Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Tuesday
I’m walking from my second class and stumble over a curb. I manage to stop a full-on fall, which would have meant me flashing the whole quad my ass, and decide to sit down for a moment to catch my breath.
I have thirty minutes before I need to be in the lecture hall, and I debate getting a coffee.
A loud rumble draws my focus away from the coffee cart and towards the busy street adjacent to the school.
I notice the motorcycle first. Matte black with chrome details that sparkle in the midday sun.
The rider is covered from head to toe in leather, and when he turns his back, a large skull comes into view.
“Shit,” I glance around, knowing my security detail is around somewhere, but I have no idea where or who is on duty today.
When no one rushes over, I assume I’m safe. If this were one of the biker gangs that had a problem with Afie, I would have been rushed away before I was seen.
The mystery biker revs his engine again as if sensing I’m no longer watching him.
Strange.
I can’t see his face through the mirrored visor of his helmet, but I swear I can feel their stare on my face.
My cheeks start to burn with a rare blush, and I stand to get to class.
Before I can take a step away, I hear a screech of tires and a few gasps, followed by a lot of cursing as the biker guns the motorcycle and darts across the squad, barely missing a few students in their path.
I gasp as he buzzes past me, and I can’t help feeling this show was just for me.
I rush off, and by the time I get to the lecture hall, I’ve convinced myself it was a fluke.
I find a seat next to Val and take out my notebook and pen.
The Professor enters and smiles at the class before his cellphone rings, and he signals he needs a moment, promptly stepping back into the hall to answer his call.
“Did you see that maniac on the motorcycle cutting across the quad? He could have killed someone.” Val whispers to me as we wait for class to start.
“Yeah, he barely missed me.” She looks me over and frowns.
“You okay?” I blow out a breath and nod.
“Sorry about that. Shall we begin?” The professor takes his spot behind the projector and starts the class, while I get lost in thought about the biker and my dream from last night.
I squirm in my seat as my imagination adds the mystery man as the star of my dream, giving it a real edge of danger that apparently my body finds appealing.
“Gen?” Val hisses at me.
“Mmhmm,” I fake taking notes on the lesson I have not been paying attention to.
‘You’re moaning over your daydream and drawing attention.” She smirks.
“What?” I glance around us.
The guy to my right winks at me, and I cover up my face with my hand.
“Fuck,” I whisper back as she tries not to giggle too loud.
“You need to get laid.” My eyes bulge out as the guy sitting in front of us turns to look like she was offering me up as his lunch.
“Lower your voice, Val. You turn around.” I hiss at them.
She covers her mouth, and I tap my pen on my thigh until class is finally over.
“You are a fucking menace. Not everything can be solved with sex.” I hiss as I pack up my stuff.
“Says the virgin who wouldn’t know. Trust me, it won’t hurt.” I turn my back on her, walking away, making her run to catch up.
She grabs my arm and spins me.
A shadow comes out of nowhere and plants itself between me and Val. I recognize him and sigh.
“Stand down. She’s a nuisance, not a threat. Where were you earlier?” I ask as his partner comes over to check in as well.
“We were delayed in traffic. Did something happen, Ms.?” I shake my head and grab Val’s arm.
“Nope, just a weird motorcycle driving through the quad. I’m fine. We’re heading for lunch now.” I take my cousin’s hand and drag her out of the building and towards our sorority house.
“He’s cute,” She keeps trying to look over her shoulder at my guard.
“He is happily married to his partner.” I enjoy the look on her face when I burst her bubble.
“That ain’t even right. All the hotties are taken, gay or both.” I roll my eyes as I open the door for us to enter.
“You’ll live. I’m sure. Let’s eat. I’m starving.” We make it upstairs, and I’m making us sandwiches when my phone beeps.
“Huh, that’s strange. Classes were just canceled due to the quad incident earlier.” I read her the school notification I just got, and she frowns.
“It’s New York. They take that stuff seriously. The real question is, what are we going to do with our free afternoon?” I pass her a plate and then start on my sandwich.
“I’m going to get ahead on my work. Then I’m going to take a nap cause I barely slept.” I’ve got my sandwich halfway to my mouth when a knock on our door stops me.
“Ms?” I sigh and place my food down, dragging my feet to answer the door.
“Yes?” The guard frowns and hands me his cellphone.
“Hello?”
“Genesis,” ugh, not him.
“You could have called my phone, Marco.” I cross my arms and walk away from the doorway to look out the window.
“Figured you’d have my number blocked.” I grind my teeth to try to stop from being petty, but it slips out anyway.
“You’re not that important. Did you need something from me?” It’s the only time you contact me.
I hate that he brings my inner bitch out.
“The biker. Did you see him?” I sit down slowly.
“Yes, why?” I bite my lip and wonder if he really was there for me.
“What was he wearing. In detail.” I close my eyes and think.
“All leather, helmet with a mirror visor. Oh, his jacket had a skull on the back.” Marco curses, and I pull the phone away from my ear.
“The skull, did it have a crown of clovers on its head?” I think back again and shake my head.
“I’m not sure. I wasn’t close enough to see the details. Sorry,” He mumbles to someone on his end, and then the phone goes dead.
“Rude.” I stand and walk the phone back to the doorway, where I hand it back to the guard.
I close the door and turn to Val.
“Marco seemed worried.” At least that’s the only way I can describe that conversation.
“He thinks the biker was here for you?” I shrug.
“He didn’t say, but he wasn’t happy when I told him about the skull on his jacket.” Vale freezes and stares at me.
“Skull?” I nod and finally take a bite of my sandwich.
I chew and swallow as I think about it again.
“Pass me a piece of paper and a pencil.” She got up to grab what I asked for as I stood at the kitchen counter and ate my sandwich.
When she lays the supplies on the counter, I grab the pencil and start to rough sketch the skull I saw.
“Like that,” I tap the paper and finish off my food.
“Wait, I’ve seen this before. It’s missing,” Val grabs the pencil and adds to my drawing, and then turns it towards me.
“Yeah, that’s it. Guess Marco was right. He asked if I’d seen the crown of clovers, but it was too far away to make out what it really was. Ok, why are you looking at me like that?” I wipe my mouth, thinking I have a glob of mustard on my face.
“You really have no clue what this means, do you? How did you grow up here and not see them everywhere?” I frown.
I didn’t grow up here. You did. I’ve been hidden away in a mansion upstate.” She blinks slowly and then slaps her forehead.
“Shit, you’re right. We grew up together, I just never really thought about how we always came up to you guys.” She grabs her phone and clicks through some apps before laying it on the counter between us.
“They’re the Saint’s Outlaw MC. One of your father’s biggest rivals.” She clicks on a link, and a video starts playing.