Rock Bottom

by Manda Mellett

  I turn to thank Beef, who gives a quick smile, but his heart isn’t in it. I immediately sense there’s a reason he’s sitting on his own.

  “You okay?” I ask, recognising the signs of being down.

  “Uh huh,” he replies, then glances at me. “How you doing, yourself? You’re lookin’ better. Got some colour in your cheeks.”

  “I’m getting there,” I confirm. “I’m just grateful that you’re all letting me stay here.”

  His eyes narrow. “Don’t know your story. Not going to ask. But just one look at you when you arrived showed you’ve been through something no woman ever should fuckin’ have to. Ain’t going to turn you away, even if Prez isn’t lettin’ on why you’re here.” Then he winks at me. “Tell you what, when you’re feelin’ better, come and see me. Wouldn’t turn a pretty woman like you away.”

  I may be naïve, but I’m not stupid. He’s talking about sex. I feel like a bucket of cold water’s been thrown over me. “I, er, I…” My voice trembles, my stomach drops. Is that what they expect? “Er, no, er. Do I have to?” I peek at him quickly from under my eyebrows. He’s good looking even though he’s heavily built, but I’m not in the market for a man. Any man. And particularly not one who’d want me in his bed for a night. And I’m still married. Would that work if I tell him?

  Beef’s looking at me with his eyes wide open, his jaw dropping. “Ain’t no one gonna push you to do something you don’t want, Becs. Not here.” As he sees my hand trembling when I pick up my soda, he shakes his head. “I wasn’t serious. It was just a stupid attempt at being friendly.” He rubs at an invisible spot on his head. “Awh fuck. I’m fuckin’ this up, ain’t I? See, if you were interested, well, I would be to. But if you’re not, well, that’s okay as well.”

  It’s almost sweet the way he’s stumbling over his words, trying to work out how to tell me he finds me attractive while leaving any decision to me. I take a deep breath and try to say the right thing. “Sorry, Beef. I’m not here for that. I’m, er…”

  “You got someone waiting for you?”

  Have I heck. Hawk. It’s easier just to nod. Then I add, “It’s complicated.”

  “Know about complicated, darlin’. Fuck yeah, I know all about that.”

  “Yo, Beef?”

  Beef swings round. “You want me, Prez?”

  I haven’t turned, so can’t see what gesture has Beef hastily swallowing the last of his beer then leaving me sitting alone at the bar. It seems that’s a signal for the sweet butt to return.

  “You keep your hands off him. And any of the men,” she snaps.

  “What? Okay, er…?”

  “I’m Jill.”

  “Jill, I’m no threat to you. Or any of the sweet butts. I don’t want any of the men.” Or not the ones that are here, anyway.

  Leaning over the bar, getting right up in my face, she spits out, “What you want and what they want are two different things. Only two types of women here. Old ladies or sweet butts. We’ve already got far too many of both. Not losing another of our men to the likes of you. And you ain’t joining the sweet butts. Not if I have anything to do with it.”

  She’s got no problem, either way. “I don’t fall into either of those categories,” I start, trying to put her mind at ease. I might not have taken to her, but I don’t mind reassuring her again. “I’m not looking for a man.”

  But she’s not going to let it drop. “I’ll have my eye on you,” she warns me.

  Her attitude is getting to me. Hawk might have walked all over me, but now faced with her animosity I find a new confidence. “What I do or don’t do is none of your business.”

  “You tell her, Becca.” Sam, who I hadn’t heard entering and, from the look on her face neither had Jill, cups her hand around my shoulder. “Jill, Drummer won’t be happy you’ve taken it on yourself to lay down the law. Best keep your thoughts to yourself in the future. Else you might find yourself out of a job.”

  The steel in her voice must show Jill she’s not joking. It’s the first time I’ve seen her anything other than easy going. Then realise, as the president’s old lady, she has to be able to pull out the grit when she needs to.

  The sweet butt and old lady stare at each other, and it’s like time stands still as they have their stand-off. But though Jill’s mouth works as if she’s got something else to say, the words don’t escape her lips, and it’s her who backs down and storms off, leaving the bar untended, the door slamming behind her on the way out.

