Beauty and the Bad Boy

by Scarlett Dupree

  I argued with Pops for a while and then we fell quiet. I was thinking about Weston, and Tina, and Fry’s family, and the lockdown, and Dakota. Instantly, second thoughts were crowding my head. I said quietly, "So much of our shit comes down on family. Tina was right to hate it. If Dakota gets hurt because of me… I can't even imagine what I'll do, let alone survive…" I hesitated, hating the question I was about to ask. "Was it a mistake to give her the ring?"

  Pops looked out into the woods. "You know Tina was dear to me, son. She was a good mother. She was strong in her way. But you're right. She wasn't made for our life. She never wanted the club. There's not many who would. Bless her soul, Tina was never a Birdy." I could hear the capital letter in the way Pops said the word.

  Pops drained his glass and set it on the porch floor. "Fire Birds isn't the club we started, but even back in the day, wearing a kutte was rough business. We ask a lot from our families. You know your mom couldn't handle it. It takes a certain kind of man to do what we do and still have honor, some goodness in his heart. It takes a certain kind of woman to see that honor and goodness and trust it. It takes a special kind of woman to give us that trust and then be able to accept the risks of the life. That's the kind of special Dakota is.

  "You need a woman in your life who gives you strength and lets you be the man I know you are, son. You deserve that. You need Dakota. I think she needs you, too. So, don’t fuck it up, boy."

  I interrupted. "Pops, I know Dakota is good for me. She's everything you say. But I don't care what I need. I care what Dakota needs. Being with me puts her in the crosshairs. How can it be right?"

  Pops looked disgusted and sat forward. "You're such an asshole sometimes, Jake. This is the same shit you pulled with your kid. You abandoned Ellie because you think she’s better off without you. You should be ashamed of yourself, and I know you are. But I also understand. Where kids are concerned, when you have to make the choices for them, maybe a different life is better.

  "But Dakota is not your kid. She makes her own choices. You think it's up to you whether her life is bad or good? Whether she lives or dies? That's some arrogant bullshit. Bad shit happens every damn day. Sure, we spend more time in the middle of it, but being away from them is no guarantee of a good life. Or a long one. Hell, Dakota knows that better than you!

  "I see the way she is with you. You do for her what she does for you. It's obvious how much she loves you. She deserves better from you than some idiot idea that you can save her by hurting her. You can break her heart and leave her to live a so-called regular life that she doesn't even want, or you can get out of your damn thick head and see how fucking lucky you both are. What you two got, not many people get. Make each other happy while you can. Jesus. Shit-head." Finished with his lecture, Pops sat back with an aggravated huff.

  I had never felt so grateful to be called a 'shit-head' in my life.

  ***

  Later that day, Lenny and I were walking through the university campus, tracking Dakota down. We were meeting a new dealer later to pick up a package. It was the first run since the fire, and the club decided to pull everyone back to the compound until the transaction was complete, just to be on the safe side. I was about to test Dakota's new agreement to let me protect her.

  I'd never been on her campus before and had no idea where she taught, but Mickey had tracked down her office and her class schedule. She was teaching right now, so we were headed to her classroom.

  The classroom door was closed, but there was a small window in it. I peered in. It was a big room, with rows of seats ascending from the front. There were about a hundred or so students. Dakota was standing at the front, looking gorgeous. I figured most of the male students had to have huge crushes on her.

  Her hair was pulled back in a long ponytail. She was wearing a silky, dark purple top over a short black skirt, black tights, and her elegant, Dakota-style shoes. I loved those shoes. She looked way too badass beautiful to be a teacher.

  I just watched for a bit. I could hear her voice but not make out her words. She was smiling and animated, gesturing as she talked, listening to students' comments, laughing, striding back and forth, ponytail swinging. She said something and the whole class laughed hard. She had such a great sense of humor. Without even knowing what anyone was saying, I could see that she was in her element. She owned that room. I puffed up with pride. That was my Birdy.

  And I was about to piss her off. Pissing Dakota off was never an easy thing. I braced myself and opened the door.

  She was talking. "Oooh, good point, Wil–" she turned to the door "–liam." She looked at me, stunned. "Um... Excuse me a second, guys..."

