by Carly White
“Yes, it was a good time. I knew that he was one of the ones involved and it was enough to get me ready. There are several more that I want first, but since Wade is so close, I want him now.”
“Have you checked out the house and the security yet?”
Chris shook his head that he hadn’t. “Not yet.”
“Do you want me to go down there?”
“No I got it. I want to see him first. I would like to go in and take care of it myself. We will just have to see what is going on.”
Vin agreed and took a bite of the sandwich brought around from the waitress. He noticed his friend kept looking around. “I doubt that a man like Wade is going to come into a place like this.”
“Yeah, but I am looking for this chic that was in here the other night. She was beautiful and I don’t know, stars in my eyes kind of thing.”
Vin chuckled. “No, you will feel like that for a while after you get out. Too many bitches and not enough time.” He too had felt the same way and after being out for almost six months, he still felt that way. Chris still had some time to go before the lasting effects of being institutionalize finally wore off.
“Well we are here for you when you are ready to take him down. All of us are here for you Chris. You helped a lot of us out and no one has forgotten that. Without the money I made on the inside, I don’t know how my family would have made it.”
Chris knew that they were there and though he would have been there either way, it was nice to have some support. With most of his family still blaming him and believing the lies that he killed Ray. The gang was the only family he had now.
“I appreciate it. Life in there was just trying to survive. Couldn’t do it on your own.”
Vin nodded his head, both of them a faraway look in their eyes. “You might want to rethink your wardrobe Chris. They might know you are out, Johnson could have gone to him and you stick out around here with that vest and jacket.”
Chris looked down at the vest. It had become like second nature and he had had it on since he got out. It was the first bit of freedom that he had and it reminded him that he couldn’t be the man he once was. That Chris was gone. Killed the three long years in prison and now that he was out, he had to be a different man.
“I like it and I don’t care if he knows I am here. It won’t change anything. Besides, do you really think that Johnson is going to admit that he rolled on him? Wade would put a bullet in his head without a thought.”
“I don’t know man. I hope you are right. I think that man would do anything to save his own life.”
Chris nodded and felt disappointment over not seeing the blonde there. His mind was in all the wrong places, but he couldn’t help himself. All he could really think about was the uppity woman that probably seen his leather and tattoos and dismissed him right off. It was a lot different than the reception he had gotten from every other woman that he had met since getting out. They had liked the roughened look, but his mystery girl was more put together. He wanted the one woman that he couldn’t have and that bugged him. Chris wanted to change that, he wanted her for some reason, something inside of him telling him that she was the one for him.
“I lost you there man. Where did you go?”
“That damn chic is still in my mind. I think I will have to find out who she is after I take care of Wade. You guys just hang tight and I will let you know what we are doing next.”
“No problems. Most of the guys are liking it over at Clennon’s.”
Chris grimaced. “Well I will be happy to get back to the compound. The little motel is not the best I have been in.”
“Anything is better than being in.”
“Yeah, but just.”
Chapter 4
Chris waited till noon time to take a drive over by where Wade was supposed to live. He had the shotgun in his storage and he had this small hope that he would be able to just stroll in and take care of the man. But he quickly realized that it was not going to be the case.
The man was living in a gated community and as he watched from a block away, there was two ways to get in. One way was through the guard’s post and the other entrance had a numerical pad that people would put in code in and go through after the gate opened. He was feeling a bit sad that today would not be the day it would be done. If he wanted to get to him, he would have to bring in a few of the members of the gang to help him out.
There was another option to wait till he went out and away from the house, but Wade was said to always travel with a small entourage. One would assume that they were his bodyguards, though the driver’s themselves looked pretty beefy. Chris didn’t like not knowing and it bothered him. He had to figure out what he was going to do.
About to drive off, he noticed blonde hair in the distance and the woman he had been thinking of earlier. She was leaving out from the inside, waving off to the man at the gate like she knew him. That changed things for Chris and gave him another excuse to meet the woman that was on his mind. He waited until she passed before he pulled out, keeping his distance behind her.
The woman drove like she was from the city, starting and stopping too fast. It became harder to tail her, but eventually she stopped at a small apartment building. It was a far cry from the houses he had seen behind in the gated community. The young woman was most likely a wealthy man’s daughter or wife and he hoped for the former.
While he was supposed to be figuring out what to do with Wade, he waited for over an hour before she left the building and then made her way to a pharmacy. Chris followed behind a couple of cars and waited with her for another hour before she came out. He saw her pop a pill in her mouth and there was just a way her movements were kind of jagged that he really just didn’t get, but he didn’t have time to wonder as she was on the move again.
This time she moved out away from the city and it was only several miles later that he was behind her and then she suddenly veered off the side of the road. His bike moved down the road and he saw her looking at him through the mirror. The car didn’t move and after a few miles, he turned around to see if he could catch up to her. When he saw that she was out of the car, leaning against the door, he stopped and asked her if she needed any help.
