by KaLee Ray
I pulled on up and parked by the trucks. As I turned my car off I noticed that my hands were shaking. Nerves or fear, it didn’t matter at this point I was already in and the gates were being shut behind me. I got out and looked around for any sign of life. The one door to the building opened and Ryan came out smiling ear to ear.
He hadn’t aged much, but there was something different about him. His hair was still long though I could tell just how long because he had it pulled back. His beard was long, but nicely groomed and maintained. I could see tattoos all down his arms and on his hands. He wore jeans with big black boots and a tight t-shirt with the same leather vest I saw on the young guy at the gate. This vest was different, Ryan’s vest didn’t say prospect, it said President.
“Well isn’t this an unexpected surprise. It’s about time you brought your skinny ass to Texas.” Ryan laughed as he picked me up and spun me around.
For a brief moment I was 10 again, up in the air as my big brother twirled me around as if I was light as a feather. Then I heard boots on the concrete and realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn’t 10, this wasn’t the sweet brother I remembered growing up, and we sure as hell weren’t some place safe. As he sat me down I looked behind him to see several big scary men coming out of the same door, all with the same weird leather vest on.
“Um Ryan, you want to tell me what the hell is going on? What is this place and why are you wearing a vest that says president? Just what the hell are you president of?” I tried to whisper, but every time I said hell it came out in a yell.
“Well sis first off the name is Force, not Ryan. And to answer your question, this, I am president of all of this and these men you see behind me.” Ryan said as he held his arms out and turned in a circle.
That’s when I saw the back of the vest. Devils Descendants with some creepy design of a devil and a skull. Honestly it was not only scary, but it was ugly as hell. I could tell he was raised by a man because the poor boy had no fashion sense what so ever.
“Force was it? You look ridiculous and what the fuck are you talking about? Like y’all have a club and you are the president?” I didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm in my voice.
These boys had been in the Texas heat too long. They were grown ass men with a club and matching vest.
“Lacie, come inside we have a lot to talk about.” Ryan said as he reached for my hand.
“In where? Is that creepy building with no windows your clubhouse?” I said as I tried to hide my laughter. “No no. I’m not going in there.”
“Lace, it okay. You are safe here. Come inside and I will introduce you to everyone and explain all of this, and dad.”
“The fact that you have to point out that I am safe makes me feel unsafe. Ryan just tell me what the fuck is going on. What is this place and what the hell are Devil’s Descendants?” I pleaded.
“Last time Lace, my name is Force. My men know me as Force, not Ryan. Ryan is the name she gave me and that part of me is dead. Except for you. Devil’s Descendants is a Motorcycle club that dad started before he met that bitch. This is where I grew up. All of this was dad’s legacy. This is where we come from, not some big fancy house with a perfect flower beds out front.” He never broke eye contact with me as he spoke, letting me know this was the truth.
I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I planted my feet, hauled off and punched him right in the nose. Blood was all over his face and I wasn’t sure if it was from his nose or my hand. I was praying to god his nose hurt as bad as my knuckles did.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I put up with that woman for twenty something years. Hell I even became a fucking doctor because that’s what SHE wanted. She called me Goth because I liked the color black, she called me white trash because I wanted a tattoo, she said I was a devil worshiper because I listen to rock music. And all this time you got to live the life you wanted! I always thought I was weird because I didn’t like the things she liked, but come to find out I am not weird I just take after my dad.”
Even though I was several inches shorter than my brother I made sure to look him in the eyes and poke him in the chest with every word I said. The tears spilling out of my eyes was just hot anger trying to escape. I was fighting feelings I had never had before. Was I lost, was I found? Was this my beginning or should I get in my car and leave? Should I punch him in the face again? No, my hand was still throbbing. In that moment I was a stranger to him and myself.
“That was awesome. Prez can we keep her? She is little, but kinda spunky.” The man with the letters VP on his vest said with a smirk.
I realized that I had forgot about the audience we seemed to acquire during our soap opera moment. I looked around Ryan I found several sets of eyes watching us and several mouths open in shock at what I had just done and said to their “President”.
“Lace I know you are upset, but don’t ever punch me in the face again. Come in out of this heat and let’s talk and I’ll have Wolf look at your hand.” Before I could protest he lifted me over his shoulder and carried me through the small crowd to the one door on the building.
“Wolf come take a look at this and make sure it’s not broken.” He said to some man who really looked like a wolf.
“I don’t need wolfman to look at my hand. I’m a doctor, I can look at my own hand.” I demanded. “It’s not broken, just hurts like a motherfucker.”
Wolf grabbed my arm gently and began moving my fingers slowly. I looked at Wolf’s vest, it said treasurer on his patch. So I guess this was like a real little club, officers and everything.
“Princess can move it so I don’t think anything is broken.” Wolf said in the deepest voice I had ever heard. “Princess you’ve got your dads eyes and his temper.”
It was such a simple statement, but it made me want to curl up in a ball and cry. I really hadn’t mourned dad much since he died. Its’s hard to mourn someone you hardly knew, or that’s what I kept telling myself.
“Thank you.” I mustered out.
