by Cree Storm
Smiling, Rene replied, "Thank you, Jude. And just so you know, Bren feels the same way. He left me when he learned that he would have to leave you all behind. He said, love should not come at such a high sacrifice. I explained to him that our secret was something that had to be kept at all cost."
“What changed your mind?" Jude asked.
"The cost was too high. It was my own friends that came to me and stated they were willing to take a chance on all of you, so that I could have my sentience. It is a sacrifice I will not soon forget." Rene said quietly and with emotion.
"How does this mating thing work?" Jude asked.
Rene gave a small shrug of his unencumbered shoulder, "I don't know all of the details myself, Jude. I know it happens when we make love. Eagle didn't find much on it, except that at some point during our lovemaking, blood will be exchanged."
"Blood transfer? That isn't really safe. I mean, I know that Bren is clean, I do all our testing, but we don't know shit about you and if you're over five hundred, who knows how many guys or women, for that matter, you've been with." Jude said in wide-eyed horror.
Shaking his head, Rene replied, "We are unable to give or get diseases, Jude. Besides, like I said, I'm not real sure how any of it works."
"So, what are you saying? You are going to wing it?" Jude asked sarcastically.
Once again, Rene shrugged, "We figure that during the process, either myself or my maharishi will know on instinct."
"Wait, Bren is going to have sex with a dragon? That shit is just nasty." Rylee said from the door.
Rene turned further left, and saw Rylee and Stephanie standing in the doorway, with Taj and Casper behind them. "No, Rylee, he will not have literal sex with Bren. However, he will be present. Azul is as much a part of our mating as I am. He lives within Bren, therefore everything Bren experiences, so shall Azul."
"So, a ménage without the actual act?" Stephanie asked.
Rene thought for a moment, then replied, "I guess you could say that."
"Good, because even I draw the line at bestiality." Bren muttered.
Rene laughed, "As do I, my sentience. Did you sleep well?"
Bren moved his head up and down, saying in that just waking up voice, "I slept better than I have in forever."
Rene lightly kissed the top of Bren's head, "Good. From what Jude said, you needed it."
"Jude has a big mouth." Bren complained.
"Hey! I'm very good at keeping secrets." Jude exclaimed sounding offended.
"Even from mom?" Rylee asked in that knowing voice.
Dropping his head, Jude replied, "I try."
Bren sat up, but leaned into Rene's side, "Like the time we went to that Rave and swore we would never let mom know and you woke up the next day and within seconds, she knew everything?"
"She badgered me." Jude defended.
Bren scoffed, "She asked what we did last night and you shouted, "Okay, okay, we went to a Rave, but nothing happened." We ended up grounded for two weeks."
"Or the time I snuck out to meet up with Bradley Thompson and when mom asked where I was, instead of telling her I was asleep, you told her not only that I was with Brad, but where we were. It was embarrassing as hell when she walked into the restaurant we were in and drug me out by my ear." Rylee said as he crossed his arms.
"He was bad news, anyway. Remember, Brad is the one that cheated on you with Mike Larkin." Jude replied in defense.
"Which you not only told Rylee about, but made sure he saw it in person." Bren replied with a snort.
"And then he dumped me in front of the entire football team." Rylee responded in aggravation.
Rene started laughing. Taj stepped forward, "What we are telling you can never be spoken of to the outside world, Jude."
"Look, I told mom about the Rave because she already knew. She found the flier in my drawer. If I had lied, she would have grounded us for the entire summer. As for Brad, I overheard him talking to one of his friends about earning eighteen points to get laid by the virgin. I didn't want to hurt your feelings, so I told mom everything. As for the cheating, it was the only way I could think of to get you to drop that ass. So, I did it. I had no idea he would publicly humiliate you. If it makes you feel any better, I heard he got crabs from Suzie Franklin three months later." Jude explained, then looked at Taj, "I can keep a secret, Taj. Otherwise, Bren would know that Rylee is the one eating all his fruit on the bottom yogurt and Rylee would know that Bren is the one to put that stain on his favorite shirt and not Rylee on a drinking night."
