Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
Riley
I walk as calmly as I can manage to the elevator, smiling when I happen to make eye contact with a passerby. All while a small piece of my soul, one that I was guarding for dear life shatters, falling into the blackest abyss that now surrounds me like a well-worn blanket. I knew I was nothing to him but a joke, and a plaything. What has shattered me, is the way he spoke to me, in the same manner as all of the men in my father’s club used to do.
I stare down at the cracked and stained floor of the elevator, pulling myself together. When the doors slide open I take a deep, calming breath before holding my head high as I make my escape from the hospital. I make it across the parking lot, to my car, all the way home, and through my front door before I let the hurt pour out of me. I set a timer for twenty minutes.
That’s how long I have to wallow and feel sorry for myself.
After that, I’ll pick myself up and dust myself off before I move onto the next thing in my life. Letting what has happened define me isn’t something I’ll ever do again. I spent way too long after my momma died letting others decide not only how I felt about myself, but also who I was allowed to be. When I left my daddy’s club, I’d decided never again.
So, that asshole will get exactly twenty minutes of my time, and then, I’m going to pull myself together and be the bad ass I’ve taught myself to be. The timer goes off letting me know my pity party's over. I pull myself off the couch and walk into the shower, washing away the day from hell. I step out of the shower just as my stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten a bite since this morning.
I wrap my towel around my torso before grabbing my phone, trying to decide what I’m going to have for dinner seeing as cooking is out of the equation. I scroll through my DoorDash app trying to figure what can be delivered to me the fastest. Deciding on something from the local Mexican restaurant, I place my order, and see I have about twenty minutes to kill. Going into my room, I pull on my favorite cami with a built-in bra, and a pair of sleep shorts, pulling my hair up into a messy bun on top of my head.
“If I’m having Mexican food, then I need a Rumrita to go with it,” I say out loud, talking to myself.
I make my way across the cheap linoleum floor and into my tiny kitchen. I pull out my favorite rum, margarita mix, and ice making the perfect drink just as the doorbell rings. I look at my phone because it’s not been anywhere close to long enough for my food to be delivered. Standing at the counter I chew on my lip trying to figure out exactly what I want to do.
Fear rushes through me, causing me to grip the counter with a white-knuckled grip. The bell dings again, and I can’t make myself move from my safe spot to answer it.
“Yo, Riley. Let us in,” Vixen yells just as she starts banging on the door like she’s a part of the SWAT Team.
I gasp. pulling in some much-needed oxygen and feeding my lungs. Shaking off the moment of panic, I turn off the blender, and twist, my feet carrying me as I start making my way to the door. Unlocking the two deadbolts, chain lock, and the doorknob I pull it open, seeing not only Vixen, but Lil’ Red, Edge, and most surprisingly, Candy, standing at the door. I look at the road behind them, seeing a brother, and a prospect, sitting idle on their bikes.
Holy hell. I must have been way out of it not to hear the rumble of the bikes coming down the street.
“Ignore them,” Edge says, smiling wide.
“Are you going to let us in, or are you going to make us stand outside all night?” Vixen, the ever sassy one, asks.
“Shit, Yes, come in. I ordered Mexican food, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough for everyone,” I tell them, stepping out of the door.
“It’s all good, we brought some of our own,” Lil’ Red states, holding up two large bags, and the aromatic smell hits me.
I laugh. These women are like none other, reminding me so much of the original Ole ladies from my dad’s club. My heart clenches at the thought of my mom and her friends. They were so much like these women that it makes me dream of what it could have been, if they hadn’t died.
“Holy hell, woman. You are responsible for making Rumritas for every event from here on out. This is so fucking good.” Edge laughs, taking another long pull from the straw that she stuck directly into the blender.
