“Then I am sorry, Crash, but things will get bloody, if they keep working our territory.”
“I know,” I reply to Pres. “She brought this on herself.”
“I will put a prospect on her. See if she can lead us to where the 794 hide out, and see what they are dealing in.”
“Got it.” I mount my bike, my brothers doing the same.
Fuck I need a drink, but most of all want to go and check on Stevie. Something tells me she will not want to see me right now, though.
“Do you need me at the clubhouse?” I ask Pres.
“Nah, brother. You going for a ride?”
“I need to clear my head.”
He nods. “Check in when you can. We don’t know if we will be a target after she goes to her crew and gives them the rundown.”
“I will go with him,” Savage offers, and I nod to him.
“Be safe, brothers.” Savage pulls away from Valarie’s house with me right behind him.
We have no destination in mind; the plan is to just ride. The whole ride, Stevie is in my head. Seeing her smile the other day at the coffee shop, then the pain on her face earlier, battle in my mind.
Did she really crush on me in high school? I know that I cannot put a lot of weight into what Valarie has said, she was just looking to humiliate Stevie. Val has become a nasty bitter woman, one who will walk over anyone to get what she wants.
It pains me that she could be hurt in this situation. I am pissed at her, fucking angry really, but I do not want to see her hurt or worse.
I will give Stevie some space before I go and speak to her. Maybe another coffee date, or some food. Chicks like going for food now, right?
My mind wanders to back in high school days, remembering how Stevie was around me. Did I miss something? I know she’d blush if I smiled or winked at her but it was in a friendly manner, she was my girlfriend’s best friend, for fucks sake.
Damn, I wonder how things would have turned out if I had gotten together with Stevie and not Val. Would I have left, and found the club?
As much as I hated leaving when I did, I knew that it was the best thing. They threw my loyalty, trust, and respect on the track and drove over it. If I had not left, I would not have found the club, and the Rugged Skulls gave me a new purpose.
Jack took me under his wing, and I gained a family. Something I will never regret.
Savage and I ride around for a few hours, stopping for gas and some food. It was something I needed to just be me, Logan Vaughan, and not Crash for the Rugged Skulls MC.
At one point I had to stop Savage from getting his dick sucked at an ice cream stand, because the owner smiled at him. I swear he was a fucking hooker in a past life.
Being with the club there is never a dull moment; we each bring something that makes us diverse and welcome to all.
CHAPTER EIGHT
STEVIE
The Phoenix sun beats down on my back as I bend over, pulling weeds from the small garden planter that is my enemy today.
It is gardening day with Aunt Cass. I love these days, when it is just us and the garden. Nature doing it’s thing of soothing the soul as she always tells me.
Music plays from the speaker on the back porch, adding to the relaxed feel of the day. I worked a double at the hotel the last two days, as someone called in sick, so I offered to cover their shift. Plus, the extra money will help. So, I never had time to think of what happened at my ex-best friend’s house.
It has been three days since I had my fight with Valarie and got humiliated in front of Logan and his club.
Swiping the sweat from my brow, I look over to my aunt, watching her smell a flower she has pulled from its pot. The garden is lavish, and large. She bought extra land at the back of the property for her business.
I remember the day I came here, it was full of heartache and sorrow, but Aunt Cass held me, and told me that she wouldsupport me in any way she could. That grief was not timed, or structured.
