by Ivy Black
No one had ever turned on my dad with this rule in place.
Seth and Vil stepped up right away and dropped their bike keys in the box. Seth dropped in three copies, and Vil dropped in two. I shifted my gaze to Aaron, but he wasn’t moving.
“Are you violating your contract?” I asked.
The look Aaron gave me threatened to melt my skin off. He pulled his gun out of his waistband as if that would scare me, then stood up and walked over to the box. He pulled out a set of his keys and dangled them in my face above the lockbox. I just sat there waiting, and in an action that could only be described as flat out stupid, he slammed the keys into the lockbox so hard that the box slammed into my arms.
“Fuck!” I yelped as I stumbled.
And that was all it took.
Lockjaw leaped from my side and made good use of his name. He opened his mouth and bit down on Aaron’s arm, and his jaw locked in place over the flesh. Aaron pointed the gun in his hand at Lockjaw, but Seth hopped up from his seat and yanked the gun from his hand. Vil stood up and swept Aaron’s legs from under him, and Aaron tumbled to the ground, giving Lockjaw all the leverage he needed to maul him without hesitation. The bones in Aaron’s arms crunched, and Aaron screamed.
I looked at Seth and Vil. “You made a good choice. I’ll be sure my dad knows.”
Seth nodded. “Thanks, Val.”
A small grin found my face. It felt like I actually may have earned a little respect. I let out a hollow whistle, and Lockjaw released Aaron’s arm, leaving it bleeding profusely. “Take care of him or leave him there. It is up to you.” With a growl, I snatched Aaron’s keys out of the box and chucked them directly down at his face. “Consider your membership revoked.”
The lockbox lid clicked as I snapped it shut, and with a final nod at Seth and Vil, I stepped over Aaron’s screaming, writhing body and left Hoppa’s. Lockjaw hopped up into his seat, and I made sure to ruffle his ears a bit to thank him for a job well done. “Who’s Mama’s good boy?” His tongue rolled out of his mouth, and he panted happily, so I kissed his nose. “Should we go see Colin?”
Lockjaw’s ears perked up a little bit at the mention of Colin’s name, and I laughed. I never would understand why Lockjaw had attached to Colin so quickly, but it wasn’t as if I didn’t understand. Colin was pretty great.
With a deafening roar, I started my bike and started off for MiD.
My stomach flipped as I pulled into MiD. The empty desert that I’d been visiting daily up until a week ago was now unrecognizable. Colorful booths selling everything from food to merch were lined in rows, and at the far end of the desert was a massive stage with an electronic backdrop and tons of flashing lights. One of the more popular, family-friendly Arizona bands was playing. All of the headliners would perform during the night party, but people were still partying it up now. On either side of the stage, orange, blood-red, and steel-silver banners hung with the faces of our fallen members from the Devil’s Riders’ attack of the past.
On either side of the entrance gate were the different posters that Hoppa and Collinstown designed for the event. The event, originating with the name Music in the Desert, was depicted in a simplistic poster with waves of tan across the bottom, a music note in the center, and the Steel Knights’, Blazing Rebels’, and Raging Vipers’ emblems across the top. The promotion for the rager part of the night was displayed on a poster with an electric purple bottom, a state emblem across it, and stars dotting a black sky, with a few of the stars being the Steel Knights, Blazing Rebels, and Raging Vipers symbols.
The entire place was packed with people, and I could see the bright red and orange Blazing Rebels and dark red Raging Vipers emblems floating around all over the place, not just on the jackets of the members, but on the Mascid and Collinstown residents as well. Hoppa wasn’t to be outdone, as nearly half of the attendees seemed to be wearing the Steel Knights’ sigil in a sterling silver color that was reflective and caught the sun’s light perfectly.
