“We are too honey,” Alice said.
The group laughed and then Eli said, “I’m going to take Lexi for a tour.”
The two headed into the warehouse portion of the Tavern. Eli showed Lexi the meeting room where “church” was held. He explained how club business worked and Lexi was surprised that it wasn’t much different from a corporation, just on a smaller scale.
She looked around the warehouse, at the stacks of boxes ranging from computers and televisions to cigarettes and liquor.
“Looks like you’ve got a wide array of items the club pushes through,” Lexi said.
“Yes, we do. And I’m sure you’re aware that some of this isn’t legal,” Eli said.
“Oh yes, but I look at it this way. Corporate America likes to stick it to the little man, so if you guys can stick it to them, however small, I’ll cheer you on. The only thing I can’t condone is drugs.”
“We don’t run drugs darlin,” Eli said as he put a hand on one of the boxes. “We want to keep our town free of drug runners, but there are other clubs that don’t see it that way and look at the city of Carmel as unclaimed territory in the drug trade. This is the part of club activity that isn’t pretty, and in fact can be deadly.”
Lexi understood. She wasn’t uninformed where motorcycle clubs were concerned and she knew the life wasn’t for the faint of heart. She was willing to give it a chance, especially if Eli wanted her to. Her life in corporate America was slowly killing her, and she wanted to feel alive again. Here was a perfect opportunity.
Eli too was adrift in his life. His mother died when he was young and Pop and the club was his only family. But with Big Daddy slowly dying before his eyes, and now Krank’s death, he was afraid things were spiraling out of his control. Lexi, this woman he just met, seemed like the only anchor he had left. How could someone he barely know make him feel grounded? He wasn’t sure, but he liked it and didn’t want to scare her off.
Lexi was the type to take charge and she was becoming more aroused the longer she was alone with Eli. They continued to talk until there was nothing left to say. Lexi moved closer to Eli, her hands touching his chest. She could feel the hard abs underneath the thin fabric of his shirt and it sent trails of desire through her body. Eli grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, his lips meeting hers.
Lexi opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to enter and explore. She felt light in his strong arms and the more he devoured her with his kisses, the more aroused she became. His lips left hers and traveled down her neck and chest. He started to unbutton her blouse as his lips touched the tops of her breasts, above her bra.
Lexi was in the throes of ecstasy. It had been a long time since she felt this way, and maybe never. Eli brought shock waves of pleasure that ran throughout her body. She was all his for the taking.
Eli loved kissing her soft skin. He’d had many women, but Lexi was different. She was smart and strong, yet also tender and or so gorgeous. His manhood stood erect and all he wanted at that moment was to rip her clothes off and have her. But he took his time. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. Hard to know what if any misconceptions she had of the biker crowd, but he didn’t want to step into any of them, especially since he was so infatuated with her.
Suddenly shots rang out, accompanied by screams and hollers. Eli grabbed Lexi and pushed her into one of the offices. He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a pistol.
“Stay here and lock the door behind me,” Eli said as he ran out and shut the door.
Lexi did as she was told, hurriedly buttoning her blouse.
Eli ran into the Tavern where he could hear more shouting and screams. Customers were under tables while it appeared the club members had relocated outside. Eli ran towards the front door and into a mess.
The Hell Hounds had driven to the Tavern on motorcycles and a couple of SUV’s. One of their pickup trucks parked right in front of the bar. In the bed of the truck sat DD, looking busted up with streaks of blood on his face and down his shirt. One of the Hounds had a gun to the back of his head while two others stood in front of the truck with guns drawn. The rest of the gang was there for support. From one of the SUV’s stepped the President of the Hell Hounds, Zane.
Zane was younger than Eli, born of mixed parents, mother white, and father black. In his formative years, he endured the mockery only interracial children succumb to in racial cities. When his family moved to Marshall, a more of a melting pot community, Zane still held the onto past cruelties dealt to him in his youth. His father left his mother to raise four children. Zane being the youngest of the four didn’t conform to his school or his mother’s pleas of staying out of trouble. Instead, he rose through the ranks of the Hell Hounds, the only group who accepted him for who he was.
The rest of the Hounds had much of the same background as Zane. Outcasts for one reason or another. Yet they built their club to be one of the most formidable in the region. They made good money dealing drugs and Carmel was a city not yet undertaken. While Zane and his crew didn’t partake of the drugs themselves, they didn’t understand why it was a crime for them to sell to people who wanted them. Zane knew there was a market in Carmel, and he wanted it. He didn’t give a flying fuck about the KOBMC and their stolen electronics trade. Let them have it. But don’t keep the Hounds from getting a sizable cut from the area as well.
“What the fuck is going on Zane,” Eli yelled. “What’s the deal with DD?”
“Your boy came into our club and started shooting up the place. So I’m asking you Eli, what the FUCK IS going on?” Zane asked.
