MaxWetness begins covering my face and I attempt to move away from it but that doesn't work. I pry open my eyes, ignoring the pain radiating in my skull and see that the sprinklers are on. I lift myself up and lay against the hard pillar behind me.Looking around me, I take in my surroundings. I huff when I realize where I landed after my drunken pity party. I look between the hundreds of headstones that surround me. I look straight at the one in front of me, where I no doubt fell asleep mumbling to him.Samuel TolinoBeloved son, husband, and fatherSam and I went in wanting to hate each other but when you get over there, when you go through your training and then get shipped to a godforsaken land where everything is out to kill you, you quickly realize how stupid it is to have a feud mainly because of your father's differences. Sam and I were a lot alike. Neither wanted power, just wanted to be a part of something different, something that meant something.We had a few differe
Shawna"His ass is nice. Not too big, not too small.""Hmmm." "Yes, but I think his eyes are the best. They are almost gray.""Hmmmm.""You ladies quite done?"Candice, Lyla and I break apart from the entrance of the kitchen where we were just caught checking out Demon, the Nightmare Warriors newest patched in member. The man is muscles upon muscles and has the attitude of a prison guard, but holy guacamole, the man is the sexiest thing I've ever seen. Well, besides Max."Sorry Demon, we're just bored. Have you heard from Austin yet?""Nothing yet darlin' sure he will be here soon." He goes back to making his coffee but turns back around when he notices we have returned to our favorite program of starring at his ass."Like being eye fucked and all, but doubt your men would appreciate it." He says smirking in our direction and holy shit the man looks good with a smile. Someone needs to have a baby with that man, stat."Oh right, yeah sorry. I'm going to go and stare at the do
MaxThe hard wood under me creeks as I lift my body off the cold bench. I rub my shoulders as I sit all the way up and adjust my eyes to my surroundings.It's cold, and foggy and I can feel a little wetness on my cut, most likely laying in the damp grass all night long.It's been two days since I have been released and from the moment I got out and got away from Onyx, I've been completely drunk. It's ironic that I wound up at a park that I used to imagine bringing my kids to. It's the same one mom used to take Austin and I to before we would go and visit dad at the compound. Often times Shane would be there with us, but right now, it merely feels like a lonely, cold, desolate place.I hate that I have returned back to the pathetic drunk that would drink each and every time something bad would happen, but after the news I got two days ago, I think I'm about due for this.Two days before"So it's your cocaine huh Stone?""Yep.""And since when have you been doing cocaine?""Al
Shawna"You knocked him unconscious?" I shout at Austin as he bends down to collect more glass on the floor.The place is a mess, glass scattered everywhere from the alcohol knocked over, tables overturned from them trying to wrestle Max down, and decorations separated from the walls. Candice has actually been a pretty good trooper about the whole thing and is not only helping to clean up but has everyone laughing by making jokes about how someone should have told her how lame the theme was."Had no choice." Austin states calmly making me want to smack the back of his head."You had no choice? He's your brother Austin, and he had just poured his entire heart out to you about what he went through over there." My voice cracks as I recall everything I heard Max telling Austin.After all the commotion, Abby, her boyfriend Jason and I, went to the windows where we saw them trying to subdue Max. He wanted me, all he wanted was to speak with me and they wouldn't give that to him. I was s
Max"Hey brother. Thought we could use a talk." I say as I take a seat in the damp green grass.The smell of summer whiffs through the air as a nearby landscaper plants some flowers next to the administration's office.I pull some small weeds that have started to grow since the last time I was here. It's strange knowing I was here not too long ago hung over and angry that he had left me, but after screaming out in agony how badly I was hurting and having not only my brother hear me, but everyone from the club, I feel different."You know, you could have told me you had a brother, but judging by how fuckin' crazy he is, I'm guessing that's why you decided to keep him under wraps." I joke feeling more and more like myself.This morning I woke up in my bed at the clubhouse and knew where I had to be. I left around five this morning, catching a cab to my house to grab my bike and heading straight here. I left my phone back at the clubhouse with a note saying I just needed a few hours.
