Jalisa Chapter 17 #2
“Anyone else need to go?” Cyclone asked the other women.
Braelyn nodded. “I do.”
The four of us set out for the bathroom, which wasn’t far away, but we were still out of sight of the stall. The guys had been in contact using their phones. I asked Forge, “Any suspicious sightings?”
He shook his head. “Nope, not a one. They’d be stupid to try anything here, Lunatic. We’re being cautious, that’s all.”
“And it’s a good thing you are. I appreciate it. I wanted this over today, that’s all.”
“We do, too,” he answered.
In the bathroom, Braelyn and I didn’t take long.
We’d gotten lucky, and there wasn’t a huge line.
We rejoined the guys just as a loud commotion broke out.
It was the sound of multiple motorcycle engines coming from the parking area.
I stiffened. Surely, it wasn’t them. Cyclone and Forge herded Brae and me closer together and ahead of them.
We were rapidly walking back when loud popping sounds registered.
Without pausing, I slid my handgun out of my hidden belt under my waist sash.
Forge and Cyclone had theirs out and held them inconspicuously at their sides.
I was startled to see Braelyn holding one, which answered my question about whether she carried one.
“Stay ahead of us, and if we tell you to get down or run, do it,” Forge ordered. I nodded so he knew I understood.
Suddenly, my dad came barreling through the crowd, his expression scared. When he saw me, he swerved to make straight for us. Despite my anger at him for his actions, I was happy to see him. I moved forward faster, only to be held back by Forge, who was scowling at Dad.
“Stay here and get behind me,” he demanded.
“Forge, it’s Dad. I know we’re mad at him, but he won’t hurt me.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Cyclone muttered.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked moments before Dad came to a halt in front of us. Forge and Cyclone stepped in front of me. Braelyn was at my side.
“Thank God, I found you. Come with me, Jae. We need to get you out of here. It’s not safe,” Dad said.
“Dad, this is probably the safest place to be with all the Pagans and others they have around here,” I protested.
“What’re you doing here, Psycho? You’re supposed to be in Athens,” Forge growled.
“I’m here for my daughter. I’m protecting her. Move out of the way. She’s coming with me,” Dad snapped.
“Dad, I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m working, and my old man, his guys, and his friends have a plan. I won’t fuck it up,” I objected.
“Don’t argue with me, Jalisa Marie! You have no clue what’s at work here. Wrath and his people can’t protect you. I can. We’re leaving,” Dad snarled.
He lunged toward us. I gasped when Cyclone and Forge’s guns came up to point at him. Dad has his pointing back at them. It was a standoff.
“Everyone, put your guns down! This is ridiculous. There’s no reason for this,” I whispered. People were still rushing around, but we’d gain attention soon if they didn’t stop.
“Gentlemen, I suggest you put those away,” Braelyn said calmly.
“Why would I do that?” Dad sneered.
“Because here comes Wrath, and he’s not only got the numbers but he’s pissed. You want to survive this, I’d do it,” she breezily replied.
Our heads swiveled, and I saw she wasn’t lying.
Bearing down on us, like an enraged bull, was Wrath.
With him were Panther, Cougar, and Stitch.
Dad swore, and I thought for a moment he wouldn’t do it, but finally, he did.
As soon as his gun was holstered, Cyclone and Forge grabbed him and jerked him to them.
They took his gun and patted him down to see what else he had on him.
I was confused. Why were they acting this way?
Wrath and the others reached us. I didn’t have a chance to ask what was up. He swept me into his arms and crushed me to his chest. His hands ran up and down my back as his lips grazed the top of my head.
“Babe, are you okay? He didn’t harm you, did he?”
“I’m fine, Wrath. And no, he didn’t harm me. Why would he? He’s my dad. What the hell is going on around here?”
“That’s what I plan to find out. You guys, take him back to the compound.
We’ll deal with him later. Jalisa, I know you have a million questions, and I promise I’ll explain, but you have to give me some time.
Just know that it’s not without reason. This isn’t the place to discuss it.
There are too many people. Plus, we need to finish helping out Emiliano.
Can you stick with me? We can go in a couple of hours,” Wrath implored.
“Go with him, honey. We’ll go back to the clubhouse with Forge and Cyclone,” Panther added.
Neither he nor Cougar appeared happy. My gut churned. Something told me I wasn’t going to like the answers. However, they were right. We had to smile and do our thing, and then we could get answers and, if needed, inflict punishment. But I had to know one thing.
