by Xyla Turner
“Okay, but do not say...”
I cut her off, “Yes, don’t say you didn’t warn me.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Are you on your way? I’ll get the address.”
“Be there in ten.” I hit the red end call button and pressed on the gas.
There was no speech or anything. I just wanted to let them know how Razor was doing and that he’d missed them. How successful he was and that it’d be nice if they could come over for dinner.
Well, at least something like that.
I picked up Shay because Lori was out of town at some convention.
“So the last known address for a Gerard Willis that’s in the same town his mother lives in is only twenty miles from here.”
“Great!” We cranked up the music, weaved past truckers, the Amish and their horses, and little old ladies. Shay still tried to convince me not to do it, but I was determined.
The house was an older one-story and the grounds were kept up. The grass was cut and the porch had a swinging bench on the side. There was a fresh coat of brick red paint with a yellow front door. It almost looked like something out of a storybook.
I knocked on the door as my palms were moist and there had to be a bead or two of sweat on my forehead. After the third knock, the door opened and surprisingly there was no creaking.
“What can I do for ya?” an older lady with familiar gray eyes answered.
“H-hi, uh, my name is Kylie Mills and I’m a friend of...”
“Mills? You related to that Mayor over in Millersville?” she interrupted me.
“Oh, yeah. That’s my father.”
“I see the resemblance. What brings you over these parts?” she asked, her eyes narrowing again.
“Well, I’m a friend of Razor’s and I just wanted to talk to you for a bit.”
“Razor?” Her eyes crinkled on the sides. “Don’t know a Razor.”
“Oh, uh. Xander. Sorry.”
Her expressive eyes widened and then they narrowed. “Don’t need to talk about nobody’s Xander.”
She went to close the door, but I put my foot in there and yelled, “Wait, please talk to me. He misses you guys so much and I just want to help.”
The woman looked at my foot and then slowly opened the door.
“You have five minutes and then you’re gone. Got it.”
“Yes, I got it.”
I walked in first and then Shay reluctantly came in after me. The place was spotless. There was no dust or anything in sight. The furniture was fairly new, kept clean and there were pictures on the walls. I didn’t get a chance to see any of them in detail because she was moving quickly towards the kitchen area.
“Something to drink?” she asked.
“No thank you,” Shay and I said at the same time.
“Well, say your peace.”
“Uh.” I sat down. “Xander and I have been seeing each other for a little while now and he doesn’t talk about his family much. I’m not sure how much you know about him, but he’s doing pretty well for himself now.”
“He still a part of that biker gang?” she sneered.
“It’s not a gang?” Shay snapped. “It’s a club and he’s the district president.”
“Same difference.” She shook her head with her lip slightly turned up, resembling Razor when he was disgusted.
“Actually, it’s not.” Shay was about to get heated. “Razor and his club are a beacon in the community.”
“Listen, I know what ya tryin’ to do. But you got to understand, those biker gangs,” she emphasized, “killed my husband. So I told my boys, all of em, join them and I meant any one of em, and you’re disowned. Xander made the decision to disobey my wishes and I haven’t seen, heard or care to know about his dealings. I done buried one, and don’t wish to bury another.”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry for your loss, but the Legion of Guardians is not a gang. It is very much a club, business and much more. They even offer protective services that the mayor employs and has used on occasion. They are protectors, guardians and watchers. They’re not like those others gangs, ma’am. Xander owns two stores, several properties, and has other business ventures. His money is clean.” I sighed. “I’m just telling you because he won’t say it, but family means everything to him. His brothers mean everything to him and I think you guys do to.”
Her eyes did not soften, but they also did not narrow anymore than they already were. Shay shifted in her seat, while I remained looking at her.
Then she shook her head and said, “I told them I wouldn’t bury another one. He went and joined, left for the league, came back, and got further involved. His brothers tried to pull him out, we all did. But no, he had to have them. He chose them over us.”
It looked like she was about to cry, but she shook her head and held it high.
“What biker club was his father in?” I tried to change the subject.
“Something about serpents. They turned him into a mean motherfucker. Killing, drugs, whores, you name it, they dealt in it. He wanted a family too. He wanted brothers over us too and I vowed never to go through that again. My other sons take good care of me. Xander made his choice and so did we.” Her chin was still up like she would not take no for an answer.
“That’s unfortunate,” I said and then stood up with Shay following my lead. “He’s a wonderful man, and I thought you’d want to see the man he’s become. Especially the father he has become. Or maybe not. But let me be clear, nothing against your other sons, but you’re the one missing out. It isn’t the other way around.”
We walked towards the door because I was done with the conversation. The lady had no idea of the type of man Razor had become and that was on her.
“He put you up to this?” she asked as I turned the doorknob.
“No. He doesn’t even know I’m here.” I stepped on the porch and then turned. “Good day.”
On the way back, Shay said, “You know you’re in deep shit right?”
“Why?”
“Cause I just remembered that you have a tail and that means Razor’ll know where you were.”
“Oh shit.”
One little tidbit that might hurt my plan. Hopefully, he won’t be too mad.
