Jessamy Chapter 12
I couldn’t believe the day we had. The ride from point to point along the poker run had been long. In total, it stretched a hundred miles. At each stop, there were booths for us to get drinks and snacks as well as to pick up a playing card. It was literally a poker hand you were building. Each person who entered paid an entrance fee, and if they had a passenger who wanted to form a hand, they also paid a fee. I was okay with letting Mace do it. However, he and the other Pagans bought in for a second poker hand for the ladies, even if we didn’t play. They explained it was for a good cause.
It was thrilling to be part of such a large group of bikes. By the time we pulled into our final stop, the campgrounds in Lenoir, I was ready for a rest. My butt wasn’t used to the riding. Atticus and Rune had gone ahead of us and claimed the campsite the club had rented. We were planning to stay the night and party with their friends. Tons of other clubs and free-riding bikers would stay as well.
Natalya had ridden down with Rune in one of the vehicles. According to Mace, since things were going to be wild, the kids were left at home. Tana, Austin, and Micah, friends of Eliana’s that the club had befriended, offered to watch the kids so the women could go. I liked what I saw when I met those two before we left. The kids were in good hands.
Our site was covered in tents surrounding a portable firepit and a couple of grills. There was a fifth-wheel camper for Natalya to sleep in. No one expected a pregnant woman to sleep on the hard ground. Coolers had been packed and brought with us. Even though there would be food available to purchase, we knew the men would want even more after the poker run’s food stalls packed up for the night.
I was getting a crash course in the biker world and how many others dressed. The women had warned me, and even though I had a few outfits that I thought were rather skimpy, they didn’t compare to what I was seeing on some. They reminded me of Christie and the other bunnies. Thankfully, they weren’t asked to join us. Other women were dressed in jeans and T-shirts.
After seeing the first bunch, I was more comfortable with my top. While some were in minuscule shorts and skirts, we’d been smarter than to ride that way. Jeans and boots were a must. Even though it had been warm, I’d also had a light jacket on. But the newest addition was the part of my outfit I loved the most. I hugged it close.
Last night at the clubhouse, Mace had given me what he insisted was a must for the ride. I had teared up when he presented me with a property cut. Reading the words Property of Mace along with Pagan Souls was terrific. To see that he put Madonna on the front made it even better. I’d kissed him repeatedly.
I asked him how it was possible he got it so fast. He admitted he’d ordered it before I said yes last weekend. He hoped I’d say yes before the charity run and wanted to be prepared. When I asked why, he told me it was safest for me to wear one, and I wasn’t to take it off while we were there. And that I was to remain with the group and not go off alone.
That scared me. He assured me that most wouldn’t touch a woman even without one, but they didn’t know everyone who would attend. They only trusted themselves and their friends. I promised I’d wear it and stick with him or the others.
Seeing how many people were there, I was glad I had it. The poker hands were turned in at a central booth. The one with the best hand would be announced later, earning a cash prize. The sponsors had food and merch stands set up along with a stage where a band would soon start playing. Most of the proceeds from those sales would also go to the charity.
After stowing our stuff in our tent, he took me out to see what all there was. As we walked, we began to run into people he knew. It was insane to see how many people were there from the clubs he’d told me about that they claimed as friends. I knew I’d meet all of them tomorrow and on Sunday, but it was still enough to make my head swim.
I felt like letting loose and not worrying about anything. Mace encouraged me to do it. He said he’d make sure I was safe. I wasn’t a huge alcohol drinker, but I did like to drink occasionally. When I did, I’d either drink beer or mixed drinks. I had more fun as the evening wore on and the band played. I danced with not only the Pagan ladies but several from the other clubs. Natalya sat on the sidelines with Knight, and she cheered us on.
It was dark, and some of the bikers and their families had left. The food stalls were shutting down, but the drink ones were still open. I noted some people were getting amorous, and I was expecting them to start having sex right in front of us. When I mentioned it to Mace, he smirked and said some would. My immediate response was to think hell no, but as I thought about it, I found the thought made me hot. I’d never had sex where anyone could watch.
I was still thinking about it when I realized I was close to bursting with the need to go to the bathroom. Mace was talking to a couple of guys from the Warriors on the other side of our campsite. Seeing Atticus, I rushed over to him.
“Atticus, I’ve got to go to the bathroom. It’s urgent,” I informed him.
He glanced around and spotted Mace, and he nodded. As we walked off, he had his phone out, texting. “Who’re you texting?” I asked.
“Mace. If he looks up and can’t find you, he’ll freak the fuck out. Lucky for us, we aren’t far from one of the port-a-potties. Are you having fun?” he asked.
“I am. I didn’t expect it to be like this, but it’s been a blast. What about you? It has to suck that you guys have to work so much.”
“It’s not bad. It’s all for a good reason. As long as it gets me a step closer to my patch, then I don’t care. I can party after that happens.”
“How long until you know?”
“I’ve been at it for fifteen months. They’re having people prospect for a year and a half to two years, so anytime during that time. Of course, they can let me go, too.”
“I don’t see that happening, Atticus. I’ve only been here a short time, but you do a great job from what I can see. Tell them to talk to me if they want more votes for you.”
It made him crack a smile. “I will. Here we were. Go do your thing. I’ll be right here,” he said as he opened the door to one of the potties.
I went inside and did a pee-pee dance, getting my jeans and panties down. It was a relief to let it go. I’d waited too long. Thank goodness it had a light so I could see. They had a hand sanitizer dispenser inside so that I could clean my hands afterward. As I stepped out to tell him I was all done, I ran into the middle of a showdown.
Atticus was where I left him, but there were three guys facing him. They were dressed like most others, like bikers. I couldn’t see their club colors to know which club they were with, but based on the way Atticus was standing all tense, they weren’t friends with the Pagans.
“Jessamy, stay behind me. Call your old man,” he said softly to me.
My hands shook as I took out my phone. One of the men said, “I wouldn’t do that, sweetheart.”
I raised my eyes to him, but I was one of those people who could text without looking. I’d never been this thankful that I was. I’d gotten Mace’s name pulled up before I looked at the man, so I slyly typed the text as I held the phone to my side.
Me: 911. At port-a-potty. Men here. Hurry.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” I asked. I felt my phone vibrate, but I couldn’t risk looking at it. I knew I had to stall.
“Who we are isn’t your concern. What we want is you. If this prospect knows what’s good for him, he’ll let us take you. It’ll save him a beating,” the same one replied.
All three were greasy-haired, with big bellies hanging over their belts. I couldn’t see them too clearly, but each had an ugly grin on his face. The one talking had a deeply pocked face. Another had a scar down his left cheek.
“Well, that’s not happening. She’s an old lady to a Pagan Soul. You touch her, and her old man will tear you apart,” Atticus warned them.
The one with the scar laughed. “We’re not afraid of a Pagan Soul. Your club is a tiny one that we’ve never worried about. Our club will wipe the floor with yours. We take what we want, and we want her.” He leered at me.
“You should be afraid because it’s not just our club you have to worry about,” Atticus said.
I knew if they rushed him at once, he wouldn’t be able to fight all three. I slid a step further behind Atticus. It wasn’t to hide but to hide what I was doing. I slipped my phone into my cut. That was the hand they could see. The other I slid into my jean pocket and pulled out the knife I’d put in there.
I’d asked Joli before we left home where I could find one. She’d given me this one. I hadn’t thought I’d need it, but I felt better with a weapon. After being kidnapped, I wasn’t one to ever want to leave the house without something. Easing it open, I positioned myself so when they came at us, I’d be clear of Atticus and able to stab one of them. No way would I ever be retaken. Not if I could help it.