"You stained my shirt? I had to throw it out, Bren." Rylee snapped.
Bren quickly came back with, "You owe me for three years of yogurt."
Rylee opened his mouth then grumbled, "I really liked that shirt."
"And I really like my yogurt." Bren mumbled.
Jude's phone started playing Momma He's Crazy by the Judd's and he answered it without looking at the caller, "Hey mom. Were your ears ringing? We were just──Wait. What do you mean there was a fire?"
Rene felt Bren gasp just as he sat up straight, asking, "What fire? Where?"
Jude waved his hand, indicating Bren needed to stop talking, then said, "You're alright? Okay──Okay, mom. I'll check to see if I can find a flight out tonight. Just go to the Hilton on the corner and we'll figure out what to do."
The second Jude hung up, Bren, Steph, and Rylee were all talking at once.
"Is mom okay?"
"What caught fire?"
"Why do we need to find a flight out now?"
Jude threw is hands in the air, yelling, "Enough! Just give me a second."
Jude stood there trying to catch his breath, he was visibly shaking and upset. Rene tossed the covers aside, asking, "Where does your mother live?"
Jude was so upset he couldn't talk. Bren told him the address, then asked, "Jude, are you going to tell us what happened?"
"Mom said the family home is gone. There must have been an electrical issue and it caught fire. She got out in time with Roxie, but she's shaken and upset. I'm sorry, I should have just out right said it, but I'm trying to wrap my mind around our home being burnt to the ground." Jude replied.
Rene looked at Taj, "Call our pilot and give him the address. Casper, contact Nautical and Eagle, tell them we're going to Texas. He needs to get one of the spare rooms ready. We'll contact him when we are on our way back."
"I don't know if it is a good idea to go to Texas right now, Pit. We just had another boy murdered." Taj stated cautiously.
"Who? When?" Rene asked.
Bren's voice cracked with unshed tears, "His name was Erik Ernest. They found him on Edgewood. He may have been killed the same way as the others."
Doing his best to comfort Bren, Rene asked, "You knew this boy, also?"
Nodding, Bren rasped, "I took care of his Persian cat, Kibble. He was a really good kid, Rene. He played football and baseball, and really loved those video games. Sometimes, he would come to the office and we'd play some games on the PlayStation I have for kids to mess around with while they wait in the lobby. He was funny and loved his cat."
Pit sighed, looked at Taj, ordering, "Cobra can take point on the investigation until we return. Have Sparky get here now. Tell him I need to see him here in ten minutes time. We'll go and help with Jude's mom and return as quickly as we can."
"But we have tickets that leave out tomorrow morning. You don't have to put yourselves out." Bren rapidly replied.
Rene kissed Bren's lips, smiled, and said, "When it comes to you and your family, there is no such thing as putting myself out. We have a private jet on standby twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Besides, Sparky is the best arson investigator you will ever find. His skills are sought after worldwide. You all just get lucky enough to be inheriting him as a brother-in-law. Now go get your things together while we prepare everything to go."
Jude started for the door, then turned asking, "Are there sleep cabins on this jet of yours?"
Rene
nodded, "Of course. We never know how long a case might last and take the opportunity to rest whenever we can.
Wiggling his brows, Jude said, "How about that, Bren. You might just get to claim your mate and claim your spot in the mile-high club in one clean swoop."
Everyone left the room laughing as Bren turned an adorable shade of pink.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Bren held on tightly to Rene as they headed to the airport on Rene's CVO Street Glide. Bren had balked the first time Rene had taken him on a ride on the back of his bike, but now he had learned to relax and enjoy the air whipping past them and the feel of the vibration that rolled throughout his body. The awareness of being free and alive was never clearer than when he was on the back of Rene's motorcycle and Bren loved it.
People watched as the small group passed them, some stepping back, as some waved and Rene would nod acknowledging those people as they quickly made their way to the plane.
