The Ride

by Jaci J.

  Sitting at the bar, I feel a warm hand slide down my back. “You gonna let me get you drunk and take advantage of you?” Peaches purrs in my ear.

  Looking up at her, she winks at me. We both just stare at each other for a moment. Poor Mini stares between the two of us, probably wondering who's going to throw the first punch. Peaches licks her lips and we both lose it. Laughing until our sides hurt and we can't breathe. Mini breathes a sigh of relief while Prospect Blade chuckles under shit breath.

  “Christ,” Mini mumbles sitting back down. Kiki pulls her into a side hug. Kiki knows what’s going on.

  “You're gonna have to get used to these two,” she throws her thumb in our direction, both of us still laughing. She gives a little annoyed eye roll. Flipping her the bird, she chuckles and gives me one right back.

  “They're trouble makin' bitches. Shit's just gettin' started with Lil back in town now.” Mary cackles next to Kiki.

  “Crazy bitches,” Mary shakes her head while sweeping behind the bar. Well hell, they make it sound like the devil just rolled back into town.

  “Thanks mama, your makin' me look bad,” I accuse her. She just rolls her eyes and pouts her lips with hands on her hips, ready to give me the mama lecture.

  “Good Lord baby. You know I love your trouble makin' ass. Mama loves all her babies.” Her smile is sweet and genuine while she pats my hand and I return it. Mary and Kiki both go back to their cleaning up. Don't know why. The guys will just mess it back up once they're back.

  “Here bitch,” Peaches smirks sliding over a shot glass filled with clear liquid. Oh no. Shaking my head I push it back.

  “Not happenin'. You remember what happened last time I drank this shit?” Throwing her long black hair over her shoulder she laughs at me with a sneaky smirk on her face.

  “Oh, I remember,” she says wiggling her eyebrows. I can see the wheels of her dirty mind working overtime.

  “Oh fuck. You mean after the Barbecue of 06?” Cali says laughing right along with Peaches. Fuck me. Mini looks interested now. Her eyes light up with trouble and she swings her gaze at the three of us.

  “What happened?” she asks, pure interest on her face. Damn near shaking with excitement, she waits for an explanation. Shaking my head at my two shit headed friends, I pray they keep their mouths shut.

  “It’s nothin',” I say trying to stop this story before it gets started. Once Cali and Peaches get going, there is no going back. Cali holds her hand up to shut me up. Bitch is going to bring it up. Cali and Peaches exchange a look, ready to start shit.

  “You mean the mornin' I found you n' Peaches butt ass naked in bed together?” Cali says with a little giggle. That's not exactly how it went down, but not my finest hour.

  Mini squeals in delight waiting for the full story while Peaches cops a feel, egging Mini on. Cali laughs at Peaches and me, and now I need a drink. A really, really strong one.

  7

  Tank

  Walking into the clubhouse, I sit my ass down at the bar. Long run. My ass is wore the fuck out. As soon as I have a drink in my hand I hear a bunch of loud ass chatter coming from up in the loft. Walking up the stairs, I see Peaches laughing. Actually more like cackling. Behind her is Stitch and Cali, and behind them walks in Tiny with Lil on his back. Her bare feet are sticking out from under his arms. What in the hell?

  “Tank,” Lil calls excitedly with a big smile, waving at me. The past week shit has changed around here. The Old Ladies and girlfriends have been hanging around the club more. I attribute that to Lil. She spends almost every day here helping Low out. You get to the club and you're looking for a brother, you can't find him. Look for Lil, that's where he'll be. Everyone just seems to gravitate to her whether meaning to or not. It seems she spends most of her time with me, Gin, or Stitch though. Hanging out with me, we are always talking and flirting. I've grown to like her even more than I did before, which is scary as fuck for me.

  It's all finally starting to feel normal around here again. After Lucy died, the women stopped coming around so much. Well except the club whores, but those bitches aren't good for much. Place got fucking depressing. The Old Ladies are annoying as hell, but it's a love / hate kind of thing. It's nice to have the loud ass happy chatter back, and the home cooked meals.

  “Sit me down here,” Lil says tapping Tiny on the head. Turning around, he backs up to the bar and sits her ass on the bar top right next to me with her feet on my bar stool.

