by K E Osborn
“Dad?” His voice chimes down the line bringing me back into the now.
“Shit, sorry kid, was miles away. Well, I’m happy for you. I know you really love her, and if there’s one thing I can say, it’s hang on to her, don’t let her go.”
He exhales. “I don’t plan on it… Dad, how’s the situation with Chops?”
Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I shake my head slightly before it clicks. “Oh, you mean the one where he wants to off your sweetheart?”
“Please don’t say it like that.”
Smirking, I chuckle slightly. “Look, Dylan. Honestly, I think you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Chops hasn’t said a word about her in months. He never brings her up, he’s far too occupied with what’s happening here to worry about what’s happening down in the south of Adelaide.”
He exhales, in what sounds like relief. “So you don’t think he’s coming after her anymore?”
A half laugh comes out. “Kid, I don’t even think she’s a blip on his radar anymore. We have the Cartel, Papi, and Randy to worry about now, his time is taken up by more important things. Plus, I think he knows now that she has your property patch. She isn’t going to rat on him. If she were going to, she would have by now, and that would mean turning her back on the club. By the sounds of it she’s a part of us, so I don’t think he’s going to chase after her.”
He exhales. “Okay, good. Wait, who’s Randy? And Papi?”
“They’re the new lackeys I have onboard to distribute the eccys. Papi is hard to work with. We’ve had to help move him into our way of thinking a couple of times. But Randy is decent, I think he might be patching in at a later date. God knows we need more brothers onboard after those fuckers left. Speaking of which, have you heard from your bestie Mr. Techster?” I pretty much know that he and the others would have sought safe haven at Aldinga with Gator and Steel. I’m not stupid.
Dylan clears his throat like he’s nervous giving himself away instantly. “He calls from time to time, but I haven’t seen him.”
Shaking my head, I hate that my kid feels like he has to lie to me. I know I told Techie when they left if they went to another chapter I’d put a bullet in them, but that was months ago. I’ve had time to simmer down, and to be honest, it’s easier here without them. They’re too goody-two-shoes for what we’re about these days, so them being with Gator is the right thing.
“Don’t lie to me, kid. I know what I said. I know me putting a bullet in Techie is an issue for you, but I promise he’s safe. I’ve calmed down, and I know them all leaving was the right thing for them to do. They’re safe at Aldinga… I’m not coming after them. Tell them to come out of sanctuary. I won’t come after them, no one will. You have my word.”
There’s a slight huff like he’s surprised down the line. “Wow! How long have you known they were here?”
“From the moment they left. I knew exactly where they’d go. I’m not stupid. I really should string Gator up for taking in half of my fucking chapter, but he needed the numbers, and I didn’t want them here if they couldn’t stand by me. Yes, I might be doing things a little differently to how I used to, but you have to move with the times. People change, the world evolves and changes too, and you have to move with it. People like the Cartel don’t lay on their backs and let you walk all over them, you gotta play dirty, and if those boys couldn’t play like men, then I have no need for them.”
Dylan scoffs. “That’s a bit rough isn’t it? They were your friends, your brothers. From what I’ve heard, you were treatin’ them pretty shitty, Dad. Techie said you attacked him.”
Huffing and running my hand through my tatty gray hair, I chew on my bottom lip. No matter how I try to downplay it, I beat up his best friend, he won’t like any excuse I make up, so I’ll simply tell him the truth. “I was pissed, shit was going down. Techie found a lackey called Jonah, and the Cartel got to him first so I took it out on Techie. Yes, that’s not an excuse, it wasn’t Techie’s fault that the Cartel got to Jonah, I was just pissed that he wasn’t being looked after. But I never told anyone to look after him, so it was all on me. Techie was there when I found out, and he copped the brunt of my tantrum… I know, he didn’t deserve that. I think that was the deciding factor in making him leave. But he’s better off with you, this club is dark, Dylan. You don’t belong here, they don’t belong here. This is what this club was always meant to be, before families and love got in the way.”
“Right, so you’re sayin’ because Mum and I came along, the club turned into a bunch of pussies?”
