulled myself up from the floor.

  “Way to show gratitude,” I shouted behind him, and stormed towards my bedroom door, the only one across from his.

  I heard soft laughter as I passed his room.

  So I did the most mature thing.

  I kicked his door with a lot of force, and cowardly darted into my own room, closing my door behind me.

  As I stood in my dark room, I couldn’t help but think about what Jax has been wearing tonight.

  He was wearing his cut.

  I now knew for sure that he was indeed a member of Satan’s Sons.

  Jax and my brothers did, indeed, have a brotherhood with each other.

  But it wasn’t seeing Jax wearing a Satan’s Sons leather vest tonight that left me with questions. It was the fact that he wore the patch of ‘President.’

  I knew for a fact that Troy also wore that patch, which meant Jax was President of his own chapter of Satan’s Sons.

  I gulped at the realization. Everything I knew about bikers was hitting me. I knew they left every situation the same – bloody, but the one thing I knew more about Satan’s Sons was that they were feared.

  And I also knew that you weren’t innocent if you were a President.

  Chapter 9

  I’d love to say I had an eventful Sunday, but I hadn’t. I’d spent it in the garage, working on my dirt bikes.

  The thing that came with this house was the land it was on. Past the manicured garden were dirt tracks going into the deep forest.

  So, whenever I could, I was on one of my dirt bikes.

  The boys used to go all the time when they were younger. I would never go with them because when it comes to anything to do with me, my brothers are protective.

  So me doing jumps at high speeds always brought out the protectors in them.

  So I always went by myself.

  And still do.

  I was actually finding myself taking more risks lately. Maybe it was my disconnection with the gang.

  I frowned for a second, my hand on the door knob to the garage. Why was the door ajar? I was the only one who went into the garage.

  Because all my cars were in there, as well as my dirt bikes.

  I pushed it open, and saw something that made my eyes widen.

  “What are you doing?” I asked Cole as he got up from kneeling beside my dirt bike.

  “Finishing your work,” he said simply, wiping grease on his pants.

  I frowned, “And why would you do that?” He had never encouraged me to ride. In fact, he took it upon himself to slash my tires so I couldn’t ride. Now he was here, fixing my bike?

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  My mouth dropped open, seeing the finished bike, which I had left in pieces. “How long did that take you? That would have taken me all day to put back together!”

  He shrugged again.

  I swallowed sharply. Just when I wipe my brothers off for good, Cole goes and does this.

  “You didn’t have to.” I said. “I am capable of doing it.” Me being incapable was the only reason I could think of him doing it.

  “I know you can, and you didn’t have to sew up my shoulder, but you did.”

  So this was his way of saying thank you.

  “Thanks.” I was actually really thankful because this had saved me a full day. That meant I could hit the tracks today.

  “You can wipe that grin off your face; you aren’t getting out of school today.” Cole flattened my hope that everyone had forgotten it was a Monday.

  I groaned. “Can you not remind Troy that it is Monday?”

  He smirked, like he knew something I didn’t. “He actually sent me to go wake you up an hour ago. You can thank me for the sleep-in.”

  I had wondered why no one was banging on my door this morning.

  I sighed. “I guess I should get dressed for school then.” I hated school.

  “Yeah, you sound thrilled about that.”

  “I hate school.” It was no secret.

  “Yeah we all did. But…”

  “But what?”

  “But dad never expected us to take over from him, like he is expecting you to.”

  My eyes widened. “Over my dead body will I ever work a nine to five job?”

  He grinned. “Dad needs someone to hand the empire he has been building over to.”

  “Then you can take it.” I scoffed and walked out of the garage, because I couldn’t go to school in what I was wearing.

  “All us boys agreed you are to do it.”

  “I’m not smart enough for that.”

  His hand wrapped around my upper arm, and he pulled me to a stop. “You’re smart enough to be a calculating shooter.” He gave me a look like I couldn’t argue with him.

  “What have you heard?” I narrowed my eyes at him. Why was I suddenly getting the feeling that my brothers had looked into my past?

  Cole let go of me. “You aren’t a mystery anymore. Now you better get changed before we both get into trouble.”

  I nodded my head. Cole was usually yelling or screaming or telling me off. Never was he nice. So I took this as a one off.

  ***

  Sitting on the bottom stair of the staircase, I finished lacing my black combat boots.

  “You’re wearing that to school?” Tyler asked.

  I whipped my head up, watching him run his eyes over my black short shorts, army tank top and combat boots. What was wrong with what I was wearing?

  “What’s it to ya?” I snipped at him.

  Adam rolled his eyes as I followed him out the door. Troy was casually leaning on his big black motorbike, while Cole was already on his and Tyler was straddling his.

  It looked like they were all going somewhere. I felt someone shoulder me from behind as they walked past, making me stumble forward.

  Jax walked up confidently towards the last black motorbike, which had fine white detailing over the petrol tank. I couldn’t make out the picture from where I was standing; I shot draggers into the back of his head.