Unlike the front where Colin and I had been parking our bikes, the clubhouse had members-only parking, and I followed the closely guarded backroad around to where the bikes were all parked, along with Colins. Just seeing his bike sent a jolt of excitement through me. I’d gone fourteen years without seeing him, and now after just four days, it felt as if it had been fourteen more years. I parked, climbed off, and pulled Lockjaw out. Normally, I’d leave him off-leash since he was very well trained, but I kept him on a short chain while at MiD for others’ peace of mind. Though I thought he was cute as a button, everyone else saw a terrifying pit bull. I leashed him up and then walked into the club room.
The place was packed with the intermingling members of the Steel Knights, Raging Vipers, and Blazing Rebels. Some were playing pool, some were drinking and laughing, and some were just sitting on the couches, catching up. I did a quick scan of the room, but I didn’t see Colin, my dad, or Taylor.
“Hey, Val!” I turned and looked over my shoulder, and the Raging Vipers’ lean but unexpectedly strong Sergeant at Arms was walking in behind me.
Way back when I’d first met the Raging Vipers’ officers, Saddle approached me as if I was no different from any of the men in the club. It took me by surprise, at first—that and his thick Russian accent—but when I mentioned to him that the guys in my club didn’t necessarily like me, he playfully quipped, “Oh, I was unaware that men disliked having beautiful women around.” It was a comment that fell right inside his hard sense of humor, strained with a tinge of seriousness. Whenever he was around, it felt like I got more respect. Maybe it was just because he loomed over everyone and because it felt like he could see into your very soul, but he was one of the main reasons I loved MiD.
“Saddle!” We threw ourselves into a hug. “How are ya?”
“Can’t complain. You know, things never stay calm for too long in Collinstown. Gunner sees to that.”
A chuckle slipped out before I could stop it. Raging Vipers Sergeant at Arms Adrian “Saddle” Ivanov was much more the troublemaker between him and their vice president, Gunner, but he tended to foist it off on others. “I’d take some of that over watching Nick play cards every night.”
Adrian punched my arm. “Hey, be careful what you wish for. Things are always calmest before the storm.”
That’s what had my dad so spooked, after all. “I know that’s right. Hey, have you seen him?”
“Squared?” Adrian asked. “Yeah, he and a few of the other Knights were standing around the beer stand a bit ago.”
“No shock there. Thanks.”
Adrian tapped my arm as he continued inside. “No problem. Good to see ya, Val.”
“Bye.” I shook Lockjaw’s chain a bit. “Come on, buddy.”
We walked back out of the clubhouse and started to wander around the desert grounds. As I walked around, I saw Bucky, Bullseye, Texas, and Bullet, but my dad, Colin, and Taylor were nowhere to be found. For half a second, I got a little nervous that maybe something had gone wrong between Colin and Taylor, but then the unexpected happened.
“Val.” Lockjaw let out a quiet growl at the person beckoning me, knowing that it was unusual for Bullet to approach me in a way that wasn’t hostile.
“Hey, Bullet. You enjoying yourself?”
Unlike the normal aggression between us, he seemed slightly tepid, if not somewhat pleasant. “Yeah. You know, MiD’s always a good time.”
“It is,” I responded. “Are you… feeling okay?”
He looked at me, his thin-rimmed glasses making his cynical expression even more pronounced. “Yes. Why?”
My hands flew into the air defensively as I laughed it off. “No reason. We just don’t talk much.”
“Yeah. Is it a problem?”
“No.” I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. “How are things going around here? No big threats, I imagine?”
Bullet shrugged. “Squared’s been like a chicken with his head cut off, but other than that.”
“Do you
know where he is?”
He nodded his head off toward the end of the desert plot opposite the clubhouse, behind where the bathrooms were usually situated. “Last I saw him, he was over there. Been dragging Colin everywhere with him, too.”
Of course he was. It could be considered a good thing that my dad liked the guy I was into, but I didn’t want to have to fight with him for his attention. “Cool. Thank you.”
“No problem.” I’d started to walk away when Bullet started up again. “Hey.”
“Yeah?” Even Lockjaw seemed confused, standing next to me halfway between ready to attack and wanting to sit and be patient.
“Uh…” He rubbed the back of his head. “Can I ask you a question?”
If only I didn’t get struck by lightning first. “Sure.”
