by Kasey Krane
I got out of the car and gently shut the door, seeing the bikes and a few cars parked around me—the regulars were here already.
I’d only been in this town, working at this bar for fifteen days, but I knew the regulars. They tipped well, they were all really nice to me. I’d already decided I would try and stay in this town for as long as possible. I liked it here.
I clutched my bag tightly to my side as I walked toward the bar and suddenly, heard footsteps behind me. Maybe I shouldn’t have thought anything of them, but I stopped in my tracks, my blood frozen cold. There was something about the way the gravel crunched under the shoes of this person—it sounded familiar. Sounded dangerous.
The sound stopped when I stopped walking. For a second, I thought I was crazy. That I was imagining things.
But there were goosebumps on my arms.
Slowly, I turned around to see. I had flashes of images of finding Billy there, standing behind me with a wide toothy grin. His teeth had always been so white and perfectly aligned, almost like they were artificial. Maybe they were. There was a lot about Billy I had no clue about, even though we were living together.
But there was nobody there behind me. Just the darkness.
I gulped, feeling a little crazy. Had I really imagined those footsteps in the dark? I licked my lips. The last thing I needed right now was to be hallucinating. I needed to keep it together and stay sane.
In the distance, behind a truck parked in the corner, I heard a sort of rustle, then gasped and took a few steps back. There was definitely someone there, scurrying away now. Maybe an animal? Leaves?
In that moment, someone turned the music up louder in the bar. It startled me out of my thoughts and I whipped around to look at it.
Was he here? Was Billy here now? Had he found me?
Was he following me?
I couldn’t shake off that cold feeling of being watched.
I walked up quickly to the door, slipping in; at least for now, for the next few hours while I worked here, I was safe from him.
Maybe Hank knew something was wrong, because I could sense him eyeing me more closely tonight.
I worked behind the counter, serving drinks and making small talk with anyone who came up to me.
“Hey, you okay, kid?” Hank asked at one point. He must have noticed the way my hand shook as I poured a shot of tequila.
I looked up at him, trying to get my face as blank and devoid of expression as possible.
“Yeah, I’m good, I’m great. Everything is fine.”
Hank wasn’t buying it. I served up the tequila and took a step back from the counter.
“You wanna take a break? Go outside and have a smoke?” he asked.
“I don’t smoke,” I said quickly.
“Right…yeah, I forgot. Well, take a break anyway. Go get some fresh air?”
“I don’t want to go outside,” I insisted, a little louder this time.
Hank’s brows furrowed.
“Sorry, Hank, I didn’t mean to snap at you,” I said, wringing my hands together. I caught him looking at my fingers and the way I was pressing them. Obviously, he could tell something was wrong. “I’m just tired, I guess. I’ll be fine tomorrow, I promise. I’m really sorry.”
I gulped. There was a very real possibility I wouldn’t be here tomorrow. If I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Billy was in this town, that he knew where I was—I would be gone by then.
Hank took in a deep breath and nodded.
“Well, rest up tonight. Whatever’s going on with you, kid, figure it out. You’re too young to be worried about stupid shit,” he said and finally smiled.
I forced myself to smile too.
“Yeah, I’ll make sure to get in a good night’s sleep.”
“Look, if you want to go up and take a shower tonight after your shift, feel free,” he added.
“Do I really look like I need one?” I asked with a chuckle.
Hank shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s not what I’m sayin’, but you sure look like you could do with some quiet time. A shower always helps me relax.”
He walked away from the counter then, to go back to doing whatever he was doing. Someone came up asking for a beer and I snapped back to work mode.
I was grateful for Hank and for his offer, but the more time went by, the more I was beginning to realize I couldn’t stick around here for very long. Those footsteps in the parking lot, the rustling behind the car—even if it was all in my head, had spooked me.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Billy was here, and couldn’t take the chance of waiting to find out.
I pushed myself to make it through the rest of my shift. I made some tips which I collected in my bag. My shift was nearly over and I told Hank I’d take him up on his offer.
“You’re right, I could really use a shower tonight,” I said and he smiled.
Twenty months ago, in the house I thought Billy had bought with his savings, he’d got a bathtub installed for me.
I’d grown up without one but always dreamt about it. I’d felt loved and cherished then, like Billy actually saw me. He knew what I wanted—my deepest and most precious desires.
Very quickly, that bathtub became my safe space.
It was where I went to after another particularly grueling day. I submerged myself in the lavender-scented soapy water and remained there till the water was so cold that I could feel my bones freezing.
My relationship with that bathtub changed over the course of the next few months. It was more than a luxury; it was my last thread of hope.
And now I was standing in a small glass cubicle in a bathroom on the floor above the bar. I could hear the thump of the music seeping up through the floor. Hank was still down there, closing up, trying his best to get rid of the drunks now passed out around the place.
I could feel the strong pressure of the jets overhead, washing away the grime off my hair and skin. My bag of clothes lay at the bathroom door.
I’d change into another version of what I was wearing today, jeans and a plaid shirt. I kept it simple, didn’t want to be noticed, wanting to blend in the crowd.
