Chapter Twenty-One
BECK
The ride back to the clubhouse was strange after everything we’d been through. Not to mention what we were witnessing now.
Abandoned cars blocked large parts of the road, likely out of gas after getting stuck in the huge traffic jam. People had taken everything they could carry and kept walking in the same direction. Many of them appeared ill, and those who didn’t were helping sick family members.
Nash hollered over our bikes' engines, “The government started broadcasting yesterday, advising people to bring their sick in for quarantine.”
I nodded, a little confused by that information. Surely the government knew more than we did. We’d witnessed people turning into slobbering monsters after being sick. It seemed to me that the quarantine was too little too late.
I squinted in pain from the headache forming behind my eyes.
“There is no way that the government hasn’t seen what we have.” Taryn leaned up to whisper in my ear. “How do they expect to contain this?”
I squeezed her hand in agreement, but I felt too nauseated from this damn headache to answer.
The formation stayed tight, and everyone kept their heads on a swivel. Any of these people would love to get their hands on these bikes.
“Have you noticed that there aren’t nearly enough people as cars on the road?” Taryn mumbled in my ear. “It makes me uneasy.”
I shivered at the feeling of her warm breath. “Yes. Keep watch for any of those freaks from before.”
I had to take a deep breath to keep from throwing up. Something wasn’t right.
We drove for several more hours, the cars and people becoming more sparse before the clubhouse came into view.
I was beyond thankful for that because my headache was getting worse. But even here, the strangeness continued. No music or laughter came from inside.
Dead quiet.
Nash got off his bike and turned to me. “Come on, kid. We have things to discuss.” He smirked at Taryn, “I’d like to know where the hell you’ve been for the last few days and how you acquired a cheerleader in that time.”
“You know where I’ve been since you came to our recue at the Beasts of Prey’s clubhouse.” I pointed out the obvious. “How did you know we were there, anyway?”
“Rico saw you get boxed in by the Beasts and Deadheads about two miles from the county line.” He frowned, “I thought I taught you better than that, Worthless.”
I narrowed my eyes at the name he’d called me until I started making money in the ring for them. Seems I’d been demoted after being gone for a few days.
“He’s the least worthless person I’ve ever met,” Taryn growled out.
Bull piped up from my left, “Now he needs defending by a little cheerleader? Seems worthless needs to be changed to ball-less.”
All of them started laughing uproariously.
I didn’t give two shits about any of these dumb bastards' opinion of me. Not even my piece of shit father.
Taryn threw her head back and laughed, stunning them into silence.
She wiped tears from her eyes, “I’d put my money on the size of his balls compared to any of yours.” She smirked at Bull, “Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and drop your pants?”
I got off my bike and helped my champion off as well.
“Why don’t you shut your mouth bitch?” Bull grumbled.
I took two steps and punched him in the mouth so hard that he fell sideways, taking his bike with him.
“I won’t tolerate her being disrespected,” I growled, standing over him.
“That’s enough.” Nash said, “Get your asses in the clubhouse. Skull and Huck are sick, so I’m in charge. We have shit to decide.”
Damn, that was the president and vice president. My father had always had his eye on both positions, but he was too unstable to hold either. That said a lot about the kind of person he was.
The men filed in, including Bull, who was wiping blood from his face and eyeing both Taryn and me with hatred. My girl looked like the badass bitch she was, twirling the bat she’d picked up today.
If I had the chance, I would reward her later for her performance. I smirked. It was the least I could do.
“You'd better watch yourself, girl. Old Bull doesn’t take kindly to pussy mouthing off.” Nash grinned and winked.
Before Taryn could answer, I bit out, “He'd better watch out. She can say anything she wants, and I’ll fuck up any man who tries to stop her.”
“Damn, Worthless. I didn’t know you were such a bleeding heart.” Nash smirked, “That girl is going to get your ass kicked.”
Now it was my turn to smirk, even though it made my head hurt worse. “By which one of you old fucks?”
Dad raised his lip at me in disgust but walked away without a word. He knew there wasn’t a single man here who could whip my ass, himself included.
“I hope I didn’t cause trouble for you,” Taryn grinned, not looking the least bit contrite. “But also, screw them. You’re more of a man than they could ever hope to be.”
Fuck it. I was done waiting—headache or no headache.
I pulled her in and used that lush ponytail to drag her head back, giving me access to those lush lips.
It wasn’t soft or pretty. It was all heat and breath and the taste of blood where my lip had split earlier, and Taryn didn’t pull back from it—she leaned in, fingers gripping the front of my shirt like she was staking her claim.
I made a sound against her mouth that I didn’t recognize.
One that she echoed.
That did something to me. Something that made me feel dangerous and possessive.
Her nails dug through the cloth of my shirt and into my chest, and I dragged her closer, my other hand sliding to her jaw, my thumb rough against her cheek because I needed to feel that she was real, that she was here, and that we were both still breathing.
