Freak (Fallen Lords MC Book 7)

by Winter Travers

  Slayer splayed his hands out. “I don’t even talk to my chick so I couldn’t tell you.”

  “How the hell do you not talk to her?” Pipe asked.

  Slayer rolled his eyes. “I’m not all about that falling in love with the chick I’m protecting bullshit. I make sure she is safe and that’s it.”

  “He also can’t remember her name. I’m sure it’s self-preservation on his part because I’m sure if he called her hey you that it would not end well for him,” Maniac chuckled.

  “I know her name,” Slayer insisted.

  “Then what is it?” Nickel asked.

  “Winnie.”

  I blinked slowly, and Wrecker hung his head.

  “It’s not Winnie, you dumbass,” Maniac laughed.

  “Yeah, it is,” Slayer insisted.

  Boink clapped Slayer on the shoulder. “Hung out with the chick during the first Bobby situation and I know her name is not Winnie.”

  “Then what the hell is it?” Slayer demanded.

  I had told him her name numerous times, and he still couldn’t remember what it was. “Not telling you again, man.”

  “No one is telling you because if you can’t even remember the name of the chick you’re staying in the same room with, then maybe you need to get your shit together and figure it out on your own.” Wrecker stood and pointed at Slayer and me. “Take care of that whole situation that walked into this room. I have enough shit to deal with between Bobby and Jenkins in River Valley. The Golden Girls walking into my clubhouse is shit you two are dealing with.”

  Wrecker stalked out of the room with Pipe and Nickel following behind him.

  “You think we can stay here and they’ll just disappear?” Slayer asked.

  I glanced over at Slayer. “I’d love to do that but I’m sure they would come find us.”

  Boink and Maniac chuckled.

  Boink shook his head and couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “You two assholes have fun with Agnes and Elle. They’re a definite handful.”

  I glanced over at Slayer, and I knew he wasn’t going to be any help.

  This was something I didn’t see coming, and I had no idea how to deal with it.

  *

  Chapter Eight

  Carnie

  “Mom.”

  “Carnie.”

  I sighed and closed my eyes. “You can’t wander around the clubhouse like you live here.”

  “Says who?” she demanded.

  I hung my head and wondered how I could time travel back two hours and change everything. “I don’t even understand why you are here.”

  “Mother’s intuition.”

  “What?” Wendy asked. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Wendy, my mom Agnes, my aunt Elle, and I were all sitting at one of the tables in the clubhouse. My dad was sitting on the couch watching HGTV with Alice and Cora.

  After I had caught my mom barging into the guys’ meeting, Wendy and I decided we needed to sit them down and figure out what the hell was going on. They had walked into the clubhouse in a whirlwind of casserole dishes and luggage which Cora and Alice thought was hilarious.

  Mom clucked her tongue. “It means, I knew something was wrong when you told me you were coming to visit Mayra.” She took a sip of her lemonade and cringed. “Is that the way I taught you to make lemonade, Carnie?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Not enough diabetes in it for you?”

  My mother had a heavy hand when it came to adding sugar to well, anything.

  “Sass, Carnie,” she scolded.

  To most, this wouldn’t make sense, but my mother had a way of scolding me with using as few words as possible.

  “Sorry,” I grumbled. I grabbed the pitcher of lemonade and walked into the kitchen. “I just don’t get why you are here.”

  “Because you are here because something is wrong, and you aren’t telling me what it is.”

  I rolled my eyes and added three heaping tablespoons of sugar to the lemonade. “There isn’t anything to tell.”

  “There isn’t anything you can do about it,” Wendy said at the same time.

  I dropped my chin to my chest. Now my mom was going to know there was something wrong.

  “I knew it,” Elle clucked. “We were right to come here.”

  I grabbed the pitcher and headed back to the table. “No, you weren’t right to come here. Wendy and I have everything under control.”

  Mom refilled her glass and pointed to the chair I was sitting in. “Ass in the chair, girl.”

  I plopped down in the chair and folded my arms over my chest.

