Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition

by Elizabeth Knox

  Doris’s car pulls into the compound a few minutes later and the stunning vision gets out the passenger side.

  Toned legs come first, followed by her ass encased in a pair of denim cut offs and cami top over her bikini.

  Sunglasses cover her beautiful blue eyes and her hair is pulled into a ponytail.

  She looks amazing without even trying.

  So lost in my head I don’t realize she’s standing right in front of me.

  “Hey, BJ.”

  Her voice is soft and she has a blinding smile on her face.

  “Pip, ready for the lake.”

  “Yeah, will be fun, perfect day for it.”

  Before I can say more, Prez shouts to mount up.

  Doris grabs Pip’s hand and leads her over to the van the prospect is driving.

  I look at Pete in question as to why the girls aren’t riding with us.

  He just shrugs and starts his bike.

  Mounting up we head out in formation with the prospect following behind with the girls.

  It doesn’t take us long to reach the lake and park up.

  The prospects start emptying the van and getting the grills up.

  A few brothers are already in the lake and the rest are moving the picnic tables into position and passing out beers.

  Pete and I head over to the girls where they have laid the blanket out.

  “Are you going for a swim?” Pete asks Doris.

  “Yeah, let’s go. You coming, Pip?”

  Pip lifts her head and smiles at Doris.

  “I’m good for a bit,” she says.

  Doris just shrugs and strips to the bikini she already had on under her clothes. Pete grabs her hand and they make a run for the water diving in.

  “You don’t like the water?”

  She shrugs her shoulders again.

  “Not much of a water baby plus not that strong of a swimmer, either. But if you want to take a dip, go for it,” she replies as she nods toward the water where some of the brothers are messing around.

  “Nah, I’m good right where I am.”

  I can’t see her eyes for the sunglasses but the corner of her mouth lifts ever so slightly before she schools her face again.

  We sit on the blanket quietly watching everyone in the water for a while before she breaks the silence.

  “Tell me, BJ, why are you always moody?”

  I turn to look at her. Wow, she really isn’t holding her punches.

  “I’m not moody.”

  Her giggle hits me straight in the gut.

  “Yeah, you are. Every time I see you, you’ve got a scowl on your face. Smile, BJ, you have a nice smile,” she tells me as she faces back to the lake and tips her head up to the sun.

  Fuck she really is beautiful. Plus, she’s right, I do scowl a lot as that bitch of an ex was dragging me down.

  “I guess you’re right. Things were not great with my ex, Emma Lou, she was always getting on me to leave the club or something she felt I’d done or said wrong.”

  I can’t believe I’m telling her this. Pip has one of them faces and personalities that you feel you can just tell her anything.

  “Love the man, love the club,” she mutters.

  “See, you get it.”

  She laughs again.

  “Yeah, I get it. I remember Emma Lou from school, always thought she was better than everyone else.”

  “Well, she’s in the past now, so maybe I’ll smile more,” I reply, giving her my biggest smile.

  I stand and turn for my bike.

  “Think I’ll take a dip.”

  I head for my bike, which is close to our blanket, and start rummaging in my saddlebags.

  “You lose something?” Pip asks.

  “Can’t find my bloody swim shorts. I know I put them in here with my towel. But towel’s here and no shorts.”

  I keep looking.

  “Maybe they fell out on the way to your bike. They’ll be laying in the clubhouse somewhere, maybe one of the brothers has a spare.”

  Nodding, I go to ask a few brothers, no spares.

  I flop back on the blanket, I really wanted to go swimming.

  “Are you really going to sulk?”

  “I really wanted to go swimming.”

  “Go in your boxers.”

  “Not wearing any, darlin’,” I tell her with a smirk.

  “Oh, commando, are we?”

  “You bet it, darlin’,” I say, winking at her. God, I’m laying this on thick but she’s so easy to flirt with.

  “Maybe you could distract me,” I say as I stroke her arm.

  She turns to smirk at me.

  “Now, how would you suggest I distract you?”

  I roll onto my side and face her.

  “You could always show me your bikini.”

  Pip reaches for her bag and pulls her bikini bottoms out.

  They are more like booty shorts and bright red.

  “Here you go, big guy, if you think you’ll fit in them.” She smiles as she throws the bottoms at me.

  Ha, joke’s on her.

  “Thanks, darlin’, I’m sure I could make them fit.”

  Getting up I head over to the truck and duck behind it to change into them. It’s a very tight fit but I just manage to fit my junk in them.

  Strutting from behind the truck I make my way over to her, the second she sees me she bursts into hysterics.

  “Knew I’d get in your knickers,” I tell her as I head for the water.

  “BJ, that is the closest you’ll ever get to my knickers,” she hollers back to me, making the brothers all hoot and cackle.

  “You keep thinking that, darlin’,” I call back as I dive into the water.

  2

  BJ

  Present Day

  Relaxing back on the picnic table outside, letting the sun heat my skin. I slowly took a deep breath and felt my old body start to relax and let all the stress of recent leave my body. Being Prez is not an easy position, your brothers’ lives are literally in your hands. One false move and people could lose their lives.