Tilting my head to the side and clenching my jaw, I swallow hard. “No, I’m saying I felt more when you were around, it softened me. I’m harder now, I can do what I’m meant to do. It wasn’t bad having you around. I loved you being here, and I’d have you back in a second, but the way this club is headed, I don’t want you here. You’re a good guy, Steel, you deserve the good life, with the beautiful Old Lady and the three point five kids. You deserve to have the life I fucked up.”
There’s a slight pause and then a huff. “Dad you’re worryin’ me a little. Are you okay? You’re not suicidal or anythin’ stupid are you?”
Half laughing, I shake my head. “No kid, I’m good. I’m just realizing that I lost a lot in my life, and I have nothing worth keeping up the good fight for. I live for the club now, and so I’m going to do what I have to for the club, not for me, not for anyone else. The club comes first.”
“That’s some pretty dark talk, Dad, you know you can always come down to Aldinga if you need a break. Or if you want me to come and see you, just say. I’ll make a trip and come down. The way you’re talkin’ it’s kinda weirdin’ me out.”
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose with my fingers. “Dylan, seriously, I’m fine. Just, please, make a real Old Lady of Flame and give me some grandbabies. That’s all I want.”
“Are you gonna be around to see your grandbabies?”
Chuckling, I open my eyes and nod even though he can’t see me. “Yes kid, I ain’t going nowhere. Stop thinking I have a death wish. I’m just saying, I’m making this club into something it needs to be. Don’t you worry your pretty little head over how I’m doing it, it will give you a headache.”
“Okay, well, just look after yourself. It’s Christmas tomorrow, and I don’t want you mopin’ around.”
A half laugh erupts from my chest. “Right, I’ll try my best. What are you doing?” He’s quiet for a moment, and I furrow my brows wondering what he doesn’t want to tell me. “Kid, spit it out.”
He sighs and groans slightly. “Okay fine, just don’t crack the shits.”
“Dylan,” I warn.
“I’m spendin’ it with Willow and… Mum.”
My chest tightens and pain stabs me right through the heart, making me wince and my breath catch.
“Dad?”
Sighing, I swallow hard and grit my teeth. “I’m here… so… you’re seeing her more often then?”
“Just a few times here and there, Willow thinks it’s a good idea.”
Huffing, I rub the back of my neck. “How is she?” There’s a pause, and my heart speeds up in my chest waiting for his answer. “You know what, it doesn’t matter.”
“No it does matter, Dad, she’s okay. She gets by. She’s happy I’m back in her life, but I know somethin’ is missin’ for her.”
My whole body goes frigidly cold, and I feel like I’m shaking. Me, a biker, a cold, callous biker, is shaking. “Dylan, don’t. I know you love us and we both love you, but your mother and I, we can’t work. Do I love her? There’s never any doubt about that. But I belong to this club, and she wants nothing to do with it. Can’t you see how that’s a problem?”
He sighs. “Yeah, just sucks seein’ you both so unhappy. Knowin’ if you both just sucked it up, it could fix everythin’.”
“Kid, watch it. Millie can’t step foot into this clubhouse, it reminds her of the twins and of everything she lost.
She can’t come back here, and I can’t leave the club. We’re doomed. We love each other… but love just isn’t enough in this case. The bad outweighs the good, kid. That’s why you gotta hang on to Flame, keep her with you all the time and never let her go. Don’t for a second take her for granted.”
He pauses and my heart rate finally settles back to a normal rhythm, although the image of Amelia’s face is still running through my mind.
“Thanks, I’m sorry you’re hurtin’, Dad, I wish there was somethin’ I could do to help.”
Smiling at how thoughtful my kid is, I take a deep breath. “There is, just be happy yourself. Seeing you happy is all I need, Dylan. You and your Mum be happy. Take good care of her, and just let me know every now and then how you’re both doing, that’s all I need.”
“Okay, I can do that. Just promise me one thing?”
Raising my eyebrow, I smirk. “Yeah? What’s that?”