ShawnaJulian has come in every few hours to visit me.The first time, he brought me into the other cell, located right next to the one I woke up in, and sat me down on the filthy chair and strapped me down. I tried fighting him but he proved easily I could be overtaken by him and his size.To say fear racked through my body at an alarming rate was an understatement. I was petrified he was going to do something I wasn't so sure I would be able to walk away from, but instead he merely walked away and returned with food and water. Maybe he didn't get the whole torture thing but I wasn't complaining. I ate the dry sandwich and swallowed down the half bottle of water with gratitude.The second time he came in, he let me pee, which was as disgusting as it sounds. He seemed different, almost frustrated but kept his cool. His cargo pants were dirty and he had some stains on his green shirt but nothing looked like blood so I had to believe he didn't have anyone else somewhere in this hell
MaxMemories are a strange notion.I remember small bits and pieces of my childhood. Moments of my brother and I swinging in the backyard or walking to school together in the morning. I remember our Christmases, or the time we decided to make thanksgiving dinner for mom which ended in a disaster when we nearly caught the house on fire. I remember when I got the call about dad's death, and the moment I met Shawna. But, as I walk slowly down the corridor that is filled with filthy cell after filthy cell, the same memory kindles inside me on constant set of repetitive notions.The first time my squad was on assignment to go around a city and make sure there was no danger. I was petrified, worried that any little mistake could not only cost me my life, but the lives of my brothers. The army trains us to be brave, to make a life changing decision in the blink of an eye, but it doesn't teach you not to be human. So, naturally your main worry is that your human aspects will make a turn for
ShawnaI let the beat of Alessia Cara's Stay overwhelm me.My body moves to the new rhythm as I try and remember the steps I created in my head last night when I went to sleep. I round my neck slowly as the song begins and just as her voice fills the room, my hips circle moving quickly into each notion. The beat quickens and I lean my body into different forms.Ten minutes later I lay on the floor in a sweaty mess as the song goes on and on. I tap my chin with my finger thinking of how much better this dance would be if I had a male partner. I have to look into where and when I would have to most likely host auditions.I hear footsteps coming up the stairs and it aligns with the occasional thump. I smile thinking of Miss O'Neal walking up here to tell me to cut off the 'rap music'. She hits the last step then switches the iPod player off."You know, you should be resting that foot of yours." I yell out with my eyes still closed."I could same the same thing to you little missy. Are you
GhostThe music pours out through the speakers as I lift the glass up to my mouth downing half the bourbon immediately enjoying the burn that follows up from my stomach to my throat. I signal the bartender for another as he zooms past me to help another patron. Seconds later, I down the second half and give the man a chin lift when he pours my second glass instantly.I've been here no longer than ten minutes, but I knew right away I would be drinking tonight.Christmas.Fuckin' Christmas.And here I was trying to escape it all.Candice and the other old ladies wanted to do something nice for the brothers, something nice for Bone. It's something I respected, but knew it wasn't something I could stand being around for too long. Christmas was about family. And I didn't have one outside the Nightmare Warriors."You look like you could use some alcohol." I look up and find a different bartender starring down a me from her spot behind the bar. Looking down I see my glass is once again
AbbyPlacing the last dish into the dishwasher, I shut it with my foot then run over to the laundry room to deposit the load of laundry I currently have in my hands. Throwing those in the machine and pressing the start button, I run over to the living room and clean up all the baby toys that are scattered around it.Cursing when I check the time noticing that Chance should be here any minute I grumble my father's name when I think of why I am cleaning last minute. I had spent the entire morning over at his house, because he said there were some things he wanted to talk to me about. Turns out, he just wanted to tell me that he wasn't sure about going to the Christmas party that we practically created for him. It took me almost three hours to talk him into going and another forty minutes yelling at him for being so stubborn."Damn stubborn biker." Another grumble comes out of me as I make a bee line towards the kitchen to put away another random dish left out on the sofa. Normally C
Lyla"But they're a bunch of bikers." Rolling my eyes, I pause as my hand grips the handle to the oven."Yes mom, and they've invited you to come to their Christmas party." Pulling open the oven door, I turn and grab the two sheets of cookies with both hands as I maneuver the phone between my shoulder and ear. "Mom, look I know this is a little different, but this was the first year the club had no drama and they wanted to celebrate as a family." I won't tell her some of that drama included myself, mom already has a hard enough time with the fact that Adrianna hangs around the clubhouse after what happened to her."I don't know, maybe just you and your family can go, and I'll stay with Lisa and her wife.""Mom, Lisa is going and she's bringing Lizzy." Shutting the oven door, I lean back against the counter placing one hand on my hip while the other now cradles the phone.I have been trying to get mom to accept the fact that she is apart of our family, but she still gives us the dist
