Chapter 1 #2
“That’s because I didn’t have a life in the Bay and never left the apartment. I was a nobody there. At least here, people notice me.” He took a massive bite. Ketchup dripped down his chin and landed on his white T-shirt. In that moment, he’d gone from Mr. Tough Guy to Baby Kevvy.
“Who wrapped your wrist?” I kneeled at this side and removed the sling. Fighting with him would be pointless. The last thing I wanted was for him to run away.
“Conrad’s mom. She said it would heal before I knew it. I would have come home, but you were still at work.” He took another bite and with a full mouth, he said, “You’re never home when I need you.”
I wanted to bawl like a baby as his words stabbed me in the heart. But my stupid phone rang again. This time, I recognized Hector’s number. To distract me from the immense pain my brother’s words gave me, I answered the call. “Hey, Hector. It’s not a good time.”
“I’m sorry to bug you, but I really need your help.”
Kevin groaned and tugged his arm away from me, showing that he’d heard Hector.
“If the woman was drugged, she needs to go to the ER. You know this, Hector.” I sighed and sat next to my brother, plucking a few fries, which were limp and cold.
“My friends don’t go to hospitals unless it’s life and death, and this isn’t. All you need to do is sit with the woman until the worst is over.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. My brother and I are spending the evening together. We get so little time together.” I cut my gaze at Kevvy. His furrowed brows softened and he resumed eating. “I hope you find someone else.”
“This isn’t just for anyone, Kelly. The Kings need help.”
“What are you talking about?” Was there a group of Elvis Presley impersonators needing my help for one of their fans? I rolled my eyes. Please spare me the craziness.
“No way?” Kevin shouted. “The Kings of Anarchy need your help? You gotta go, Kel. Nobody refuses the Kings.”
“Stop with the drama. I can refuse and I am. Besides, The Kings of Anarchy sounds like a cheesy gang. Pfft.” I shook my head, knowing full well they were a motorcycle club. A notorious group of bikers everyone in the area seemed to know and fear. But I could give a damn about them.
“He’s right, Kelly. They’re not a gang. They’re a motorcycle club.”
“Yeah, I know. So what?”
“So what?” Kevin repeated my words in a shocked tone.
“You don’t want to get on their bad side. They run all of NorCal and they have a long memory.”
“Don’t be stupid, Kel.” Kevin rolled his blue eyes. They were the same color as mine and our dad’s.
“Listen, I can’t go back to them and tell them you refuse to help. It would be bad for me and you.” Hector sounded very nervous. “I told them I’d bring a friend to help.”
“I’ll be okay here, Kel. Go help the bikers. We don’t want any trouble. Believe me, I know. How do you think I got this?” He lifted his sprained wrist.
“The bikers hurt you?” I was livid and had half a mind to straighten their asses out for injuring a minor child.
“No, not the bikers themselves, but someone connected to them. But I’m not really sure.
Conrad and I were flirting with a girl at the convenience store.
We didn’t know she was the dude’s girlfriend.
Conrad got the worst of it. I tried to get between them, but the dude pushed me and I landed on my hand wrong.
” He lowered his head as if embarrassed.
“You can bring your brother with you,” Hector said. “I’ll text you the address. I need to go.” Sirens went off at the fire station and the call ended. Hector was an EMT and volunteer firefighter. In San Diablo, there weren’t a lot of people in the area, so Hector had two roles in the community.
“You gotta go, Kel. I’ll be fine until you get home.” Kevin nodded his head with an intense stare.
“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you after what happened today. But I also don’t feel comfortable taking you to wherever the bikers are.”
“Their clubhouse.”
“How do you know that?”
“How do you not?” He stared at me with a baffled look. “This is our hometown. Don’t you remember the Kings of Anarchy MC? They’re so badass.”
“Yes, I know who they are. Just never thought about them. And I definitely didn’t get mixed up with them.”
“No, I guess not since you went to SoCal for college and then moved to San Francisco.”
I dialed in on the bitterness in his voice. “I was just living my life, Kevvy.”
“Yeah, away from me, mom and dad. I only saw you during the holidays. I basically don’t know you.” He pushed his burger away and reached for the soda and sucked on the paper straw until he’d finished it.
Ouch, that hurt.
But I understood his meaning. Kevin was only two when I went off to college.
I came home for all the holidays and summer break.
But NorCal was boring compared to SoCal.
