by London Casey
The plates, the house, it all matched.
That was good, maybe.
Kaity could have still wrote down the wrong information.
They walked into the garage, Erik leading the way. The smell of dust and oil flooded his nose. He walked to the door to the house and saw that the doorknob was missing. Well, it wasn’t missing, it was taken off. It lay on the floor in pieces. Erik pointed to it.
“What the fuck?” Gaige whispered.
“Eyes open,” Erik said.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside the house. They were in the kitchen of the house. The stale air smelled of rotting fruit. Something sweet and moldy. Erik took his gun out and when he stepped out from the fridge, he looked down to the floor. It was a cheap linoleum pattern on the floor. White blocks with black lines separating the blocks. Every third block had a collection of lavender and pink flowers.
Then Erik saw blood.
“Blood,” he said.
“Fuck,” Miller said.
“Hello!” Erik yelled.
The blood formed a trail that left the kitchen. He led the way, walking along the blood. The next room from the kitchen was the dining room. Two chairs were on the floor, the tablecloth and center piece messed up.
“Anyone here?” he yelled.
The response was a moan.
Erik ran and on the other side of the table was an elderly man on the ground, holding his stomach. The ass end of a knife stuck out from his gut.
“Oh shit,” Erik yelled.
He put his gun away and dropped to his knees. Gaige and Landon were right with him as Miller stood over the scene.
“What the hell is this?” Miller asked.
“Hey, buddy,” Erik said. “Look at me.”
The man gurgled and his eyes met Erik’s. They were glossy, almost somewhat lost.
“I… he said he wouldn’t do this…”
“Who said it?” Gaige asked.
“He’s going to fucking die,” Landon said.
“I don’t care,” Miller boomed. “I want answers right now.”
“Listen, buddy,” Erik said, “we need you to tell us who did this. So we can catch him. Okay?”
The old man nodded. His hands squeezed at the knife.
“Can… you… can you take this… it burns…”
“No,” Erik said. “Leave it there. Look at me. My name is Erik. Tell me who did this.”
“Hurry,” Gaige said. “He’s going.”
“Shut up,” Erik growled.
“Broke in… took the handle off…”
“Not good enough,” Miller said.
“Keep talking to me,” Erik said to the old man.
“Said I had to deliver… I… threw a little box… there was a gate…”
“We know that part,” Gaige said. “Tell us who.”
“I didn’t want…”
“Fuck,” Miller said. He lifted his foot and put it on the end of the knife.
The old man let out a cry and blood seeped from the sides of his mouth.
“Christ,” Erik yelled. “What are you doing?”
“Tell us who fucking did it,” Miller said. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”
The old man’s eyes widened as his head shook. Either from fear or from his impending death. Probably both.
“Hurry, buddy,” Erik said.
“No name,” the old man whispered. His eyes started to shut.
“Wake the fuck up,” Gaige yelled and shook the man.
“Shit,” Miller said.
Erik hated what he had to do next but he slapped the man in the face. His eyes popped open and he looked at Erik.
“His… eye… the eye…”
“Tell me about the eye,” Erik said.
The old man’s mouth opened. He started to gurgle on his own blood. Erik turned his head and the blood leaked out.
“Tell me,” Erik yelled.
“His… eye… there was a line… like your face…”
The old man’s eyes shut and that was it.
He was gone.
His body lost all life. Even when Miller stepped on the knife and it slid with a wet squish deeper into the man’s gut, he didn’t move.
“Dead,” Landon said.
“Fuck,” Erik said. He fell back on his ass and let out a breath.
Gaige stood and grabbed a chair. He lifted it and slammed it down, sending pieces scattering all around.
“I can’t fucking believe this,” Gaige said. “I don’t get this fucking shit.”
“Calm down,” Miller said. “Let’s go into the kitchen and talk this out.”
Landon put a hand out and Erik took it. Landon helped him up and then they walked to the kitchen.
“Go with what we know,” Miller said.
“Means this guy or group could be close,” Erik said. “He came in, forced this guy to fuck with us, all for this diversion. This dead end.”
“That’s all it is,” Gaige said. “A dead fucking end.”
“Then we leave and go with what we have,” Miller said.
“Which is what?” Landon asked.
Miller didn’t respond. He took out his cell and walked back into the garage. Erik knew he was calling the chief to report the murder. Erik was relieved that Kaity wasn’t wrong. Then again, it bothered the hell out of him that she could read a plate like that and remember it.
Something was off.
Something was off about everything.
sixteen.
Kaity finished her shower and stepped out, shivering. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. She walked to the mirror and wiped it with her hand. She forced her hands through her hair, wishing she had a brush. She also wished she had a change of clothes and a purpose in life.
When Kaity opened the bathroom door, two women were sitting on Erik’s bed.
Her heart stopped for a second, wondering if these were two other whores that Erik had fucked. Or maybe they were waiting for Erik, to have a wild, biker threesome.
It made Kaity angry.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m Emily.”
“I’m Avery.” the other woman said. “And these are clothes for you.”
Emily. Avery.
“We’re with the MC,” Emily said. “I’m with Gaige.”
