Ride with Me

by Ryan Michele

  We roll down the back door to the trailer and lock it in place. After climbing in the rig, I flip my hand in the air as a good-bye while we roll out.

  “Consequences, New Mexico, here we come,” Tripp says, locking the envelope in the false bottom of the console. He settles into the driver seat, turning the wheel and pulling out of their property.

  “The quicker we get there, the faster we get home, and that’s another day closer to making Lux a Crews,” I mutter as my dick gets hard at the thought. The caveman inside me wants her as mine in every way possible.

  Caroline Crews has a ring to it. I smile to myself. Fuck yeah!

  Leaving work, I can’t help missing Rex. I’m safe because of him and the Hellions MC. With everything that happened with Chad, the governor, and my past, they have become my solid in life. I can’t imagine not being a part of this life now that I know the club had my back long before Rex claimed me as his.

  Family.

  The Hellions are family.

  I make the drive to Shooter and Tessie’s as I mentally plan out a smart but fun weekend with Axel. When I arrive, he’s ready to go, and my anxiety is already at ease. He wants to be with me, even with Rex away.

  This is our family: Rex, Axel, me, Tessie, and Shooter.

  I stop at the Chinese restaurant and pick up take-out.

  “No pizza?” Axel asks, giving me the same smirk his father would.

  I smile at the little boy who is the spitting image of Rex. “Maybe tomorrow night, but you’ve gotta have some vegetables, ya know. Broccoli is good for you. I got the sesame chicken combo, which is more rice and chicken than anything else, but a little broccoli is good, buddy.”

  “Mom got to you again. First the language, now the vegetables. Next, it’s going to be manners and stuff.”

  I laugh at his honesty. “Your mom just wants you healthy and happy.”

  He throws his hands up in the air dramatically. “Lux, kids don’t come healthier or happier than me. I can have a break from the vegetables, you know.”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  He quirks a brow at me. “You know, Lux, we’re having a movie night.”

  “Yeah,” I agree as I pull out of the parking lot and back onto the road.

  “Well, corn is like a vegetable.” He pauses, smiling hugely. “We’re gonna eat, like, tons of popcorn, so the vegetables are covered, Lux, and we could, like, have cereal for dinner.”

  “Hate to burst your bubble, little man, but popcorn is not a vegetable.”

  He puts his palm to his forehead. “Lux, you’re supposed to be the cool one. You can’t be like the other women and give me the ‘carbs go to my butt’ speech. Live a little. Popcorn has corn, and corn is a vegetable.”

  “You are your father’s son.” I laugh. “You could justify anything.”

  He smiles proudly at me just as the Bluetooth in my car rings with the radio display showing Rex calling. Axel taps the button to answer.

  “Daddy-o,” he greets.

  “Axel, how goes it, little man?” Rex replies happily.

  “Lux has been talking to Mom again. We’re having Chinese for dinner and not pizza so I get, like, vegetables and stuff. I tried to tell her popcorn comes from corn …”

  “So it’s a vegetable,” Rex chimes in at the same time with Axel.

  I can’t hold back my laughter. “Boys,” I start, “I’ve gotta have you both strong and healthy, you know, to take care of me.”

  Rex quickly comes back with, “We’re Crews men; we’re as healthy as they come.”

  “Well, as one of three women who love you very much, I plan to do my part to keep you that way.”

  “Axel, we’re screwed, buddy. Grandma Jolene has gotten to her, too. Just give in and eat the vegetables. Take one for the team, little man.”

  “We gotta keep the women in our life happy. Shooter says that all the time. I can have Chinese tonight and just sneak some extra M&M’s with popcorn at movie time. Just please tell her no oatmeal for breakfast. Even Shooter watches my back on that one.”

  Rex laughs and my heart beats faster. The sound is heaven to my ears.

  “Sounds like a damn good plan, Axel.”

  “Rex, language,” I chastise.

  “I just wanted to check in on my boy and my woman. Y’all have fun this weekend, and we’ll get together when I get back, Axel. And, Lux, donuts are a perfectly fine breakfast for a growing boy. No one really likes oatmeal until they’re, like, eighty and have dentures.”

