by Ryan Michele
We pull out, leaving our brothers to set up to make a mess if need be and then clean up whatever gets left behind.
I wish I had answers. I wish I knew what was really behind the men following us. However, that is not how this works. Part of being a Hellion is me trusting my brothers to have my back. Roundman has made the call based on his knowledge of the situation. When we get home, he will give us the necessary information about this run. Until then, Tripp and I have a job to do, and it’s one we will get done. We are rock solid together, and our club is rock solid behind us.
We cross into what was once Hot Springs, New Mexico and is now Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The city was named for a popular radio program from back in the day. It’s a mouthful of a town if you ask me, so we will stick with Consequences between us.
I can’t help taking in the surroundings of the popular spa city and laughing. What the hell is in this trailer? Not my business, but I have to give those Ravage boys credit. This is the smartest place to hide a shipment of anything.
Fancy Nancy town makes me think of my Fancy Nancy woman waiting at home.
I will not get worked up. I will not worry. I will remain rock solid at home for my man.
Who am I kidding? I’m already a mess. I’m worried, I’m frantic, and I just need some reassurance he’s coming home.
Four days of silence. Four days of zero contact. Four days of unanswered calls, unanswered texts, and unopened emails. Four days of letting my mind go crazy with wonder.
The emotions going through me tip the scales. I’m angry.
Like really, where is the respect for me, for us? Where is the care and consideration for my feelings? I don’t need to know where he is … unless he’s balls deep inside some broad. Then I need to know so I can cut his dick off!
See? Anger! I have to calm down. Rex has grown up. He wouldn’t do that to me. He’s not in contact because it must not be safe.
Worry and fear grip me. Not safe. What if he’s injured … or worse? I can’t go there. Rex is coming home. He’s coming home to me, and we are going to start our life together as husband and wife.
Sadness builds the moment I think of anything happening to him. He’s my rock. We have created this crazy life together, and I depend on him in a way I never thought possible.
Picking up the phone, I call the one person who could possibly ease my fears.
“Lux, how’s it going, babe?” Sass answers on the second ring.
I let out a sigh. “What happened to Caroline? Rex has won you all over to his side.”
“If the name fits, you own it. Lux, you are deluxe. Rock that shit, girl. Long time no chat. When are you going to bring your Fancy Nancy, high-heel wearing, hot self down to the coast for a visit?”
My college best friend soothes my fears just from hearing her voice. Doll, Sass, and I have been friends for years. They are the sisters I never had. They let me freak out when I need to and calm me down when I get out of control.
“If I knew when Rex would be pulling in, I could better answer that question.”
She laughs, but it’s a patient, kind laugh, not a mean one. “Ahh, the adjustment to the life. Honey, these guys have no schedule. They go where the road takes them. It’s the untamable beast inside. We love their strength, their loyalty, and their drive, but it comes with a wild side.”
Sighing, I think of the wild side to Rex. It’s what I love about him.
“I don’t want to tame him. I just miss him.”
“Love is never easy.” She should know after Tank was in a coma for months while she shacked up with an asshole in a suit who messed with her head and her heart. “Loving a Hellion is even harder.”
“How do I learn to sit back and not worry?”
“Oh, honey, you worry. Every minute of every day, you will have some worry. That’s for anyone you love, biker or not. You learn to trust your family. The Hellions are family. Rex isn’t out there on his own. He’s never without a brother at his back;, so, even if we sometimes go a few days without communication, you trust in the club that your man will be home as soon as it’s time.”
Trust in the family. The club has been my family for years. I can trust in them. She’s right.
“The more runs, the more you learn over time. If he hasn’t been in touch, he’s nearing the drop. The next time he touches base, plan for him to return to you within a week, probably sooner.”
This is why I love her. She knows exactly what I needed to hear. I needed a small reassurance he is okay and the silence was to be expected. Sass gave me that. Now I can wait for the call that means he’s on his way back to me.
Until then, I have dresses to choose and cakes to taste while picking some flowers and tying it all together with an unknown date.
Who needs save the date cards? Not us.
I’m going to be rock solid for my man, for my club, and for my family.
Driving beyond Truth or Consequences, we allow our friends in the Chevy to follow us to a desert town that makes it safe for us to show our cards.
We have scoped out our drop location, but we kept driving. We have time to make the transaction, so we’ll have a little fun with the boys who seem so interested in where we are headed.
Pulling the rig over, Tripp hops out and spreads the orange markers appropriately while we watch the truck drive on by. I smirk, and Tripp watches them while we pretend to be disabled. Not long after, Danza and Boomer pass us. We gather up our things and pull out behind them.
When we get in range, Boomer sets off the remote detonator and BOOM the back end of their truck pops up. They immediately pull over and jump out.
Danza and Boomer are right there to grab the two idiots.
In the middle of the New Mexico desert, stranded on a back road, oh, the things we can do.
“Son of a bitch,” the driver mutters as we step up to them. He’s taller than us, and we are over six feet. He’s bald, but not in a way that suits him. He has a lumpy head and a hunchback, giving him an Uncle Fester look that is more creepy than freaky. He is also covered in tattoos—and I mean covered. The designs have blended together, making him look like a green blob.
