by Osborn, K E
“She’s Petunia, our teacup pig,” Willow informs everyone. The guys all look at her and smirk.
Gator turns to me and grins. “This is the pet?”
Pursing my lips, I nod my head and wait to hear his answer. He merely shakes his head as his bellowing laughter echoes throughout the yard.
“It’s going to be fun having a pig running around. The guys are going to fucking love her. She can be our new mascot.”
Willow giggles as Jock moves in and grabs her hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it. I roll my eyes as I know Jock, he’s never one to miss out on sweet talking the ladies.
“Your laugh is sweet like angels singing.” His broad Scottish accent rings through the air and I shake my head laughing as I slap his back.
“Leave her alone, Jock. Your Scottish charms won’t work on her.”
Jock laughs and clicks his fingers together and purses his lips. “Damn.”
“Plus, she’s mine.”
Jock raises an eyebrow and smirks. “Your Old Lady?”
Nodding, I wrap my arm around her shoulders pulling her to me. “Yes’um.”
Jock pouts again and rests his fists on his hips. “Damn, all the beauties are always taken.”
I laugh along with the other guys as Gator slaps him on the back. “You’ll find your woman one day, Jock.”
Willow giggles and looks at him raising an eyebrow. “Why do they call you by your real name? I thought all bikers used road names?”
They all laugh and he shakes his head.
“Jock’s not my real name, lassie. It’s short for jockstrap.”
Her eyes bulge open wide and a pink tinge crosses her cheeks. It’s as cute as fuck. “Oh, I don’t think I want to know that story,” she says.
“Probably not.”
“I’m Gadget by the way. We haven’t met properly.” The slightly more rotund short guy says, I’m assuming he’s Aldinga’s version of Techie.
“Hey, brother, nice to meet ya.” I shake his hand and he nods back at me as Petunia circles our feet.
“Well, let’s get you guys inside. Give you a feed. Lunch is almost ready,” Gator says slapping my back and I nod looking at Willow, who’s actually smiling. I think she feels okay so far. Thank God.
As we walk up to the clubroom door, I take in the neatness of my surroundings. This place is so different to Virginia. It’s like they actually have pride in their clubhouse. The garden is manicured. Well, no not manicured but they actually have plants. No flowers or anything, but nice shrubs and accents on the wall. The door is a deep red colour with the Satan’s Savages logo proudly displayed—a skull with a piston and rod going through each eye socket and out through the mouth—it looks intimidating. It’s encased in a black circle with a red ribbon I suppose you could call it, that turns into a flame effect around the skull. The club name and the words ‘Fear none’ are inscribed on it. I’ve seen the logo on Steel’s vest and in the other clubhouse, but seeing it here on the door so vividly displayed sends a shiver down my spine. Sometimes I forget that Steel is a biker. He’s so caring and gentle, but he has this dark side to him and it slips my mind that he has that in him. However, right now, it’s firmly planted in the forefront of my mind.
Gator opens the door and it swings back with ease, unlike the door at Virginia which is cumbersome and rigid. This place already feels more desirable than Virginia and I’ve only seen the outside and the scary door. We walk inside, and it’s not that dissimilar from the other clubhouse. It actually looks like a bar at first glance, but a more upmarket one with everything stainless steel and black.
The bar is set up along the left-hand wall. It’s smaller than Virginia but still sizeable with blue neon lighting under the bar top. It kind of looks like a nightclub. It’s cool. I like it. To the right of the bar is a room closed off with big double black doors. Next to that, is a hallway leading upstairs. In the expanse of the room sits a couple of pool tables. A stage to the left, where it looks like a band might perform, and in front of that are three poles for what I presume is pole dancing.
I cringe slightly at the thought, but I keep looking around the room to see lounges against the right side and in front of them are some tables where I assume the bikers eat their meals and stuff. At the back of the lounge area is a big half wall, and on the other side looks to be a giant kitchen. It’s cool because you can see where the chef’s cooking lunch and the smell of food is wafting in through the room.
