by K E Osborn
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I wake up curled into Skye’s arse. A mild hangover lurks through my brain, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. We had a great party last night, a night to remember Ryder. Skye was there helping me through my pain. She’s an incredible support, and I’ve needed her. She turns over and nestles into my chest as I open my eyes and lean down kissing her head. Her hair smells like jasmine and my cock twitches inhaling the aroma. She takes in a deep breath and slowly opens her eyes, tilting her head up, her eyes looking up at me as I smile down at her.
“Morning gorgeous.”
“Morning handsome. That was some party last night.”
Chuckling and then wincing at my headache, I nod. “Yeah, definitely. We would’ve done Ryder proud.”
She smiles and nods. “For sure, not to mention you going down on me like that was…” she opens her eyes wide and smirks, “…well, your tongue is amazing. That’s all I’m saying.”
Smirking, I chuckle slightly and bring my hand up to her cheek and caress it tenderly. “Yeah, well, I’ve wanted to do that for a while, so it was my pleasure.”
She shakes her head. “No, really, it was all mine.”
Smiling, I lean down pressing my lips to her firmly. She kisses me back and slides her body up slightly to get a better angle. She’s delicious to taste, even though she doesn’t have her lip gloss on, the taste of cherry lingers on her lips and I fucking love it.
She pulls back and smirks. “Let’s get some bacon into you, hey?”
Smiling wide as my stomach growls agreeing with her, I nod. “Yes, let’s.”
She rolls out from my side and slides out of the bed, the sheets fall away from her gloriously naked body and my cock aches as it semi-hardens just from looking at her curvy arse, as she bends over picking up her knickers from the floor. Shaking my head, I stand from the bed ignoring my semi-boner and start to get dressed too. Otherwise, I might just pull her back to bed and make my lips find her sweet pussy again.
Once dressed, we head out with my arm around her shoulders toward the clubroom. The smell of fat, grease and bacon flood the open expanse and I smile in delight. Stepping our way to the bar to place our breakfast order with Acid, the unmistakable roar of two Hogs fast approaches the compound. Turning my head to look at my brothers, I unhook my arm from around Skye and she nods knowing I need to go and be with them now. Rushing over to Techie as he pulls up the security feed, he taps into the outside cameras and looks at the two bikes pulling up at the gate.
We all stand to watch with bated breath, wondering who the fuck is coming to visit. Do we need to get ready for something big? Moving my hand to my side near my gun, I wait for Techie to talk, but he looks over at Mad Dog as he limps out from the assembly room with his arm in a sling and stares right at Techie furrowing his brows.
“Techie?” Mad Dog queries.
Techie’s smile lights up the entire clubroom as he puts his table away and nods to Mad Dog. “It’s a couple of old friends, Prez. I think you’re gonna want to see this.”
Furrowing my brows, I turn to Skye who shrugs and I walk off with Techie and Mad Dog toward the clubroom door. The sun shines brightly in the early March morning, sending a glow all over the compound. The squeal of the gates opening, as the deep sound of the Hog engines vibrates through my ear drums. Looking at the gate, along with Techie—who’s bouncing from one foot to the other, and Mad Dog who’s standing tall and strong like he’s protecting his property—I wonder who it is we’ll be seeing. Then the two riders glide through the open gate, and to my surprise it’s Jock, the Sergeant at Arms from Aldinga, and none other than… Steel. Noticeably missing is his red-headed beauty, Willow. But I guess she wouldn’t come back here with Chops and all.
Mad Dog utters, “Well, fuck me,” and hobbles over with his arm in a sling toward them as they park in line with the others. Steel pulls off his lid and shakes his head as Jock smiles at me.
“Fuckin’ hell old man. What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?” Steel asks as he slides off his Hog and walks up to Mad Dog, placing his hand on Mad Dog’s shoulder in the sling.
Mad Dog shakes his head simply looking at Steel. And if I didn’t know better, I think I see his bottom lip tremble. “Fuck me. You’re here? You’re really here?”
Steel exhales and leans in embracing his father gently as Mad Dog hugs him back with one arm.
“Yeah, Prez, I’m here.”
Mad Dog pulls back and his eyes open wide and he breathes in quickly. “Your missus?”
