Havoc

by Alexis Noelle

  “Don’t you dare. Keep it shut. I know where you sleep.” Her finger points at me.

  “I don’t know what you mean, babe. You’re as pretty as cotton candy at the state fair.”

  “I’ll cut you.” Her voice lowers and I swear if I didn’t know her better she might actually scare me.

  “Okay, ladies! Find your men and line up!” her mom calls and starts to herd the girls like cattle.

  “Are you ready, my lady?” Carl walks up and extends his arm to Chrissy.

  She glares at him and he acts as if he doesn’t see me standing here. “You go, babe. He’ll be there in a minute.”

  She gives me a confused glance before walking toward the lines of people.

  “I don’t know—” he starts but he isn’t finishing.

  “That’s about the only thing you’ve gotten right.” I take a step closer so no one else can hear me. “You don’t know shit. You don’t know her anymore. You sure as fuck don’t know me. If I need to find a secluded place to drag your prick ass and beat the shit out of you I will. You lay a hand on my girl, I’ll fucking cut yours off, got it?”

  He nods but I can tell his smart ass wants to say something to me. Lucky for him he doesn’t. I walk into the church giving Chrissy a quick kiss as I pass her.

  The ceremony is long as fuck and boring as shit. By the time it’s done I might need a couple Red Bulls just to undo the damage. Walking outside I find Chrissy standing with douchebag Carl. When he sees me coming he turns to talk to some guys standing behind them.

  “Happy that’s over, babe?”

  “Not over yet. I still have to go do pictures with everyone. I am so over this and seriously regretting coming. It’s exactly what I thought it would be. An entire weekend of hearing why what I’m doing with my life isn’t right and what I should do to make myself happy.” She shrugs and this is one of the few times I feel like she’s actually opening up to me. Her eyes are glassy and I can tell how much all of this is bothering her.

  I grasp her chin. “Hey.” She looks up at me. “You happy? With me? With your life?” She nods. “Then that’s all that fucking matters.” I kiss her on the lips. “I’ll be here ready to make a getaway whenever you say the word. “

  “Thanks, babe.” Her arms wrap around me as much as they can with the width of this dress.

  “Christina!” her mother calls from the limo.

  “Can I say the word now?” she whines.

  “I wish.”

  She turns and walks toward the limo. Her mother stares at me as if I just defiled her daughter in front of her. I can’t wait to get the fuck out of here.

  The reception is at a hall and the valets insist on parking my truck which annoys the shit out of me. Walking in everything is lit up and dripping in money. A large bar lines one of the walls while endless tables line the other with appetizers.

  I walk around taking everything in there is; sushi, lobster, fresh fish, mini filet mignon, and about a hundred other options. If this is the cocktail hour, what are they going to serve for dinner? As much as I want to eat I keep watching the door for Chrissy. I know she isn’t comfortable and I really just wanted to be there with her. It’s clear her family makes her feel like she isn’t good enough, which is bullshit.

  An hour passes and I’m really done with being here. Everyone has their damn head up their asses and I’ve spent the last half hour playing poker on my damn phone just to pass the time. The big doors open and people start to file in. That must mean they are getting close and want everyone to sit down. Instead of going in I decide to go outside and wait for my girl.

  The cars pull up and the bride and groom are the first out. Her dress is so tight I can’t believe it hasn’t ripped yet. She could be beautiful if she didn’t look at you as if you’re the shit she stepped on yesterday. More cars pull up and the Pepto-Bismol bottles start to get out. Chrissy sees me and a relieved smile crosses her face. Her mother gets out immediately scowling at my presence.

  “Hey, how was everything?”

  “Just what I expected,” she says with a smile but I can see irritation behind it.

  “There’s a really big bar inside,” I whisper in her ear.

  “Why are you not holding a drink for me then?” She laughs.

  “Excuse me,” her mother interrupts. “Carl is waiting for you dear.”