“Why are you following me?”
Chris played it like he didn’t know what she was talking about. “I was just stopping to see if you needed any help.”
“Really? I passed you when I left Windhym earlier. You have been with me all day, so what do you want? Are you working for my father or something? Did he hire you because of what I saw?”
He looked at her funny then. Chris couldn’t have faked the look any better because he had no idea what she was talking about. It made Sandy wonder if she was losing her mind. After that night she had had, she was more than just a little on edge. Now the man on the bike was looking over at her like she was crazy.
“No, no one hired me.”
“Sorry. Really, I must sound mad, but I have seen your bike several times today.”
“Yeah, I have been lost most of the day. For a little town, Ashland has a lot of twists and turns.”
“It does. You aren’t from here are you?”
He shook his head that he wasn’t, his eyes finally allowed to wander down her form and he smiled back at her. She had the girl next door look down pat and he started to wish that he had grown up in a town, next to a girl like her. Maybe he wouldn’t have gone the same way that he did.
“No I am just visiting for a time. Do you need help?”
She sighed and looked over at her car. “I think I flooded it or something. I don’t know. It won’t start now and I am late for an appointment.”
Sandy felt a little calmer when he parked his bike in front of her and he walked towards her. She was a nervous wreck moments before and now she was smiling back at him, forgetting what she was about to be late for. “Let me look under the hood.”
He got in and popped her hood, pulling it up while her eyes took in his huge arms. They
were covered in tattoos and he looked just like she thought a biker would look. “Is it bad?”
Sandy knew nothing about cars and took his word for it when he told her that she would have to let it sit for a few more minutes. He wanted a few minutes to talk to her, but Sandy was more worried about getting to her appointment. “I really need to go. I guess I will just call a taxi.”
Her hand went into her purse for her phone. “I can take you wherever you need to go. I have gotten all my business done here.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Not at all. I would be happy to.”
She smiled back at him and then down at her skirt and heels. “I don’t think I am dressed for the part.”
Her curved body looked good enough to eat and he couldn’t even imagine her crushed back against him. He wouldn’t take no for an answer and when she finally got on and relaxed her death grip on his abdomen, Sandy started to feel a little better. She had to go to a police station it turned out and though Chris was climbing out of his skin being that close to the place, he told her he would wait while she met with someone. He had no idea what was going on, but Chris didn’t ask.
He waited for her, hoping that she wouldn’t take long and she didn’t. Sandy looked a bit distressed when she came out though, her eyes rimmed red.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just had to do something I didn’t want to do. But sometimes you have to do what is right, even though you don’t want to. You know?”
She was babbling again and she got on behind him without any urging. Her hands wrapped around his chest and her head laid against him. It struck him then and he didn’t want her to let him go. Chris rode back to her car slowly and waited while she got off.
“Do you want to go somewhere? Have a drink?”
Sandy looked at him them and her immediate answer was to say no. It was obvious he was some kind of thug, even though he had been rather thoughtful in a way. She found herself instead saying yes. “There is a place down the road if you want to follow me.” Sandy didn’t think she could take another minute rubbed up against him for a while and needed a drink more than anything.
He agreed and waited till her car started up and she took off the opposite way that she was pointed, doing a big U-turn in the street. Chris had completely forgotten about what he was supposed to be doing, too concerned with why Sandy seemed so upset. It was clear that she didn’t want to talk about it much, but there was something going on. His plans were put on hold, but as he pulled in beside her at a small bar with flashing neon lights, it didn’t matter.
“Thanks for helping me out today. I have just been having a crappy couple of days, you know?”
He nodded and walked in next to her. She seemed to know several people as they walked in and he wondered why that was. Sandy didn’t look the type that would be in a bar all of the time, but by the way people reacted to her, he couldn’t be sure. She was pleasant to most, nodding and waving before she went to the bar and asked for a drink. After she ordered and he did as well, he sat beside her, his back to the side so that he could look at who else was in there with them. Chris kept hoping that he would recognize some of Wade’s men in town, but he didn’t notice anyone that pulled his attention.
“So what does that mean on your jacket?”
Her fingers went to the emblem for the Night Riders and he could feel the light touch on his skin underneath. Chris was not expecting her to touch him. “It’s the name of our gang.”
“Gang? Is that for real?”
He nodded, not the least bit offended. Chris was too busy watching her finger move on his chest. It was becoming clear that whatever she had gotten at the pharmacy was making her feel good, long before she took a sip of a drink.
“Are you okay Sandy? Did you take something?”
She nodded that she had, her fingers like little legs walking up his chest and then to his neck, tracing some of the inked lines on his skin. Her touch was driving him mad and he wanted to stop her, but he couldn’t find the will to. Sandy touched his rough face and then lined his bottom lip before the bartender brought the drink. He stopped her hand on the glass.