  “I’m with Lux; she’s like deluxe and shhh … stuff,” Axel catches himself and smiles. “Of course we’re gonna have fun. You do what you and Uncle Tripp do, and we’ll be here when you get back.”

  I love the little boy in the car beside me and the man on the phone. It’s stuff like this I never imagined having in my life, but now I can’t picture ever being without.

  “Are we really stopping at every rest area for a fuckin’ map?” I ask Tripp as we reach the Texas state line.

  Since we pulled out of North Carolina, he’s stopped everywhere he can for maps. I get it; Doll loves them. She has all of these states already, though, so why must we keep stopping? I just want to make our way to our drop location and handle business so we can turn and burn to get home. I will be better once Lux and I are married. Knowing she wants this and I haven’t given it to her bothers me.

  “Tangible, brother. Learn it,” Tripp retorts.

  I shake my head. “You don’t tell her where we go, so she just highlights some made up path?”

  “Nah, she highlights a future road trip. My woman, my bike, the open road—I’ll take that any day of the week and take her wherever she wants to go. I get the maps. It’s tangible evidence that I do think of her everywhere I go. And my woman gives back as good as she gets.”

  I laugh. “It’s the little things, Pops.”

  “The old man knew what he was talking about.”

  Big wheels keep on turning as we make our way down the road toward New Mexico. My mind goes back to Lux. She kept my boy for the weekend. She is the balance to us. She gives him what Tessie does and respects Tessie’s wishes about the language and shit. She’s a role model for my boy. She’s a good influence for us both.

  I missed a lot of time with Axel. Too much time. There are things in life you can make up for, and then there are things in life that can be missed. There are things you can’t take back, can’t make right once it’s been wronged, and one thing you can never get back is time.

  Am I wasting time by not making Lux my wife? Am I missing the time to have babies with her? I lost so much with my son.

  Looking back, it still cuts deep to know Tessie did it all on her own. Sure, that was her choice, but I can see where I made the options slim to none. I wasn’t in a place to be anyone’s father, though.

  Do I wish I had known about him before?

  Hell yes.

  Do I think it would change things?

  Hell yes.

  And I think it would have ruined Tessie and me, which would have been a bigger mess for Axel. I have to be thankful she was mature enough to think through where I was in life at the time.

  At first, I was pissed. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t be. Looking back, though, as much as it hurts, I know it was for the best. Now I have to focus on the future.

  Checking the mirror again, I notice the same truck that has been with us in and out for three states. Not good.

  “Tripp, take a time out to check oil pressure.”

  Looking ahead of us, he finds an open spot and puts on his turn signal. “It’s not my eyes playing tricks on me.” He laughs.

  I ready my 9mm, watching the black Chevy Avalanche. Like any smart tail, they drive past us without hesitation.

  Tripp quickly memorizes the plates and texts it in for a search. It may be nothing. However, in our business, we take no chances, so everything is something until proven otherwise.

  I hop out of the cab, take the orange pop up markers, and make
the trail off to the side of the road to alert traffic of our truck consuming the shoulder. We have to follow every law and every rule as to not draw unnecessary attention to our load.

  While we wait on the information from the boys at home, we do a quick check of the truck. The load is secure, and all equipment is in working order, so we climb back in after a reasonable amount of time has passed to give our “friends” in the Chevy a chance to get some distance before we pull out.

  “Roundman,” I greet, answering my phone on the first ring.

  “Watch your six. Plates are registered to a Ford Taurus, not a Chevy Avalanche.”

  “Good to know,” I say before ending the call.

  “Stolen?” Tripp asks as he changes gears and gets us back rolling.

  “Not a match.”

  He shakes his head. “Shit, we don’t even know what we could be up against.”

  I send the text for our backup vehicle to become visible, and within minutes, I see the little sedan with Danza and Boomer. I can’t help laughing at the visual of those two huge men crammed into a Toyota Corolla. This is definitely one long ride for them.