  “Last thing I need to do then I’m all yours. I have to get introduced.” She gives me a pained look then walks off.

  “I don’t know what your intentions are young man, but I hope you don’t think this is more than a fling.” She nods toward Chrissy and Carl. “She belongs with someone like him. Someone with standing, money, class, who can take care of her. She may be going through a wild phase but she’ll come to her senses.”

  “This isn’t a phase for her. If you would get your head out of your ass long enough to pay attention, you’d see that. This is who she is. She is free, giving, caring, passionate, and crazy. I love every inch of that girl and when she’s around you, all you do is try and dim the light inside of her. She may not be a damn robot like the rest of you, but that’s the best thing about her. She is unapologetically herself. And I fucking love her for it.”

  Her mother’s eyes are wide and her mouth is open as I walk away before I say anything else. I can’t take hearing her talk about Chrissy like there’s something wrong with her, because there isn’t. She’s fucking perfect and they just don’t see it.

  I do.

  I’ll make sure she knows it too.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chrissy

  “Just the thought of you around,

  Gets my head spinning in circles

  Just the way you say my name

  Gets my heart turning in circles” - Jana Kramer

  Waking up in my apartment with Rock feels so right. I look over at him sleeping and all the emotions swirling inside of me these past few days come bubbling up. I’ve been fighting my feelings for him because of the fear that he might hurt me.

  My mom came up to me during the wedding spouting off about how he was disrespectful and how dare I choose him. How dare he say he loved me to her. That’s the part I haven’t been able to shake. He told her he loved me.

  Did he do it to shut her up or to prove something?

  Is it really the way he feels?

  If it is then why hasn’t he said anything to me?

  Probably because he’s scared I’ll bolt.

  He makes me feel safe and cared for, like I’m enough without changing myself for him, and that’s something I’ve never had. It’s actually all I wanted when I was growing. Just someone to say that I was good enough. Not that I’d be great with this hair, or this dress. Just me, the way I was.

  He sees that, and he said he loves me.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” His one eye is open and watching me.

  Crap, I’m caught.

  Should I bring it up?

  “Do you really love me?” Smooth Chris, maybe you could have worked your way up to it.

  My question seems to take him off guard. “You asking hoping for a certain answer?” I gnaw on my lip as he makes me wait for the answer. “I do. As crazy as you make me, I fucking love you. Not the person they want you to be, not the person you think I need you to be. I love you for some reason.”

  I’m frozen. I don’t know how to respond. He just said everything I’ve been wanting to hear. I know how I feel about him but I’m not sure how to put it into words. How to say everything so all these thoughts swirling make actual sense. “I never wanted this, at least I didn’t think I did. I always thought it was easier not getting attached because it meant never getting hurt. You’re the first person I’ve ever given the chance to hurt me and I hope you know how much that means.” I take a deep breath. “I haven’t said these words to someone in years, not even my parents because I’m not sure how much I would mean it, and I haven’t heard it from them since I was a kid. As much as the thought of you, the thought of this scare
s me, I’m in. I love you. I think a part of me has for a while. That’s why I pushed you away. I saw the way you were and I knew you could be someone who could change me.”

  He pulls me close to him and gives me a kiss. “Been waiting for you to be in a place where I could say that shit to you.”

  “I still don’t know how ready I was to hear it.” I laugh.

  Rock leans over me pulling me close to him, then the sound of my ringing phone kills our mood.

  I lean over checking it. “Crap, it’s work.” I sit up needing to disconnect from him so I can think straight. “Hello?”

  “Chrissy, there is an incident at the Dean house and I need you to get there ASAP,” Sharon says and she seems as awake as me right now.

  “Okay, no problem. I’ll head over there now and see what’s going on.” I hang up and get out of bed. “I need to go to one of my family’s houses. You gonna be here when I get back?”

  “I’ll probably head down to the clubhouse and catch up on what I missed the past couple days. Since when do you work on a Sunday?”

