We wait for the limos in front to unload, then our door is opened. I get out and put my hand out for her. She's fuckin glowing, smiling so fuckin bright. Cameras are going off all over the fuckin place. I see our guy and stop for him. He takes a couple of shots and follows us into the building. At the glass wall we stop, Mandy looks up to read whatever it says; I look at her and see the photographer snapping pictures. She looks up at me and smiles. "I love you so fuckin much, I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest!"
My mouth smashes down on hers. Fuck. Lifting my head, I realize what I just did. "Sorry about the makeup. Nancy warned me you'll be pissed but that deserved a real kiss. I love you too, babe."
She smiles. I take a breath, so fuckin glad I didn't ruin it. She puts her hand on my arm. "Let's go in before I pull you to the coat room and fuck you. Do they have a coat room?" She's so fuckin serious, I laugh then wipe her stuff off my mouth.
Inside I'm glad Nancy picked our clothes. We get more champagne and look at more fuckin art. She's so fuckin excited, I'm smiling the whole time. I see the photographer all over the fuckin place. After an hour, I drag her to food. She pulls me right back to pictures as soon as we're finished. Some of this stuff is just stupid, I'm happy she passes it by. She likes detail and flowers; I try to remember the stuff she stops at so I can get it for her. When they all start to look alike, I snap pictures on my phone. She's not expecting me to talk about the pictures so I don't. I like watching her and don't see all of it anyway.
When she's seen enough, she turns to me. "I've loved every fuckin minute of this weekend. I could use a drink though." I smile. I send a text and take her arm walking her to the bar in the big room. "Bob! My parents are here!" She's whispering loud.
I hold my laugh, "So are mine." I point them out. We meet at the bar and I introduce Amanda to my parents. They look bored. Amanda introduces me to her parents.
"You look like Amelia, Amanda." Her mother says.
"Since they were identical, I would say ‘no shit’." I can already tell she's a bitch. "The reason I have you here isn't to cut her down but to introduce myself to you. I plan on marrying Mandy and thought you should at least meet me." I look at my parents. "I thought you should meet Mandy."
"Her name is Amanda." The bitch says.
I smile at her. "You play no part in her life; you have no say on what she calls herself or what I call her. The most important person in her life called her Mandy. She supported her when you wouldn't. I call her Mandy and like that she feels that love again. Since you don't call her at all, you can call her whatever the fuck you want."
"Robert! You're still the biker, even a tux! That's no way to talk to a woman." My father spits out at me.
I laugh. "Fatherly advice now? No thanks, dad." I look at Mandy. "Do you have anything you want to say here?" She shakes her head no. "Now that we've all met, I hope you enjoy your weekend." I turn and start walking away.
"Robert!" My mother calls out. I look back. "You paid for us to come here just to meet your girlfriend?"
I look at Amanda and smile. "I told Mandy before I married her she would have to meet you and decide if she still wants me. She met you." Amanda laughs.
My mother huffs. "Going into debt to impress a girl isn't a smart move. Your drug money doesn't impress us."
Fuckin parents. I laugh. "I'll never be in debt. I own everything I need, never took a loan and don't owe anyone anything, not even the bank for my fuckin house. If you knew anything about me, you'd know we have a whole fuckin town drug free. We don't run drugs or flesh. We run clean business like a women center and boys club. Nothing illegal about taking care of women and kids. A weeks pay to get the answer I want from Mandy is worth her seeing how fuckin shitty my parents are to me. I don't need your approval or advice. Have a nice fuckin life, mom." I turn back and walk us out.
"That was fuckin awesome. Thank you. You are the best, Badass Biker Man." She laughs.
"Better than Biker Babe." Looking toward the exit, I see a coat room. Perfect. I pull her through the crowd to the coat room and lock the door. Pushing her dress off her shoulders, it pools at her feet. "Fuckin beautiful." I bend taking her nipple in my mouth. She moans holding my head on her. "Mitch said my leg will hold; I need to test it out." I drop my pants to my thighs and lift her. Tearing her panties I kiss her so she doesn't yell at me again. I feel her smile and kiss her harder. I move her out and slide her down me. "That feels nice, baby." She moans. I turn and lean against the counter.
"Harder, babe." She whispers against my neck putting her hands on my shoulders. I pull her down harder and she cries out for harder. Fuckin woman knows just what she wants.
