Renegade Reject (3 page)

Holt leans forward, placing his hands flat on the table.  “What the fuck are you talking about, DEA? I thought he hadn’t earned his patch because Gun thought he was a fuckwad.”

Pissed off by his words, I don’t give Kidd a chance to answer.  “My brother-in-law is a DEA agent.  They live outside of Chicago.  I’ve only met the bastard twice, and I doubt I’ll ever lay eyes on him again.  My sister does send me a card every year on my birthday, but other than that, I’ve had no contact with her, much less her shithead of a husband, since coming to Big Clifty.”

Just saying the words leaves me feeling empty inside.  For most of my life, I lived for one thing; Tabby.  Leaving her behind damn near killed me, but it’s what she wanted.  The Renegade Sons are my only family now, though I still think about Tabby and miss her every day. 

“My brother is a police officer back in Hawaii. Didn’t stop Gun from voting me in,” Reese adds, telling me something that I didn’t know.  He looks toward me then back to Kidd. “I don’t see what Preach’s family has to do with him earning his patch.  As far as I’m concerned, he’s my brother. He showed up around the same time I did, and I’ve had my patch for more than three years.  That shit’s not right.”

Timber smiles and says, “I second that.”

A few minutes later, I feel Chipper walk up beside me and hand me my new cut.  I am officially a Renegade Son, and I can’t wash the smile off my face.  Sliding it on, I look around the room.  “Fuck!  This feels good.” The room erupts in deep laughter.

After a few congratulatory smacks on the back, Kidd bangs the gavel again.  “That’s not all of our business.”

Waiting a second to make sure he has everyone’s attention, he says,  “Shit’s goin’ down with Timber. We all know that he knifed a guy at The Kitty Kat a few weeks ago.”

“The bastard was trying to rape Skittles.  If it had been me, I would’ve gutted his ass,” Chipper says, leaning back in his chair. 

Kidd nods, agreeing with Chipper’s thoughts.  “What you don’t know is the fucker he knifed was a cousin to one of the local cops.  The pig took the attack personally, so now he’s gunning for anyone wearing the Renegade Sons patch on his back.”

Fuck!  This doesn’t sound good. “What the fuck do you mean, he’s gunning for us?”

After the shit went down at The Kitty Kat, I knew the guy that pulled Timber in had a hard-on for the Renegades, but he isn’t the first cop who wanted to take our club down, so I wasn’t worried.  Now it sounds like a little more than just a boy in blue with his panties twisted. 

Kidd looks straight at me.  “The guy did some digging and found out that Timber had a warrant for his arrest in California.”

“What the fuck? I haven’t been in Cali since last year.  How the hell could they have a warrant for me?” Timber growls out.

Kidd shakes his head and looks to Chipper.  “Give him the papers.”

Less than a minute later, Timber is holding the papers in his hands.  “I still don’t understand.  This is just a bench warrant for a speeding ticket, nothing serious.”

Kidd shakes his head.  “I don’t know the particulars.  All I know is that you’ll be arrested tomorrow for assault and battery on that dick at the strip club.  They’re using that warrant to prove you’re a flight risk. I’ve already called the club lawyers, and they’re on your case, already working every angle they can.  Hopefully, they can keep you from doing any serious time.”

Tossing the warrant on the table, he looks to Kidd. “How the hell did you find out about this?”

He motions toward the already drunk Maker.  “Maker’s got a set of eyes at the courthouse.  He’s been fucking some bitch that works in the clerk’s office.  She told him that the cop came in and ran your name, and the warrant came up.”

“Fuck!” he shouts, then turns and walks out of the room.  Church isn’t over, but Kidd doesn’t try to stop him.  Instead, he looks toward me.  “I want eyes on him. Don’t want him doing something stupid and getting himself into more trouble.” I nod my head in agreement before leaving Church and heading back out to the club.

Following Timber to the bar, I join him for a beer.  “This shit ain’t right.  You were protecting one of our girls. You shouldn’t have to go inside for taking care of Skittles.”

He shrugs.  “I could’ve taken care of him with my fists.  The bastard was a pussy, but I lost my mind when I saw him on top of her.”

I don’t get the chance to respond before Maker slides onto the stool next to Timber.  “Can you do me a favor, brother?”

Timber lifts his chin.  “What’cha need?”

