ROUGHNECK: A DARK MOTORCYCLE CLUB ROMANCE

by Nikki Wild

  She started to as I was mulling over the options her brother might give us.

  “Morning.”

  “Good morning.”

  She stretched her beautiful long arms toward the ceiling. She could have been a dancer in another situation.

  “Get yourself moving darlin’. Coffee’s already made.”

  “Do you have some more places for us to check?” she asked, innocently. Her eyes were opened wide, now.

  “I have the place to check. I don’t want to get there too long after ten, so get up and get some pants on.”

  She sat bolt upright.

  “You found him?”

  I couldn’t tell if it was concern or excitement in her voice. Probably a mixture of both.

  “Maybe.”

  “Where is he? Oh my God, let’s go!”

  She sprung out of bed, flashing me a free look at that tight little ass.

  If there was more time, I’d fuck the curls out of her hair. My dick throbbed at the thought of it. There’s nothing like fucking in the morning.

  “Take it easy, girl. I said I had an idea. As a matter of fact, I almost left your ass here to go get him by myself. I don’t want you running in there and making a mess of things.”

  “If you left me here I would have ripped your balls off. So, you made a good decision.”

  “Goddamn, you’re asking for it. Little brother’s gonna wait if I decide I have to teach you another lesson.”

  “Just hold on,” she said. “I’ll be out in a second.”

  I hadn’t really looked over the place much. With nothing to do but wait, I took a gander around. The place was normal enough. It had the typical shit you see in every apartment. A couch and a love seat… a TV… some crazy-ass wall art. There was a stack of text books in the corner.

  “What’s with the books?” I hollered down the hall.

  “Medical crap. You wouldn’t be interested.”

  “I am interested. That’s why I’m asking.”

  “Really… it’s boring. Don’t worry about it.”

  “You’re really pissing me off. Stop trying to tell me what I should and shouldn’t be interested in. Spill it.”

  “They’re my text books for school.”

  “Text books? I thought you worked in a bar.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard of a girl putting herself through college? It’s not that foreign of a concept.”

  “So, what… you wanna be a doctor?”

  “Nurse. And I only have one more semester to go before I can take my test and get the license.”

  “Hot damn, smart girl,” I mumbled under my breath.

  “What?”

  “Nothin’.”

  All in all, it was a pretty normal place.

  Something was missing, though. It took me a minute to figure out. There were no pictures. Women loved pictures. I didn’t know much else about ‘em, other than how to make ‘em scream to the heavens, but I did know that every damn woman I ever met loved putting pictures of friends and family around their place.

  Addy didn’t have any. I guess she was telling the truth when she said she didn’t have anyone but her brother. No wonder she loved the prick so much. It seemed to me that was the only way he could be worth all this trouble.

  “Let’s go,” she said as she double-timed it out of the bathroom.

  She was wearing jeans and a low cut blouse that didn’t help any with the angry bastard in my pants. Addy was in my blood and I’d have to fuck her until I felt normal again. I had a sneaking suspicion I’d never feel ‘normal’ around her, no matter how much I put it to her.

  I caught her by the wrist as she tried to hurry by me.

  “Hold up now. I told you I’m not gonna have you run in there and cause a scene. Your brother isn’t in his right mind so I’m gonna take care of getting him back here. You can go, but your ass is staying on the bike. You can talk to him when we get him home.”

  “Fine.”

  She was pissed but she was smart enough to know it was the only way to get us out the door. I’m sure I’d have to deal with her again when we got there.

  “I don’t want to wear the helmet.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  I pulled it off the seat and tossed it to her anyway. She tossed it back.

  “I want to feel the wind. And you don’t wear one”

  “I wear this one, but I don’t carry a spare. It’s a hell of a long ride to where we’re going. Just put the damn thing on.”

  “What’s the matter? Aren’t you a good enough rider to get me there in one piece?”

  “It’s not my riding I’m worried about, and trust me, if you’d seen the shit I have over the years, you’d be strapping that helmet on right this damn second.”

  I watched her give me a little smirk, but she pulled the helmet over her head and strapped it down like I told her to.

  “Good. Let’s ride,” I said, finally giving her a nod of approval. At this point she had to be intentionally trying to piss me off by questioning my decisions. It was okay though, I’d file that shit away in the back of my brain and call on it later when it came time to wreck that little ass.

  My Harley fired up on the first kick. It always did on warm summer mornings like this. Addy hung on around my waist. The perfume she wore smelled like fresh cut flowers.

  That ride went down as one of the best I could remember. The weather was perfect. Addy didn’t make a peep. Just sat back and enjoyed it. I was starting to get used to the idea of having her back there.

  “Here it is,” I said as the engine choked out. “We’re here.”

  The big sign above the front door read: Johnny’s.

  “Okay,” she said, trying to lead the way.

  “Whoa, what do you think you’re doing?”

  “Going in. I don’t care. He’s my brother.”

  Looking around the lot made me not want to argue. It was too quiet. Something didn’t feel right, and that’s the only reason I decided to let her come with me.

  “Only because I want to get in and get out. Something’s up and I don’t like it. We’re doing this fast.”

