Chapter 3 Hestia
Just A Tad Bit Earlier
Let’s Ride . . .
Drag The Streets was finally here, and Hestia was here. Tonight, I wasn’t the trauma surgeon that was known for her success rate or my composure under pressure. I was known for my sacred fire that kept the Mount Olympus Riders grounded.
My parents named me after the goddess Hestia who was the goddess of the hearth.
She was the stability that kept the family and the state of the club.
It was also befitting that Hestia, according to Greek mythology, refused to marry to be able to focus on her protection of her family.
I didn’t necessarily refuse to marry, but marriage seemed to refuse my ass.
When Hades got married before me, I knew I was the problem.
I took my place in the club as the lead of our medical team. Nationwide, our team consisted of 112 medical professionals from medical doctors to mental health professionals. I was proud of the work that we did within our club and the community.
“Hestia, baby, the hate that will vibrate on the streets when you come through with this custom baby! If we weren’t ready, I know for a fact that the bitches out there won’t be ready.” Melody complimented my bike.
We were at the clubhouse about to head out to the event. The women of the club always came to the event after the men. Fashionably late, if you would.
My cheeks were high. I was proud of the design of my bike. When I told the designer my concept, he took it and ran with it. Everyone who knew me knew that hot pink was my favorite color. It was fiery and feminine.
“Thank you, girly. As excited as I am about my bike, I’m more excited about the debut of our newest Mt. O Goddess. Demeter, you ready, sis?”
I called Jade by her given club name. Demeter was the goddess of food, which Zeus felt was a perfect fit for her. She was a new member as of a week ago. A special request was made that her debut be made tonight by the ladies. He granted our request.
I knew my nephew was about to be in a state of confusion when we arrived.
As far as he knew, Jade didn’t know how to ride.
When they were together, she started to learn on his.
Eventually, she just rode with him, until a year ago when she asked Jin’jer to teach her.
She wanted to surprise him for his birthday, but he broke up with her before that.
Jade took her classes and went on multiple rides with us. Once she was proficient, all the ladies chipped in and brought her a motorcycle. The men had yet to see her ride. Drag The Streets would be the first time anyone outside of the ladies of the Mt. Os saw her ride.
Jade blushed. “I’m ready and excited. I never thought I would be here.”
Jin’jer smiled. “Well, you are. Hestia, is it time to ride?”
I smiled. “Damn right it is.” I grabbed my helmet from the seat of my bike, then moved to front center of the line up. “Ladies, mount up so we can get it. O ólympos psilá (Olympus high)!”
All the goddesses mounted their bikes, then pulled their helmets halfway on so their faces were still visible. Once I saw that they were all in position, my hand rose in the air. In unison, they responded. “ópou katoikoún oi theoí (Where the gods reside)!”
My heart filled, looking at the women that I loved. I mounted my bike with my sister Hera on my back left, Dindi on my back right; they were followed by Melody, Jin’jer, Jade, the other three new prospects who debuted as well, then everyone else. Our helmets went down in succession.
Who Is This Man . . .
Like it always did, the streets split when we came through.
I nodded my head with respect as we passed the different clubs that were posted up at their respective spots.
When we passed the KOKs, I shook my head at those fuck ass Kitties.
Those hos were sad as hell, and you couldn’t convince me that they didn’t know it.
The sight of Gracie standing next to Zeus as we pulled up made me smile.
She would forever be a goddess, even though she was the Queen of KOKs.
Spaces were always reserved for the women. I was the first to dismount my bike, then my family followed. Once our helmets were off, the new members were next.
Everyone’s eyes shot to Dorian. His eyelids were wide to make room for his bucked eyes. Yeah, take it in, Nephew. I loved him, but he had a lesson to learn.
Jade made sure she stepped out tonight in a way I wasn’t sure if he’d seen her before. The men folk took notice too. Demeter looked beautiful, sexy, and single as fuck!
Dorian started his trek my way, but it was blocked by his dad, Hades. Yep, get ya son. He doesn’t want this fire.
“Sis, Dorian was about to come over here and give you a piece of his young mind.” Hera was too tickled with her words. “This night is about to be entertaining.”