“Lace, this is Wolf, our club treasure and an original member. He knew dad better than anyone.” I could tell by my brother’s voice that he loved Wolf like a father.
“Come here assholes.” My brother yelled at the rest of the club members. “This is Logan, my VP and right hand.”
Logan looked to be mid-thirties, same age as my brother. He had long dirty blonde hair and deep blue eyes. His beard wasn’t as long as Ryan’s, but it was well groomed like my brothers. He was only about six foot tall and not as muscled up like Ryan, but still had a body that I was sure to dream about. For a minute I thought he was the hottest man I had ever seen, then my brother spoke again and I looked up into the greenest eyes I have ever seen.
“This tall motherfucker is Titan, our road captain. He has maps to every road in the United States, Canada, and most of Mexico.” Ryan laughed.
I didn’t understand what was so funny, but I wanted to know more about Titan. Hell I wanted to know everything about Titan including what he looked like naked. He was at least 6’6” and 250 pounds of rock hard muscle. His long hair was brown with natural highlights. He even had natural highlights in his groomed beard. Were these guys in some kind of hair and beard club? I looked around and realized they all had long hair and beards. Not that I was complaining, I also noticed that most of them were incredibly hot and well built.
*cough cough* “Lace, you are staring and I think drooling a little.” Ryan said quietly.
“Sorry. Titan was it? Nice to meet you.” I sighed.
There was a muffled laugh from the guys in the back.
“Okay I think that’s enough introductions for now. Can you assholes leave us alone? Lace and I have a lot to talk about.” He said as he dismissed everyone with a flick of his head.
Confidence, that’s what was new about my brother. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was President of this club or for the first time in my whole life I was around my brother without the presents of our mother.
Chapter t
wo
Force (Ryan)
After 3 hours of telling Lace everything I could about dad and my life growing up, I was ready for a beer. Honestly after talking about that bitch that gave us life I was ready for a whole bottle of whiskey. I also needed some time alone. I grabbed a bottle from the bar and walked outside.
The night air was still hot and muggy, but after 35 years I was used to the hot Texas nights. I pulled up a chair and stared at the sleek black charger with Oklahoma plates. She had a good taste in cars I’ll give her that.
Until a few hours ago I thought of Lacie as my baby sister. I also thought she was fragile and too classy for this life. Then she punched me in the face like a dude. I was glad she didn’t seriously injure her hand, but I was pretty sure she broke my damn nose. I deserved it. I should have made dad get her away from that monster years ago.
All these years I thought she would defend her and take her side. I couldn’t stand the thought of hating Lace the way I hated that woman. So I never pushed, I never ask questions. I just focused on all of her accomplishments. I didn’t even know she didn’t want to be a doctor.
I was so proud of her, but I realized today that I didn’t even know her. I took a big swig and closed my eyes as the amber liquid burned all the way down my throat.
“Hey bro, what are you doing out here? I thought you and your hot sister were catching up.” Logan said with a grin as he grabbed the bottle out of my hand.
“Watch it!” I gave him a death glare. “I think we have talked enough for one day.” I proclaimed.
“How’d she take everything?” He asked as he took the seat next to me.
“Good I guess. She didn’t hit me again so I take that as a good sign.” I jerked the bottle from his hands and chugged a shot or two. “I only told her what she needed to know. I didn’t tell her our business details and she didn’t ask, yet.”
“How long is she staying?” Logan inquired.
I was so happy she was here I hadn’t even asked what her plans were. She was a top surgeon at some big fancy hospital in Oklahoma City, so I figure she has to get back to work soon. Honestly the thought of her leaving knocked all the air out of my lungs. “Forever, I hope. She is all I have left when it comes to family.” With that said I killed the bottle.
*
Lacie
Ryan got up and left after we had talked for hours. I knew he needed sometime and truth be told so did I. I think he left because he thought I was going to hit him again when really, I felt pretty calm.
I walked out of their meeting room where I am told they hold “Church”, pretty sure they aren’t discussing Jesus in there. I knew there was more to this club than Ryan was telling me, but after everything else I was trying to process I didn’t want to know.
As I walked out every head in the place turned in my directions. “Awkward.” I mumbled under my breath. I walked over to the bar where I saw another younger guy with the word prospect on his vest. I was just about to ask him what a prospect was when Wolf walked up and smiled.
“Hey princess, how ya holdin up?” He said as he pulled out a bar stool for me to sit on.
“It’s a lot to process, but I always knew I wasn’t getting the full story from my mother. I just hate that Ryan, I mean Force and I have lost so much time.” I answered.
“You’re here now and that’s all that matter.” He patted me on the back just like my dad used to do. “Vinny, get the princess a beer.” He shouted at the prospect.
Wolf walked off and joined the other guys in their activities. I took a long swig of the cold beer and turned on the stool to see what everyone was doing. Some guys were playing pool, some playing darts, and a few were towards the back of the room watching a fight on the big screen TV.
I looked at each one of them and tried to remember their name and status in the club. Playing darts was Max, the Sergeant at arms, Sam, the tech guy, and Titan, road captain.
