Chapter 13
CILLA
As I’m walking through the common room this morning, I’m feeling tired. It is a pleasant bedroom they gave me, but it’s not like being home. I think everyone likes to be in their own bed at night.
“Cilla, where are you going?”
Turning I give Finger a smile, “Morning Finger, I’m going to help in the kitchen. I’m not one to sit around doing nothing, so I can help the ladies.”
“Oh, okay, good idea. I’m going to be out of the clubhouse for a while. But if you want me, you have my digits, so give me a call.”
“I’ll be alright in the kitchen with the ladies, and there are brothers sitting around or doing stuff so I can ask anyone, if needed.
Bono is hanging around for some reason this morning too, which is getting fairly annoying.
” I give Bono a look that tells him to buzz off for a while, then turn back to Finger who is squinting where Bono had been standing but has gone now.
“He’s gone, Finger,” I smirk as I respond because Finger jerks back and makes out he wasn’t trying to see Bono.
“Okay, I’ll see you later, Cilla. Would you like a walk around the compound after supper? You know to stretch your legs and get some fresh air?” Finger asks with a hopeful look on his face, and I’m not sure why, but I give in and nod. “Right, I’ll see you later.”
I watch as Finger walks away, and a giggle from behind me has me turning to see Anna is standing there smiling at me. “Come on, Cilla. We need to educate you on biker men.”
Following Anna into the kitchen, I take the mug of coffee Anna hands me and take a seat at the long table.
“Now, brothers in the MC are not like your everyday kind of man.” Anna starts to tell me, and I’m sipping my coffee and nodding.
I notice Jo in the background prepping for lunches, and think I better hurry with my coffee and help.
Anna takes a seat, placing her coffee in front of herself, and gives Jo a look I’m not sure of, but starts to speak.
“MC men are not like your everyday man. Once they see a woman who is their woman they don’t mess around.
This lot here has not met the woman they are supposed to be with forever, but as soon as they see them, they will do everything they can to make sure they get her.
Now, because nobody here has seen or claimed a woman they seem to be on the slow side as to taking up with anyone. ”
Holding my hand up to silence her for a moment, I ask. “Anna, what the heck are you talking about?”
*She means that we see our woman, know she is the one for us, and we claim her.
We don’t want months or years to have a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.
We are all-in from the start. Finger is your man.
He knows it really, but he isn’t sure what is going on.
Being a woman, you are the one who needs to lead him because these thick shits here need a hand to guide them*
"Bono, are you saying I should chase him? Or I should just outright say, ‘Hey, Finger, you are my man?’ and you know that sounds really ridiculous, don’t you?”
*That is exactly what I’m saying. All you have to do is ask him his real name, and then after that you need to ride behind him on his bike. If he doesn’t get it then, just smack him around the back of his head*
Anna smacks my arm, and I mean she’s left a red mark type of smack. “Wow, what’s going on?”
“I was speaking to you, but you were zoned out,” Anna states with a touch of annoyance.
“I was talking with Bono. He was telling me I have to claim Finger. Now, I have always been drawn to him, but he hasn’t really shown any sign of wanting anything other than being friendly. Like all the brothers here, if I’m honest. It is a feeling of being a sister more than anything else.”
“You were talking to a ghost while I was sitting here with you?” Anna whispers, but her eyes are flicking all over the kitchen. “Is he still here? Where is he? Is there anyone else?”
“Hey, hey, enough. Bono has gone now. Nobody else is here,” I tell her that small lie because there is someone watching what Jo is cooking, but I’m ignoring the fact they are there and as they are doing nothing, I’m not worried about them.
“If anyone comes and wants to leave you a message, then I’ll tell you. Otherwise, chill out. They are not here to hurt anyone.” Well, I hope not, I mumble to myself. But the memory of Pyro bouncing that flame from one hand to the other is a little unsettling.
“Okay, but you need to do something about Finger. We can all see he really likes you, and I mean he is into you. He just hasn’t gotten on the train yet.” Anna giggles at her own comment.
“She’s not a frigging train, Anna. But I agree that it may be easier if you make the first move, Cilla. Men are a little on the dense side at times,” Jo nods to herself when she’s finished speaking and whoever the guy is standing beside her is, nods in agreement too.
“I’ll think on it, but I need to speak to Shelby. I’ll help you here today if that is okay and whenever you need an extra pair of hands. I’m not one for sitting around doing nothing, so I’d like to be useful if it wouldn’t offend you.”
“Any help is great, Cilla. Thanks. Come back when you’ve made your call,” Jo pours the meat mixture into dishes she’s lined with pastry, and glancing I can see tops so these are going to be pot pies.
Great, I love pot pies, but Jo has other things on the counter that I’m not sure what she’s going to do with yet.
Walking out of the kitchen and into the common room, I take a seat at the closest table to the kitchen door. I quickly place the call and hope Shelby isn’t too busy to answer.
“Hello, Shelby of Shelby’s Place speaking.”
I could laugh at the mighty posh false voice she is using, but I hold it back. “Hi, Shelby, it’s Cilla. I wanted to say how sorry I am that I’m letting you down.”