INSTEAD OF MEETING Razor at the store, I went back to Peppers, so we could order all of the equipment that we needed. He also had a few guys come over that were in construction. The Guardians really did have a lot of members. They were going to create an addition to Peppers so the entertainers could have a green room. Big Joey moved fast.
By the time everyone started to trickle in, we had finished up our plans and were drinking. Shay had come back and we were trying to come up with what to say to Razor and then we moved on to think of interventions for Lori. The girl needed a coming to Jesus moment about Apollo. He clearly was not interested and she needed to stop.
Neither Bronx nor Apollo were at the club by nine and Razor hadn’t contacted me either. I didn’t want to stress him, but figured he was handling club business, so I let him be. Around nine-thirty, the doors to the place burst open and it was nobody but Razor. His face was twisted and eyes were blazing.
Oh shit.
Shay elbowed me and said, “Girl, two-o’clock.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “I see him. Should I head him off?”
“Naw, he’ll find you,” she whispered. “Oh shit, he found you.”
She said that just as his eyes caught mine. He stalked over to me and growled, “The office.”
He turned to go that way, but I hadn’t moved yet. He must have seen that and roared, “NOW!”
“Girl, you better go. Now!” Shay nudged me. “I’ll be waiting.”
What the fuck?
Damn near the entire bar had turned toward us. He couldn’t have been that mad.
When I finally reached the office, he was standing there with the door open. After I crossed over, I closed it behind me.
His eyes were piercing through me like laser beams.
; “Let me explain, Razor.”
“You do NOT talk,” he snapped. “You don’t say one motherfucking word.”
Uh, okay.
My back was about to get up now. I was willing to give him his moment to be angry, but he was about to see me angry with all of this.
“The fuck were you thinking going to my mom’s house? Huh?” he barked. “You had no right to do that. Did I ask you to do that? NO! I didn’t. That’s in the past. We don’t deal with the past, remember. It’s over. I’ve moved on, they’ve moved on. End of the fucking story.”
“Razor, I ...”
“You are not talking,” he yelled. “You’ve done enough.”
“Wait a minute Razor.”
He started moving in my space, so I moved towards the door.
“You aren’t talking now,” he sneered. “I AM!” he yelled. “You have no place. No rights, interfering in shit that ain’t got nothing to do with you. Not a fucking thing.”
Whoa.
It felt like a dagger cut through my heart. His name might have been Razor for other reasons, but he just as surely cut me clean open.
I held up my hands. “You got it, Razor.”
“What?” His head reared back and then he turned and went around the desk like he was looking for something.
“You got it.” I nodded my head. “Won’t have to worry about that shit again. I will mind my motherfucking business and stay out of yours. But the feeling is mutual. I no longer want you in mine.”
“Fuck, Kylie.” He stopped searching and looked up at me.
“No, fuck Kylie.” I nodded. “Effective immediately, Guardians are no longer my protectors. I’ll hire another company. Okay? So things can remain amicable.”
I quickly turned to leave, opened the women’s bathroom door, quickly locked the inside lock without going in and slammed it shut. Then I left out the back door and texted Shay to meet me at my car.
Standing on the outside, I could hear Razor banging on the bathroom door.
“Kylie, open the door.” Razor banged on it several times. “Now!”
That would keep him busy, but Shay needed to hurry. She had my purse and everything, so there could be no delays.
It seemed extreme, but I did not give one fuck. That was no business of mine. That motherfucker could kiss my ass.
“Open this goddamn door or I’m breaking it down,” he yelled.
By the time I saw my headlights, Razor had started kicking the door. I hopped in the car and she sped off down the back roads to make sure we weren’t followed.
“Girl, what happened? We could hear him yelling all the way over the music and the noise.” Shay’s eyes were huge as she drove like a mad woman on the Manor roads.
“Shay, I’m so mad, I could spit. That motherfucker was yelling at me and talking about I don’t have nothing to do with his family and it wasn’t my place and all this shit.” I turned towards her and said, “He had the fucking nerve to say that shit to me.”
“Son of a bitch.”
I hit the dashboard. “Son of a bitch is right. I told him that his services were no longer needed and I’d hire my own people to protect me. Fucking, how is it not my place?”
My entire body was heated from red, hot anger. I wasn’t thinking straight, but I couldn’t stop myself. Impulsive was the word my parents used for me.
How wasn’t it my place?
Bitch.
Well, fuck him.
“Take me to Lori’s. If I go to your place or mine, he’ll find me there.”
“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you there alone. How about I park and we walk together?”
“Naw, it’ll be cool. I’ll text you every hour to let you know I’m okay.”
“Uh, I don’t know.” Shay tried to push.
“Girl, I’m fine. Nobody knows I’ll be there. Not even said stalker.”
“Fine. Every hour. You hear me?”
16 – Wrong Answer
Wrong Answer
I USED MY SPARE KEY to Lori’s place, which was the extension to her parents’ house and tried not to turn on too many lights. Then I sent Lori a quick text letting her know I was staying there so if she came home early she wouldn’t be startled.