  She walked over to me, a question on her face. I put a hand on her waist and leaned down near her ear. "Sorry, babe. Can I talk to you outside?"

  She cocked her head a little at me and then nodded. She turned back to her students. "I'm going to step out for just a minute, everyone. Sorry about this. I'm sure you can keep yourselves occupied. But no parties without me." A chorus of laughter filled the silent room.

  She stepped out into the hall with me and saw Lenny. "Uh… I hope this is because Lenny wants to go back to school…" She looked at Lenny and then to me. "Okay. What's up?"

  Without giving specifics while we stood there in public, I explained the situation. "We're bringing everyone to the clubhouse. I'd like you to come with me–"

  "–I have another class after this one–"

  "–But I expected you to say something like that, so I'm offering a compromise. I have to go out, but Lenny is going to stay with you and follow you back to Shadowbeach when you're done."

  "A bodyguard? On campus? Christ, Jake. Here? Really?"

  "Dakota...."

  "Okay, okay. Sorry. It's just… Fuck. Okay." She sighed and looked at Lenny. "What are you going to do, just stand here in the hall?"

  Lenny smiled and nodded. "Yep. No problem."

  “Maybe take my class and learn something, big man.” She was obviously not thrilled, but she didn't resist. She turned back to me. "You're going out on this thing that makes me need a bodyguard, right?" I nodded, and she sighed again. "Okay, then." She stepped up against me. She pulled a little on my beanie. She grabbed my neck. I put my hands on her hips. "I love you. Please be careful. I need you," she said, softly. She kissed me tenderly. I pulled her tight against me and deepened the kiss–public hallway be damned.

  "I'll be back tonight. I love you," I said, softly back. I kissed her forehead.

  As she turned back to her classroom, she gave Lenny a look. "There are like three doors into that room. If you're gonna be a guard dog, you might as well come in and take a seat." She pointed at him. "And you behave yourself, bucko. No freshmen for you." Lenny laughed and gave her a little salute.

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll be in in a second, then."

  When she opened the door, I saw a large cluster of students scurrying back to their seats. We'd apparently had an audience. I wondered what they made of seeing their teacher making out with a biker in the hallway. I grinned at the thought.

  I looked at Lenny. "You keep her close."

  "You know I will, Jake. I'll die before anyone touches even a hair on her." I clapped him on the back. Lenny went into Dakota's classroom, and I headed off, away from her.

  ***

  Me, Ron and Mickey were standing almost in a row several feet behind Dixon and Weston, who were making the exchange. Two big, burly men also stood back, facing us. It was tense, but these exchanges always were. For what it was, this was normal. It looked like the precaution of bringing in the families was unnecessary.

  Weston and Dixon shook hands with the other gang members. Weston nodded, and the others and I stepped forward to load the van. Now that the negotiations were over, everyone relaxed a little, and my mind wandered, wondering whether Dakota had given Lenny a hard time today on campus. Was there really any doubt? I smiled at the thought. That’s my girl.

  Still smiling, I looked over and saw Dixon and We
ston in an intense discussion with one of the gang members we were dealing with. Dixon turned abruptly and opened his phone. His face was full of fear. It sent a deep shiver down my spine. "Fry. You're gonna have trouble. Saddle up. We'll be there as quick as we can."

  Fry had been in charge of the clubhouse. The clubhouse where we'd put the families for safety. If Fry was going to have trouble...

  "Dixon! What's going on?" I asked, anxiously. Just then, a black van sped into sight, kicking up dust on the dirt road. Dixon pulled his gun, and yelled, "Locos scum!" and took cover. The van came to a skidding stop, and out poured half a dozen Locos thugs, guns blazing before their feet hit the dirt.

  Chapter Ten

  Dakota

  Tiffany and I were playing pool when Fry called out, "Lenny! Danny! Aiden!" We heard the urgency in his voice and looked at each other, both instantly concerned. I stood up. "I'll go see."

  Lenny was speaking quietly and intently when I walked up. He paused, looking at me, and I just looked back, raising my eyebrows in challenge. He nodded and continued. "We got word that the fuckin' Locos are coming to hit the clubhouse. We're on our own for now. We have to hold them off."