  He didn’t even acknowledge me; just thought it was acceptable to nearly knock me over!

  “You’re coming with us,” Troy informed me, as he straddled his own bike.

  “What? Why?” I argued. I was not being baby sat.

  “Cause you can’t be trusted to go to school on your own,” Adam spoke up.

  “You will bail, and we will be forced to spend the afternoon looking for you,” Troy added.

  “Love the faith in me guys,” I grumbled, not moving.

  “You will be going to school with Jax, after we take care of a few things,” Tyler explained starting up his motor bike.

  That means I’m missing morning classes!

  YES! I screamed inside my mind.

  I wandered over to the back of Troy’s bike and was about to straddle it when a hand came to rest on my shoulder, stopping me. Jax qui
ckly pulled his hand back, and his other one shot out, offering me his helmet.

  I eyed it for a second in disbelief, not reaching for it; he rolled his eyes, and reached over and placed the helmet on my head. His fingers grazed my neck as he buckled it up; I took a sharp breath inwards at his touch.

  He quickly turned around and walked back to his own bike, firing it up on the first kick.

  I watched as he slowly took off, not giving me a second look.

  I felt my side being nudged, and I snapped out of it to see Troy nodding his head sideways, gesturing for me to get on. Throwing my legs over and straddling his bike.

  I couldn’t wrap my arms right around, given that he was so large and muscular, so I just settled with leaving my hands on either side of his sides.

  As he took off, the wind whipped around my body. Troy passed the others and quickly took off, head of the pack.

  Jax was half a bike length back to our right, Cole was the same to our left, and then Adam was behind Cole and Tyler behind Jax.

  I felt my grip loosening at Troy’s side; I couldn’t help but notice how cars avoided us, either turning off or pulling over. As for the cars that didn’t get out of our way, we passed them with ease.

  I didn’t bother glancing at the speedometer; I knew we weren’t respecting the speed limit.

  I relaxed as the wind continued to whip around my face.

  I loved this feeling.

  I had missed it.

  ***

  We slowed as we reached large iron gates, which had barbed wire across the top. Troy brought us to a stop as the gates were being opened from the inside.

  Slowly, we took off into a large open space; motorbikes were lined to the side, cars parked on the other, and, in the middle to the side, was a large garage.

  I let my gaze fall as I noticed other men standing around giving me questioning looks.

  As Troy pulled up to the front, he slowly backed his bike back at an angle and then killed the engine. I watched as all of the other guys did the same; Jax backing his bike back next to ours.

  I let my eyes gaze to the side where I noticed two garage doors open and two cars up in the air. Guys were under them, working on them. I noticed ‘Satan’s Sons’ painted into the back of the iron fence that we had just rode through.

  When all the engines of the bikes died, my ears were met with a deafening silence, before slowly picking up on low conversation.

  “You getting off Amber?” Troy asked, cocking his head to the side to look at me.

  Before I could answer, arms shot around my waist, pulling me off the bike.

  Jax’s arms stayed around my waist for a few short moments, as he brought my feet to the ground. This was the second time this morning he had made contact with me.

  I couldn’t help but feel my heart race a little at his closeness, and I couldn’t pull my eyes up to his, so I shot my gaze over his shoulders were I noticed a few skinny girls shooting me disgusting glares.

  “Don’t mind the pornstars,” Jax spoke before letting his arms drop and walking passed me towards where the others were headed. I nodded my head, although there was no point because he had already left.

  Troy casually flung his arm over my shoulder, and began to guide us to where the others had headed, behind a closed door, which had Satan’s Sons printed on it in red lettering.

  As Troy pushed the door open, we headed down a short hallway before walking into what looked like a bar.

  Tables, chairs and a few pool tables were evenly placed in the room, and a large black bar ran across the length of the wall to our right.

  The smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air; I noticed four men sitting on stools with their backs turned to us, facing the bar.

  Jax, Cole, Tyler and Adam were all leaning next to the bar talking to each other.

  Troy began to walk us closer towards the others, when the guy on the end stool slowly turned around.

  My mouth dropped when I took in the man; he sent me his trademark smirk before fully turning his body around on the stool to face me, a beer in his left hand.

  “Miss me Amber?” Blake asked, with an eyebrow raised.

  I let the words soak in for a minute, before I shrugged Troy’s arm off my shoulders and launched myself into Blake’s lap.

  Chapter 10

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I asked, “And you’re here why?” With a hint of excitement in my voice. I don’t know why I felt so excited to see him. Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen anyone for so long, or maybe it was because I just flat out missed him.

  Blake grinned at me for a moment. My eyes took in his bruised skin; clearly, things weren’t going as well as I had hoped.

  “I heard you were on house arrest or something. You never told me you were the sister of the Shields.” Blake raised an eyebrow as his hands wrapped around my back, while I sat on his lap.

