Chapter 42
DEAN
“ G onna need you to get a move on if you’re coming with me,” I say, grabbing a duffel bag from the bedroom closet to pack a few items of clothing into. I’m riding down for the bike rally in Myrtle Beach with my MC in an hour. We’re meeting up with our southern chapter there, as well.
Vanna’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed tight and stubbornly across her chest. “I already told you, if that Irish guy is going to be there, I’m not going. I know you’re determined to fight him one more time, but I can’t watch you go through that deathmatch insanity again.”
I chuckle, tossing the bag at the foot of the bed before moving to the dresser to grab some clothes. “I don’t have to go through all that again. You can wait for me in the hotel if you want.”
“Is he going to be there? At the last three rallies, he was a no-show. He’s probably avoiding you.”
“He’ll be there.”
“How are you so sure?”
I shove the last pair of boxers into the bag and zip it shut before grabbing my phone off the night table. I bring up the latest text I received about an hour ago and present it to her. “Because Legion’s already in Myrtle Beach, having a drink with the motherfucker .”
Conflicting emotions flicker behind her eyes as she studies the picture of them at the Lick Shoot Suck saloon. “I’m sure he sent this because he knows you’ve been waiting for the opportunity… He’s just letting you know he’s there… Legion means well…in his own way.”
I try not to scoff and shove the phone in my back pocket. “Yeah, his middle finger front and center of the selfie really conveys from Legion, with love.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” she mumbles, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“How am I the asshole?”
“You’re being snippy with me.”
“I’m sorry.” I place my hands on her arms. “I fucking hate it when you defend him, but I want you to come with me. Rosita is staying home with Mia. She’s happy to take Ace for the two or three days we’ll be down there.
I promise to make alone time for us. We can have dinner at that Greek place you like and walk back to the hotel on the beach again. ”
She peers up at me, and her pleading expression pulls another resigned sigh from me.
“I’m not going to force you. You can say no, doll.”
“I really don’t want to… I’m perfectly fine staying home with Ace.
We’ll make a movie night out of it.” She forces a smile in an attempt to convince me this is what she wants.
“If you were riding down for a club thing, I’d go.
But it’s a fight thing. I meant it when I said I never wanted to see you fight like that again. ”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “It’s not going to be like the last time. But, alright. Fair enough. One last fight, and I promise, unless someone needs me to toss them a beating, I’m hanging this part of my life up for good.”
“Okay. Don’t get arrested. And don’t kill him .”
“Legion, or O’Keefe?” I joke.
She cracks a little smile. “ Neither of them.”
I t’s the third day of the week-long event, and the bike rally is in full swing when we arrive. Roaring engines and glinting chrome as far as the eye can see. I dismount Serene and take a deep breath of sea air mixed with exhaust, sweat, and fried food.
I don’t know if Legion is still at the L.S.S.
Saloon, but that’s the first place I’m checking.
My boots feel heavy on the pavement as I determinedly move through the crowd, eyes scanning faces, ignoring the catcalls from bikini-clad women and throttle revs.
I’m not here for the show this time. I’m here to find a little peace through violence.
“You got that picture text from him over four hours ago,” Viking says, brushing shoulders through the crowd along with me. “You really think he’s still at the bar?”
“Where else am I supposed to start looking? This rally stretches for miles. Even if he wandered off, he knows we’re coming. He knows how long it takes to get here. He’ll be back.”
“Maybe you should have a drink while we wait. What if O’Keefe is with him?”
“It’s on sight.”
Viking’s heavy hand lands firmly on my shoulder, halting me just as we reach the parking lot of the L.S.S.
“I know you’ve been looking forward to this reunion. The last three years we came down here, you were mostly searching for O’Keefe. But you can’t just jump him in public. Wait for the fucking ring. At least we can make some money on it.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Then care about keeping your record clean for the sake of the club and the mission, Dean. For your family, too. You kick his ass out here in public, you’re getting locked up.
You might get a decent shot or two in before security tears you off him, but that’s not going to satisfy you.
If he’s here with Legion, he already knows it’s on. Save it for the ring.”
Fuck. Viking is right. “Fine.”
We make it to the packed bar, rowdy with bikers and babes looking to have a good time.