I push her out at an angle and slam her down on me. "Put your fingers on your pussy, baby." She slides one hand down, squeezing her nipple, her eyes close and she tips her head back. I'm not going to fuckin make it. Her hand goes lower; I watch her roll the stud and feel the heat down my back. I roll my hips as I pull her down and she screams. I pull her in and put my mouth on hers. Fuck if she doesn't have me coming with her fuckin sexy noises while she's sucking on my lip ring. I growl against her mouth and feel her smile.
"Perfect." She says letting her breath out.
I'm trying to catch my breath and laugh; it ain't working out too well. I try for deep breaths. "Fuck, woman; this isn't the place to scream."
She smiles up at me. "Don't fuck me so hard that I scream and I won't. I don't think I've ever screamed before. It must be you." She's panting like fuckin crazy. I laugh and sit her on the counter. I get her shoes on her and stand her up. After I get my pants back up, I pull the handkerchief out of my pocket and clean her up. Texting the driver, I stand and put her panties in my pocket before she says anything. I put my hand on her back and guide her out. We get some looks; I nod at the women and throw chin to the men; Amanda laughs. We're almost to the doors when she says, "Don't think for a second I'm letting the panties go. I'm busy being euphoric right now. I'm going to be fuckin pissed when we get home and I only have three pair left."
I walk out of the MOMA gala laughing hysterically. I add panty shopping to our list.
Chapter Thirteen
Amanda
Bob had a car drive us to the reservation. This is where Cloud grew up; it's beautiful. He's on his laptop when I come in. "I found a beautiful lake."
He smiles up at me. "Let me finish this up and we can take a walk together so I can see it." I nod and sit pulling out my iPad from his bag. I wake up as I'm being lifted. "I must have dozed off." I lay my head on his chest. He carries me to bed and lies down on the side of me. I roll onto his chest and close my eyes.
"Babe, I gotta get the door." I roll off him. He swears and jumps to the door. Fuck, I should have got it. I get up and pull my hair in a ponytail as I'm walking out to the living room. "Mandy, this is Cloud's grandmother; she asked to talk to you. She's a shaman, like a medicine woman."
How fuckin cool is that? I put my hand out and she hugs me. She's a little woman but she has a big presence. "It is good to meet you, Mandy. My CJ tells me good things about you."
I love her already; she's smiling at me like a grandmother would. "They might even be true." I tell, her making her laugh.
"The spirits tell me you have your own spirit helping to guide your way. I wanted to meet you and see for myself. Your guide loves you and wants you to be happy in your life, Mandy. She says she will be with you always. You call her when you need her."
Fuck! Tears are running down my face. "Meely?"
"Oh no, child, your sister is happy; this is not sad news. She's here for you when you need her. She will guide you in right with peace and love from a place of light. You call on her when you need her. Christian can help you if you lose your way but your sister is strong; she stands by you, Mandy, in all things." She leans closer. "She likes your man, too; she thinks he's good for you."
I laugh wiping my eyes, "Thank you." She kisses my cheeks and walks out the door. "I love you, Meely." A breeze
touches my arm and I know it's her. I may be fuckin losing it but it feels good to think it's Meely.
Bob hugs me from behind. "She's gone already?"
"Yeah. Let's go check out the lake." I wipe my face and pull him to the door.
Chapter Fourteen
Two days
Bob
"Was a fuckin great weekend. Thanks."
Danny smiles, "Good. So what day are we booking Ben?"
Fuckin Brothers. "I haven't asked her yet. I have some pictures coming today. I'm waiting until she sees them."
He frowns, "What do fuckin pictures have to do with asking her to marry you?"
Fuck, I blow out a breath. "She's a twin, her parents favored the twin over her; she was bookish, Mandy's artistic. Amelia was her shield; she supported her and lifted her up when her parents cut her down. When Amelia died, the parents couldn't look at Mandy. She lost everything when her other half died. When she’s scared she sits on the floor in the hallway with her head against the mirror so she can feel Amelia." I take another breath because this is going to sound fucked up. "When we went to New York, I had a photographer follow us. I wanted him to get a picture of her and her reflection so she would have that with her now, knowing that her sister will always be a part of her. We crossed off things on the bucket list that was her sister’s. I wanted it to mean more."
