Chapter 38
Melody
I clung onto him as we passed through the borders of Arkansas, a symphony of engines behind me. An orchestra of pure chaos and order at the same time. There was a sense of power that cascaded around the club. And with Hound in the lead, he looked like a damn glorious warrior. It was no wonder why people were drawn to him.
I knew what that phone call meant. It meant not having to look behind me all the time. It meant relief for Hound Dog and the club. A chance to breathe, a chance to build on the relationship and make it feel somewhat normal. I wanted to be a little selfish and wanted Hound for myself, the opportunity to make more memories with him.
His hand laid on top of mine. He gave me a gentle squeeze. It was hard not to just rest my head on him, the way he made me feel like I was the only one for him, that he admittedly said he was falling for me had me blushing like a sinner in church.
His name on my back, tempted me to get something a little more permanent, but I was never one of those girls that got their partner’s name inked on my skin. But I know a certain “future in law” as Mama Mary would put it that might be able to help.
Hound tapped my hand for attention, he nodded toward the off ramp we were heading toward.
Why did it make my heart race to know that it was real? Those promises were being fulfilled even though I didn’t have that doubt anymore.
The club slowed their pace, Fender led the pack, tackling his duty like it was his life.
He signaled for the all clear and soon we were about a couple blocks away from where Hound said the Hogs would be. A line of bikes formed around me, like an impenetrable wall.
We waited around, as normal life went on around us. My legs started to shake, my nerves ran rapid fire through my body. A hand trapped my knee.
“Sorry.” I whispered.
“Nothing to be nervous about,” Hound said. He got off the bike, peering down at me. He gripped my hips and pulled me to the front of the bike. I straddled the tank and he sat behind me.
I looked to my right and saw B.B grinning like a cat. He just nodded in agreement, like it was a decision.
“Uh, Hound, all you had to do was tell me to stop shaking my legs,” I said.
His arms snaked around my waist, pulling me in tight. I could smell that luscious whiskey and smoke scent.
Why did the sudden feeling of being surrounded by protectors, people that would go to war for me make me feel invincible?
Hound’s hot breath brushed my ear. “This is what happens when someone messes with one and or all of us. Watch the world unfold and give you what is needed.” Before I could say anything else, a wave of secured vehicles, vans, and trucks came swerving around the corner. Uniforms ran out of the back, surrounding the area. I watched as a rampage of force stalked around the building, the only anticipation was waiting for them to start any action. Guns were loaded, pointed at anything that moved in their direction.
With a final boom, the swarm of dark clothes entered the building, from a couple of blocks away the echo of shouts were heard. I couldn’t help but peek at the guys’ faces, a few were still stone like but others were dressed with a sinister, happy smile as if justice was served.
Men yelled as they were thrust to the ground, cuffs slapped on their wrists.
Even from far away I could feel the death stares from those men as they peered with anger riddled eyes. They knew exactly who was behind it.
“Watch what power can do for you. To never have to worry about someone taking something from you. To never having to wonder what being weak means again.” He kept whispering in my ear. “This club protects its own, and you, my little songbird, are one that will soar. These men are just as much here for you as they are to see that club go down.”
To feel loved and to be like a family, that was the greatest gift anyone could give me. To love and not expect anything in return other than loyalty and trust.
“They won’t hurt us again,” I murmured, praying those words would never prove me wrong.
I couldn’t see how many people were on the ground, but I knew it was enough to end an era of terror for Hound, for the club.
The men watched as the Hogs were carted away, knowing that it ended without their blood and sins being involved. No more guilt or shame, no more worrying about if Hound would come home to me. Maybe our happily ever after was just around the corner.
Hound held me close until the last van and officer left. One by one, the men left, and that night Hound fell asleep in my arms, where he would belong to the end of time.
With everything that happened at the arrests, we fell into a normal routine. Hound argued that we were never normal to begin with, but I’d say otherwise. Morning would be the battle that we’d have of leaving the bed, I was the responsible one but Hound made it very tempting to stay. He had such a mouth on him.
When he’d leave for his runs and what he needed to do with the club. I spent time perfecting songs, working on the catches of melody that sounded in my head. Some days I’d take Hound’s truck to the compound and make food or talk with a couple of the ole’ ladies that were there. Then by night, Hound would want to be sated and craved a lot more than food.
The week before Christmas, I didn’t tell him, but I was going to try again at open night. B.B encouraged me one afternoon when he came to swipe lunch.
“Surprise him, that could be your gift,” he pestered me.
I shook my head, calling him crazy. Reminding him that he was the reason why I tried the previous time and failed.
