by Naomi West
She couldn't tell if that was a good sign, or not. Her heart beat even faster with her nervousness.
“You know,” he began, “when I approached you about having my baby, I never thought we'd be here. Not like this. Not ever.”
“Go on.”
He touched her hair. “I wasn't looking for a relationship,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft and introspective. “Neither of us were, I don't think. But, I didn't imagine I'd ever feel this way about someone. I didn't know this is what love was like, you know? I worry about you, want to look after you, want to protect you from everything.”
“Love?” she whispered.
He nodded. “But, there's the club, too. You know how it is, babe. If you're with me, you gotta accept them the same as you accept me.”
She nodded, understanding what he meant. “They've had my back more than my own family, that's for sure.”
“So you get it, then?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so,” she said. “So, love, huh?” she repeated, smiling a little this time.
“Yeah,” he whispered back, his lips moving closer to hers. “I love you, Star Bentley.”
“I love you, too, Tanner Rainier.”
He didn't kiss her, she didn't kiss him. It was a perfect, serendipity; two lips met like they were made for each other, made for that moment.
No open mouths, no biting. None of it. Just a long, soft, welcoming. A kiss where they melted, forgot about their worries and the dark deeds that needed to be done. The warehouse disappeared around them, fading into the background, as they focused on their singular togetherness.
To Star, the moment felt like it lasted ages, even if the kiss had only lasted a few seconds. They broke apart, panting for breath. But, now, as she looked up into his eyes, she realized she had what she'd been looking for when she accepted her end of the agreement: a purpose, a reason to wake up in the morning. And, she knew he'd found his, too.
Tanner held her tight, like he'd never willingly let go again. “I have to get going, now. The guys are probably waiting for me already.”
She nodded, even if she felt like it was too soon to release him from her arms, glancing away. She didn't want him to go, but he needed to. This had to be finished, and only he could do it.
He touched her chin and drew her face up to his. “I love you,” he said again, almost as if he was testing how the words felt in his mouth.
She bit her lip and smiled. “I love you, too. Now, get going before the guys think you chickened out on them.”
“Think they'd believe that?” he asked, giving her a little smile.
“Doubtful,” she said. “Now, go.”
He let go of her. With obvious reluctance, he headed off through the warehouse, his receding footfalls echoing hollowly with each step.
Star watched him go, drifting through the neon twilight of the unused building, motes of dust swirling like sand devils in the desert as he passed through. She sighed, hoping he'd be back soon. She was ready for all of this to be over, for all of these awful events to be just another bad memory.
He went outside and started his bike, the engine rumbling and shaking the outer walls like a mini-tremor. The waiting game had officially begun. Now, all she had to do was find a place to sit.
She turned and headed deeper into the warehouse. On the eastern side she found a small, unlocked office and went inside. She turned on the light to reveal an ancient computer with a big, boxy monitor, and a decrepit rolling chair stuck beneath an old desk. She pulled out the chair and coughed as she began to pat the cushion free of dust.
She really wished she'd brought a book, or something. But, unfortunately, waiting around for her stalker -abductor to be brought into an abandoned warehouse hadn't exactly been on the day's agenda.
So, she took a seat. The rolling office chair protested loudly as she crossed her legs, and began the time-honored waiting game.
A while passed. Star had been daydreaming about her baby, but was stirred awake by a noise from somewhere in the warehouse.
Her breath caught in her throat. She pulled her phone out and checked the time. Only an hour or so had gone by. But, no calls or messages from Tanner, or any of the other guys. She put her phone away and gripped the seat with both hands.
Tanner hadn't mentioned anyone coming by to stay with her.
She didn't like this. Not one bit. She eased herself up from the chair, producing another creaking moan from the piece of office furniture. She hissed a curse as she crept over to the open office door.
“Star?” a woman's voice called from near the front entrance of the warehouse. “You here, girl?”
She recognized that voice! It was Tanner's mom.
“Back here, Tova,” Star called back as she started to make her way to the sound of her voice.
Finally, the two women met in the middle. Tova looked better than she had the last time that Star had seen her. It was like the presence of her youngest son at home had rejuvenated her. Her hair was pulled back in a long, gray ponytail, and her eyes were bright and alert. Feisty even. This woman meant business.
Star smiled cautiously when she saw her. “What are you doing here? Tanner didn't mention you coming.”
Tova laughed as she picked her way around a pile of junk and came closer. “Think I tell my boys everything I'm doing? Tanner didn't pick up his stubbornness from just his old man.”
“But how'd you find me?”
She waved a hand dismissively. “An old woman has her ways. Men in the club still respect me, and know I've got grit left. I go a ways back with the old timers, and they know I'd want to see this bastard pay for what he did to my Brendon.”
“Blade told you, huh?”
She smiled. “Well, I didn't say that, if Tanner asks. My boy'd be just as pissed if he found out.”