“There’s this… woman.”
There was no stopping the smile that immediately found my face. “Okay?”
“She’s a…” He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to find words before finally settling on, “Challenge.”
I snickered. “The best women are.”
“How do I… I mean, what do I…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
Before I could stop him, he shuffled away from me and out of sight. I looked down at Lockjaw, my only nearby friend, with my jaw agape. “Did that just happen?”
Lockjaw just stared back at me, and all I could think about was getting to anyone who would listen to me. I made my way back toward the clubhouse with a pep in my step, knowing that Colin was okay. I figured it was probably best to just wait for them to come back. I joined up in a game of pool with Bucky as my partner and even stole a moment to tell him what happened with Bullet.
“Oh, yeah. Your dad didn’t tell you?” Bucky said. “Apparently, he’s, like, into her.”
My jaw fell open. “He hates women.”
Bucky shrugged. “Evidently not this one.”
“That’s the power of breasts,” one of the Blazing Rebels’ members, Hector “Ink” Vicario, joked. I glared at him, and he held up his hands. “Or, maybe she has a great personality.”
Everyone laughed, and we continued to enjoy our game and pleasant conversation. Between what had happened with the prospects back at Hoppa’s, having a conversation that wasn’t scathing with Bullet, and actually mingling and feeling like one of the gang in the clubhouse, my feelings toward my role in the Steel Knights was slowly shifting. Maybe there was hope that things could change, after all.
The pounding bass of music from outside the clubhouse was the sign that the party was switching from kid-friendly to an all-out rager. One of the country’s most famous bands, an Arizona original, The Flying Cardinals, was the headlining act, and they were already getting the crowd going. The clubhouse slowly emptied as everyone went to enjoy the growing party outside, but I stayed behind with Lockjaw, Adrian, and the Blazing Rebels’ Sergeant at Arms, Elias “Iron” Serrano. We’d all be meeting once the party was in full swing, after which time I would hopefully be able to steal up to the loft with Colin and Lockjaw.
Over the next twenty or so minutes, the rest of those who would be present at the meeting turned up. Oliver “Tank” Ingram and Isaac “Wrench” McIntyre showed up together with their hands full of the gourmet hotdogs that one of Collinstown’s booths sold every year. They were the Blazing Rebels’ president and vice president, respectively, and their favorite thing to do was enjoy the cuisine that the other two cities had to offer.
Not long after they arrived, the Raging Vipers’ president, Dustin “Brewer” Johnson, and Alex “Gunner” Thomas arrived, both seeming a little tipsy, but nothing that would interfere with the meeting.
Last but not least, my dad entered the clubhouse with Colin at his side. A wide smile crossed my face when I saw Colin. Not only was it good to see him again after being apart for a few days, but he was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, allowing the world to see the discoloration from the burns on his left arm. That level of acceptance was a subtle hint that he was dealing with it and that it wouldn’t be a stopgap between us anymore. The excitement that gave me was almost unparalleled, except for the fact that Lockjaw leaped up from where he was sitting on the floor and bolted over to Colin.
Colin crouched to meet Lockjaw, scratching behind his ears, and then his gaze slowly crawled up to me, deep with admiration and a hint of seduction that actually made me blush.
Adrian stood up and plopped down on the couch next to me. “Oh! You finally found one that likes you?” I raised an eyebrow at him, and he let out a barking laugh. “Atta girl. Now if we get the rest to not be stupid, we’re in good shape.”
“I’ll hold my breath while you work on it,” I huffed back, and Saddle laughed.
“Hey, baby,” my dad greeted.
I stood up and walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Heard you’re making friends.”
My already present smile got bigger. “It’s been a good day.”
“Glad to hear it.” I slid over to Colin’s side, and my heart leaped up into my throat when he reached out, took my hand, and kissed the back of it. It was like I was a schoolgirl again.
What the hell had happened in the last four days?
“What’s goin’ on, Squared?” Brewer greeted. “You must think you’re slick shit, puttin’ on the best MiD yet, huh?”