He waved it off telling me that it was stress, that I was trying to please Hound. When I winced and said he was sounding like Reverend, B.B said, “Look kiddo, if you haven’t learned anything from the old man, learn this. Try just imagining that you’re singing to him. Find him in the crowd and sing. If he’s the only one that matters, then just set your mind to thinking it’s just him.”
As simple as he put it, my mind wasn’t a one trick pony. It wasn’t easy to shut off everything and focus on him.
I thought about it for a moment, really anticipating that it could be a thing, a trick of the mind. I agreed but only if I was one of the first few ones. Less people to think about. Oh, he promised to keep it a secret. I wanted it to be a surprise. Maybe I’d fake being sick, but not sick enough that he would want to stay.
I would be lying if I said that the thought of pulling off a surprise for him made me giddy like a schoolgirl.
B.B and I kept messaging back and forth, planning the details and making sure that nothing would be out of place by the time Open Mic night happened.
Hound’s hand rested on my forehead, his face twisted with concern. “You don’t feel warm, you sure it’s a cold?”
I bundled up in all the blankets I could find, claiming that I was cold like my body was getting the aches. When Hound came home a little bit, I had to make it look real, even if I was fucking burning up like an inferno.
“Maybe I ate something bad,” I lied, keeping my gaze away from him.
“Hopefully not because I ate the last big thing from that casserole a couple days ago. And I know it ain’t your period.” He sat at the edge of the bed.
That got my attention. “Nash Lane, the fuck you mean it ain’t my period. Like you’ve been tracking?”
I whipped back over, facing him, and he sucked his lips between his teeth. The shit was looking guilty with that look on his face. My eyes bugged out of my head. “Why are you tracking my cycle like a caveman..” I demanded. “You were reading one of my books again, weren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it's not my fault that the hockey player bad boy just threw out his woman’s birth control.”
“I swear to your mother, if you messed with something, I will have her help me bury you. And Memphis will hold the ceremony. Your daddy will just shake his head knowing that it was me that put you in an early grave,” I snarled.
But secretly why did I think it was a little hot to think that Hound Dog would go that way, did he have a secret breeding kink and it took a naughty book to unlock it?
“You might not be feeling good, but you still have that feistiness in you. No, I just remember things. But great to know where your head is at in that conversation.” He started to rub my legs.
To have a family with him would be a dream, but we just started to be normal in our routine. I mean I could have joked that he was getting up there in age, but didn’t. I wanted to enjoy him for as long as I could before we started to think about expanding or even the possibility. I still wanted to be a part of this relationship and still not depend always on Hound.
I faked a couple of coughs. Hound just raised an eyebrow. But he got up and went to the hall closet, rummaging through things making all kinds of rattling sounds. He yelled from the hall, “If you’re feeling that bad or feel like you’re coming down with something, let’s dose you up. Maybe I’ll have Shooter come and check you out.”
My eye twitched. The man would take care of me if I just wanted a lazy day. He’d even get in my kitchen to heat a can of chicken and star noodles. But that was all he was allowed to do. “I don’t need you to call Shooter. I’m pretty sure that man would bill you and overcharge you for the amount of times you have called him because of me.”
Hound came through the bedroom door, leaning on the frame. He had a cold medicine liquid bottle in his hand, reading it. He spun it in his hand before twisting the lid and pouring the contents into the measuring cup. The sticky, sweet medicine made my face scrunch up. I shook my head.
Maybe this was why I didn’t play hooky from school pretending to be sick, mostly because I was stubborn with my care and believed that I could beat any cold or flu.
Hound stepped to the side of my bed, slowly tipping the cup to my lips. “You gonna be a good girl and take the medicine?”
There was still an ounce of defiance in me but the look in his eyes told me that if I tried anything then he would have other ways of getting the medicine down my throat. I slightly opened my mouth, allowing the medicine to trickle down my throat with a sugary, cherry slickness. I knew that I would have to gargle some throat tea before I left to get rid of that yuck.
Hound pressed a sweet kiss on my lips, taking in the cherry flavor. But when he pulled back, he was too smug.
“Thank you, beautiful,” he said as he sat the cup on the nightstand.
I winced and buried myself back into the blankets. My own hope was that the medicine he gave me wasn’t the nighttime medicine.
“Well, are you going to be okay if I do rounds tonight?”
Yes, yes, yes, a hundred percent yes.
“That’s fine, baby, just don’t be mad if I’m passed out. Just be careful,” I muttered under the covers.
He whipped the covers off and kissed the top of my head.
As soon he was out the door and I sprung free from the blanket trap I put myself in. I stared at my guitar in the corner of the spare room, I took a deep breath and told myself that I could do this. I messaged B.B letting him know to put my name on the list. I messaged Sadie, letting her know that I would be there.
I needed the support, I needed my people.
Mostly, I was ready to prove myself wrong.