Star kicked at an old beer can. “I'm just surprised to see you here, that's all.”
Tova laughed. “Think I wouldn't see this through to the end? It may be a crazy, shitty plan, but I want to see this fucker that's been terrorizing my boys. He's got a lot of payback coming for what he's done to my family.” She licked her lips and looked away. “And that includes what he did to you.”
“Me?” Star asked, surprised. She'd thought the old matriarch couldn't stand her, didn't think she was good enough for Tanner. That was always the impression she'd gotten, at least.
“Look, hon,” Tova said as she came over to her, “I know I'm a mean old bitch sometimes. Or I seem like one, at least. But, I've been at this for a long-ass time and old habits die hard. I've just seen Tanner hurt so many damn times over the years, and I couldn't stand to see it happen again.”
Not sure how to respond, Star just nodded.
Tova reached down and took Star's hand. “Boy's been hurt by his own flesh and blood, if not by women. The way Brendon cut him off, cut us all off, it really hurt the boy deep. So, if I was keeping you at arm's length, I apologize. I just didn't want to see him clam up again, like he did when Brendon left and his pops passed. You've done wonders for that boy, though. Even over the last couple weeks.”
Star realized she was tearing up a little bit. She'd never had this kind of talk from her own mother, and she'd definitely never expected anything like it to come from Tanner's.
“I could just tell from one look,” Tova said as she looked into Star's eyes, “that you weren't from our world. So, I was worried you'd just pick up and run away when you saw what life with the club was really like.”
“But,” Star said, wiping away the beginning of a tear, “I didn't.”
Tova shook her head. “No. You didn't. First, you helped us find Brendon. Then, even after what happened to you, you came back to my boy. And, even with everything going on, I know you make my son happy.”
“Tova,” Star said, pausing to lick her lips, “I just . . . I just wanted to say thank you. My mother, she was around when I was growing up, but, well, she was shit.”
“Oh, don't say that about y
our mom, hon”
“No, no,” Star said, smiling despite the feelings welling up inside her, “she was shit. Drug addict, ran off when my father went to jail. I did my homework at the kitchen table in her dealer's house when I was in school. I just wanted to say that, well, thank you. Like I said earlier. Just this talk means you're a better mom to me than she ever was.”
“Well, hon,” Tova said as she pulled Star, surprised and overwhelmed, into a close bear hug. “I've got lots of experience being a mom. Even bikers need one every now and then. Buncha' whiny titty babies when it comes down to it, sometimes.”
Star wrapped her arms around Tova and returned the warm embrace. A feeling of contentment swelled up inside her. Everything was going to be okay. She was pregnant, she was in love with Tanner, he was in love with her, and even his mom approved of their relationship.
Everything was going to be just fine, from here on out.
Chapter Forty-Two
Tanner
Tanner, Blade, and Tyke had all been parked at a truck stop across from the turnoff to the Roaming Wolves' clubhouse for the last couple hours. Trucks came in and trucks went out, leaving only exhaust fumes and empty bottles of caffeine pills behind to mark their passing.
Cam and Brendon had been picked for the shitty recruit duty, sitting up on the back road that looked down over the small compound the rival gang maintained. Up there, in the woods, on stakeout duty with a pair of binoculars and a cell phone, just waiting for Aaron to show his ugly mug. Brendon had to be with him because he was the only one, besides Tanner, that would be likely to recognize him at a distance.
Tyke idly picked through a bag of spicy pork rinds, wiping the orange dust on the leg of his jeans every now and then. “Think he'll come out of there sometime today?” he asked, stuffing more of the things into his mouth.
“Dunno,” Blade said as he rubbed the scar tissue on the back of his hand. “Wouldn't if I were him.”
“Lots of things you wouldn't do if you were him,” Tanner reminded him. “He thinks he can get away with this. He's cocky now, just like he was in the past, and his temper's gonna get the best of him. Mark my words.”
Blade shrugged. “Might be the case. I mean, he's been able to do this shit for a while now, and so he just keeps on pushing and pushing, escalating the situation.”
“Like a fucking rabid dog,” Tyke added.
Tanner nodded. And rabid dogs needed to be put down before they do more damage.
“Just wish he'd hurry up and do whatever it is he's meaning to do,” Tyke said.
“What's that ol' saying?” Blade asked. “Patience is a virtue?”
“Never knew Patience,” Tyke growled through a wide smile, “but I think I fucked her sister once.”
Tanner chuckled as his cell phone began to ring. He checked the ID, saw that the number was Brendon's.
“Quiet down, guys,” Tanner said as he hit answer and put the phone to his ear. “Hey, what's up?”
“Got a group of Wolves heading your way. Pretty sure Aaron is with them.”
“You sure?”
“About as sure as I'm gonna get from this far away with just binoculars. I recognize his bike, that's for sure.”