Steel smiles and slaps Mad Dog’s good shoulder. “She’s fine! Settled in nicely and under constant guard. Wasn’t too happy about me comin’ back, but when you get told your father’s been shot in the arm and leg, and been gashed on the face, I thought I needed to come and see what the fuck was goin’ down.”
Mad Dog nods and smiles. “So you do still care?”
Steel huffs and shakes his head. “Where the fuck did you get that stupid idea in your fuckin’ head? Of course, I care. I’d never have left if it wasn’t for that gutter trash you call a best friend.”
Mad Dog stiffens and sighs. “I know, but he’s behaved himself. Hasn’t come after the redhead. Hasn’t even asked where she is. Although now you’re here with Jock, he’ll probably figure it out.”
Steel stiffens looking at Jock. “Don’t worry, Steel. She’s under constant guard while you’re here. Gator will see to that. No one’s getting to her.”
“Yeah, don’t worry, kid. I think Chops has bigger things on his mind now than her. No offense,” Mad Dog responds.
“Like what? What the hell’s been goin’ on over the six weeks since I left?”
Techie shakes his head. “Oh, brother, you have no idea!”
“Let’s go inside, have some brew, and I can fill you in on all of it,” I announce.
Steel looks at me and smiles slapping my shoulder. “Shit! Sorry FIM, I didn’t even see you. I swear you sneak up or have some invisibility cloak or some fuckin’ shit like that goin’ on… I see you’re patched in now?”
Smiling, I chuckle. “Yep fully fledged. Got my road name and everything.”
“Let me guess, Stealth?”
Furrowing my brows, I shake my head slightly. How the fuck did he know that?
“Umm… yeah, how did you—”
“It’s my psychic powers, Stealth,” he interrupts tapping my temple and smirking.
Cocky bastard.
Techie chuckles as we start to walk toward the clubroom when Chops walks out with Penetrator. A noticeable grunt comes from my side, as I turn to see Steel clenching his jaw tight and his fists are balled at his sides as his body stiffens.
“Easy Steely-boy,” Jock says in his Scottish twang, placing his hands on Steel’s biceps from behind trying and hold him in place, but he flinches out of Jock’s hold and storms up toward Chops. My shoulders tense, as I watch Chops turn to see Steel come into his line of sight. He smirks and starts to laugh, just as Steel grabs his cut and thrusts him up against the pylon, which creaks against his harsh movement.
We all rush over as Steel gets right in Chops’ face glaring at him.
“You are nothin’ but a lowly scum suckin’ cunt.”
Chops chuckles and nods. “And you’re nothing but a pussy whipped faggot—”
“Enough!” Mad Dog calls out, but before he can break up the tension Steel brings up his fist and slams it straight into Chops’ jaw. He falls to the side groaning as Steel lunges forward to have another go at him, grabbing his head and bashing it into the pylon. Chops slumps to the ground as Jock pulls Steel back and he struggles against him. Penetrator pulls Chops back up into a sitting position.
“Jesus Christ, kid,” Mad Dog berates walking over to Chops as he glares at Steel, who’s breathing harshly out of his nose as his chest heaves.
“I suppose you think I deserved that, don’t you?” Chops asks.
“You deserve a fuckin’ lot more than that, you slimy cunt.”
&nb
sp; “Okay, enough! We have enough to worry about without you boys offing each other. Chops you gotta stop antagonizing the kid or he’s gonna keep bashing you up. And to be honest, I don’t have the strength to stop him. So zip it, and stay out of the way while he’s here,” Mad Dog states surprising me, and I guess everyone else here too, by the wide eyes and open mouths.
Chops swallows hard and nods as a small trickle of blood falls down his forehead.
“Steel, stay away from Chops. I know you have a beef, I know what he means to you and to your Old Lady, but you’re a guest here, and it’s disrespectful to be bashing up my VP. You hearing me, kid?”
Steel’s chest is rising and falling fast as he glares at Chops with nothing but pure hatred in his eyes. I know that look, it’s vengeful, it’s murderous. Chops better watch his back while Steel’s here, that look says a million words—one of them being death. Chops is in Steel’s sights.
