Chapter 27
-:- VICTORIA -:-
Corey rushes into the apartment and holds his arm up, boasting he has stitches. “Wow, you had to have stitches!” I tap my chin, making it as dramatic as possible. “So, big boy, how many do you have?”
Taking the seat next to where I am at the kitchen table Corey smiles, no sign of being in pain or upset. “I have three stitches, but Uncle Stitch gave me a shot, and then the pain went away.”
Looking up at Chaos who is holding a hand over his mouth so he doesn’t show Corey he’s laughing at the bravery he’s trying to show me.
“Well, three stitches deserves a reward for being so brave. I made you big chocolate chip cookies.” I walk over to where I’ve stored the cookies and take one out. Now, I made these cookies three times the size I normally would, so giant cookies would be a description that I could live with.
I make a glass of warm milk and pass it to Corey as he eats his cookie. But when Chaos sits next to him, looking like a young child waiting for his cookie, I smile to myself and hand him one with a glass, too.
“Tell me what happened, Corey?”
“I was playing chase with Branson Cummings, and it was my turn to be chased. But Mom, my head went faster than my legs, and I fell down. When I fell and got a sharp stone cutting into my arm. Nobody did it to me. It wasn’t bullying or anything.
It was an accident.” Corey looks at me with an expression that says no problem, that you can easily see he isn’t telling a lie. It really was just an accident.
I hold back the smile as I ask him, “What do you mean your head went faster than your legs?”
“You know. Like if you wanted to turn a corner and your head turns ready but your body is behind. Wham, you hit the wall because your head turns faster.” Corey gives a look that says, keep up, so I nod, letting him know that I’m letting this go now.
Chaos is smirking like a damn idiot, and I turn my back on both of them and continue cooking supper.
While eating, Chaos taps the table with his fingertips, “Would you prefer an SUV or a truck?” That takes me by surprise, I never expected him to ask me that.
“I’m going to get an SUV and a trike. I’ve seen, and had a ride on Mia’s, and I want a trike so we can all go riding together. I can take Corey behind me on the trike.” I grin when Corey stops eating, looks at me with a shocked face, then giggles.
“I can get you a trike. I know someone who sells them, and you can have it customized at the club's place. Splash at Hot Hogs and Cages is a mean sprayer, but if he’s busy Fist and Krylon are damn good too.”
I interrupt Chaos because I know where he’s going. “I’ll get the SUV and you get the trike. That’s a fair thing, and I have money, so it’s not a problem. I work with Specs from Monday, so I’ll have that salary as well.”
I can see Chaos doesn’t like me paying for anything, but he can tell from the look on my face I’m not happy about having to bow down either.
“No, Victoria, I’ll purchase the vehicles. If you want to have any customization done, you will need to have it done by the club. You can pay for that if you still want to at that time.”
I give in and nod in agreement. I can see the look on Chaos’ face showing he’s thinking, Thank fuck for that!
Corey is clapping his hands together and laughing. “I’ll be a biker like you, Dad.”
“You will, Corey, you sure will,” Chaos responds, and he looks more than a little satisfied at his reply.
****
The next morning, I take Corey to school as I need the truck to get around. It’s going to cost too much to keep using Ubers, and it’s inconvenient if one isn’t close by.
Winter is ready and has me inside on the moving targets for the first time. I have a Glock which Winter said is ideal for me to use as I am comfortable with this weapon. She’s right, I like the feel and balance of it in my hand.
“I want you to aim at the target. Do not fire. Track the moving target, Vicky. Keep your focus. Tell me when you think you have the same swing mentally as the target’s motion.”
I do as Winter asks, and it takes a few minutes for me to calm my breathing because I was excited about the lesson. Now, I’m breathing slowly, and my arm is only moving slightly although I’m tracking the moving target. “I think I have it now, Winter.”
“Okay. Lower your arms and relax your muscles. It makes your arm shake if you keep your arm up too long.” Winter continues speaking. “I want you to try again in a moment. Track your moving target, remember to fire as just that. It’s moving. You fire a second before you want the target hit.”
I know what she means, as she spent fifteen minutes before we started the session telling me all the details regarding moving targets, as in, me moving or the target moving. At the moment, we are using a moving target.
“I’m ready,” I roll my head to loosen the tension in my neck and turn to the moving target once more. I mumble to myself the instructions Winter had given. I aim, track, and shoot.
Winter has the target moving forward, and we can see my bullet hit the target but it is at the edge rather than the center. “Try again, Vicky.”
The target moves back after Winter placed a new sheet over it. Then begins to swing. I aim, track and pause, waiting for the moment I think I need. This is a learning curve, the same as anything else. It’s all about timing! Shoot.
This time I’m near the center of the target and I give Winter a huge smile, which she returns. “Well done, Vicky. In your next lessons, we’ll use different weapons. Shotgun, rifle, and even crossbow.”