Max was tall, but not as tall as most the guys. He was young, twenty five if I was guessing, but still had the signature long hair and beard like the rest of the club. His arms covered in tattoos and legs covered in leather pants that he pulled off nicely.
Sam was the scariest man I had ever seen in my life. He was mid-forties with long gray hair and a matching gray beard. No tattoos that I could see, but he had a large scar running the whole length of his right arm. I still couldn’t figure how he was the tech guy, but Ryan told me he could crack into any system anywhere.
I took another big swig and turned to see Ryan and Logan at the door. Ryan was holding an empty bottle of whiskey and I could tell the effect traveling down memory lane was having on him. Maybe I should leave in the morning, maybe it was me just being here that was effecting him.
I finished my beer and then walked over to Ryan to say my goodbyes for the night. I realized that with everything that had happened I forgot to make a reservation somewhere. Hell I didn’t even pay attention when I was driving through town to look for any hotels.
“Well guys, this has been fun, but I think I’m going to call it a night.” I said quietly, hoping not to draw the attention of the rest of the guys. Then I tried to decide if I should go in for a hug or just an awkward hand shake. Fuck I didn’t matter what I did, anything was going to be awkward at this point.
“Vin go out and get my sister’s things out of the black charger parked by the trucks.” He commanded the prospect.
“No no, I’ll just find a hotel. Vinny just leave my stuff alone, but thanks anyways.” I said as I put up my hands to Vinny.
“Not happening sis, Vin go.” He waved Vinny on. “You are staying here. I can tell by the look in your eyes that you are planning on running and I am not ready for you to go yet.” It was more of a statement than a request.
“Stay here? As in here at this Club House?” I motioned at the building around me.
“Down that hallway is rooms where the guys stay. You can take my room. It’s the last one on the left. It has its own bathroom and it’s far enough away from the main room for you to have some peace and quiet.” Ryan pointed as he talked.
I could tell there was no point in arguing with him, plus I was exhausted. So I gave up, said my goodnights and walked through the crowd trying not to be noticed.
*
Lacie
I was sitting on the edge of Ryan’s bed trying to work up the nerve to go out into the main room with all the guys. I didn’t sleep well and I was sure it would show. The last thing I wanted right now was to make small talk with a bunch of badass bikers.
“Lace you up?” Ryan said as he knocked on the door.
I slowly got up and walked to the door. “Yeah I’m up.” I faked a sweet, chipper voice. As I opened the door and looked into Ryan’s eyes I realized a huge weight had been lifted off him. He had gone all these years carrying this secret from me and trying to carry on dad’s legacy in the club. Now he was free from the secret, but being President of the club was a whole new challenge. I just prayed to God it didn’t destroy him.
“Lace I’ve got some shit I have to take care of this morning, but I should be back this afternoon sometime.” He was walking to the main room where his club was waiting on instructions from the boss.
“Titan I’m leaving you in charge of Lace. If she wants to go somewhere you better be with her.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Titan shared his annoyance with the situation before I could get anything out. “Prez don’t you think I have better things to do than babysit? Like the CLUB business we have been working on.” The way he said club let me know it wasn’t any of my business.
“Tomorrow Titan. It can wait till tomorrow. Today I have some shit in town I need to take care of and I need you to stay with my sister in case she needs something or wants to go somewhere.” It was a command and I was beginning to see why they called him Force.
The room was quiet and the tension grew thinker. I wasn’t sure how this biker world worked. To me they were all alpha males trying to live
and work in the same world. I was sure this was going to end badly, but just as I thought fist were going to fly Titan nodded his head in defeat. Damn they take this club shit seriously.
“I’ll have my cell on if y’all need me.” And with that Ryan and the rest of the guys were out the door and on their bikes.
I turned to face Titan only to see him staring at me with such intensity that made my cheeks flush. His dark green eyes were boring into me and I couldn’t figure out if it was hate or desire. I decided I should probably keep my distance and stay out of his way.
“I’m sorry you got stuck with me. I will be in Ryan, I mean Force’s room working on some notes for charts.” I never made eye contact and I moved quickly as I walked by him to make my way down the hall.
*
Titan
What the fuck could be so important that he would put club business on hold? His sister Lacie was a delicate subject with him, but hell he left her here too. I understood they had family drama to take care of, but we had to get this deal done. I had only been in the Devil’s descendants a few years, but in that short time I learned club business came before anything else. It was Force’s dad who taught me that so I didn’t understand why his own son couldn’t come to terms with it.
I didn’t argue and I didn’t push the fucking babysitting job because I could tell it was a battle I wouldn’t win. The sooner he got this family shit over with the sooner his fucking sister would go back to Oklahoma and we could get back to business. I had a job to do and that job had no time for pussy to get in the way.
Force was the smartest man I had ever met and one of the toughest. Everything he did was carefully calculated so I didn’t understand why he would tell her to come here. The jobs and shit we did were dangerous. This was no place for someone like Lacie. Hudson was smart never to tell his daughter the truth, but Force couldn’t wait to share all the family secret’s before his dad wasn’t even cold in the ground.