  “Never go anywhere without your brothers at your back.” Tripp sighs.

  We didn’t have them follow us into the warehouse out of respect for Ravage MC, but on the open road, no way are we taking this kind of risk with just me and Tripp.

  Danza and Boomer will scout the situation around us while we keep the hammer down and the miles passing under us. Roundman will send in more boys to catch up with us before we make it to the drop.

  This shipment will make it to its destination intact. Whether there will be bloodshed along the way will depend on how much trouble others make for us. We haven’t missed a deadline yet, and we won’t start now.

  Axel and I had a great weekend together. Monday is never a fun day, but as I sit at my desk and look at the picture of Axel and Rex, I can’t help smiling.

  My boys. Everything that makes me happy in this life is in that very picture on my desk. Having Axel for the weekend filled a part of my heart I never knew was missing. I didn’t have family weekends with my mom, and when it came to dear old dad, I didn’t know he was my dad until I was a grown-ass woman and in a shit-load of trouble.

  I wasn’t good enough. I was never acknowledged or accepted. Yet, the Hellions took me in. My Fancy Nancy life didn’t scare one of them away. Even before Rex, the club was supporting me. Doll and Sass being my roommates in college got me under the club umbrella, with Doll being the daughter of Roundman, Haywood’s Landing Hellions’ president, and Sass being the daughter to Danza, Roundman’s VP. Being tight with the girls made me fall into this family I never knew I had. When trouble came to my door, the Hellions kept me safe.

  They have given me more than my own family ever has, and it keeps on coming. Everyday seems to be better than the last.

  I don’t need New York. My wheels start turning and don’t stop. I don’t need a wedding in Central Park. I don’t need a wedding in a church. I need my man and our Hellions family to stand with us as we vow to ride out all of life’s curves together.

  I pick up the phone and dial.

  I hear BW in the background first. “Crews Transports,” Doll greets, as I hear the phone move around.

  “You up for wedding planning?”

  She laughs. “You gonna do this? You’re ready to be a Crews?”

  With every bit of confidence I have never had, I answer, “I was born ready to be his wife. Now we’ve just gotta make it happen.”

  “Timeline?”

  “You know better than I do. When do they plan on rolling back in?”

  She gives me a frustrated laugh. “Babe, you’ve gotta learn we don’t know shit.”

  I feel tears prick behind my eyes. “I know, but like, a general idea.”

  “Honey, I won’t know anything until after the transport is completed successfully. I don’t know where they are, and I won’t know when they will be home even after it’s done, because Tripp won’t tell me what direction they are coming from.”

  I know all of this. Nothing she is saying is new to me. Rex has been very blunt with the lifestyle he lives. He shares what he can, but he will never break the code of silence to his club, and it’s for my protection. I completely understand.

  I just want to get married. I want to be waiting in the white dress, ready to go when he gets home.

  “Tripp already told me that Rex wants some time off to take you to New York. Just sit tight, babe. Your man is gonna make your every dream come true.”

  “He already has,” I whisper into the phone just as I hear her shriek.

  “BW, no, no, no! Honey, you can’t take off to the door.” I hear her drop the phone onto her desk. Then there are noises of her shuffling around to catch her rambunctious little guy before she comes back, out of breath. “Lux, it’s gonna be fine. Let Rex do what he does. I’ve gotta go. Come over later.”

  Sit tight.

  I can’t. Sorry, Doll, but I am not a woman to sit and wait on my man to make his plans. As much as I love the idea of New York, simply becoming Mrs. Drexel Devon Crews means more than the city it happens in.

  My mind keeps spinning with thoughts of him coming home to become my husband and me as his wife.

  Once the day passes in a blur, I make my way inside my place and immediately step out of my heels. I wish Rex was home to massage my feet. Who am I kidding? I just miss my man period, foot rubs or not.

  My phone pings with a text.

  Can’t call tonight. Had to detour. Gotta make up time. Love you.

  Disappointment fills me, but I understand. In our life, his responsibilities to the club have to come first. This only fuels me further to make sure Rex knows I’m in for the long ride. I want to show him he’s first in my life.