“No, you are not letting me down, Cilla. You are exactly where you should be, which is staying safe. Finger has been to see me and told me all about what’s happening.
We are watching for this disgusting man, and I’ve spread the word, and the townsfolk are all keeping their eyes wide open.
” Shelby is in the kitchen I’m sure, as I can hear Brian speaking in the background.
“I don’t want to lose my job, Shelby. I really enjoy working with you.”
“I’ll keep your job for you, Cilla. I’ve employed a student to cover for you, but as soon as they go back to college, I will be a man down. But I hope you’ll be back before that point.”
“Thanks, Shelby. I think they will have this sorted out fairly soon. But I’ll keep you informed if it is going to be over three weeks. Will that be okay?” I ask while crossing the fingers on my spare hand, and cross my legs at the ankles.
“Yep, that’s cool. I have to go, Cilla, because Brian is waving at me.”
“No problem, Shelby, and thank you.” I don’t get a chance to say more before I hear Brian shout for Shelby and she’s gone.
Walking back into the kitchen I quickly make my way to the sink, place my phone in my back pocket out of the way before washing my hands ready to help.
The lunchtime was rushing around making sandwiches, which was my job.
Make BLTs and other assorted choices. Chips, side salads, and other accompaniments were placed for the brothers to take.
I don’t know how they do this on a daily basis, but this is exhausting.
With only two cooks and two cleaners to organize everything, I reckon they deserve gold medals.
The club women, or fluff as they used to be called previously, I was told are useless.
They walk around nearly naked, and the way they act must be exhausting.
I take plates through to the kitchen and come back for more but halt when my mouth must drop to my chest because, darn it there are dead people everywhere. The first one must realize I can see him when he shouts. *Hey, lady, tell Ghost I have his dog Laramie with me*
Then the onslaught of requests starts—*Tell Whistle his friend Martin passed last week, but he’s okay*
*Listen up, can you tell Demon I like the way he has grown? Oh, I’m his grandmamma*
*Ask Snake if he’s ever going to come clean?*
*Tell Violet her sister is safe and…*
“STOP, JUST STOP!” I bellow getting everyone’s attention. But that makes them worse, and I cover my ears to not hear anymore.
Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I look up to see Tracker. He is studying my face closely and must realize what is happening. “SHUT UP AND FORM A FUCKING LINE.” Pausing a moment to look at me again, Tracker turns to look at his brothers, but squinting slightly to see if he can see what I’m seeing.
I am totally flabbergasted when dead people line up in front of me.
Who the hell would have thought…? I turn in amazement to look at Tracker who is doing his best to stay cool, but not sure what’s happening.
When he looks down at me, I must give him a shit-eating grin because a smirk starts to form.
You know the one where they do it with only half their face.
It looks darn cool on Tracker. “They have lined up,” I giggle as I inform him.
All I get is a nod, then he asks, “Anyone for me?”
“Anybody got a message for Tracker?” I ask, but nobody steps forward. “No, you are okay today, Tracker.”
“Good!” said with a mix of relief and annoyance.
The next hour I spend handing out messages and watching joy on some faces, annoyance on others, and relief on many of them. When my mother turns up, I do my best to ignore her, but she is a menace. Always was, but worse now that she’s dead.
“Mother, go away. It’s time you stopped messing with my life and moved on.”
*You always were an annoying daughter. Now it’s my turn to be annoying to you*
“I was annoying to you? Get real. You never wanted kids, and if you’d kept taking the damn pill, you wouldn’t have gotten pregnant. Not my fault you couldn’t cover your own ass. I don’t blame my father for disappearing. God knows I tried hard enough.”
*He was a spineless dick…*
“Well, you wanted his dick so what does that say about you?”
My eyes round out when I see Pyro appearing, and he is still playing with that fireball. But holy mother of… he throws it at my mother who shrieks like a banshee as she lights up. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry, but holy heck this is awesome.
“What’s going on?” Tracker asks, and he’s damn observant because he is watching every expression that crosses my face.
I mumble as I’m watching what is going on, and I cannot contain the laughter when I see Pyro chasing my mother throwing fireballs at her.
She is on fire, but she’s dead so he can’t kill her, which is freaking weird, but a fact.
“I wish I could somehow show you what is happening, Tracker, because this is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.
Your man Pyro is awesome and if he was here, I’d kiss him. ”
“No, you fucking wouldn’t…”
Tracker chuckles, and I turn to see Finger storming over to me right before he grabs my face in both his hands and kisses me. I mean, he kisses me like tomorrow isn’t coming. It’s all consuming and my toes curl, my limbs turn to jelly, and my lady bits come alive.
The kiss stops, and I stand with my eyes closed right before I hear boots stomping, whistling, and hooting.
My face flames with embarrassment, and I mean, I’m not easily embarrassed after being followed by ghosts all my life.
People think I’m crazy and say nasty things, but I’ve learned to let it roll over me, and I’m not embarrassed that I see them.
If I can help them I will. But this is a different thing altogether.
“I’ll talk to you later, Cilla. But you keep your lips away from everyone else, or there will be trouble.” Finger doesn’t wait for a reply, but as he leaves the clubhouse he turns at the last moment and says, “And you call me Mason from now on.”