by Simone Elise
“Nope. I know a garage that is going to do it for free of charge.” And my eyes are locked with Ivory, as she peels back the curtain, peeking at the bike. Her garage better be as good as their reputation.
49
Ivory
I run over his bike and you would think I killed his first born child. I sighed, watching as my mechanics strip it back to the bones. Kace had swore he wouldn’t come into the garage while it is being repaired. However, do you think he kept that? And stayed away?
I hear him growling at my mechanics, who are great mechanics but don’t have much of a poker face because they are listening to Kace! Finally fed up with him shouting orders at them I approach. At this stage I’m still thankful I’m breathing. So I’m cautious with what I say.
“Babe?” I grab his attention.
He casts me one long cold look. Like this was all my fault. Which it is. Honestly there is no words to describe his emotions since I hit is bike. To be fair it was mostly cosmetic damage but you would think I had damaged the bones of it.
Honestly who parks behind a car, he wanted moved! He brought it on himself.
He arches his eyebrows.
“You interested in getting some lunch?” I ask and I can hear him grinding his teeth. He isn’t leaving this garage or my mechanics alone. I roll my eyes. “Kace. They can’t do their job with you snapping at them for touching your bike with ‘grabby hands’.” I air quote the ‘grabby hands’ because those were the words he used and I had no idea what it meant. I think he was trying to say that they were being rough with his bike.
“Well it shouldn’t be in here!”
And here we go….
“You need lessons on driving.” He points a finger at me.
“That we can agree on.”
I fling around seeing Gabe, who has a frown on his face. He looks at me. “Since when did you start doing motorcycles?”
Kace shoots me a look, like I’m now experimenting on his unborn child. I roll my eyes.
“We are a fully functioning garage that can work on any machine.” I quickly say then look back at Gabe. “Why are you here?” I did not need him here making things worse between Kace and I.
“Need to know how busy you are.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets. He’s keeping something from me and I pick up on it immediately.
“For what reason?”
He shrugs. Just shrugs like he isn’t asking a cryptic question.
“Oi don’t do that!” Kace snaps at the mechanic and then goes on to lecture the mechanic about how important it is to be gentle with parts. Like they have never been near expensive machines before.
I turn to Gabe, tuning the whining Kace out. He’s like an injured Lion right now.
“So what’s up?” I ask Gabe.
“I need a crew chief.” He looks me directly in the eyes. “And I only trust one person to do it.”
I never thought the opportunity of being a crew chief would come back in my life. I thought that chapter of my life had closed but as my brother looked at me for an answer I wondered could I go back to track.
Gabe steps closer to me. “I’m asking Kace to co captain with me.”
My eyes widen. “You and him riding for the same team?”
He nods his head. “I want to take out those bastards this season. They are counting both of us out. Us coming together as one team, makes sense.”
“So I’d be crew chief for both of you?” Cause I know how this team business works they alternate races. I look at Kace who is still being an injured lion and wonder could our relationship really survive me telling him how to race? When he doesn’t think I can drive?
50
Kace
Decisions. They were doing my head in. Because I was being pulled between making one about the club and Ivory, tonight. The club was hosting a party for a chapter that had ridden in. Everyone was expecting me to be there, as well as every other member. The thing stopping me? Telling Ivory that I was going to a club party.
So I was putting it off. Knew she wouldn’t be interested in coming with me.
“Kace?”
I pause, I had been trying to unpack some of these brown boxes. We had been here long enough to not be surrounded by brown boxes.
“Yeah?” I shout over my shoulder.
Then a hand wrapping around my chest, would have made me jump if I hadn’t heard her approaching. I was still getting used to being touched. I turned seeing Ivory, she has a small smile on her face, and she grabs my hand, pulling on me—because she couldn’t move me if she wanted to, I give and move, following her through the house.
“You know we need to get this shit sorted Ivory? We can’t keep living around boxes.”
She shoots me a look but that small smile is still on her face. She opens the front door, and my eyes widened. I see my bike. On the back of the tow truck. And it is a glorious fucking sight.
“I upgraded the motor to a hundred forty three cubic inches.” She says as I watch them unload it. “Apart from that it’s the same bike. I just couldn’t stop myself from giving it a big motor.”
I look at her, knowing she has put big twins on it and that isn’t cheap, especially when they had to be custom built into a frame that was already built.
I wrapped a hand around her waist. “You’ll keep woman.” Which is my way of saying she is forgiven, and she smirked up at me.
“Does this mean you’ll stop punishing me?” Her eyes lit up.
“Nope still got a week on that.”
She huffs. “You know you are punishing yourself just as much. No sex is torture.”
She was telling me. I was the one having to sleep next to her when she is wearing very little. Seeing her shower. Yeah she was right. Her punishment in return became my punishment.
“Now I’ve got to get changed.” Ivory pulls away from my grip.
“For?”
“Your club party.” She looks at me and my expression dropped. How did she know? “I saw your phone Kace, your prez was demanding we came. I saw my name.” She knows more than she should.
“You don’t have to. Club parties aren’t your seen.”
