Shane"So, Shawna was right?" Bone shouts out from the back of the room."Not quite sure yet. Miles, you want to explain brother?" Austin addresses. We have been here in church for over an hour trying to figure out the new MC situation. On one hand Shawna may have heard Julian correctly right before he died when he spoke about another MC helping him, but we just aren't sure. No one here is calling her a liar, but it makes no sense that not one of us has ran into them yet. Also, doesn't make any sense as to why they would work with him."Ran into one of our old drug runners. He had called us down to talk and when Chance and I went down there, he was running his mouth about this new MC that he saw. Didn't really sound right to me.""What do you mean?" Max asks sitting up in his chair. He's always to the left of Austin, as I'm always to his right. As road captain of this MC it's my job to be a planner. I'm the one that checks everything over for safety and the riders when we go out
LylaThe black liquid quietly pours into the small white ceramic mug. I lift the mug up and walk over to the dining room table, placing it just before Chance."Thanks Lyla.""Sure thing."Walking over to the sofa, I begin picking up all the toys Adrianna had scattered in the living room when she was showing them to Chance."I can help with that. Kinda my fault she brought them all out here." I look up from grabbing the ones that fell and went under the couch and look at Chance whom has moved into the living room like a ninja."Yeah, it's not always the wisest decision to have a three-year-old show you her favorite toy. That's like an invitation to her entire room."Chance chuckles, joining me on the floor to help clean and I join him. It's comfortable being around him. He's always been the laid-back person with me, never judging, never giving me shit for being who I am. I can tell Chance carries around a lot of baggage and as soon as Lisa told me about him, I knew he was the kin
ShaneSomething pokes me in the face and I swat it away with my hands. I roll over and try to get more comfortable. I pull up the too small for my body blanket and try to sleep, but another poke wakes me up followed by the shrill sound of a giggle.I smile, knowing Adrianna is indeed up for the morning. I can see the gleam of the morning sun through the small slant in my eyes. Sleeping on the couch has given me the ability to be able to tell it's morning just by the way the house settles. Off in the distance coffee brews, Adrianna giggles and Lyla showers. It was what I always wanted to wake up to. What, for a moment anyways, I had but lost.Lyla saying what she did to me last night comes rushing through my mind and the words she said are at a constant repeat. I shouldn't have gotten angry last night, I knew for a fact that she was just trying to tell me that Adrianna comes first, as she should. Today needs to be a different day and as I lay here, I make a promise that I won't be a
LylaIt's been a few days since Shane has graced our presence of sleeping on the couch. Days of watching him consume my daughter's whole world, days of him making me dinner each night, and days of nonstop sexual frustration for my libido. Every morning I wake up, he is either doing his regular thousand pushups, shirtless I might add, or brewing me coffee and making us breakfast.Yesterday was an early day for me since we were dead, so I came home early to find them both in the kitchen making dinner together while some new bright pink barbie boombox played a Disney princess song from the kitchen. I questioned Shane buying her a present, but he simply shrugged and told me she gave him a cute look.Men.Today, being Friday, would normally mean my work day, but a new transfer began today, and Ben wanted her to do as much training on the floor to get used to our building, so I was volunteered to stay home. At first, I was hesitant, it would be the first day since Shane has been here tha
Shane"This is getting' bad brother." I say to Austin.It's been a few hours since Lyla kicked me out of her house. Hours since I've held her body close to mine. Hours since I've calmed Adrianna down enough to begin talking again. Hours since I have felt whole."Yeah. Can't believe that asshole had the audacity to come after one of old ladies and her kid. Fuck man, glad you were there."I nod my head reliving everything that went down today. The smile and joy reflecting off Adrianna. The happy go lucky and freeing look Lyla was sporting, the carefree attitude I had. It was all gone in the blink of an eye when I watched as that asshole came up with a forty-five in his hands. If it weren't for the cut he was sporting, I wouldn't have thought much of him.Giving the description to Austin was easier than I thought. It helped that when I shot him in the shoulder, he stared right at me. Had no gun experience, that much I could tell. Someone taught him how to use it, but not well enough.
Lyla"Mommy, what am I supposed to say to Uncle Austin again?" Adrianna asks me from the back seat. I roll my eyes with humor since this is the hundredth time she has asked that very question in the last ten minutes.We are currently on our way to the engagement party for Austin and Candice. I was supposed to go alone, but Lisa had a date tonight and although she told me she would cancel so she can watch Adrianna, I didn't want her to have to do that. With everything going on these past few weeks, I just wanted to spend more time with my daughter. After Shane left, Austin and I had a long chat over the phone about what I do from here. I told him I just wanted my life back, but my daughter protected. He gave me Miles and Ghost for protection and promised me that I wouldn't even notice them.He was right so far.I think about Shane all the time. Part of me feels terrible about how I treated him that day and the words I used weren't fair. I had told him that I wouldn't stand for how h
ShaneYou have got to be fucking kidding me.I watch as my ex-wife walks confidently around my mother's house like the queen of fuckin' England."Shane, do you know where your mother keeps her coffee mugs? She wants another cup and I can't find any clean ones.""You should check your house." I mutter but she turns around clearly hearing me.Getting that call from the hospital letting me know that my mom had been immitted into the emergency room was surreal. I had been at home with Adrianna after picking her up from preschool. Miles had been watching her, but I took over when I left club Sin after doing the books for the missing days. Once Lisa arrived, I took off, hating that I never called Lyla to let her know what was going on.Mom had a mini stroke. Doctor told her it wasn't an actual stoke, but close enough that she may have one in the near future if she doesn't start changing her ways. Mom never takes care of her body and knowing that she may be in a state where no one would
LylaIt's been a week since the day of the custody hearing. Everything has been really good between Shane and I, but there are times when I feel like he is keeping something from me. Shane isn't necessarily a secretive person, but with club business he has been lately. I've asked him about the guy that shot at us or if Alberts has done anything else to threaten the club, but he simply shrugs my way and changes the subject. I understand my role in their boy's club, I get the dynamics, but I don't feel comfortable with Shane keeping something from me that could very well affect Adrianna's life.You're one to talk Ly.I haven't exactly told Shane about the custody hearing, nor about what I plan on doing today. He believes I am meeting up with Adrianna's teacher to discuss next year. Instead, I am on my way to the house Rory has rented while here in New York, with Adrianna.When I got the call from the social worker assigned to our case, saying that Rory's house was deemed fit for Adri
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