“Were you going for the Incredible Hulk look, man?” Tripp asks as we approach.
“Fuck you.”
Tripp raises his hand to his chest. “Fuck me? Well, thanks but no thanks. My dick digs chicks.”
Danza laughs as the second guy, who is much shorter but just as ugly, steps up to his buddy.
“Well, fellas, if it isn’t Ugly and Fugly. Your daddy shoulda pulled out.”
The guys glare at the Hellions original.
“Gonna show us your moves, Tony Danza?” Creeper asks. “Should have realized it was you at that truck stop. They gave us pictures and told us to watch.”
His partner stops him. “Shut the fuck up before this gets any more messed up. The club isn’t ready to make a move yet. We were told to watch.”
We all laugh. “Showing your cards too soon, boys.” Tripp stalks up to them. “It’s obvious you know us, and you’ve been following us. Care to share why?”
“No,” Creeper clips quickly.
Boomer laughs. “They never, ever learn. The quicker they talk, the quicker this shit is over.”
I grab my crotch. “It’s ’cause they’ve got nothing to get home to and sink inside. Dried up dicks.”
“You guys think you’re untouchable—the almighty Hellions. You’ll see.”
Tripp grabs the smartass by his head, standing behind him, as he yanks his knife out and then holds it to his throat.
The bald guy moves to take out Tripp as Danza quickly strikes his kidneys, bringing him down to his knees. I pull my gun and aim it at his chest.
Too slow. These two assholes are too slow.
“What exactly will we see?” Danza barks out.
“The originals. You have enemies from the start. They’ve given you time and taken that time to build our force.”
“Like you two?” I l
augh. “We clocked you a week ago. We’ve been playing games with you since.”
After patting the guy down, Danza releases his man then grabs his own gun and comes around to face him. “Who do you work for?”
The man spits at his feet, and Danza fires a round into his thigh before immediately aiming back at his head.
“Who the fuck sent you?”
The man smiles a sadistic grin. “Hell hath no fury.”
“Fury!” Danza spits in the guy’s face. “That’s what I think of Fury.” He mumbles to himself, “Fucking pansy ass motherfuckers. Fucking Fury. Why now?”
I see a change in Danza’s face when the other man smirks from within Tripp’s hold and says, “Fowler, the all-around good guy. Rocky Fowler’s death wasn’t an accident.”
Rocky Fowler was an original. He and his wife were killed by a drunk driver years ago.
Without a second passing, Danza’s arm moves and he fires. The bullet hits the man between the eyes. One shot, one kill, and one dead enemy.
Tripp releases him as he fights to hold his expression of shock back.
Danza is the ultimate when comes to control. He’s never reacted to words. Now, though, before any of us can stop him, he stands up to the other man who has remained on his ass since taking a bullet to the leg. With the barrel of his gun pressed to his head, Danza stares at the man.
“Hell hath no fury like a Hellion on the war path.” He fires. The man drops.
Danza doesn’t speak to any of us; he simply holsters his side piece and takes out his phone, walking away.
Tripp comes over to me. “Bad blood, brother.”
“I can see that. What’s it about?” Boomer asks
Tripp shakes his head, answering, “Don’t know, but I know there is history with Fury MC and the Hellions Originals. We have a run to complete.”
“Well, shit, a decades old death and they just now want to claim it as their own? Roundman is gonna flip his shit,” I say, knowing this won’t be the end of things between the Hellions and Fury. In fact, it may just be the beginning.
Danza comes back over, putting his phone away. “Roundman is sending clean up. Boomer and I’ve got this. Y’all finish the transport and head back. We’ll be a day behind you.”
“You all right, Danza?” Tripp asks with genuine concern.
“When you try to give someone a break to avoid bloodshed, it somehow has a way of biting you in the ass. Fury should have been history, not just part of our history. Now they will come to an end, and it’ll be by my fucking hands.”
The emotions pouring off the man aren’t hidden. Rocky Fowler was one his best friends, and they stood up for each other. Fowler took care of his family while Danza was locked up for the club. Ride until we die, Rocky was a Hellion, so to have someone say his death was a murder … Well, retribution will be had.
Tripp and I give him and Boomer a finger in the air good-bye then make our way back to the rig. It’s time to do what we came to do and drop off this load. Then we will turn and burn.
It’s time to get home.
My phone rings from a blocked number. I hesitate to answer, but it’s been four days, four days without hearing from my man.
“Caroline Milton,” I answer as my heart rate picks up.
“Lux,” his voice is raspy and heated. Immediately, I’m hot for him, but I’m also livid.
“Four days, Drexel.”
“Oh, she’s sassy. You’re making me hard, Lux.”
“Hard, Drexel Crews? You want to talk hard! It’s been four days! Four motherfucking days since I’ve heard from you.”
“Oh, she’s trashy. When I get home, I’m gonna fuck you so hard.”
“That word again. Hard! Let me tell you what’s hard. Being in love with a jackass who can’t even send a smoke signal that he’s okay!” I screech.
He laughs.
“When you get home, I’m gonna kick you in the nuts with a pointy-toed shoe.” Calming down, I add in a whisper, “After you fuck me so hard in nothing but those shoes.”