“Kid!” Mad Dog yells grabbing Steel’s attention. He swings his head around to look at his father with his nostrils flared as he glowers at him. “I said… Are. You. Hearing. Me?”
Steel nods and shrugs out of Jock’s hold storming toward the clubroom.
“Steel!”
“I fuckin’ heard you. I won’t go near Chops again. Just keep him the fuck away from me.” And with that, Steel pulls open the clubroom door and stomps inside closely followed by Techie and Penetrator.
“Sorry, Mad Dog. Steely, he’s a little on edge coming back ‘ere,” Jock says slapping his back, then he turns to walk off toward the clubhouse door.
“Get off the ground, Chops,” Mad Dog chides. I lean forward putting out my hand for Chops to grab. Even though I don’t like Chops very much, it’s not great watching his head being thrashed against a pylon. He grabs my arm and I lift him up, he staggers on the spot slightly and takes a deep breath.
“Did you know he was coming, Mad Dog?” Chops asks.
Mad Dog shakes his head and exhales. “No, had no idea. I don’t know what the fuck I’m feeling right now, but my head’s all over the place. My kid’s back, for fuck knows how long, and the Cartel are fucking things up left right and centre. I’m angry, fucking fuming, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m meant to do.”
My chest tightens at the fact that he’s opening up to Chops while I’m here, it must mean he trusts me enough to be by his side.
“Find out why Steel’s here, Prez. If it’s to off me, better to know sooner rather than later if you’re gonna need a new VP or not? And to be honest Mad Dog, you don’t have many candidates for the job.”
Mad Dog huffs and shakes his head. “He’s not going to kill you, he had his knife and his piece on him. If he wanted to off you, he would’ve done it already. Stop over thinking shit. He’s here to make sure I’m all right… that the club is too. We need to call church and see what we can do to sort this fucking crap out.”
Chops nods and I take a deep breath. “I’ll let everyone know Church will be called soon if you want?” They both turn to look at me opening their eyes wide and jolting back like they had no idea I was even here.
“What the fucking fuck, Stealth? Don’t sneak up on us like that!” Chops demands taking a deep breath.
“I was here the whole time, I walked out with you when Steel showed up. Umm… I helped you off the ground, Chops?” I state confused. I know I’m quiet, but surely I don’t blend into the background that easily, do I?
“I thought you went inside when Steel did for some reason. Shit! How much did you hear?” Mad Dog asks.
“Well, I’ve been here the whole time, so everything.”
Mad Dog grits his teeth and groans. “You repeat a word of any of that to anyone, I’ll gut you and send you to Jigsaw, got it?”
Pursing my lips together, I nod and raise my eyebrows. “Got it!”
Turning, I walk past them and make my way inside. The clubroom is bustling with laughter and celebratory noises. As I walk in, I see Steel in the middle of a circle surrounded by men. I think they’ve all missed him and just want to catch up. I’ve missed him too, I’m hoping to get some time with him before he leaves again.
Walking up to the bar, I stand at the end and put my fingers in my mouth and whistle grabbing everyone’s attention. All heads turn to look at me and I smile that I have so much power in a room of men.
“Right, the Prez is calling an emergency church soon, so get ready. Steel and Jock, I think you two will be part of it as well,” I announce and my brothers all nod as Mad Dog and a battered looking Chops, walk in from outside.
“Emergency church boys,” Mad Dog grunts as he limps through the clubhouse and Chops walks past Steel with his head hanging low. The blood line from earlier wiped clean, and now only a small wound with congealed blood marks a small spot on his balding head.
We all step in the assembly room and take our designated seats, Steel and Jock take spare seats at the end of the table.
Mad Dog bangs his gavel and takes a deep breath. “Church is in session. I need to catch Steel and Jock up on what’s been happening over here since Steel’s departure. Basically, just like the 5113ers promised the Cartel have been making their presence known to us. They’ve had their lackeys, the Ingratos, stepping on our toes at any deals we’ve made with the locals. The Cartel want all the gun and drug trade in South Australia and they aren’t taking no for a God damn answer. What we need to do is go in and take down the Ingratos to get back at the Cartel. Cut off their legs, and the body can’t walk as it were.”