ShawnaMy body moves through the rhythm of the song as Believer by Imagine Dragons booms loudly through the speakers aligning each wall. My head swings around as my body bends down to the level I need it to go, all while keeping my posture tight. I end it hard stomping on the ground, keeping my face down and hat titled to the side when the song ends on a hard beat.Smiling up at my class I relish in their applause as April, my assistant walks over to me with a towel and my water bottle.Taking them both with gratitude, I remove the hat, damping my face with the towel then swing it around my shoulder, just before draining half the bottle of cold water. Handing the hat over to April I look around and watch as everyone begins grouping together and working on the moves I've just shown them."That was great.""Thanks" I smile up at her, pleased with myself that I kept the routine exactly the way I had envisioned it. I had debated whether or not I was even going to make a routine to t
VOLUME FOUR: A WARRIOR'S CHRISTMASCandiceStepping onto my tip toes, I reach up higher, cursing when I feel my shirt pull free from my black slacks. Looking down I count the steps of the ladder, only to realize I'm on the last one.Damn my short legs.Eyeing the top cap, I wonder for a brief moment if I could balance on it, just long enough to hang up this last bundle of lights that I have bunched tightly in my hands."Come on Candy, it's just like another step." I whisper, attempting to motivate myself. Shutting my eyes and counting to three, I jump up placing one foot on the top then startle when I feel two hands wrap around my ass, pulling me down the ladder and onto the ground."Babe, what the hell are you doing?" Austin grunts and I smile up at him while balancing my hands on his chest. My heart is still pounding from my near death sudden decision so I catch my breath, counting once again before I could speak."Trying to hang up this last strand. I was able to do all the o
AbbyI clutch onto Chance's waistline as he speeds up, passing all the familiar surroundings. It's been over a year since we have been home, and it's been the most amazing year of my life.Chance and I have been traveling all over the country and have recently decided to make a permanent home back here in New York, surrounded by everyone we love. My web design business grew even larger when I was able to travel and meet new clients. I don't regret my decision to leave nursing and the money is just as great.I lay my head on his back once again, smiling with excitement as I see the same long street that leads up to the compound. Going nomad has been the best thing to ever happen to Chance. He is not only happier, but lighter. Darkness and guilt no longer lead him, he takes everyday as its own and always appreciates each day as it is. We've seen much, lived a lot and met a lot of new friends. Chance was even able to track down his parents after they moved to Florida to retire. The r
Chance"Know you're all pissed. Put the club in danger, but I had to keep the intel to myself." I stare down at the small seashell, twiddling it back and forth as I listen to Austin speak.It's been two days since everything went down at the clubhouse and everything feels completely different.Bone is no longer in the ICU. He's still bound to the hospital, but Abby and Julia have gone to see him each day to keep him calm and in the loop. Abby is going strong, I think being close to death has given her voice a push. She and Bone have a much better relationship now and he respects us being together.The FBI told us that we were in the clear, they found all the information to prove our innocence, including six cops coming forward with facts about what Alberts had either promised them, or threatened them with. We were simply in the way of the drug trade. We no longer deal, that much everyone knew, but he knew enough about the clubs that if he was able to get rid of Snake and the King
AbbyMy knees bounce, sobs wrecking my body. I rock back and forth, worry borrowing its way deep down inside my mind. The doctors words as they rushed my father into surgery repeat in my head over and over again."We think one of the bullets is lodged in his lungs."I woke on the way to the hospital, my head on Chance's lap as Shane drove us behind the ambulance. I was worried for my father, but my following questions were about everyone else. Chance explained that the FBI of all people helped us, and that the Alberts brothers were the only causalities. I was so worried about everyone, but it looks like Austin saw them coming from the back of the clubhouse on one of the monitors Torque had set up.They were desperate. That's the only way this all made sense. We were close to getting to them, and with Domingo after them as well, they took their last opportunity.I spot Chance walking towards me; his long strides quicken when he sees my state. I have not stopped to calm down since t
ChanceNine Years Ago"Need another?" I look up from my empty glass and nod at the bartender. The liquid pours into the tumbler and I quickly down it, signaling him for another. I could have made a dangerous mistake tonight. That's all I can think of as the next shot of bourbon fills the glass. I recall the night of mistakes I had as I down this one.The gun in my handWatching the minivan appear, lurking in the shadows directly across the streetWatching as Detective Alberts family got out of their car, happy and care free without worryI was going to do it. I was going to end the lives of every single one of them. Alberts was not there, but I didn't need him to be, I was going to seek the revenge I was due. An eye for an eye, family for family.But as I neared the house, gun ready in my hand while my face was covered by a scarf, I stopped.AvaShe was what crossed my mind the moment I crossed the threshold. She wouldn't want me to do this. I couldn't do this in honor of