by KE Osborn
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Tremor calls out, his voice full of disdain.
“I’m here with my crew, just like you are… son,” the man says shocking me.
Tremor sneers. His face contorts in visible distaste for the man standing before him. Tremor storms forward, right up into his father’s body while tension spreads through the air like a toxin invading our very souls.
“Don’t call me that, you lost that right—”
“This isn’t the place for that, boy.”
Tremor rushes forward shoving his father in the chest, but he doesn’t budge as the other men move in. I gasp as Trax, Torque, Sensei, and Surge rush forward to Tremor’s aid. But his father raises his hand forcing his men halt their attack. Everyone stops dead still while Tremor stands panting, his jaw clenched and staring his father down.
“You’re a piece of shit, Frank,” Tremor blurts out.
Frank’s lip turns up as he lets out a long huff while glancing over at the ladies and me. “Fine bunch of women by your sides there lads. I hope you treat them well?”
Tremor moves to rush forward again, but Trax grabs the hem of his cut yanking him back a step. My heart’s hammering in my chest. I’ve never seen Tremor so angry.
Maybe I need to step in to calm him down? I walk forward to his side and try to bring the fever down a notch.
“Trem, let’s go,” I murmur.
His head snaps around to look at me like he’s furious I’ve just put myself in danger, but says nothing as he glances back at his father.
Frank smiles while staring at me. “Well, hi, there. Aren’t you a stunning little thing?”
“Don’t you even look at her,” Torque grunts from behind me before Tremor even has a chance to reply.
Tremor grabs my hand, turning as if we’re about to walk off. “She your girlfriend, son?”
Tremor spins around glaring at Frank. “She’s none of your goddamned business, Frank. Now fuck off before I have my brothers, my real family, take care of you the way I want them to.”
Frank lets out a booming laugh. “That sounds like a threat, son.”
“Take it however the fuck you want. Just stay the hell away from me, the girls, and the club. Don’t come near any of us, and we won’t have a fucking problem.”
His eyes light up with an evil glint. “Not a fucking problem. You always were a waste of space,” he sneers turning as they all head off, the lackeys’ footsteps leaving a trail of paint as they go.
Tremor’s hand in mine tightens as I glance up at him. My body shakes as we veer off in the opposite direction of his father and his men. I knew Tremor and his dad had animosity between them, I just didn’t know it was an all-out war.
Tremor drags me along with him as we head as far away from them as possible, the rest of the club following a safe distance behind us while I try to figure out what the hell to say to Tremor. He’s panting and huffing like the rage in him is only building stronger with each passing second.
“Trem, stop,” I beg halting our fast pace as I turn him to look at me. His eyes harden as he stares at me, his face impassive while he stands firm.
“I don’t really know what that was back there, and I know things with us are weird, but I want you to know you can talk to me… about anything. I’ll always be here to listen.”
“Just make sure while we’re here, at the comp, you stay with the club. Don’t go walking off on your own. Now I know he’s here, and he knows you mean something to me…” He grits his teeth. “Fuck, Neala.”
Sighing, my thumb runs over the back of his hand. Seeing him stressed is never a good thing, but I have to admit being here for him feels good. “I won’t go anywhere without you or one of the guys. I promise, Trem.”
He lets out a relieved sigh. “Fuck! I’ve brought the mood down.”
My lips turn up slightly as I look around the area to see the rest of our club are still enjoying their day. “Well, no one else seems fazed by it. Maybe we need to try and let it wash away and enjoy what’s left of today as well?”
He cracks his neck to the side as I watch Torque stride over to the paint vendors to talk with them— I’m sure he’s bribing them with money to make it all go away. I glance at Tremor. He winks at me. I mouth a simple ‘thank you,’ then he turns walking us over to the main group.
Smiling, I stride with Tremor to stand by the girls.
“I swear these guys and their fighting…” Foxy doesn’t finish instead she chuckles. I have to admit the lack of security is pretty shit seeing no one came running to help, but then again you just had to see what it was like out the front with that Stu guy at the entry desk. Those security guys are useless.