“Are you sure you should me mixing it with alcohol?” Chris wanted to yell at himself. She was feeling him suddenly and would be an easy conquest. It was what he wanted, she was what he wanted, but there was no way that he wanted it to be like this. He wanted her to remember it as he would, Chris wanted her to beg him for more and if she got anymore buzzed, it wasn’t going to happen.
She shrugged and pouted at him. Sandy really needed a drink. “Just a little.”
“As long as you let me take you home. You can’t be driving like this.”
Sandy nodded in agreement and waited for his hand to come off the glass. She smiled when it did and asked for another from the bartender. “Your father was in here earlier looking for you.”
“Yeah?” She tried not to say much else, but Jimmy had more to say.
“Wanted me to call him if you showed up. You might want to give him a call Sandy.”
She nodded and felt her cheeks getting red from more than the alcohol. It was one of the things she had always loved about Ashland, everyone knew her and her family, but now she wondered if they knew the truth as well. Who all worked for him and was all he did illegal? Not to mention the fact that she had just left the police station, telling one of her friends that recently made it into the police force. She had come for advice, but maybe she was seen. Her paranoia was back, though dulled a little from the medication for her nerves.
“I will, thanks Jimmy.”
“You know I would do anything for the Westins.” Jimmy gave Chris a dirty look and as soon as he was out of sight, Sandy seemed relieved.
“Your last name is Westin?”
“Yeah, Sandy Westin.” She took another drink and felt the need to move around. Sandy had a feeling that Jimmy was calling her father as she sat there and though it wasn’t usual for him to chase her down, it wasn’t usual for her to leave her cellphone off for hours.
“Are you going to make a call?”
“No, I will be home in a little while anyways.”
He shook his head, but there was a glint in the man’s eyes that she would have seen if she wasn’t feeling so good. It didn’t take much for Chris to put it together. She was his daughter, the man he was there to end and he had run into his daughter of all people.
“Good. I will be more than happy to take you home whenever you are ready.”
Chapter 5
Sandy had a buzz. Between the boos and the prescription, she was feeling no pain whatsoever. She had warmed up to Chris and though he was still dangerous looking, the longer she was around him, the more she became aware of how hard he was and how handsome he was when he smiled. He had a way about him that was easy to get along with and they drove around in her car for a while before going back to her place.
She leaned on his shoulder as they drove up to the small gate. “What is the number I have to put in here at the gate Sandy?”
“4, 2, 33, 8.”
He punched the numbers in and remembered them for later. Here he had thought that he was going to waste the day and get no information about Wade. A few hours later he was going right through the door with his daughter.
There had been a moment when he had first realized what her last name was, who Sandy was that he wanted to take her, but he knew that she wouldn’t forgive him and Chris just didn’t want her to fear him. He was enjoying their time together too much to let it all go bad. She felt good next to him as she snuggled against him. Chris was more used to a girl trying to give him head when he drove with one in a car, but he somehow liked her light touch even better. It was almost innocent in a way, just like the women beside him.
She navigated him to a large house that was several stories and there were several cars in the driveway. He saw them, but pulled in anyways behind one of the dark vehicles. There were a few bikes in the parking lot as well, but none
of them were recognized. They weren’t his guys, so that was all that mattered.
Sandy grabbed his arm once he got out and tried to pull him to the house. “Come on, you should come in and meet everyone.” She didn’t want to be alone and figured that Chris could be the distraction, but he didn’t seem okay with that.
“Sorry Sandy I have a few places that I still have to go tonight. Give me your number and I will call you tomorrow if you are free.”
She reached down towards his pockets and pulled his phone out. Tapping a few numbers in the phone before she handed it back to him, she leaned in. “Call me if you really must go Chris.”
Sandy had went to her tiptoes and kissed him gently on his rough cheek before going into the house. He moved away from the light at the entrance and walked back down the driveway. He could feel eyes on him and Chris knew that it was going to be known who he was soon enough. If he could go a little longer without Wade knowing that was good, but now it didn’t matter because he just got the key in.
***
“Where have you been young lady?”
Sandy was not expecting the booming voice of her father behind her and she actually jumped a little bit. She was halfway up the stairs and she turned around. “I just went out.”
“You never answered your phone.”
“Sorry about that daddy. I think I messed up the battery of something. It keeps going out. Did you need something?”
Wade looked at her, unsure now of what he had said to his friend. Sandy had been spotted at the police station by one of his watchers, as well as at a bar with some man in a motorcycle vest. It made him think of Chris and since he knew that the man was coming, why was she with him?
“Yes, I need you to answer your phone when I call!”
He scared her now and the moment that he shot that unarmed man went through her head and she took a step away from him without realizing it. There was something to be said about the change in the way she felt about him, but she saw him now as many others must, frightening. He was scary to be around and she had never once feared him before. Before she had always seen him as stern, but her hero underneath it all.
