by J. L. Drake
I heard the air shoot from his lungs and his ribs snap. The impact was so intense it killed him instantly.
I stepped back and let him slump to the ground. With a turn, I pointed to the next member in Cray’s arms. “Let’s do this.”
Seventy-three minutes later, I had killed five more members of the Stripe Backs. The two prospects dragged the bodies to a hole where they would light the men on fire and later bury them around the mountain.
“Really?” Brick pointed to the cut above my eye.
“Yeah.” I sipped a beer in the shade. I liked to be hit. It was a reminder that I could be. Cocky never got anyone shit.
“Who the fuck is our mole? You think it was the hangaround?”
I sucked back on my joint and took a moment to think. The hangaround wasn’t even at the club the night we came back. We had celebrated before I killed the other fucker who stole from me. Now he was chum at the bottom of the ocean. So, that made two, and now there was a possible third? What the hell was going on? “No, I don’t.”
Sleep didn’t come easily that night, not that it ever did. The motel was damp and smelled like gasoline, or perhaps that was me. I didn’t dare try the shower in fear I’d catch something. Tomorrow night we would be staying somewhere nicer, but for now I needed to be out of the sight of others. Motel 6 off the bypass meant we got to sleep with more protection. Cray’s crew.
In the morning, my phone buzzed and I pulled it free. The sunlight burned through the shit brown curtains, which made my head ache.
Big Joe: Loose came back last night. He took Tess out.
I slowly rose, as did my temper.
Trigger: When did she come back?
Big Joe: She didn’t.
A hiss escaped from deep inside me.
Trigger: I’ll be in touch.
My shirt blocked my view as I pounded on Brick’s door until he opened it. I threaded my arm through, and he squinted to see me. “Morning?”
“I need your phone.”
He stepped back to let me inside. It was on the table, and I tossed it at him.
“Text Tess and find out where she is.”
“Why?” His face fell and he became more awake.
“Loose came back last night and took her out. She hasn’t been back at the club.”
He yawned as he entered his password. “She probably went home.”
“Text her.”
He blinked a few times before he started to type and sank into a wicker chair. His hand hovered over the screen and he looked up. “What if it’s Loose?”
“He’s fucking stupid but not suicidal.”
“You fucked up his sister something bad.”
I licked the inside of my dry mouth. I didn’t like his tone. “She knew how it was.”
He shook his head as his phone buzzed. He held it up and showed me. “She’s at breakfast, on her way back soon.”
I slammed the door behind me.
Trigger: Let me know when she arrives.
Big Joe: Sure thing, boss.
Just as I was about to round up the guys, it buzzed one more time.
Big Joe: She wouldn’t ride on his bike.
It wasn’t until that night that we met back up with the New Orleans crew. Cray’s club had us over for a party to celebrate the bloodshed. Rock music poured from two large speakers that had been pulled outside next to the barbecue. Endless rows of ribs lined the grill, along with steak and tri-tips. Three Rottweilers guarded the entrance of the club, as well as eight prospects.
Brick, Rail, and Cooper sat around the fire with me, all silent and wondering who the fucker was who dared cross us.
“Gentlemen, please help yourselves to anything.” Cray nearly tripped over his feet as he signaled for some women to join us. Such a drunk.
A young girl, maybe seventeen, tried to settle on my lap. I pushed her aside as another moved in.
“Why so pissed?” She eased down on the stone ledge in front of me. Her brown hair brushed her legs as she crossed them. Her breasts were overinflated, but she was sexy in a fake way. “Not a talker…okay.” She nodded while she thought. “Well, you don’t seem like you want company, so why don’t I stay right here until the girls find someone?”
I nodded, liking that idea.
“What, are you gay?” a chick yelled at Brick, who flipped her the finger as she stormed off.
“There was this one time,” Rail chimed in before Brick’s beer bottle smacked him in the chest. “I just wanted to come clean,” he whispered in a fake cry.
That seemed to break the tension for the rest of us, and we got in on the joke.
“I couldn’t sit for a week.” Morgan snickered. “Best I’ve ever had.”
“Blow me,” Brick hissed.
“It’s your turn, and you weren’t very good last time,” Morgan reminded him, deadpan. “You need less teeth. Curl the lip, curl the lip.” His hands mimicked the action.
Brick’s head flopped back with a sigh, but it soon turned to laughter. “I hate you all.”
The girl across the way eyed me as she sipped from her beer bottle.
I tossed my empty into the trash and made my way to the bikes to take a leak. I found the Stripe Backs’ bikes off behind the bar and decided it was the perfect pissing hole.
I felt the demons sneakin’ up on me. They were never far away.
On my way back, the girl pushed off the side of the building. “Why don’t you come over here and show me why they call you Trigger.”
I smirked and followed her back into the shadows. She leaned against the wall and grabbed my belt, tugging it free. I grabbed her waist and held her place as I dove down to meet her lips. Her hands fell on my chest, and I pushed them away. They moved to my hips, and I fought to shove them back. She huffed and moved them to my hair, and I cursed but kept kissing her. She tasted off, and my head started to slip.