  Shrugging my shoulders, “I didn’t see how it mattered. It’s not like I am close to them or anything.” I sent Blake my innocent smile.

  A hand wrapped around my forearm.

  “Off now,” Cole growled, attempting to pull me off Blake.

  “Back off Cole,” Blake warned. Sighing, I loosened my grip around Blake’s neck and slid off his lap.

  I suppose I shouldn’t have been near him anyway. “So what are you doing here?” I asked Blake, while looking down at his feet. I couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain, feeling the love lost between us.

  “Club business,” Cole growled and shot Blake a look which said ‘keep your mouth shut.’

  “Fine. Whatever,” I said lightly and went to sit on the stool next to Blake, pushing my black hair to the side so I could look at him more.

  “How have you been Blake?” I asked, locking my eyes with his as he turned on his stool to face me.

  “No time for chit chat. Let’s get down to business. Amber stay here,” Troy shot over his shoulder while walking in the direction of another room.

  “Come on Amber.” Blake stood up, grabbing my hand.

  “Did you not hear her brother? She stays here,” Jax snarled, standing in front of Blake, blocking our path to the room.

  “Yeah Blake, it’s cool.” I smiled up at him, but Blake was tight and I noted the rage burning in his eyes as he narrowed them at Jax. Why was I getting the feeling this wasn’t their first run in?

  “You want the info, you need Amber, which is why I told you to bring her,” Blake said, taking a step towards Jax. “Now move.”

  Blake’s grip on my hand tightened and I gulped because I knew Blake’s temper all too well, and Jax right now was just firing him up.

  “What do you need me for?” I asked Blake, trying to take his attention away from Jax. Cole and the others had already moved in the same direction as Troy.

  “Just leave it Jax. Let her come,” Tyler yelled over his shoulder, while moving into the room.

  I heard Jax grind his teeth before he turned his back to us and stormed off in the direction of the room. Blake pulled my hand, and we followed in.

  The room was small, with a large table in the middle; chairs littered around it. The room seemed to have a permanent smoke ring above it. The boys seemed to have their own seats because they all sat at different places, as if seats had been assigned. Troy sat at the head of the table, Jax sat to his right, Cole to his left and then Adam, and Tyler sat down at the other end of the table.

  I took the seat next to Cole and Blake sat next to me. Spike and Travis, two of Blake’s boys, sat across from us, next to Jax.

  “So to business,” Troy said, turning in his seat to face Blake. “You have the information?” Troy lit up a cigarette and leaned back in his chair, waiting for Blake to speak.

  “You get this information and we get the business on Whitehorse Road,” Blake said with that determination I loved in his voice. He also lit up a cigarette.

  “That’s the deal,” Troy said, letting out a puff of smoke.

  Blake nodded his head and placed a h
and on my thigh. “Amber, I need you to tell your brothers about Marty’s crew.”

  Looking at Blake, I frowned, “What do they want to know?” Turning my head to look between Cole and Troy. “What is it you guys want to know?” I was still frowning at them.

  “That’s not part of the deal, Blake,” Troy snarled, bringing his fist on the table. “You have to give us the information.”

  Blake shrugged his shoulders. “You said you get the information, I get the business. You didn’t say who you had to get the information off. Anyway, Amber remembers more details than I do.”

  A smile twitched at the corners of my mouth, as I remembered Blake’s memory. “Yeah, Blake does have a habit of forgetting things,” I turned my attention back to the boys. “What is it you want to know?”

  Troy narrowed his eyes at Blake, “You are saying that our sister has the information that we are paying you to hand over?”

  I knew pretty much everything about everyone on the streets. It wasn’t because I was in with all of them. I just remembered stuff, and I also had a lot of friends; and a lot of business connections.

  “Not my fault you don’t know your own sister,” Blake said, before taking a drag of his cigarette.

  “This is bullshit.” Cole muttered under his breath, and took a large gulp from his open beer.

  “You know it is still early in the morning right?” I said under my breath to him, eyeing the beer he was downing. Cole shot me a look saying ‘who gives a shit.’ Shrugging my shoulders, I added “Only thinking of your liver.”

  “So, Amber, what is it you know about Marty’s crew?” Troy asked, stubbing his cigarette and narrowing his eyes at me. Like I couldn’t possibly know a thing.

  “What doesn’t she know is more like it.” Spike muttered to Travis, as they both shared a dark chuckle with each other.

  Rolling my eyes, I started. “Thirty four members, last time I checked. Mainly into drug rings, cooking and selling. Marty works out of three factories and four houses… ”

  “They only work from houses. We know they don’t have any factories,” Cole piped in, adding a scoff at the end, as if I knew nothing.

  Narrowing my eyes at him and turning in my seat, I continued, “They have three factories, all on Flinders Road. I can give you the addresses if you want, but that isn’t their main trade anymore.” I shot Cole a look.