by Cilla Lee
“Good sit your bony ass down”
“Colt” Niya says
“What?”
“Don't say that to a teenage girl”
“What?”
“That she has a bony ass” Niya says and I hold in my smile
“Why not she does” she rolls her eyes at him
“Sit down Zoey ignore him” I sit across from her and I slide the letter across the table
“What's this?” she says and I look at the letter mom had written, she'd written both of us a letter I haven’t read mine yet the loss of her is still fresh and I'm just not ready, not yet anyway
“It's a letter from mom” I see her smile drop and she looks at the letter as if it going to bite her or something, I slide it closer to her and she just stares at it
“It's from mom” she asks I nod my head
“Yeah she wrote both of us one”
“What was in yours?”
“I don't know I haven’t read it yet” she looks at me than the letter again I think she's going to grab the letter but she grabs my hand instead giving it a squeeze, tears slide down her cheek.
“Zoey” she says
“It's ok Niya, I'm ok I'm just not ready yet but this is for you, she wanted to make sure you got it she made me promise if I ever found you to give it to you” I watch as she reaches for the letter with a shaky hand, she stares at it for so long when I hear Colt
“Baby you ok” she looks up at him
“I'm not ready to say goodbye Colt, she bursts into tears and he grabs her and picks her up and sits in the seat she was sitting at and he hugs her tight, I feel like an intruder watching them (should I give them privacy)
“Then don't read it baby not if you’re not ready” Colt tells her and he leans in and kisses her and hold her tight in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-One
Colt
We eat lunch and Niya and Zoey talk she seems like a good kid Niya had went to the High school to enroll Zoey in already but we still haven’t told her about the club yet we'd asked the Social Worker not to mention it so we could explain it, it was family business and we didn't need any pencil pushing nosy bastard in our business so we were going to tell her at lunch until she bought out the letter and that through a spanner in the works
“So, Colt what do you do” she asks me
“I'm a mechanic”
“Oh really, I love cars” that shocks me she doesn’t look like that sort of girl
“Oh yeah”
“Yeah nothing like getting your hands dirty pulling apart an engine” she says
“You've pulled apart an engine”
“Yes, why cause I'm a girl I don't know how to do what a guy can” (definitely Niya's sister) the flash back to sitting in the doctor’s office with Niya yelling at me about being the twenty first century comes to mine and I laugh
“No, I'm not saying that it's just you don't look the type that's all”
“There’s a type” both girls look at me
“Well yeah you know there all butch and manly and they don't look like you” I point at her (fuckin’ stop talkin’ dickhead)
“What does that mean they don't look like me? I have you know that in shop class I help my teacher strip down his 350 Chevy replace the crank shaft give it new pistons and install twin four-barrel hollies”
“Fuck that's cool” I have to give the girl props she knows her shit
“Niya what do you do”
“I work in a tattoo parlor”
“Shut up are you like a tattoo artist or something” Niya laughs shakin' her head
“No, I only work at the reception desk”
“Oh, are the tattoo artist cute” she asks a little to enthusiastically
“You better not be fuckin' lookin” I tell Niya, but she rolls her eyes at me
“Colt shut up, no Zoey there like brothers to me and they are Colt’s Brothers so no I don't look” she turns and looks at me
“Your Brothers are tattoo artists” she asks a little surprised
“Not by blood”
“What does that mean?” Niya cuts in
“Colt is in the Devils Soldiers mc Zoey” she looks me up and down frownin'
“You’re in a motorcycle club” I nod my head
“Do you ride a bike” I nod my head again
“But aren’t you, supposed to wear a leather jacket or something” I laugh at least she knows somethin'
“Yeah kiddo I do and so does your sister” she looks at Niya confused
“You’re a member to” Niya and I laugh
“No only Colt is”
“But you wear a jacket as well” she asks her
“It’s called a Cut and I wear a different sort of Cut than Colt”
“Why?”
