by Erin Trejo
“So, this is it?” Chip asks.
“This is it,” Lynx replies, taking a deep breath.
We all walk toward the door in silence before it flies open. A large man steps out eyeing us up and down. My stomach flips inside of me as the guy’s eyes sweep over Lynx.
“You haven’t set foot on this property in a long time, kid,” the man says, keeping his eyes trained on Lynx. He doesn’t tense or even flinch. He isn’t scared of this guy, that much is obvious. I narrow my gaze when I realize who it is.
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it either. Shit’s been goin’ down and I needed a friendly face,” Lynx tells him.
“And you thought you’d find one here?” Just the way he says it sends a chill down my spine.
“Thought so. Was I wrong?”
“Hell no. Good to see you, brother,” Vic finally says a full grin on his face. Lynx releases me, pulling Vic into a hug. They stay in that embrace far longer than Lynx is comfortable with, I’m sure. When they pull apart, Vic’s eyes move over me and Chip. “I know the girl, who is that?”
“This is Chip. My boy from the pen. He’s good people,” Lynx says. “Chip, this is an old friend, Vic.” The two shake hands in an awkward silence. Vic eyes him, not too sure what to think, but that’s the way he’s always been. He was never real sure of me either.
“What’s goin’ on that brings you here?” Vic asks. Lynx swallows hard, looking around. “Your dad’s out on a run for the next few days.” That seemed to relieve a little stress from him.
“No one knew where I was headed, Vic. Shit’s been happenin’ lately, and I don’t know how to explain any of it.”
“What do you mean?” He crosses his arms over his chest and glares at Lynx.
“I went to work with Chip. Found her there. You know that much,” he says nodding over his shoulder at me.
“And?”
“And someone has been comin’ at me…or her. We don’t really know, brother. Someone sent a finger to her house.”
“Someone knew you were there? You don’t think that this shit is more to do with you than her? A finger, brother? That’s more along our lines, yeah?” Vic asks, looking confused.
“That’s the thing. I wasn’t there. Someone shot up the bar we were all at, too. I ran out back and saw some bikes.”
“Wearin’ cuts?” he asks, his eyes narrowed.
“Didn’t see the colors though,” Lynx adds as he nods his head. Vic blows out a breath, running his hand through his hair.
“Fuck. Well, come on in. Let’s see what we can dig up. No problems while you were out?” he asks as Lynx grabs my hand, leading me inside. My hands shake slightly but Lynx never let’s go. It’s been so many years since I’ve been here.
“Wait over there with Chip, I’m goin’ to talk to Vic,” Lynx says, whispering in my ear. I nod my head and follow Chip through the room.
“So, this is your old place, huh?”
“Not mine. This is Lynx’s old place. I never really fit in here,” I admit. Half-dressed girls are already draping themselves all over Chip and I find myself rolling my eyes.
“Definitely not your style,” he mumbles shoving them away.
“What can I get ya?” A happy voice sounds from behind the bar. It isn’t until the girl stands up that I recognize her. She looks older, warn down from life, but there is still a sparkle in her eyes.
“Hey, Ginger,” I say softly.
“Harper? Haven’t seen you in years. In fact, your name was to never be mentioned around here again. What the hell are you doing here?” she asks with a scared smile.
I try to gauge her reaction to seeing me, but I can’t read her. What does that smile mean?
“I’m here with Lynx. This is his friend, Chip,” I tell her. She gazes over at him before bringing her eyes back to mine.
“What do you mean with Lynx?”
“Just what I said. He’s in there talking to Vic.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll get you some beers,” she says, her tone rushed.
I share a glance with Chip, but I have no clue what her problem is. She pops the cap off two beers, setting them in front of us before pulling her phone out and typing quickly. I don’t like the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach. Something’s off but I don’t know what.