There was soap and shampoo, which I used and then used my towel to dry myself as best I could. I was going to wash my used clothes and underwear in the sink and then lay all the damp clothes to dry in the front seat of the car that night.
It would take a few days before they would be dry enough for use again.
It was amazing how this routine seemed so normal and acceptable now, even though nothing about it should have been acceptable. I was forced to be homeless. Forced into exile.
I had the burden of secrets to carry on my shoulders; they were weighing me down. Very soon, I’d explode and there would be pieces of me shattered all over the place. I just wanted to rest, just wanted to stop running. For once in my life, I wanted to make the right decision, and not feel so foolish.
In the fogged-up mirror, I stared at a hazy reflection of myself. I had a slender athletic body, small perky breasts, a flat stomach and long smooth legs. My damp dark hair hung on either sides of my shoulders. My blue eyes looked huge in the mirror now. Sad.
I wished I didn’t look the way I did. I wished I were just plain, someone you wouldn’t look twice at. Maybe then, Billy wouldn’t have looked at me again. Maybe he would have left me alone and I wouldn’t be running from him as I now was.
I knew I couldn’t hide away in this bathroom forever, so got a move on.
Hank was sweeping some broken glass off the floor when I eventually found my way down.
“Oh give me that; I can take care of it,” I said, jumping toward him.
“It’s fine, don’t worry, I got it. How was the shower?” he asked.
I ran my fingers through my long damp hair.
“It was great, exactly what I needed, thank you.”
Hank put the dustpan away and went to wash his hands in the sink. I watched his big body moving slowly. There were fading tattoos on his arms, even
on the backs of his wrists. Between the tattoos and the leather jacket and beard he sported, it wasn’t hard for me to guess he used to be a biker.
He turned to me again when he was done.
“You know I don’t like to pry into people’s matters,” he said.
I stared at him, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t ask me a question I didn’t want to answer.
“So I’m not going to ask for an explanation. It’s none of my business,” he continued. “But for some reason, you look like a girl who’s always looking over her shoulder. I guess the real question is, are you waiting for someone, or running?”
I looked down at my feet and blinked, unsure how to best answer it.
“Neither,” I responded. Hank’s eyes grew wide because he knew I was lying. Then he nodded his head.
“Well, have a nice night. Catch up on that sleep. You know where to find me if you need me.”
I smiled carelessly and left the bar. Hank was going to have a drink by himself and then close up for the night. I knew he lived in a small apartment down the road and would spend the next day sleeping till the afternoon. That was his routine and it seemed like it had been for a long time.
When I got out of the bar, I scanned the parking lot for signs of any other soul. Only my car and Hank’s bike remained. I could hear my breath as I made my way to it. My hand shook a little as I unlocked the door and got in.
I’d found a quiet deserted spot near the highway where I usually parked for the night but knew I couldn’t go there tonight. If Billy was here and had been following me, then he’d be waiting there for me.
I started the engine. The radio came on, my only company. I backed out of the parking lot and on to the road, but no way was I sleeping tonight. I would probably end up driving around the rest of the night. I needed to sleep, to rest, but couldn’t do it in the dark. Maybe tomorrow, when it was light, I’d find a busy spot in the middle of the town center, and sleep then.
For now, the only thing for me to do was drive.
3
Flash
“So, are we taking this threat seriously?” Spike asked.
We’d called for Church and finally managed to round everyone up.
“How else are we supposed to fuckin’ take it? They snuck it in my girl’s clothes,” Bolt raged. I put a hand on his shoulder. He needed to stay calm.
“We have to take it seriously, because it’s a direct threat, but you’re right, they could be bluffing,” I said.
The Iron Thunder MC and its members were now spread out in the Clubhouse, and the only thing on everyone’s mind was The Silver Knights and what it would mean to go into war with them.
“We can’t postpone this ride,” Drax said. He was the Club President and had an iron will. Even though he knew what was at stake if we had another major showdown with those assholes, he wasn’t about to let us roll over and show them our bellies.
“No?” I asked and Drax turned to me with his eyes narrowed.
“No. All the MC Officers will continue with the plan. The others can stay back here and watch over our property and territory,” Drax commanded.
I clenched my fists but said nothing more; I couldn’t defy Drax’s order and maybe he was right. Maybe us going on this ride was a better idea than sitting around here, waiting for an attack.
I wanted Spike to be right. I wanted this whole thing to be a hoax.
“I can’t go. I have to be with Cassie,” Bolt said. Drax agreed, putting him in charge of the prospects while we were going to be away.
“When do we ride?” Ghost asked, rubbing his hands together like he’d just eaten something delicious.
“Tomorrow. Night. Flash has the new route,” Drax said. I nodded in agreement.
“Cool. And where’s our pitstop for the night?” Spike asked, equally excited.
“This bar called Blue Lights, dead end of nowhere. Don’t expect anything too exciting.” I’d planned the route carefully for our ride, back when I wasn’t aware that the Silver Knights had already declared war on us. Now I hoped our route wasn’t going to expose us to an attack. Moreover, I hoped our Clubhouse or our properties didn’t get attacked while we were away.
