Page 64 of Whizz

“Ned wants to leave threefighters for Eva’s protection.”

“Is Tiny happy withthat?”

“No.He doesn’t want anyonewho’s not part of the club there protecting his woman.Tiny can doa lot of shit, and say a lot of shit, but he loves that woman morethan he loves everything else.”Whizz picked up a blanket and acouple extra towels.When he passed a stand, he grabbed thesunscreen, and bottles of water.

“I feel bad for you payingfor everything.”

“Don’t.”He liked herdepending on him for everything.

Once outside, they made their wayclose to the sea.There was a small section of beach that had aspace for them.He placed the blanket on the sand as Lacey removedhis jacket, taking a seat.

“It’s so warm.”

She pulled her knees tight up againsther chest as he took a seat beside her.He couldn’t tear his gazeaway from her.She was so beautiful.

You’re going to marryher.

When they got home he’d start lookingfor a place for them to share.After they were settled he’d startto look at adopting.He never thought about children.Sure, heloved the kids his brothers had back at the club but never forhimself.

“Tell me about yourself,Whizz,” she said, lying back.No one invaded their space.The noiseof laughing adults and children filled his senses.Dogs barked inthe distance, as the ocean swished about.The sounds were peacefulto him.

“What do you want toknow?”

“Your life before the cluband bikes?What was it like?”

He picked up a strand of her hair,twirling it through his fingers.“You want to talk about mypast.”

“You know my past, my family.Iknow nothing else about you.Were you normal?Human?Machine?”

He laughed at her teasing.“Iwas normal.I had a family.”Whizz stopped thinking about his lifebefore it all changed.“I was the oldest son.I had a younger brother.Mymom and dad were the kind of couple you adored.She was always inthe kitchen baking.”Whizz hadn’t thought about his family for sucha long time.“She didn’t like buying pre-packed stuff that shecould make herself.In her home the bread on offer was baked byherself.Biscuits, cakes, everything that was sweet she made.Whenwe went out she’d make everything.My dad was on Wall Street.Hewas good with figures and shit, made a lot of money, but it nevergot to him.”He frowned, staring past her shoulder to the familylying a few feet away.The dad was ticking his son as the dogbarked around them.“He didn’t let the money or the business go tohis head.Mom was a stay at home mom.She was there for everything,awards, football games.You think it, and she was there.We werehappy.”

“Wow, it seems strange foryou to have actually experienced a happy life.”

With every story it didn’t endthere.

“What happened, Whizz?If yourfamily was so perfect, what happened?”

“I was eighteen when the copscame.Mom and Dad had gone into the city with my brother for hisbirthday.I had to study.I wanted to go with them, but I wasn’tallowed to.I had studying to do for a damn math exam the nextday.”Whizz stared into her green eyes, losing himself in theircolor.“Mom told me to get an A and she’d make it up to me.Iremember her kissing my head, my dad ruffling my hair on the wayout.I fist bumped with my brother, and they were gone.They didn’tcome home.”

“Why?”Lacey’s eyes werewatery.He leaned forward, kissing each of her eyes inturn.

“You don’t need to cry forme.”

“Yes, I do.Why did theydie?”

“A drunk driver in a truck.Hefell asleep at the wheel at the same time myparents’ carwas coming toward him.They were killed instantly.”

“How do youknow?”

“I didn’t trust the cops.Ihacked into the CCTV around that area and watched it happen.I’dalways been a computer buff, still am.I’ve been working withcomputers all my life.I love them.”

“They tell the truth,” shesaid.

“Yeah, they tell thetruth.”

“What did youdo?”

“Dad made sure everything wastaken care of.I sold the house when I was twenty-one.I went tocollege.I’ve got a degree in business and technology.When Ipassed, I got into bikes, somehow stumbled upon The Lions.The restis it.You know the rest.”

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