  “She’s a bitch,” Sam says conversationally as she walks around the bar to get herself a soda. “Don’t let her get to you, Becca.”

  Nodding thoughtfully, I query, “She said there are only two types of women in the club.”

  Sam laughs. “I bet she did. And she’s mainly right, but there are exceptions. Old ladies, sweet butts, and,” she pauses to smile at me, “those under our protection. And that’s why you’re here, Becca, isn’t it?”

  As I nod, she climbs up onto the stool next to mine. “Have you had women under your protection before?”

  “Certainly have. Though before my time, that’s how Sophie arrived. She won’t mind me telling you she was in a wheelchair then. Peg got her up and walking, and Wraith, well…”

  “She’s Wraith’s old lady.” I smile remembering how there can be no doubt about that.

  “That she is,” Sam agrees.

  “She switched categories,” I observe.

  Sam’s smile turns into a grin. “Nothing to stop you doing the same.”

  My mouth drops open in horror. “I’m not old lady material.” And there’s the small matter that I’m married. Albeit to a man I hate.

  Now she chuckles and nudges my arm. “Hey, never say never. When you’ve got your health back I can see you’ll be one stunning lady. You could probably have your choice. Now, which would you go for?”

  I can tell she’s joking, and it makes me giggle.

  Sam taps her fingers against the bottle she’s holding. “Hmm. What about Marvel? Now those tattoos… If I wasn’t with Drum I might like to find out just how much of his body is covered.”

  She makes me think of another tattooed man. I shake my head to dismiss the errant thought, which she takes as the dismissal of the man she mentioned.

  “Not Marvel then. What about Beef? He’s been walking around like a bear with a sore head for the last few weeks, since Rock…” As she breaks off I wonder if she means since Rock had left them, and have to bite my tongue so I don’t let on that I know. Beef’s missing his friend. They look so happy together in that picture.

  “Beef’s okay,” I play along, but try to deflect her. “But there’s no spark.” Not that I’d know what a spark is. Unless it’s that feeling I have for Rock. My thoughts go back to him, hoping he’s alright and not in trouble for having helped me.

  “Shooter?”

  “Too young.”

  “Hmm, there’s Mouse. I don’t think you’ve met him yet. He’s a stunner.” She raises her eyebrow. “Clever man, too. He’s our information and security expert. Though since he’s been back he’s been keeping to himself.”

  “Oh?” I ask, not because her description interests me at all, but because an information expert might be able to help me discover more about Hawk and what I can do to get out of his clutches for ever. Until then I’ll be trapped and always looking over my shoulder. Hey, look at me. I’m actually thinking of a future.

  She gives me an intense look as I go quiet, then starts going through the men again. “What about Blade?”

  My eyes open in horror. “I’ve got an aversion to knives.”

  “You’re hard to please,” she says, chuckling once more. “Peg’s taken, but…Dollar. He’s not too young.”

  No, he’s older. But quite dashing, those spectacles he wears when he needs to see something close up give him a distinguished look. I give myself a mental slap on the wrist for even considering it.

  “Sam, I am not going to be anyone’s old lady,” I say fi
rmly, trying to shut the conversation down.

  For an answer I get a knowing look.

  Chapter 11

  Rock

  The meeting is arranged at a point halfway between the two clubs. It’s to be held in the hired backroom of a bar, one frequented by neither of our members. I’d assured Chaos that, to the best of my knowledge, the Satan’s Devils had never used the location or had any connection to the person who ran it. In my personal opinion, it was too seedy even for bikers to meet.

  I’d told him the truth. One sniff that something wasn’t right, and not only would I be a dead man, but Drummer would find himself walking into an ambush. Wreck and Buff had checked it out and reported back after they’d made the arrangements, so when I drive up, bringing up the tail with Runner behind Chaos, his VP and Enforcer, I’m not surprised to see what a dive it looks. While I don’t envy the prospect for his job of staying out with the bikes, I can see why Wreck insisted he tag along.

  We arrive early, Chaos wanting to get here first, but Drummer, Wraith, Blade, and Beef pull in only seconds after us. I’m amused to see they’re equally protective of their bikes, Truck having come along with them.

