Oz Wisdom (Voodoo Troops MC #11)

Chapter 1

Oz stood next to his bike as he flipped his cap backward and put on his helmet. “Tell me again how we ended up on the candy run when we’re the ones with no kids?” he asked Nova.

“I got kids,” Blade reminded them as he buckled his helmet.

“Teenagers who can drive themselves to do this instead of us,” Oz noted.

Blade laughed. “I’m going for the ice. If I sent them, it’d be melted before it made it back to the clubhouse.”

Nova slapped Oz’s back as he passed by. “Just jealous that sweet little face didn’t look up begging Uncle Oz to get her candy.”

“A sweet face that already knows how to manipulate men at the age of nine,” Oz admitted. “And has you wrapped around her finger.”

Nova laughed. “Mercy can be a little tough to resist. She and Kingsleigh will be two tough ladies one day.”

Oz huffed a laugh. “No lie there.”

Oz kicked this bike into gear and rolled toward the road, behind Blade and Nova.

The wind was warm against Oz's face as they headed toward the small gas station nearest the clubhouse. He loved the road. The solitude of being on his bike. His brothers usually nearby as they rolled across country sides, familiar or not. This was what he lived for. The feeling of contentment, acceptance, and solidarity found nowhere else. Even with most of the brothers now fathers or at least hitched, the loyalty of the brotherhood had not waned. He had not been as fortunate as the others at love. He had fallen once but chosen the club over the woman. It stung at the time, especially when she settled down with another. The corners of his mouth lifted thinking of the one woman who had tempted him to consider a lifelong commitment. She might have been worth it, but it didn't happen. She was happy with someone else now. And instead of jealousy, he found himself happy for her.

Plus, he had his own secrets that he had managed to keep to himself. A private life that filled every moment he wasn't with the club. He chuckled inside. Although he found himself curious about the reactions of his brothers if they did discover his secret life, he was content to keep it hidden. At least for now.

Within minutes they arrived at the small building with two gas pumps that appeared to be standing guard of the outdated store. This was one of the very reasons the Troops preferred this business. It was nothing like the big convenience store chains. No. This was a small mom and pop store with no security cameras, that operated on honor and service.

They parked next to the aged building away from the pumps and strolled inside.

“Good morning, boys. Y’all have a good day for riding,” the owner, a gray-haired man, greeted from behind a counter.

“Always a good day to ride,” Blade told him. “But today’s family day at the clubhouse.”

“That’s even better,” the woman next to the owner praised. “What can we help with today?”

Oz smiled to himself at the woman’s enthusiasm. She had never shied away from greeting or talking to them as others sometimes did. Mr. and Mrs. Murdock had welcomed them from the first day they stepped foot in their establishment many years ago, when the clubhouse was moved from the other side of town to the outskirts of it only a few miles past here.

He followed Nova to the short aisle of chips and candies as Blade talked to the Murdocks.

The weathered wooden door creaked open behind them, and a voice boomed from across the store. "Hurry up. We have places to be."

Oz snapped his head toward the voice. Drifter. His gaze fell onto a woman as she gave a jerky nod and hurried through the maze of aisles toward the large restroom sign. Taylor. He had seen her for the first time many years ago when he rode with Brick to the bank to see Nealy. She was only nineteen then and had been bright eyed and seemed to be full of life and ready for adventure. He shook his head. Apparently, she had traveled down the wrong road to adventure. She appeared a timid frail girl now. Such a contrast to the beautiful woman she was before.

"I swear they stop just because we're here."

Nova twisted toward Oz. "Most likely. Grab some candy for the kids and let's get out of here.”

“I don’t need to bribe them with candy. I tell them stories,” Oz reminded Nova.

“Sweets will move you up the ladder faster. Besides.” Nova grinned. “Sugar them up so their daddies can enjoy the aftermath.”

Oz laughed and stooped toward the bottom shelf, scooping up a handful of ring pops when a voice brought his attention back toward Nova.

"I hear you're married," the woman whispered.

"So?" Nova replied as he counted out packs of gum.

"How's Venus?" she asked.

"Ruby is fine," Nova answered and stepped to pass her.

Oz straightened with the handful of sweet treats and came face to face with the woman who at one time was a permanent fixture at the Voodoo Troops clubhouse. Chelle.

"Would you tell her I'm sorry for how things went with us? I miss her," Chelle confessed to Nova.

"Sure,” Nova replied and pushed past her.

Chelle scanned the area before darting toward the restroom.

"Let's go,” Nova called over his shoulder.

Oz sauntered toward the counter and dumped a handful of candy onto the counter. Nova dropped bills onto the countertop as Mrs. Murdock bagged their purchase.

Blade slid the ice bag from the counter and led them outside. "Who's the woman talking to you?" he questioned Nova as he threw the bag of ice into his trunk.

"Chelle. She and Ruby were tight until she fell into that." Nova jutted his chin toward the two bikers pumping gas across the way.

"That’s the woman who was always with Ruby when Sara and I met y’all?” Blade asked.

"One and the same,” Nova confirmed.

Blade shook his head with a low whistle. “Hasn’t aged well.”

“That kind of life will do it to you,” Nova said. “We've watched many a beauty age before her time."

Oz said nothing. He dropped onto his seat and watched the dark-haired Taylor stroll from the building. Time had been rough on her, too. She had been lovely with black waves cascading down her back and bright eyes that seemed to take in every detail of life. Now instead of floating across the pavement in some one-of-a-kind piece of clothing she had conjured up, she stumbled in tattered jeans and a tight tee. Not the ambling sway of being drunk or drugged. But the slow and forced steps from weakness. She had become a shell of the stunning person he had met approximately ten years earlier.

