Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ARROW
Normally, I'm excited for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally every year. The club has visited many times, but this year feels different. This year, I only have a few of my MC Brothers with me, and we're not here for fun.
This year we're here to try to meet with as many clubs as possible to see if any can offer us some help. We're at the point where we don't know what else to do. We just know we need more manpower if we're going to defeat the Savage Bones.
This is our best shot to get help. Meeting clubs in their hometowns can take weeks or months, whereas here we can meet with over twenty clubs in just a matter of days.
I brought Crank, Motor Mouth, Thunder and his girl Ashley, and Lightning and his girl Piper with me. We each have a list of who we want to talk to while we're here. I'm talking with a few of the clubs that have done charity runs with us in the past—the Lone Star Riders and the Whiskey River Riders.
Lightning's girl Piper is coming with me when I talk to the Whiskey River Riders because she just found out her family on her dad's side used to be part of the club. We're hoping that maybe that will be enough for them to agree to help us if nothing else.
We pull into one of our favorite biker bars on Lazelle Street before we even head to the house we rented. We decided against a hotel so we had a place to meet with other clubs without drawing too much attention. We don’t know who is on Savage Bone’s side or who will be watching us here.
Thunder and Lightning didn't want to bring their girls, but Atlas said it would be suspicious if we only sent single guys. It would draw more attention, and I agree. We need to look like we are here for the fun of it.
As we park our bikes and I pull off my helmet, I get a few looks. I’m used to it, but now, the big scar down the side of my face looks a bit like an arrow. That was the guy's intention when he carved into me, at least. He told me my heart was next if I didn’t give him what he wanted.
I shake my head, pulling me from the past. The scar isn’t easy to hide once my helmet is off, and I’ve gotten used to it. It used to bother me because I could tell people were looking, and they always had the same questions.
It’s a big part of why I’m still a virgin at almost forty years old, though not many know that. It wasn’t until I joined the Mustang Mountain Riders that I realized there were people who didn’t really care about my scar and actually cared about me. It’s still hard to accept sometimes.
“Let’s grab a drink and scout the place out,” Thunder says.
As the Vice President, he’s basically in charge while we’re here. Atlas didn’t feel comfortable with leaving Mustang Mountain or he’d have been here himself.
As we step inside, the loud music and smell of beer and nachos greet us. On the far side, a few pool tables are set up, and some guys are concentrating on a serious game. There’s a group of girls in the far corner, and guys scattered everywhere, talking and having a good time.
We head to the bar and place our drink orders before we all take a look around.
“That guy over by the pool table is in the North Carolina Club Atlas said we should talk to.” I point him out to the others.
“I know the guys he’s playing pool with. We all hung out last year. Piper and I will go over and say hi and chat,” Lightning says.
“Remember, no shop talk or Savage Bones talk tonight. Let’s just see who we know and can make connections with,” Thunder says as Lightning heads over.
“Hey, I know that guy over there. We grew up together,” Crank says before heading over to chat.
“Why don’t you talk to some guys here at the bar, and we’ll move around the rest of the room?” Thunder says. He’s giving me the bar task because he knows I’d rather not draw attention to myself in the room, so I’m grateful.
I grab my beer and sit at the end of the bar. I scan the guys there, but I don’t recognize anyone. Before I even decide what to say, a woman slides up next to me at the end of the bar and orders a drink.
“So, where’s Mustang Mountain?” she asks while she waits.
I’m sure she just read my cut and is striking up a conversation. I turn to look at her while giving her a full view of my scar, figuring it will scare her off like it always does, but she just stands there looking into my eyes, waiting for an answer.
“Western Montana up by Whitefish and Glacier National Park,” I tell her.
“Oh, Glacier has been on my bucket list for years.” She smiles, and her gaze flits to my scar. I know this is where she’ll give me her pity look, grab her drink, and walk off. But that’s the last thing I want her to do. I want her to stay and talk to me and keep smiling at me.I’m already feeling the loss before she opens her mouth again.
“Your scar looks like an arrow. That’s really cool. How did you get it?” she asks, taking a sip of her drink and shocking the shit out of me.
“My time in the military. The story isn’t pretty, though,” I tell her, but I know if she asks, I’ll talk all night just to make her stay. I wonder if this is what Lightning felt when he saw Piper. I’ve got an overwhelming feeling that she’s meant to be mine and that I need to protect her.
“Maybe you can take me for a ride on your bike and tell me,” she says. I can tell she’s trying to flirt, but she’s a bit shy and awkward like she doesn’t normally do this. I fucking love it because she better not do this with anyone else.
“What’s your name?” I ask, dying to know.
“Katherine, but everyone calls me Kat. What’s yours?”
“Well, they call me Arrow. Once your pussy touches my seat, it belongs to me, Kitty Kat,” I say.
She lets out a gasp.
I don’t know where that came from, but I mean every word. I just hope she doesn’t run scared now.