Vortex shifted and grabbed a foot, slipping the sock off. He began massaging it without asking. Wow, that was so good.
“How are you feeling?” Vortex asked.
“Stressed, so much has happened. I’ve not had time to process shit. It’s been one thing after another. For two weeks, it seemed my world had been upended, and nothing made sense anymore. Natasha’s gone, and I don’t know how to handle that. The funeral helped me come to terms with the fact. However, I turn around to tell Natasha something, and she’s not here; it’s the most awful feeling.
“This stalker person, whatever they are, is frightening, and we’re uncertain of their motives. Are they following the plot of that damn movie, or is it something darker? Someone who thinks there shouldn’t be any survivors? I’m used to being the one with answers.”
“Grief is a strange emotion. It lets you march on for a few days and then rises to bite you in the ass. It catches you unawares when you don’t expect it. When I heard what happened to the club, I mourned deeply. Even though I wasn’t part of UBMC anymore, they still meant something. And then I discovered the truth about why I left, and that devastated me. Thought I’d known my brother’s motives, and I hated what they did. Then, to understand I’d misjudged them made everything worse,” Vortex stated, staring into the fire.
“What happened? I guessed the club split somehow.”
“Goes back over fifteen years. A corrupt president ran the club. Inglorious has a younger sister, and a dirty VP raped Rhea. I was twenty-one and a new brother. Rhea was staying at the clubhouse. I was supposed to be protecting her, but this woman I’d been chasing gave me the come-on signals. Stupidly, I chased after the bitch, leaving Rhea alone.
“Vapour, the VP, raped her. Inglorious and Psych walked in on it happening, and Inglorious blew Vapour’s brains out in front of Rhea. Then, they and some brothers killed half the club. At the time, Hercules, Bow, Tracker, me and two others,decided they’d lost their minds and become bloodthirsty killers. Inglorious refused to explain and ordered us to make a decision.
“Psych warned us that not everything we thought was true was. Also stated that we knew them. Asked if we really believed that was what happened? With blood dripping through the floorboards of the clubhouse—yeah, we did. We left that night. Inglorious never once explained. In shame, I couldn’t even face Rhea. The kid was under my protection, and I’d failed. Inglorious should have kicked my ass for that total screw-up, but let me walk. Brother guessed I’d punish myself.”
“Did you?”
“Fuck yeah. Shitty jobs, cheap women, not having anything real. The same night, Nanci also fled the clubhouse. Psych was her brother and forced her to leave. She did. There’s more to Nanci’s story than that, but that’s the basics. Those who left stayed in contact with Nanci, and when she returned here, she called us to return.”
“Why?” I asked, “Did Nanci come back?”
“Because all that remained were three members. The rest had died in a bomb explosion in the war with Venomous Fangs. Only three survived. Nanci knew Psych loved the club, and he’d sacrificed his life for it. She was determined not to let what Psych died for die too. Inglorious was an alcoholic, Chill wasn’t far from one, and Razor was battling cancer. Two prospects were ripping us off, and the other two, Moon and King, were running themselves ragged.
“Despite this being a brother-only club, nothing was stopping Nanci from claiming Psych’s legacy and taking the president position from Inglorious. She did exactly that and revitalised the club. She dried Inglorious out, scared the daylights out of Chill and recalled those who’d left and the nomads. Nanci kicked out the two asshole prospects and beat their asses, and promoted the others to brother.
“She also discovered Gravey hiding in the church. In the space of six weeks, Unwanted Bastards went from three active members, excluding Gravey, to eleven. Sabre’s brother Slim was part of the club, and when he came to collect Slim’s belongings, Nanci informed him of his legacy. Sabre took her up on the chance to join.”
“The war left a deep scar in South Dakota.”
“Yeah, and it won’t heal for a long time. Even a year on, the pain remains raw. Apart from RCPD, the Unwanted Bastards lost the most. The RCPD lost half of its officers. It was a slaughter. Our club had gone to help RCPD when we took the blast. We later discovered that the attackers were the die-hard Venomous Fangs. A lot of them could have rivalled the Japanese Kamikaze pilots in WW2.”
I reached out and touched Vortex’s shoulder as he swapped feet. “We’ve both known great loss.”
“Yeah, but yours wasn’t of your own making. I lost years with them because of my stupid beliefs.”
“Suffered a harsh lesson.”
“Fuck yes. Don’t waste time. If they’re back, they’re brothers. Even Gravey, with his reclusive, asshole ways. This time, I’ve learned not to judge and to wait until I’ve all the facts. That scar on Tracker’s face? Didn’t have that when he left. Tracker’s withholding a story, one that sent him and Bow in separate directions. But I’ll be patient and wait for Tracker to tell me. Moon rarely says much, and King’s certainly hiding some shit. But they’re family, and I’ll be here when they need me.”
“Then what?”
“Then I’ll ride at their side, no matter what,” Vortex promised.
“Natasha would have loved your club. Tash adored Harleys and always wanted to ride one.” I paused and let memories wash over me. “Vortex, your town opens in a few days. Will we be back for that?”
“Yes, and then Capture the Flag is being held next weekend. You up for it?” he asked.
I nodded enthusiastically. “We’re on the same team, right?”
“Well, I did debate putting you on the other side so I could tackle you, but thought you might kick my ass,” Vortex teased.
“I would have!” Dragging my foot from his hands, I lunged forward. As I landed on top of him, Vortex let himself be pushed flat. Straddling him, I blushed but held my ground.
“Now what?” Vortex demanded, eyes taking on a glint.
“Now you fuck me,” I said baldly.