She straddled the seat behind one of the bikers and glanced their way. Her eyes were dull and filled with a sadness Oz could recognize from a distance.

Nova leaned close and slapped Oz's arm. "Whatever happened was their choice. Don't feel sorry for either of them.”

Oz nodded. Nova was right. These women followed their men willingly. The treatment they received didn’t deter them from staying. Or did it? The Troops had made it difficult, almost impossible, for women they had used to leave them at one time. He glanced toward Taylor again. Had they done the same?

Oz winced and clenched his teeth when Drifter’s hand collided with Taylor’s cheek, sending her off balance. She grabbed her face and righted herself on the seat. Oz jerked his head toward a pained cry coming from the front of the store. Chelle jerked her arm from the hold of the second biker. Buzz. Oz only knew his name from his cut. He had not met him but had seen him as they had passed through town on occasion.

“Damn. Trouble coming,” Oz announced, standing from his bike.

Nova jumped to his feet and Blade flipped the latch on his trunk closed and stepped to the back of his bike.

Buzz was storming toward them with Chelle close behind. "You need to stay away from our women!" he shouted.

"Gladly. Get them out of here," Nova answered then turned back toward Oz.

A blinding gleam flashed across metal, bringing Oz to a halt before he settled onto his bike. The glare was gone in an instant and a barrel was aimed at Nova. Oz lunged forward and Blade’s warning came muffled by the pop and whizzing bullet toward them.

Chelle lunged forward and screamed before dropping to her knees and crumbling into the tall grass next to the gravel lot. “He did nothing wrong.” Her words bubbled out pained and forced.

“You defended the wrong man bitch.” Buzz stood over Chelle. “Should’ve just got on the bike like I told ya.”

"Chelle!" Taylor scrambled toward them, stumbling and half crawling to her friend's side. "She didn’t do anything."

“Come on man. You don’t want this trouble,” Drifter warned Buzz too late with a punch to his arm.

Blade was at Buzz’s side in seconds. A knife to his throat. “We're gonna chalk that up to an accident for today. I see your face around here again pointing a gun at anyone, I won't be as forgiving.”

"Inform your Prez we'll be requesting a sit down soon!” Nova shouted.

“You’re lucky she stepped in the way,” Buzz spat.

"Back on the bike,” Drifter ordered Taylor and shoved Buzz toward his bike.

Taylor didn’t budge as Drifter returned to his bike, shouting for her to get on or get left. Oz leaned over pulling her from Chelle. "You need to go.”

"I can't go back."

"Get on or get left,” Drifter shouted.

Oz shoved her toward Drifter’s bike. "Go,” he ordered, then spun back, dropping to his knees next to Blade.

"I don't imagine I can do anything but let's get to the clubhouse.” Blade jerked his phone from his pocket as he stood. "Three minutes out. Have Della waiting outside with my bag and the yard cleared.”

“Mount up. I’ve got her.” Oz slid his arms underneath Chelle and stood. Her breath warmed his neck as apologies rolled from her. “Shh. We got you.”

Oz followed Nova to his bike and placed her onto his lap. Blade ripped his shirt off, binding it around Nova and Chelle to hold her in place.

“Go!” Blade screamed at Nova then jumped on his bike.

Oz followed suit, rocks flying as he pulled up next to a devastated Taylor standing near the road where Blade had just shot out behind Nova. "Get on."

She shook her head and turned toward the bikes fading away.

"Damn it. There's no time to argue get on and let's go!” he shouted.

She climbed on behind Oz, and he spun out, shifting gears, racing to catch Nova and Blade.

The three minutes that Blade had estimated seemed more like thirty when they veered onto clubhouse grounds. King, KO, and Della were standing outside waiting. Nova skidded to a stop and Blade was standing already. Everything became a blur as they raced against time each of them knew would not be kind. Chelle was carried to a picnic table. Fighting her fate, she spoke every moment she was awake.

Oz shoved Nova to the side and took his place next to Blade, following orders. "Go I got this."

Nova disappeared, returning moments later with Ruby.

"She's lost a lot of blood, and I can't do much here. Bullet’s too deep,” Blade announced.

Ruby scrambled into the mix of people grabbing her hand. "Hold on, Chelle. I’m here."

"I'm sorry," Chelle whispered.

Ruby swiped at her eyes. "Shh."

"I should have never left you. But. I hear you did well.”

"We'll talk about that later."

"I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. But you're here now. You can stay with me & Colin. We have a cute little home. You'll Love it."

"Love you." Chelle's head twitched. Oz thought it appeared that she meant to move it without success. "Nova, take care of my girl. She always was too sweet for the life we had.”

By this time, Oz had stepped back as everyone else had leaving only Nova and Ruby by Chelle’s side. He scanned the yard. Taylor was at a distance but still near enough to know what was happening. Brick and Cowboy had followed them out and also kept a distance, allowing them privacy.

Ruby screamed, bringing Oz's attention back to the picnic table. She had collapsed next to the lifeless woman that had been her best friend for most of her life.

Oz’s shoulders dropped and his head fell forward. He wiped his hand down the blood staining his shirt. An ache rose in his throat. He lifted his gaze toward Ruby. She had mourned the loss of her friend years earlier when Chelle abandoned her. Now the love of his life was mourning the loss all over again.

A corner of his lip twitched as he watched her cling to Nova.