“I’m with Landon,” Avery said. “Sorry to bust in like this. We saw you around and figured you could use some fresh clothes.”
“Yeah, I could. Thanks.”
Emily reached down and picked up Kaity's jeans from the floor. She touched the rips and tear from the bullet. “What happened to you?”
“Got shot at,” Kaity said.
“On your first day?” Avery asked. “I guess that’s normal. Landon chained me to his motorcycle the first day we met.”
“My best friend was killed the first day I met Gaige,” Emily said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kaity said.
“Why don’t you get dressed and then come hang out with us for a minute?” Avery asked.
“Hang out?”
“Yeah,” Emily said. “The guys left. It’s never easy to watch them go.”
Kaity swallowed. She wasn’t in a position to argue. Emily grabbed the clothes off the bed and handed them to Kaity.
“These should fit,” Emily said. “Hope you don’t mind sharing panties.”
Kaity laughed. “That’s kind of weird.”
“Better than not wearing them at all.”
“Bite your tongue,” Avery said. “Could be fun without panties.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Kaity said.
She took the clothes and went into the bathroom. The clothes fit pretty well. Kaity wore her own bra though, because her breasts were bigger than the other two women. The tight shirt made her chest look even bigger.
When she left the bathroom, Emily and Avery were still waiting.
“Come on,” Emily said, “we’ll go crash at the bar and wait for the guys.”
&
nbsp; They offered Kaity a seat at the bar, and then they sat on either side of her. She knew they were just trying to be nice, but Kaity worried about getting closer with anyone else. She had too much to lose if too many people learned the truth about her past.
“You’re with Erik, right?” Emily asked.
“With? That’s a loose term I think. He brought me here for the night because my car is getting fixed.”
“How did you get shot at then?” Avery asked.
Kaity gave the quick rundown of her day yesterday. By the time she finished, Emily reached across the bar and grabbed three bottles of beer that were on ice. She twisted the tops off and served them.
“That’s a messy day,” Emily said. “I know how that goes.”
“It’s kind of like that everyday,” Avery said.
“Do you get nervous?” Kaity asked. “When they leave?”
“Are you nervous right now?” Avery asked with a smile.
Kaity blushed. Of course she was nervous. She feared admitting she cared about Erik because she had no idea what Erik wanted. For all Kaity knew, soon she would be back on the highway, cruising to literally nowhere.
“I don’t know enough to be nervous,” Kaity said.
“You’ll learn,” Emily said. “It’s a tough life, but it is a free life. Something brought you here, right? You didn’t just show up. You must have been looking for freedom in some aspect."
“I guess,” Kaity said. She sipped her beer and looked at Emily, then at Avery. “Do they stay faithful?”
The question was answered with silence. It worried Kaity. Whether or not Erik was faithful didn’t matter at this second. He and Kaity were nothing. Erik could fuck anyone he wanted, whenever he wanted. But there was something between them. Maybe it was just sexual attraction. Or maybe it was something more.
“What did you see?” Emily asked.
“What?” Kaity asked.
“You saw something that’s bothering you.”
“Last night,” Kaity said. “He was out here and there was some woman on her knees…”
“Oh,” Avery said. “Well, that’s their life. They could die at any second I guess. If it means anything, I once caught Landon fucking some woman while Blaine was in the room.”
“A threesome?” Kaity asked.
“Kind of like that I guess. But that was before we were together. Trust me, if he wants you, you’ll know.”
“Erik is tough,” Emily said. “But he got hurt pretty bad.”
“What happened?” Kaity asked.
“You saw his face…”
“Yeah, so?”
“Did you ask him?” Avery asked.
“Not yet. I don’t want to upset him.”
“You should upset him,” Emily said. “Sometimes they like to be pushed a little.”
The three of them finished their beers and Kaity started to see how things were put together in the clubhouse. The guys behind the bar were not part of the MC. Neither were the women that came and went. They all were just there hoping to get involved with the MC. But the three woman at the bar - including Kaity - were almost like royalty. When they spoke, people listened. It was very interesting to Kaity.
After three drinks, Kaity felt a connection to Emily and Avery. They were welcoming and honest. Well, they were honest about everything except Erik. When she asked about him they insisted that Kaity talk to Erik. They stayed out of his business and that only made the mystery of Erik more enticing.
When the guys finally came back, it wasn’t a celebration at all. They were pissed off. Emily and Avery went to their men, to Gaige and Landon. The bar filled up, drinks were ordered, and women poured in.
Slowly, Kaity stood from her barstool. She could see Erik talking to the really big guy, Nate. Erik pointed to his stomach, shook his head, waved his hands. He was animated and angry. Nate squeezed Erik’s shoulder and then went to the bar. That’s when Erik turned. His eyes met Kaity’s and there was a moment when the world froze.
They just stared at each other.
Kaity wasn’t sure if she was even welcome there anymore. But then Erik nodded. Just once. And in that simple nod, Kaity felt her heart race and knew if she stayed in the clubhouse with Erik her life would continue to change.
seventeen.