Everyone stiffens in their seats at Mad Dog’s words, and my heart starts to race at the thought.
“That’s a stupid idea. You’re already injured, so is Crash. Ryder died for fuck’s sake! You need to think about gettin’ out of guns and drugs, find somethin’ else to put your time into and call it a loss. Don’t lose more lives over this Cartel business,” Steel advises and Mad Dog huffs.
“No, we won’t be beaten by outsiders. We stay the distance, with you back by my side I can fight this war.”
Steel shakes his head. “I’m not stayin’, I have to get back to my club.”
“This is your club, kid!”
Steel sighs. “No, it’s not. Not anymore. Not while he’s alive.” His fierce glare on Chops would send ice through hell.
“And how is Willow?” Chops teases.
Steel stands up abruptly balling his fists at his sides, and Jock pulls at his shirt making him sit back down in his chair. “You’ll never find out,” Steel sneers through gritted teeth.
“Just know I haven’t come after her because of Mad Dog. Piss him off enough and he might let me. So keep going the way you are, Steel, I’d love to wrap my hands around her tiny little throat—”
“Enough! Chops you’re never to touch Willow… ever! Steel, you’re welcome back here anytime, but Chops is a First 7 original. His place is at this table.”
Steel nods pursing his lips and exhaling. “I know, that’s why my place is at Gator’s side.”
Mad Dog nods, flaring his nostrils like he’s accepting the answer but not happy with it. “The Ingratos, we go after them. All of them.”
“Are we putting this to a vote?” Techie asks.
“No, I rule it so. Find me their hangout Techie. How many there are? The best time to infiltrate? Get the lowdown on their security, we need to go in unnoticed.” He bangs his gavel. “Church is adjourned.” He throws his gavel across the table, and it rolls from side to side loudly on the wood as it goes. He stands up and everyone else stands up too. I take a deep breath wondering what the hell the next few days here at the club are going to look like. This is going to be chaos. That’s if we even live through it.
I start to walk out and notice Steel’s talking to Mad Dog. Walking slower, I try to listen in to see what I can hear.
“We can’t be a part of the infiltration of the Ingratos. We came to see if we could help and if everyone was okay. I’m sorry, Dad, but my time here is over.”
Mad Dog sighs and shakes his
head. “I can’t lose you again.”
“While Chops is here… I can’t be. My place is with Willow, and the only reason I’m here now is ‘cause she told me to come see you. So you have her to thank. I’m sorry you’re hurtin’, Dad. I know me leavin’ was hard on you, but I had to do the right thing by Willow, you know that.”
Mad Dog exhales as I stand just outside of the door listening in.
“I know, kid. I’m sorry you had to leave the way you did. Is she settling in okay at Aldinga?”
Steel exhales. “You know what Dad? I never thought I’d see the day she’d be suited to the club, but she’s taken to it way better than I could have expected. Everyone there loves her. She’s made friends with the club girls, and has started a kindergarten for my brothers’ kids. She is doin’ amazin’. I didn’t see it comin’, but she fits in perfectly. She amazes me each and every day.”
Mad Dog huffs.
I must admit, I’m a little shocked too.
“Well, that’s good to hear, kid. I’m glad she is fitting in there. She never would have here, we’re two different clubs Virginia and Aldinga.”
Steel chuckles. “You got that right. She’s happy, Dad, that’s all I want for her. As long as she can be in my world and be happy, that’s all I’m after.”
Mad Dog slaps Steel’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re doing well, kid. I’m glad Flame’s doing well. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss ya. It’s just not the same here without you.”
Steel exhales. “I know, old man, but you know why I can’t be here. And I understand why you can’t get rid of him. But I’m good at Aldinga, honestly. I’m in a good position, the guys treat me well. Mum is closer, and I get to talk to her more…” He pauses and Mad Dogs huffs quite loudly.
“Shit, sorry, Dad. That just spewed out of me, I didn’t think.”
“No, it’s okay. How is she?”
“Mum? She’s good. She pretends that she doesn’t miss you. And she makes out that she’s okay, just like you do. It’s hard to watch you both avoiding each other, when you should just suck it up and talk to one another.”