“Can’t wait. I’m really enjoying the lessons.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Now, let’s get you out of here. By the way, the kutte looks great,” Winter comments, and I can see she means it.
I strut up and down as though on a catwalk, swaying my hips and twirling. We are both laughing at my antics, but I am proud to wear it. Property of Chaos isn’t such a bad thing, because he knows damn well he is Property of Victoria.
Parking near the bridal shop, I check my phone as I’d heard it buzz while I was driving. Hammer has sent a message. I knew Chaos had given my contact details to the club brothers, as he’d warned me I might get messages or calls from them at any given time.
There is a photograph, and when I open it, it’s a headstone. My heart lurches, and I hold my chest for a moment. Breathing through my nose, in and out. I need to calm myself down.
The headstone has a rose on one side. The engraving makes my heart race.
Bethy and Art Forester-Collins
Siblings together
‘Two stars in the sky, always seen and remembered’
It is that simple, no date of birth or date of death. It's a straightforward portrayal of a brother and sister sharing death.
The message, along with the photograph, simply asks if that is okay. I text a reply that yes, it is perfect, and to please let me know when it’s completed. I sit for over thirty minutes. Allowing thoughts to flow. My heart aches for my best friend, and even some for Art who had lost his way.
Eventually, I climb out of the truck and head into the costume shop.
Now I’m, for some reason, supposed to get a Cleopatra costume, but you know that’s not really who I am.
I’m going to have a look around, and if I see something I like better, I’m going to contact Star and tell her I don’t want to be Cleopatra. In fact…
Victoria: Star, I don’t want to be Cleopatra. I’m at the costume shop and going to look at what they have. I’ll let you know what I’m comfortable wearing.
Star: Stay right where you are. I’m coming.
“Hi, I’m Brooke. If I can help you in any way I’ll be over at the counter.”
Turning from where I was looking at a pirate costume that I think would look very nice on Chaos, I smile. “Thank you. I’m waiting for a friend at the moment.”
“No problem. There is a coffee corner,” Brooke points to where a small table has a coffee machine, cups, and a condiment bar. “Take your time browsing. We are never in a rush here, and we do alterations if needed.”
“Thank you so much,” I reply and watch as she walks over to where she was working behind a beautiful counter. It has engravings on the front, but from where I’m standing I can’t see what they are.
Oh, now this looks cool. I pick up a cowboy hat and put it on my head. Look at myself in the mirror on the wall and grin. Yeah, I can see myself as a cowgirl.
The door opens and Star enters, “Hi, Brooke. How are you?”
Brooke gives Star a massive smile, and it is obvious they know and like each other. “I’m fine, Star. How are you and that hunk of Meat you have?”
Hunk of Meat! I like it. The pun is cool.
“We are good. Meat thinks we are trying for a baby, but I’m not ready yet. But the trying is fun,” Star states, then cackles at some memory she must have in that weird mind of hers.
“I think we go western,” I state, grabbing Star’s attention for a moment.
She frowns at me, then looks back at Brooke. “Where’s Lily?”
“She’s gone to look at a place for sale in Pinecrest Valley. She keeps telling us it’s time to expand.” Brooke rolls her eyes, and I look away because the smirk on Star’s face says they both are going to laugh in a minute.
I leave Star speaking with Brooke and head back to the western section. Replacing the hat, I look at the fringes on skirts, chaps and vests. I could be a rodeo girl with a white blouse and fingerless leather gloves. “Star,” I shout, “WE ARE going western.”
It takes a while, but I get Star to agree, and she contacts Kya who apparently is the girl gang leader. Whatever the girl gang is I don’t know yet, but I’m one of them now it seems!
“Okay, Kya is getting everyone on the theme, and we’ll get to pick first because we are already here.” Star quickly wanders away with a damn spring in her step and whistling some western tune under her breath.
I have cowboy boots, so that is something I don’t have to get, or jeans.
I reckon every American breathing has a pair of jeans!
I pick chaps with a fringe down the side of the legs.
I can see them with the leather belt I have for the jeans.
I have a white blouse that I can tie at the waist so just a little flesh shows when I move.
I think that will get Chaos’ attention. Fringed vest, leather fingerless gloves, and a cowboy hat. Perfect!
I have everything over my arm and take it to the counter where I place it on top and grin. “This is it. Can you get them saved for me, please, Brooke?”
“When do you need to collect?” Brooke asks and to my horror, I have no idea.
Turning, I see Star pretending to shoot a gun from a holster on her hip. “I want one of those too, Brooke,” I state, then shout to Star. “Star, when is this evening thing happening?”
“Two weeks. You're getting married next week, and then we can have our evening after that. I’ll organize it all, so don’t worry. I’ll collect and bring your gear from here when I get mine.”
“Okay, thanks, Star.” I turn back to Brooke and hand her my card. She takes the payment. I can’t wait for the evening, this is going to be such fun. I can imagine myself riding my cowboy, and I’m sure Chaos will be up for some roleplaying.