“Were those Black Outlaws we heard? Killer? And if it was, did they get away?” I asked.
Wrath drew back and scowled at me. “It was, and they didn’t stick around. I’ll explain that, too.”
Knowing this was all I was getting, I smiled and put my arm around him. Stitch was next to Braelyn.
“Jalisa, Jalisa, don’t do this! You don’t understand,” Dad shouted as I walked off. I ignored him and let the Pagans and the Fiends take him back home. I’d get my answers later.
???
We were all back from the car show. The commotion caused by the bikes, which ended up being firecrackers rather than shots, and the standoff with my dad eventually died down.
Cops came over to speak to us at Emiliano’s, but we pretended we had no idea what they meant about a confrontation and guns.
I said we’d been talking to my dad by the bathrooms, but that was it.
You could tell they didn’t believe us, but no one seemed willing to challenge us, so it was dropped.
The compound’s parking lot was filled with bikes. So many I couldn’t count. I had no clue this many men were watching the event. I climbed off Wrath’s bike. As the rest dismounted, Braelyn walked up to us from the far end of the lot.
“Lord, how many people did you have covering the show, Wrath?”
“We had more show than promised.”
As we entered, I smiled. The room was super crowded, like the lot.
I was scanning faces and backs of cuts. I saw Cherokee Pagans, Dublin Falls Warriors, Iron Punishers, Ruthless Marauders, and Hunters Creek Warriors .
Then my heart seized when Black Outlaws blazed back at me.
Without thought, I whipped out my gun and pointed it at the nearest Outlaw.
The ramble of dozens of voices petered away as eyes landed on me.
“What the fuck are they doing here?” I snarled loudly.
Wrath reached out, cautiously pushing the barrel of my gun down until it pointed toward the floor. “Baby, don’t shoot anyone—gimme time to explain. I’ll let you know if any of them need to be shot. Okay?”
I heard chuckles from around the room. The guy I pointed at smirked. “Hang on there, sweetheart. You wouldn’t shoot poor ole me, would ya?” he asked.
“Yes, she would,” rang out from around the room. This remark changed his smirk to a contemplative look.
He slowly rose to his feet. As he turned fully to face Wrath and me, I saw the front of his cut.
It read National President and Lion . Men rose and came to stand at his back.
They wore fierce scowls. Their arms were crossed over their chests, no doubt trying to intimidate me.
I had news. It would take more than that.
“I think introductions are in order. I’m Lion.
I’m the national president of the Black Outlaws.
I’ve been on a retreat, you might say. I just heard that your club was trying to speak to me about one of our chapters, particularly one of our members.
It was easier to come by than to call since we were in the neighborhood.
” He was addressing Wrath, although he kept glancing at me. He held out his hand to Wrath.
As Wrath took it, he introduced himself.
“I’m Wrath, president of the Oconee Pagan Souls.
Another left the message, but it was at my request. I figured it might have a better chance of you answering if it came from another one-percenter president than a non-one-percenter president.
Panther, would you come here? Rage and the other presidents, please, join us,” he called out.
When bodies stopped moving, seven men were standing on either side of Wrath and me. “Lion, this is Panther. He’s the president of the Hell’s Fiends in Athens, Georgia. He left you the message.”
“Nice to meet you, Panther. I’m sorry that I just got back to you. I know the issue you called about affected your club. How did do-gooders like the Pagans and these other clubs get involved? No offense, but we’re not exactly into the same things.” Lion smirked.
“No, we’re not. Or not these days,” Wrath agreed.
“I’ll explain as soon as I introduce the other presidents.
This is Rage. He’s the former president of this chapter.
Clockwise, you have Jinx of the Ruthless Marauders in Tennessee, followed by Agony from the Pagans of Cherokee, North Carolina.
Reaper is from the Iron Punishers in Virginia.
Terror, from the Archangel’s Warriors in Dublin Falls, Tennessee, and finally, Bull, charter president and president of the Hunters Creek Warriors.
Diablo couldn’t make it from Florida. He’s the president of the St. Augustine Horsemen of Wrath. ”
Lion whistled. “Correct me if I’m not wrong, but weren’t all your clubs at one time, one-percenters?”
All the presidents nodded.
“Well, shit, this should be interesting. Mind if we sit again? I think this will take a bit.”
Chairs were pulled out, and seats were taken. When Wrath sat, he made sure I was next to him. Lion eyed me.