Chapter Thirty-Seven
Meet the Club
Crystal
“What? Pizza?” Daisy looked confused, “I promised Crystal we’d eat at that seafood pla– Okay, alright. Pizza. We’ll be there– The park? Anthony… What is going on?”
She ventured away from the small group of saleswomen we’d been working with.
“It’ll be ready by tomorrow?” I double checked.
“Yes, by nine.” The more cheerful of the pair quickly responded.
I flashed her a smile, grabbed Joplin’s wrist and ventured after Daisy. She was hanging up by the time I reached her.
“What’s up?” I quietly pressed.
She slowly shook her head but didn’t look all that comfortable.
“Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure.” She smiled, casting a glance at Joplin, with a gentle shrug. “I guess we’ll find out over pizza.”
I didn’t see anyone when we pulled up, but as soon as she parked, her phone rang again.
“I don’t see you. Where is your–?” She trailed off as Anthony emerged from beneath a pavilion in the center of the park and gave a modest wave.
His tall frame was unmistakable.
“There he is,” Joplin announced, throwing her door open.
“Jop–” She was gone before I could tell her to hold back.
“I’m not sure what is going on, but I don’t think all is well…
And I expect it has to do with those Disciples.
They’re always involved in foolishness and outlawry.
Nothing good will ever come of that club, watch and see if I ain’t right.
I don’t know what you got going on, but it can’t be worse than this. Marry him and get him to leave.”
I blinked at her blunt request, but she merely smiled and started toward the pavilion as if she’d said nothing at all.
I started after her, giving a glance over my shoulder when I heard the distant rumble of a motorcycle that never appeared.
“Hey,” I greeted, unable to take my eyes off the red blotch over his brow.
“Afternoon, Baby.” He wrapped me in his long arms, ignoring my concerned gaze, and kissed the side of my head. “Come eat with me.”
I nodded, only because Joplin was staring at us.
“I want to grab a bite to eat and look for houses, you think you can make time for me?”
“Houses?” Joplin squeaked.
“Yeah. We have to live somewhere, right?” Anthony’s tone carried a hint of laughter in it.
“Right.” I quietly agreed, as he kissed my knuckles.
“You eating pizza, or knuckles?” Daisy teased.
“Ate enough of those for breakfast.” Anthony snorted, giving my hand a squeeze.
“I can see that,” Daisy returned, the tension evident in her brow.
“You think you can take little sister, while Crystal and I meet up with the realtor?”
Daisy gave a nod that made it seem like she was annoyed that he’d bothered to ask.
We weren’t there long, but I noticed the way he searched the distant streets any time a loud motor passed.
“What’s going on?” I whispered, once Daisy and Joplin were safely out of earshot.
He flashed an unconvincing, tight smile, “Nothing, baby.”
I planted both feet, refusing to budge.
He dropped his head, giving an odd little laugh before meeting my gaze, “I’m sorry they did that to you, I didn’t know they did it… but I made sure they understood how I felt about it.”
“And they did that to you for voicing your discontent?” I asked, unable to keep the horror from my voice.
The laughter that bubbled from him nauseated me.
“No. This is what happened when one of them admitted to tearing up the license. Then I knocked out the president and broke on them when the club came outside to his defense. I’m sure I have a lot worse than this coming when they get their hands on me.”
He moved quickly along a street that was off the beaten path, a residential neighborhood with landscaped lawns. I inadvertently squeezed his hand when I detected a nearby rumble. Unlike the ones before it, this one grew louder and nearer as time passed.
“Anthony.” I panicked, picking up my pace.
I didn’t even know where we were going.
“Where is your bike?”
“Never mind the bike. We just need to make it to the realtor. They’ll drive us.”
My breath started to grow labored, as the bike accelerated behind us.
“We aren’t going to make it,” I whined, unable to keep my voice steady.
He glanced over his shoulder, his fingers slipping from mine, “You are. Keep walking.”
“Wha—? No.” I stumbled as I tried to twist and he pushed me forward.
“Go!” he barked.
A trunk closed, and a child curiously ventured toward the end of a driveway as a pair of older bikers rolled to a stop next to Anthony and me.
“She don’t have nothing to do with anything, Monty,” Anthony blurted out, before glancing back at me and nudging me, “Baby, go.”
“No,” I quietly, but firmly repeated, keeping my eye on C.C. Henshaw.
I’d seen the man with him before, but I didn’t know his name. They were brothers or cousins; I couldn’t keep track of my mother’s neighbors, not that anyone would want to.
“You found her,” C.C. rumbled.
“Leave her out of it,” Anthony repeated, his voice damn near a plea.
“We ain’t in the business of terrorizing women, Anthony. Goddamn.”
“Yeah? Apparently, not everyone got that fucking memo.”
I wanted to clamp my hand over Anthony’s mouth, but he’d already said it.
“Which one of you kicked out my door?” I piped up from behind him.
His hand curled around my thigh, and he thrust me back again.
C.C. and Monty exchanged a glance and then Monty said something I didn’t quite catch, but I was confident it was a curse.
“Well, who the hell is she anyhow?” Monty asked, his face twisting up in a bewildered way.
“She’s my ol’ lady. My wife.” Anthony’s words brought a louder round of cussing from the pair, and they suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“Tell them I’ll be there tomorrow. I’m marrying her and then I’ll turn myself over to the club.”
I held my breath; certain all hell was about to break loose. Judging from the look on the lady’s face as she collected her child from the end of the driveway and hurried toward the nearby house, I’d say she did, too.
“She’s gonna call the authorities,” I predicted, causing everyone to glance toward the door as lady slammed it.
“Shit,” C.C. scoffed.
“We’ll let it be known,” Monty agreed, before speeding off.