Eli heard grumbling coming from his crew so he turned around and said, “Everybody just calm down. Let’s put the guns away and talk about this.”
He knew his crew was hot from Krank’s death and the belief the Hounds had something to do with it. If just one let loose, it could be mayhem. Eli started by placing his pistol into the back of his pants. On Zane’s order, the Hounds lowered their weapons.
“You’re lucky he’s not dead after coming into our place and shooting it up.” Zane said. “I could tell he was drunk so it didn’t take much to take him down. Of course we had to teach him a lesson.”
Eli looked at DD. Yep, they taught him good. His nose was broke for sure and probably a couple of lost teeth, maybe even some cracked ribs, but Zane was right…he was probably lucky to be alive.
“He was yelling shit about the Hounds killing Krank too. What the hell? We heard the old motherfucker died from a heart attack or something,” Zane said. “I know I’m gifted, but I doubt I could curse him with a bad ticker.”
There it was, the proof Eli needed. Not that the rest of the club would believe it, but Eli knew if Zane had killed Krank, he would have opted to it. And why keep DD alive as well if the Hounds killed Krank. Nope, it wasn’t coming together.
“We found Krank at the Madison Forestry, strung to a tree, dead. The map leading us there along with a poster tied around his neck indicated it was the Hounds, although it didn’t come right out and say so…which is your MO,” Eli said. “We cooked up the story about Krank dying from natural causes to fish out the truth. Seems like some of my crew have already come to their own conclusions despite me telling them to stand down.”
“Listen,” Zane said. “I don’t give a shit about your club or your VP hanging from a tree. If we’d done it, you’d know…there wouldn’t be any guessing about it. But we didn’t. So it seems like you got someone else on your ass.”
“So do you Zane,” Eli replied. “Whoever did this wanted us to think it was the Hounds.”
“Then why not just name us in the map or poster?” Zane asked. “Why be all mysterious?”
“I don’t know. Maybe whoever did it wasn’t sure how you left your calling card. Most clubs like to lie low, unlike yours.”
Zane let out a humph. He knew what Eli said made sense, but he wasn’t ready to work with the KOBMC to find out what was going on.
“It’s your club’s problem, not mi
ne. Keep your boys in line or you’ll be digging more than one grave,” Zane replied. He nodded to one of his guys, who knocked DD out of the truck bed where he collapsed on the ground. Several club members ran over to help him up as the Hounds took off in a roar of dust.
Chapter Seven
Lexi didn’t wait long inside the office. When she didn’t hear any more gunshots or yelling, she decided to venture out and see what was going on. It wasn’t her style to simply hide away from the action. Although she’d never been in the middle of a gunfight, she wasn’t about to cower in fear.
She slipped quietly out the office door into the warehouse. Lexi kept hunched down as she walked to the door leading into the Tavern. She didn’t know why she walked that way, just seemed like a good idea. She peeked into the Tavern, noticing people were coming out from under tables and sitting back down in their chairs or looking out the front entrance.
Alice motioned for Lexi to come to her table. “Are you okay?” Lexi asked Alice.
“Oh yeah, just your usual club antics. It wouldn’t be a normal weekend if someone didn’t get their head bashed in,” Alice answered.
“Sounds like more than that with the gunfire.” Lexi remarked.
“That’s the Hell Hounds. They always have to make an entrance.”
Alice made light of it, but Lexi could see the worried look in her eyes. Blaze was out there along with Eli and the rest of the club. All they could do was hope whatever was going on would end without any bloodshed, provided there hadn’t been some already.
Suddenly the bar patrons heard the roar of vehicles and motorcycles taking off. A few of the customers watching from the door held it open as a couple of the prospects helped DD into the Tavern.
“Take him to one of the offices in the warehouse and get him cleaned up,” Eli said. “Alice, can you take a look at him.” Alice use to be a nurse, but since she became an old lady she performed many other duties, like removing bullets and suturing.
“Okay--Blaze get me my bag,” she said as she walked behind the men helping DD.
Eli walked over to Lexi. “I’m so sorry this happened. I hope it didn’t frighten you too much.”
He looked so concerned that it made Lexi’s heart melt. “I can’t say it didn’t startle me. But scare me away? Not hardly.”
Eli looked relieved. “I want to explain to you what happened tonight. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you and have secrets.”
He guided her over to a table where he explained what really happened to Krank and the bad blood with the Hell Hounds. Lexi understood that he had to follow through with the lie to ensure they found out if it was actually the Hounds behind the murder. Eli also explained how close his father and Krank had been and how he was afraid it would affect Big Daddy’s health. Lexi could tell Eli had so much on his mind and her heart ached for him.
“I hate to ask this, but would you mind if Alice took you home when she gets done with DD? I’ve got to have a church meeting with the club before this escalates out of control.”
“No, of course not,” Lexi replied. “I totally understand.”
“I wish our evening had ended differently,” he said with a soft smile.
