Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
CRASH
With my hands on my hips, I watch as Stevie drives away.
I hated seeing her upset, seeing tears in her eyes. What was said confuses me but she did not stay long enough to explain but why would she when shitty things are being said and after the fight she had with Val?
“Oh, poor fucking Stevie. Everyone babies her. She needs to keep her fucking nose out of my business,” Valarie snaps from behind me.
Spinning on my heel, I see that Racer and Rogue are close to her, making sure that she doesn’t run inside, not that that would stop us.
“Shut the fuck up, Val,” I snap.
Her eyes widen in shock at me raising my voice to her, then they narrow. Her arms fold across her body, and she taps her fingers on her bicep, acting like she doesn’t care. My brothers stand around watching us, and I pinch the bridge of my nose, a headache forming.
I fucking hate drama, which is why I don’t mess with the club girls.
“Logan,” she calls, her voice taking on a soft tone.
I hear Target cough, like he is trying to hide his laugh, Savage grinning behind her as she walks to me. Her hips are swaying but in all honesty, she does nothing for me. Since I have been back and seen her, she is like a whole different person.
Someone I do not know anymore.
Her hand presses on my chest, under my cut, and I inch back, not wanting her to touch me. Frowning, she licks her lips, trying to entice me to be on her side, but fuck that.
“Why are you dealing for the 794 crew? What do they have on you to keep you tied to them?” I ask.
She glares at me, her tongue runs over her teeth, and she looks to the left. She is going to fucking lie to me. Her arms cross in front of her body, shielding herself, from me and my brothers.
“It has nothing to do with you, Logan. Leave it alone.”
“No can do.” This comes from Racer.
She looks over her shoulder at him, rolling her eyes.
“I do not answer to you,” she tries again.
Racer closes in, and I see a flash of fear on her face.
“This is my territory. Rugged Skulls MC territory, and you and your crew are messing with my people.” His voice is low, firm, leaving no room for argument.
“I think we need to take this inside, Pres, or take her back to the clubhouse,” Rogue calls out.
I see him looking around the street; people are taking notice of us, making my spine straighten. We know the type of people who live in this neighborhood, and they scream trouble.
“I am not going to your little clubhouse. You never know what disease I might catch.”
I scoff. “Let’s go inside.” I take her elbow and lead her back inside.
She tries to pull her arm away but I hold firm, not enough to hurt her but to let her know that I am not letting her get away.
Flame pushes the door open, walks in, and scoffs while looking at us over his shoulder.
“You think you might get something from our clubhouse?”
“Fuck off,” is all she says.
Stepping into the dark room, my eyes adjust from being out in the sun, and I take in my surroundings. It matches the outside. Trash everywhere, except the chair and sofa. The place stinks of weed, stale beer, and sweat.
“Now I want you to answer Crash’s question,” Pres says to Val, who sits on the only clean chair in the room.
“Crash? Aw, how cute. You got your own little club biker name and it fits you so well,” she says in a sing song voice that pisses me off.
“Answer the question,” I fire back.
Rolling her eyes again, she crosses her legs and arms.
“They have nothing on me. I knew that when Vinnie got snatched, I needed a way to provide for myself and needed protection.” She shrugs like her admission of making the decision to deal drugs is not a bad thing. “I got money, and people respect me, or they fear me.” She smirks.
I stare at her, finally seeing her for the person she has become and is happy with how her life is. This is what she wanted for herself, yet blames everyone else for her brother going to prison.
My fists clench at my sides, my anger bubbling beneath the surface. She looks so fucking smug sitting on her throne, not caring that she is selling shit to people who could die.
She was never like this; she would fight for the little people, but now she is happy to sell them drugs that could end their lives and for what… money, power?
When I heard about Vinnie going to prison, I was told that he was struggling; clearly, she fucking fooled everyone around her. I made the decision to come back to help her, to see if we could maybe try again but looking at her now, I want to be as far away from her as possible.
It makes me sick that this is who she is now.
“You and your crew need to get the fuck out of Phoenix, hell, Arizona, before we make you. I will not stand for you selling that shit in my state,” Racer growls. “I will give you a week to get moving, or you will know what it is like to cross the Rugged Skulls MC.”
“Oh, I am so fucking scared,” she mocks, shaking in fear.
“Oh, bitch, you fucking will be,” Forge hisses, moving into her space. “Crash may have known you years ago, but I will have zero hesitation putting a bullet between your eyes, and ending your little crew. I know that from the way he is looking at you, he will not stop me.”
Her gaze snaps to mine, and I subtly shake my head; I will not defend her. She has blown her chance with me, especially after what she did with Stevie.
“You have changed, Logan.”
“His name is Crash,” Savage scolds her.
“Just like you have, Valarie. Like Stevie said, you are not the same person we once knew. It pains me to see what and who you have become, and yet you blame so many people for you and your brother’s fuck ups. You need to look in the mirror and see who took you down this dark path.”