“Thanks, Brendon. We'll run 'em down.”
He hung upand told the other guys.
“Alright,” Blade said. “We pull out, tail 'em, figure out where they're going. First time they stop, we swoop in and grab Aaron.”
“Sounds like a plan,”
Tanner and Tyke saddled up and started their bikes, and Blade hopped in his pickup. If they were going to capture Aaron, they had to have somewhere to toss him so they could get him back to the warehouse.
They pulled up behind one of the parked semis and waited. They couldn't go until the Roaming Wolves chose their direction, left or right. Then the Blood Warriors would pull out and follow after them. Leaving any earlier, or just parking out in the open and waiting for them, would be a sure fire tip-off. And they couldn't have that.
Tanner sat astride his bike, listening intently to every passing car. Their tires hummed and sang as they cruised down the asphalt, the drivers' destinations known only to them. This wasn't the busiest stretch of road, but traffic was bustling enough that Tanner quickly lost track of the number of vehicles that passed by.
A few minutes passed before the three men were able to hear the distant rumbling of a pack of motorcycles coming up the cutoff, to the highway. They idled there for about thirty seconds, maybe picking a direction to go, maybe checking for tails, before taking off with a great roar of their engines.
That was their cue. Blade, Tyke, and Tanner pulled out from behind the semi and headed up to the highway. Tanner frantically looked both ways, his eyes squinting against the sun's glare. There, off in the distance, he saw them. Four bikes, disappearing into the distance. He pointed to their fading forms and shouted to his buddies.
The three of them took off onto the highway and opened up as they began their chase. They didn't want to get too close, but they needed to make sure their prey didn't get too far. They didn’t want to lose them, either. With Tanner in the lead, the three men trailed their rivals.
Tanner gritted his teeth, grinding them together, to the point where his jaw was almost sore, as they followed behind the Roaming Wolves. All the time they tailed the Wolves, they stayed a small spec on the horizon. Soon, though, the bikers pulled off at Juicy Lucy’s, the shittiest strip club in the county.
Tanner signaled for them to pull over at an abandoned lot a couple hundred yards away from the strip club parking lot. Tyke and Blade pulled over behind him, bringing their bike and truck to a stop in the old used car dealership.
“What's the plan?” Tanner yelled over his bike's idling engine.
“Call Brendon and Cam,” Blade said from the cab of his pickup, “and have 'em meet up with us here. They shouldn't take much longer than a couple lap dances.”
“Man,” Tyke said, “you ain't been to Juicy Lucy’s in a while. They play those songs damn near double-time now.”
Blade laughed. “Alright, three lap dances. You happy?”
“More like four,” Tyke said, laughing. “Dunno how you'd be able to stand that with these day-dancers, though. Not unless they were pouring that whiskey with a pretty free hand.”
Tanner's hands tightened on the grips of his bike. “Hey!” he barked. “Come on, focus here, guys! Quit messing around!”
Blade's face went sober at the admonishment. “Nah, you're right. We gotta keep our head in the game, here. Tanner, call the boys and let's get this show on the road.”
Tanner pulled out his phone and called his brother back. He told them where they were, and said they'd be waiting for them before they moved in on Aaron.
“Alright,” Blade said. “Now, we begin the sitzkrieg.”
“What the hell's that?” Tyke asked.
“Ain't you ever read a goddamned book?” Blade asked him. “It's what the French called the war before the Germans invaded, when they were just sitting on their asses.”
“Calm before the storm,” Tanner said, nodding.
“Hurry up and wait,” Tyke said, his face somber again. “The Army credo.”
They didn't have to wait long, though. Not ten minutes later, Cam and Brendon came roaring up on their bikes.
“Y'all ready to do this?” Brendon asked as he pulled up beside them.
“Born ready,” Tyke said, clasping hands with Tanner's brother.
“Well, let's go, then,” Blade barked as he started up his old pickup “Get this show on the road.”
The five men pulled back out onto the highway, with Blade's old truck leading the way as they motorcaded the short distance down to the shitty little strip club. When they pulled in, the parking lot was nearly empty. Just a handful of cars were scattered across the gravel lot, with four motorcycles parked near the entrance.
“One of those his bike?” Tanner asked his brother as the Blood Warriors drew up and killed their e
ngines.
“That's it,” Brendon replied, pointing to a chopper with flames and skulls airbrushed down the side of its fuel tank. “Recognize those skulls anywhere.”
They swung their legs over the bikes and Blade hopped down from the pickup. All five men steeled themselves for the coming fight. It was going to be bad, it was going to be vicious. It was going to be bloody.
Tanner turned to his brother and slapped a hand down on his shoulder. “You got this?”
Brendon returned the gesture, slapping both hands down on Tanner's shoulders as he leveled his gaze on his brother and looked back with the same intensity. “You know I fucking got this. I want that motherfucker just as bad as you for what he did to me.”