I just chuckle and shake my head, since I know that I won’t be making them anything, because one of the decisions that was made while in the shower is that I will be moving as soon as I land myself a new job. Far away from here. Come into contact with someone that knows my dad and then bam , Flyboy adds fuel to the flame by tossing some bullshit at me the way he did. My time in this town is up, and it’s high time to find somewhere new to land and start fresh. This time, hopefully, it’ll be without a mother f-ing Motorcycle Club.
“What’s got you making that face?” Lil’ Red questions me.
“Oh, nothing, just a long day,” I lie, smiling to cover up the sadness thrumming through me.
“You know, when you lie, a line appears between your eyebrows, right?” Edge asks, pointing out my flaw.
“What are you talking about? It does not,” I deny, wondering if she is telling the truth, because no one has ever expressed that before.
I look at all the women in the room, who are steadily nodding in agreement like a bunch of bobble heads lined up on the dashboard of a car, the momentum of the wheels hitting the road causing their heads to swivel. Only in this case, it’s the sonic boom from my white lie causing them to vigorously nod. What am I supposed to say to that? Not another lie, because like this one, they’ll see right through it.
“That is not why we’re here. We’re here because you need friends, and that’s what we are. Avery says she is sorry that she couldn’t come, but she is dealing with some personal stuff,” Lil’ Red informs me.
I make a mental note to call her in the morning so I can make sure she’s okay. I make my way to the small kitchen, taking a glass from Edge, and take a long pull of my concoction, needing the liquid courage to get through what is to unfold this evening. A knock on the door lets me know that my order is here, distracting me from my goal of numbing my mind. I pluck my dinner from the guy at the door and add it to the growing pile on the counter. I smile seeing that the ladies are comfortable enough to have made themselves at home.
Vixen pulled out plates and silverware. Edge is mixing another round of drinks. Lil’ Red is uncovering the food and adding serving spoons to the dishes.
“What can I help with?” I ask them not sure where I’m needed.
“Fix yourself a plate and hang out. You’ve had a shitty day and need to relax with great friends,” Edge insists, smiling wide at me.
I do just that. Grabbing my plate, I put my favorite items on it, and head over to sit beside a quiet Candy, who is sipping on a drink. Edge brings a plate with a tiny amount of everything, giving it to Candy who smiles at her in return for the thoughtful gesture.
“Thank you,” she murmurs quietly. Edge blows her a kiss before walking away.
“What’ve you been up to?” I ask her.
“Just taking it day by day. Better than before.” She smiles at that thought.
“That’s all we can ask for. For things to be better than they were the day before.”
“That’s true. How’re you doing being around the brothers?” she inquires with no judgment in her voice at all.
“There are a few that aren’t as scary as others, but I still can’t get past having more than about three of them in the same room as me at the same time,” I babble, spewing my thoughts aloud in a way that I never do.
“They are big and overbearing. I get that completely. There are days that I can’t stand to even be around Pretty Boy and Coin. Without knowing your whole story, I can only imagine what it’s like to be in a large group of towering and menacing men.” Candy nods before taking a bite of her food.
“Exactly. I’m getting a lot better, and can handle more and more of them, but walking into Flyboy’s room this afternoon was so drastic that I can’t believe I did it without becoming a sobbing puddle. Then to have him be so hard and mean, just makes it that much worse.” I slap my hand over my mouth to stop the uncontrollable flow of words spouting out of my mouth without forethought.
I look around and see what I’ve been trying to avoid all along. Looks of pity and sympathy—I hate it when others are lost in a state of feeling sorry for me. That’s exactly why I haven’t said anything to any of them before, choosing to keep it to myself. Getting angry isn’t what should happen, but it’s all I can seem to feel. I knew I wasn’t what Flyboy wanted, and that I was acting like a lovesick fool, but to see the looks of pity and sadness from the women who know these men best, just adds another knife to embed itself into my heart.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve known from the start that I meant nothing to him and I still acted like a lovesick fool. He had every right to be angry at me for trying to tell him how to behave. We’re going to leave this conversation alone and have a great girl’s night out. Let’s eat our Mexican food and drink our drinks until your men have to come get you.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Vixen raises her glass in salute.