  I steel myself for the reception I’m about to receive. As I turn around I see Beef’s eyes open, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. Blade’s first to move, flying forward, snarling, his fists swinging. Wreck faces off in front of him.

  “Blade!” Drummer stops him.

  “Prez, it’s…”

  “I can see who it fuckin’ is, Blade. I got eyes.” Drummer spits on the ground, then addresses Chaos. “I don’t deal with fuckin’ traitors.”

  Chaos shrugs, unaffected. “He ain’t no traitor. Leastwise not to me. You want this meeting to go ahead? Well, he’s standing alongside me.”

  “You know what he did?” Blade’s about as angry as I’ve ever seen him. “You should hand him over to us.”

  “Nah, he’s too useful.” Chaos stands his ground. I let out a breath, only just letting go of the idea he could have brought me just to hand me over, to show a good turn to the other prez. While they wouldn’t have killed me outright, Blade, Beef, and Wraith would have had to give me a beat down that would have to look good. Blade and Beef wouldn’t have pulled any punches. As far as I know, and from the genuine way they’re reacting, they still believe I’ve betrayed the club.

  Beef, obviously brought with them as his size would impress, is just shaking his head. Disappointment oozes out of him. I miss the fucker. Everything I am makes me want to reassure him, or at least give some signal to let him know the truth, but all I can do is put a sneer on my face and play my part. I’m doing this for my club, and for Beef.

  “Right, everyone. Weapons stay outside.” Chaos is trying to take charge from the start. Drummer sizes up the area, then nods and waves to his men. The Riders and Devils take their guns out of their holsters and put them in their saddle bags, then follow Chaos into the tumbledown building. I bring up the rear as the rest trail in, keeping well clear of Blade and out of range of what I know will be his hidden knives.

  Chaos sits, with Krueger to one side, Wreck to the other. I take up position behind him. Drummer, Wraith, and Blade have a similar arrangement, with Beef standing at Drummer’s back.

  Drummer kicks off. “You’ve called this meetin’, Chaos. I ain’t got all the time in the world. Suggest you start talkin’.”

  Chaos relaxes and leans back. “Don’t mind if I do, Drummer. You see, we’ve got ourselves a situation.”

  I see Drummer’s eyebrow go up, but that’s his only response.

  “Got more brothers coming in. We need larger accommodations. We want your compound.”

  I thought he might talk around it for a bit, but instead he’s gone straight for the jugular. Drummer’s mouth drops open. Then he leans forward, giving an incredulous laugh. “You fuckin’ what?”

  “Your compound. We want it. Can’t say it clearer than that.”

  Blade, his hands twisting as though feeling empty without one of his customary knives, laughs. “We can accommodate you alright. In our fuckin’ graveyard.”

  Chaos laughs, a chilling sound. “Now I know for a fact that right there’s nothing more than bluster. Your ex-member, here,” he pauses to wave his hand back at me, “has been very helpful. I know exactly what your position is, your state of readiness, or not, as the case may be, and your arsenal. Or lack of.”

  Four faces are looking at me in disgust. Beef, moving quickly for the size that he is, is round the table and putting his fist in my face before I can react. As I go down, Wreck, not small himself, retaliates for me.

  “Drummer,” Chaos snaps. “Control your man. Or this meeting is over. I don’t need any more from you, this is just a formality. I have all the information I require to take the Devils down.”

  Drummer waits until Beef’s in position again behind his chair, his steel eyes glaring at Chaos. “Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t. But us Devils aren’t giving up our compound.”

  “You’ve got no choice, Brother,” Chaos sneers. “You and the rest of your men are the ones who’re going to get put in the ground if you don’t do what I say. Your women, well, we can always use more sweet butts.”

  “Our women,” Wraith gets into the conversation, saying through gritted teeth, “are old ladies, not sweet butts.” His body trembles as though he’s finding it hard to hold himself back.

  “Don’t give a damn what you call them. If it’s got a cunt we can make it work.” Wreck and Krueger laugh with him, and I force a smile onto my still hurting face, trying to ignore Beef’s look of utter disgust.