“Oh, so you and precious Stevie have been talking behind my back. Just typical. I saw her journal one night at her house, and saw she had written her name with yours in hearts. She would pretend like you were in love with her. Pathetic, really.”
Every word she speaks pisses me off more, and my fingers flex into fists.
“Enough,” Pres growls. “Will you relay the message or not? For the safety of yourself and the fuckers in your crew.” She gives him a defiant look, making me grit my teeth.
“We are not getting anywhere with her,” Racer says to Target but I focus on Val, who is grinning at me.
“You.” He points to her. “Give that message to your boss, and make sure that he listens.”
When Racer refers to her boss, her gaze snaps to him and she glares. Damn, if looks could kill, Racer would be meeting his maker right now. Crossing his big arms, looking menacing and someone you do not want to take on, Racer glares right back.
This man will not back down when it comes to protecting our territory.
“I don’t think I will.”
“Then you will regret it,” Pres promises.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here; I need a shower after just standing here,” Savage pipes up, pissing Val off even more.
I can’t help but chuckle, seeing the way Savage pisses her off. He has a knack for it.
“Prick,” she mutters as we file out of the house.
“I have a nice one thanks, not that you will see it, as you are most definitely not my type.” She rolls her eyes as he passes me, adding a wink.
“Oh fuck, are you gay now?” she calls out, cackling.
Savage stops; it is one thing he fucking hates— ignorant people being homophobic. He goes to turn but with a hand on his arm, I stop him.
“She is not worth it, brother. I will be right there.” With a nod, he leaves.
Seeing all of my brothers standing at their bikes, watching the area, making sure no danger sneaks up on us, I turn back to Valarie.
“I am going to say this once, as I see no other reason to bring it up again. I am sorry for leaving when I did, but my trust and heart were broken. We had something fucking good, Val, but nothing and no one could come between you and Vinnie, and that is on me for thinking that I was enough for you.” I sigh, taking one last look around the room, knowing I won’t be coming back here.
“Your words are empty, Lo- Crash,” she scoffs. “We did just fine without you. You ran when things got hard; that showed me the type of man that you are.”
“Clearly,” I scoff this time, “You did better without me. Look where Vinnie is, or where you will be if you do no heed Pres’s warning. Do not force his hand. As for the man I am, I know respect, trust, and loyalty; can the same be said for you and your brother?”
I do not wait for her reply, I leave her house, meeting my brothers at their bikes.
“All good, brother?” Racer asks, I nod.
“Yeah. She will fight us on this, Pres. If she thinks the crew will back her, she will be difficult, always has been with power behind her.”
“Then I am sorry, Crash, but things will get bloody, if they keep working our territory.”
“I know,” I reply to Pres. “She brought this on herself.”
“I will put a prospect on her. See if she can lead us to where the 794 hide out, and see what they are dealing in.”
“Got it.” I mount my bike, my brothers doing the same.
Fuck I need a drink, but most of all want to go and check on Stevie. Something tells me she will not want to see me right now, though.
“Do you need me at the clubhouse?” I ask Pres.
“Nah, brother. You going for a ride?”
“I need to clear my head.”
He nods. “Check in when you can. We don’t know if we will be a target after she goes to her crew and gives them the rundown.”
“I will go with him,” Savage offers, and I nod to him.
“Be safe, brothers.” Savage pulls away from Valarie’s house with me right behind him.
We have no destination in mind; the plan is to just ride. The whole ride, Stevie is in my head. Seeing her smile the other day at the coffee shop, then the pain on her face earlier, battle in my mind.
Did she really crush on me in high school? I know that I cannot put a lot of weight into what Valarie has said, she was just looking to humiliate Stevie. Val has become a nasty bitter woman, one who will walk over anyone to get what she wants.
It pains me that she could be hurt in this situation. I am pissed at her, fucking angry really, but I do not want to see her hurt or worse.
I will give Stevie some space before I go and speak to her. Maybe another coffee date, or some food. Chicks like going for food now, right?
My mind wanders to back in high school days, remembering how Stevie was around me. Did I miss something? I know she’d blush if I smiled or winked at her but it was in a friendly manner, she was my girlfriend’s best friend, for fucks sake.
Damn, I wonder how things would have turned out if I had gotten together with Stevie and not Val. Would I have left, and found the club?
As much as I hated leaving when I did, I knew that it was the best thing. They threw my loyalty, trust, and respect on the track and drove over it. If I had not left, I would not have found the club, and the Rugged Skulls gave me a new purpose.
Jack took me under his wing, and I gained a family. Something I will never regret.
Savage and I ride around for a few hours, stopping for gas and some food. It was something I needed to just be me, Logan Vaughan, and not Crash for the Rugged Skulls MC.
At one point I had to stop Savage from getting his dick sucked at an ice cream stand, because the owner smiled at him. I swear he was a fucking hooker in a past life.
Being with the club there is never a dull moment; we each bring something that makes us diverse and welcome to all.