  "I'm in. I want a 9mm and an AK. And that sniper rifle Jake gave me to shoot last week."

  Lenny looked at me. "You know that's not going to happen, Dakota."

  "Fuck you, Lenny. You need me. I'm a better shot than any of you four are, and I don't want our best protection to be Locos scumbags tripping over your bloated body on their way in." I stared at Lenny in challenge, and he put up his hands. "Good. Then let's not fuck around." I gestured at the people behind me. "I'll let them know what's going on."

  Lenny nodded, and then asked, "We need cover outside. Suggestions?"

  Fry cleared his throat. "How about the picnic tables? They’re thick and heavy. We could put them on their sides."

  Lenny nodded again. "Do it. Right now. Danny, go with him. Aiden, let's load up."

  Tiffany was walking towards me when I turned back to the main area of the room. "What's wrong?"

  "We've got trouble coming. Sounds bad. I'm going outside with the guys."

  "Dakota!"

  I ignored her. "Tiffany, you might need to be a doctor, so be ready. And you should have a gun in case you need it in here. Right now, though, we need to get the kids and everyone back away from the door, back into the back hall would be best, I think." Tiffany nodded and went to talk to the other women. An exodus into the private hallway began.

  When Tiffany came up a few minutes later, the guys and I were arming up. I handed her two loaded handguns. "Keep them both on you. And stay back."

  I put a 9mm in my waistband, strung an AK across my back, and cradled the M25 I'd recently shot with Jake. Except for the M25, the guys were similarly armed. It was a lot of firepower for hopefully not a lot of Locos assholes.

  There was a crash outside and the squeal of tires. They'd rammed through the compound gate. It was on. I didn't feel any fear–not that I recognized, anyway. I felt exhilarated. I felt powerful. I'd have to think about what the fuck was wrong with me later. Again, making a mental note about a lobotomy. But right now, my life didn’t matter. Protecting the children behind me was the only thing that mattered.

  Still dressed in the clothes I'd taught in earlier, I followed the men out, and we arrayed ourselves behind the picnic tables just as two pimped up cars and two black vans rolled into view. Oh, fuck. The Locos all drew and made a roughly straight line in front of their vans. One dickhead–his face misshapen from a recent beating–stood at the center, AK in hand. "Why you hidin' pendejos? Don't you pussies wanna fight?"

  Lenny stood up, his own AK pointed right at the speaker. "You want to get back into those shit wheels and drive right the fuck back where you came from, ese. There's nothing for you here."

  "Oh, I'm thinking there's plenty for us here. Coke, guns, money, some cracker pussy. Plenty. Don't seem to be plenty of Fire Cunts, though."

  Fry, Mickey, and Danny all stood up, their guns aimed. The guy laughed. "Hey boys. I thought we were gonna have a fight tonight! Looks like we'll be takin' out Fire trash instead!"

  I stood up, the M25 sighted on the Locos leader. "You have no idea what kind of fight you're in for, pendejo, if you don't put your skinny ass back in that van and get the fuck out. You're not coming near this door."

  I heard Lenny from my left side say, "Dakota, fuck. Get down!"

  "Oho! Now the Fire Cunts have actual pussies? Really, chica? Better listen to pretty boy over there. Wait for me, though. When I'm done with the trash I'll be back for you. We'll have a real good time. Maybe use that big gun you got."

  I held my ground. "I’m only gonna say this once. I will put a bullet in your eye if you take one more step forward."

  He spread his arms wide, his AK in one hand. He smiled. And he took one step forward. I didn't hesitate. He went down, missing his left eye and most of the back of his head. The thought of him harming the children I had grown to love in my new family, didn’t give the leisure of time to hesitate on my actions.

  And, thankfully, it gave me no time to think about the fact that I had just taken a man’s life.

  And for a moment, hell broke loose. The Locos riders started firing as we ran for cover. The Fire Birds dove behind the barriers we'd erected. Lenny brought me down with him.