Looking to the left, I notice a stairwell heading downstairs with a neon sign that’s currently not glowing. Swallowing hard, I think back to the Chop Shop and wonder if this is their version of the basement. I hope to hell I never have to go down there, and I make a vow to myself to never willingly step a foot onto that staircase.
As my heart races faster and my palms sweat at the thought of that place, I look around to see about nine bikers all sitting at the bar drinking. There’s three prospects behind the bar working. Another four brothers playing pool at the pool tables. I can also see three in the kitchen through the gap in the wall, and three are standing with us. It’s calm and peaceful. None of them are cat calling me, or even really looking at me let alone leering at me and checking me out like a piece of meat. I have no idea if it’s like this all the time, or if this is just an unusually quiet time for them.
Petunia comes rushing in squealing and runs into the back of Steel’s leg and then rubs against him. I giggle as all the bikers suddenly wake up and turn around cracking up laughing.
One of the guys in the kitchen picks up a carving fork raising it in the air while laughing. “Roast pork for dinner, then?”
Everyone laughs, but I gasp and bend down picking her up and cradling her to my chest actively shaking my head.
Gator grasps my shoulders and smiles at me with kind eyes. “This here is Petunia, our new house pig. No one is to hurt her, or let her off premises. She’s the new pet to everyone here... our mascot if you will,” Gator explains and I tense up wondering what these bikers will think of that.
“Petunia? Her name’s fucking Petunia?” One of them calls out.
“Umm… yes,” I murmur.
“Can’t we think of something a little more… I don’t fucken know… tougher and less chick than that, Prez?” One of the prospects behind the bar calls out and everyone chuckles.
“Nope, her name is Petunia. Flame here named her, and that’s what we have to respect. Petunia the teacup fucken pig.”
“And who is this Flame?” One of the bikers says at the bar licking his lips looking me up and down. And there it is. I take a step toward Steel as my shoulders tense and my heart starts to race.
“She’s my Old Lady, and completely off limits,” Steel says.
“Steel and Flame will be staying with us, indefinitely. Steel’s patching in from Virginia, but there’s to be no chatter about him and his Old Lady being here. Got me brothers?”
They all nod and some gesture like their zipping their mouths shut. Others give two fingered salutes. These guys all seem like they really respect their president. I might like this club after all.
“Right, let’s get these guys some grub, Chowhound,” Gator calls out to the chef in the kitchen, as the aroma of whatever he’s cooking wafts through my senses again.
“Sure thing, Prez,” Chowhound calls back throwing his hands in the air as some sort of food goes flying into the air off the tongs he’s holding. I giggle as he looks like he could be quite the larrikin.
“Okay Flame, you can go take a seat at a table. I just need to chat to Steel for a second—”
“Will she be okay on her own?” Steel asks defensively looking at Gator like he’s concerned someone will touch me. To be honest, I’m worried about that too.
“Don’t worry, brother, she’ll be fine here. All the trouble makers were taken out when the Riot Brothers came in and shot the place the shit up. Hence, why our security’s beefed up.”
Steel looks at me and furrows his brows. I grab his ha
nd and squeeze smiling at him. “I’ll be okay. I have Petunia, she’ll keep me company until you come back.”
He huffs and nods rubbing the back of his neck like he’s still not comfortable with leaving me. So I lean in, kiss him gently, and then turn and step off toward the lounge and table area before he can stop me. When I turn back, he’s walking off with Gator to the room with the big black double doors.
That must be where they have their church meetings.
We walk into the assembly room and it’s a far cry from the one at Virginia. The walls are red with black cornicing, and there’s a small bar at the back of the room. Our club logo is proudly placed on the wall, behind the President’s chair. The unique wooden table sits in pride of place in the centre of the room with leather tall backed black chairs around the table. It’s classier and well… cleaner than Virginia. This is distinctively different but I’m suitably impressed so far.
