Page 12 of Chubs

The universe might revolt around me sometimes, but fate was kind when she granted me this family.

Chapter 5

Chubs

After Lucy walks out, I don’t even bother going to bed. Sitting in front of the window, I stare out, not seeing a thing. As I’ve been doing for months, I run every scenario through my head again, trying to find a different solution. When dawn breaks, I admit that there isn’t a perfect answer for this problem. Sighing, I stand and start my day of finalizing my plans.

My phone’s been blowing up for hours now, and I’ve ignored every call, text, and voicemail. There will be a price to pay at some point, but that’s so far down my list of concerns it’s not even a blip on my radar.

Pulling into the driveway of my next stop, I shut off my bike, pull the envelope of cash from my saddlebag, and approach the house. Using my key, I open the door and walk straight to the table. Setting the envelope on it, I take a moment to look around at a home that has become a second home to me. Double-checking that the directions to the car lot that I wrote on the envelope are easy to follow, I walk out and lock the door behind me. Another loose end completed.

Straddling my bike, I pull my phone out and flip through the texts.

Axel: You missed Church. Where are you?

Pooh: Prez is getting pissed. Call in or get here soon, brother.

Trigger: Where the fuck are you? Where you’re NOT is at WORK or the clubhouse! I’m going to fuck you up this time!

Petey: Not cool, Chubs. Check in.

Ava: You skipped breakfast! WTF Chubs?

Pippa: This is Craig. Either hide good or call. Gunner is getting that look. Even Assman is pissed.

I smile at Craig’s text. Not because Gunner or Axel is pissed, but because Craig obviously figured out Pippa’s latest passcode again. It’s been an ongoing battle for her, and she should just give it up and buy him his own phone. He’s smarter than any of the adults realize, and it’s not going to end well for them for that reason. I see Rex, our tech genius, having to reset Pippa’s phone. Craig will change her passcode again, and she’ll think she simply forgot it. Again.

Heart aching, I note that not one of the dozens of texts is from Lucy. I ignore the rest of the texts and send one of my own.

Me: Money’s on the table.

The response is immediate and exactly what I expected it to be. The car I chose will be tucked away, loaded, and waiting for me by evening.

Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I fire up my bike.

I have one last thing to do, and this one hurts. I wait until the auto shop is closed, and I know Trigger is gone, before going there. Behind the shop is a storage barn, and I pull up to it, dismount, open the door, and walk inside. Walking to the corner, I pull the tarp off of my trike and run my hand along the tank lovingly. With a sigh, I recover it, say my goodbye, and walk away.

Immediately after I found the car I was going to purchase, I tucked my trike away in storage. I started riding my old bike again because I knew I’d have to leave a bike abandoned on the road. I couldn’t do that to my trike because it was such a part of my and Lucy’s life together. While I love my old bike too, I won’t feel as bad leaving it behind, especially knowing that’s where one of the men placed the tracking device. Lucy’s gone, my trike is safe, and now I must find food.

Sitting at the back of the room, I eat my meal and down my beer in silence. I avoid making eye contact with anyone, and no face is familiar to me here. I go completely unnoticed. After eating and receiving an order to go, I slip out a side door and make my way to the hotel. It’s shoddy, inside and out, with sketchy as hell shit going down all around it, but no one will find me here. No club members or Feds, and I need sleep.

Come morning, I ride off as the sun is rising. I soon find myself parked along the highway near Denver International Airport. Checking the time, I turn my gaze to the sky and watch a smaller, private plane gain altitude rapidly. I watch it until it disappears out of sight. With a hollow feeling in my stomach, I ride away.

I have a productive day, but I’m numb throughout it. I put myself on autopilot and just get through it without much thought. Stopping my bike behind a very questionably run strip club, I send a text. Within a few minutes, the back door opens, and a large, barrel-chested man steps through. Without a word, he holds out a piece of paper to me, and I take it. I give him a nod of thanks, and he disappears back inside. Good people can work in bad places, and he just proved it. This paper is worth more than any price that can be put on it, and I won’t forget his help. This is the information that Gunner’s searching for and may be the one thing that saves me a beating at that man’s hands for ignoring his calls. While I would truly love to be a part of The Devil’s Angels and Morales family’s plans, I can’t. Instead, like the snake I feel I’m becoming, I’m going to use it as a distraction for my own exit. Yeah. I’ve sunk to a new low.

On the ride to Pigeon and Horse’s house, I work hard at hyping myself up for the next few days. By the time I got off my bike, I have a smile on my face, and my acting skills sharpened. I have to be the Chubs they’re used to and expect, or I may find myself locked in the basement at the clubhouse. Acting normal is the only way they won’t lock me down.

Somehow, I survive my club President’s anger, mostly due to having the information he needed and because he has more serious things to handle. I’m smart enough to realize that out of sight, out of mind is my best strategy, and quickly volunteer to be a ranch hand. It doesn’t save me from one hell of an ass-chewing from my Vice President, Axel, though.

“Want to explain why Bailey is mad at you?” he asks sarcastically.

“Lucy and I had an argument. That’s all.”

“That’s not all. Lucy and you don’t argue. Ever. And Bailey wouldn’t be mad at you over a simple argument,” he retorts angrily while crossing his massive arms over his chest.

He knows I’m dodging the truth, and it’s made him an unhappy biker. It’s disconcerting to see Axel mad. I’m not sure how to handle him this way since it happens so seldom and never at me.

“With everything going on lately, we’ve had some added pressures. We’ll be fine, brother.”

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