  “I don’t usually, but if there is an issue at the house we need to come as the social workers.” I pull on a shirt and search for a clean pair of dress pants.

  “Want me to come?”

  “No, sorry, you missed ‘take your biker to work’ day. Maybe next year.” His eyes narrow at me. “Don’t look at me like that, you know you love it. I’ll call you when I’m done.” Leaning down I give him a kiss before grabbing my things and heading out of the apartment.

  ***

  Pulling up I see a police car sitting outside of the house.

  Shit.

  I walk up the steps and immediately see Amy at the door. “Miss Chrissy!” She opens the door for me and I see a nasty toking burn on her arm. I’m going to guess this is why I’m here.

  Walking into the house I see Joe and the officers sitting on the couches in the living room. “Hi, Christina Evanson, I’m the Dean’s social worker. I shake the officers’ hands.

  “It’s really nothing. I was just telling the officers that it was all an accident. I had been boiling pasta and when I was carrying the pot to the sink Amy ran across the kitchen and some of it spilled over the side of the pot and got her on the arm. I always tell them about running in the house.” Mr. Dean looks over at me and I feel like he’s telling the truth. I’ve never had any issue with this family and I was just about to move them to having their visits further apart because they’re always good whenever I come here.

  “Apparently a neighbor saw the girl’s arm and when she told her that her daddy did it, she called us,” the officer relays to me and now I get it. Amy is little and probably didn’t think saying the whole situation was a big deal.

  Normally it wouldn’t be.

  “Okay, well, if you gentlemen want I can write up the report for this and forward it to you so you can file one.” Offering to do paperwork will always get you a friend in law enforcement.

  “That would be great ma’am.” The officers get up giving me a quick nod and then leave.

  “It really was an accident.” Joe stands up and gives Amy a hug.

  “I believe that, I really do. We just need to be very careful right now. Too many accidents in a row can look like a pattern and we don’t want to go into that territory. I’ll write up a report for you.” I bend down in front of Amy. “And you little miss need to stop running in the house, especially the kitchen.”

  “Okay, Miss Chrissy.” She gives me a hug.

  I leave the house thankful that this was an accident and not some horrible incident that I had to walk in on. I’ve had those calls where you get to the house and you can smell the blood from the sidewalk. It’s terrible, what’s even worse are the kids stuck in those situations.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rock

  “Not everybody understands

  How we make it

  Hold it together when

  We feel like breaking

  Not everybody knows

  What we're made of but

  Everybody we know does” - Chase Rice

  Pres called church because the runs have still been getting jacked and this time Wrench got his leg fucked up. The gavel bangs and silence immediately follows.

  “These assholes are getting more aggressive. They aren’t just going after shipments anymore, they’re coming after us. We will continue changing routes for current customers and until we figure this shit our we take no new runs.”

  He looks around the room as most of us are nodding.

  “This club is going on lockdown. That means get your old ladies, your kids, anyone who belongs to the club, bring them here. No one leaves without a brother or a prospect. No one rides alone. I will not risk these fuckers getting to anyone we care about.” The gavel bangs. “Get the fuck out of here and take care of your business.”

  I can’t wait to explain this shit to Chrissy. My phone buzzes and I look down, speak of the devil. “I was just about to call you. I need you to come to the club.”

  “Sure, everything okay?” Her voice shakes a little with worry.

  “Everything’s good right now. I’ll explain when you get here.” I hang up and head into the main room. Megan and Tracker are there and her bump is starting to show a bit. “How you feeling?”

  Tracker’s eyes go wide and he shakes his head.

  Megan sneers at me. “You would ask that.” She walks away and I have no idea what the fuck I did.

  “What the hell was that, brother?”

  He shakes his head. “She’s legit fucking crazy. Anytime she gets asked how she’s feeling she loses it. She says she feels like shit but you can’t tell people that so she just wants everyone to shut the fuck up and stop asking.”