“Look at me, boy. Look deep inside and see that you are a part of me and a part of this. We are meant to do this, so quit being a pussy and taste the shit you will be selling.” He stuck the straw on the table and shoved my head to it.
I turned off the hate and sucked in deep, removing the entire line of cocaine. It hit me like a hammer to the head. A billion shades of blue flickered across my pupils as my entire body turned into liquid sand. I became one with the room and could feel the air travel from the bottom of my lungs to the tip of my tongue before it leapt off and went somewhere.
“That’s grade-A shit, boy.” He leaned over and took a hit himself. When he looked back at me, his face morphed into a skull, and a scorpion came out of the roof of his mouth. “Time for one more.”
I was eleven.
When her lips moved to my neck, I couldn’t take it. I pushed her away and chased the memory out. Fuck, I was limp. I needed him out of my friggin’ head!
“What, you want something else?” She started to get on her knees, but when her hands touched my thighs, I nearly jumped at the burn.
“Go.”
“What?”
“Go!” I shouted, and she fell back and scrambled to her feet. “Ah!” I needed to hurt something fast. I spun and everything tilted. The memories tried to surface. They clawed at my eyes and turned up the volume in my ears.
I knew Cray kept a punching bag in the barn, so I headed there and fought my demons well into the morning hours.
***
Tess
My new room was a little hard to get used to, even though the big window that looked over the courtyard was pretty, and a huge tree provided shade. The window was open, and a hot breeze fluttered the crisp, white curtains. My bed was big and grand and didn’t fit the whole bad ass biker theme on the outside, but whatever.
I had to check. I pulled the gray duvet back and ran my hand along the white sheets. My eyes closed and a blissful smile raced across my lips. They were like butter.
Thank you, Trigger.
The prospects had moved my boxes in, and now it was up to me to unpack for the second t
ime in just over a month. My shower wasn’t fixed, but at least I had a toilet and sink to myself. And Brick didn’t have to pay rent for me. Or maybe he did; I wasn’t sure who paid for what around here.
After a few hours, I had everything unpacked and sorted. My books were my main concern, but they had a place on the shelf next to my bed. I flopped on my bed, exhausted. I remembered my phone was plugged in, so I pulled it free and saw the annoying icon that glared at me. Had been for several days now. Many times, I almost deleted it, but I couldn’t.
I tapped the play button and held it to my ear.
The first six seconds were silence, then I heard it, and everything around me stopped.
“Are you sleeping with the guy who answered your phone? I don’t know what you are up to, but you best get home now. Enough of this bull. You promised me that you’d be good. You made me a lot of promises, and I hope you intend to keep them. I know I hurt you, but you have to see why I did what I did. I love—” There was a scuffling noise before I heard him speak to someone.
Then she was there. She was always there. She must have taken the phone because she shh’d him. “Who the fuck is this?”
The message ended.
I hated what that did to me, and my hand brushed over the little bumps on my wrist while I tried to push the horrible thoughts away. God, I missed Mags so much it hurt.
Pushing off the bed, I headed off to find the guys.
Peggy had been up my ass all morning long, looking for her drinks. How her liver hadn’t shriveled up yet was beyond me. Every hour she would have some member pull her into a room and bang her senseless. It was amazing a person could have that much sex and still be able to walk. She was pathetic.
Cooper worked the day shift, and I burrowed down with my face buried in my book. Twenty minutes in, and it was just getting to a good part when someone stopped in front of me.
“Well, look at that.” A man covered head to toe in tattoos pulled out a chair and sat across the table from me. If Cooper wasn’t at the bar, I might have shouted for help. He was a very big, scary guy. “Did you know most of that story is true?”
“What is?” Somehow, I found my voice.
He reached over and tapped my book. “Their story. The author did a good job of keeping to the truth.”
“You know them?” I couldn’t help but wonder who the hell I was sitting across from.
“I do.” He leaned back and held my gaze. “I worked under Cole for years. He’s a great guy. He and Savannah are very happy.”
Gah! I have a million questions, but I need to stay calm. “Worked?”
“That’s right. I later moved to another house.”
“Where?”
He smiled, and I saw a softer side of him that I would guess not many saw. “Don’t stress over the ending, okay?” He nodded at my book again, avoiding my question.
“Why would I stress?”
He laughed softly. “Let’s just say the author is known for her asshole cliffhangers.”
“Good to know. So, are you in here?”
“A bit.”
“Why only a bit?”
“I guess my story hasn’t been written yet.”
Fair enough.
“I’m Tess.”
“Mike.” He glanced over my shoulder and he moved his head as if to greet someone. He stood and looked down at me. “Nice to meet you, Tess.”
“You too.” I turned to find Gus coming up behind me. The urge to ask the questions that were on the tip of my tongue was strong, but I knew better.
“Been a while. How are you, Mike?” Gus shook his hand and motioned for him to sit at the bar.
I hopped up and hurried over to Cooper, who tucked the broom away. The last thing I wanted was to look like I was getting special treatment because the boss kissed me the other night.
“Don’t slip, Tess.” He pointed to the puddle of soap. “I need to get a towel. Damn thing won’t drain. You got them?”