Everyone seems to be in a cheery mood considering what just happened. Sass did super well, the boys have had some rough and tumble, which always makes them happy, but we weren’t thrown out. I guess all that’s left to do is enjoy the afternoon.
“We stay together, no separation. Let’s go check everything out, shall we, until the engine prize is announced. Then we’ll go to the motel and rest up for the ride home tomorrow. Tremor, a word?” Torque announces waltzing back over like he’s king fucking dick.
I can only imagine what Torque’s going to ask Tremor. I know I have questions, but we’re not in a place to discuss it right now.
I just hope Tremor’s going to be okay.
NEALA
The rest of the afternoon was a hit. Sass may have come second in the tire change contest, but in the engine build, she ended up coming in first. Smokin’ Joe’s won fifty thousand dollars to be used at the garage however they see fit. I swear Joe nearly had a goddamned heart attack on the spot. And us, well, we were a rowdy fucking bunch that’s for sure. Sass got a lot of looks, some bad, but more of admiration. It’s great to see she can kick ass at work as well as in general life too.
Tremor and I kept to ourselves mostly. We talked a little here and there. Even when in our motel room, the chatter was minimal. I can tell something’s playing on his mind, whether it be about seeing his father, or something else, I don’t know, but he wasn’t open to sharing with me, so I let him be. We’re in such a weird place right now. I don’t even know how to deal with him. I want him, there’s no doubt, but I still doubt he wants me.
The drive back to Chicago took as long as it did to get to Louisville. By the time we got back to the clubhouse, I just wanted my own damn bed and a little bit of privacy. I love this club, I love the people, but I need some me time. Plus, the thought of finding myself trapped alone with Renegade somehow, I just couldn’t cope with that. So, I left almost as soon as we got in and came home. I’ve been here for two and a half days.
I figure I should make an appearance back at the club. Plus, I miss my niece and nephew and need a baby fix. There might also be a certain prospect who I’m missing, but I won’t tell him that. So, I make my way to the clubhouse feeling a refreshed buzz to my vibe. I needed the time away to regroup. To focus, to gather my shit.
Maybe I can go talk to Tremor, straighten our shit out?
I don’t know.
Walking into the clubhouse, there’s a coldness to the air. There’s no music as I step inside which is unusual. I have a pep in my step, but it’s soon taken away as I look to see everyone moping about.
Something’s happened.
Shit.
Everyone looks really sad. I pass by Vibe and Lift, their faces long and frowning as they sit at the wooden tables quietly drinking. Ruby, Cindi, and Hayley are at the bar quietly pouring drinks as I walk in further taking in the somber appearance of the room.
Holy shit, what the fuck’s going on?
I look over to the back of the room to see Sass being held by Sensei. It looks like she’s crying in his arms. My eyes widen as I look around trying to find someone to talk to.
Torque walks out from down the hall. Foxy’s on his arm. I’m surprised to see her because Foxy should be at the hospital with her side job shadowing Kline. If she’s here, some
thing’s definitely going down.
I race over to my eldest brother as he looks at me with sad eyes. “Ry, what the hell’s going on?” I only call my brother by his birth name when I’m teasing or being serious, and right now I’m being deadly serious.
Foxy sniffles letting my brother go as she takes a seat at the bar. He walks me into the hall out of earshot of the room.
Now I’m really worried.
“Rylan, what the hell?” I murmur in a lowered voice.
He exhales as he slumps his body. “Lala… it’s Smokin’ Joe.”
Peering around the corner at Sass, I see the state she’s in. Fear sweeps down my spine as I tense up. “What about him?”
He winces looking down at the floor. “The emphysema got him. He died this afternoon.”
My heart shatters as my hand flies to my mouth. “Oh no.” Tears well in my eyes. Before this trip away, I didn’t know Joe all that well, but in Louisville, he was like a bright light for all of us. He might have been brash, bold, and a little eccentric, but Sass idolized him. I know how much she adored her father, how much she loved him to the core. She will be shattered right now. “Poor Sass.”
