Forty-Two
S even bikes. Seven more fucking bikes were tampered with. The most common tampering was actually the rear wheel nut being loosened, because it was easy as fuck to achieve with a spanner and a minute or two. We tightened those back up, and found no other tampering on those ones. Since Reacher and Stitch were both affected by this particular defect, I was relieved as fuck that they hadn’t been out on them, especially with their fucking old ladies with them.
Eleven bikes in total were tampered with in one way or another, and it took us most of the fucking day to check all the things that might have been messed with. Micro was still pissed about his custom paint job and badgering me to sort it out, so I promised I’d get to it later today, but I only had time to buff out the scratch and lay the base coat, so it was only partially done by the time we wrapped up in the evening.
Most of the guys wanted to have a few drinks in the bar, even as you could see the group starting to fragment, with suspicion being cast over the tiniest things. It really wasn’t the best time for Tesio to show up, but he’d just arrived, and fortunately I was on hand to smooth over his arrival.
“Grease! You ugly bastard… what are the chances?” I dragged him into a rough bro-hug, and then we stepped away while he dropped the rucksack he’d had on his back.
“Calling me ugly… I swear you get hit with the ugly stick every fucking day. Where’s your Pres?”
I jerked a thumb behind me, just as Reacher and Stitch stepped outside to join us, followed by Ice and Ryder. While we didn’t currently have any club titles apart from President and VP, if we’d had a Sergeant at Arms, it’d be Ryder or Torch, but as it was, the decision had been taken to steer away from roles that might promote violence inside or outside the club.
As everyone shot the shit, I watched the other bikers milling around us, wondering if right now, the saboteur was watching this little charade, and whether we’d see more destructive behaviour from them before the day was out.
“You listening, dumbass?” I shook free of my thoughts, and punched Tesio on the arm.
“I’ve changed my mind about him. I forgot what a prick he was.”
Laughter followed my jab, and we headed into the bar to welcome our ‘nomad’ with a drink. I’d spent some time, in amongst everything else, boxing up my shit from my room, and then the prospects were tasked with giving it the once over for its new resident. Honestly, I never thought I’d be leaving that room, and even though I was literally moving across the hall, and in with my future old lady, it still felt like the end of an era.
Ice had been in to sweep the room for more cameras or other devices once the room was emptier, and hadn’t found any more than we’d known about. Tesio would probably do exactly the same once he was alone in there anyway.
“Can I stow my shit, then meet you guys back here for more beers?”
Reacher grabbed my shoulder at Tesio’s request.
“Wanna show your buddy to his new digs? I assume you’ve picked up all your dirty underwear by now?”
“What the fuck?”
I laughed in response. “Oh yeah, man, didn’t I tell you? You’ll be sleeping in my bed, but the sheets are pretty clean, I mean, I think I changed them a week or so ago.”
Tesio groaned, following me as I led the way.
“As long as you threw out your cum sock, dude.”
We reached his room, wow my old room, and I let him in, handing him the key.
“Not much to show really.” I pushed the door closed, and lowered my voice.
“It’s been swept for cameras and stuff, but feel free to do your own checks. You have the only key to the room, and uh… I’m straight across the hall, but I’m in with my old lady, so you don’t go there unless I’m with her.”
Tesio smirked, tossing his bag onto the bed, which, despite my joking around, was freshly made with clean bedding.
“That’d be the VP’s virginal baby sis, yeah?”
I caught myself just as I reached out to grab his clothes.
“Jesus. Yes, my old lady is his sister, and watch how you talk about her. My fuse is pretty fucking short about that stuff.”
He shrugged, walking over to check the small ensuite bathroom, and returning immediately.
“Pretty spartan digs then, huh? I mean, you saw the compound. This is pretty shit by comparison. You guys are gonna owe me big for this.”
I shrugged, because that really wasn’t my problem, right? It was above my paygrade as they say.
“Take it up with Reacher and Stitch. I appreciate what you’re doing here, man, and I’ll back your play, but right now I need to be with my girl, okay? You can make my apologies downstairs, but they know we’re kinda inseparable right now.”
“You deflowered her already, I assume?”
I turned and shoved Tesio, making him stagger back a few paces, catching his foot on the leg of the bed. He didn’t fall, but he got my point, and lifted his hands in a placating gesture.
“Sorry… been practicing being an asshole for my uh ‘role’ here at the club. That was too far?”