  Feeling the bench next to me dip, I slowly open my eyes, still looking at the clear blue sky and turn my head to see who’s joined me.

  Bull, my best friend and trusted VP, is now next to me, reclining back on his elbows to match me.

  “Think we’re out of the drama?” he asks with a tired sigh.

  “Fuck, I wish but I’m worried about Wire.”

  He nods but stays silent.

  A shout from the kids’ area causes us both to look over.

  Joker and Tank are playing basketball with Beau, trying to show him how to shoot.

  We watch them for a little longer, Beau seems to be slowly getting the hang of shooting the ball. That kid is definitely a gift from God. He is pure joy to be around and seems to have almost forgotten the hell he went through.

  Reck comes and joins us watching his grandson.

  “Love that kid,” he says as he takes a seat on the other side of the picnic table.

  “We all do, he’s exactly what all us old timers needed around here,” Bull says with a smile.

  “Keeps us young,” I tell them with a laugh.

  Bull leans forward resting his arms on his knees.

  “Been thinking a lot recently. I’m not getting any younger. Knees are painful more each day, same with my fucking hands. Health ain’t what it used to be but mind’s still sharp. Feel like I need to start slowing down.”

  The tone in his voice tells me he’s been thinking about this for a long time and it hasn’t been an easy decision.

  “I feel ya, brother. Been talking with Pip about slowing down myself and maybe retiring. The next generation are starting to come into their own. Showing us they are nearly ready to take over and make the club even better.”

  Reck looks a little shocked but not as much as I thought he would.

  “Never thought I’d see the day you retired. Your father died with the gavel in his hand, thought you’d go th
e same way.”

  “Me too, Reck, but Pip has made me see that that is not the way I wanna go out. Club needs to start moving with the times. The free life is getting harder and harder, so many clubs are going under or inside as it’s getting hard to make money the old ways. Thank god we’ve gone legit pretty much years ago but the club needs to grow and that is a young person’s game. It’s all about online and the next big thing now.”

  Reck and Bull nod their agreement.

  We sit in silence watching Beau run about the kids’ play area with Joker and Tank.

  I’m really proud of how Joker has taken to being a father and Tank for the role of favorite uncle.

  “Make a great Father and uncle, don’t they?” Bull asks, nodding toward them.

  “Can’t wait to see how they handle the new babies,” Reck laughs.

  “And the next generation is born,” I tell them.

  “Won’t be too long before Beau is wanting to prospect. Kids only got seven years left before he turns eighteen, he’s already copying the brothers and is wise beyond his years,” Reck says with pride in his voice.

  “Kid’s the next generation of Presidents, that’s for sure.”

  We laugh because Bull is right, kid’s already trying to learn as much as he can so when it’s his turn, he can be a good brother.

  “Think it’s definitely time we start letting the next generation take over duties and step up more. But the big question is who can handle what role? This is something I have been thinking about for a while. Watching the brothers, how they interact and giving certain members small jobs to do just to see how they cope.”

  Bull and Reck start laughing.

  “Sneaky, Prez, but bloody good idea,” Bull says, slapping me on the back.

  “So, what’re your thoughts?” Reck asks.

  “I have given this a lot of thought and how do you feel about having shadows? So the next generation will start shadowing us and training to take over that position. There is so much we do that they don’t know is part of our responsibility. It was difficult when I was thrown into the President’s seat with no clue what was needed to run a club.”

  “Sounds like a solid plan, brother, I’ll help where I can,” Reck offers.

  Reck was our Sergeant at Arms before he was sent away so he had to step down. Tank took over his role when he was able, with Joker as his Enforcer.

  “So, this is how I see it playing out and will be raising this at the next church. Joker has all the skills and strength for the gavel.”

  Bull looks shocked and full of pride all at the same time.

  “He’ll need a VP who can back him but also help calm him. Tank is perfect for a VP role. That leaves Sergeant at Arms and Enforcer roles free. Sarg would make a great Sergeant at Arms with his special forces experience and I was thinking Rafe for Enforcer. That man knows when to use his brains instead of brawn.”

  “Seems like we have the next generation of officers sorted. Wrench and Angel will stay in their roles.”

  “I’ll help train Sergeant at Arms and Enforcer,” Reck offers.

  “Thanks, brother, that would be a huge help.”

  “What happens if they don’t want the position?” Bull asks.

  “Hadn’t thought of that. Think we should ask them before church and give them time to think about it.”

  Standing, I pull my phone out of my pocket and ask my officers to meet me in my office and also ask Tank, Joker, Sarg, and Rafe to join us.

  The three of us head to my office, Reck heads for the main room once we hit the hallway, but I stop him.

  “No, brother, you’re a part of this and need you with us.”

  Nodding, we head to my office and take a seat, waiting for everyone else.

  It’s not long before everyone is gathered in my office, shit maybe we need a bigger office for the President for times like this.

  “Thanks for coming, we wanted to talk to you all before the next church so you’re not blindsided. Bull and myself have come to the decision that it’s time for the next generation to step up. I’m not stepping down now but the man who will eventually take over from me will start shadowing me and learning the role of President. Same with VP.”

