by Erin Trejo
“Yeah, says that crunchy black burger last time you cooked.” Rolling her eyes, I chuckle to myself. This girl is the light in a lot of darkness. I never knew just how much having her around has changed us all.
When shit gets rough, Bella seems to pull us all out of the dark, and back into the light.
“Now, you know you could always do it yourself.” Pointing the tongs that I have in my hand at her, she puts her hand on her hip.
“Now that would be unfair. Remember that whole a woman’s place is in the kitchen thing? A man’s place is at the grill.” Shaking my head, I wonder how we ever survived without her around here.
“Then get that little ass in the kitchen. I want pasta, and only you know how to make it right.” Bella sticks her tongue out at me before turning and heading back inside.
“What the hell did you do to her?” Tank steps up next to me passing me a beer.
“Told her to get her ass in the kitchen.” Chuckling, I take a drink before looking back at the grill.
“I’m glad we’re doin’ this. We need to reconnect here. This club is comin’ apart Creed.” I look up at him and nod.
“I know brother. I haven’t taken my place very well lately. I know it needs to change though. We’re goin’ to get back on track.” I’ve thought a lot about this. I’ve looked at myself and the guys. We need to start fresh.
“We’ve all been off. None of us have pulled our weight around here. We need to fix that.” Ryker walks over with a smug ass grin on his face.
“What the hell are you smilin’ about?” Tipping his bottle at me, he shrugs.
“I just got the best dick suck of my life.” Shaking my head, I look at him. Nasty motherfucker puts his business out there for everyone to know.
“Ryker, why the hell did you think we needed to know that?” Tank blurts out loudly. Ryker tips his head to look at Tank before he grins.
“Come on asshole! You know you get that superb dick suck every once in a while. That one, where you have to tell the world about it.” His face is so serious I want to punch him.
“Oh shut the fuck up. You two are just jealous.” Ryker snaps at us as we watch him walk away with that giant ass grin on his face, I can’t help but laugh.
“You ever wonder what the hell happened to him when he was a baby.” Looking over at Tank, I lose it. I laugh like I haven’t laughed in a long time.
“Tank, I think there’s a lot that happened to that motherfucker when he was a baby. Look at him!” Both of us look over to see Ryker dancing like he’s lost his mind. I’m not sure the crazy fuck ever had one!
“Jesus Christ. Look what we have to look forward to.” We both laugh before I turn back to the grill.
It’s nice to laugh and be ourselves. That’s something we’ve been missing for a while now.
Chapter 52
Ryker
“Oh yeah! This is the shit right here.” Hell, I might be a little drunk right now, but I’m in a hell of a mood. Eating with the guy’s and Jersey is the best. I haven’t felt this energized in a long time.
“Bella! Get your ass over here.” She spins around to look at me like I’ve gone crazy. Yeah, that was long ago.
“Why are you yelling?” She walks over to me not looking all that amused. She’ll get happy, I’ll make her.
“Dance with me Bella.” Grabbing her hand, I pull her closer to me. The music is blasting from the speakers, just like the old times. The times when we had all of our guys here with us. The times when all we worried about was what kind of beer we were drinking.
“What’s wrong with you today?” Bella looks me in the eyes as I smile.
“I’m at peace Bella. I’ve been thinkin’ about shit. Life. We need to make this club stronger and we ain’t doin’ that. It needs to change.” Her smile lights up as she looks at me.
“My thoughts exactly. That’s why I made dad have the cook out.” Her smile widens, but mine fades.
“What? What’s wrong now Ryker?” She notices the shift in me. Hell, I notice it, and I don’t like it.
“I don’t know what I’m goin’ to do without you Bella. I don’t want to lose you.” Her smile never fades. It stays in place.
“Don’t think of it like that. I’ll be around Ryker. You can’t get rid of me that easily. Every time you feel the breeze blow, that’ll be me.” She leans in whispering that last part in my ear. I know what she’s saying, but that does little to ease the hurt.
“It’s comin’ Bella. I can feel it.” She smiles before nodding her head.
“I know.”
