Chapter Twenty-One
Master
AFTER LEAVING TALEAH at her new house all alone, I went back to the clubhouse with everyone.
One of the trucks we packed up with all of her belongings was mine so if I wanted to go for a ride, I had to go back to get my bike.
When I pull in and drive my truck up to my home, I don’t bother heading back to the clubhouse.
There’s a party going on tonight and it’s the last place I want to be.
I know that bitch who tried to stake a claim on me won’t be there because she’s been banned.
Everyone was pissed as hell when they found out what happened and promised no one would let her in.
The Prospects all know not to allow her through the gate if she comes on her own and to stop any vehicles with her riding passenger so she doesn’t try to sneak in with a friend.
None of us are playing games when it comes to her or anyone else who disrespects another person.
Especially one who is important to us. The guys all know Taleah is very important to me and if I have my way, she’ll be my ol’ lady sooner rather than later.
Knowing I wouldn’t be able to settle down with Taleah at her new house on her own, I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top before sliding my cut back on and walking out to my bike.
I don’t typically ride my bike in sweatpants, but I plan on staying with Taleah all night long if she’ll let me.
I’m just going to stop at the garage on my way there to let Reckless know not to call me unless it’s important because he’ll let everyone else know.
I’d tell Count, but he’s at the party and I don’t want to find him fucking some Feral Girl or getting his dick sucked by a hang around.
He won’t fuck the girls who randomly show up for parties because they won’t understand he doesn’t want more than a night with them.
It’s how he’s been since we moved to Glendale and formed the Feral Dragons MC.
Pulling away from my house, I make my way slowly through the compound because if Cali is home the kids are more than likely outside and I won’t put them at risk by riding unnecessarily fast. I don’t stop until I come to the gate and the Prospect opens it for me.
It’s Evan and he waves at me as I ride past him the second the gate is open far enough for my bike to fit through the opening.
Making my way through town, I take in all the scenery I took for granted when I was younger.
People I’ve known most of my life walking down the street as they shop before heading home for the day.
Couples who are in new relationships sitting together as they enjoy a drink or ice cream.
Older couples who have managed to last several years together walking down the street holding hands.
I notice how the older gentlemen stare at their wives with nothing but love in their eyes.
Little kids stop what they’re doing as they stare at my bike.
The little boys wave and I can imagine them thinking about riding their own bike when they’re older.
Little girls who are too shy to wave, but can’t take their eyes off my bike.
Everything is calm and peaceful except for the loud rumble of my bike as I ride past everything.
I take in the shops that have lined the streets since I was little and the newer ones like Fantasy Realm as they blend together seamlessly.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the garage where Reckless and Link are the only ones working.
Neither one of them tends to go to the parties unless their ol’ ladies go with them.
That only happens when Link’s mom watches the kids so they can enjoy a night together.
I park in front of the open bay and shut my bike off before climbing off and removing my helmet and pull my bandana down around my neck.
Walking in, I find Link and Reckless buried under the hood of a truck, talking about whatever the problem is.
“You two got a second?” I ask, alerting them to my presence so I don’t scare them. It’s happened before and it can cause the guys to get hurt. We all try to announce ourselves when we randomly show up.
I take a look around the shop and come to a complete stop as my gaze finds the last thing I expect to see here. There’s a sports bike sitting there and I know without a doubt it’s my best friend’s bike. A black Suzuki Hayabusa sits there. I’ve only ever seen one bike like that.
“What the fuck is that bike doin’ here?” I say, my voice hard and cold as a million memories slam into me of the two of us spending our days learning to ride, buying our bikes, and the long trips we’d take just because we could.
“What’s goin’ on, Master?” Reckless questions me, confusion filling him as he gets out from under the hood and steps up next to me. “What’s wrong with that bike?”
“Why is it here? It shouldn’t be here,” I state, not being able to take my eyes from it as I force myself to remain standing where I am.