I scan the bar and what I’m able to see beyond it, craning my neck around a bald biker with his face buried in the generous tits of a barmaid.
She’s perched on the edge of the bar, wearing a leather bikini and fishnets, serving thirty-dollar Motorboat and Hurricane shots.
Viking splits off to cover more ground, and we meet up again near the stairs to the upper deck.
When we reach the top, the air is thick with the smoke from the Burn-out box below, tires screaming over the sound of the crowd, before one of them blows out.
Viking and I continue to weave our way through the sea of spectators, and just as the smoke clears, I spot Legion leaning back on a bench, beer in one hand, arms stretched wide along the railing behind him.
He’s got two women draped over him, dressed in leather and lace, more skin than clothing, laughing flirtatiously at something he said. When he spots me coming, his little grin turns sinister.
“ Beat it.” He cocks his chin at one of the women, tapping the other’s shoulder with his beer bottle.
They both pout, confused, until they notice me.
I must not look too friendly at the moment, because they don’t need further convincing.
Grabbing their drinks, they quickly slip away in a swirl of perfume and tight leather, the braver — or perhaps the more intoxicated one — lingers for a second to run her hand down Viking’s arm, before her giggling companion drags her away.
“Where is he?” I demand.
Legion glances behind us before his pale eyes meet mine again. “Just the two of you?”
“Not that it matters, but no. Everyone’s here.”
He seems pleased. “Everyone?”
“Not Vanna.” For whatever reason, her absence doesn’t seem to dampen his mild elation. “Where’s O’Keefe? Did you warn him I was coming?”
“Of course not,” Legion scoffs, standing up to toss his half-empty beer in the trash can a few feet away. “I paid him to be here. Everything is already arranged… My gift to you.”
“You what?”
“Consider it a peace offering,” Legion says, though nothing about his antagonistic grin conveys peace.
I can still feel Dean’s parting kiss against my lips, and the rumble of Serene’s engine in my bones, even though Dean left hours ago.
I should be used to this by now. The long rides, the rallies, the occasional fight.
But this fight is different. And although Dean is in the best physical shape I’ve ever seen him in, I still worry.
How could I not? I love him, and part of loving him is accepting him for who he is.
I know he needs this closure for his own inner peace.
Understanding him doesn’t ease my anxiety, however.
It doesn’t stop my brain from looping the worst-case scenarios like a playlist I can’t shut off.
I go about my day, reminding myself that Dean is with his MC brothers, and they always have each other’s backs.
But it only takes the edge off so much. Despite that, I don’t have the luxury of succumbing to the stress of what-ifs .
Not with my little boy tugging at my shirt, asking for snacks and stories, and to go outside.
We play a few rounds of red-light-green-light and Simon Says on the front lawn before I bring Ace back inside for a fruit cup.
My cellphone rings just as I set the snack down for him at the dining room table.
The name on the caller ID brings a smile to my face, and I grab it with a still sticky hand.
“Hey stranger!”
“Girl, it’s been too long!” The smile in Latisha’s voice is evident. “Are you free tonight? We can grab a few drinks and catch up.”
“Everyone is in Myrtle Beach for the rally. The Twisted Throttle is closed tonight, and I’m home with Ace. Let me give Rosita a call. She stayed behind, too.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“Don’t even get me started.”
“Tell me over booze.” Latisha laughs.
Once I confirm with Rosita that she’s still happy to watch Ace tonight, I pack him an overnight bag while he chooses a couple of movies to bring.
Just before we head out the door, I change into a pair of black jeans, boots, and one of Dean’s old Guns N’ Roses t-shirts, and grab my small makeup bag to shove in my purse.
I’ll have time to slap on some mascara and lip gloss and run a brush through my hair before I meet up with Latisha across town.
She texted me that it's 90’s Night at the bar we’re meeting at, so I quickly select one of Dean’s flannel shirts as well and tie it around my waist. Good enough.
T he moment Ace hugs me goodnight, and I kiss his little cheek, a flicker of guilt reignites the anxious feeling in my chest, and I hold onto him a little longer.
Rosita places her hand on my shoulder. “Go, have fun,” she insists, as if she can read my mind. “The children are happy. Go be happy with your friend. It has been a while since you’ve seen her. We deserve a break now and again, no?”