“The guys are goin’ to lose it. If I don’t, they will.” She pulls back to look at me, a now serious look in her eyes.
“You can’t let them Ryker. Promise me you won’t let them fall apart.” Her hands grip my shoulders before I smile at her. How could I say no to her?
“I promise Bella. I won’t let them fall apart, but you know that’s a big order. It hurt when Torch died but you, that shit’s goin’ to kill us.” I’m telling her the truth. It will break this club, I know it.
She may not see it, but I do. She’s the glue that holds us together here. It’s been that way since she came home.
“Shut up Ryker! This is happy time. Stop fucking with my happy mood.” Bella slaps the hell out me before I laugh.
“I didn’t know you had a happy mood.” I can’t help but mess with her. She makes it too easy for me.
“You know I have a happy mood! You are sending me into my pissed off mood though.” Her smile falls but not for long. She can’t pretend to be mad, it doesn’t work.
“Oh stop tryin’ to act mad. You know you love me.” Jersey’s hand touches my back. I know it’s her, I can feel her warmth.
“Not everyone loves you Ryker. Stop getting a big head.” Jersey giggles behind me. Bella laughs before I let her go to grab Jersey. Looking between the two of them laughing, I grab Bella again.
“Look at that. Two chicks that love me. I’m a lucky motherfucker.” They both laugh, but I don’t. I know now just how lucky I am. If I lose either one of them, I don’t know what’s going to happen to me.
Chapter 53
Tank
The party is pretty lively if I do say so myself. It’s nice to see the calmness back in place around here.
“Hey, Tank. Need to talk to you a minute.” Looking over, Creed has a serious look on his face. I don’t like it; I know what it means.
“Take Griff. I’ll be right back.” Kissing Cher, I pass Griff over to her before I follow behind Creed. He stops at the corner of the building, checking to see that no one else is near.
“Just got a call. Some of Griff’s boys said they saw Rit holdin’ up at that old motel on 1st street.” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I blow out a breath.
“Shit. They have any idea what they’re doin’?” Creed shakes his head before he speaks again.
“Nope. Said the bikes are lined up out front. Looks like he’s got a few more guys with him.” That doesn’t sound good. Besides the fact, that 1st street isn’t too far from us.
“What do you want to do?” Creed’s eyes come to meet mine, that old devilish look to them. I know exactly what he wants to do.
“You call in for back up? We’re runnin’ low without Torch, yeah?” Creed nods his head.
“I want to move, in the next hour. If they’re plannin’ on hittin’ us, we need to hit them first.” I agree with that. We’ve taken enough hits to last us a lifetime.
“Round the guys up. Let’s do this.” Creed slaps a hand on my shoulder before he walks off. I turn and head back over to Cher.
“You ok?” She smiles up at me, but I can’t smile back. The feeling of something going wrong is hitting me hard. I don’t like it.
“We have to take a run. I don’t know how long it will be.” Cher nods not looking all that happy about it, but she understands.
“Ok. Be careful. I love you.” Kissing her I pull back and kiss Griff on the head. Turning, I motion for Bella to co
me over here.
“Miss me already?” Her joking smile sets my heart at ease.
“Always baby girl. We’re headin’ out on a run. You keep an eye on those two?” Nodding over my shoulder at Cher and Griff, she shakes her head.
“Please. Cher is a big girl, dad.” Her smile lights up my insides.
“Yeah, but you know she gets out of hand. I love you.” Kissing her cheek, I pull her into a hug.
“Love you, too.” Pulling away from her just feels off.
I head inside to get shit together before we go. I don’t know what we’re looking at when get there, but I can assure you it won’t be good.
“You ready?” Ryker, the crazy son of a bitch is grinning ear to ear.
“Damn right I am.”
Chapter 54
Creed
We’re all geared up and ready to ride. The girls all know that the club is on lockdown until we get back. Leaving Piper there seemed like a good idea, even though he wanted in on the action. He can’t get in there as fast as we can.