91
Lynx
Holding her ass in my hands, I thrust into her. Her body is plastered against the wall just the way I like it. There’s a need burning through me that I couldn’t put out if tired. She’s a fucking drug, and I’m addicted to her. Harper’s nails dig into my flesh, causing a sweet burn. Each time she screams, it’s my goddamn name leaving those lips. This, this is all I’ve ever wanted. Just me and her. Nothing else matters to me, it never has. Even as pissed as I was about her leaving me, I knew deep down I loved her more.
“Fuck, Harper,” I growl as she clenches around me. I’m on the edge, ready to explode, and when she leans in and sucks the flesh of my neck into her warm mouth, I come hard. My hips jerk, my back locked in place as I fill her full of me. Her pussy clenches and tightens, keeping me nestled inside of her long after we both lose control.
“God, that was good,” she whispers, trying to catch her breath.
I chuckle against the side of her head, blowing her hair up a little. I’ve missed this closeness to her. There’s always been something about Harper that’s been different. I could never put my finger on it, and to this day, I still don’t know but I can feel it.
“I love you,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple before pulling out of her. Lowering her feet to the floor, she kisses my chest.
“Love you more.”
I watch her walk to the bathroom before the shower comes on. Taking a deep breath, I follow behind her, climbing in behind her naked body.
“What did Vic have to say?” she asks over her shoulder.
“Didn’t know what might be goin’ on. Got some calls out to feel around a little.”
“Could it be random?”
“You saw the ring, Harper. It was your club’s logo.”
That conversation shuts down quickly. I watch her wash her hair then her body and not being able to enjoy it like I normally would. I feel off inside. I don’t know if it’s the fact that someone is using my old club against me or that she might be in harm’s way once more. Who the hell would have been after her, though? No one knew where she was, and even if they did, why wait five years to try something? No, something wasn’t adding up and I needed to figure it out.
“I didn’t tell anyone I was going there. Hell, I didn’t even know myself,” she says as she rinses her body under the sprayer.
“I know that. I’ll get it figured out. Let’s just rest tonight and calm down. We’re safe here,” I remind her.
She looks up at me, those big eyes full of fear. “Are we?”
I don’t want to tell her no, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t think we are. There’s been an off feeling in the air since we stepped foot inside this place, and I’m not comfortable with it. She stares into my eyes no doubt feeling the same thing.
“Harper, I think we shou-”
“You don’t trust them anymore, do you?”
I close my eyes for a minute to reign in the feelings. I was never one to disrespect this club or what it stood for, but right now? I think there is more going on that I don’t know about.
“No,” I state in a matter of fact tone.
“Then why are we here?”
“To be honest? It’s a situation where you need to keep those you don’t trust close.”
“You don’t think it’s smarter for us to go somewhere else? Anywhere else, Lynx? I’m scared.”
Her admission guts me. I know she’s scared and I’m on edge. I fucking hate this but I need to know what’s happening.
“I know,” I tell her, placing my hands on her shoulders. “But from here? We have an advantage. If they are makin’ moves, I’m bound to hear about it, yeah? It will be that much harder for them
to try to do something outright under everyone’s nose…whoever it is.”
“And if they kill you here?” I smirk.
“They ain’t killin’ me, baby. I promise.”
“Lynx, this is a bad idea. I don’t like it here, not anymore. What about when your dad gets back? What then?”
As if I hadn’t thought about that. Part of me wants to get Harper as far from here as possible but the other part wants answers. He sent her away telling her that I got life, and that fact alone pisses me off. Why would he do that? He purposely tried to keep us apart. I know they didn’t have the best relationship back then but he never pushed. There has to be more to the story.
“Look, it isn’t safe to be out and ridin’ all over, not until we know whose doin’ this shit. I get it, I do. I don’t wanna be here anymore than you, but this is what we gotta do for now, yeah?”
