It was the only life I knew. The only family I had now, was my brother, who was living by himself, trying to get through high school without spiraling out of control the way our parents had, or most of the kids in our neighborhood.
I worked hard and I saved money and my intention was to put my brother through college. My hope was that at least one of us, would have the liberty to choose the kind of life they really wanted to lead. At least my brother would have a shot at ‘normal’.
After the Marines, especially after my tour in Iraq; I’d felt like I had no direction any more. I knew how people looked at me. I was a big thug, dangerous looking and war torn, and yes, Iraq had torn me and I knew I was spiraling out of control. My rage and my nightmares had overtaken my life. The Rogue Rebels and my brothers at the MC had given me the direction I needed.
I was good at this. It was the only life I knew. After I quit the marines, and before I found the MC; I could feel myself descending into the abyss of the life that my drug addict mother and my drunk father led. It was what I had been brought up around, it was the only ‘normal’ I had known. These days, I was grateful that neither my brother, nor I saw much of either of our parents. It was some relief to leave our childhoods behind.
Now when I woke up at night, from a nightmare about dead children and the blast of landlines going off in the distance—I knew that I had my own band of brothers here to work with. At the MC we were doing good work. I didn’t give a shit about what the law said. We lived by our own rules and a moral code of conduct. We didn’t pick our battles with civilians and we made sure that none of our work affected women or children.
We drank a lot, rode our bikes, had each other’s backs and made money. This was the life I had chosen for myself, and it was the best life I could have hoped for.
I heard Elwood’s voice now; commanding and firm, as he invited me to enter.
He was sitting behind his large desk when I went in, and he tipped his head at me as a nod.
“You asked to see me?” I said to him, as I approached his desk. I was excited at the prospect of new responsibilities. Elwood knew I did good work at the MC. I was his strongest man and I was a damn good shot.
“Sit down, Girth, we need to talk,” Elwood said and I did as I was told. Following orders and doing what I was told was a value that was instilled in me by the military. A habit that was pretty hard to shake off. But following orders worked well at the MC too, and Elwood was aware of it.
He took in a deep breath now as he fixed his eyes on me. Was he going to make me responsible for the new weapons shipments coming in?
“You know the Marked Skulls?” he asked and I crossed my brows in confusion.
“Up in Orlando?” I asked, referring to a small MC in Florida that I had heard about in passing. They were probably less than half the size of us, and didn’t wield much control in Orlando either. As far as I knew, they dealt in petty businesses like stolen cars and shit. I had no idea why Elwood was talking about them.
“Yeah, the very one. You know, their Captain, Lewis, he and I go way back. We used to be in the same MC together in our twenties. He’s a pal,” Elwood explained and I nodded my head.
“The Storm Rebels?” I asked and Elwood nodded and smiled, like he was thinking about the good ol’ days.
“Mad bastard. I’ve never seen any man walk into a rain of bullets like that guy, and he always emerged untouched from a fight. Don’t know how he did it,” Elwood continued with a faint smile on his face, and I still had no idea why he was telling me about the captain of the Marked Skulls.
“Why’d he move to Florida?” I asked and Elwood sighed.
“Oh, the usual. He married his old lady, who wanted him to leave his MC life behind. He probably wouldn’t have, if she didn’t get pregnant. They had a daughter and his old lady finally wore him down. He moved to Florida to start a new life,” Elwood explained and I smiled.
“And he started a new MC there instead,” I added and Elwood smiled too.
“Yeah, but only after his old lady died. Poor guy’s been raising that daughter of his all by himself,” Elwood shook his head and clucked his tongue. I could see that he still felt connected with his friend and I thought I could imagine what that might feel like. I’d have felt the same way about brothers from the MC too.
“Anyway, so, his daughter is all grown up now. Twenty-three, is what Lewis told me, and apparently, a real firecracker,” Elwood continued and I stared at him, hoping he would get to the point soon.