  “Somethin' wrong with your feet baby?” I ask her, nodding to her feet. Laughing she shakes her head. “No, I just painted them and I can't smudge them.” That makes no sense. I'll never fully understand females.

  “Why didn't you wait to walk 'til they dried?” Shrugging she smiles sheepishly. Biting her lip she looks a little embarrassed.

  “Heard your bike and thought I'd come say hi.” Well shit. I sure as hell can't argue that.

  Gin plops down next to me and he rolls his eyes at Lil immediately. And here they go. These two are always at it. “Girl, ya always paintin' your shit pink. Don't own another color?” Lil glares at him.

  “Shut up Gin. I like my pink toes,” she says sticking her foot in his direction wiggling her toes at him. I'd have to agree, I like them too. Pink toes, pink nails and shit, I've fucking lost my mind.

  “Would you like something to drink Miss Lil?” The prospect behind the bar asks Lil.

  Miss Lil? I have to contain my laugh at that one. He's talking all formal and shit like she's a fucking princess or some shit. I guess in a way she is the princess of the club.

  “Can I have an orange pop please?” I watch the prospect stare at her. The way he gets all dreamy and a little fucking twitchy around her. He knows how fucking beautiful she is. It's a damn issue. All of the brothers stare at her constantly.

  Peaches sits herself between Lil's knees on the stool. “Yeah Gin, shut up. I like them too.” The girls fist bump and laugh.

  Women, I swear.

  For the next two hours we bullshit and hang out. This is how I like shit. Having Lil around, I can spend as much time with her as I can and keep an eye on her.

  My phone rings, letting us know it's time to head out. “We're out,” I tell Lil reluctantly. She smiles, but it's a sad one.

  “Alright. Be safe.” Be safe? When the hell am I not safe? Turning to leave she calls me back. “Tank?” Tapping on her cheek she looks at me expectantly with a cute little smile on those sweet lips. Girl wants a damn kiss. She's turning me into a pussy whipped little girl. I walk to her and kiss her cheek goodbye, I feel a strange sense of calm. “Later, Angel.”

  Walking back into the club later that night, it's dead and dark. I find myself wondering if Lil's around ‘cause she's always somewhere in the fore front of my mind. The lights are out around the club except for the ones above the bar. The place is dead and I can hear the rain pounding on the roof as it echoes in the large room. Leo's sitting at the bar with Sargent, beers in hand and talking quietly. Everyone else is gone as far as I can see.

  Bright flashes of light come from the loft, catching my eye. It's not very often the brothers hang up there unless we're playing poker, so I head up the stairs to see what’s going on and find it dark up here too. The only light is coming from the TV, and across from the TV is a large leather couch with Lil wrapped up in a blanket.

  “Hey there, darlin’. Whatcha doin' up here?” Big brown eyes find me. Smiling she lifts her legs up.

  “Sit and watch a movie with me,” she says softly. Because I can never seem to find my balls when I'm around her, I sit my ass down right next to her. She’s curled onto her side, ass against my thigh And her legs laying over my lap as she gets comfortable again. I put one hand on her thigh and the other around her ankle. Just one touch and I'm fucking hard. I try to ignore the deep ache, but it’s not going to be easy.

  Looking at the TV, I see she's watching Halloween intently, eyes wide and focused with a bowl of popcorn on the floor next to her. Up here alone in the pitch b
lack, rain pounding on the skylights, and she's watching scary movies. Never in my life have I met a girl like her.

  “You like scary movies, baby?” I ask her. Turning those brown beauties back to me, she smiles wickedly and nodding enthusiastically.

  “Hell yes,” she chirps happily.

  “You’re always blowin' my mind babe.” I get a huge smile that lasts all of two seconds before her eyes are back on the movie.

  We sit silently for a moment and then out of nowhere she says,

  “It’s Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare.” Baby just starts quoting the movie right before the actor says it.

  “How many times you seen this shit?” I ask waving a hand at the damn movie. That makes her laugh.

  Shrugging her shoulders, she says flippantly, “A few times.”