He laughs harder. “There’s my woman. Damn, I can’t wait to give it to you good.”
“Promises, promises,” I come back with on a sigh.
Rex is safe. Rex is most likely on his way back to me. This means I have work to do.
“You good, baby?” he asks.
“You good?” I give right back.
“As long as you’re at home, safe and waiting for me, then always, Lux, always.”
“I’m good, Rex.”
He laughs again. “It’s sexy when you get pissed and call me Drexel. Makes me hard.”
“Everything makes you hard.”
“Nah, there was that one time when I wanted you and didn’t have you, and I had that little issue with a barfly.”
“Drexel,” I scold. “I can take a lot of shit, and I mean a lot of shit, but you talking about some broad and getting hard or not, that’s pushing it, buddy. I may have to kick you in the nuts before you fuck me.”
“Sassy and trashy while still being classy. Lux, you know how to keep this man in love and lust. Fingers, face, or a quick fuck—what’s it gonna be first, Lux?”
“Hmmm?” I tease.
“If you’ve gotta take time to think about it, then I didn’t leave a strong enough impression before I left. I’ll have to make sure to do better next time.”
“Next time, it would be wise to know four days is pushing the limits of my patience. I’ll ride and die for you, but baby, I just need a little something to let me know you’re okay.”
“It would be wise for you to know I’ve been away from my home, my son, and my woman for over a week now, and baby, that’s hard on my mind and my body. It would be wise for you to be ready for fingers, face, and my dick for days.”
I laugh. “Good. Now get your ass home so I can beat you for worrying me.”
“Baby”—he gets serious—“this is my life. I know it ain’t easy, but I’ve gotta know you can handle it.”
I sigh, knowing I didn’t need to give him shit. This is his job.
“You coming home to me?”
“You know it.”
“Then I’m good. As long as you’re coming home to me, it’s all okay.”
“See you sooner rather than later, Lux.” He clicks off the phone, and I know that’s all I will get out of him.
For the normal business transports, I’m given an itinerary. I know when he will be home. When they have to do a club run, I know he goes back to the coast before returning to Catawba.
Time to get a bagged packed and get my plan into motion. I have a man to meet as he pulls in and a wedding to be had.
Our stop is on the outskirts of Consequences, and as planned, there are a lot of truck trailers lined up. We pull into the fifth slot over, between two other trailers, and unhook. Tripp makes the call, assuring the point man is not far behind us to take over the load, while I change the locks over from our own to the next contact’s locks.
Walking through the parking lot, I count to space fourteen, finding the trailer we will carry back. I check the tires and make sure the tags are a match to the trailer number and registration.
There are times when laws can be broken and limits can be pushed, but to make careless mistakes puts the entire operation at risk, and not just short-term, but long-term.
Crews Transports does regular road hauls. We have a legitimate side to our business, and it only takes one slip up to cost us everything … including our freedom.
I raise my hand to Tripp to signal the trailer we will hitch up to next, and he climbs into our rig. When we see the receiving truck pull up, we know our job is done. It takes no time before we are pulling out onto the open road again.
Given our recent altercation, we are both on high alert for any suspicious vehicles, and with our attention being on every little thing, the ride passes relatively quietly. The miles pass, and I keep thinking of sinking so deep inside Lux I will forget where I end and she begins.
Jus
t before we cross back into Texas, Tripp pulls over at a mom and pop store. I look around, double-checking the mirrors, thinking I missed something.
Climbing out of the rig, I take his six and follow him as we walk toward the store.
“Wanna tell me why we’re stopping here?” I finally ask when I can’t find a threat.
“Roundman has more back up en route. Boomer and Danza will clean up the mess back there, but none of us are safe on our own. He told me to make it slow. That said, Doll goes through phases when she likes to cook and shit.”
I put my hands on hips and stop in place. “What the fuck does this place have to do with Doll and her attempt to cook?”
Tripp turns back to me, lifts his sunglasses, and wiggles his eyebrows. “Spices.”
I shake my head. “I’m missing something here.”
“When you get married and have a kid, you’ve gotta be creative with spicing things up. If I get her some spices for the kitchen, she’ll keep it hot in the bedroom.” He puts his sunglasses back into place and enters the shop.
“Tripp, I seriously doubt there is any problem with the spice in your bedroom. You’re a fucking Crews.”
He smirks. “Rex, tangible,” he says, picking up a Tex-Mex mixture. “I take this in and show my woman that I was thinking of her while I was away”—he pauses, grabbing some more spices—“and every day, I have her on my mind. Gotta learn it’s the little things, brother. Actions and shit. I don’t need to tell Doll I love her; I show her. I don’t have to question where we stand when I say we gonna do this. I know the answer. No matter what I’m asking, she’s riding with me. If I leave, she’s got my boy, my business, my brothers, and my house to handle. She holds all that down. I can give her these little things that let her know she’s with me when I’m gone.” He tosses a bottle to me. “Tangible, brother. Learn it.”
I laugh as we go to the register for him to buy some damn spices that I’m pretty sure will still be unopened five years from now.