  “Elle! Agnes!” Mayra shouted. She pushed through the front door and sprinted over to our table. “I thought that was your car outside but I thought I was hallucinating.”

  “Mayra,” Mom said fondly as she wrapped her up in a hug.

  Elle hugged her, too, and I glanced at Wendy.

  “They weren’t that excited to see us,” she complained.

  I nodded. “That’s because they think we did something wrong. Mayra is a saint in their eyes.”

  “Where is that handsome man of yours?” Elle asked.

  “He was in the meeting you barged in on,” Wendy grumbled.

  “You walked into Church?” Mayra gasped.

  Elle hitched her thumb toward Mom. “She did. I stayed here because I was smart and went to the bathroom the last time we stopped for gas.”

  Mom glared at Elle. “Not everyone can be as perfect as you.”

  “Well, you probably shouldn’t do that again,” Mayra laughed. “What are you guys doing here?”

  Mom and Elle sat back down. “Something is up, and we’re here to figure out what it is.”

  Mayra eyed me knowingly. “Oh, you thought something was up?” Mayra had said that Mom and Elle weren’t stupid, but I didn’t think they would pack up and come to the clubhouse.

  “There sure as hell is, and we’re not leaving until someone tells us what the hell is going on.” Mom folded her arms over her chest and looked between Wendy and me.

  Elle elbowed Wendy. “Spill the beans, girl.”

  Wendy clamped her lips shut and shook her head. “Nope.”

  She squinted at me. She knew that I was the weak link. I couldn’t lie to my mom, and I definitely wouldn't lie to Mom and Elle when they were both staring me down.

  “Fine!” I shouted.

  “Don’t you do it,” Wendy warned.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Bobby is mad at me, and he was stalking me back in Pines Peak.”

  “God dammit,” Wendy muttered. “You have completely opened a can of worms.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Mom demanded.

  I opened my eyes. “Because I didn’t want you to get involved with it. It’s bad enough he’s after me, I didn’t want you to try to fix it and then have him kill you.”

  “Ain’t no one killing me. Especially not that twerp Bobby.” Mom folded her arms over her chest. “I made it through the drought of ‘89 and that forest fire that ripped through Pines Peak fifteen years ago. Bobby is nothing.”

  “The drought and fire didn’t have a gun, Mom,” Wendy reasoned. Or were likely chemically imbalanced with a whole lot of rage.

  “Hogwash,” Elle hushed. “You should have come to us.”

  “Mom, you don’t get it. What were you and Elle going to do?” I asked.

  Mayra held up her hand and butted in. “They’re right, Elle.”

  Mom’s mouth snapped shut, and Elle tutted. Perhaps Mayra wasn’t going to be their favorite anymore.

  “Handling Bobby is something for the Fallen Lords to take care of.”

  “We would have gone to the police.” Elle rolled her eyes.

  “Which is exactly what I hope you guys are doing,” Mom advised.

  Wendy shifted uncomfortably, and Mayra’s eyes darted to me.

  Dad glanced over his shoulder at us. “We’re sitting in the clubhouse of a motorcycle club, Agnes. You really
think they called the cops?”

  “Did we ask you, Jim?” Elle sassed. “I think all we asked was for you to drive.”

  “And we’ll see if I drive your old butt home.” Dad turned around and sunk back into the couch.

  “Who the hell are you calling old? Last I remember, you’re three years older than me, boy.” Dad and Elle always bickered back and forth with each other. Now it felt like I was back in Pines Peak and not sitting in a MC clubhouse.

  Cora and Alice were surprisingly quiet sitting next to Dad.

  Dad lifted his hand up in the air and raised his middle finger.

  “Jim,” Mom scolded. “What has come over you?”

  Dad lowered his hand but didn’t say anything.

  “Look,” I rested my hand on the table and got everyone's attention. “Wendy and I came here because it was the only thing that made sense. I didn’t want to have to run to anyone to help me, but I knew from what happened with Mayra that the Fallen Lords were the ones that were going to be able to help.”