Lifting a nearly empty bottle of beer, Maker motions for the prospect to bring him another.  “I was supposed to pick up Little Flower, but I’m too drunk to have her on my bike.  Can you run down to the diner and take her home?”

“If you knew you had to pick up your daughter, why the hell have you been drinking?”

He shrugs.  “I didn’t mean to get drunk, but it just happened.”

“If you for once put the beer down, it wouldn’t just happen,” Timber mumbles under his breath before looking toward me.  “You wanna take a ride?”

Nodding, I stand up and follow him outside.  “I didn’t know Maker had a kid.”

“He’s got a daughter, and she’s probably the prettiest little thing you’ve ever seen.  His bitch of a wife keeps her away from the club, so she’s not around much. ”

“Lula’s always here.  Why doesn’t she let the girl come around?”

He slides onto his bike before answering me.  “Lula likes to be the center of attention.  When her daughter’s around, she’s nothing but a shadow.”

I climb onto my bike, wondering what is so special about this kid. 

DAISY

Staring out the window of the Sunny Side-Up Diner, there’s nothing but darkness.  Looking back to the clock, I see it’s nearly midnight.  Dad is more than thirty minutes late, and I know deep down that he’s forgotten me again.  I can’t remember the last time he actually remembered to pick me up on time; even though I remind him every single time he drops me off. 

Pulling out my phone, I dial Dad’s number and put it to my ear.  Of course, he doesn’t answer.  I shove the phone back into my pocket while I shake my head in frustration. Looks like I’ll be walking home again tonight.  When will I ever learn not to depend on him?

The diner’s not far from my house, only about a half a mile, but trying to make it home on my own is a pain in the ass.  I look through the window again and stare down the street.  There they are. The boys that have nothing better to do than harass me are leaning against an old black Camaro, drinking beer. I don’t want to deal with them tonight. 

I know my walk home isn’t going to be an easy one, but I don’t really have a choice.

Walking back to the kitchen, I grab my purse off the freezer.  “Dad must’ve forgot, so I’m just gonna walk home.”

Shelia, my boss, looks up from the receipts.  “If you wait until I’m done cashing out, I’ll take you home.”

I’m tempted to take her up on the ride, but I can tell she’s dead on her feet.  She lives in a small trailer behind the diner.  She needs to go home and get some rest, not drive me home.  She’s done enough for me already.  She hired me when I was only thirteen, paying me cash until I was old enough to work legally. 

I paste on a fake smile and shake my head.  “Nah, that’s okay.  I don’t mind walking.”

“Okay, Daisy. See ya tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” I say as I walk out of the diner. 

I only make it a few feet from the door before one of the boys slides up next to me.  “Hey girl.  You’re sure looking good tonight.”

It’s like this every Friday and Saturday night.  I get off work at 11:30 and have to fight my way home.  They all think I’m just like my mom, a free and easy lay. 

I’m too damn tired to deal with this crap.  “Leave me alone, please. I just want to get home and get to bed.”

Someone in the shadows snickers, “Baby, I’ll take you to my bed anytime.”

I ignore the comment and continue walking, but within seconds, I hear their footsteps coming up behind me. 

“Come on, Daisy. You know you want it,” a boy from my math class says as he reaches out to grab my ass. 

I step away just in time to avoid his grasping hands.  “Don’t touch me.”

I barely make it a few more feet before another hand grabs me from behind.  Pulling me flush with his body, a different boy starts to whisper in my ear.  “I don’t know why you fight it.  Sooner or later, you know we’re gonna get what we want.”

He continues to mumble in my ear as his free hand moves up to cup my breast.  “You’re nothing but a little biker brat; a whore in training.”

The menace in his voice sends a wave of fear through me.  I try to pull away, but his arm is wrapped so tightly around my body that I can hardly move.  The other boys start to form a circle around us, each one wearing a sinister smile. 

“Please, let me go.”

They all start to chuckle as the one holding me begins to walk backwards.  It takes a second for me to realize that they are pulling me toward the alley.  No!  This can’t be happening to me.  I’ve known these boys my entire life.  Sure, they’ve taunted me, even pinched my ass a time or two, but none of them have ever done anything like this before. 

I start to scream, but his hand covers my mouth.  “Shh, Daisy girl.  We’ll make this fun for you.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, I start to fight.  Being barely five foot and a hundred pounds soaking wet, I know there is no way I can keep these guys from taking what they want, but there’s also no way I’ll make this easy for them. 

