Page 34 of Ripper
“Better than expected actually. It was refreshing not having to clean up potential prospects’ remains off the damn floor when we’d find out that they were just trying to fuck with us. These guys seem like the real deal, and if we keep this up, we’ll have one hell of an army on our side,” I said.
“Good. At least there’s some good news,” he murmured.
“What do you mean?”
“I got word from Wrench earlier that some of the guys spotted some Freeway Fucks riding through downtown. They didn’t make a move this time, but I have a damn good feeling they’re gonna try some shit soon. That’s why we need all the damn prospects we can get right now.”
“Yeah, about that.”
“What?”
“I’ve got someone in mind that you might consider adding to the club, Tank.”
“Yeah, who the fuck would that be?”
“Ronnie. Look, before you say anything, the girl’s got talent. She can hold her own on that damn bike of hers, and she’s Axle’s fucking niece. She’s Hammerhead’s daughter, and you know very well how good of a rider he was in his day. Give her a shot,” I pleaded.
“No. Fuck no. The last time you brought a girl anywhere near this club, we had too much fucking trouble to handle. If Anna didn’t leave town when she did, who knows what the fuck you’d be dealing with. Now, she’s back. I think you need to worry about what your ex-girlfriend might have in store for you before you even think about roping Veronica into the rest of our lives,” he snapped.
“Tank, come on. I know that Anna was one hell of a shitshow, and she very well might still be. That doesn’t have anything to do with Ronnie. Why can’t she get the same damn shot as everyone else, huh? You be pulling these fucking prospects off the streets with no one vouching for them. I’m vouching for her.”
He narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin as he thought about it for a moment. I waited anxiously to hear what he had to say, and I watched closely as he sighed.
“Fine, but if she turns out to be trouble, you’re going to be the one that has to deal with it. Got it? She’s your responsibility. She can have a test run only because we need as many fucking riders as we can get right now. If I catch even a whiff of her turning out to be anything like Anna, she’s gonna be given the damn boot. Aight?”
“You got it, Tank. Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Let’s see what your girl can do. We’ll talk after that,” he said, getting up from his torn leather desk chair, tapping my shoulder lightly before walking right out the door. I smiled to myself, knowing that this was my chance to get closer to Ronnie, to really see just how good we could be together. I pulled out my cell phone, dialing her number, and I listened to it ring a few times before it went to voicemail. I didn’t think anything of it because she was probably wrapping up another busy day down at Axle’s, so I texted her instead.Tank’s giving you a trial run. Looks like you’re gonna get your shot, sweet pea.
***
I headed down to the Ironhead Tavern with Claymore that evening for a drink. The music thumped loudly on the old jukebox in the corner, the drunk crowd stumbled, laughed, and giggled their way to the front of the bar hoping for more. I walked right on over to the back booth while Claymore pushed his way through the crowd to grab us some hard liquor. I glanced around, secretly hoping that I’d somehow run into Ronnie, but there was no sign of her anywhere. I felt my cell phone vibrate, pulling it out of my pocket, and glancing down to see her name flash across the screen.When do we begin?
Tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock sharp,I texted her back. My head was bent, my mind completely engrossed in our little exchange, and I felt the excitement wash over me at the thought of what she was about to do. Having her become a part of the club was a luxury because the closer we got, the more I just wanted to be around her. It was something to look forward to, even if we were all fucking worried we were on the verge of a goddamn biker war. I tilted my head up trying to see over the crowd as I wondered where Claymore was. I nearly got up to see when I spotted him talking up some hot blonde over at the bar. I smiled, rolling my eyes, slouching back in the leather booth patiently. I watched him grab both of our drinks from the bar, bringing mine over to me, but from the look on his face, I could already tell he didn’t plan on sticking around.
“Hey, you mind if I take off?”
“Nah, knock yourself out. I’m probably gonna head home soon too. Got one hell of a day tomorrow. Ronnie’s getting her trial run.”
“Damn. I guess we’ll see if all I’ve been hearing is just talk or she’s actually as good as you say she is.”
“Oh, she’s better,” I murmured.
Claymore raised his glass to me, and we clinked them together before he took off, chasing the hot blonde in her tight little black dress right on out the front door. I sipped on my whiskey, feeling it coat my tongue, relishing in it. I shut my eyes for a second, and I could’ve sworn I smelled the scent of lavender cutting all of the alcohol wafting through the air. I thought of how good Ronnie smelled whenever I was near her. I felt the urge, the excitement, and the anticipation course through me like an adrenaline rush at the thought of seeing her first thing tomorrow morning.
I opened my eyes, hearing the sound of heeled boots on the wooden floors, and I looked up to see a face I wish I didn’t have to see. She smiled at me, sporting that platinum blonde hair of hers, her roots freshly dyed, and that grin that made me want to kill her.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“What? So, I can’t walk into a bar now and get myself a drink? I mean, if you’d prefer to get one for me, I’d absolutely love that,” she said.
My jaw tensed while I stared at her. I felt her fingertips brush against the mouth of the glass in my hands, and she snatched it out, downing the rest of my damn drink before I could stop her. She wiped the single droplet of whiskey from her lips, smiling at me with those pearly whites I used to go crazy for. If I would’ve known back then how much of a fucking psychopath she was, I would’ve never said two words to her.
“I’m gonna ask you this again, Anna. What the fuck are you doing here? You were the one that said home wasn’t for you anymore. You took off because you finally figured out no one here wants anything to do with you,” I snapped.
“I don’t think that’s true, Ripper. See, there are many people who are actually glad that I’m back. We may have had our ups and downs, but I know you miss me too. I mean, since I left, you haven’t really been the same, have you?”
She placed her chin in the palm of her hand, her elbow firmly pressed against the wooden booth table, and I practically snarled at her. I remembered how easy it was for her to weasel her way back into my life, into my bed, and I’d somehow always find myself regretting it. I was tired of her games. I wanted nothing more than to see her gone for good, but I knew she wasn’t ever going to make things that easy for me.