  “And we are safe here. I mean,” Wendy looked around, “you may not see it right now, but there are at least nine guys here who make sure we are safe, no matter what. Back home, the only thing that was keeping someone from coming in was a weak deadbolt, and Bobby proved he could get through that no problem.”

  “I know this seems completely odd to you, Agnes, but Bobby isn’t the type of guy who is going to let the police just arrest him and be sent to jail.” Mayra patted her hand. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  Mom and Elle looked at each other knowingly. “We’re not leaving until we know our girls are safe.”

  “You mean our girls,” Dad called. “Last I checked, you and I did the nasty to have these two.”

  Alice snorted and burst into laughter.

  “Right on, Jim.” Cora high-fived him, and it seemed my dad had somehow gotten on the good side of the Girl Gang and he didn’t even know it.

  “So, where are we sleeping?” Elle asked. “I know it’s only two in the afternoon, but I could use a little bit of beauty rest.”

  “A little?” Dad scoffed.

  “Shut it, Jim,” Elle hollered.

  “I’m pretty sure all of the rooms are full right now.” Cora stood and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’ll check to see if the local motel has any rooms.”

  “Uh, don’t you think you should run this by Wrecker?” Mayra asked.

  Alice raised her hand. “I have control of that man and his nether regions. I can vouch for the fact that he will say do whatever the hell you want as long as they don’t stay in the clubhouse.”

  “She’s right on all accounts.” Wrecker walked into the common room with Nickel and Pipe behind him. “You guys see Leo walk out?”

  We all shook our heads.

  “Christ. He’s probably in the back.” Wrecker, Pipe, and Nickel turned on their heels and went back the way they had just come from.

  Elle fanned her face, and Mom had gone noticeably silent.

  “You sure we’re at a motorcycle club, or is this where the Chippendale dancers stay?” Elle grabbed Mom’s hand and squeezed. “Did you see the one with the beard? I’m pretty sure I can bounce a quarter off his butt.”

  “Mom!” Wendy and I said in unison.

  Alice raised her hand and laughed even harder. “That one is mine, and I can attest to the fact that you can bounce a quarter off that ass.”

  “Why am I not surprised that you have tried that?” Cora shook her head. “I have some work to do, but I’ll totally help you guys find a place to stay. Just yell if you need me.” Cora headed off to her room with a wave to Mom and Elle.

  “She was a huge bitch when she first got here,” Alice told my dad.

  “Really? She seemed nice.”

  Alice nodded. “I think having to hang out with the Girl Gang has totally mellowed her out.”

  “Carnie,” Freak called.

  I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

  “Now, who do we have here?” Mom asked quietly.

  Elle leaned toward Mom, and they both looked Freak up and down. “I don’t know, but he seems to know our girl.”

  “Not your girl,” Dad called.

  “Jim, would you stop. I mean, come on,” Elle whined. “You are totally ruining the mood.”

  “Carnie,” Freak called again.

  “You better go, girl. I’ll deal with your mom and aunt.” Mayra bumped my shoulder. “It’ll all be okay.”

  I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

  “You get Winnie, too?”

  Slayer. He still couldn’t remember Wendy’s name.

  Wendy stood and brushed her hands down her jeans. She obviously didn’t care that he couldn’t remember her name.

  “Does that one belong to Wendy?” Elle asked Mayra.

  “Why did he call her Winnie, though?” Mom added.

  “I’ll explain later.” Mayra patted Elle’s arm.

  “If I’m going to get yelled at, you’re coming with me, too.” Wendy hauled me out of the chair, and we turned around to see Freak standing next to Slayer. “It’s a total bummer that Sweat isn’t into me.”

  “Maybe call him the right name and he would be,” I whispered. “I’m sure if I called Freak anything but Freak, he wouldn’t be very receptive to it.”

  Wendy looked at me. “The man can’t remember my name, so why the hell should I remember his?”

  “So you purposely forget his name?”

  “Carnie,” Freak interrupted again.

  I was trying to get to the bottom of whatever the hell was going on with Wendy and Slayer but now was not the time.

  Freak nodded toward the bar.