  I spend hours up here with her watching movies. Sitting as close to me as she can get, with some part of her body always touching me. We watch The Exorcist, The Evil Dead, House of a 1000 Corpses, and Hellraiser. I'll be damned if this little beauty knows damn near every word to each scary movie we watch.

  A while later she looks at me, finally breaking eye contact with the movie. Cocking her head to one side, eyes narrowed and lips curled into a sinister smile, she looks at me with a strange expression. With an evil little laugh she says, “It’s all true. The bogeyman is real and you found him.”

  Her voice is creepy and a little scary. I’m staring at her like she's fuckin’ nuts when she busts out laughing. “You … you should have seen your face,” she laughs softly. Listening to her laugh makes me smile. It makes that dead piece of meat in my chest work over time. “House of a 1000 Corpses is one of my favorite movies of all time,” she's finally able to say through her giggles.

  Nodding, I'd have to agree, considering she knows it word for word. “You're a fuckin' weirdo baby.” Shrugging she shoots me a quick smirk.

  “Yeah, but you love it.” Fuck she's got me there. It's impossible not to too. And that's how my night goes. We spend hours together with us laughing, talking, and watching horror movies. I sit on that couch until four in the morning with her, cuddled up on that couch against me, keeping her all to myself. Best fuckin’ night I think I’ve ever had.

  ************

  The job is done and no blood was spilled on our side. I'd say shit went in our favor. We got ten miles until we pull back into town. It's been three long fuckin’ days. One day turned into three. Not my idea of fun, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I'm itching to get home and off of the road. Usually the road is where I'm at home, always keeping me calm and focused. This is not the case now. Knowing Lil's around has me antsy to get back. I'm just not sure what to make of her. She's been in the back of my mind these last few days. Women are important and I get that shit. I guess I just never gave a fuck before. They have a place and serve a purpose to us and the club, but they've never really mattered to me before. Before Lil, they were just somewhere to get my dick wet and clean up around the club. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom. After Pops died, I sent her back North to keep her safe, living with my aunt. They are both safe and out of the way, but other than my mom, aunt, and one female cousin, women were just a thing to fuck for me. Nothing more. Nothing less. Now, Lil's got me thinking all kinds of crazy shit, thinking about her constantly. Wondering, questioning shit. It's got me all kinds of fucked up in the head.

  I can feel my burner vibrate in my pocket. Sliding it out I see Low's name across the screen. “Yeah,” I answer. Don't want to miss his call.

  “I'm hittin' the shop. Swing by to see Lil, make sure she’s good.” With that he ends the call. Motherfucker doesn’t have to ask me twice.

  Turning down the long dirt road I follow the line of trees. Not sure why Low's got to live in BFE, fifteen miles out of town. It’s the only house for miles. How Lil is safe out here alone is beyond me. Jesus Christ, anything could happen to her. No one would be able to hear her scream out here.

  Pulling up in front of the house, my heart starts to get racy. The shit this girl does to me is crazy. Pulling up out front, I don't see her jeep so I walk into the house without knocking. Never did before, not starting it now. The house is quiet when I walk in, but I can hear the dogs out back in the yard barking. It’s still pretty early though, so I don't expect her to be awake. Pushing open her bedroom door I find someone other than Lil in her bed. What the fuck is Peaches doing here? And only in panties at that?

  Closing it behind me, I go in search of Lil. She’s not in any room so far and the last room is Low's office. Pushing open the door, I find her, and what a fuckin’ sight I find.

  Lil's sitting on the floor, legs spread wide, hair a fucking mess. I can see her side profile. What the fuck happened to her clothes? All she has on is her black bra and black panties. She is fuckin’ hot and now I'm fucking hard. She's the picture of perfection, even with her hair a mess. The best part of this whole fuckin’ thing is the pile of guns she's sitting around. One gun’s in her hand, a nine millimeter.

  Turning her head towards me, she smiles widely. Her eyes are a little red, but still bright. Jesus Christ. “Hey Tank,” she says her voice rough and gravelly.

  “What the hell are you doin'?” I ask her, because I'll be damned if I can figure it out myself. Looking around the mess of guns, down at herself, and back up at me, she laughs. She’s crazy, and I fucking love it. Patting the floor next to her, she smiles again. Like the bitch that I've become, I sit my ass down next to her. “Seriously baby, what are ya doin'?” Picking up a Glock, I look it over.