“He was a good man. We’re gonna give him a funeral, a proper farewell. He may not have been a patched member, but he served this club for years before Sass took over. He deserves that much from us.”
“What can I do?” I ask.
He exhales. “Be here for the brothers, be here for Sass. Other than that, there’s not much anyone can do. Losing one of us is hard. Every. Damn. Time.”
I wipe a stray tear from the bottom of my eye. “Do we know when the funeral will be?”
“Probably Monday.”
Feeling slightly taken over by the emotion, I reach forward taking my brother into an embrace. As always, he’s a little stiff in the hug at first, but he quickly loosens up embracing me back. “It’s so short, isn’t it?”
He pulls back looking at me, though his arms are still wrapped around me. “What is?”
“Life,” I reply.
He cocks his brow letting out a sigh. “You know I just want to see you happy, don’t you, little sis?”
“I know.”
He leans in planting a soft kiss on my forehead as he lets me go. A throat clearing alerts us to someone coming down the hall. We turn to see Trax with a baby attached to his front.
I can’t help but be filled with love for my brother as he steps over to us with baby attached. It suits him. “That was a nice moment,” he declares. I can’t tell if he’s being sincere or taking the piss.
“Trax, this isn’t the time—”
“No. I was being serious. It’s good to see you two having a moment together. Not at each other’s throats about a certain mover and shaker.”
I push his shoulder as Torque rolls his eyes. “Trax, I may not like that Tremor has a thing for our sister. I may not like the fact they seem to be stuck in some sorta damn limbo about it all. But in the end, I just want Lala happy. If it’s with Tremor, then fuck… I guess I should roll over on this one. Life’s too damn short.”
My stomach flips as I stand a little taller.
“So are you going to tell Tremor you roll over?” Trax asks.
“I said I should roll over, Trax, not I was gonna do it easily.”
I sigh. “It’s fine. Tremor wants his patch more than anything. More than me. I get that.”
Torque and Trax both jolt their heads back. “Well, now I’m just fucked off.”
I glance to my eldest brother scowering. “What? Why?”
“Because I don’t want him to want anything more than his patch. I don’t want any brother to want anything more than their patch. But the thought of a guy liking you, but not liking you enough to fight for you over his patch, just fuckin’ infuriates me. It’s conflicting, Lala. I don’t like it. I don’t want the guy to just like you, I want him to fight for you, but Tremor doesn’t. That fuckin’ annoys me… fuck!”
Trax and I both let out a small laugh. “Now you see what I’m dealing with.”
He groans. “This is fuckin’ bullshit! I’m gonna talk to him.”
I put out my hand to stop him. “Don’t, please. It’s no use, he chose his patch over me. I don’t think he’ll ever want me more than that.”
Torque screws up his face. “Maybe I should transfer him to another chapter, so you don’t have to suffer around him.”
My eyes open wide. “Oh God, Ry, stop. Be a president not a protective brother. You wouldn’t do it to any other prospect. Don’t do it to Tremor. He belongs here. He also deserves his patch. Stop holding my relationship with him against him and let him have the damn thing, will you? This bullshit has gone on long enough.”
“Oh, I’ll let him have it all right.”
“Ry!”
Trax chuckles as he bobs baby Rix against his chest. “I’m enjoying this a little too much.”
“Okay, fine! Fuckin’ hell, I swear you take after Mom with your bossiness.”
Trax chuckles again. “Oh yeah, you’re all Mom.”
I shrug. “Freckles is a legend ‘round here, and if I’m half the woman she is, I’ll be happy.”
“Amen,” Torque replies glancing back out to the somber room. “But for now, we have a funeral to plan.” He sighs. “This is gonna be fucking shit.”
TREMOR
Five Days Later
Watching the way Foxy grips on to Torque, holding him like he’s her lifeline as we slowly ride the precession, my chest tightens. I think to Lala. What I wouldn’t give to have her on the back of my bike with me right now. To have her arms wrapped around me, holding onto me the way Foxy’s holding my president.