“Yeah.” I started to pour Gus a drink when Mike asked for a beer.
“How’s the house?” Gus asked the giant man.
Mike rubbed his bald head before he glanced at me. “We’re good.”
“Keith?”
“He’s good too.”
I tried not to listen, I really did. But, Christ, it was like watching TMZ Live.
“All right, what’s going on?” Gus downed his drink and slid his glass over for another.
Mike ran his fingers over his wrist while he thought, and I noticed he had a troll tattoo. Not wanting to laugh at the huge man with a child’s toy slapped on his skin, I turned and started to dry the damp mugs.
“Where’s Trigger?”
“Business.”
When his head moved, it caught the light’s reflection, and I saw more of his artwork. Scales of a koi fish almost glittered. It was beautiful.
“Look, Keith wanted to repay Trigger for everything he did with Lexi.”
“That’s been squared away.”
“I know, but,” he glanced over his shoulder, “we have respect for your club, and we heard something and wanted to bring it to your attention.” Gus leaned in closer. “There’s been some talk of, ahh…” Mike cleared his throat loudly, “…of your shipment being zig-zagged.”
When Gus didn’t respond, I looked up and saw he wasn’t moving at all. He stood like a stone. His eyes were on the bar top and his fists were clenched.
Carefully, I poured his drink, which seemed to pull him from his daze.
“We picked up a package last week, and we overheard some of them talking,” the big guy continued.
“About?” His voice was haunting. He sounded much like Trigger would sound.
Mike pulled out a piece of paper. “I’m just handing over what I know. You handle the rest yourself.” He stood as he downed his beer. “Enjoy their story, Tess.”
“I will.” I waited for him to leave and touched Gus’s arm. “Everything okay?”
“What time is it?”
I leaned back and checked the clock. “Five.”
“I need to think.”
Stiffly, he moved between the stools and hobbled outside. What the hell was a zig-zag?
I found my purse and jumped up on the bar, emptying the contents in front of me. There you are. I snatched up my phone and saw three missed calls from the same unknown number, only this time there was a voicemail.
“You wanna know a secret?” Cooper beamed over at me.
I tucked my phone away. “Always.”
“When the guys are away, I like to listen to my kind of music.”
“If you say Miley, I owe Brick twenty bucks.”
“What? What the hell is Brick feeding you?”
“It gets a little intense around here, so we bet a lot.” I shrugged unapologetically.
He moved over to the stereo and connected his phone to it. Using his thumb, he scrolled through his music and waited.
“Promise you won’t tell?”
“Promise.” Mainly because I would use this against Brick and make a quick fifty.
He turned it up, and I squinted as I heard the singer.
“Ohh, turn that shit up!” Big Joe popped his head in the door and started to rock out.
Hang on here a moment.
“Chris Stapleton!” Cooper yelled in between verses. “You know him?”
I laughed and wondered what world I just dropped into. It sure wasn’t Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath.
“Yeah, I know Stapleton.” I joined in the chorus of “Nobody To Blame.”
Cooper clutched his chest, closed his eyes, and smiled the sweetest smile I’d seen on him yet. “I think I died and went to heaven.”
“Sing it, girl!” Big Joe appeared again and belted the words.
Cooper pointed to the burned-out light above me and handed me a bulb. I swiveled to my feet and carefully balanced on my six-inch heels.
“I was going to say take your shoes off, but I forget you know how to work it in those,” he
shouted just as the song changed to “Might As Well Get Stoned.”
I held the long pipe and unscrewed the bulb, handing it to him. “You’d be surprised what I’m capable of.”
My shirt rose above my skirt, and I was aware that I was showing a tad more than I wanted to.
“Damn, girl, be careful,” Loose hooted from the pool table before he tossed his cue and headed over. “You let her up there?”
“She’s fine, dude, relax.” Cooper rolled his eyes at me.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a flash of light blinded me momentarily.
“Who the hell touched my speakers?” Morgan carried his shotgun against his shoulder. “Country? Fuck, no!”
Cooper closed his eyes and cursed.
“You got a problem with my choice of music, Morgan?” I crossed my arms and towered down at him from the bar top.
His famous smile broke out. “Hey, there, Tiger. Didn’t picture ya for a country girl.”
“I like to indulge a little here and there. Spice things up a bit.”
Trigger dropped a bag at the end of the bar. Damn, I didn’t even see him come in. He looked tired and pissed.
“Jesus, warn a person, Tess. I can practically see your—” Brick held his stomach. “I need a drink.”
“Always with the dramatics,” I muttered and took Morgan’s hand. Once I was on the floor, the music switched back, and the guys moved about, ordering drinks.
“Hey.” I leaned against the bar, curious as to what mood I was going to find Trigger in. “How was the trip?”
“Long.”
“Looks like you had fun.” I pointed to his bloody knuckles.
He cleared his throat and tossed down a shot Cooper handed him. “Mom?” he asked him, which threw me as to what that had to do with anything.
“Okay at the moment.” Cooper shrugged, his playful demeanor lost. “Moved her somewhere safe.”