  The place was old and dingy. It made the biker bar look like a cathedral by comparison. It was empty as could be, too, except for the drooping young prospect at the first bar stool.

  Addy ran to him.

  “Jared! Where have you been?”

  She threw a big hug on him before laying into his ass.

  “What the fuck is going on?”

  He didn’t answer. Just kept his head down. He was already working on a buzz.

  My head stayed on a swivel. I didn’t recognize the bar tender and he seemed to be a little too uninterested in the interaction with his only patron. It was as if he was trying not to watch.

  “Let’s move. Where’s your bike kid?”

  “I’m not going anywhere, ‘neck.”

  Now, I knew he had a death wish. The kid I remembered never would have dismissed me like that.

  “I’m not joking. We have to get going.”

  The bartender’s furtive eyes kept darting to us. He thought I didn’t notice, but I did.

  “You have something to say to us, friend?”

  “Nuh uh,” said the bartender. “Just cleaning up.”

  “Then you go ahead and clean up. But keep your eyes on your own fucking business while you’re doing it.”

  He shriveled away from me and I turned my attention back to Jared.

  “On your feet, man. I’m not asking.”

  “Nope. I’m staying. Got a lot to think about.”

  “Jared, c’mon. We can talk about this once we get out of here. It’s not-”

  “It’s not a fucking option,” I interrupted. “Get your ass off that bar stool before I drag you off of it. I know you don’t give a damn about yourself, but every extra minute we stay here is another one where you’re putting your sister in danger. Get it together.”

  The mention of Addy seemed to get him going.


  “You guys shouldn’t be here,” he said, finally climbing to his feet. “This is my problem. Let me deal with it my way.”

  “Just so you know, Ace, your way is the reason your sister is currently in a bunch of shit. If not for you, she wouldn’t have been sleeping in her car for fear of a bunch of dirt bags.”

  He looked at both of us with clear eyes for the first time.

  “They… somebody threatened you?”

  “Damn right, they did,” I answered for her. “Now swallow your pride and come with us. I’ve got a place back in town where nobody knows to look. We can hang out there until we figure out the next move.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, okay,” he said, finally coming to his senses.

  Jared patted his pockets to search for money he didn’t have. Just then the door started to slowly creak open. Me and that snitch of a bartender were the only ones who noticed it. Bright light flooded the dump.

  While everybody else shielded their eyes, I was already on the move.

  It was two of the guys Dirty had brought into the fold from a few months back. Mean bastards who were with him when he did that witness thing back east.

  One look at Addy’s face told me they were the same two that hassled her a few days ago.

  “Stay right there,” yelled the one they called Lonny. He drew a gun from behind his back. I knew Dirty would want the kid alive to question him.

  “Get behind me,” I barked.

  Addy fell in place, but the dumb kid stood next to me and squared his shoulders to the men.

  “These two aren’t part of this,” yelled Jared. “Let them go and I’ll do what you want.”

  He didn’t know how things worked, but I admired the selfless act, no matter how late it was. They weren’t gonna let us go anywhere. Not that Addy would agree to that anyway. Guys like Dirty tied up his loose ends.

  I didn’t wait around for one of them to make the first move. I took hold of the stool Jared had been sitting on and flung it across the room. When the guy with gun ducked out of the way, I shoved Addy to Jared.

  “Get her outside. I’ll deal with them,” I yelled.

  He caught her, and for maybe the first time in his life listened to directions.

  I charged forward along the path of where I’d thrown the stool. Lonny swung his gun arm toward me but he was too slow.

  I caught him at the elbow, redirecting the slug he let go at the mirror above the bar. It shattered into a million pieces, raining down on the bartender who was undoubtedly cowering on his knees.

  Lonny was strong but inexperienced in hand-to-hand combat. He didn’t have a clue about leverage or motion. A few more fights and he might start picking up on these things, but for now, I had the advantage. He threw his weight into an awkward lunge, attempting to pin me against the bar. I moved easily and pushed his trajectory at the pool table. He crashed into it, sending the balls scattering in every direction. I didn’t miss him snatching the three ball off of the table before he turned.

  The other guy made a grab for my neck. Unlike his partner, he didn’t possess the strength to do anything with the dominant position.

  I turned into his chest, leaving him no room to work in a punch. His name came back to me but only after I saw the poorly stitched version of it on his jacket. “Dog.” Okay.

  I always wanted to know their names. Don’t ask me why.

  By dropping my center of gravity I was able to drive him back. He had probably fifty pounds on me but it was all fat. Easy for me to move, but hard for him. The top-heavy bastard went over the mop and bucket head first.

  I wheeled just in time to dodge the pool ball. It careened off one of the taps with a resounding “crack.”

  He saw Jared and Addy make it to the door the same time as I did. If he alerted his partner, I wouldn’t be able to get ahead of him fast enough.

  “Jared! Pull it shut behind you. Hold it for as long as you can.”

  I could only hope that he heard me.

  Addy disappeared into the sunlight first. Jared hesitated and looked back.

  “Do it!” I yelled. “Tell her to run.”