He looks at me. "That's the fuckin nicest thing I've ever heard. Who the fuck knew you were so fuckin deep and smart?"
"Fuck off, Brother." I wipe my face. "I think what made a difference was Cloud's grandmother. Since she met her she's not sad anymore. She's always fuckin smiling."
"So why don't you ask her now? You don't need the fuckin pictures."
I think about that. "What if I'm totally wrong and she hates the pictures, then me. I need to know she's the person I think she is. I can't spend my life like Ben did. Tracy was off but she was off so deep; no one but Jessie picked it up. This is deep and should mean something. If I'm right, I know it's right."
He nods, "The kids say it's right but if you need the pictures to settle you, I guess it's good they're here today. Then you can ask her today."
"What the fuck is up with everyone trying to get us married? Is there a bet going?" He puts a blank look on his face. "Fuckin Brothers betting when I ask her? That's fuckin whacked." I think about it then smile. "Who has today, you?" He smiles. "Who has next weekend?"
"Fuckin Tiny. He always fuckin wins." He gets up taking his coffee.
I'm not saying a fuckin word. He brings me to the shop so I can get my bike. Dave did a great job on it. I go in to pay Kelly and she says it’s paid but she won't say anything else. Who the fuck paid for the bike? I call Keith and ask if the MC paid, he says no. I don't have time to figure it out, I need to get back to the house and meet the photographer.
I pull in right behind him at the gate; I get out and talk to Jax so he'll let him pass. He follows me to the house and I help him carry the pictures in. Fuck, this is more than I expected.
He opens the biggest one; my breath gets caught in my throat. I cough but can't take my eyes off it. It's in front of the MOMA, she's looking up at me; her reflection is smiling at us. "It's fuckin beautiful." He keeps opening them. Some are small and I put them around the house as he opens them. He hangs the big one in the living room. I fuckin love it. He has two more decent sized ones with the reflection. One of her alone at the Statue of Liberty and one of us at the Met Museum. He also has the pictures I picked from the museum. He hangs them where I point; I have no fuckin clue so I give the general direction. He figures it out.
"You did fuckin good, Mark. I love every one of them. Thanks for coming out and hanging everything for me."
"No problem, Bob. Can I get a couple of shots of you and your leg? It's a fuckin work of art." He moves me all over the place taking his shots and says he'll send me a copy. I roll my eyes; I live with the leg every fuckin day. I need a picture?
I clean up all the brown paper and call Mandy. She answers on the first ring. "I need you to come home now."
She laughs. "What if I have an appointment?"
"You finished Mitch an hour ago. You will have no appointments today because I made sure of it. I need your sweet fuckin ass home now, it's important."
"Babe, are you alright?" She's not smiling anymore.
"Are you walking out the door as you're talking to me?"
"Yeah, but your scaring me. Hey! What the fuck! Let me go!" Fuck. I run to my helmet. She's screaming but it's muffled. What.the.fuck?! My fuckin heart is beating wild.
"B3 on with MC Ops."
Rich: "LP2 on B3"
Me: "Watch Mandy's shop. Someone just took her."
Rich: "On it." He's talking to Digs. "B3, the only thing showing is a dark green SUV leaving the lot. There's a blind spot at the back corner. Digs is looking for the SUV."
"I'm on Main, Rich. Where am I going?" Fuck! I've never been so scared before. This is fuckin bullshit; I need a fuckin direction.
"VP's coming in, I'm on my way. Digs is hunting for the SUV, Brother. We'll get her back."
Danny pulls up beside me handing me ammo and a holster. I'm in fuckin shorts but they have the side pockets. I put the holster on and slide my spare to the other side. VP flies by heading to Security.
Rich: "Digs, get Cloud out of training and up in the air. Call LB, get him on this too."
Digs: "Blackhawks on his way, VP called him. I got LB on with Sticks, getting what we have."
Rich: "Roger, Digs. Good job, Brother."
"She was taken while I was on the phone with her." I tell Danny.
Digs: "Her phone is in the lot. Her car is headed south but she's not in it. I have HS2 following." Fuck!
VP: "SUV registered to Calvin Mello, name mean somethin?"
Me: "Her fuckin ex? It's been more than two years."
Cloud: "Blackhawk standing ready."