“She talks like her mother now, nagging poor Lewis about the MC and the likes,” Elwood said with a laugh. I had never been much of a gossip, and this was a ton of useless gossip that wasn’t going to do me any good. What did the captain of the Marked Skulls in Florida, or his twenty-three year old daughter have anything to do with me?
Then the smile from Elwood’s face dropped and he fixed his eyes on me again.
“There was a hit on her,” he said flatly and leaned over the table towards me.
“On Lewis’ daughter?” I asked.
“Yeah, Lila is her name. A rival MC took a shot at her, in the middle of the day, in downtown Orlando. Can you fucking believe that?” Elwood said and shook his head.
“That’s fucked up. We don’t touch the women,” I stated and Elwood nodded his head and took in a deep breath.
“Exactly. I don’t blame Lewis for losing his shit over this. His precious daughter, his only child, and someone wants her dead to teach him a lesson,” Elwood said and he was looking at me firmly again.
I could sense that something big was coming. Elwood was about to drop a bomb.
“He needs my help with protection. Lila needs a twenty-four hour bodyguard, and there isn’t anyone better to do it than you,” he said.
* * *
Elwood wanted me to be a personal bodyguard to a woman I didn’t know. Someone’s daughter, neither of whom I’d met. They didn’t even belong to our MC. I felt no sense of loyalty towards this guy Lewis, or his daughter, but I could see that Elwood did and that should have been good enough for me.
This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I imagined Elwood having brand new responsibilities lined up for me.
“You want me to go to Orlando?” I asked and Elwood smirked as he leaned over the table. I sensed that he could hear the dismay in my voice at the news.
“Who better to do it?” he asked, and I had no response to that. I was flattered that Elwood considered me up for the task, and that he had confidence in my abilities. However, it wasn’t much of a task to begin with was it? Protecting a woman.
“Well, I don’t…” I began to say and Elwood shook his head and smiled.
“I know, Girth, what you’re going to say. You don’t think that it’s wise of me to use my resources this way. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to get rid of you. You are a valuable asset to this MC and this isn’t an easy decision for me. But I want to do right by my friend. He’s asked for help and this is the best way I can,” he continued and I tried to push down the lump that had formed in my throat.
What Elwood basically wanted me to do was to join a new MC.
“How long?” I asked, in a deep gruff voice.
“For as long as it takes for Lila to feel safe again. As long as it takes Lewis to end this shitstorm that he’s created,” Elwood replied, holding my gaze. I wanted to look away, I wanted to run a hand through my scruffy dark beard, but I didn’t want him to see my hesitation. I didn’t want Elwood to witness me hesitating in following orders, no matter how much I didn’t want to do it.
“And all I have to do is follow this girl around all day?” I asked and Elwood sat back in his chair again and smiled.
“I know what you’re thinking, Girth, that this is a task for a fresh-faced new member, who can’t handle the big stuff,” Elwood said and I clenched my jaws. That was exactly what I was thinking.
“I want Lila to be safe, just like Lewis does. She’s my Godchild,” Elwood revealed and
finally, I could see where he was coming from. This girl wasn’t just the daughter of an old friend, Elwood felt partly responsible for her safety too.
“I haven’t seen this girl in a decade, but I remember her as a small naive little kid with a snappy big mouth, but she’s precious,” he continued and I had no other choice but to nod my head.
“You’re the best protection I can give that girl,” he added and I nodded my head again.
“I’ll do it. I’ll leave for Orlando today,” I said and stood up from my chair. Elwood stood up from his too.
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” he said and held out his hand for me to shake.
“Nobody is going to replace you here, Girth, and no matter how long it takes, when you come back, you’ll have your old place back,” Elwood said and I nodded.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe,” I replied.
“Lewis and his brothers will be waiting for you,” Elwood told me and I turned and walked out of his office.
The bar was empty this early in the morning. My brothers were all in their homes, recovering from last night’s hangovers. Hell, I could feel a headache coming on as well. I knew I had to leave for Orlando right away, it was going to be a long ride. It also meant that I wouldn’t have the time to say my goodbyes.
