Page 1 of August's Ride with Arrow

CHAPTER 1

ARROW

Normally, every year I'm excited for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Club has visited many times, but this year feels different. This year, I only have a few of my MC Brothers with me, and we're not here for fun.

We're here to meet with as many clubs as possible to see if any can offer us some help. At this point, we’re in a bind and don't know what else to do. If we have any chance of defeating the Savage Bones, we need more manpower.

This is our best shot to get help. Meeting clubs in their hometowns can take weeks or months, whereas here we can connect with over twenty clubs in just a matter of days.

I brought Crank, Motor Mouth, Thunder, his girl Ashley, Lightning, and his girl Piper with me. While we're here, we each have a list of who we want to talk to. My assignment is to talk with a few of the clubs that have done charity runs with us in the past—the Lonestar Riders and the Whiskey River Riders.

Lightning's girl, Piper, is coming with me when I talk to the Whiskey River Riders because she just found out her family on her dad's side used to be part of the club. If nothing else, we’re hoping that maybe her connection will be enough for them to agree to help us.

Before we even head to the house we rented, we want to go to one of our favorite biker bars on Lazelle Street. We decided against a hotel, so we had a place to meet with other clubs without drawing too much attention. We don’t know who is on Savage Bones’ side or who will be watching us here.

Thunder and Lightning didn't want to bring their girls, but Atlas said it would be suspicious if we only sent single guys. It would draw more attention, and I agree. We need to look like we are here for the fun.

When we park our bikes, and I pull off my helmet, I get a few looks. I’m used to it. The big scar down the side of my face looks a bit like an arrow. At least, that was the guy's intention when he carved into me. Then he told me my heart was next if I didn’t give him what he wanted.

Shaking my head, I pull my mind from the past. Once my helmet is off, the scar isn’t easy to hide, but I’ve gotten used to the stares. It used to bother me because I could tell people were gawking at me and wondering how I got it. But if they even bothered to ask, it was the same question.

It’s a big part of why I’m still a virgin at almost forty years old, though not many know that. It wasn’t until I joined the Mustang Mountain Riders that I realized there were people who didn’t really care about my scar and actually cared about me. But it’s still hard to accept sometimes.

“Let’s grab a drink and scout the place out,” Thunder says.

As the Vice President, he’s basically in charge while we’re here. Atlas didn’t feel comfortable leaving Mustang Mountain, or he’d have been here himself.

When we step inside, the loud music and smell of beer and nachos greet us. On the far side, a few pool tables are set up, and some guys are concentrating on a serious game. There’s a group of girls in the far corner, and guys scattered everywhere, talking and having a good time.

We walk straight to the bar and place our drink orders before we all take a look around.

“That guy over by the pool table is in the North Carolina club Atlas said we should talk to.” I point him out to the others.

“I know the guys he’s playing pool with. We all hung out last year. Piper and I will go over and say hi and shoot the shit,” Lightning says.

“Remember, no shop talk or Savage Bones talk tonight. Let’s just see who we know and can make connections with,” Thunder says as Lightning heads over.

“Hey, I know that guy over there,” Crank says as he goes over to meet with him.

“Why don’t you talk to some guys here at the bar, and we’ll move around the rest of the room?” Thunder asks. He’s giving me the bar task because he knows I’d rather not draw attention to myself in the room, which makes me grateful.

After grabbing my beer, I sit at the end of the bar. I scan the guys there, but I don’t recognize anyone. Before I even decide what to say, a woman slides up next to me and orders a drink.

“So, where’s Mustang Mountain?” she asks while she waits.

I’m sure she just read my cut and is striking up a conversation. I turn to look at her while giving her a full view of my scar, figuring it will scare her off like it always does. Instead, she just stands there looking into my eyes, waiting for an answer.

“Western Montana up by Whitefish and Glacier National Park,” I tell her.

“Oh, Glacier has been on my bucket list for years.” She smiles, and her gaze flits to my scar. I know this is where she’ll give me her pity look, grab her drink, and walk off. But that’s the last thing I want her to do. I want her to stay and talk to me and keep smiling at me. Before she opens her mouth again, I’m already feeling the loss.

“Your scar looks like an arrow. That’s really cool. How did you get it?” she asks, taking a sip of her drink and shocking the shit out of me.

“My time in the military. The story isn’t pretty, though,” I tell her. But I know if she asks, I’ll talk all night just to make her stay. This feeling makes me wonder if this is what Lightning felt the first time he saw Piper. I’ve got an overwhelming sense that she’s meant to be mine, and that I need to protect her.

“Maybe you can take me for a ride on your bike and tell me,” she says.

It’s obvious that she’s trying to flirt, but she’s shy and awkward like she doesn’t normally do this. I fucking love it because she better not do this with anyone else.

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