  Missing you. Be safe, and I’m thinking of you. Love you.

  Getting up, I pour myself a glass of wine. While I sip it, I slide out my laptop and snuggle on the couch to start working out my plans.

  I lean my head back on the couch and sigh. Smiling to myself, I think this has to be Rex’s favorite place to have sex. I get hot thinking about riding him in the very spot I’m sitting in while making plans for our wedding.

  I make my mental list. Hotel must haves for the wedding night: a suite with a couch so I can ride my husband to the point he loses control and can’t hold back as my pussy squeezes him tightly.

  “Husband,” I say the word out loud then squeal like a teenage girl. “Yes, Drexel Crews will come home to become my husband. I don’t need New York. Our love is bigger than the Big Apple, anyway.”

  I spend the night on the couch with my wine, my computer, and my mind on my man. The wheels keep on turning with determination to make my plans a reality.

  “Company,” the crackle of the two-way radio chimes in with Boomer’s voice.

  I look in the mirror to see the Avalanche has found us again. Following our protocol, I continue to drive the rig as if we don’t know we have a tail. Tripp and I rotate who drives at stops so we each stay alert. It’s my turn, so I have to sort out the stopping point to lure in our problem.

  This being a long haul with questionable goods, we have used more back roads than major highways. The speed limit may be slower, but the chances of closures and accidents are lower on the unbeaten path.

  “Confirm it’s not Ravage,” Tripp clips into the phone as he calls Roundman back to try to assess who is at our back door.

  It very well could be the club not trusting us or testing us and, therefore, sending a tail to follow. It wouldn’t be a show of good faith on their part, but hey, not knowing what we are pulling, maybe we need the extra eyes. Simple communication of that fact would have been better, though.

  “Thanks. On it,” Tripp barks into the phone before disconnecting the call.

  He looks at me and issues the order. “Treat as an unfriendly. Roundman is certain they didn’t send backup.”

  I sigh and start readying myse
lf mentally for the fallout. It’s not Ravage. They have trusted us with their goods to deliver. Whoever is following us, they messed up because we will deliver without distraction or delay. If these boys want a fight, they just earned one.

  My mind goes to home for a split second. I can picture Lux with her arms around my neck and her lips on mine. I blink and then see my son, his blue eyes looking brightly into my own.

  I don’t know who these fuckers are, but they have barked up the wrong tree by following this rig.

  It takes a little over twenty minutes to find a dimly lit truck stop. When I pull up to the gas pump as if nothing is amiss, the Chevy pulls in not far behind us.

  Amateurs. Smart men in the game would have kept driving. Smart men in the game would not have showed their cards. Smart men in the game would know this is a set up. Smart men know to be hidden. Smart men who have done this before know not to show themselves quickly. Smart men keep distance between themselves and their target so the attack is one of surprise. Smart men make sure their plan is rock solid.

  Tripp hops down and comes to my side. We top off the tank then check the rig over while we burn up the few minutes for Danza and Boomer to follow in.

  Once Danza pulls their little Toyota up to the pump behind the Chevy, they get out and stretch. Boomer, my bearded brother, is in an all black hoodie and jeans. I fight not to laugh at the red and yellow flannel shirt tucked into Danza’s jeans. His beanie covers his slicked back hair, and the long sleeves of his shirt keep his ink covered. The two men look like two rednecks on a road trip in a clown car, not two members of a badass MC.

  We don’t make eye contact. We don’t nod. In fact, we don’t even acknowledge they are here. We walk into the gas station and pick up some snacks and drinks while the guy in the Chevy nervously finishes pumping gas.

  His partner strolls back out from grabbing snacks for them, and they both make it obvious they are watching us. Even with the rig unattended, their attention is on Tripp and me, not the transport.

  Why?

  We make our way back to the truck and climb in to watch as Danza talks to the guys about their truck, keeping them distracted from us and Boomer, who is attaching a device to their vehicle. Having an explosives expert as a brother is invaluable in these situations.