“I’m not that girl.” She grabs my shirt, going up on her toes. “I love both sides of you Kace Striking. So stop thinking I only want the stock car driver.” She brushes her lips on mine, looking me in the eyes for a moment before she heads inside and I’m stunned. Ivory just said she loves me. I blink. What scared me more, was she meant it—I heard that in her voice. She actually loves me. So if she loves me, why couldn’t I say the words back to her?
Keys. Wallet. Cut on.
“Ivory, hurry up.” I say up the stairs and then hear my kryptonite. Heels. Ivory is hell on heels when she wears them. I glance up the stairs and do a double take. Her ash blonde hair is down around her breasts. She’s wearing a bright red bra and I can see it, because she is only wearing black lace over top.
“I thought you were getting dressed and not into lingerie.” I growled at her, as my eyes still drink her in. The tight black jeans, and the red heels, that match the bra. With a leather jacket over top. She comes to a stop in front of me, looking like sex on a stick. And I’m at a loss for words. Fucking hell. I was going to be in for one hell of a night keeping the boys from flirting with her, touching her—I groan internally. Tonight was meant to be a night off beers, chilling—a relaxing night at the club. Instead. I’m going to be up against every man with a dick, fuck, maybe even the women too.
51
Ivory
It was officially I was out of my depth as I walked into the clubhouse. But I pretended like I wasn’t. Kace kept a hand on me the whole time and wouldn’t even let me go to the bar on my own. I’m used to men hitting on me, but this openly when I’m with my boyfriend—yeah it shocks me every time a member makes a pass at me. Which scores him a glare from Kace. It was like Kace was expecting it. The other thing I’m not used to is, Kace being called Ace.
Every time someone shouted Ace. I didn’t
think they were talking to Kace. But Kace always reacted. After a few hours of it, I sort of feel like I don’t know my boyfriend at all.
The night moves on, and Kace, or Ace as everyone kept shouting was pulled away from me. Leaving me with the club girls.
Who were drinking and surprisingly nice.
“So you and Ace?” Ginger looks at me, and has a small smile on her face. “Bet you are happy with that catch?”
I glance at Kace across the room, he’s talking to two large men, that are decorated in nearly as many tattoos as Kace.
I just nod my head.
“Ace is a good man. Olivia wasn’t the right woman for him.” Ginger says and Fleur nods her head.
“Still doesn’t mean he will say the famous words.” Fleur said and I looked at her.
“Those being?” I asked.
“Club boys don’t say I love you.” Ginger says being genuinely nice, “All men here that own a cut, will never say those words to a woman. Hell Kace was with Olivia for a decade. He was the most committed biker and he never said the words to her.”
My expression drops and then I quickly recover. Because I realize my mistake now. I had said those words to Kace. Was he never going to say them back?
“Club boys are a lot of things, but loving—isn’t one. But hey,” Fleur pulls the wine from her lips. “The sex is good.” And she winks at me. And I wonder how many of these girls had been with Kace. “Ace is a god in bed.” She blows out smoke smiling at me. And while they are used to sharing men. I’m not.
I take a sip from my beer. “I think I need a refill.” I throw the rest of the beer down and get up. Kace I knew. Kace I loved. But Ace. I had no idea who this man was—and it was getting clearer and clearer as the night went on.
I reached the bar and it is the first time all night I’m semi by myself, apart from being in a crowd.
“You’re a mechanic right?”
I glance to my side. Was this man talking to me? I blink a few times and he is still staring at me so I nodded my head. “Um yeah.” I reply.
He goes on to explain that he is the club mechanic and is handling a rebuild of a hot rod and it isn’t going well. I was surprised when he actually asked for advice. He explained the problem and I gave suggestions. Ended up pulling a stool up at the bar, and holding a dense conversation with him.
He’s name was Grease, which I found very amusing. Because they legit name people the most obvious names.
Finally when he is talking about the pistols I just throw back the beer and then tell him to show me. He looks relieved like that was what he was after, and I follow him out of the clubhouse heading for the garage.
I wasn’t scared of being by myself with Grease. For some reason I knew he was genuine. The lot is still packed, and a lot of men are around with their women. Grease grips the garage door and pushes it up and I see the classic hot rod. I know exactly why he is having issues with it.
I shrug my leather jacket off. Greases eyes remain on me for a few moments before he blinks. “I don’t want you getting dirty on my account.” He is quick to say, and grips the bottom of his shirt.
I put up a hand. “It’s just an outfit. I’d rather end your headache with this car.” I move on to take the bonnet off, and grease helps. Bending over the motor, I begin to see what he is talking about.
KACE
“Where’s Ivory?” I ask Ginger.
“Drinking with Grease.”
“What!” I scan the room. “Where?”
Ginger frowns. “I’m not sure they were at the bar.” She then shrugs her shoulders and I know that Grease has convinced my woman to look at his fucking car. Grinding my teeth I head out side and I don’t even need to guess that she is in the garage. I know she is. Because I see the boys hovering around it. Not wheret here is bonfires burning, which is what they should be hovering around. Not my girlfriend working on a car.