“Because I'm not in the club, I'm a part of the club”
“I don't understand if your married aren't you in the club too”
“Sort of, in the club I wear a Property Jacket”
“A Property Jacket”
“Yes, in the club I belong to Colt”
“Like he owns you” we both laugh as her confusion shows on her face
“No kid I don't own Niya, it's so everyone in the club knows she and I are together and to keep their hands off of her”
“Isn't that what a wedding ring is for”
“Not everyone wants to get married like your sister and I but in the club, she's my property and they know not to touch her”
“Will they touch me if I go there”
“No, they won't”
“I'm not sure I want to ever go to your club”
“It's not that bad” I tell her not wanting her to be scared of the guys
“I was terrified when I went there for the first time” Niya tells her
“Then why did you go?”
“I had to pay off dad's debt that he owed the club” she frowns looking confused
“So, you worked there”
“Sort of”
“What does that mean, sort of?”
“Zoey our father was a piece of shit, I won't tell you everything but the Devils Soldiers saved me in more ways than one. There my family now like you honey, I owed them my life and I was happy to be there and you will love all of the guys. There like the Uncles and brothers I never had and Maggie's and Razor are the parents that I never had”
“Razor” Zoey says and she looks at me
“He's our President”
“Oh, he sounds scary with a name like Razor”
“He's a big teddy bear” Niya says
“Only to you and Maggie baby” I say
“Oh, shut up Colt, look the guys can be a bite intimidating at first when you meet them, but there all softies at heart you'll see”
“Ok if you say so” we sit quietly when Zoey talks again
“What's with the hole out backyard”
“Oh, Colt’s putting in a pool for us”
“A pool” Niya nods her head smilin'
“Do you like swimming” Niya asks her
“I love it”
“Me to” The sound of a bike coming up the drive has us turning and I get up
“Yo mother fucker what do you want” I ask Stryker as he gets off his bike
“Can I not just come and see my friend”
“Come on” he follows me into the house and stops
“Fuck me” he says and I turn I look at him and he's staring at Zoey
“Don't fuckin' stare dickhead” I tell him
“Sorry” he goes over to Niya and kisses her on the cheek
“Hay Niya girl”
“Hay Stryker I want you to meet Zoey, Zoey this is Colt’s best friend Stryker”
“Hi” she says blushin’
“Fuck you two could be twins” he says and the girls look at each other, Zoey blushes even more. The fucker always has that effect on chicks but not Niya, I don't think I've ever seen her blush around Stryker thank god, I'd hate to have to kill my best friend.
“So, what brings you here Stryker” Niya asks him
“Nothing” he says
“How's Rochelle” Niya asks and he grumbles
“Who’s Rochelle?” Zoey asks Niya
“She's Stryker's girlfriend”
“She's not my girlfriend” he says sounding frustrated
“Oh, since when”
“Since always we hooked up but she wanted more”
“If you don't like her than why are you with her” I see Stryker open his mouth the fucker has no filter
“Don't even motherfucker she's too young for your explanation” the fucker smiles
“I was ganna say the friendship has run its course” he gives me the finger
“So, you just broke up with her” Niya asks
“Yeah I could see she wanted me to make her my Old Lady and that is never happening she was just......”
“Don't fuckhead” I warn him and he laughs
“Old Lady what's that?” Zoey asks curiously
“It just means his wife or mc wife”
“There’s a difference”
“Yeah little lady there is you see your gorgeous sister here is married to that dumb motherfucker legally and she's his old lady but you can also call a girlfriend your Old Lady if you know you want to spend the rest of your life with her but not be married legally but in the mc world if she's your Old Lady than no-one can touch her”
“And she wears a Property jacket like Niya”
“Exactly smart girl” he taps his head
“And you don't want to spent the rest of your life with your girlfriend”
“Fuck no” I frown at Stryker lookin' a little confused
“Ok enough of the mc world one O one” I say
“What sort of bike do you ride Stryker?” Zoey asks him
“We all ride Harley's darlin'”
“Oh, can I see it” she asks a little excitement in her voice
“It's out the front” I watch her get up and walk towards the front door
“Zoey” Stryker yells
“Yeah” she says turnin' back to us
“Don't touch it darlin' just look” I see her smile fade, maybe I'll take her for a ride later
Chapter Twenty-Two
Niya
Colt had taken Zoey to work with him this morning after she'd seen Stryker's bike yesterday she was full of questions and the guys had said she should go to work with them the next day she was so excited and she was even up before Colt this morning.
