Devil Seeker

by Clare Power

  “Let’s play,” I begin, “Lori, do you do any crafting?”

  “I crochet,” she says, diving into her backpack and bringing out some stunning work; an amazing traditional tablecloth and the cutest little Santa Chrissy deccies.

  “I tend to make the decorations throughout the year to sell them at Christmas,” she explains, “If I leave it until then, I can’t meet the demand.”

  “They’re awesome,” Amber says, “I’d like to make some.”

  “Strange that you should say that,” Lori smiles, “I brought some hooks and extra wool.”

  We play at making ourselves some cocktails then begin our night, making little Santa’s. I’m not the best crocheter in the world, but even I start to get the hang of it and I find I really enjoy it. Amber and Lori are obviously much better at it than I am, but I’m learning.

  Eventually our conversation turns to bikes and the club. I talk to Lori, trying to get a feel for how I’ll get on with the girls at the club, or if they will even accept me, while Amber plays Mother Hen a bit and wants to make sure I’m going to be safe.

  “Okay,” Lori says, “Let’s talk about bikes. Kat, you’ve obviously ridden bikes for a while. Do you ride, Amber?”

  “No. I’ve thought about it, but to be honest, the snowbirds put me off. Some of their driving is abysmal, and I feel safer in a car.”

  “There is always a trike. You’d definitely be safer on one of those,” Lori points out. I’m a bit shocked because I thought that Amber didn’t ride because she didn’t want to, not that she had a reason.

  I feel like a bad friend, so when a girl feels off, you just have to go for the obvious remedy, “Anyone for dessert?”

  Backfire

  Ace starts our meeting by getting the normal officer’s reports. The officers are Brewer, our Vice President. Bullet is our Sergeant at Arms. Tex is our Road Chief and OB is Treasurer. All have nothing to report, except OB does bring up that he hasn’t gotten all the money owed in yet for the ride, and that he’ll give us a final total by next week when everything is sorted.

  Ace continues the meeting by briefly informing everyone of Kat and her situation, making it very clear that we are supporting her.

  Shades says, “Sock and I had a few words with Mr. Fish at the time. Backfire’s confirmed that this has resulted in no cop problems for her since their last visit a month ago.”

  Trash adds, “I’ve applied for all the properties that the association doesn’t own and informed them of the fact. With any luck, they’ll realize that Kat is the least of their fuckin’ worries.”

  I formally tell my brothers, “Just so you all know, Kat is mine. In front of my brothers here, I want to acknowledge that I intend to make her my old lady.” They laugh and torment me, just like I fuckin’ knew they would. Still, her being mine makes her part of the club and these guys would literally kill to protect her.

  It's strange, but it feels good―taking that step that to me declares her as mine. Maybe one day I’ll go the whole hog and give her my property patch. I know my brothers would be a lot happier if I do this after I’ve known her longer, not that they’ll get in my face about it, but they come first. Hell, some of them haven’t even met her yet.

  The agreement to help her is partly because her work can help club brothers’ businesses and partly to help me. The guys who have met her like her well enough, but wouldn’t have gone this far to help her if it wasn’t for me. That’s part of the benefit of being in a club; my brothers look out for me and mine.

  Kat

  We are having a blast. We’re all getting on, making some good stuff too.

  Amber and I are picking Lori’s brain. I need to know a little more about life with the Cycle Devils as a woman, and Amber is interested because she is my friend and wants to support me.

  Lori tells us that the club has many chapters across the East Coast. They also have chapters in Germany and are in discussions with a club in England about patching over. It’s a big club with a lot of internal and external support. The West Florida chapter is made up of a combination of brothers who have their own business skills. Some are even brothers who have moved to Florida after they retired. It makes for a very impressive charter as these retired members bring with them years of experience.

  Lori also tells us what I’m beginning to work out for myself; the club has no problem with letting their women live the way they want to live. The men don’t try to rule over their women, which makes me feel so much better about my relationship with Backfire.

  Lori is also excited about my tanks. She comes up with the idea of making a shopping trip, specifically to hit up shops that may be useful to me as possible sales venues so we agree to go tomorrow. Amber can’t come, but in all fairness, she agrees that mooching around a load of biker type shops is not her cup of tea. At least she likes tea.

  Chapter 11

  Shopping with Lori

  Kat

  So Lori and I set out on our shopping trip at the biker-style shops. We decide to leave our motorcycles in my garage and take the car, just in case we leave with more than our bikes can handle.

  We figure on having a look around the sort of establishments where I could entertain myself and maybe think about going into business with; bike shops, clothing shops, tattooists, that sort of thing. It never hurts to know who sells what, especially when you want to merge into the local scene.

  After some basic research into the local biker amenities, I had come up with a load of places I wanted to check out. There are actually a lot of places to try. No real surprise there with the amount of potential income from all the tourists. There are a few premium name, bike suppliers and a few local small businesses, but no custom paint workshops. That is my in.

  The Harley Dealership was a blast. Loads of bikers are hanging about and the shop has the biggest selection of t-shirts and merchandise I have ever seen. We even got asked to play some pool. I lost, of course. I really am rubbish at pool, but Lori kicked ass.