Erik was pretty drunk. He had been building a good buzz the entire night as he played darts and pool. He met with everyone who normally sat at the table, and they discussed their options for the silent war that raged outside. His eyes were all over Kaity the entire time, too. Watching her as she drank. Watching her talk and laugh with both Emily and Avery. Erik caught himself comparing Kaity to Emily and Avery. How much prettier she was. How big her tits looked in the shirt she wore. He noticed her jeans weren’t ripped, which meant she had borrowed clothes from either Emily or Avery.
He couldn’t stop picturing her naked body under the hot water. The sight of her wet skin. The look in her eyes. The way her mouth fit around his cock. How her body felt against his.
Erik had no idea what time it was when he fell into the bar next to Miller. Miller hovered over an empty shot glass. His eyes were glossy and he was drunk as hell.
If Miller showed any sign of weakness it would flow right through the entire MC.
“What do we do?” Miller asked.
“We fight,” Erik said.
“Fight what?”
“We’re doing the right thing,” Erik said. “We keep going. We’re strong. Something will give soon. Remember what that old man said. There was something with the man’s eye, right? Like me. That means a scar.”
“Yeah, but didn’t those grease assholes tell you it was a scar on his neck?”
Erik nodded. “We’re dealing with more than one person then.”
“Fuck.”
“Strokner warned us,” Erik said.
“Let’s get together in the morning and figure out our next step,” Miller said. “I need to find some comfort for the night and clear my head.”
“Plenty to choose from,” Erik said.
He elbowed Miller and smiled.
There were plenty of women strutting around the clubhouse, looking for some action. But Erik didn’t give a fuck about any of them except Kaity. She sat alone at the end of the bar, peeling the label off a beer bottle. As Erik made his way over to her he reminded himself that the first night was out of generosity and for her own safety. If she stayed tonight, this would mean something more.
Erik put his hand around the beer bottle and tossed it away. Then he grabbed her face and forced her to look at him.
“What are you thinking right now?” he asked.
“The truth?” Kaity said.
Erik nodded.
“All the questions burning in my head about you that I’m afraid to ask.”
“What are you afraid of? What’s the worst that can happen in life?”
“Death, I guess.”
“Are you afraid to die?”
“No.”
“Then ask me anything you want,” Erik said.
“Will you take me to your room?”
“Sure.”
Erik cringed on the inside. He was falling downhill, and fast. Slipping and sliding, unable to change focus for a second from Kaity. As Erik stayed three steps behind Kaity, he stared at her ass in those jeans. He would finally have a piece of ass in his bed he could really enjoy.
The moment Erik saw Kaity hit the bed, she looked ready to fall asleep. He stood at the edge of the bed, debating what to do. He could open his jeans, pull himself out, and find out just how much Kaity wanted to earn her way to be close to him. Then again she had already been shot at and reduced to fighting off Blaine's sick advances. Did she really need to prove herself any more than that?
Before Erik could make a decision, Kaity’s eyes were shut. Her lips parted as she breathed, her chin tucked to her shoulder. The feelings he had when he looked at her were overwhelming and they created a new urge to just pull the trigger so that he wouldn't hav
e to deal with them.
Instead, he climbed into bed and gently moved Kaity under the covers. She purred and moaned a few times, making Erik grit his teeth as he stiffened. He closed his eyes and the room spun over and over. He had no idea what the club was going to do about any of it. Severed fingers. Jonesy being kidnapped. Bombings. Senseless murders. It was big, and maybe even bigger than what the MC was capable of. That kind of thought scared Erik more than anything else ever could. If Back Down Devil MC wasn’t the strongest presence in Frelen - and beyond - then it wouldn't be long before someone finished digging the graves for everyone at the table, including Erik himself.
Thankfully, the alcohol did its job and sleep took Erik away from reality and away from his thoughts. When he dreamt, it was mostly quick snippets of the day Shay’s car blew up and almost killed him. Sometimes he dreamed he found a kitten in the backseat of the car. He had no idea what it meant. Maybe something to do with pussy, but it seemed too weird to analyze.
Tonight, as he reached into the backseat of the car, he heard a scream. A woman’s scream.
“No… just no… how are you…”
Erik looked around and everything in the dream was normal. The same place. The same guys. The same nice day. Those were always the worst; the days when life seemed too good. That’s when the most bullshit happened.
The screaming continued.
“Don’t do this to me… just don’t… you’re dead. I know it. You are dead. Brad, don’t touch me. Don’t touch me, Brad…”
Erik shook his head in the dream, wondering who the fuck Brad was. It didn’t make sense at all.
Then Erik felt something hit his face. But it wasn’t in the dream. The dream was suddenly sucked away and he opened his eyes to a mostly dark bedroom and Kaity next to him in bed, thrashing and yelling.
Erik sat up, turned on the light, and looked at her.
“Fuck you,” she growled. She shook her head. “You’re dead, Brad. Go away.”
“Kaity,” Erik said. “Kaity, wake up…”
Erik grabbed her wrist and she pulled his arm to her mouth and bit.
“What the fuck!” Erik yelled.
He rolled on top of Kaity, grabbed both her wrists, and held her down. She screamed and arched her back, trying to get out of the hold.