Next to them is Sensei, but Sass’s grip on him is different to Foxy’s. She’s holding on like she’s having trouble even functioning. I feel for Sass. Her father was her everything. As we ride behind the hearse, the coffin visible to us all, she’s clearly struggling as she slumps against Sensei’s back.
Today’s a reminder that death is swift. It comes for us all—it doesn’t discriminate. You don’t know when, you don’t know where. All you know is that it’s inevitable. Death is coming one way or another. The thought brings home a truth I don’t want to face, a truth I’ve been trying to avoid for the past five days since news of Smokin’ Joe’s passing broke. Chloe’s having treatment, the chemo seems to be working, but she’s certainly not out of the woods.
Chloe could die.
My cousin, my best friend, could die.
Since news of Smokin’ Joe’s passing hit, I went into overdrive, especially after seeing my asshole of a father. I’m not sure if Chloe picked up on it, but I’ve seen her every day since. Life’s short, you need to spend it with the ones you love, especially if those you love might only have a limited time.
The thunderous roar of the Defiance Harleys all slowly crawling behind the hearse as it pulls into the chapel makes passersby stand in awe. There’s a crowd already at the chapel waiting for the funeral to take place—Joe’s family, his friends, his fellow workers, all the people who know and love him.
The hearse drives in making its way around the back as we pull our bikes to the front against the road in a long precession. As we walk inside to the low drawl of people chatting, I look up to see the coffin being wheeled into place. I’m on edge. Smokin’ Joe was a good guy, gruff, had the best Australian accent, told the stupidest jokes—but that’s not what has me on edge—being here, seeing the people mourning, knowing the misery that comes from the finality of death. I don’t want to go through this. I don’t want to feel the pain of having my heart ripped out like Sass is going through right now. I feel so bad as I watch her. Sensei and two guys in suits are walking to the front of the chapel. Sensei holds Sass so tight. I don’t blame him, she looks like she could break at any moment. It’s difficult watching a woman who’s so tough normally, so sassy and secure in herself, completely breaking down like this.
Sass’s cries softly echo through the chapel as
one of the suits, who I’m pretty sure is related to her, reads a eulogy. He looks stern, stoic. He seems like even though he’s torn up about the loss of Joe, he’s the one holding the family together.
“Thank you, Heath,” the chaplain calls out. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard his name before. I think he’s Sass’s younger brother, but not the youngest one. That must be the other guy in the suit.
The service continues, it’s not long or drawn out—a celebration of Smokin’ Joe’s life. The service ends, and the two brothers, Sensei, and three of the mechanics all stand to be pallbearers. The coffin’s hoisted up onto their shoulders as everyone stands to the sound of one of our bikes being revved outside. It’s a fitting tribute as we all hold up a wrench as he’s carried past us. Almost as if it’s a final salute to the man who worked on so many of our rides over the years.
Sass moves in behind the coffin, Foxy steps in beside her wrapping her arms around her as she cries into Foxy’s shoulders. Slowly, one by one, the rows file out behind the coffin as it’s placed back into the hearse.
We all walk over to our bikes as Sass, Foxy, Sparx, and Freckles stand with the brothers by the back of the car to watch it drive away. Sensei is the first to start. He revs his engine loudly, then one after the other, we all rev our bikes. The thunderous noise echoing down the small street. People start to peer out of their homes as Sass cuddles into her blood brothers, while the hearse begins to drive off to the crematorium. We rev harder, sending Smokin’ Joe off with a loud farewell while we watch the hearse pull away down the road. I notice Neala’s softly crying as she cuddles into Sparx, and I wish I could be there to comfort her, but I can’t.
The hearse turns the corner as the rumbles of the Harleys suddenly stop. We turn off our engines almost in sync. Sass’s soft whimpering is the only noise echoing through the summertime air as Sensei jumps off his ride moving in to comfort her. She slides into his arms like she needs him to breathe. Their love is so clear, so effortless.