  “Why does it feel like we’re headed to the principal’s office?” Wendy whispered.

  We moved to the bar on the other side of the large room, and Wendy and I sat on the barstools, while Freak and Slayer moved behind the counter.

  “Is it too early to start drinking?” Wendy asked.

  “It’s three o’clock, Wendy.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Have you never heard of day drinking?” she laughed.

  “Heard of it,” I mumbled.

  Slayer laid his hands on the bar and leaned forward. “Let’s cut to the chase, chickies.”

  I tipped my head to the side and laughed. “Chickies?”

  “Chicks better?” he asked.

  “I want to hear him say chickies again,” Wendy laughed.

  “For Christ’s sake,” Freak mumbled. “Why is your family here, Carnie? You told us they didn’t know anything was going on.”

  “They didn’t.” My eyes darted to the side. “At least, I didn’t think that they knew anything was going on.”

  Who knew my mom had some weird intuition when it came to Wendy and me being in trouble?

  “So, tell them you’re fine and have them go home.”

  Oh, Freak. He made that sound so easy.

  “You haven’t tried to tell Mom or Elle to do something so I’ll ignore your ignorance on the matter.” Wendy sat back and folded her arms over her chest. “Mom and Elle aren’t going anywhere until this whole Bobby thing gets sorted out.”

  “We don’t have anywhere for them to sleep here, and even if we did, there is no way in hell Wrecker would let them stay here.” Freak looked between Wendy and me. “Contrary to popular belief, we are not a place for wayward chicks and their families.”

  “Rude,” Wendy muttered.

  “Truth,” Slayer countered.

  Freak looked directly at me. “We gotta figure out something to do with your family, doll. Wrecker about busted a blood vessel when your mom walked in on Church.”

  “Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. It’s really hard to keep a handle on Mom and Elle when they are together. Totally like herding cats.”

  When Elle and Mom had first arrived, Elle dove straight into a story telling me about a large camel they had seen on the side of the road, and of course, I thought she meant a real camel but should hav
e known she was talking about a fake one. By the time we had gotten on the same page about the camel, I noticed Mom had disappeared.

  Wendy leaned forward. “I even got distracted by the camel.”

  “What?” Freak and Slayer said in unison.

  I waved my hand. It was going to take too much to explain about the camel and who my mom and aunt were. “It won’t happen again. We just need to get them in the local hotel or something.”

  Sticking them in a hotel wasn’t exactly ideal, but I didn’t know what else to do.

  Freak grabbed a small glass and set it in front of him. He grabbed a tall bottle filled with brown liquid and filled his glass halfway. “How long exactly are they staying for?”

  Wendy and I looked at each other. “Just until the whole Bobby thing gets dealt with.”

  “We don’t know when the hell that is going to happen. Right now, it’s like we are looking for a ghost.” Freak tossed back the brown liquid and cringed. He refilled his glass and held it out to me. “You might wanna start drinking, doll. It seems to be helping right now.”

  “Carnie can—”

  I elbowed Wendy in the side. “I’m not really a drinker. Doesn’t sit well with my stomach.” I didn’t need to broadcast the fact I was only twenty. Wendy, on the other hand, loved to tell any and every one.

  Freak eyed me warily.

  Something was telling me I shouldn’t tell Freak how old I was. It wasn’t like he was well into his fifties or anything that would make our age gap huge, but I knew he was in his thirties.

  Slayer grabbed a small glass and set it in front of him. “So, we find a place for their family to stay and then kick it into high gear to find Bobby?”

  “Don’t see any other way to do this.” Freak tossed back his second drink. “So we put them up in the hotel and pray Bobby falls into our lap overnight.”

  We all knew that wasn’t going to happen, but it sure would be nice.

  “I’ll call the motel.” Wendy pulled her phone out. “You do know we are going to need two rooms because there is no way Elle and Dad are going to willingly stay in the same room.”

  I nodded. “You are completely right.”

  “Who’s right about what?” Nikki asked. She stood next to me and reached over the bar for a glass. “Fill me up with ice and soda,” she ordered Slayer.