Harper watches me with tears in her eyes before nodding her head. I pull her into my chest and hold her for a few minutes before we climb out. We dry off and dress before heading back to the main room to meet Chip for dinner. Vic had the girls cook a meal so that we didn’t have to go out tonight and for that I’m grateful. We take our seats at the table just as Vic comes out of the office.
“Hear anything?” I ask as he takes a seat.
“Yeah. Gonna take a ride out tomorrow and see for myself. You in?” he asks.
I smirk and nod my head. “Hell yeah I am.”
“What’s happening? I’m confused as shit,” Chip chimes in. The guys laugh and so does Chip. It’s funny seeing him here because in another lifetime he might have fit in with us.
“We got a lead that we’re gonna follow up. You’re more than welcome to join in,” Vic tells him. Chip’s eyes light up as he looks over at me. I shrug, not giving a shit if he wants to come along or not. I know that Harper will be fine here until we get back.
“So, how’s shit?” I ask stuffing food into my mouth.
“Not bad, brother. Got that powder runnin’ better than before. Pure Columbian.”
I raise an eyebrow. “No shit?”
“No shit. Javier had a chat with your dad and set it all in action. They fuckin’ came to us, can you believe that shit?” Vic chuckles under his breath.
“Hell no! Last I heard in the pen was Columbians were makin’ moves out east. Tryin’ to get shit setup across the states. They didn’t want MC handlin’ products. They wanted it on street-level Columbians,” I tell him. When you’re in prison you tend to hear things. Not all are good but most is useful.
“No shit? Ain’t heard that out here but I wouldn’t put it past them. We got a good thing goin’ right now so until that changes, we’re runnin’ with it,” he tells me.
I glance around at the other guys as they talk amongst themselves. It’s different. It isn’t like it used to be. Before it was all about family, being one, but not anymore. You can feel it in the air, something’s changed around here since I’ve been gone, and not for the better. We finish our meal in silence before the music comes on and beers are passed around. Me, Harper, and Chip sit in the corner drinking ours as I take in the guys.
“It’s not the same,” Harper leans in and whispers before laying her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer to me.
“You noticed that too, huh?”
“Yeah. They all seem so defensive and not so much family like anymore,” she says.
I bring my beer to my lips and sigh. I never thought that she’d sense it too, but she was around a lot. If anyone would notice it, it would be her.
“They don’t seem very friendly,” Chip adds.
“We stay to ourselves. We don’t give them a reason to get pissed at us and we’re good. I just want information then we’re outta here,” I remind them. Chip nods and Harper snuggles into me. As I watch my old life flash before my eyes, I wonder what happened to them.
92
Harper
I sit right at the edge of the tree line looking at the same trees that I used to run through to go between my place and Lynx’s. I’d never felt so much fear and happiness mixed together in my life. I feared going home, but even more than that, I found myself so damn happy with Lynx at my side.
“Remembering the good times?” I glance up and smile at Chip before he sits next to me.
“Things were different back then. Some days were good others scared the hell out of me,” I admit.
“Isn’t that life?”
“I suppose.”
“I wanted to ask you something. I don’t know much about this lifestyle but I heard some of the guys talking. I guess they thought I went with Lynx,” he starts to say something more but cuts himself off. I turn to face him, not understanding.
“What? What did they say?” I can tell by looking at him that there’s something wrong. “Chip?”
“They were…they said, uh…things about hurting you. That Lynx wasn’t one of them anymore and his dad is on the way back. Someone told him he was here.”
“What?” I gasp as I stand to my feet. What does that mean? I know his dad didn’t like me, but to go as far as to hurt me? I didn’t think he would do that. I know him and Lynx didn’t always get along either, but I never thought he would say those things about him. “Are you sure?”
Chip stands, wiping his jeans as he does. Standing next to me, he leans closer. “Uh, I don’t know for sure but I think his dad just pulled in,” he says, nodding toward the clubhouse.
As soon as I look my heart sinks. I can hear the yelling and I damn sure can make out the words.
