by Chiah Wilder
Sofia: U still there?
Wheelie: Ya. In church right now. I’m not mad. No worries.
Sofia: R u sorry about yesterday?
Fuck no, baby. Wheelie looked at Tigger once more, and this time he met his brother’s eyes. Wheelie lifted his chin at him then shifted his gaze to the phone.
Wheelie: Definitely not sorry.
Sofia: Me neither. Focus on church. Just wanted to make sure we’re good.
Were they good? Betraying a brother and risking getting his ass kicked out of the club was not his definition of good, but where Sofia was concerned, his damn brain turned to mush and he did stupid shit that he figured he’d regret later on. What the fuck’s up with you? She’s got a real hold of your cock. Dammit.
Wheelie: Gotta go. Later.
He turned off his phone and concentrated on what Banger was saying.
“I’ll need a few brothers to accompany me, Hawk, and Rock to San Diego. Panther, Jagged, Scratch, Breaker, and some of the other members are coming here next weekend to meet with us and go over the operations and such. We need to get there and make sure everything is in place according to our bylaws.”
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Wheelie asked Rags.
“Setting up the new chapter in San Diego. That’s all he and Hawk have been discussing since church started. Is your head up your ass?” Rags chuckled.
“Something like that,” Wheelie replied, anger nipping at him. He couldn’t let any chick interfere with the club, even if that woman was Sofia. I gotta get a grip and get my cock back on track. This shit’s important and I’m daydreaming about our kiss like a damn woman.
“After next weekend, we can decide who will join us to help get the club going.” Banger looked at Hawk. “Anything more on this?”
Hawk pushed away from the wall. “Panther and the others are gonna stay at the club for about five days. Next weekend we’ll have a blow-out party, and some of our other chapters will be coming. It’s important to the brotherhood to expand into California even though we’re gonna get some real resistance from the East Bay Dogs. They’re not a huge club and their network is small, so if they wanna start shit, we’ll stomp them out. Every officer and all members have to be at the party next Saturday. No fuckin’ excuses.”
“We never make excuses for boozing and fucking,” Tigger said as the members laughed in agreement.
Wheelie wished he could go over and punch Tigger’s smug face, but he just leaned back in the chair and shifted his gaze to the front of the room.
“I guess that’s all for now.” Banger picked up the gavel and brought it down on the wooden block. “Church is over.”
Voices, chairs scraping, and clumping boots on linoleum filled the room as the members filed out.
“You sticking around?” Throttle asked as he bumped into Wheelie.
“I guess. What about you?”
“Rags, Smokey, and me are going to Ruthie’s. You wanna join us?”
“The special’s chicken-fried steak with biscuits.” Wheelie chuckled.
“You got it, dude. Rags has been talking about it all fuckin’ day. You in?”
“Yeah. Let me just grab a beer and I’ll meet you over there.” He went over to the bar and picked up the bottle Hog put in front of him. Hog glanced over at Throttle and he lifted his chin, and in a flash, a shot of Jack slid toward Throttle.
Rags came over and leaned against the bar, a beer bottle in his hand. “Smokey’s having some fun with the new girl, Charlotte. He told me if he’s not at Ruthie’s in a half hour then to start without him. Can’t say I blame him. Charlotte is all kinds of sexy.” He took a long drink then looked at Wheelie. “How come you haven’t tried her or Tania out?”
The club had recently added two new club girls to their rooster of seven, and Charlotte, with her long blonde hair and blue eyes, was extremely popular with the brothers. Tania, dark, curvy, and sultry as hell was every man’s fantasy, and she kept busy making sure the members were well-satisfied. Wheelie wasn’t interested in either of them. The only woman he wanted had dark brown hair and the most amazing green eyes he’d ever seen.
“You not interested in the new chicks?” Throttle asked as he picked up another shot of whiskey.
“I’ve been too damn busy with the car wash. You know how demanding a business is, especially when you first open it.”
Rags and Throttle nodded in agreement. They’d started their landscaping business a few years before, and they remembered how many long hours they put into it in the beginning to get it up and running. And even now, with several employees, they still work long hours.