But then I weave through the small crowd, seeing Ivory bend over the motor and Grease is underneath it.
Grease groaned.
“Come on you’ve nearly got it.” Ivory said. And bends over a bit more, and the boys notice—and so do I. Her breasts basically popping from her bra.
“I should be holding it. You should be tightening the bolts.” Grease grunts.
“Shut up and hurry up and finish.”
Did that sound as bad in my head as it did out loud? I step into the garage and Ivory had a small smile on her face until she looks at me and that smile falls.
Okay. What had I done?
“Done.” Grease says and Ivory straightens up letting go of whatever she was holding. “Thanks Ivory. I’d kiss ya but Ace might knock my crowns out.” He grins at her.
Damn straight I would.
“Don’t worry about it. So I’ll organise a space for you at the garage.” Ivory wipes grease on her jeans. And while she can dress up you can’t take the grease monkey out of her—and I love that about her. But do you think I can say that word out loud?
“You sure I’m not putting you out?” Grease then looks at me, as if I had a say in what Ivory does.
“It’s not a problem.” Ivory says and then picks up her jacket. “Ace is fine with it too, aren’t you?” And I just stare at her. It’s the first time ever since meeting her, she calls me my road name. And I hate it.
I nod my head. “Got nothing to do with me.” I spoke the truth. And as I look at Ivory I realize something is wrong with her but more importantly something is wrong with us….
“I’m calling it a night. You ready to head home Ivory?” I look at her and to be honest with myself I hadn’t planned on calling it a night before now. But now knowing I had a problem in my relationship I wanted to deal with it, and not drink with the boys.
Ivory just nods her head and I wonder did she hear about how I stabbed Prince’s eye out? Is that what has her this worked up? This distant? She had to know I couldn’t let him not be punished? He saw something he shouldn’t then shared it—all on purpose.
I go to take her hand but she doesn’t let me. So I leave the clubhouse and I knew that the club and Ivory wouldn’t go together. We walk out to the street. I hadn’t drank as much as I should have on a club night. So I was still good to drive.
We’re out the front now, about to get in her car and I look at her. “You going to tell me what’s wrong?” I can’t stop myself from asking the question.
She glances up at me and hesitates. Her hand wrapping around the door handle. She smiles dimly. “I don’t really know you. Do I? Kace I know. But Ace. I don’t know.” Her dim smiles drops. “because you don’t want me to know that side of you.”
So I was right. We had a problem..
52
Kace
Let her in. Push her away. Let her in. Push her away. Let her in… push her away. I grip the steering wheel driving us home. My knuckles white from the death grip that I have on the steering wheel.
While I’m in the car with Ivory my mind is back in time.
“You want to be remembered boy, you’ve got to goddamn learn that those who are remembered ain’t goddamn pussies.” My President roared at me. And then he handed me the gun. “You lead a motorcycle gang, with your head and ya heart don’t make the call. As soon as you start feeling, that’s when you goddamn retire.”
I looked at my father in the eyes—my President’s eyes. Knowing he didn’t grill any other prospect the way he grilled me.
He gripped my shoulders. “Real man, don’t feel—you hear me Ace?”
I nod my head.
“If you want to be a President you’ve got to be numb to the shit that can make you question your leadership.” He then gestured for the boys to bring that rat forward. “A real man, will know exactly what to do with this rat.”
I looked at the woman.
“She betrayed our trust. She is the reason Pope is doing four years.” He then unholstered his gun handing it to me. “What do we do with traditors boy?”
My hand wrapped around the g
un. I was six-fucking-teen. A normal sixteen-year-old would be dealing with school. Me however, I was becoming a man.
“A real man, doesn’t feel.” He whispered in my ear, and my eyes drop to the gun. She was a woman. I couldn’t kill a woman. “A real man doesn’t make excuses. She betrayed us. It’s black and white.” Dad spoke like he could read my thoughts.
I rose the gun, and she dropped to her knees crying and I lower the gun for a second. But my father sees it, and scowls me.
“Presidents, make decisions that sheep can’t.” He then unholstered his other gun. “Are you a man or a little boy Kace?”
And my gun went back up, and this time I pulled the trigger. Head shot. No pain. Her not suffering at least gave me some comfort.
Dad smirks and nods his head. “I think Kace just earnt his rocker.” And then he hands me the patches. Just like that I became a brother—of King Deceivers MC.
And I knew nothing and no one would make me feel the consequences of my actions today. Because when I pulled that trigger, my heart was silenced. I couldn’t help but think, well more like I knew, that this woman, was the beginning of the bodies I’d kill for this club.
And so I kissed goodbye to that sixteen year old innocence knowing, that I’d never come back from this cold hearted beast that had just clicked within me.
As for a woman that would love me unconditionally. I knew that wasn’t possible either. So I turned to the lifestyle that my father had brought me up in—knowing only coldness, harsh decisions and to never love or be loved. A lonely life one would say, but for me—I wasn’t expecting anything more—I had Olivia, didn’t I?
I pulled into our driveway. Ivory had been quiet since we left the club and that was on me. While I was reliving my past. She was sitting there most likely doubting me.