I walked out of the bar and got on my bike. I was going to ride back to my apartment, pack the handful of possessions I had in a duffel bag and then ride to Orlando.
If this task was going to be successfully completed in the shortest time possible, I would have to help the Marked Skulls eliminate the threat. That was the only way I could ensure that Lila Lewis could feel safe again, and that way, I could return to my own MC quickly.
Whatever and whoever was trying to get to Lila, would have to pay and then be destroyed.
I rode to my apartment and packed my bag. It was all done in a matter of twenty minutes. I looked around the place I’d been living in for the past three years, the space that had grown on me. I’d always considered myself a wayfarer, I didn’t want to call this apartment my home, but the truth was that it had become home.
Bound for Orlando, I jumped on my bike and pulled out my cell phone from the pocket of my pants. I sent a quick text to my brothers, to tell them I was leaving for Orlando on Elwood’s command. I hoped that in that one-sentence text, my brothers would get a sense of what I really wanted to say; that I would miss them.
3
Lila
I was in my bedroom, sitting on the carpet with my back to the door.
I couldn’t tell if I was shivering because I was cold; even though I had no reason to be, or if I was just afraid. Still afraid. When would I stop being afraid?
Before the shooting, despite leading a rather unusual lifestyle, I had a pretty ‘normal’ life. It was the normal I knew and it was the life that my dad had worked very hard to give me. He hadn’t spared me any luxuries, and he wanted me to live well. Even though I hung out with the members of his MC, and I worked at the auto body shop, Daddy had managed to keep me far away from the violence and the life of crime that he and his friends had been involved with.
Now, that I had gotten a taste of his life on the outside; I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I’d had a brush with death and there was no way I could just forget about it.
Now I could hear the boys outside in my house, walking around, opening cans of beer and talking loudly. Since the day before, since the shooting; they hadn’t left me alone or let me have a moment to myself. There was always somebody in my house, either my dad and Fred, or Rodeo and Abe, or somebody else from the MC.
This was exactly the reason why I had bought this cottage on the other side of town, miles and miles away from the auto shop and the bar and where everyone else lived. I wanted to keep that aspect of my life—my association with my dad and the MC, separate from my personal life. Living this far away made it difficult for the others to keep coming to my place.
Now however, they had a reason to and they just refused to leave me alone.
I was afraid. No matter how many guns I saw around the bar, or the guns I saw in dad’s house or the ones that were openly stuffed into Rodeo and Abe’s belts…I had never imagined that a gun would ever be pointed at me.
Someone had taken a shot at me in broad daylight, in the middle of a crowd. That bullet had left me unharmed, but it could have killed me. It could have killed any of the other people around me on the road.
I had always assumed that despite everything, my dad would be able to keep this away from me. Never, not once, had I thought that my life could be in danger, and that was all that I was thinking about now.
I knocked the back of my head against the door and pressed my eyes closed. What kind of a life was this for me to lead? When I was afraid to step out of my house! When I was too scared to go meet the kids at the foster care center? I’d had to cancel our ice cream outing at the last minute because I was shaken up. And since then, I hadn’t been able to leave the house. I had responsibilities, and it killed me to know that I couldn’t live up to them.
“Lila, mouse, sweetheart, will you come out and talk to us?” it was my dad knocking on the door again. They’d been trying to get me out of my bedroom the whole morning, but I didn’t want to see them.
All I wanted to do was remain locked up in this room, till all of this blew over. But when was it going to blow over? Was I ever going to be safe? I was horrified at the thought that I would never be able to go anywhere by myself, that I would never be able to walk down the road alone. I was afraid and depressed at the thought that I might always be looking over my shoulder.
“Lila!” dad’s knocks became stronger and I remained silent, sitting on the same spot by the door. I didn’t want to see him, I didn’t want to see any of the guys. I was mad at all of them for putting me in this position.