“Don’t change, Fox, not for anyone,” I muttered against her lips.
She pulled me back in and kissed me harder, if that were possible. Full of teeth and heat and that stubborn fire she carried like a weapon.
When we finally separated, I didn’t move away. My forehead pressed against hers. We were both breathing heavily, as if we’d just fought our way out of something—and maybe we had.
“Let’s get in there and find out what they’ve seen and what condition the town is in before I get you home.” I pressed my mouth softly to hers.
Taryn sighed heavily. “Okay. Ben will be looking for me. He’s prepared for every eventuality other than this one. I’m sure he has a dozen things for me to do.” She stood on her toes and kissed me lightly once more. “I’m going to miss you, big guy.”
No, she wasn’t, because I fully intended to stay by her side.
There was no way I would abandon her when she needed my protection.
And she did need it. My Fox was as clever as they come, but she would need muscle to keep her safe, and I planned to be that strength.
Nash and Ben would be obstacles I’d gladly remove if they couldn’t be reasoned with.
A body or two disappearing now wouldn’t be unusual. Taryn might be upset… or she might not.
Either way, I wasn’t leaving her side.
When we went inside the clubhouse, the smell of sickness and alcohol was strong.
Nash was lounging on a stool at the bar with Lynn in his lap.
“What do we have here?” Lynn smirked at Taryn. “A cheerleader looking to get herself a little biker dick?”
“I doubt there’s anything little about it,” Taryn said as she put her arm around my waist.
Lynn laughed, “I know there isn’t. I’ve had it so deep in my throat I could almost shit it out.”
I winced. That bitch was disgusting. I expected Taryn to drop her arm and look at me in disgust, but, as usual, she surprised me.
“I hope you enjoyed it because it won’t happen again.” Taryn raised a brow at me.
“Nope. I’ve forgotten any other female from the moment you showed up outside the warehouse. I’m a born-again virgin.” I kissed the end of Taryn’s nose.
“Yeah, right.” She snorted, reached down, and pinched my ass.
I threw my head back and laughed, squeezing her tighter to my side. “It’s true, Fox!”
“Enough of this bullshit,” Nash growled, pushing Lynn off him. “We need to come up with a plan.”
“How’s the town?” I leaned down and kissed the top of Taryn’s head.
“Gone to shit but ripe for the picking.” Nash eyed me with disgust. “The police locked a bunch of deadheads in the school on orders. For a while, parents tried to get in, but that didn’t last long.
” He grabbed some pretzels from a bowl on the counter and popped them into his mouth.
“Now, most people are either holed up in their homes, sick, or trying to head to one of the government quarantine zones.”
“What do you mean by ‘ripe for the picking’?” Taryn eyed him with suspicion.
Nash ignored her question, never taking his eyes off mine. “The bank and stores will be full of money. You need to get some rest and clean up. We’ll hit them tonight.”
Taryn started to speak, but I squeezed her waist. “Sounds like a plan.”
I turned and headed for the stairs.
“So, you agree?” Nash yelled after me.
“Yep. We’ll get showers and some shut-eye, then head back down in a few hours.” I kept walking.
“Hell yeah!” Nash reached behind the bar and turned on the radio.
Bring in your sick. We have meds and can help. Go to the location nearest you.
Bring in your sick. We—
We reached my room, and I shut the door.
“You can’t be serious?” Taryn put her hands on her hips. “Money isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if you don’t have anywhere to spend it.”
“I know that Fox.” I opened my drawer and pulled out a T-shirt, an old pair of warm-ups from when I was much younger, and a clean pair of socks. “But that idiot won’t listen to reason.”
Her eyes lit up. “What’s the plan?”
I smiled, then winced when the pain in my head pulsed.
“Are you okay?” Taryn walked over and put her hand on my forehead.
I shook it off. “I’m fine.” I handed her the clothes. “Here, I’ll walk you to the bathroom and stand outside until you're finished cleaning up.”
She looked at me with concern for a minute, but then nodded.
I walked over and grabbed her hand, brought it to my mouth, and kissed it. “Let’s get you clean and fed.”
The bathroom was directly across from my room.
“You’d better take some ibuprofen. Your head felt a little warm.” Taryn whispered before closing the door.
My sweet girl was worried about me. I loved that about her.
Most people considered her a bitch, but I knew better. We’d both grown up with less-than-stellar dads, so she’d learned to protect herself from getting hurt. The fact that she trusted me enough to let her guard down melted my heart.
I coughed.
Fuck.
I hung my head. If I were getting what everyone else had, I’d blow my brains out before I hurt Taryn.
I laughed in disgust before lowering my chin to my chest. That was about right. I finally found something precious, only to lose it.
“Fuck that,” I murmured, raising my head.
I’d fight this shit to my last breath. This girl had claimed me, and I refused to let her down.
I heard the shower cut off.
My Fox would help me come up with a plan, and we’d get the hell out of here.
Neither God nor the Devil would take me from her. I’d make sure of it.