  She starts holding up a kit and shrugs sheepishly. She's filing the guns. Fucking hell. Low's got her filing off serial numbers. “You shouldn't be doin' that shit.” Taking the shit and gun from her, I sit it down. Bad fuckin’ idea Low. This is a Prospects job, not his Goddam daughters.

  “He didn't ask me. I just know how it works. Y'all have been busy.” Pile of weapons and my eyes are only on her. Such a good little criminal she is. Looking her body over I can't help myself. There isn't a thing flawed on her perfect little body. She catches me looking and I don't fuckin’ care. At this point it doesn't matter. She's a beautiful bitch and I've got a dick.

  “I found the naked bitch in your bed. And what the hell happened to your clothes?” I continue trying to figure this girl out. Shrugging she stands up, giving me a good eye full. Fuck me, or more like fuck her.

  “A rough night,” she quips. There’s that devil in those eyes. Help me Jesus.

  Following her into the kitchen, she jumps onto the counter, still damn near naked. The back door slams open and in walks Gin, boots clomping on the wood floor. I all but throw myself over her body. This motherfucker does not need to see her without any damn clothes.

  Looking between her and I, he chuckles. Shrugging at her lack of clothing, he leans himself against the counter. His big old grin says this isn't his first time seeing her like this. “Well shit, sis. I'm havin' these flash backs to the night of the barbecue,” Gin laughs teasing Lil.

  Groaning, she flops her head into my back. Her body on mine hits me straight in the stomach. I'm dying to put my hands all over her.

  “Shut the fuck up, Gin,” she grumbles into my back. I can feel the heat of her body on me.

  “Baby,” Peaches shrieks running down the stairs, throwing her naked body all over Gin. Catching her mid jump, he cops a feel of her ass. Well I guess she didn't find her clothes.

  Crawling off Gin, Peaches settles herself next to Lil on the counter. That girl has never been one for clothes. I'm pretty sure I've seen her naked as much as Gin has and she don't belong to me. He doesn’t seem to fuckin’ care though. Looking at the two of them, I can't help the smirk. Lil and Peaches, now there's a fuckin’ combo. Peaches is hot, don't get me wrong. Long curly black hair, nice body, but it's Lil for Christ sake. Lil is a fuckin’ sight. Goddamn gorgeous. Lil sits there innocently in her bra and panties, while Peaches has panties only. What the fuck did these two do last night?

 
; “Peaches, did you have too much fun without me last night?” Gin grins like an idiot. Peaches shoots Lil a look and they exchange some sort of girl look between the two of them as Peaches starts giggling. Am I missing something? I look over at Gin who’s only looking at Peaches.

  “Nothing happened. I'm not seventeen anymore.” Lil mumbles.

  Gin and Peaches exchange a look and she shakes her head. Picking Peaches up, Gin hauls her out of the kitchen and says “Whatever ya say, sis.” Now I’m left here alone with my My Lil. Yes, I said “My Lil.”

  “Don't ask. It's not a story worth telling or hearing,” she stops me before I can ask. Yeah, those are the worst kind of stories. I've got a whole shit load of those myself.

  “Well you might wanna throw some clothes on before the brothers start chargin' in.” I offer her my hand. Taking it, she hops off of the counter.

  “Thanks Tank.”

  I left her at home with Peaches ‘cause I had shit to take care of. I’m picking up a load of guns and my head just ain't in the game. I can't get Lil out of my head. No matter how hard I try, she's still there. Maybe I should fuck her out of my system, fuck that girl right out of my head.

  “You alright man?” Gin asks me while looking over an A.K.

  Fuck no I'm not. Shrugging, I just grunt a, “Yeah.” Picking up thousands of dollars’ worth of guns with my head all fucked is not a smart move.

  “You know that shit back at the house is just a fuckin' joke man. Lil's my cousin, but may as well be my little sister. Just like givin' her hell,” he tells me while fucking with a rifle. Nodding, I try to push her out of my head, but it isn't easy.