Page 22 of Wait For Me

“What if I go nomad?” I’d never thought about going nomad a day in my life. There was no good damn reason those words slipped out of my mouth, but they did, shocking us both.

“You’d go nomad just to go watch Star’s back and not interfere with her life.”

“Didn’t say that,” I argued quietly.

“You’re an idiot!” Mack told me, like I didn’t already know that.

“I’m trying to make up for that.”

“Well, I’m not inclined to let you.”

“Fuck you!” I yelled, getting to my feet as I did. If this had to come to blows, so be it.

“Sit your ass down and listen up, Bagger,” Mack snarled at me. “You were given a chance with her. You fucking blew it. From the reports Mike is sending back and my conversations with my niece, she is out there living her life to the fullest and I’m not about to let you go fuck that up for her. When she’s ready to come back, then you can shoot your next shot and hope like hell she’s forgiven you for the bullshit that you put her through.”

“What if she doesn’t come back?”

“Then I guess that means you fucked up really bad and don’t get a second chance with her.” Mack sighed and tossed his phone down on the desk as he leaned there on the corner. “Tell you what, I talk to her at least once a week. You show me that you’ve grown beyond the bullshit plays you were making before, and that you really are ready to settle down with her, and I will drop a bug in her ear about you and get a little more serious about insisting she come home.”

7

Star

I’d been gone from home for a year and a few months. It felt like it should have been longer, considering everything that happened in that year’s time. I’d become independent both emotionally and financially. My feelings and judgment had been tested with Zane. Not that there was ever any love between us, but he made me concerned that I couldn’t see the truth even when it was right in front of me. I had traveled, met people, seen amazing sights, and learned so much about myself and the world.

I guess that’s why I decided it was time to go see my family. I scurried from Utah, with a pitstop in Denver, before heading over to South Dakota in early August, just in time for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. My family, at least the Savage Vipers MC, always ended up with the same camping space every year. I made my way there, in hopes of saying hello to everyone and making sure they were all alive and well. Not that I thought differently, since I got regular updates from Aunt Viv and Uncle Mack.

I was able to sneak up on everyone since I had to park my car so far away. They only allowed bikes to pull directly into the campground, and trucks pulling fifth wheels, otherwise, there was a separate parking area for cages to try to keep the space easily accessible for everyone.

“Hey there, sweet thing, how about you come for a ride on me!”

I rolled my eyes at the catcall and continued walking.

“I was talking to you,” the man spoke again, this time from a closer vantage point. I spun on my heels and stared him down.

“My father is Tripp, President of the Danville, Georgia Chapter of the Savage Vipers MC,” I informed him.

He stopped for a moment before taking one step closer. “You lost?” He asked as he eyed me up and down.

“No, I’m not lost. I know exactly where they are, but I brought the cage up in case there was trouble and they needed to get anyone out who might not be able to ride themselves.”

The man nodded his head.

“Where’s your colors?” I knew what he was asking but played stupid. “Too old to be hiding under mommy’s apron strings, so you’re either marked as property or you’re free game, sweetheart. Which is it?”

“Leave her be, Striker.”

I turned to see another man standing there. He wore the President Patch for his club. “Reaper, Prez of the Stoneridge Raiders out of Oregon,” he informed me.

“Good to meet you. I’ll let my father know we spoke.”

He grinned. “I’ll walk along, so no one else bothers you?”

“Why?”

Reaper heaved out a sigh that anyone in the vicinity could feel. It was full of the deepest kind of sorrow a person could hold in their heart while still being able to stand upright.

“I once had a daughter your age, Myra. Lost her to my own stupidity and can’t stand to think that you wouldn’t be safe wandering here on your own. You know, not every MC is like your father’s. Or mine for that matter,” he tacked on while throwing a shitty look back at the man who seemed as though he wasn’t going to take ‘No’ for an answer. “He’ll be dealt with later. That isn’t our way.”

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