“Damn right it was too fucking far. If you’d said that in front of Stitch, you’d probably be on the floor right now. Be glad I’m in too much pain from yesterday, because I’d have knocked you on your ass if I wasn’t.”
He looked serious now, digging around in his pack for a tablet, which he powered on and started fussing with.
“Yeah, I was briefed on that. Four of you were affected, yeah? I’ve got you, Torch, Ryder, and Micro?”
I nodded, really not wanting a reminder of that day at all. None of it.
“Yeah, but we discovered today that seven other bikes were tampered with, including those belonging to Reacher and Stitch. This is serious shit.” Tesio looked suitably concerned, tapping away at his screen, maybe adding notes or something.
“Go get with your girl, man. I’ll lock my shit in here, and go drink with your boys for a while.”
Elise
H as-Been returned so late in the evening that I was beginning to think he wasn’t coming back. That was dumb, because he’d pretty much proposed earlier, but I was still relieved to hear him banging on the door, and calling out to me. I unfastened the locks and pulled the door open to let him in, and realised there was a strange guy coming up behind him. I gasped, and pointed.
“Behind you!”
Has spun around, and let out a curse.
“Fuck’s sake, man. You said you were done.” Oh, he clearly knew the guy. He was Italian looking, wearing a cut, but without the club patch on the front. I had a feeling he was the mafia guy joining the club undercover, but I could hardly ask that, right?
“Who’s this?” I ducked behind the door, because I was wearing my sleep shorts and a vest, and I knew Has would go nuts if this guy saw me like that. I mean, the last time he saw me like this, he’d propelled me back into my room in a temper, and we weren’t even together yet.
“Babe, this is Grease. He’s a nomad from up in the Midlands. I met him… Jesus, man, how many years ago now?”
The guy shrugged. “Too many, that’s why you’ve got those crinkly lines around your eyes.” He pointed as he spoke, and Has slapped his hand away.
I couldn’t hold back my giggle, and after they ragged on each other some more, the guy nodded at me, and wandered away again. I waited until the door was locked securely, biting my lip as Has turned to look at me, and his eyes started wandering.
“Fuck… if he’d seen you, babe… I’d have had to kill him.”
I grinned and pulled him away from the door, and over to the kitchen so I could put the kettle on.
“That’s him? The uh… guy you mentioned?”
He nodded. “Tesio. He’s okay, but even so, I don’t want you letting him in. He’s still a stranger, okay?”
He looked exhausted, so I made him a drink and told him to sit and relax, while I cooked something for him. He countered that suggestion with dragging me onto his lap as he sat down, and then he cursed out loud and lifted us both back up.
“This is fucking frustrating as hell. I can’t even sit down and hold my girl. That fucker did more than fuck with my bike, or my club. He fucked with my relationship too. He hurt you, and he tried to take you from me. He risked so many fucking lives! How many times is he gonna get away with this shit?”
I reached for him and he shook my hand away.
“Just give me a minute, babe. I’m so riled up, I don’t wanna have you too close right now.” His fists were clenched, and I understood, I really did. He wanted me to stay back so he couldn’t accidentally hurt me, but his pain was hurting me too.
“I’ll get your pills.”
“Fuck the pills! I can’t keep taking that shit. It takes the edge off, and I need to be on my game right now. You’re in danger, and all because we can’t find one asshole who’s fucking with all of us. We’re better than this, but somehow he keeps beating us.”
He turned and kicked the armchair, shunting it a few inches away from him. I’d never seen this side of him before, and even though I was pretty sure he wouldn’t hurt me, I was still a little afraid of him.
“Has?”
He kicked the chair again, and it tipped backward with a heavy thud.
“I need to get out of here for a bit. Lock up after me, and don’t let anyone in. Promise me.”
I was silent, watching as he strode back to the door he’d not long walked in through.
“Elise? Promise me. I need to know you’re safe.” He marched over to me, and caught my chin in a light grip. “I love you, babe. I need you safe, and right now that’s not with me beside you. I gotta let this aggression out somewhere away from you. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t want him to go, but I was still unnerved by his unexpected anger, so I nodded mutely. His face softened for a moment and he leaned closer to brush my lips with his.
“I’m sorry, babe. I won’t be long, I just need to let this out.”
He closed the door more quietly than I expected, and I hurried over to lock it up again. I stood there for a long moment, with my palms pressed against the door, hoping he’d return, but he was gone. That left just me and this empty locked room once more.