Reverence: MC Romance (The Davis Chapter Book 3) (6 page)

“No one ever does.” The woman pointed her cig toward the row of bikes. “Boys and their toys.” The woman sighed and shook her head like there was nothing to be done about it. “They don’t actually like the violence, you know. I think it’s mostly about saving face.”

“It doesn’t sound like they’re trying to save face right now.”

She let out a raspy laugh. “Oh, not now. They are giving your man all kinds of shit right now.”

“Why? All he was doing was protecting me.”

“Why? Oh, honey. Protecting you means he wasn’t protecting them. It’s the same as treason in their eyes.” She turned to me, and I realized that all of that anger was gone. Had Romero and I thrown everyone else under the bus for our own relationship? “They’ll finish up yelling, and they’ll all shake hands and drink their beers. You just gotta give them time.”

“I don’t know if we have time. My father is looking to wipe this club off the map. As soon as they find Ty...” My voice caught in my throat. I couldn't finish the sentence, but we both knew. There would be a battle where more than one life would be lost.

The woman flicked her cigarette and then threw her arms around me. “Honey, this is a hard life. You fall for a biker, you join that life. If you’re half as tough as Romero makes you sound, you’ll get through this.”

I didn’t even know the woman’s name, but she was the closest thing I had to a friend. My college friends didn’t count anymore because they wouldn’t understand.
 

“What’s your name?” My question was muffled against her shoulder, but she understood.

“Donna.”

“Which one of them are you with?” It probably sounded more condescending than I meant it to. Donna seemed strong enough to ride alongside any of the Rising Sons or Devil’s Branchers.

She laughed. “Oh, honey, I’m my own woman. I manage the place and try my best to keep the boys in line. I had a thing going with someone for a while...” I could hear pain in her voice, and it made me wish I hadn’t pried.

She gave me one more squeeze before pulling back. Donna was careful to hide it by looking away, but I saw her wipe a tear away. “But that’s done now. It’s for the best.”

My heart ached, and for once, it wasn’t for myself. Donna had shown me more kindness than my own family and she didn’t even know me. My father always painted the Sons, not just as our enemies but as evil. I was beginning to think that he might’ve been wrong.

Just as I was about to thank Donna for her simple act of kindness, the door to the bar flew open. It impacted the cinderblock wall with a thud as Romero stepped through. I jumped from the sock, but barely had time to say anything. He had me by the arm, damn near dragging me toward his chopper.

“What’s going on?” My voice sounded meek like all the strength Donna had given me was gone.

His eyes focused on something ahead of us. “We’re getting you somewhere safe. Things around here ain’t going to stay quiet much longer.”

“What do you mean? Where are we going?” I yanked back on Romero’s arm, trying to get him to face me and explain things.

In the background, Donna took a step forward. “If your man says go, you gotta go. He’s doing this to protect you.”

“Donna’s right.” Romero was already firing up his motorcycle. “We got a tip that they are coming, and it’s not gonna be to sign some peace treaty.”

Romero tossed me the half helmet. I knew there was no time to waste. As I strapped the helmet on, Donna gave me a sad kind of nod, then pushed her way back through the door to the Watering Hole. I froze, my fingers still on the strap at my chin.

“Wait. What about them? Aren’t they coming?”

Romero shook his head. Before I could reply, he twisted back the throttle, and we bounced through the gravel and onto the road. I turned back, wondering if I’d ever see the Watering Hole again; wondering if I’d ever see Donna again.

We rode for over an hour. As we headed south, I wondered how far we’d have to travel to escape danger. When Romero slowed down and parked at the side of the highway, I thought we’d have some time to talk, but he pulled out his cell phone.

“Yeah, we’re about three miles out.”

I had no idea who he was talking to, and I couldn't hear the other end of the call. The last road sign that I could remember was for Tracy, California. We might as well have been in the middle of nowhere.

“No, I’m heading back up north with you boys. Don’t stop, I’ll be turned around already.” He slid the phone back into a small case on his dash.

I gave him a few seconds to explain himself, but instead, Romero fired the bike back up and made a U-turn in the dirt of the shoulder. Once we were facing north, again, he turned back to me and yelled, “You’re heading to Bakersfield. Some of the boys from their chapter are coming up. We’re going to need the muscle.”

As he spoke, I heard the air rumble behind me. When I turned to look, I couldn't see much in the distortion of the highway heat. From the ether, the motorcycle made themselves known. At first I only saw one or two, but more seemed to appear from the shimmering road. My heart pounded at the understanding. It wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t a battle. It was an all-out war.

“No. Don’t you leave me behind.” I pounded a fist against Romero. “I can’t lose you.” Even as I said those last words, I stepped from the back of Romero’s bike. It was just like Donna had told me. I had to let him protect me.

“I can’t lose you, either. That’s why I have to go. Head down to Bakersfield and wait for me.”

I ripped the helmet from my head and threw my arms around Romero. Feeling his hand at the small of my back, I kissed him with every bit of passion that I had. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I didn’t care. He had to go finish what I had started. He’d be ending it, and he’d either come back for me, or not at all. If Romero wasn’t coming back, I wanted him to feel my kiss until the very end. He let out a grunt as the roar of motorcycles got closer. I broke the kiss.

 
“No, no. Please don’t let them take you.”