“When I come back after a twelve-hour day, getting lost in Melanie’s or Lola’s pussy is the only thing I look forward to.” Rags laughed.
“I remember those days,” Throttle said, bringing the glass to his lips. “But now I can’t wait to get home to Kimber.” He chuckled as if thinking about something he was only privy to. He threw back his shot.
“The brothers from San Diego are gonna have a good time with Charlotte and Tania.” Rags lightly punched Wheelie in the arm. “Fuck, dude. You don’t know what you’re missing with Tania. She’s damn hot.”
Wheelie glanced over at one of the new girls and watched as she rubbed her voluptuous body against Tigger while he ran his hands up over her rounded ass. He turned and faced the bar.
“Dude, you need to fuck one of the women and get over this pansy-assed shit you have with Sofia,” Throttle said as Rags mumbled “He’s fuckin’ right.”
“We going to Ruthie’s or what?” Wheelie put his empty bottle down on the bar.
Rags and Throttle followed suit, and the three of them strode out of the club.
* * *
Ruthie, the owner of the diner, escorted the three men to their favorite booth at the back of the restaurant next to the picture window. She handed them menus and laughed when they handed them back.
“I should’ve known better. I’d guess you know the menu better than I do.” Ruthie gathered them up. “You want coffee and water?”
“Sounds good. You still got enough of the chicken-fried steak?” Rags asked. Specials sold out fast, and Ruthie’s chicken-fried steak and fried chicken were the ones that sold out the quickest.
“We do. You came early enough this time, but just to be sure, I’ll put your order in now. All three of you want the special?” They nodded. “I’ll have Brenda bring you coffee and water.” Ruthie made her way to the kitchen.
“Brenda’s gonna be happy to see you, dude,” Rags said, pulling out several napkins from the dispenser.
“She asks about you every time we come here,” Throttle added.
Wheelie shrugged and took out his phone and turned it on. He saw a missed call from his mom and one that had nothing but zeroes which indicated to him that it had probably come from the state pen. “Looks like Diesel called me.”
“When’s he getting out?” Rags asked.
“By the end of the year. He can’t fuckin’ wait. First thing he wants to do is go to Big Rocky’s and get the biggest platter of ribs, links, and smoked chicken the cook can drum up.” Wheelie laughed.
“Here are your drinks,” Brenda said as she put down the coffee mugs and water glasses. “Hiya, Wheelie. How’ve you been?” She threw him a big smile and tugged at her uniform, pulling it down even further than it was. Her ample cleavage stared Wheelie in the face, and the scent of her gardenia perfume swept over him.
“Been busy. How’ve you been?”
“Okay, I guess. I’ve been doing a lot of doubles. It seems like all I do is work. I’m getting antsy to do something real wild and fun.” Her tongue skimmed her lips quickly. “What do you do for fun?”
“Hang with my brothers.” He stirred some cream into his coffee then brought the mug to his mouth.
“Don’t you ever want to do something different?” Brenda folded her arms under her large breasts.
“Not really.”
“Miss? Do you have a ra
g? My son spilled his Coke,” a woman said at a table kitty-corner to their booth.
Brenda craned her neck then looked back at Wheelie. “I’ll be back in a few. Ruthie took all of your orders, right?”
“Yeah,” Throttle said. She whirled around and went over to the table.
“She’s so fuckin’ hot for you, dude.” Rags shook his head and grabbed two packets of sugar.
“Let’s not start any shit up about her or any other chick, okay? If I was into her, I’d have fucked her already. I’m not. It’s not a big deal. You’ve turned down a few chicks because you weren’t into them, so it’s the same for me.”
“Yeah, but they didn’t look like Brenda. She’s so fuckin’ ripe, bro. I wish she were into me. I wouldn’t waste the chance.”
“You’re too damn skinny,” Throttle said. “Women like her have a thing for the buffed guys.”
“I’m buffed.” Rags bent his arm, showing off his muscles. “I’m just naturally thin.” Throttle and Wheelie guffawed.