Gator waves his hand out for me to take a seat and I nod pulling out one of the chairs, it rolls on its wheels with ease and I take a seat along with a deep breath. “Thanks again for takin’ us in brother. You don’t know how much this means to us.”
“It’s all good, Steel. You’re like family to me, and I’d do anything for you. But just so we’re clear Mad Dog has decreed that Willow not be harmed, and I agree. She could’ve gone to the heat after what happened, but she chose not to. That shows loyalty to you and the club. I’m more than happy to welcome your Old Lady here.”
I wonder if this means he’s ceasing her protection.
“But I know Chops and how he thinks. Don’t worry brother, we’re not dropping her protection. While she’s here, she’ll be guarded twenty-four-seven. Mad Dog told me that Chops isn’t after you so we’re not placing any protection on you. You’re free to come and go as you wish. Willow, though, she will be watched everywhere she goes, brother. You have my word.”
Nodding, my shoulders slump as I relax slightly. “Thank you. Even though Mad Dog had decreed her protection, I don’t trust Chops for a second. If he wanted to make a move and got an opportunity, I’m sure he’d take it.”
Gator nods. “I know. That’s why I’m going to have a prospect looking after her, so anywhere she goes, he goes too. She won’t even know he’s tailing her if you don’t want her to.”
Taking a deep breath, I weigh up my options. Would Willow rather know someone is watching her? Would that make her feel safer, or would it feel like an invasion of privacy? I’m just not sure. I think knowing someone is with her might help her so I choose that option.
“I think we should tell her someone will be watchin’ her. It might make her feel more protected.”
Gator nods. “Right! It’s up to you. Whatever you think is best for her.”
“I’m not sure, but I think this is the right option for now.”
He stands up, his chair rolling back with the force. “Okay, it’s settled then. We’ll tell her in a bit that she’s going to have someone watching her. I’ll let her know that she’s safe here, Steel. Don’t worry, she has no need for concern.”
“Thanks, brother,” I say standing up and putting out my hand for him to shake.
Taking a seat with Petunia, I draw in a deep breath and look around the clubroom. It eases my nerves as I check out all the bikers, who aren’t paying me one scrap of attention. If I were at Steel’s old club, they’d all be leering at me. This place is much better and so far I feel safe here. Like no one will harm me.
Suddenly, the echo of female laughter rings through the opening door of the clubhouse entryway. The guys all start cheering and I wonder what’s going on when in walks what I’m assuming are the club girls.
Great! Cockmunchers!
I’m not looking forward to this interrogation. I’m not one of them. I’m an outsider and I’m only assuming they won’t take kindly to me being here. As I look over at the girls, I furrow my brows taking in their appearances. They’re complete opposites from the club girls at Virginia. Sure, they’re still dressed slutty, but not vapid slutty, just short shorts and regular tops. But they’re not covered in tattoos or have outrageous, crazy hair. They don’t have makeup plastered on their faces making them look like Oompa Loompas. They look… normal. Well, relatively.
I huff and sit back in my seat studying them all individually. They’re pretty and they’re all laughing and behaving like normal girls, not sauntering in trying to be as sexy as sin.
I don’t get it.
At all.
One of them spots me and she gasps as her eyes light up, and she taps the arm of another girl who then looks across at me. My shoulders tense as I sit up straighter in the chair holding onto Petunia. Here it comes. The bitter words and tough talk. The blonde who spotted me originally says something to the black haired beauty and then turns walking right over to me. My breath catches as I wait for the impending sarcasm and harsh words. But she sits down and smiles at me so brightly it eases my nerves, but only slightly.
“Hey, I’m Melodi, but everyone calls me Meli. It’s so nice to meet you, Flame. Gator told me you were coming, and I just couldn’t wait till you got here.”
I furrow my brows slightly wondering if she’s being sarcastic or serious. I can’t tell, and she smiles at me again and leans forward. Here it comes!