“Sounds like a night of True Crimes and carbs!” Edge shouts.
We all whoop in agreement. Lil’ Red sits next to me and hands me the remote. I turn the TV to stream Discovery plus, where we can find all things True Crime. We settle on a show about Cults, and spend the rest of the night drinking, eating carbs, and dissecting the craziness that’s going on the TV set. Before I know it, we’re all drunk and giggling uncontrollably at anything and everything. Candy is laughing so hard at us, and for the first time, I see her true beauty shine through. The woman she was before the Cartel decided to use and abuse her is shining bright like a beacon.
“I think it’s time we head home,” Lil’ Red says around her laughter.
“Nooooo! You guys can’t leave me! We’re having so much fun!” I pout, knowing that I’m acting like a child, but right now, I don’t care.
“We can stay just a little longer,” Lil’ Red mumbles around her straw.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Candy giggles.
“What do you mean? Our guys said to let them know beforehand when we’re ready to go,” Vixen asks, frowning.
“Vixen, it’s one A.M. I can guarantee that they’re already on their way to grab us.” Candy smiles wide just as the rumble of bikes shakes the foundation of my home.
“Well, shit. I’m sorry, Riles. It looks like we’ve got to go.” Edge sighs before sucking down the last swallow of her drink.
“Well, boo on them for showing up. I’ll tell them that you’re not ready, and you can just stay here,” I state, standing up and going for the door.
I’m not ready for them to leave yet, and I’m going to let those men know. I’m going to face my fears. I'm done letting these men believe they’re the boss of the world. Well, that’s what I was gonna do until I opened the door and standing there are five, very large men all encased in leather. I take a step back, unable to stop the gasp that freefalls from my lips.
“Th-th-they ar-aren’t ready to, to-to g-g-go,” I stutter out.
Duck smiles sweetly at me, knowing what that meant for me when it comes to initiating a conversation with them. “I’m lonely and need my woman. I promise, she can come over again.”
I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head no. I can’t get my mouth to work anymore, all of my liquid courage is gone, vanished without a trace.
“We’re not ready to leave,” Edge calls back from her place on the couch.
“That’s right. We’re still having a fucking girl’s night!” Vixen yells.
“Woman, don’t start! It’s time to get home. J.T. will be up bright and early,” Torch rumbles with a scowl covering his face.
“You can take that tone and shove it right where the sun doesn’t shine,” Vixen grumbles, glaring right back at her Ol’ man.
“I swear to all that is holy, if you don’t get your sexy ass out here—” his words are cut short when Vixen walks around me slamming the door shut in his face, brushing her hands like she just took out the trash and was dusting her palms.
I gasp at her actions because this would never be accepted in any form by my father’s club. I back away slowly, anxiously waiting for the guys to kick the door in, and for all hell to break loose. I can’t stop the squeak that escapes when there are three solid knocks on the door. Candy stands smiling, shaking her head, and going to the front door, she pulls it open, then steps to the side while letting the guys stroll in.
Vixen and Edge look at her with a scowl before saying, at the exact same time, “You traitor!”
She looks over her shoulder and winks before walking into Pretty Boy's arms. The badass biker bends at his waist and kisses her on the top of the head before passing her to Coin who does the same. They turn as a unit and walk toward the bikes. I study them, shocked that she could feel that safe with them. Torch stalks Vixen before throwing her over his shoulder and smacking her on the ass.
“You big oaf, let me go,” she yells smacking his ass.
“Stop, woman, and say thank you to your friend because we are leaving,” Torch tells her.
Vixen looks up at me and winks before telling me thank you. Torch grunts his approval as they go out the door with everyone following out behind them. I sigh when everyone is finally gone and sit on the couch, smiling to myself. Tonight really was a lot of fun.
“Fuck, I’m going to miss these ladies when I’m forced to leave.”