When the back of my head connects with the boy’s chin, his grip on me loosens.  I jerk away from his hold and start to run toward the diner, hoping like crazy that Shelia hasn’t locked up yet. If I can just get back to her, I know I’ll be safe.

“Help!” I scream as I continue to run.

“Grab her skank ass!” I hear shouted from someone behind me, but I don’t stop running.

I can feel them closing in on me, and I can’t stop myself from looking back.  All four boys are only a few feet behind me.  Tears start to fall when I realize that I’ll never make it back to the diner.  I look around, desperate to find someone to help me, but no one else is hanging around Main Street at this time of night. 

Just as a hand grabs my arm, I hear the rumble of motorcycles heading our way.  Thank God!  I jerk my arm away again and run toward the sound.  I can see the lights from a few bikes coming down the road, and a small bubble of hope begins to form in my chest. I’m going to be okay, but the stark reality is once again forced in my face, as the boys get closer, tackling me from behind. 

“You shouldn’t have run from us, bitch,” the one I head butted whispers in my ear. 

He wraps his arms around my body and pulls me up.  I barely make it to my feet before he starts to pull me backwards again.  If I can just stay in the street until the bikes get here, I know I’ll be okay.  I start to kick, hit, and bite anything to slow him down. 

“Help me get her to the alley,” he says, still dragging me back. 

“Man, I don’t know,” one of the boys mumbles.  “I thought we were just messing with her, not hurting her.”

“Do you want a piece of this or not?” the guy holding me barks out, tightening his arms around me with each word. 

The boys don’t have time to respond before the bikes finally roll up next to us.  As soon as I see them, I start to scream, “Help me!”

The boys surrounding me turn to look at the guys on the bikes.  They seem surprised that they are here. I guess they were so interested in getting some, they didn’t notice the trouble coming their way. 

As the bike engines go quiet, the boy holding me lets go.  I run straight for my family, straight into Timber’s arms.  As soon as I hit his chest, I start to cry. 

He wraps his arms around me.  “What’s going on, Little Flower?”

Without thinking of the ramifications, I blurt out the truth, “They were going to take me to the alley and rape me.”

I hear shouts of denial behind me as Timber’s arms tighten around me.  He doesn’t respond, just releases me and pushes my body toward the guy standing next to him.  “Get her the fuck out of here.  Take care of her. That’s Maker’s little girl.”

Immediately, I’m being led to a bike.  “Are you okay, girl?”

I look up and see the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on. His eyes, oh my God, they must be the most beautiful eyes that I have ever seen; light brown with shots of gold throughout. They remind me of the Tiger’s Eye necklace my Grams gave me for my sixteenth birthday—just breathtaking.

He has golden highlights in his coffee colored hair. It brushes the top of his shoulders, lying haphazardly around his gorgeous face. For some reason, I have the urge to reach up and see if it’s as soft as it looks. 

He’s tall, at least six foot, and the top of my head doesn’t even reach his shoulders.  Other than his height, he’s not a big guy.  Instead, he is long and lanky, reminding me of the cowboys in those old black and white western movies that my Grandpa and Uncle Holt used to watch. 

Naturally, I notice that he’s wearing a cut just like my dad and his brothers.  He’s a Renegade Son.

I know I’m staring at him, but I can’t stop myself.  I swear, just looking at him takes my breath away and makes my eyes hurt at the same time. He really is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.  It doesn’t take long for him to notice my reaction, and a slow smile spreads across his face.  “What’s your name, girl?”

“Daisy,” I whisper, feeling a blush spread across my cheeks. 

“My name’s Garret Austin, but you can call me Preach,” he says as he climbs onto his bike.  “Climb on. Let’s get you out of here.”

I nod, too tongue-tied to respond.  I slide on behind him and wrap my arms around his waist.  Leaning my chest against his back, I close my eyes and enjoy the ride. 

Five minutes later, we pull into my driveway.  Of course, the house is dark.  My dad’s at the clubhouse, and my mom is probably sitting right beside him or in bed with one of his brothers. You’d think that I’d be used to their ways by now, but it still grosses me out to think that most of the guys at the club have slept with my mom. I’m really hoping that Preach hasn’t fallen victim to her wicked ways.