Chapter 10
Nina
Oh my gosh. I forgot how bad Tennessee thunderstorms can be.
The storms were strong enough to break tree branches and knock the power off a few more times.
The last line of storms this morning woke Grayson up.
Thankfully, Lauren and I finished cooking breakfast before the power went out again. We had to eat by candlelight, though.
Surprisingly, Grayson Westbrook is very talkative in the morning.
Well, midmorning. It was nearly ten before he joined us in the kitchen.
We filled him in on everything we knew about Harley’s disappearance and that there was no update yet.
Grayson tried to help us keep Maci’s mind off her sister.
None of us succeeded. She got a little snappy a few times but quickly apologized.
After the storms passed and the power was restored, Hendrix walked Maci home and Grayson to his truck.
It's business as usual at the Viking Den tonight. They should cancel parties until the others get back. Then again, this isn’t a party like last night. It’s more like going out to drink with your friends. Okay. It’s that kicked up about five notches and biker style.
Somehow, we managed to keep Harley’s disappearance from spreading around Willow Creek. Only the patched members know. Church was held this afternoon via Zoom. Nick had to talk Hendrix through how to set things up on this end.
“This should be the last of it.” Nana brings two trays of sandwiches from the cooler and sets them on the prep table.
Lauren decided to help out in the kitchen again tonight since Nanny wasn’t here. I didn’t want to be alone, so I came with her. With everyone’s nerves a mess, Nana greatly appreciated the extra help.
“I’ll carry them out.” I carry the trays to the tables along the wall next to the doors for Church.
We aren’t cooking tonight. We’re just setting out the leftovers from last night’s Valentine’s Day party.
No one has complained about it being the same food or that the desserts still have hearts on them.
I pause and look around the Den. It’s almost eleven.
The ole’ ladies with small children left a few hours ago.
“Who are you?” a squeaky little voice asks.
I turn and come face-to-face with a woman wearing way too much makeup and nowhere near enough clothes. Bunny. Ugh. I know most motorcycle clubs have them. I just hate having to deal with them.
I don’t know this woman. Her blonde hair is pulled up into a high ponytail.
Her makeup makes her eyes look bigger than they actually are.
She’s wearing a tank top that’s about two sizes too small.
The hem doesn’t reach the top of her little shorts with hearts all over them.
Those show off more than her thighs. Guess she’s still in the holiday spirit, or something anyway. She lifts her chin.
“Who are you?” I shoot back. Lauren told me years ago not to give these women the upper hand with anything.
“Jenny.” She looks me up and down. “I haven’t seen you around.”
“I don’t come here often.” It’s true. I’m here all the time, just not in this building. I don’t think I like this woman. She sure doesn’t need to know anything more about my life. I turn to go back to the kitchen.
Jenny grabs my arm. “I was talking to you.”
“Don’t touch me.” I jerk my arm away.
At the same time, an elderly man from the bar steps between us. “She’s done talking to you.” He points to the corner where the pool tables are. “Back to your corner, bunny.”
Jenny wiggles and bats her eyes as she steps closer. “Ah, Pops. Why are you protecting the newbie?”
“Stop harassing decent women.” Pops flicks his hand like he’s shooing her away. “Now go.”
“Problems, Pops?” Coty Micheals walks in from the backyard.
“Not if this bunny remembers her place.”
“Jenny, go back to the prospects, or I’ll send Nana out here.” Coty crosses his arms.
“Whatever.” Jenny turns her nose up and glares at me over her shoulder. “Skank,” she mumbles as she walks away.
Kayla, Coty’s ole lady, shoots daggers with her eyes into Jenny as she goes back to the guys around the pool tables. Kayla and Parker are bartending tonight. Coty isn’t happy about being left behind. He’s still healing, so Jack refused to let him tag along this time.
Pops turns to face me. “You okay, lil lady?”
“I can handle her.”
Pops grins. “I’m sure you can, but if a patched member doesn’t step in, the bunnies think they can do as they please.”