  The local leather shop was also my kind of place. First off, I love the smell of leather. Then there’s the fact that I’m well into the cowgirl/biker look. Any leather with fringe and tassels, I’m your girl. I get myself a western-style, brown waistcoat and make a list of future things in my little head for further purchase because a girl can’t have too much leather.

  Then I see my favourite type of shop―a Christmas shop. It doesn’t have to be anywhere near December for me to love these, and it’s really time to buy something new for my new house so I pop in and find a new Harley decoration for my tree. There are also some wicked western horse type ornaments that just have to be purchased. Lori is as bad as me, well actually, she’s worse. She admits to having the whole outdoor decoration thing at her house every year.

  It’s really good to know that Lori and I get along so well. She’s going to introduce me soon to other old ladies in the club, so we’ll see how that goes, and I’m hoping it will go extremely well.

  Chapter 12

  A Disastrous Meeting

  Kat

  “Backfire, do you realise the Police haven’t been around for a month?”

  “I don’t reckon they’ll be back again,” he smirks.

  “Why?”

  “A couple of the guys had a word with the fucker who was complaining, helping him to see the error of his ways,” he laughs.

  Not sure if that will be a good or bad thing, I’ll go for good, hoping that the problem is solved. I’m just a little irritated at the fact that he knew about this and didn’t see fit to tell me what was happening. Best I venture carefully here.

  “I appreciate it, I really do, but is there anything else I should know? Is there anything else that you guys have done for me that I need to be aware of?”

  “This and that. Nothing for you to be concerned about, though. It’s my job to look after things while we’re together so you don’t have to worry.”

  Now how do I reply to that without offending him? It appears that he hones
tly believes that he’s responsible for sorting out my problems when I’m the one who needs to worry about them, but I’m going to let it go for now. I understand what he’s doing and with us being so new, I don’t want to turn this into an argument. I know that it will have to be a series of subtle conversations for another day. I’m also pretty sure that telling him we need rules is not going to be a popular move. I feel the need to think about this through before having the discussion.

  I tell him I have an appointment to go to today, not going into the details of it though. It’s with a local councillor in regards to my business start-up application. While I don’t often wear dresses, I am prepared to wear a pair of proper trousers and a smart blouse. I’m even using the car and not the bike.

  The meeting is at the unit and the councillor introduces himself as Bob Fish. We are discussing my plans for the future one minute and then the next, someone has grabbed me from behind and clasped a smelly hand over my mouth and nose. As I fall unconscious, I know that Backfire is going to be pissed at me. Stupid, stupid girl, thinking I was proving a point.

  Backfire

  Kat’s been gone for ages; far longer than I fuckin’ expected, which has me starting to worry about her. I do not like this feeling. What the fuck?

  Kat

  I come around and survey my surroundings. How fucking fantastic is this? It appears that I’m locked in a room of a vacant house. On the plus side, I’m not tied up, but that’s the only plus. I need to work out how to get out of here.

  First thing I notice is that I must be near water because there are those huge bugs ―palmetto bugs. There should be a law about insects being so big. I stand quietly for a while, just listening. When I hear nothing that relates to human activity, I decide to have a go at kicking the door in. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

  All those Tae Kwon Do lessons seem to have paid off because once I deliver a turning kick to the door and voila! The door breaks open. I assume it must have been a bit rotted already, but I’m not complaining. Looking around the hallway, all I can really see are boarded up windows and insect things that I don’t want to see. Looking at the front and back doors as opposed to the windows, I decide that the windows look the least secure. I start to kick through the planking. I knew all that breaking practice would come in handy someday.

  It doesn’t take long to break enough wood for me to get through the obstruction. After that, it’s relatively easy to get out of here. My suggestion to any kidnapper would be not to leave someone alone in a house with big, flying bugs.

  Once I’m free of the bug house, I start to walk. The last thing I need is for my idiot kidnappers to drive past me, especially as I have no idea what car or van they have, or how many people there are. I’m trying to hang around the side roads, which also doesn’t help because so few people walk, especially dressed like this, even if I do look a tad shabby. There is even the possibility that I could walk straight past the kidnapper’s house.

  Giving up on the side roads, I decide it’ll be easier to dodge and hide if I go on the main roads where there are shops and bars to potentially dive into. It’s also so much easier to work out where I’m at on the grid to work out how to get home.

  I never imagined that I would ever be kidnapped, but if I did, this really isn’t what I would think it would be like. Where the fuck is my handsome rescuer, or even Backfire? Seriously though, what did they plan to accomplish by just leaving me there with plenty of options of getting away. Total amateurs in my educated opinion.

  Even though I look a sight, I decide to carry on, I’ve worked out where I am and I’m heading in the right direction. I start to wonder if it’s even safe to go home. They would obviously have access to my address and my bag with the house key in it, so where do I go?