  “Damn, you got your hands full.”

  He takes a swig of his beer. “Don’t I know it. This might be our only kid cause I don’t know if I could handle her being pregnant again.”

  We laugh and when the door opens Chrissy walks in.

  “Have fun telling her about the lockdown.” He laughs as he walks away.

  At least my chick isn’t pregnant and fucking crazy. She’s just crazy. “Hey, babe.” I pull her to me giving her a kiss. “How was the house visit you had to make?”

  “All good. Just a misunderstanding.” She looks around. “Is there a party or something today. I feel like there aren’t normally as many old ladies and kids here.”

  “Not exactly. Let’s go to my room.” I take her hand, knowing she won’t be happy about this, and wanting to avoid her causing a scene. “So, we have a lockdown going on right now.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “That means that we bring our girls, kids, and family to the club because there is a safety risk. You guys stay in the clubhouse unless you’re with a brother or a prospect. Brothers are also not allowed to ride alone to keep safe too.” I sit down on the bed exhausted even thinking about all of this stuff.

  “So, what the hell am I supposed to do for work? It’s nice that most of the old ladies don’t work or work for the club but I don’t. And before you even say it, I like my job, so don’t even go there.” Her voice is loud and a huge part of me just wants to tune her out right now.

  My hands scrub my face. “I get that it sucks babe, I do, but it’s really for your own good. We don’t know what’s going to happen and this is really a last resort but it’s happening now.”

  “Well what the hell is this big thing that we’re all hiding from?”

  I brace myself for impact. “I can’t tell you.”

  She starts going off and I swear to God I’m trying to pay attention but I just can’t. I get that she’s pissed, I told her shit like this would happen. There would be things I couldn’t tell her. This is one of those things.

  “This is just really frustrating for me!” She crosses her arms as she looks at me. “Are you even listening?”

  “Yes, I am. I get that you’re frustrated, I really do.
” Tip I learned from my dad. If a chick is going on you listen to the last sentence and repeat it, then they think you were listening to the whole speech. “I tried to warn you about this in the beginning. There are some things that are club business that you just can’t know. None of the girls do. You just need to trust that we have your best interest at heart and we are doing what we are to keep you safe.” I stand up taking her in my arms. “I love you and I don’t want anything to happen to you. This right now is how we prevent that.” I pull her close and press my lips to hers hoping if I kiss her she’ll just give up and stop arguing with me.

  “I hate this shit, but I guess it’s what I agreed to when I said yes.” She groans. “I get to pick who comes with me, if it can’t be you.” Her finger points at me and I laugh.

  “If I’m honest, babe, you’ll get a prospect to leave the clubhouse with. The brothers will be on runs and watching the clubhouse. We won’t be allowed to leave like that. Pres gives the orders as to where we all need to be and I can guarantee you he isn’t gonna have me on babysitting duty.” I regret what I say as soon as it leaves my mouth.

  “Babysitting?” She arches an eyebrow at me.

  “Now you know damn well that’s not what I meant. It’s just what we call it.” I’m really not helping my case and I need to quit while I’m behind.

  “I’ll play this dumb little lockdown game but you need to know I’m pissed as hell about it and you owe me big time.” She pokes me in the chest and I can’t help but laugh.

  It’s not the best circumstance but we will definitely make the best of it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chrissy

  “If I could, then I would,

  I'll go wherever you will go

  Way up high or down low,

  I'll go wherever you will go” - The Calling

  The lockdown has been in effect for a few days now and I’m about to lose my mind. There are screaming kids all over the damn place. Rock got sent on a run and I’m worried, especially because I know something big has to be going on the way everyone is acting. It’s almost like every guy in here has one eye on the door, waiting for something to come charging through. Anyone who goes near the door is given the third degree. I tried to step out for some air yesterday and you would have thought that I had asked for the club secrets.