“We’ll stop and set up a perimeter once we hit 1st. Once we see what we’re dealin’ with, we’ll move from there.” Everyone nods their heads ready for this. It’s like something has settled within us all. We will get payback for what they did, and we are ready. We round up and head toward the meeting spot. The rumble of the bikes sends a shiver throughout my body. Knowing that we are going to take these assholes out just fills me with the need for blood. I want to watch every little bit of life drain from their no good bodies.
Looking in my rear view mirrors, I smile. The guys are in formation behind me. They are all on edge and ready to finish this. This will officially close this chapter in our lives. We need to turn the page and start a new one, and I think this is the way to do it. Pulling up at our meeting spot, my heart is flipping in my chest. We cut the bikes engines before we stand in a circle.
“Hotel’s over that hill. We need guys on all sides. Coms are up and runnin’. I don’t want these motherfuckers to know we’re comin’. We scout it, we hit it. We hit it hard, and fast. Shoot to kill.” Everyone’s eyes light up. This is it. They know I mean business.
“You and your boys take the back and north side. Reggie, you take the south end. Me and my guys are hittin’ the front. No one makes a fuckin’ move until I say.” Everyone nods in agreement before we file out. My pulse pounds in my ears. Something inside of me tells me this is all wrong, but how can it be?
“All units in place?” Talking into the coms, I watch the hotel. There is no movement, which worries me.
“South is in place.” I hear Reggie confirm before I hear Timmy.
“North, in place.” Here we go. This is what it’s coming down to.
“Anyone see any movement?” Glancing over at Tank, I see the look on his face. Ryker has the same look in his eyes.
“This ain’t right Creed.” Ryker speaks softly, and I can feel it too.
“Fuckin’ bikes don’t look touched.” Looking through the binoculars again, he’s right.
“South side. Move in on room one. This shit’s not right.” We watch as Reggie moves into the first room. Kicking the door open I can hear him cursing.
“Empty. Checkin’ room two.” My heart is going to explode in my chest. I can hear Ryker next to me chanting.
“Come on, come on, come on.” Door two is kicked open.
“Empty! Son of a bitch!” We all jump up at the same time.
“GET BACK TO THE BIKES!”
Chapter 55
Bella
Wandering around the club without all the guys in it seems weird. It’s too quiet in here.
“Hey Piper. What are you doing?” Stopping at Uncle Creed’s office, I see Piper sitting inside.
“Nothin’ much darlin’. What are you up to?” Walking in, I smile at him. He’s the best old man I think I’ve ever met.
“Being bored. There isn’t shit to do when the guys are gone.” Piper chuckles before he stands from the chair he was in.
“That’s true. They always get to do the fun stuff.” Coughing a few times, he looks tired. Worn out.
“You Piper, are the best grandpa I ever had.” His smile is bright while he looks at me.
“I’m the only one you had.” He laughs making me laugh.
“I guess that’s true too. Hey, what’s that?” Catching movement on the screens next to me, Piper turns to look. His smile fades and so does mine.
“Dusts’. FUCK!” Piper starts grabbing guns from the cabinet before he tosses me one.
“Get the girls and kids downstairs Bella. Shoot to kill, understand?” Nodding my head, I grab two of the guns and run down the stairs.
“Jersey!” She comes out of the room with Ansley in her arms.
“What are you yelling about?” Her smile fades away as she looks at my face.
“Ambush. Get everyone downstairs, NOW!” Looking around, I don’t see anyone else.
“Everyone is down there already.” Pushing her toward the basement door, I open it pushing her through it. I’m glad I don’t have to chase them all around. I know the kids’ playroom is down there, so that’s where they mainly stay when the guys are out.
“Good. Lock the bottom door understand? Don’t fucking open it until you hear the guys.” I start to close the door when she stops me.
“Come down here, too.” Shaking my head slowly, I know what I have to do.
“Bella!” Jersey cries big tears but I shove the door closed, locking it. Running back toward the front I see Piper on his way out the door.
“Get in the fuckin’ basement Bella!” Shaking my head, I take a deep breath.
“We move into the tree line right there. We take out as many as we can. I’m dying anyway Piper. I know you know it, too.” Piper shakes his head before he starts to move. He has always looked at me differently. It’s as if he could feel me slipping away slowly. He knows it’s true.