  I know how to get to the Cycle Devils and to Amber’s from here. It’s possible that the kidnappers know there is a link between me and the club, and they’ll exploit that to try to take me again. Amber’s house it has to be, so I continue walking until I get there. It’s getting dark now, which somehow makes me feel safer. There’s less possibility of being spotted. Let’s just ignore the potential risk from any other type of criminal; one disaster at a time. Thank Heaven I used to do a lot of walking in England. Although the weather here for exercise is awful, at least the terrain is easy.

  Amber opens the door and the look on her face is priceless. “Please,” I say, “Can I have a bath first and give you an explanation later?”

  “Of course!” She has a job to do, which helps as she focuses on that, which gives me a moment’s respite. “Do you want a drink? Are you hungry?”

  “Oh God, yes, can I use your phone?”

  “Help yourself to anything you want and I’ll make you something to eat while you’re having your bath. I’ll sort you out some clothes, too.”

  “Thank you.”

  Backfire

  Kat has been missing all day and it’s now late evening. I’m really fuckin’ worried. I called in the guys and Trash found a report of her car, burned out on the wrong side of town. I have no clue as to why she would have gone there. Trash is hacking into her emails but it seems to be taking forever. I know she’s not home and there’s no one at her house. I don’t actually have a key to see if there’s anything lying around to help give me any clues as to where she could be. I’ll break in if I have to.

  My phone starts to ring and I don’t recognize the number. This doesn’t help my mood.

  “Yeah,” I bark.

  “Backfire?” comes Kat’s hesitant voice.

  “Where are you?” I reply, far nicer than I was a second ago.

  “Amber’s,” she replies.

  “What’s the address?” she rattles it off quickly, “Don’t move. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

  “I hate to ask this, but could you please bring me a pair of knickers, er, panties?”

  This request halts me in my tracks, “Yeah, babe,” I reply softly now, “I won’t be long.”

  Kat

  I take a few minutes to settle myself down. Backfire will be here soon and I need to collect my thoughts.

  I hear the sound of Harleys approaching and as soon as they make it to the door, I fling myself into Backfire’s arms. He wraps me up tight and I instantly feel comforted until he growls, “What the fuck, babe?”

  “I do believe I was kidnapped.” I reply, going for blasé, but hearing the sounds coming from the guys behind Backfire, I figure I failed.

  “Explain. Now!” Ace orders.

  “I was contacted by the council regarding the application for my unit, so I met the councillor and ended up locked in an insect infested house – which I seriously disliked – so I escaped. I wasn’t sure where to go that was safe from the Bugmen, but thought Amber was my best option and I called you as soon as I got here.”

  “What was the name of the councilman you met with?” Ace asks.

  “Bob Fish.” I reply. The guys continue to snort and growl, while Backfire simply holds me.

  “What the fuck did you think you were doing?” he demands.

  “Meeting the Council to press forward with my application.” I reply, being positively reasonable to him under the circumstances.

  “He’s bent, Kat,” Backfire snarls.

  “Well I know that now,” I say, still going for calm, “The question appears to be when did you? Was it before I got drugged, kidnapped and locked up with huge fucking bugs? Bugs that fly? Was it before I had to rescue myself and walk for miles, in fear of being taken again? Was it before I was scared to go to my own home?” Ok, now I’m losing it.

  I look at the guys and realise they all knew, and no one bothered to tell me. Amber realises it too and orders the miserable fuckers from her house. They don’t seem to want to go, but Amber threatens them with the Police. By the look on her face and the sound in her voice, I’m pretty sure they get that she will do it, MC be damned.

  “Amber, honey. Can I crash here for the night?”

>   “Sure you can. You’re always welcome here.”

  I kiss her cheek and drag my weary ass to bed, too angry at first to sleep, but I also should have known better.

  Chapter 13

  Keep calm and carry on

  Kat

  As I expected, I didn’t exactly sleep well last night. Strange day, strange bed, and most strange of all, I’m missing Backfire. I knew I was into him but I’ve become attached to the man. This is so not good.

  I honestly don’t know what to do. I’m crazy about this man, ignoring years of knowing better than to be with a bloke in a club. I know he and his brothers have done nothing but try to help me, but it also appears that they were keeping things that affected me to themselves, surely thinking they were “protecting me.” If I had known that any council members were involved in what was happening, I would most certainly have been a lot more careful about meeting a councillor, even if I wasn’t aware of his name until the meeting.

  I confess I am seriously PEEVED.

  I am so used to looking after myself. The fact that my new bloke has been keeping things from me that have actually endangered me pisses me right off.

  The obvious answer to me is to be finished with him, yet there is a part of me that doesn’t want to be. I fancy the pants off him and want to build a life with him. If I’m truly being honest, I don’t want to part with the hot sex. He is amazing in bed.

  Finally, and most surprisingly, a part of me likes his brothers. Trash has been so helpful and Tinman, I could easily see working with. Shades is sort of like the little brother you love to hate. Lori and I could be really good friends very easily. Then there are loads of other guys and their ladies who I’m just starting to know, but even if I don’t know their names, they all smile and nod at me. Surely that’s not something to be sneezed at.