By the time the three men finished their dinners, Brenda had given Wheelie her phone number, written down her working schedule for the next two weeks, and slipped him a free slice of peach pie. Rags was bursting with envy and all Wheelie wanted to do was go over to Sofia’s house and hold her in his arms while he kissed her deeply. I have it real bad for her.
Smokey came in just as they were about to slide out of the booth.
“You still got the special, darlin’?” he asked Brenda, winking at her.
She brushed her fingertips across his forearm and shook her head. “We’re all out, but the meatloaf is real good.”
He glanced at her hand then at her face; he smiled and slipped into the booth next to Throttle. “Biscuits gone too?”
“I can get you a couple.” She licked her lips. “So, would you like the meatloaf?”
“Yep.”
When Brenda walked away, Rags settled back against the cushion. “We didn’t think you were coming.”
“I worked up an appetite.” He sniggered.
“Charlotte has a way of doing that.” Rags motioned the busser for a coffee refill.
“Yeah, but nothing like Tania. If I’d been fucking her, I’d never have made it. She’s something else. You gotta try her,” he said to Wheelie.
Brenda came back with four fresh cups of coffee, and she smiled at Smokey and winked at Wheelie. All of a sudden, Wheelie wanted to get on his bike and ride for a long time to clear his mind. His dick was reacting to Brenda, but his mind wouldn’t have any of it. For the past few months, he hadn’t been with any woman partly because he was working like hell on the new business, but also because he’d started feeling isolated during and after hookups even when he really liked the woman. For years, the passionate rush of casual, rowdy sex fueled him, but now it just left him empty and wanting something more. He couldn’t pinpoint what more was, but he knew fucking the club girls, hoodrats, and random citizens wasn’t cutting it anymore.
Wheelie pushed his cup away from him. “I’m gonna make sure everything’s locked up at the car wash then head home.”
“You’re not going back to the club? We got some strippers from Dream House heading over to entertain us. Some brothers from Fort Collins are coming by,” Smokey said.
“I feel like a ride. I’m sure the strippers will be there next weekend for the San Diego brothers. I’ll catch them then.” Wheelie slid out of the booth.
Looking at Throttle and Rags, Smokey shook his head. “What about you two?”
“I’m going out with my old lady,” Throttle said, glancing at his phone.
“I’m in,” Rags said, stirring his coffee.
Wheelie threw down twenty-five dollars. “That should take care of my share with tip. Later.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he ambled toward the front door.
“Wheelie,” Brenda said as she hurried toward him. “Don’t forget to call me. I’d love to go to one of your parties. I hear they’re wild, and you guys know how to have a good time.” She paused a breath and added, “I’m also down with pizza and a movie.”
“I’m pretty busy right now, and I don’t usually go out with citizens.” Wheelie opened the front door and turned away from Brenda’s crestfallen face. Looking over his shoulder, he offered a small smile. “I’m just being honest. Give Rags a chance. He’s really into you.”
“And you’re not?”
“It’s nothing personal. I’ll see you around.” The door closed behind him, and he walked over to his Harley.
“Wheelie, hold up a minute.”
He turned around and saw Tigger approaching him while Skeet, Cruiser, and Bones walked into the diner. Wheelie cursed his bad timing as he put on his sunglasses. “What’s up?” he asked Tigger.
“You headed back to the club?” Tigger wiped his shaved head with a do-rag.
“Nope.”
“It’s damn hot today,” Tigger said, mopping his face with the black bandana.
“Yeah.”
“I wanted to ask you to help my old lady out when I’m gone for the poker run. I’ll be away for about six days, and I don’t want her out on her own. So, if you could help out with taking her to the grocery store and whatnot, that’d be cool. You know, like the last time.”
“Hawk told me Cara’s gonna help out with that shit.”
“Yeah, he mentioned that to me, but I don’t want Cara alone with my old lady. I’m not crazy about her. She’s a troublemaker, and I don’t need her putting her feminist ideas into Sofia’s head. I can’t believe Hawk hooked up with Cara. What the fuck was he thinking?”