  “Kids too,” Wraith continues, looking like he’s having difficulty spitting out the words.

  “There’s always a market for brats.”

  I cough to hide my grimace, and can’t look at Drummer or Wraith, knowing what will be going through their minds. The thought of Eli and Olivia ending up in the hands of men such as these is just horrific to imagine.

  “You’re making a lot of threats, Chaos. How do I know you can back them up?”

  Now showing his hand, Chaos grins. “As I said, got a lot of men coming in. Men who mean you’ll be outnumbered. And my men ain’t soft. They’re well trained and ready to kill. Unlike the pussies you’ve got in your clubhouse.”

  Drummer still looks unperturbed. “You’re talkin’ about the Satan’s Devils. And I lead the mother chapter. I can bring in more men than you.”

  Chaos laughs. “Ain’t anyone gonna lift a finger to help you. You’ve pissed off the other charters, they won’t mind you being taken out.” He shrugs. “They might give you shelter, but they’re not going to lay down their lives for you.”

  Now my real prez puts on an act, letting the first show of concern appear on his face. He exchanges a glance with Wraith, then addresses Chaos again. I can only guess Beef and Blade have been told to shut up and go along with whatever is said. “What are you proposin’, Chaos? You can’t believe we’re going to up and leave our compound.”

  “That’s exactly what I am proposin’.” It’s Chaos’s turn to lean forward. “Herrera wants someone to run his guns. He’s only gonna give it to one club, and that’s the one he thinks is the strongest. You ain’t got a chance in hell of taking me down, Drummer. Hell, I doubt you want to run guns again, having got out of the business. I’m gonna give you a chance. You, your women, your fucking kids, you pack up and get out by the weekend and I’ll let you walk out of Tucson.”

  I take the chance to lean over and whisper into his ear. He grins, then adds, “You can leave the sweet butts. Rock here wants to reacquaint himself with them. And we don’t have any aversion to fresh fucking meat.”

  “Fucking meat.” Wreck chuckles. “That’s a good handle.”

  Drummer’s hand is toying with his beard, his face expressionless. Blade and Beef aren’t so pokerfaced, twin looks of hatred alternating between being thrown at me, Chaos, and his companions. Chaos, on the other hand, is already tasting success, a
s relaxed as Drummer is tense.

  It’s a pregnant pause, the ball in Drummer’s court. His eyes go to Chaos. “I need to take this to the table.”

  “Of course you do,” the man in front of me agrees. “Wouldn’t have expected different. Today’s Monday. I’m being generous with the time I’m giving you. But Saturday I’ll be coming to your compound. If any of you are still there, you’ll be dead. As long as you’re gone, there won’t be any trouble. If you stay out of Tucson, we’ll leave you alone.”

  Drummer’s face remains impassive, no inkling to give away his answer. Suddenly he points straight at me. “I want the traitor back.”

  “I need someone to show me around your compound. He stays with me.”

  Now I’m the one who has to force his face to be blank. For a second I thought I had a chance of escape. I make myself bend down and whisper to Chaos again, who laughs loudly. “Yeah, Drummer. Make sure you leave your best whiskey.”

  My impudence has Drummer moving, standing and kicking back his chair. “This meetin’ is over, Chaos. You’ve just declared war on the Satan’s Devils. And we won’t be takin’ that lightly.”

  Chaos also stands. “I don’t make empty threats,” he snarls in response. “Best remember that, Drummer.”

  Drummer walks out, followed by Wraith and Beef, with Blade trailing behind. As he passes it’s only my quick reflexes, and that I was expecting it, which save me from a potentially fatal stab to the stomach. As it is, he uses a knife he had hidden to slice through my flesh as he passes.

  As Wreck and Krueger leap up, Chaos waves them down. “Let him go. Should have expected they’d try something like that. Who is he, Rock?”

  “Enforcer,” I gasp.

  “Yeah, might have guessed. Well, he’s yours on Saturday if they don’t run away like the scared motherfuckers they are.”

  “Thanks, Prez,” I manage to get out, trying to hold my gut together.