“Leave Aimie the fuck alone. She’s way too young for you. I know she’s supposedly amazin’, but fuck old man have some dignity. Go for Jess, she’s as kinky as fuck. And even though she’s still twenty years younger than you, at least, she isn’t young enough to be your daughter.”
Cringing at his words, I turn my lip up as the thought sinks in. She really is too young for me, I’m not young like I once was, and she is only eighteen. Fucking hell, I do need to pick up my act. Sex is just an act for me anyway. It doesn’t even really feel that great anymore. I compare everything to Millie and nothing measures up. I’m so totally screwed in the fucking head. Love sucks fucking donkey balls.
“Okay, deal! Aimie’s off my radar, she has a thing for Acid anyway.”
“Good, one more thing.”
“Oh, you’re a demanding little cunt tonight, aren’t you?” I chuckle.
He laughs, and it lightens the mood a little. “Don’t drink yourself stupid tonight.”
Half smiling, I shake my head. Fucking jerk knows me too well. “Won’t make a promise I can’t keep, kid.”
Dylan sighs. “Just don’t do anythin’ stupid. Don’t go all rampagey and smack brothers over the head with pool cues.”
Smirking, I lick my bottom lip. “I haven’t done that in a while. Don’t have anyone I can use as target practice now Crash is gone.”
“Don’t even joke about that, Dad,” Dylan chuckles.
“Who’s joking?”
He laughs a belly laugh, and I chuckle along with him. “It was good to catch up, Dad. Weird, but good. We should do this more often.”
I nod. “Yeah, we should.”
“Okay, well, have a Merry Christmas tomorrow, and spend time with the families. Don’t hide in the corner sulkin’. Be a president and not a pussy, Dad.”
I smirk and nod. “Righto, I’ll pull up my lacy knickers and go mingle. Thanks for the pep talk, kid.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Oh, and say g’day to Flame for me.”
“Really?”
Raising my eyebrow, I purse my lips. “Yes really, you cock face. She’s my daughter-in-law or, at least, she will be. I think I need to make an effort with her, right?”
A faint ‘ha’ noise come down the line, like he’s impressed and then he clears his throat. “All right, I’ll tell her. Keep the shiny side up, Dad.”
“Keep the shiny side up, kid.”
The hang-up tone sounds down the line, and I take a deep breath just living in the moment. In a way, I’m jealous that Steel’s spending tomorrow with my Millie. I wish I could just jump on my Hog, ride to Aldinga, and show up with open arms. Here I am, I’ve been a dick, take me back, but it would never work out that way. She would never say yes. Turning around, I walk back toward the bar, to keep my promise to myself to drink into oblivion.
CHAPTER FIVE
It’s five days into the New Year, things are looking good. Randy is doing well with sales and Papi is working slowly but surely on his clientele base. He’s a lot slower than Randy, but Papi never wanted to distribute, so it makes sense. Randy is all for it, so they’re kind of like chalk and cheese. Randy has something to prove, he wants in on the club, whereas Papi is obviously trying to find a way out. I can’t see that happening for him. We have a firm grip on his shoulders whether he likes it or not.
A FEW DAYS LATER
I’ve organised with Randy for another exchange. He’s going through eccys like a hooker goes through the morning-after pills. We’re meeting offsite to handle the exchange. We could’ve done it at the club, but I don’t one hundred percent trust him yet, and so I don’t want to bring him on to the club premises. So we’ve just pulled up at the back of an old abandoned church on the outskirts of Greenwith. It’s so tiny, and there’s hardly anyone around—it’s on a road with limited traffic. Plus, no one really cares about bikers around here. Penetrator, Acid and I, are standing around the back of the church in the dirt laughing as we wait for Randy. His Commodore pulls in, and he flicks off the engine—the delightful rumble simmering down and dying off—as he steps out of the car to greet us.
“Hey fuckers, what’s up this fine morning?”
Smirking, I shake my head. “Not much. You really should learn how to talk to bikers, Randy.”
He furrows his brows, tilting his head. “What, did I say something wrong?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “It’s lucky I like you, son, I wouldn’t let many people call me a fucker and get away with it.”