“Especially that one.” Coty huffs. He glances at the bar and shakes his head at Kayla before she goes after Jenny.
Wait. Jenny? Oh my. She’s the bunny who tried to cause trouble between Lily and Jack. Now, I’m mad. Why didn’t I put it together sooner? I’d love to give that skank a piece of my mind. Oh, well. The bunny is handled for now. If she ever speaks to me again, though, I’ll be far from nice.
“Let’s get you back to the kitchen. Let Nana bring the food out. The bunnies know better than to test her.” Pops walks beside me to the kitchen door.
“You’re Darin’s dad.” I remember him. He was here the night the club rescued me. His hair and beard are mostly gray now. He’s no pushover, though. He’s actually kind of scary. Well, to the bunny, not me.
“I am,” he proudly admits.
“Thanks for stepping in.”
“Anytime.” He points to his stool at the bar. “I’ll be right there if you need me.”
Jack’s grandfather sits on the stool beside him. Granddad dips his chin. Oh, these two old-timers still have a lot of fight in them.
The door to the backyard bursts open. Big Papa runs through the Den like he’s on fire and right out the front doors.
“You’re not leaving me!” Lil Mama is a blur running after her husband.
What is up with these two? Before I can ask Pops, phones around the room ding with texts, and some light up from calls. Chairs scrape across the floor. A few topple over as the Viking Warriors jump to their feet and run out the door behind Big Papa and Lil Mama. What in the world is going on?
Coty pulls his phone from his pocket. His eyes widen. Before he can follow the men out, Kayla’s over the bar. Wow. She can move fast.
She wraps her arms around Coty’s waist. “Whatever it is, you can’t go.”
“I need to help,” he snaps.
“You’ll be back in the hospital.” She wildly shakes her head.
Pops places his hand on Coty’s shoulder. “She’s right. Listen to her.”
Nana steps out of the kitchen. Granddad’s off his stool and has her in his arms before she can ask anything. Hendrix runs out of the hallway. Pops reaches out and grabs his arm. Surprisingly, he stops the big biker in his tracks.
“What happened?” Pops demands.
Hendrix snaps his head toward the door and back to Pops. “Fight at the Roadhouse.” His voice deepens like he’s ready to rip the world apart. “The Mavericks showed up. Don’t know what started it, but they’re tearing the place up.”
“Go!” Pops gives him a hard shove toward the door.
“You and Ross hold things down here,” Hendrix yells over his shoulder and runs through the door.
Pops places his hand on my back and nods toward the kitchen. “No offense, lil lady. It’s safer in there for now.”
I glance around the Den and quickly agree.
The younger generation of Warriors left for the Roadhouse.
I don’t know the ones left except for Pops, Granddad, and Coty.
Even Parker left. Kayla’s the only bartender here now.
It’s all Coty can do to get her to go back behind the bar.
To top things off, I have three bunnies now glaring at me.
I roll my eyes and sigh. This is ridiculous.
“He’s right.” Nana motions for me to follow her back to the kitchen.
Pops walks me all the way to the door. He leans down and whispers, “If you and your sister want to go home before the others get back, let us know. Granddad and I will walk you home.”
“You know who I am.” I keep my voice low.
“I do. I remember when you left.” He glances around for a moment. No one can hear us. “You’re the Haven House Mother now. You’re family, too. You get full club protection.”
“You didn’t say my name in front of her.”
“Only patched members know your real name. Some of the younger ones may not have put it together yet.”
“He’s still out there.” I haven’t voiced my fear to anyone until now.
“And we won’t stop protecting you even after he’s found,” Pops vows.
I blink back tears and look up at him. He has no idea how much that means to me. “Thanks, Pops.”
His eyes seem to hold back tears, as well. What could break such a strong man? My phone rings, breaking the moment. Darin’s name lights up on the screen.
Pops laughs as he nudges me through the door. “Go, lil lady. Tell my son I said hey and everything’s handled here.”