  “If you run out that door, I’ll shoot your friend,” yelled Lonny from behind me.

  “Don’t listen to him, kid. Get her somewhere safe.”

  But Jared didn’t run. I could only guess he wanted to play John Wayne today.

  “Addy, go hide. I’m gonna help Roughneck.”

  Fuck.

  I’ll give the guy credit for trying. He ran back into the fray with no regard for his own safety. Although, he probably reconsidered his position when the big guy drilled him in the face with the handle of that mop.

  Jared sprawled across the floor. In that short instance I could already see the bump beginning to raise between his eyes.

  “Fuck me,” he grumbled between two hands.

  The distraction still gave me enough time to try another strategy. With Dog preoccupied, I took another run at Lonny. The fucker fired a shot that missed my head by inches. In fact, it came as close to hitting his partner as it did to hitting me. He didn’t care.

  But now he was gonna pay.

  “Should have killed me when you had a clean shot,” I whispered into his face.

  His eye grew large as the crook of my elbow fit into place beneath his chin. I flexed my bicep and squeezed with my forearm. He went unconscious in my arms.

  Dog didn’t have a gun with him, but he seemed too stupid to realize he would need one to have an even shot against me. I could only imagine he was feeling strong with that mop handle after knocking Jared down, because he came at me with it like a wild man.

  I ducked as he swung it sloppily at me.

  “Nice try, asshole.”

  The next swing, I caught. The mop handle worked as a perfect lever to pull him into range. I gripped it with both hands and drew him in, smashing my skull into his nose. His face crumbled against the force of it.

  This was our chance to go. I let go of the mop, watching the man fall to the ground before running to Jared who was just picking himself up off the floor. Blood dripped from his nose.

  “You alright, man?”

  “I’m fine. Did you see how I slowed him down for you?”

  “Make me laugh later Kid. We have to go.”

  He went first, with me right behind. Addy sat on the back of my seat looking beautiful. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about her.

  “Where are you parked?”

  “Just around the corner,” Jared yelled back. “Don’t wait. I’ll catch up.”

  “Don’t be far behind. You’re sticking with us.”

  I kept an eye on the entrance as I started the bike. No one had come through. That didn’t give me any reassurance. I wanted to be out of pistol range in a hurry.

  “Your brother is gonna follow,” I yelled over the roar of the engine. “Watch him so you can keep me updated on where he’s at.”

  “Okay!”

  Rocks and dirt flew when I cranked the throttle. I didn’t care if I tore up my tires, all I wanted was to get these two to a safe place.

  “He’s coming!”

  “Good.”

  “No! The other guy. That one looks like he’s hurt, but they’re both there!”

  I pulled to the side of the road and angled the bike so I could see behind us. Where the hell was that kid?

  C’mon Jared. Don’t screw this up.

  There were precious few seconds to make up my mind. Should I go and make sure we got away clean? I knew that would only put us back at square one. There’s no way she’d let me live with it. Or, did I go back and get him, risking Addy’s life in the process?

  I didn’t have to make that decision. The kid came through.

  He sped through the gap between two trucks like he was shot out of a cannon. When Lonny turned his gun, he was too slow again. Jared kicked it out of his hand on the way by. He never slowed down.

  “He’s out!” screamed Addy, her voice barely registering over the roar of the
engine. “Let’s go!”

  I gunned it to seventy-five. The girl had to readjust after the speed made her slide back on the seat. I didn’t mind when she dug her fingers in to pull herself forward.

  My eyes burned from the sting of the rushing air. It was the first time in years I’d ridden without my sunglasses. I vaguely remembered them flying off the top of my head at some point during the fight. I squinted into the wind and did my best to keep an eye on the road.

  “Lean into the turn,” I yelled. “It’s going to feel like we’re gonna lay it down, but we won’t. You have to put all of your body weight into it if we’re gonna make it. You have to trust me.”

  Up ahead there was a turnoff that ran through a commercial area. The first two buildings had a small alley between them that you wouldn’t even know was there unless you were looking for it. I resisted using the brake for as long as I could. Addy’s grip tightened around me as we tilted toward the buildings. From where we they were, they wouldn’t be able to see us. We had probably less than five seconds to make the turn to be sure they wouldn’t see it.

  “This is it!”

  I put everything into that move. My focus zeroed in on the small gap. I blew a deep breath from my lungs as everything slowed around me.

  We went in to the alley like we were made for it. Luck was on our side because it was clear of anything except for one dumpster that hugged the wall to our left. I swung in behind it and cut the engine.

  “Did they see us?”

  “I don’t know. How close was your brother? They might have followed him.”

  “He couldn’t have made that turn. There wasn’t enough time.”

  “Duck!”

  The black SUV rolled slowly by the alleyway but didn’t stop.

  “They didn’t see us,” said Addy.

  “I think you’re right. We might be in the clear.”

  “I don’t know. He never went by, at least not that I saw. I’ll tell you what, we’ll wait here for a minute just to make sure they don’t double back, then we’ll go look for him. Maybe he had to put the bike down.”

  “No way. He didn’t crash. He’s a good rider.”

  “That may be, but when your being chased it’s a different ballgame.”