“Hey look, I know what the girls at Virginia are like. Trust me we’re nothing like them. Relax Flame, you’re welcome here. The club girls at Virginia, let’s just say they’re there to please the men in any way they want. We’re here to do that too, but we also love the club. The men treat us nice and we give them what they need, but we get what we want out of the club, too. A roof, the money we need to support our lives, we have lives outside of the club and they support that. This is a good chapter, Flame. You’re gonna like it here,” she says and I smile and relax a little more as she leans over petting Petunia on her head. “And this little one is adorable. But I think the Russian Azarov twins will probably be scared of her, though. They’re not big on animals.” She looks over to the two black haired beauties—that now I’m really looking at them I realise they do look very similar—as they stand either side of a biker and push themselves into him.
“Would they hurt her?”
She laughs and the sound is quite sweet. I think I like her instantly. “Irina and Marina? No Flame, they’ll probably just scream and jump up and down when they see her. I think it’ll be real entertaining.”
I giggle and she leans out grabbing my hand and squeezing. “Don’t worry about a thing, you’re in safe hands here.”
“Well, thank you. That means a lot, and for you to welcome me so nicely. I’m kind of in shock right now.”
She laughs and nods. “Don’t be, we’re different here, and I can tell we’re going to get along just fine.” She leans in petting Petunia again, and she snorts back like she does when she’s happy.
“She really is adorable.”
“I know, right?” She smiles at me as Gator and Steel reappear in my line of sight. Steel tilts his head at me gesturing for me to go over to him. I nod and smile. “Umm, excuse me. I’m being summoned.”
Meli turns around and looks at Steel then back to me. “No worries, just know if you need anything while you’re here. Anything at all, just yell, and I’ll help if I can.”
“Thanks, heaps. You’ve been awesome already.” I stand up and walk over to Steel and Gator.
“Everythin’ okay?” Steel asks raising an eyebrow looking toward Meli as she walks past and back toward the Russian twins.
I smile at his obvious concern and nod. “Yeah, everything’s just great.”
He furrows his brows and tilts his head as if he was expecting me to say something else, but he pulls me to his side and I cuddle into him.
Gator looks to Steel and he nods making me wonder what that’s about. “Willow can I talk to you for a minute?” he asks and I tense up wondering what the president wants to talk to me about.
Glancing at Steel, he nods his head and
takes my hand. I nod toward Gator in acknowledgement. He’s gorgeous and friendly, but intimidating as hell.
“Let’s go to the assembly room.”
Steel walks with me and my heart’s racing as we walk toward the room they hold their church. I’ve never been inside one of these sacred rooms before, and it’s freaking me the hell out that I’m about to now. We walk in and the red walls make me think of blood, which makes me think of Chops and then back to the Chop Shop. My heart races and I immediately feel a little nauseous.
Steel wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him, and I relax slightly at the warmth of his body pressed against mine.
“Relax babe, it’s okay,” he whispers and kisses my temple as Gator shuts the door behind us.
Swallowing hard, I try to calm my breathing. If Steel is telling me to relax then this is probably nothing to worry about.
“Willow, I just need to run some things by you.” Gators gruff voice is not soothing in the slightest.
“Okaaay?”
“So you’re here under our strict protection. You’re not to leave this compound at any time. If you do need to go anywhere, then you will have the protection of a brother by your side at all times. If a brother isn’t available at the time you wish to go out, you don’t fucken go anywhere. Understand?”
Opening my eyes wide at his conditions, I simply nod and chew on my bottom lip. I want to argue, I want to tell him to fuck off and that I can go wherever I want whenever I want. But the truth is, I’m scared of Chops and having a brother by my side at all times makes me feel a whole lot better, and if one isn’t available I’m okay with staying in.
“We’re just making sure to keep you out of the way of Chops here Willow. At no time has the club wanted to come after you, or want to harm you in any way. It’s all on Chops. He’s a renegade arsehole. But it does make it easier, protecting you from one man than protecting you from a club.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to put you in this position where you have to protect me—”