My dad shrugged. “Well, what can I say. I don’t do shit by halves.”
“No, you don’t,” Brewer replied.
“Well, thank you all for agreeing to meet. I won’t waste too much of your time.” My dad turned and tapped Colin’s shoulder. “Folks, I want you to meet one of our newest members, CJ. He’s gonna be joining us if it’s all right. I guess he’s been my go-to guy as of late.”
My eyes widened, and I could tell in the shocked expression on Colin’s face that he wasn’t expecting that. My dad looked at Colin with a grin. “That work for you, son?”
Colin nodded. “Yeah.”
“Good.” He motioned toward the meeting room. “Let’s get it started. If I keep Gunner from that party for too long, he might take me out.”
Gunner nodded dramatically. “That’s for damn sure.”
Everyone started to file into the meeting room, so I took the transition to pull my dad back. “Where’s Taylor?”
He looked over his shoulder at me. “Let’s just say I think some hierarchical changes are in order, so he’s out enjoying the party.” With that, he headed off to the meeting room, and Colin started to follow, pulling me with him.
When I stayed frozen in place, Colin stopped and faced me. “You okay?”
“No,” I said. “If Taylor gets out, he’s gonna kill you.”
As if he’d been summoned by the mention of his name, Taylor came striding through the door. On impulse, I dropped Colin’s hand, but Taylor didn’t even give us a second glance. He went storming into the meeting room, and I was close behind, watching as he sat down at the meeting table.
I looked at my dad, but he was unphased, maybe choosing not to deal with it while we were in the presence of the Blazing Rebels and the Raging Vipers. I walked inside and sat down in my chair, and Colin sat in the chair next to me.
Taylor eyed Colin. “What’s he—”
“All right,” my dad cut him off. “Let’s get started.”
Chapter Fifteen
Phantom
It wasn’t difficult for everyone at the table to tell that there was tension between Taylor, Nick, Tess, and me. Taylor was glaring at me like he wanted to take my head off my shoulders.
Nick and I had been together for most of the day. He claimed that it was just because I was the one who’d been overseeing the desert while MiD was in planning, but all throughout the day, it was more like he was a dad breaking in his future son-in-law. We enjoyed the different food stalls, played a couple of games, and spent some time talking and listening to live music. Nick asked me flat out if I was in love with his
daughter, and I had to tell him the truth.
I was in love with her now, and I always had been.
Even though it was more foreboding for me, it made Nick happy, and the somber mood he’d had ever since Taylor killed Adley started to slowly evaporate. We bumped into Taylor more than once, and Nick had even asked him to join us, but Taylor refused, always glaring at me before walking away.
Needless to say, Taylor and I wouldn’t be making each other friendship bracelets anytime soon.
Still, part of me had to wonder if Nick was intentionally pitting us against each other or if he was just exploring, through me, the father-son relationship he’d missed out on with Taylor. Whatever it was, he wasn’t improving the situation. Inviting me into a high-officer-only meeting with Taylor, who saw that Nick was about to commence the meeting without him, wasn’t a good thing. Tess’ fears were valid, despite that they didn’t frighten me.
For the first time in my life, I had something for myself I wanted to hang on to. My relationship with Nick, having someone around who felt like an actual dad who wanted me to succeed, I didn’t realize how much I was missing it until I had it. Being with Tess, someone who continued to care for me despite all the baggage I came with and who gave me multiple chances when my multitude of emotional issues got in the way, was amazing. I wasn’t about to let some petulant kid with several screws loose come in and take it from me. If he wanted to fight, he knew where to find me, and until then, I would enjoy my new life without fear. I’d protect it.
“I want to thank you all again for meeting with us,” Nick said, starting the meeting off finally. “Tess, Taylor, and I have been speaking at length about the Unchained Dogs’ silence as of late. As you all well know, groups like them are only quiet when they’re about to bark, and my fear is that they’re planning a raid. I wanted to get through MiD, but I plan to send some spies into Rumble. We don’t just want to be sitting ducks.”