“You go down; I go with you baby girl.” Smiling over at him, I know he’s about through, too. It’s like people can sense it in each other. Hiding in the tree line, I hear the rumble of the bikes coming down the road. Thank God, Creed put those cameras up.
“Sounds like only four bikes. What the hell?” Piper whispers to me and I know he’s right. He’s been around bikes his whole life.
“Should be easy enough.” Nudging him with my elbow, he smiles. Taking a deep breath, I’m ready. I’m ready for whatever my fate is. The bikes come into view when I step out first. Shots ring through the air. I watch two of the four fall to the ground before there’s return fire. Hell, I am a pretty damn good shot. Electricity shoots through my body. I can feel it. My fingers keep pulling on the triggers though, until I feel myself falling.
In a heap on the ground, I can feel it. The peacefulness. It doesn’t hurt, nothing hurts. I close my eyes.
Dying doesn’t hurt.
Chapter 56
Tank
I sit in the back of the church with my head in my hands. My baby lies in the front in a goddamn box. I never saw this coming. I just got her back, and now she’s gone. My heart has a hole in it. There is nothing left inside of me. Everything is void.
“You need to drink something.” Cher hands me a bottle of water but I just set it down next to me. “Tank, please.” Looking up at her red and swollen eyes, I want to cry again. I do, but there are no tears left. I’ve cried for several days straight. They didn’t stop, and I couldn’t make them if I tried. Losing a child is a pain no parent should ever have to feel. The emptiness, the loss of control you feel is overwhelming. Sorrow consumes you.
“I feel sick Cher. I can’t.” Her hands land on my shoulder as I bury my face in my hands again.
“You holdin’ up brother?” Looking up, I nod my head at Ryker. He hasn’t left my side for longer than a few minutes. I know how much he cared about Bella.
“She knew it was time, Tank.” What the hell does that mean? I snap my head up looking at him in confusion before he shakes his head.
“What do you mean?” Ryker blows out a breath before I stand up and look him in the eyes.
“She had cancer. She had it since she was little. It was in remission, but it came back. She said the doctor couldn’t do shit for it.” Shaking my head, that’s a fucking lie. She would have told me.
“She didn’t say anything.” Growing angrier by the second, my hands ball into fists.
“She didn’t want anyone to treat her any differently.” Rage and sorrow consume me. I don’t know what the hell to do.
“You knew my baby girl was dyin’, and you didn’t say shit?” Before he gets a chance to answer, I’m on him. My fists blaze to life from the pain of hitting Ryker. The sad thing is, he lays there and takes it. He isn’t fighting me back. He just takes what I need to give. It’s like a part of him knew I needed to take this out on someone, I needed a release. Hands yank me back before I look over and see Creed.
“Stop this shit!” Looking at him, I turn to look back down at Ryker. His face is bloodied, but the tears that stream through that blood are what kills me. It isn’t from the pain that I’ve inflicted on him. It’s the pain of losing his best friend. Reaching my hand out, I pull him up before jerking him into a hug.
“I’m so sorry Tank. I loved her too, brother.” Ryker’s tears rip me apart. More tears spring to my eyes. This is the hardest day of my life, and feeling the way Ryker trembles in my arms, it’s his too.
I don’t know how to live without her anymore. I lost her once, but I always knew she was out there. This time, she isn’t coming home. The reality of that shakes me to the core. My baby is gone, forever.
She isn’t coming home this time.
Chapter 57
Ryker
The babies and kids are all back at the clubhouse. We climb on our bikes with our old lady’s behind us as we get ready to leave the church. A somber feeling flows through the air, a peace that hasn’t been felt in a long time. A gentle breeze touches my skin, and I know it’s her. She told me, it would be her. The bikes all rev up at the same time. Jersey grips my waist as we start to move. Visions of Bella smiling slap me in the face as I close my eyes to keep the tears at bay. The hotel was empty. There was no one there. Rit and his boys set us up. We should have seen it coming. In fact, I think most of us felt it, but didn’t say anything. We all wanted so much to take them down, and didn’t care how we did it.