“Your girl had to get it towed here. She was out ridin’ and it broke down on her.
Told us she does all the maintenance herself and has been takin’ care of it for the last eight years.
It looks brand-new so I know she’s tellin’ the truth.
Link hasn’t had a chance to look at it yet so he doesn’t know what’s wrong with it,” Reckless informs me, still not understanding why I’m so upset about the bike.
“Gonna ask again why the bike bein’ here is a problem. ”
“It’s her brother’s bike. He bought it the same day I bought my sports bike. We spent all of our free time ridin’. I haven’t seen it in eight years. Wasn’t expectin’ to walk in here to find it parked in a bay,” I tell him as the memories continue playing on a loop.
“I see. Do you want us to tell her we can’t work on it? That we’re too backed up with work?” my President questions me as I finally tear my eyes from the bike and look at him instead.
“No. I don’t trust anyone else to work on the bike. If she’s still ridin’ it, I want the best mechanic workin’ on it. I know that’s Link. Taleah needs to be safe when she rides,” I say, my voice breaking slightly when I think of her riding the only bike she’s ever been on.
“You have a sports bike? What kind?” Link asks me, finally joining the conversation as he wipes his hands off on a rag.
“I’ve got a Ducati Panigale V4. I don’t bring it out around a lot of people but I ride it once a week at least and maintain it on my own as I’ve always done with it,” I answer him as he leans against the truck he’s working on.
“I want to see it soon,” Link says before he moves to get back to work because they are slightly behind on their work.
“We’ll see,” I respond without giving him a definitive answer.
“What brought you here, Master?” Reckless questions me as he hands Link a tool he’s searching for without removing his head from under the hood.
“Don’t bother me for the rest of the day unless it’s an emergency. Taleah’s spendin’ the first night in her new house after that asshole showed up. I don’t want her alone with the incident fresh in her mind,” I answer my President as he smirks in my direction.
“Heard she beat the shit out of him before any of you showed up,” he says and smiles with the thought of a woman beating the hell out of a man who has done her wrong.
“She did. Even had him tied up with a cord from the TV. We didn’t do a damn thing.
Though I think Manic might have kicked him a time or two on his way through the house when he was unloadin’ boxes and bags from the trucks.
He’s back in jail where he belongs and I don’t think he’ll get out this time since he violated the restrainin’ order,” I say and can’t help but laugh at the image of him passed out on the floor and tied with a cable from the TV because it’s all Taleah could find.
“Take all the time you need. I’ll make sure the guys know to leave you alone until you come back to the compound.
If either one of you need anythin’, call us and we’ll be sure to get it for ya.
I know the two of you got shit to work through and it will take time.
Just check in every few days if you aren’t gonna come back right away,” Reckless says, clapping me on the back because he knows this is important to me and if anyone understands getting over the past between two people, it’s him.
I leave without saying another word and get back on my bike.
Pulling up my bandana after starting the engine, I secure it tightly before pulling on my helmet and securing it on my head.
I never saw Taleah’s riding gear, but she must still have it if she’s kept her brother’s bike all these years.
We always stressed the importance of the girls wearing riding gear whenever they were on the back of a bike.
The two of us went with them to buy jackets, pants, boots, and gloves.
We also took them to get their helmets when we were out shopping for ours.
I’m sure Taleah has upgraded her gear over the years, but I’ll have to make sure because she needs new stuff after using it for so long.
Leaving the garage, I head for Taleah’s new house.
I’m riding right back the way I came because she found the one house for sale near the compound.
This time, I don’t focus on the scenery passing me by.
My thoughts are on the bike I just saw after so long.
I can’t get it out of my head. Part of me wants to yell at her for calling the garage to have it towed to.
The other part of me is happy she called my brothers because I know they’ll do the best work and ensure she’ll be safe on the bike.
They won’t use used parts or say they did the work when they didn’t.
The guys are fair and will do the work after she okays the repairs.