Stopping at a red light, Casper pulled up next to them, on his massive, ruby red Honda Gold Wing. Bren didn't think he had ever seen Casper ride the same bike twice. Bren's mind was blown away the first time Rene had taken him to the motorcycle garage in Drago and he saw how many bikes Rene and his friends owned. Casper's collection was absolutely spectacular.
Jude laughed, saying through their helmet microphones, "This is fucking fantastic! I want to learn to drive one of these things!"
Casper growled, "You need to stop tossing your hands in the air while we are moving."
"You need to pull the stick out of your ass and enjoy the ride." Jude muttered.
"Trevor has already agreed to teach me to ride, so maybe he can teach both of us, Jude." Stephanie replied, sounding happier than she had in months.
Jude made a fist and brought his elbow back, "Yes!"
Casper said in a low growl, "Trevor won't even try if he doesn't want to be able to walk on two legs again."
"Are we almost there?" Rylee asked nervously.
"We should be there in another fifteen minutes, Ry." Bren replied.
"We aren't going to get there any faster if you guys let another green light pass." Neilan muttered.
Bren turned to see the large man on his Tri-glide pulling a small enclosed trailer behind him filled with everyone's luggage. "Are you okay, Neilan?"
"Fine, Bren." Neilan replied.
Snickering, Wiz pulled up on his black with red flames, VRod Muscle bike. "He's just pissed he lost a bet and is porter for the day."
"Shut the fuck up, Wiz or I'll make you speed bump status." Neilan snapped.
Rene began to move again, and the others followed. Bren was surprised when Rene's entire group showed up at his house to help get them to the plane. If someone had told him six months ago he would be sitting on a motorcycle surrounded by Fatboys, Wide Glides, Soft tails, and other kick ass bikes, he would have thought they had lost their minds. However, here he was making his way to the airport and doing just that.
Bren noticed another large group of motorcyclists were coming from the opposite direction. They were wearing leather vests like Rene and his men, but their helmets were brown with what looked like a shark on the front and as they passed, Bren noticed a large tiger shark patch with brown and white wiggly lines and on a long patch underneath the shark was the word Jersey and above it read Tiger Shark with a MC to the left. They each showed two fingers in a "V" to the side and Rene did the same.
Casper's gruff voice startled Bren, "Stop waving, Jude, unless you plan on being their newest bitch."
"Oh, that is such bullshit. I only waved. I wasn't asking them on a date. I can't see them taking a wave as an offer to get laid." Jude muttered.
"Well, normally that is true, Jude. There is a certain code we all go by, but those guys were wearing a one percent patch. That means rules don't always matter to them." Wiz explained.
"One percent patch? What's that?" Rylee asked nervously.
Rene turned onto the road leading to the airport as Taj explained. "People have the wrong idea of most motorcycle clubs. They think we are all lawless troublemakers that are out to harm or take from an innocent. They see us coming and automatically think, dope dealers, murderers, or an assault is coming. They see a large group of motorcyclists coming and all they see is all of us wearing the same leathers and the image the press has given to the public pops in their mind."
Eagle scoffed, "The fucking news only seems to cover the bad seeds and things they do and not the amazing things we often do."
Wiz's false, high-pitched tone came over the communicators, "Oh no, the big bad biker gang is coming. Are they going to try and take over our town?"
Sparky joined in, "Cover your child's ears, the vulgarity is about to be heard."
"They are covered in tats! Guns! They all have guns!" Wiz yelled then snorted, "Like we all come packing at the grocery store."
Bren saw the airport coming into view as Rene said, "Sadly, my men are right. The public has every biker club wrapped up in that one percent. They never think about all we do for the community."
"What do you mean?" Rylee asked, sounding less nervous than he had a few minutes ago.
"The fact that we do events to raise money for battered women shelters, children's hospitals, and just local citizens." Boomer answered.
"Really? I had no idea that your gang did those things." Bren replied.