“Blue Lights, here we come!” Ghost cheered. The others in the bar cheered too. I looked at Bolt who was definitely way more worried than I was.
“Hey, you take care of yourself while we’re away,” I told him. He nodded and breathed in deeply. “And take care of that girl of yours. I’m sorry I haven’t been more supportive of her.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah. No. I get it. You don’t understand why I’m this invested in what I have with her.”
That made me crack a smile. What was happening to this guy?
“I’ve heard about love. Don’t believe in it, like I don’t believe in Santa Claus either.”
Bolt grinned and shook his head. “Yeah, neither did I.”
We arrived at the bar the next night. Blue Lights glowed with a neon sign shining bright above the dingy looking door. The place looked deserted from the outside as far as the eye could see. There wasn’t much I knew about it other than that it was in the middle of nowhere. It was perfect.
I led the ride and it had been smooth so far. I also kept in contact with Bolt to make sure things were at peace back at the Clubhouse too. Maybe the Silver Knights were waiting for the right opportunity to attack. Or maybe it was a hoax, or maybe we were walking right into their trap.
Whatever it was, we were glad to arrive at the bar tonight. Our bikes populated the parking lot and we all got off in unison.
There was some shit music playing in there and I had a feeling our group was going to attract a lot of attention. The boys usually made sure we got it.
The others walked ahead while I checked my phone. No messages from Bolt; it was all quiet.
By the time I got into the bar, they had already taken up one large table at the center. Drinks were being ordered and Spike was eyeing up the pool table in the corner.
“How’s the Missus?” Ghost asked when I pulled up a chair at the table. I grinned and shook my head.
“I guess I’m the only one taking this seriously then.”
“If they pull a stupid stunt on us, they’re going to regret it. So I say bring it on,” he replied.
“Sure, whatever you say, man.”
The others were too busy drinking and getting ready to play pool. Maybe they were doing the right thing by letting loose. I checked my phone again and when there weren’t any texts from Bolt, I decided I needed to ease up a bit too.
The Silver Knights weren’t going to attack us here tonight. They’d have nothing to gain from us. The Clubhouse was now in the very capable hands of Bolt and the prospects he was in charge of. So what was I worrying about?
I looked up and saw the waitress coming toward our table. She had a big tray of drinks stacked on a tray, and even though it seemed like it’d topple over any minute, it didn’t. Surprisingly, she had excellent control over her wares.
“Keep ‘em coming, honey,” Drax said and she smiled at him sweetly.
I could see the others looking her up and down too. I couldn’t blame them. This chick was a knockout—and I couldn’t understand what she was doing out here in the dead end of nowhere.
Dark hair, blue eyes, with a body made to be bent over and spanked. My cock sprang to life just looking at her. Was that the effect she had on everybody? She worked quickly with her long slender fingers, popping the orders down on the table, and doing it accurately.
When she turned to me, her eyebrows arched in surprise.
“Sorry, I don’t think I got your order earlier,” she said. Her voice was low but clear, smooth like caramel. Delicious. I imagined what my tongue would feel like inside her mouth.
“No, you didn’t. Just a beer. Any beer. Surprise me.”
For a moment, I thought she was going to crack a smile, but then she fluttered her eyelashes and hooked her empty tray on her hip.
“This isn’t some kind of talent show, I’m not here performing a trick for you on stage. Tell me which beer you would like and I’ll get it for you,” she replied.
My eyes squinted as I stared at her. Around the table, I could hear sniggers from the guys. They thought this was funny but neither the girl nor I were laughing. There was an electrical charge between us and I knew she could feel it too.
“No, you’re right,” I said and shifted in my chair so I was leaning forward now, closer to her. Her nostrils flared as she stared at me. “I can tell you exactly what I want.” My eyes traveled over her, taking in the way her small breasts rose and fell under that shirt. Her jeans were tight, clinging to her long slender legs. She had tiny hips, a perfect waist for me to hook my hands on. “Then I’ll have a Bud.”
I sat back in my chair and the girl seemed to take in a few short breaths. Then she nodded, quickly turned on her heels and hurried away.
“Whoa. What was that?” Ghost asked, the others laughed.
“What was what? I wanted a beer and I gave the waitress my order.”
“She ain’t been looking at us that way,” Spike added.
“Like she’s about to bite your head off?” I said.
“Like she wants you to rip her clothes off!” Ghost laughed.
“I haven’t noticed.”
I looked over and saw her behind the counter. She had her back turned to us but I could sense her highly aware of my eyes on her. Any moment now, she was going to look over her shoulder…and see me…and she did. Across the room, she saw me watching her and she looked away with a jerk like she’d done something naughty.
She was going to have to come back, bring me my beer. It seemed like she was stalling. She spoke to some others, took a few more orders, and it wasn’t until ten more minutes that she finally came toward me with the beer.
The others at the table who were talking so far fell silent.
“Sorry, I was caught up, here’s your order,” she said and placed the bottle in front of me. I had an urge to reach out and touch her hand, to feel her skin on my fingertips. But the last thing I wanted to do was scare her.