“Me too,” Lexi said as she placed her hands on his face.
He kissed her softly.
“I’ll call you tomorrow. I’d like you to meet Pop. I think he’d really like you.”
“Sounds good to me,” Lexi answered.
She watched him walk away and felt a twinge in her stomach. She was falling hard and fast for this bad boy and his way of life. But she had no idea there was a secret that could rip Eli apart.
****
The club members joined Eli in the church meeting room along with DD. Alice had cleaned DD’s wounds and bandaged his ribs. One eye was swollen shut and he held an ice pack to his puffy face.
“This is bullshit,” said Laser. “Are we just going to sit here while the Hounds keep pounding us?”
“You heard what they said, it wasn’t them,” Eli answered. “Besides, DD took it upon himself to shoot up their club. If one of them had done that here he’d be in a body bag.”
“Oh so I’m supposed to be grateful they didn’t kill me?” DD asked. The pain had sobered him up.
“Yes you are! That was a bullshit move DD. What the hell? I told everyone to stand down until we knew for sure who killed Krank.” Eli was frustrated and it showed in his voice.
“Krank’s death has been hard on all of us, but we can’t let this thing get out of control. If I can’t trust my men to do as I say why am I even here?”
“Eli’s right,” Blaze said. “We’ll put feelers out tomorrow. Try and see if anyone else has a beef with the club or maybe even Krank in particular.”
Eli adjourned the meeting when it felt like the club had settled down. DD went back to one of the offices with a bed and crashed. Eli had the prospects close the Tavern as he made his way home. He looked in on Big Daddy who was asleep. His ratcheted breathing brought tears to Eli’s eyes. He knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be saying goodbye to him as well. To lose two men he looked up to all of his life and so close together would be devastating. His mind immediately turned to Lexi. He felt a deep burning desire in the pit of his stomach that he’d never felt before. Was this how love felt? As he lay down in his bed, he wanted to find out.
****
Lexi lay in her own bed reflecting on the day and how everything played out. It was definitely not her normal boring day of managing The Copper Door, that’s for sure. One tiny part of her was frightened by the evening’s events. She’d never been in such a situation, and the club’s illegal dealings were a far cry from her sedentary job. But there was a fire that was lit the moment she laid eyes on Eli, and she didn’t want to put that flame out, even if it meant losing everything she was use to. It’s not easy to give up a life you’ve become accustomed too, even if it’s going nowhere fast. Lexi’s heart raced and tears seeped from her eyelids. She knew if she chose this life, she’d never be able to go back to the one she had now.
What if you give it all up and Eli drops you like a stone she thought. But her instincts told her that wouldn’t happen. She never believed in love at first sight--lust, sure. However, what she felt for Eli went way beyond infatuation. It was like they were old souls, meeting one another once again. She knew how corny that sounded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.
Lexi decided to put off her decision. That was the normal Lexi, the one who didn’t look before she leaped. Old habits die hard, but she wasn’t going to be stupid. She would continue with her job and see where the road led with Eli…then she would make her decision.
Chapter Eight
The sun shone bright the next day, and rays of light filtered through the trees at the cemetery. Club members and bar patrons who knew Krank attended his burial service. Big Daddy sat in a chair that someone had brought, as he was too weak to stand. Eli said a few words as well as Blaze. Big Daddy declined to speak, his voice too low for the group to hear anyway.
Lexi stood by Alice and the other old ladies. She hadn’t known Krank, but Eli asked that she come. She didn’t want to intrude on the club’s grief, but she couldn’t say no to him.
When the service ended, Eli asked Lexi if she would accompany him to take his father home and see that he was okay until the nurse arrived. Eli had hired a nurse to come and check on his dad a few times a week, but his health was declining rapidly so he hired 24-hour care for him.
Once home, Big Daddy wanted to go to bed. He hadn’t spoken all the way home and only nodded to Lexi when Eli introduced them. His dad was in bad shape. He knew that Krank’s death was hastening his father’s death as well and it broke his heart.
He helped his father to bed and pulled the covers over him. It didn’t take long for him to drift off to sleep. Eli emerged from the bedroom looking defeated.
“I know this is all so hard for you,” Lexi said. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
Eli walked over to where she stood and took her in his arms. They hugged each other tight. It felt right, as if they had held one another before, their bodies curving into one another like a perfect fit.
A knock at the door drew them apart. The nurse was here. Eli gave her instructions and told her someone from the Tavern would bring dinner by for her and his Dad. They got on the Harley and headed for Lexi’s apartment.
****
Lexi’s apartment was modern with light grey walls, marble counter tops in the kitchen, and hardwood flooring throughout the space. Fresh flowers and couch pillows provided punches of color ranging from bright reds to glowing yellows dotting the rooms. This was Lexi, a modern chick whose taste was reflected in her surroundings. A part of her didn’t want to let go of this, but another part wanted to embrace the wildness that she had barely tasted.
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