VP: "Need eyes headin north, dark green SUV."
Rich pulls up to us; I throw him chin.
VP: "HS stopped her car, she's not in it. Guy was paid fifty at the Plank to take it for a ride."
I pull my helmet off. Fuck! Danny puts his hand on my shoulder. "Put the fuckin helmet on. Any bit of info can spark something for you. We need that right now." He's right; I throw chin and put my helmet on.
VP: "Security's at the address on the registration, it's cleared out."
Little Ben: "VP, we have emails from him, starting last week. He plugged into a cafe in Barnstable to send the last one."
VP: "Roger, LB. LP1, head to Barnstable, run through Dartmouth."
Danny: "Roger, VP." We gun it doing 125 until we hit Dartmouth. We travel Route 6 in fuckin traffic. Danny starts passing cars and we follow single file. When a car tries to block him in, he pulls his gun and drives by. We follow with nothing coming from Ops the whole fuckin way.
We're just about at the Barnstable Bridge when VP comes back on.
VP: "Blackhawk has the SUV in Manomet. Plate was verified."
Danny: "Roger, VP." He spins around and heads the other way. Horns are going off everywhere. Rich rolls over a car and keeps going. If I wasn't so fuckin pissed, I'd laugh. Whatever it takes.
Digs: "Second left, LP1. I have no feed down that road but my map says first left, house is on the right, 217."
Danny: "Roger, Digs." Cloud is above us, hovering. Danny goes to the SUV. Rich goes to the back; I walk to the front door putting my headset on. "SUV is empty." Danny says.
I bang, then open the door; it's not fuckin locked. I can feel it's empty. Danny checks the basement, Rich starts at one end, I go to the other. I almost missed it; she wrote in clear Chapstick. Fuckin Mandy is smart. "Rich!"
Me: "VP, there's a message on the mirror. ‘Aunt in Maine’."
Rich comes in and takes a picture of the mirror. I turn the hot water on so it steams up the mirror. She has a web around a heart at the bottom; I missed that. Fuckin Mandy. Rich gets a better picture. Danny comes in and I walk out. Fucki
n Maine. What the fuck was her ex doing emailing her? Why didn't she tell me?
VP: "LB, find an aunt in Maine."
Little Ben: "Roger, VP."
"Why didn't she tell me about the emails?" I ask Rich when he comes out.
He pulls his phone and hits speaker. "LB, anything in the email giving this asswipe encouragement?"
Little Ben laughs. "No. They had us laughing; she told him to leave her alone, then to die and leave her alone, then she tells him she moved and didn't leave a forwarding address. They're all funny though; she's got a mouth on her."
Rich smiles. "LB, I'm on speaker and Bob is right here. Thanks for the info, Brother."
"Sorry, Brothers." Little Ben sounds embarrassed.
Danny is watching. "I'd say she didn't think anything of them. We need to get to the aunt's before he does. VP, we need a plan."
VP: "Blackhawk's loaded for trainin, can't add three bikes. Digs is on with Hammer to drop the weight and borrow two. Need to take B3's. Hold tight." I pace the yard.
Digs: "LP1, you're going to the Barnstable Air Field, ten minutes east of you."
Danny: "Got it, Digs. I know where it is."
Digs: "Blackhawk will meet you; they've agreed to secure the bikes and supplies."
Danny: "Roger, Digs. We need uniforms, Digs. Rich is the only one dressed."
Digs: "On it, LP1."
We get to the air field and get the bikes in a locked storage room. Tiny and Danny get my bike in the chopper. I'm starting to feel like a pain in the ass with always needing to add to the already stressful Ops plans. I sit looking out the window.
"We'll get her back, Brother." Rich says.
I look at him. "Yeah."
He watches me; I turn back to the window. "Not one fuckin Brother sees you as a problem, Brother."
"Get the fuck out of my head. Now the Ops has to accommodate me. It's a fuckin problem when I can't just get on a bike and ride." I don't want to have this conversation with him, with fuckin any one.
He shakes his head. "It needs to be said. With the robotic you'll ride without the hand shifter. We'll do whatever it takes to keep you on Ops because you’re that fuckin good. You took a hit because you protect what's important to us. You live 'we take care of our own' without questions or problems. We're doing the same for you. It's not a fuckin problem unless you make it one."
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