“We need to run,” I tell Chip in a hurry. He must have heard them too. Grabbing my hand, he drags me through the trees. We both run as fast as we can when the house comes into view. I stop in my tracks, assaulted by the memories that plagued me for years.
“We need to go, Harper!” he hisses but I can’t move.
“Always such a pretty little girl,” he said as his fingers lingered on my cheek. His eyes were unfocused and dancing all over my face. When he leaned in I almost vomited. He saw the struggle. His fingers dug into my cheek, breaking the flesh until blood slowly trickled down my cheek.
“Little bitch!” he roared right before he pulled back and punched me. It hit so hard that I blacked out. When I woke up, I was sore all over, my body and head ached. When I looked down and he was passed out on my chest, I did throw up. He didn’t wake, not even when I dragged myself out from under him and hid in the shower for hours.
I hear myself groaning only to find a hand clamp over my mouth. I’m about to fight and scream when I hear Chip’s voice.
“It’s okay, don’t scream,” he whispers. I nod my head letting him know that I’m okay. That is until I look around the room.
“No. I can’t stay in here, Chip. You don’t understand.” I almost scream again when he grabs me and pulls me into his lap. Holding me tightly, he pushes my head against his chest and rocks me like you would a baby. It’s soothing.
“I kind of figured out what this place was when you froze outside. I know you don’t want to be in here, but this is the first place I found to hide out.”
Reality slams into me. I did freeze out there. I thought I was over this. I thought I’d moved on from that fear, but it’s still there.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as tears slide down my cheeks.
“Don’t do that. I get it. The rest of the house is a mess so I figure the attic was best,” Chip adds. I nod my head but refuse to move out of his arms. I need that reassurance right now.
“I can’t believe they would do this,” I whisper.
“I don’t get it either. That Vic guy was so nice and open about shit.” I can hear the anger in his voice. I feel it too but I don’t know what to do.
“What are we going to do?”
“Wait until Lynx is back. I don’t know, Harper. This isn’t my specialty. Do we go to the cops?” he asks, not knowing what to do.
“No. Cops can’t help us now,” I say sadly. I do reme
mber that much about the club. A majority of the cops are in their pocket.
“We can wait it out in here. I figure by morning Lynx will be back and see we’re gone.”
“What if that was the plan all along?” I gasp as tears continue to flow.
“I don’t know, honey. We’ll figure it out. Just rest, I’m awake. Okay?” I nod my head and snuggle into his chest but that does little to ease the ache inside of me.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep when a noise startles me. My eyes snap open to see a shadowy figure moving around in the darkness. I reach up and shake Chip, trying to get his attention. He must have fallen asleep too. My stomach tumbles and my heart near leaps out of my chest when I hear the growl.
“Lynx?” I ask softly. The shape inches closer until I can make out his face in the pale moonlight. “Oh my God,” I nearly yell when I catch sight of him. I leap from Chip’s hold and slam into Lynx. His arms wrap around me tightly, keeping me close. I can smell blood, but I don’t ask. I don’t want to know.
“You okay?” he whispers in my ear and I shiver. He chuckles.
“I am now.”
“You’re back,” Chip says through a yawn. “How’d you know where to find us?” he asks, shifting so he can sit up straighter.
“You had my girl in your lap,” Lynx growls again.
“Yeah, discussion for later. Right now we need to know what the fuck is happening,” Chip says in a calm tone.
“Why are you not freaking out?” I ask curiously.
“He made one too many jokes in the pen about havin’ you on his lap,” Lynx says in an evil tone.
“You what?”
“It was a joke. I was just trying to rile him up. It worked too,” Chip smirks.
“Yeah it did. I busted your fuckin’ lip. Need a repeat?”
“Stop. I froze up when I saw the house. How did you know we were here?”
“Taught you well, baby. Taught both you well. Keep your enemies close. When I heard a few of the guys talkin’ about how you took off I knew somethin’ was wrong.”