Rene sighed, "We are not a gang, Bren. We are a club. Yes, we can seem rough and tough, but we are a group of people that love to ride our bikes and just want to peacefully co-exist with the community around us. Yes, there are times we have to punish those in the community, but it is normally to protect others, not just to harm that one."
Surprisingly Casper jumped in, "We have a system of accountability and punishment. We follow the laws of the motorcycle clubs and settle our own disputes. The rule of law takes a back seat to no one within our club. People might find our ways harsh, but how else do we keep the other ninety-nine percent in check, if we don't show them what can happen if you step outside the rules of laws created by everyone else?"
Taj said, "Normally, when you belong to a motorcycle club, they are law abiding citizens. Rules matter, and they follow them. However, there is a small percentage──"
"The one percent I was telling you about." Wiz stated quickly.
Nodding, Taj continued, "Yes, Wiz, the one percent you mentioned. Anyway, there are those that think the rules don't apply to them. Some of the one percent are the ones that want to bully and instill fear within the community they are in. However, it's the wanna be’s that normally cause more problems, trying to impress the one percent, in order to be asked to join them. When someone joins in with the one percent, they do this knowing what they are getting into."
Bren was a little confused, "If you don't abide by what the one percent represent, then why do you all continue to look like they do? Wouldn't it be better to not emulate them in so many ways? If you want to be seen differently, then wouldn't looking different help? This way people like us might actually not be so standoffish and judgmental."
"Why should we have to? Wearing leathers or even denim is practical when riding a bike. Shouldn't the public look past the outer view and have enough of an open mind to see what lies within a person? We have one common love, no matter who the rider." Rene said softly.
"What?" Rylee asked.
"Our love to ride. Everything comes back to our motorcycles. The freedom that surrounds us as we make our way on the road, the feeling of being one with ourselves and the world. There is nothing better than feeling that vibration between your legs as the wind passes by." Taj said.
"Well, I can think of something that might be better, but until we find our mates, the bike will have to do." Wiz said with a laugh.
Everyone laughed, then Rene said, "Seriously though, a motorcycle club is normally joined because we have more in common and belief. It's why the patch is worn on the back of our cuts. It shows other groups that we are of the same mind and value
s."
"What about those that say they are within this ninety nine percent, but act like the one percent?" Jude asked curiously. Then said, "Being a doctor I've seen my fair share of bikers coming into the ER beaten and bloody. Not all are in this one percent group you talk about, but still they act as if they are nothing but trouble."
"That's the wannabes I was telling you about just a minute ago. They emulate the one percent because they want to join with them. So, they are out there trying to get their approval and acceptance." Taj explained.
"Just know this, we may look like the one percent, but we want nothing to do with them." Rene stated as he pulled into the airport parking area and made his way to a private entrance towards the hangers.
"Then why let them get away with what they do?" Jude asked.
Pulling into a hanger, Bren noticed a wider than normal airliner inside. Rene went into a separate room and turned off his bike, pulling off his helmet, he said, "As much as we abhor what the one percent might do, we also must acknowledge our Rule of Law and it offers the same rights to them as it does to us."
"I just don't understand why someone would choose to be lawbreakers and anarchists." Jude muttered.
Eagle went to Jude, saying, "To understand that, you must know the history behind them, Jude. They first came about after World War II. The adrenaline they found fighting the war was no longer at their fingertips. They set out to obtain that feeling once again. They wanted a set of ideals that could celebrate freedom, nonconformity, and even unity. At the same time they returned from war, Harley Davidson had an overflow of motorcycles that were no longer needed and were looking to get rid of them. Put the two together and you had your first MC. There were men that felt socially isolated. You could even say that there were those that found themselves alienated from the people they set out to defend. When you feel as if those people used you and left you to now fend for yourselves, one might get angry and lash out. As we said, not all follow this example, but do not judge the one percent either. They may break the laws and even harm those around them, but in their mind, they have every right to do so."