I loved the beaches and nightlife. Had friends.
Boyfriends. In my mind, I was living a glamorous life.
Before I knew it, I was graduating and had a grown-up job.
In a way, I’d taken the job in San Francisco to make my parents happy. Yes, it was a tremendous opportunity, but it was so dull and gloomy compared to sunny SoCal. My folks had complained a ton about missing me. They guilted me about Kevin growing up and not knowing his big sister.
But I still didn’t come to San Diablo often. They came to the Bay Area to see me instead.
My phone chimed with a text message from Hector. I read it and looked at my brother.
“What did he say?” Kevin asked.
“Nothing. It’s just the address. If I go, I won’t be home until after midnight.”
“I’ll be okay. I’m almost fifteen, remember?”
My stomach twisted into a knot. “I remember. Got any advice about bikers? I don’t know what to expect.”
He sat taller on the chair and puffed his chest out. “Let me see…”
Kevin had grown five inches and packed on twenty pounds since our parents’ deaths. They probably wouldn’t recognize him. I hardly did and I lived with him. But I also worked a ton and didn’t spend a lot of time with him.
When I was home, he wanted to go out with his friends. A lot of times we were like ships passing in the sea. We’d give each other a nod or wave. Maybe we’d eat a quick meal together before I crashed out for the night. In the morning, I’d be gone before Kevin woke up.
It was summer and in a short month, he’d begin his sophomore year of high school.
I wanted him to enjoy his freedom before school started and he had homework.
Although, he didn’t seem to care about his education.
He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life.
College didn’t interest him. He didn’t play sports. I didn’t even know if he had a hobby.
Jeez, I felt like I was failing him.
“Don’t go in thinking you own the joint just because you’re a badass nurse.”
I hiked one eyebrow and cleared my throat. This was the first time I heard Kevvy say a bad word. It couldn’t have been the first to leave his mouth. Ugh, he was growing up and I wasn’t ready for it.
“Sorry,” he said, looking up at the ceiling like he was thinking. “If they tell you no, respect that. Respect them. Don’t be your usual snarky self. You don’t know them and it might get you killed.”
I gulped. “Excuse me?”
“Probably not killed, but bikers aren’t necessarily jokesters. Chicks are meant for their pleasure. Smart girls like you really aren’t their vibe.”
“Seriously? They sound like cavemen.” Was he for real? Did he even know what he was talking about?”
“They’re awesome but some probably have caveman tendencies. Can I go with you?” He gave me a broad smile; one I hadn’t seen in months.
“Sorry, bud. But we don’t know these guys and I can’t put your life in danger. Hell, I shouldn’t be risking my life either, but Hector didn’t really give me an option.” I stood, feeling like a crappy sister for disappointing him. But his well-being and safety was my highest priority.
I glanced down at my purple scrubs. Usually, I would shower after eating. I might read a steamy cowboy romance or watch a romcom. But lately, I was too damn tired and went straight to bed without reading or Netflix.
Oh well, I didn’t have time to freshen up before heading out. Not that I cared what I looked like. I was going to be taking care of a drugged woman. Couldn’t imagine how she’d gotten that way…
“That’s how bikers are, too. They give orders, not options.”
I put my hands on my hips. “How do you know so much? Clearly, I haven’t been paying attention to where you go when I’m at work.”
Note to self: Don’t have kids. You suck at parenting.
“Conrad tells me stuff. He said when he’s old enough, he wants to prospect.”
“What’s prospect mean?”
“It’s like doing all the grunt work for the members to earn your dues and their respect so you can become a member of the club.
Conrad says they’re a brotherhood. A family.
They have each other’s back. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?
” He reached for his half-eaten burger, appearing lighter and maybe excited.
Internally, I trembled at his words and how he seemed to admire those bikers. It was more than a little concerning and my parents had to be turning in their graves. But it was obvious my brother was missing the family element more than I’d realized.
I grabbed my tote bag and keys. “Sounds interesting. I’ll try to be back in a couple of hours. Call me if you need anything and do leave the house.” I opened the door. “And lock this.”
“Will do.” He plodded toward me. “Be careful, sis.”
“I will. See you soon.” I left with my heart in my throat. Be careful, sis? Yeah, I didn’t like the way hearing those words made me feel.
After tonight, I would work on a plan to get us out of San Diablo and away from the Kings of Anarchy MC.