As I sat on the sofa, trying to finish rereading my book, I realized my plan was stupid. There was no way I would get any sleep because the place was just as scary as my place. After a while, I finally did doze off until a noise startled me awake.
Holy shit, someone was inside of the room with me.
“Kylie?” A voice whispered as I screamed bloody murder.
A hand covered my mouth, muffling my cries. I stomped my foot down on theirs and went to pound their balls, but he grabbed my wrist like he knew what was going to happen, thus throwing me off guard. He quickly spun me around and I started to scream again, until I saw it was Apollo.
Fucking Apollo.
“What the fuck, Apollo?” I yelled.
“What the fuck to you. Running off like that. Fuck is wrong with you woman?”
“Nothing is wrong with me.”
“Come on,” he said as he grabbed me by the wrist.
I maneuvered my arm out of his and said, “I’m not going back. You haven’t heard; you guys are no longer employed to protect me.”
“Listen, you want to be stupid, fine by me, you ain’t my old lady. But, sitting in here with a flimsy ass lock between you and God knows what, calling yourself trying to hide, is just plain stupid. Do yourself a favor and stay at Razor’s.”
“I will not stay at Razor’s and don’t you dare tell him where I’m at.”
Apollo laughed. “Girl, you fucking around with my man. Yeah, he lost it, but he’s lost in you.”
“No, you’re wrong,” I snapped. “He didn’t just simply lose it. He made it quite clear that I had nothing to do with his business.”
“Yeah, well that ain’t my business. What is my business is your safety. Now, where are you going or where am I dragging your ass to?”
I glared at him, but he wouldn’t be moved. He was the Sergeant at Arms for the Guardians. His sole purpose was to enforce and ensure the safety and security of the club. Apollo didn’t take much from anyone and people didn’t fuck with him. The man knew surveillance and he was sharp. Not much passed him, probably how he found me.
Bitch.
“Take me to my dad’s house,” I finally said.
“Let’s go or you’ll encounter Razor 4.0 in ten minutes.”
“What?” I asked.
“Let’s go. He’s on his way. I’ll call him from the truck.”
Oh shit.
We were en route to my parents when Apollo hit his cell screen and said, “I got her...she’s fine...demanded to go to her parents...not fighting with your old lady...she almost snatched my balls off...hold on.” Apollo tried to hand me the phone.
My hands crossed over my chest and I shook my head.
“She ain’t taking it...okay,” Apollo said and then hung up the phone.
When I arrived, my dad knew something was wrong. First it was eleven in the evening and second, I’m sure I looked a bit rattled.
“Running? Huh?” he asked.
“No, just thinking.”
“I swear you’re your mother’s child.” He shook his head. “Almost feel sorry for the man.”
“Dad, you don’t even know what happened,” I snapped.
“Oh, but I do. Somewhere in your mind, you probably made a decision that impacted him. Little did you know that it impacted him because you thought it only affected you. I can almost bet you did not discuss it with the one it impacted the most. Y’all just do your shit, get mad when the other doesn’t see your side and do you.”
My eyes were wide.
Shit.
“How’d you...”
“You’re your mother’s child.” He pulled out the ice cream.
Two scoops of strawberry for me and two for him was our usual talking snack.
“I went to Razor’s es
tranged mom’s house and called myself trying to mend fences. He found out and lost his shit. Told me it was none of my business. I had no right or place to do it. So I left. No rights, no place. I left.”
Dad smirked then shook his head. “You know our divorce was your mother’s bright idea. She was at the beginning stages of her illness and she did not want to tell me about it. She just let me believe she fell out of love and wanted to move on with her life. Of all the things, I wanted her to be happy. Wanted her to live her life and damn if I would have known she was sick. She was concerned about my campaign while I was suffering from a broken heart. I couldn’t have given a damn about a campaign or office. Just her.”
Damn, I didn’t even know that.
“It was her idea?”
He nodded and took a scoop of ice cream. “Yup, even convinced me. It wasn’t until I found out she was sick that I realized she had orchestrated this from the beginning.” He put the spoon in the bowl and continued, “Decided I’d be better off without her.”
“Damn, Dad.” I was stunned.
“Well, sort of like what you’re doing now. Made a decision that clearly impacted him, without discussion and then when he rightfully got upset, you make yet another decision that will impact him. It’ll affect you both, but he doesn’t even have a say. You took that choice from him.”
Fuck.
I sighed.
“Dad, he said I had no rights. Said I had no place.”
“Do you?” he asked with one eyebrow raised.
“Well, he’s been treating me like I do. Though nothing has been finalized, I thought we were on that road.”
“He never said you were on that road.”
“Not verbally. Just in actions. Told me I was staying with him. Has me involved with his son, businesses, and I even have a job working at Pepper as the entertainment manager,” I added. “It’s not a handout and it’ll let me keep singing.”
“Okay, that all sounds good. However, he hasn’t said anything?”
“No.” I frowned at my father’s ability to see through my bullshit.
Well, my stupidness again. Here, I thought I was being smart. Nope, just being young and dumb.