“Hera, Hestia, how are you two doing tonight?” Aaron walked up to us with Bones and another man that I recognized but didn’t know.
It was clear that he was a KOK by the vest that he wore.
After we let him know that we were good, he continued.
“I’m not sure if y’all have met Bread. I know y’all know Bones. ”
My brow arched when he smiled. Are those platinum gold fang bottoms? Even in his club attire, he looked way too sophisticated to be the type to wear something like that. I should be one to speak. “Bread, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Hestia Basil. You can call me Hestia, of course.”
He took my extended hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Hestia. My name is Bread as far as the club is concerned. My given name is Alexander Conners. We actually have a person in common.”
I was momentarily caught up by the depth of his voice.
It was smooth, melodic even. His salt and pepper beard-mustache combo was sexy.
His fitted tee shirt showcased his well-maintained upper body that was decorated with tattoos.
His dark denim jeans sat on his hips just right to complement his build.
Hera’s shoulder bump brought me out of my short daze. I had to tilt my head because why was I so attracted to this man? “Oh, really, we do? May I ask who?”
His smile was enchanting. “You certainly may. You mentor my daughter, Eloise.”
He didn’t have to tell me that my eyes lit up, because I knew that they did. Without a thought, I pushed him back. “Get out of here! I love her! I haven’t known her very long, but she is so amazing.” I looked around, then asked, “Is she here?”
He shook his head before he responded. “Nah. She’s in Atlanta, visiting her mother and brothers for the weekend.”
Disappointment covered my face. “Oh, okay. Melanie has her this weekend.”
His face scrunched a little. “Wait, you know her mother? How is that?”
“Oh, I don’t know her. She video called once when we were at a mentor meeting, and I spoke with her for a brief moment. She wanted to meet the woman who was mentoring her daughter,” I told him.
He stared at me briefly with what I would describe as a suspicious eye.
I wouldn’t read too much into it. “Okay. Well, I’m not trying to take up too much of your time, beautiful.
I just wanted to lay eyes on the woman that has already been so influential to my baby girl.
” His brow rose. “Perhaps we can grab lunch and talk about that a little deeper.”
My head bucked back for a split second. “I’m impressed, Mr. Conners. Not too many men would have the nerve to ask Dr. Hestia Basil out on a date.”
He stepped into my personal space. His cologne swarmed my senses in the best way possible.
It wasn’t a heavy scent either. It was clean.
His lips came close to my ear. “Dr. Basil, I didn’t ask you out on a date.
I asked you if you wanted to grab lunch.
Trust me, sweetheart. When I ask you out, every part of you will know it. ”
He stood to his full height. He didn’t tower over me, but he was tall enough to have to lean down a little for his lips to get to my ear. He held his hand out. “Give me your phone.”
Normally, I would have gawked at him like he had two heads, and one of them was a dick.
Whatever it was about Mr. Conners . . . Bread made me unlock then hand him my phone without a second thought.
I watched him tap my screen. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but I had some clues.
Seconds later, his phone rang in his pocket.
He pulled it out, looked at the screen, smiled at it, then looked up and smiled at me. “Now we have each other’s contact information. I’ll be sure to reach out to you so we can set up that lunch, sweetheart.”
I took my phone from him. “Okay, yeah. Um, you do that.”
He smiled before he moved to talk to some of the other Mt. O Riders. My eyes didn’t want to remove themselves from him, although I wanted them to. Well, it was no worries because my knucklehead nephew stepped into my perfect view.
“Auntie, what’s up?” Dorian stood in front of me like he wasn’t the one who asked the question. His beautiful, light brown eyes were tight.
I tilted my head and tightened my eyes. “Um, the sky. Boy, what do you want?”
He kissed his teeth. “Auntie, you really weren’t going to tell me that Jade was a prospect? That’s how we’re rocking?”
The bridge of my nose scrunched. “It’s not that I wasn’t going to tell you. I didn’t. I’m not sure why it would have mattered to you, Dorian.”
Dorian joined the Mt. O Riders shortly after his nineteenth birthday. My brother told him that he had to prove himself in school before he could join the ranks. We didn’t accept dummies. “Auntie, what you mean? She’s my girl.” He caught himself when my brow rose. “You know what I mean.”