Wheelie jutted out his jaw. “She’s all right. She’s done a lot for the club. Look at the mess she got us and the Night Rebels out of in Sturgis.”
Tigger stuffed his do-rag into his pocket. “I’m not saying she’s not a good attorney, but she’s too fuckin’ independent. Hawk’s the last person I thought would end up with a career woman who thinks she knows everything. I know she’s trying to cause trouble between me and my old lady, and I won’t stand for that, even if the bitch is the old lady of our vice president.” Blotches of red stained Tigger’s face as he spoke.
“Why would Cara want to cause trouble for you? I can see Doris meddling, but Cara doesn’t seem like the type.” She knows you’re a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve Sofia.
“I just feel it in my gut. I’m good with my intuition. Anyway, I don’t want her near my old lady, so I’m asking you to be there for Sofia while I’m away.”
So much for your intuitions. “Sure, I’ll help out.”
Tigger clasped Wheelie’s shoulder. “Thanks, dude. You were great when I was in the pen. I owe you. I’m gonna ask Bear, Puck, and Blade to help out too, so you can have a break. I don’t want any brother with an old lady involved. I don’t trust any of the bitches.”
“I heard Puck and Blade are going on the run too. Shadow and Smokey will be around.”
“I didn’t know that. I’ll ask Smokey, but I don’t like the way Shadow looks at Sofia. I don’t trust him. Make sure my bitch behaves, okay?”
A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. “Sure.”
“Thanks, bro. I knew I could count on you.” Tigger lifted his chin and glanced at the diner. “Is Brenda working?”
“Yeah.”
A huge grin spread across Tigger’s face. “Fuck, yeah. I’ll let you go. See you later.” He turned and walked away.
Wheelie stood watching him enter the diner, a mixture of emotions swirling inside him. His brother trusted him to watch Sofia, but Tigger was a sonofabitch who hurt the woman who occupied his mind and his heart. The desire and affection he had for her was a slow burn that started several years before when the two of them had become friends on their rides to the state penitentiary. Wheelie had fought it hard and suspected Sofia had too, and when things started going to shit with her and Tigger, the hatred and anger Wheelie felt toward his brother threatened to destroy both of them. So … he backed way the hell off. Then he went t
o Steeler’s a couple of weeks before, and all his resolve seeped away when he saw Sofia. After they’d kissed the day before, all Wheelie wanted was Sofia all the fucking time.
“Dammit!” He pounded the handlebars on his Harley. “What a fuckin’ mess!” He swung his leg over the leather seat and straddled the bike as it roared to life. He backed out of the parking space and sped away.
When he arrived at the car wash, everything was quiet. He checked all the doors to make sure they were locked then went back to his bike and took out his phone.
Wheelie: Hey. U doing good?
He knew Tigger was still at the diner, and the way the jerk was obsessed with Brenda’s tits, Wheelie figured he’d be there for a while then go back to the club to fuck one of the club girls. From some of the things Sofia had said to him, Wheelie didn’t think Tigger and she were having sex, which surprised him but made him glad. Knowing Tigger, he was positive the reason he left her alone was to punish her. He’s such a sick fuck.
Sofia: Hi! Surprised to hear from u. I’m good now.
Wheelie shook his head and let out a deep sigh. What the fuck am I doing? He stared at her message for several minutes.
Sofia: R u still there?
Wheelie: Ya. U like Rodney Atkins, right?
From their long drives to the state pen for her visits with Tigger, he’d found out she shared his love for country music in addition to rock and metal. Sofia had told him that Tigger hated country music and wouldn’t let her listen to it if he was around.
Sofia: I love him. Why?
Wheelie: He’s doing a show in Roaring Fork. Wanna go? It’s in a couple of wks.
Sofia: Yes!!! Tigger will be out of town, right?
Wheelie read the text a few times then glanced away. I’m trying to date a brother’s wife. Fuck. But it was more than that. He wanted to see the light in her eyes again. Over the past few years, it had gone out, and that saddened him. He also wanted Sofia to be happy, to enjoy life, and he knew Tigger went out of his way to make sure she didn’t.