His eyes open wide and he pulls his lips into his teeth. “Shit, sorry bro, I didn’t think. That’s just how I normally talk, I meant nothing by it.”
Shaking my head, I step over to him and slap his shoulder. “I know, that’s why I’m not going to slit your throat.”
He just stares at me turning pale white.
“I said I’m not going to slit your throat. Geez Randy, lighten up. I’m quite happy with you. Actually, you’re doing really well, and I’m glad to have you on our team.”
He smiles, colour returning to his cheeks. “Really? Shit, that’s fucking epic, dude.”
Raising an eyebrow at how kids talk these days, I smirk. “So you have the cash?”
“Sure do, I’ll just grab it,” he offers and turns heading back toward his car.
Turning, I grin at Penetrator as Randy strides back over with a bag. Taking it from him, I open it up and glance inside to see a stash of fifties. “And it’s all there?” I ask.
Randy smirks and tilts his head. “You think if I wanted to get into your club, that I would go all stingy on the cash?”
Nodding my head, I close the bag and lick my lips. I’m impressed, and while I may not trust him enough to come to back the compound, I trust him with the cash. He does want in, so I don’t think he’d short change me.
“Good lad. Penetrator, grab the next installment.” Penetrator nods and traipses off toward his Hog. “So, what makes you want to join our club, Randy?” I ask.
He smiles. “What’s not to love? You guys are fucking awesome. Riding bikes, fucking chicks, breaking the law, you guys are my idols.”
Chuckling, I raise an eyebrow. “You know it can be dangerous, though. Shootouts, blood, guts, death?”
He smiles and tilts his head. “I’m sure there’s not heaps of that, though, right?”
Taking a deep breath as Penetrator and Acid chuckle to themselves, I shake my head. “Son you have no idea what you’re in for, and once you’re in, there’s no getting out. You really need to think about whether you seriously want to be a part of this. Yeah, there’s excitement, women, and all that. But death knocks on your door constantly, you gotta be prepared for that.”
He swallows hard, as Penetrator hands him the bag of eccys to top up his stash. “Yeah, okay, I’ll have a think, but I still wanna be your lackey as you put it. I’m enjoying this, and I’m getting a good clientele base built up. People know I’m selling the good shit at the raves, so as long as you keep supplying me with the good tablets, I’ll keep distributing them for you.”
&n
bsp; Nodding, I open the bag in my hand and pull out a wad of fifties handing them to him. He opens his eyes wide, shaking his head and turning white again. “What’s this, some sort of test?”
Laughing, I smile. I like this guy. “No, douche, this is called me being nice and giving you an extra payday. You’re doing well, I wanna show you we appreciate your work. Take the money, son.”
He takes a step back his chest heaving like he’s unsure of what to do. “I don’t think I should.”
Acid laughs and walks up to me grabbing the cash from my hand and throws it in the window of Randy’s car. Randy stares at Acid and shakes his head slightly, eyes wide open and mouth agape. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do right now.”
“Say thank you, that would be nice,” Penetrator teases making me chuckle, as I stare at the scared little boy in front of me.
“Shit, sorry… thank you,” he says more like a question than a statement.
“You’re welcome. Now keep going the way you have been, and we can discuss your coming into the club at another time, once you’ve thought about it a bit further.”
He nods and his body relaxes slightly, obviously coming to the conclusion that we aren’t testing him, and that the cash is actually his for the taking.
“Shit, I don’t know what to say.”
I smirk and go to talk when the bleep of a siren echoes through the silent morning air. We all turn around to see a cop car turning around and heading back toward us. “Shit, Randy we gotta go, if he tails ya, you gotta outrun him. You got me?” I demand.
His eyes bulge out of his head, but he nods as we all race to our rides and Randy to his car. He gets in starting his powerful engine, and his tyres flick dirt and small gravel up into the air as he spins his wheels hightailing it out of there. The cop car pulls into the gate just as Randy pulls out of the other, and the heat goes to take off after Randy. He has the eccys on him, and if he’s caught with them, he’s going away for a long time. I need to intercept.