Chapter 12
“Why the fuck ain’t she answerin’ her phone?” I slam my cell down on the table when I get diverted to her voicemail for the twelfth fuckin’ time. “I shouldn’t have let her fuckin’ go. He could have taken her anywhere.”
“Let her go?” Freya raises her eyebrows at me. “In case you’ve forgotten, Alicia is a grown woman.”
“I didn’t mean it like that... I’m supposed to be lookin’ out for her.” I can’t keep fuckin’ still; worrying about her and not trusting Greaser has me pacing the clubhouse floor, full of anxiety and anger.
“Relax, I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe they stayed over at Iris’s place.” Freya tries to talk me down, but it ain’t gonna work. If Alicia wasn’t gonna come home tonight, she would have called.
“I’m heading out to Bakersfield. I need to know she’s okay.” I pick up the keys for my bike and start heading out the door.
“Vike, listen, I know Greaser can be an asshole, but he’s not gonna hurt Alicia; she’s having his brother's baby for Christ’s sake...and unlike some people around here, the guy’s made it obvious how much he likes her.” Ruck chases after me.
“Now ain’t the time for gettin’ ya digs in, Ruck,” I warn. My emotions are getting outta control; I have this sick feeling in my stomach that's telling me something’s wrong.
“Wherever she is, if she’s with Greaser, she’s safe.” He does his best to assure me, but I know differently. I sense the same thing Dev does: there's something not right in Greaser’s sudden change of personality.
“Freya, you went there with her. Can you remember the address?” I ignore him and look back at his old lady, hoping she’s prepared to help. “I’m not gonna make any trouble, I just need to know she’s okay,” I promise, trying to calm my voice.
“I don’t know the address...” She lets out a long, exasperated breath... “But I do know how to get there. I’ll drive; Ruckus has drunk too much, and you're too wired. Come on, Ruck.” She starts heading toward the door, and Ruckus shoots me a look as he starts to follow.
“I was planning on fuckin’ her so hard tonight that she forgot her own name; now I’m heading to fuckin’ Bakersfield.” He growls at me as he passes.
“Hey, if Freya was the one you couldn’t get hold of, I’d do the same for you,” I tell him, taking out my phone again so I can try calling Alicia again.
It’s late when we get to Mrs. Stowman’s house, and I knock on the door while Freya and Ruckus watch me from the car.
It takes her a while, but eventually an older woman answers, wearing a nightdress, and I feel guilty for dragging her outta bed when she glances me up and down through the shutter and starts looking worried.
“Sorry, it’s late, Ma’am. I’m a friend of Alicia's,” I explain. “I believe she was here today?”
“Oh, you belong to Siddy’s little gang.” She breaks into a smile when she spots the patch on my cut and opens the shutter door welcomingly. “Come in…come in. It’s a good job I made a big cake.” She laughs far too energetically for someone who’s just been woken up.
“I’m sorry, I can't stop.” It’s hard to believe this jolly, sweet woman is responsible for producing men like Griller and Greaser. “I have friends in the car; we were just a little worried because Alicia hasn’t come home and she’s not answering her phone.”
“They left here just after dark; they should be home by now.” She frowns, suddenly looking worried again. “Have you tried Siddy’s phone?”
“Yeah, but he ain't pickin’ up.” I somehow manage to hide the frustration from my tone. I just know that fucker is ignoring my calls on purpose, and I’ll bet he’s getting a kick outta knowing how worried I’ll be.
“Hang on, I’ll try him myself.” She leaves me at the door, returning a few minutes later with a pair of glasses on the end of her nose and her cell phone in her hand.
“I’m not too good with these things, but Siddy likes me to have one so we can keep in touch,” she explains, scrolling through the five contacts on her list before finding his name and pressing dial.
“Siddy... Are you okay?” she asks when he picks up, confirming what I suspected.
“I have your friends here; they’re worried about you.
” She scolds him. “They’ve come all this way, an–” She listens to what he has to say, while I hold off on ripping the phone from her hand and giving her son a piece of my mind.
“...Yes, of course, I’ll tell them.” She hangs up the phone and smiles at me warmly.
“I’m sorry you came such a long way. He and Alicia decided to stay at a motel; you know how it can be when a couple first gets together.
” I can see the idea of Greaser and Alicia together pleases her from the warmth in her smile.
“If the poor girl’s anything like I was when I was pregnant, her sex drive will be through th–”
“Thanks for your help, Mrs. Stowman.” I stop her from finishing her sentence, as all the rage I came here with fizzles into hurt when I let it sink in that Alicia really must have feelings for him. I guess they really did figure their shit out last night.
“I’m so happy they’ve found happiness in each other. I was worrying about Alicia; raising children alone isn’t eas...is that Freya I see in the car?” Iris squints her eyes as she looks past me, and I see the horror set on Freya's face when she barges past me and rushes down her path.
“Freya, how lovely to see you again! You're looking so well. Which of these handsome men is yours?” Ruckus leans back in the passenger seat when Iris sticks her head through the car window.
“That’ll be me.” Ruck slides his arm around his old lady proudly as I join them back at the car, debating if I should try to find out what motel they’re at so I can check in. I know it’s over the top, and I’m probably in denial, but I just can’t accept that he’s what Alicia wants.
“Isn’t it wonderful about Siddy and Alicia?
You know, she tried my old wedding dress on today while they were here.
It was a little tight around the middle; I didn’t like to say, but I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long for a wedding,” she chimes enthusiastically.
“Are you all coming in for cake? It’s choco—”
“No!” Ruck answers far too quickly. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Greaser, but I have to get my girl home,” he tells her, putting on one of his charming smiles before side-glancing me.
“Then you must take some for your journey.” The batty old woman runs back into the house, and I lower my head and look at them both through the window.
“He’s taken her to a fuckin’ motel,” I explain, “You heard what she just said, they’re talkin’ weddings.” I don’t know how to process everything that's happening. I don’t know how to accept her wanting to be with him.
“I told you, you should have told her how you felt sooner.” Ruckus shakes his head and shrugs. I don’t appreciate his smugness; no one’s blaming me more than I am myself right now.
“At least you know she’s safe; you can talk to her tomorrow.” Freya elbows Ruckus hard in his ribs and then smiles up at me as if she pities me.
“Tomorrow could be too late.” I shudder when I think of what they could be doing right now. His hands touching her body, his mouth on hers; she could be making those sweet little hums of comfort she gave me a few nights ago when I held her. It makes me wanna tear off my own skin.
“Here we are.” Mrs. Stowman returns, handing out the slices of cake she’s wrapped in a napkin to each of us. “If you're ever in the neighbourhood, be sure to call in again.”
I smile as politely as I can manage before getting in the back of the car, slamming the door closed, and trying to bleach the idea of Alicia getting screwed by Greaser outta my fuckin’ head.