“You ready kiddo”
“Yeah I can't wait” she looked like a kid in a candy store
“Thought we'd take my bike”
“Really” she jumped up and down with excitement. I watched as Colt handed her his helmet
“Here you go Zoey you can use my helmet” she put it on as Colt started his bike, I was so nervous about letting her get on. I know Colt’s a great rider but I felt so uncomfortable
“Baby you ok” I nod my head as she got on the back and held onto him and I felt a bit jealous with my belly so big I couldn't ride or hug Colt like that but Zoey looked so excited
“I'm fine please be careful and I'll come over at lunch” I tell them both and Colt nods his head but looks worried
“Baby” he says
“I'll get Maggie to drive Colt”
“Ok see ya at lunch baby” I bend down and kiss him and smile at Zoey who has the biggest grin on her face, I smile at her happy that she feels comfortable enough with Colt to get on the back of his bike and spend the day with him. By midmorning I'd cleaned the house again my doctor telling me I'm nesting everything was ready now we just had to meet our little man
(knock knock)
“Hay girl you there, Chelsea comes walking into the kitchen and sits at the table with me. After I cleaned the house I sat and just stared at the letter my mom wrote still too scared to open it. I put it in my pocket as Chelsea walked in I wasn't ready for questions about it yet.
“So how is your sister” she asks me
“She's really great Chels you’re going to love her”
“So, where is she?” she looks around
“She went to work with Colt”
“What?”
“She loves cars and motorbikes so she went to work at the garage for the day”
“Is that a good thing that she likes Colt” she says sounding a little skeptical
“Yeah, they get on great couldn't stop talking about cars and engines and pistons or calibrators or springs I don't know, they were talking about cars last night and Stryker was here and the three of them got on so well” she frowns at me
“Did you feel left out”
“Oh god no, nothing like that I'm happy that she gets on well with the guys. I'm just getting a bit nervous about the baby coming and if I'm going to be a good mom just those sort of things”
“So, you’re ok with Zoey spending time with Colt” she raises one of her eyebrows at me and I smile. I see the look on her face like maybe Zoey has a crush on Colt or something
“No, it's not like that, when you meet her you'll see what I mean”
“So, when can I meet her”
“How about now, we can head over and get some lunch with them”
“Cool I'm in”
*
As we drive over I watch the people pass by and wonder if they've lost anyone lately, my mom’s letter is all I've really been able to think about since Zoey gave it to me yesterday “Hay baby I thought Maggie was ganna bring you”
“Chelsea came over and it was just easier plus she wants to meet Zoey where is she”
“Over there” he points to a car with the hood up and I can see her legs dangling over the side of the car, she's standing on the tips of her toes leaning right into the engine
“What's she doing?” I ask him
“Helping Tucker change a starter motor”
“Can she do that?” I look at Colt he nods his head
“Baby your sister’s great, knows everything about an engine”
“Oh, can you guys stop for lunch” I ask not wanting to bother them if there busy
“For you baby always” he kisses my lips and we walk into the garage to Zoey and Tucker
“Hay Zoey” I call out and she shimmies to the floor
“Hay Niya I'm helping Tucker with the starter motor”
“Cool Zoey this here is my friend Chelsea” she goes to shake Chelsea's hand and stops
“Oh, sorry don't want to get you dirty, elbow shake” They both touch elbows
“Nice to meet you Chelsea” Zoey says smiling
“You like cars huh”
“No” she shakes her head “I love them” Chelsea smiles
“Next time I buy a car you can be my secret weapon” Chelsea puts her arm over Zoey's shoulders
“I can do that” Zoey says with a big smile
“So, lunch” I ask
“Fuck yeah baby I'm starvin'” Colt says hugging me
“Tucker you Tank and Stryker coming” Tucker stands up and then I notice Tank and Stryker on the other side of the car
“Yep I could eat” Stryker says
“Great how about The Smokin’ Grill” I ask them all and they nod
“Sounds good Niya girl how about we meet you there” Tucker says
“Come on squeak” she rolls her eyes but follows him out to his bike with the biggest smile on her face, after they walk out Chelsea says
“Wow” I turn and look at her
“Wow”
“Niya if you weren’t pregnant I wouldn't know who was who that's some real freaky shit”
“What is?”
“She's literally your twin”