Romero pulled me back, resting a hand at the back of my neck. He lifted the world from my shoulders with his powerful lips. The heat of the road rose up, just as the heat between my legs did. I wanted nothing more than to strip him down to nothing and let him make me his woman. I needed it, but I knew it wouldn't happen right then and there.

The first Harley passed us, and just a few seconds later, some ten or fifteen more rolled past, kicking up wind and dirt. I had to pull myself from Romero and watch them as they passed. The roar was terrifying because I still felt like I was behind enemy lines. Romero’s hand was at my cheek, and he pulled me back to his gaze. It was strong, and one I’d never forget.

“I will be back for you. You hear me, Julie? I’ll be back for you, and we’ll pick up right where we left off.” His large hand was at my ass. He pulled me closer. “If I remember right, we were right about there.” He squeezed, and I couldn't help but smile. He was a man with only one thing on his mind. To be fair, it had been the only thing on my mind for a while, too.
 

I gave him my strongest, most confident smile. “You better. You just better.” I gave him one last quick kiss that absolutely gutted me. “Get going.”

Before I could say another word, he fired up the chopper and took off to catch up with the rest of the Rising Sons heading north. I watched him fade into the distance.

My vision blurred through the tears, but I still spun around when I heard another deep engine behind me. I couldn’t make out the rider, but long hair whipped wildly behind. A few seconds later, I made out the figure of a woman. Pulling off the road and into the dirt, she stopped just a few feet from me. I only watched, unable to move.
 

I thought I was “in” with the biker culture. I thought I was harder than the valley girls that I shared class with at UC. I thought I was tough, but the woman that sat before me on the Harley made me feel like a sweet-sixteen princess.

Maybe only a few years older than me, the woman looked hard as nails. She pulled her shades down, giving me a look from top to bottom that made a shiver run down my spine. “Julie?” Her voice was dark and husky. She cleared her throat. “Sorry. You Julie?” Just like that, she didn’t sound like such a man. Her voice had a feminine touch, and her eyes seemed to soften.

I nodded, still feeling so much intimidation.

“I’m Raven, and I’m your ride. It’s two hours to Bakersfield, so let’s go.”

I finally found my voice. “Um, I really hate to ask, but I didn’t really get much warning before we got on the road, and I...could really use a bathroom break.” I felt ridiculous asking, especially since I had just met her.

She laughed, sliding her glasses into an inside pocket of her cut. “Actually, I could use something to drink. Let’s kill two birds with one stone.”

After a few seconds on her phone, she said, “Alright, let’s go.” I slung my leg over her bike. She brought the beast to life, and we took off. For two hours I’d held onto Romero with every bit of strength I had. It was a bit awkward hanging onto Raven, but I managed. It would only be for a few minutes, anyway.

Relieved after my bathroom break, I slid into a booth across from her. She stared out the window, the glass of tea dripping with condensation on the table in front of her. I don't think she even noticed that I was there.

The waitress surprised me when she stepped over, saying “Anything for you, Hon?”

“Oh? Maybe just a cup of coffee for me, thanks.” She gave me a sour look, then turned away.
 

Raven turned from the window. I wanted to ask which of the bikers she was with, but after the response that I had gotten from Donna, I didn’t want to push it.
 

“Jesus, I can’t take this.”

“Huh?” She raised an eyebrow.

“For all I know, I just kissed him goodbye for the very last time. You know why they’re fighting in the first place?” I tried to keep my voice down, but it turned into a choked whisper.

Raven nodded. “Yeah, I know why they’re fighting.
Love
.” She rolled her eyes, and I couldn’t help but see a smile at the corner of her lips.

“Love and hate.”

The smile on Raven’s lips vanished. “Oh, really? Now you’ve got my attention. Go on.”

I told Raven about my father and the Devil’s Branch, my high school boyfriend and Romero, and the weapons deal that my father tried to trade me for. It felt good to tell someone besides Romero about Aaron. It was especially helpful to hear about Raven’s encounter with one of the Sons that ended with her stabbing him through the hand.

At one point, she turned to look back out the window. I couldn’t stop myself from trying to cheer her up. “He’ll come back, too. I know it.”

“Who?”

“Your man. I’m sure he’ll be just fine.” I gave her a reassuring smile.

She laughed. “That's not what’s itching at me.”

Just as I thought, I’d guessed wrong. Maybe she was someone’s sister or daughter, just like me.
Not everyone is a lovesick fool
, I scolded myself.

“I know he’ll come back. Gunner is indestructible. I’m itchy because I should be in that fight. I should be beside them as they ride up Highway 5.”

Raven had true sadness in her voice, and I was stunned. She did have a man going into battle, but she wanted to be there, too? I was scared, but so glad to be away from the fight.

“Why aren’t you? Did you draw the short straw, and so you have to give me the ride to safety?”

She shook her head. “No, although that would have been equally shitty.” She pushed the tea away. Raven’s hands moved to her stomach. “I’m actually riding for two, and so Gunner and I decided it would be best if I didn’t get into old school broken glass and bike chain brawls.”

I couldn't help the smile that appeared. I sucked in a breath and covered my mouth. “Oh my god, you’re pregnant!”

She leaned forward. “All right, all right. The whole world doesn’t need to know.”

“It makes sense now!”

She nodded, clearly tired of being gushed over, “I’m so glad it makes sense. I’ve got a nine-month freeze on all the good stuff. No drinking, no fighting. The only reason I’m on two wheels is for pack safety. I can’t wait to get this little demon out, so I can hit the road, again.”