Page 80 of Watercolor Skulls

My imagination must be playing tricks on me. The rumble of bikes call to me. I imagine myself on the back of Dan’s bike. Home. I want to go home. I let myself slip into my memories of the past few weeks. The best weeks of my life and even if this is it…I can now say I’ve known what it’s like to have had a friend, a lover, a family.

Chapter Thirty-One

Dan

???

Dirk really came through last night. He got another three chapters to ride with us today. I thought I would be nervous but I’m not. I’m here for one thing. Her. I don’t give a fuck about anything else.

When we pull up to the gate two guards stop us. It only takes two seconds to disarm them and drive right on in. That was easy.

Looks like we’re just in time for the festivities. It’s a small affair. Maybe twenty or so guests. They all stand from their white fold up chairs, shocked expressions on their faces, as we park in the grass behind their little gathering.

Two men stand out as I swing my leg off my bike, reaching into my saddlebag for one thing, her jacket. I grab it and walk up to the man standing at the end of the isle, assumingly her father, as he waits for the bride.

Dirk whistles. “She must really love your dumbass to leave all this behind.” He smirks knowing the true evil behind the artificial beauty.

“What in the hell is this?” her father demands. A large body guard moves to his side.

I light up a cigarette. Haven’t had one in years but I think the occasion calls for it. “We’re here for the wedding.”

He blinks, a confused look on his face.

A few of the guys take a seat in empty chairs, making women in big hats blush and quickly scoot away. Some of the others help themselves to the food that’s spread out across a few tables to the side. A cake that stands at least three fucking feet high topples over as JD dives in with his whole hand, fisting a giant piece for himself. “Good fucking cake,” he says, laughing, cake crumbs falling into his beard.

A woman comes running out from the side of the mansion. She stops dead in her tracks when she sees us. Lily’s father glares at me before taking a few steps to meet her. “Where is she?” he asks angrily, his eyes darting over the bikers taking over his zillion dollar home.

“She’s sitting on the ledge outside her window. I think she’s going to jump!” the woman wails.

I tip my head, studying her, this must be Lily’s mother. The Senator snaps at her. “You had one job, Margaret.” He storms towards the house. “Rudy,” he hollers to the bodyguard who has been standing by quietly. “Call the police.”

Dirk pulls out his pistol. “You don’t want to do that, Rudy.” He spins in a circle. “Everyone please have a seat.” He moves to the front, shoving a frightened minister into a chair.

I glance around, seeing some of the other Skulls pull their weapons to keep people off their cell phones. The groom rushes towards the Senator. “What the hell is going on?”

The Senator looks at me, ignoring the groom. “I don’t know who you men are, but I need to get to my daughter. She’s not well.”

I motion for him to lead the way. He huffs not wanting the likes of me in his home but that’s too fucking bad. “You stay.” I point to the groom.

When he starts to follow us, JD grabs him around the throat. “I got him,” he says, smiling like a kid in a candy store.

Raffe joins me as we escort Senator Ramsey and his wife inside.

“What is this about? Why are you here?” he asks, climbing the stairs. He still hasn’t figured out we’re not here for him or his money. It hasn’t even crossed his mind we might be here for his daughter.

“Let’s just say Lily is a friend of ours.”

Both her parents stop to stare at me. Mrs. Ramsey grips the pearls around her neck. I continue up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I can feel her. She’s close.

Mr. Ramsey storms ahead of me. He pushes a door open and runs to an open window on the other side of the room. I scan the room quickly. It’s her room but it’s nother. Not even close.

“Lily, honey, come here, please, please take my hand,” he coaxes. The sentiment sounds phony even to me.

I don’t hear any response from her. I snap my fingers, indicating he should get the fuck out of my way. He turns his head towards me and steps away from the window, whispering harshly, “You don’t know anything about Lily. She needs help. She’s a very unstable girl.”

“Get the fuck out of my way, asshole.”

A click sounds over my shoulder, Raffe’s gun is pointed straight at the Senator. I cock an eyebrow. “Looks like it’s decision or collision time, buddy.” I toss my cigarette to the floor, stomping it out with my boot, putting a hole in the white carpet. Who the fuck has white carpet?

---