  I stop and let that all sink in. Everyone seems shocked.

  Except Bull and Reck.

  3

  Joker

  Has Prez lost his mind.

  “You dying?” I demand.

  Prez chuckles and shakes his head.

  “No, I’m not dying. Just getting old and thinking the club needs an injection of young blood to take it into the future. I want to spend more time with Pip. Go see my daughter and the grandkids more, travel and just live a little peacefully before I do die.”

  I know Prez wishes he could see his daughter Andora more, she lives in Florida with her husband and a few kids. Neither has the time to travel much for visits. I know I’d miss Beau if he moved away and only saw him maybe once a year.

  “So who’s taking over?” Tank finally speaks up.

  We all look to Prez for answers.

  “Tank, you’ll be the new VP,” Bull says.

  “Are you messing with me?” Tank can’t help the disbelief in his voice and the shocked look on his face.

  Bull nods.

  “Best man for the job. Besides your easy demeaner, you think things through and consider both sides. You’re not afraid to ask the difficult questions and point out flaws or ideas when needed. The brothers all respect you, these are good traits to have as a VP.”

  A huge smile comes across Tank’s face.

  “Who’s Prez?”

  We all look around the room.

  “I have thought about this carefully and spoken with the others. For us there is really only one person who fits all the traits needed to make a good Prez, someone we know can handle the pressure and has the support needed. Joker, we feel you should be the next President of The Sons of Havoc.”

  It takes a few minutes for his words to really sink in, if I wasn’t already sitting, I think I would fall over.

  I lean forward and rest my head in my hands.

  “You got this, son,” I hear my dad, Bull, tell me.

  “Bro, you and me together, we’ll be able to take the club to the next level,” Tank says.

  “Best man for the job,” Reck says.

  “Joker, brother, well deserved,” Rafe comments.

  “Good choice,” someone else says.

  All my brothers’ comments turn to fog as my brain tries to work through the news.

  “What happens if I don’t want to accept it?” I ask.

  You could hear a pin drop and some of the brothers have shock written all over their faces.

  “Another reason you’re the best choice. Again taking the time to consider every angle and how you taking the gavel will affect your family. I understand, Joker, trust me I do. Take the time you need, talk it through with Carrie. Being the President’s ol’ lady is a huge task. Pip and me will be here if either of you have any questions or need to talk it through.”

  I nod my head, thank fuck he understands.

  “Just need to think it through and talk to Carrie. Got Beau and Bubble to think of.”

  “Bubble?” Prez asks.

  “Yeah, Bubble is what I’ve been calling Carrie’s bump as when she first started showing it just looked like a little bubble. Kind of stuck,” I say on a shrug.

  They all burst into laughter at the explanation.

  “Hey, it’s better than fucking peanut or some stupid shit like that.”

  “We’ve been calling Pandora’s bump Mimi, as in mini-me,” Tank admits.

  We all laugh at that. Carrie and Pandora being pregnant together has been an experience. Two hormonal females in a small clubhouse has some of the biggest, scariest men I know running for the hills. Pandora has threatened to shoot more than a few brothers and Carrie even threw a plate at Cass once when his mouth got the better of him.

  The two of them together are f
rightening.

  “With that being said, we need to also cover your current positions. Sarg, we would like for you to fill the Sergeant at Arms post and Rafe, you are his Enforcer. You both work well together and will cover each other.”

  Prez’s next announcement brings me out of my head.

  Both of them look as shocked as Tank and me were but Rafe has pride all over his face. He’s a good brother.

  “Will be an honor, Prez,” Rafe says.

  “Big boots to fill,” Sarg says in his gruff voice.

  “Nah, man, you’ll make the role your own,” Tank slaps him on the back.

  Everyone is quiet for the moment, taking all the news in.

  “Reck will be helping Sarg and Rafe with their roles while Joker and Tank shadow Bull and myself to learn the ropes and all the responsibilities. The announcement will be made at the next church if everyone is happy. Joker, take a few days and let me know your decision.”

  Clearly, Prez is dismissing us all.

  Nodding my head, I get up and leave his office to find Carrie.

  After checking our room and the main room, I find Carrie outside watching Beau play.

  Dropping down next to her on the picnic bench and leaning forward to watch Beau playing on the kids’ area we set up.

  Carrie doesn’t try to talk to me, she just sits silently next to me, giving me the space but support to work it out in my head first.

  It’s times like this that I love this woman more. She just gets me and gives me what I need.

  “Prez is stepping down,” I finally tell her.

  “Is he dying?”

  “I said same thing,” I chuckle.

  “Jason, I love how alike we are but seriously, is Prez dying?”

  “No, babydoll, he’s not dying. He just wants to spend more time with Pip and visit his daughter more.”

  “Thank god. You had me worried there for a second. I love that man like a second father.”

  “We all do, Carrie. But that’s not what’s concerning me. Prez is stepping down and wants me to take the gavel.”

  “Oh My God! Jason, that’s amazing,” she cries and flies at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing my face.