  We were still outnumbered, and the other guys had two big vans for cover. Every now and then, Lenny or someone would fire at the corners of the vans, keeping the rival gang to their own cover. They didn't seem inclined to try an escape. This was a stalemate, at least until the ammo ran out on one side or the other.

  After fifteen minutes, maybe more–it was hard to tell–I heard bikes roaring up. The rest of the Fire Birds led their own van through, and the Locos gang started firing on them. Dixon, Weston, and Jake dumped their bikes and fired back, but they only had their sidearms. Mickey opened the driver's door of the van and fired through the window. I didn't see Ron. That was bad.

  With Locos now focused on the newly arrived Fire Birds, Lenny gestured to Fry to flank and surround them. The guys stood up. I set down the sniper rifle, swung the AK forward, and stood up. Lenny waved me off. I flipped him off and kept going.

  Fry, Aiden, and Danny sidled around the nearer van; I led Lenny around the farther. I was coming up behind the whole scene. Firing into Locos meant firing towards the Fire Birds. So I tipped the AK down slightly and strafed. I took out the legs of three Locos on one pass, and then ducked back around the van.

  After that, the shooting was over within a few brief minutes; Locos scum were all dead. Then Dixon yelled, "Get Tiffany! Ron is down!" I ran back into the clubhouse. Tiffany met me with her gun drawn, then pulled it up when she realized it was just me. "It's over. Dixon is okay. But Ron is hurt, Tiffany. They're bringing him in."

  We headed back outside, but the guys burst through the door carrying an unconscious and bleeding Ron. Jake was up front, holding his shoulders. My heart dropped. Jake's head, shoulders, and chest were absolutely covered in blood. "Jesus, Jake! Are you hurt?"

  He pushed past me, his first priority getting Ron some help. "It's not mine, babe. I'm okay."

  I stepped back and got out of the way. After a few minutes, Jake, Dixon, and Mickey came out. They looked terrible but were, apparently, not hurt. I ran into Jake's embrace. He was a bloody mess, but I could not have cared less. We held each other tight for a long, quiet moment.

  Jake pulled back and studied me. I used my hands to wipe the blood off his face, ensuring that it really wasn't his. Some of it was–he had a cut across his eyebrow–but otherwise he looked unhurt. He grabbed my hands and held them to his chest. "What was that, Dakota? What were you doing out there?"

  Lenny came up from behind. "Dakota was kicking ass, Jake. She took the leader down."

  Jake turned on him. "Dakota what? She took him out? Putting her out front is your idea of fucking protecting her?"

  "No, it's my idea of protecting myself."
My voice was low but firm; Jake turned back to me. I was really fucking sick of this macho bullshit. "How many times do we have to run this track, Jake?"

  "Come on, Dakota. People were shooting at you. I can't fucking be upset about that?"

  I was too high on adrenaline to let the truth–that I had taken lives today–to truly sink in. "People shoot at you at least once a week! I'm supposed to be okay with that?" I took a breath. I was too relieved he was okay, too exhausted, and too stunned by the night's events to want this fight again. "Look, Jake. They came at the clubhouse. It's full of kids and women who do need protecting. We needed all the shooters we had. All I did was help protect them and myself in the way my father trained me.

  "And, by the way, I shot a man's eyeball through the back of his head tonight, so I'm kinda at my freakout max right now. You want to be all macho and protective, I could really use some help with that later, because I’m pretty sure that’s gonna mess me up for the rest of my life."

  Jake wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and kissed my forehead before pulling me to his chest. He made me feel so safe amongst all the hell. "God. I'm sorry, babe."

  I hated myself for it, but I started to cry anyway.

  Ron had been shot in the chest, but it had miraculously missed the important stuff, and Tiffany had been able to remove the bullet, sew him up, and get him more or less back on his feet. I assisted as best I could. He'd lost a lot of blood, but once he regained consciousness he was adamant that he not be taken to the hospital. The hospital would have asked questions, so no one–not even Tiffany–fought him very hard. Once he was bandaged, he was carried to one of the recliners and catered to.

  The club would take care of him, under Tiffany's supervision, with the proviso that he was in a hospital bed at the first sign of infection or shock. Then Tiffany stitched up Jake's eyebrow.