Page 97 of Fang
“Yeah, Bailey wanted a place we could come watch movies. They had it as another sitting room with seating and pictures of naked women on the wall, but she classed it up a bit. This is a family-friendly area now.”
“That’s amazing. I like it.”
She takes a seat, so I take the one next to her. She puts on some television show as she hands me some popcorn.
“We can watch something else if you want, but I figure we would be chatting anyway” she says as she mixes two drinks from her side table before handing me one.
I take a sip and am pleasantly surprised that I like it.
“I don’t have a television, so I don’t watch it often. This is fine with me. Can I ask you something?”
Viv nods. “Sure.”
“How’d you get my number?”
“Fang. He gave it to me and asked me to check in on you while he was gone. Sorry it’s taken so long. I’m not always the best company.”
“I get that. Trust me,” I tell her, thinking about my own faults.
“Fang mentioned that you have some hang-ups.” At the look on my face, she holds up her hands. “Please don’t be mad at him for it. He wanted me to look out for you. I mean, I saw what happened at the patch party. I wanted to know what your triggers were. I’m sorry, that was a dick move.”
I sigh. “No, it wasn’t. It’s not a big secret. I had to live with a lot of violence growing up, so now it makes me panic when I’m around it. Fang seems to live such an outlaw life, I wonder if I’m going to be able to hack it.”
It’s an admission I have felt for a while but not voiced. I feel like I may not be enough.
She shakes her head. “You will be. Fang will take care of it. It’s what they do. Did Fang tell you how I ended up here?”
I shake my head.
“I was born to two people who were in a cult. They raised me on the values of that cult and never let me see another way. When I turned fifteen, I was married off to an older member. I didn’t want to be with him. He was in his forties and reminded me of my father. I wasn’t allowed to have a choice, though. So I did the only thing I thought I could do. I ran. They hunted me down, but it was too late. I found the Lotus, and they tookme in. They wouldn’t let them have me back. They raised me here in this clubhouse until I was eighteen. Then they gave me the option to move out. They would have supplied me with everything I needed, but this is my home. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. They saved me,” she says, emotion clogging her throat.
“Wow. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
She nods. “I’m sorry you went through what you did. What I’m trying to say is that sometimes these men can be violent. I’ve seen it more than I care to admit, but it’s always for the right reasons. They will never be violent toward you, and if they are, there is a line of brothers ready to step in and handle the abuser. Every time.”
“Thank you. I really think I needed to hear that,” I tell her, feeling something loosen inside of me.
I didn’t believe that Fang would harm me, but I had worried about the other rough bikers. It’s good to know that they aren’t like that.
“Enough of that heavy shit. Tell me something fun.” Viv changes the subject.
I smile, feeling at ease for the first time in my life.
Maybe things are looking up for me.
It’s been six days since I’ve seen Cami. It’s been killing me to be away for so long, but as road captain, it is my job to go on these runs. I am the navigator.
Today is the day we come home, though. Cami doesn’t work tonight. I already asked Happy to make sure she wasn’t on the schedule. Now I’m about to pull up to the clubhouse and take a shower, then I’m going to get my girl.
To my surprise, her car is in the parking lot when I get through the gate.
I don’t bother saying anything to the guys as I dismount my bike and go in search of my woman.
It doesn’t take long. She’s at the bar chatting with Viv. I stride right up to her, turning her toward me. There’s surprise in her eyes as I devour her lips like there is no one else in the room. She kisses me back, her own emotions bleeding into the kiss. I pick her up, her legs wrapping around my hips as I start to walk.
“No way, sir. Tonight is special,” Viv calls out.
“Fuck tonight,” I murmur, as I keep walking.