I hadn’t been able to eat or sleep or take a shower, go to work or go to the foster care center since this happened. And I hated feeling helpless.
“Lila! I’m going to have to ask Rodeo to break down this door if you don’t come out here and talk to us!” dad sounded fake-mad. I knew he was trying to be firm with me, but I also knew that he was as shaken up.
My dad couldn’t imagine that someone had taken a shot at his precious daughter. That I had been inches away from my death…and it was all because of him, and because of the things that he had chosen to get us involved in.
“Okay, Rodeo is here and he’s going to break down this door. So, stand back, Lila!” dad yelled and I stood up from the floor with a huff.
I jiggled the doorknob and pulled the door open. Outside, I found dad standing, staring at me with a worried expression on his face. He was flanked by Rodeo and Fred on either side.
“What do you fucking want from me?” I screeched. I could feel the veins on my neck, throbbing and pulsating with rage. I knew that my cheeks were tear stained. My hair was a mess. I was still in my pajamas and I hadn’t bothered to change out of them.
“Lila, mouse, just come out here so we can talk to you,” dad said, in a soft voice, like I was a child.
“What could you possibly have to say to me?” I screeched and dad took in a deep breath and shook his head.
“We’re all very sorry that this happened to you, mouse, and I can promise you that we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. You trust me right? You trust Daddy?” he continued and reached for my hand, which I yanked away from him.
“No, dad, in fact I don’t trust you at all. Or your ability to keep me safe. I almost got killed yesterday because of the shit you’re involved in. Mom was right. Mom should have left you and taken me far away from you when she had the chance!” I kept yelling. I wasn’t thinking straight as I spoke. I knew that the things I was saying were hurtful and despite everything, dad didn’t deserve to hear any of this.
I could see the embarrassed expression on Rodeo’s face. He clenched his jaws and walked away from us, assuming that it was a family matter and that we needed our p
rivacy. Fred still remained there.
Dad hadn’t said anything, I knew that he couldn’t. He was blaming himself for everything that had happened.
“Lila, I know you’re sorry for what you just said. Let’s sit down and have a drink and talk this over,” Fred said, in a soft affectionate voice.
I knew I’d hurt dad, so I followed them to the kitchen, where Rodeo was already cracking open a few cans of beer. They sat down around the kitchen table, but I remained standing—in order to show my non compliance.
“Lila, sit down, mouse,” dad said, in a low gruff voice and I crossed my arms over my breasts instead.
“What do you want to discuss? I was there, I know what happened. I was shot at because you’ve pissed people off!” I barked at him, and he exchanged looks with Fred, who was cradling a can of beer in his hands.
“I know you’re upset, sweetheart, and you should be. You’ve had a shock,” dad said.
“I nearly died! It’s more than just about having a shock. You almost got your daughter killed!” I screamed and I watched as dad ran his hand through his thinning grey hair. I thought I detected his hand shaking. I had never seen my dad’s hands shaking! He had always been the picture of strength and anger. I wished I could feel sorry for him, and see things from his perspective—but I couldn’t. He had made me a prisoner in my own home.
“Okay, Lila, why don’t you sit down and we can discuss how to go about this,” Fred interjected and I turned my angry eyes to him.
“How to go about what? I’m afraid to leave my house. I’m afraid to go to work or to the foster care center. I’m afraid to do anything or lead my normal life!” I continued yelling.
“It’s only been a day, Lila, you’ll feel better in a few hours, maybe tomorrow,” Rodeo said and I rolled my eyes at him. I couldn’t imagine feeling better. I couldn’t imagine feeling safe anywhere or with anyone ever again.
“And you shouldn’t be afraid of leaving the house, Lila, you should go to work and do the things you want to do,” Fred continued and I shook my head. They didn’t understand. This was their life. I didn’t even want to know how many times they got shot at on a daily basis. But this wasn’t my life. This wasn’t the life I had chosen for myself.
Marked Skulls MC Series: Books 1-5 Page 2