Page 51 of Chubs

“Nothing important. Same shit, different day. I’m on my deathbed, but nobody cares,” he answers in a muffled voice.

Looks like The Devil’s Angels MC Vice President is in full-on pout mode today.

“Pregnancy symptoms?” I question.

“Probably. Pretty sure I died a few days ago, but whatever,” he replies, finally lifting his head.

I have to admit he does look like death warmed over. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his skin is missing its usual healthy tan coloring. Feeling sorry for him, I pull a water bottle from my bag and hand it to him.

“Drink this,” I suggest.

“It won’t stay down. Not much has,” he says, then moans, dropping his head back onto the desk.

“You shouldn’t be here. Why don’t I give you a ride home?” I volunteer.

“I don’t want to give whatever the hell this is to Alex, Bailey, or Prissy. Just in case it’s not sympathetic pregnancy symptoms again.”

“You have a room at the clubhouse. I’ll drive you there, set you up with some fluids and broth, and call Taja. She should probably take a look at you.”

“You would be my guardian angel, and I’ll never forget you did this for me,” Axel states as he stands.

“I’ll tell Cash that I’m taking you home. Meet me at my car. Here’re my keys.”

Axel heads toward the exit, and I walk to Cash’s side. I explain about Axel and turn to leave. Candy appears at my side, questioning look in her eyes. I explain again about Axel being sick and me taking him home.

“Give me five minutes, and I’ll ride with you,” Candy states and walks away before I can tell her it’s not necessary.

Walking to my car, I get that creepy feeling of being watched. I stop in the middle of the lot and look around. I spot a black SUV across the street with two men in it looking in my direction. When I take a step toward them, the vehicle starts and quickly pulls away. Odd, but I realize I’ve gotten paranoid lately, and that’s all this probably is too.

When I get to my car, I find Axel curled up in the backseat sound asleep. I wait, and Candy appears soon after. We chat quietly on the drive, with Candy glancing back at our slumbering princess every few minutes. When I take the last corner on the side road the clubhouse is on, I find the road blocked by a familiar-looking black SUV. I brake and start to slow when Candy shouts at me.

“Don’t stop! Don’t stop, Lucy! Go around the end of their vehicle and stomp on the gas! Go!”

Startled, I turn the wheel to the right just as two men step out from behind the vehicle. Both hold their hands up in what could be perceived as a “please help, we broke down” gesture, but instinct tells me that’s not the case. I try to squeeze between the rear of their SUV and the shoulder of the road, but there’s precious little space, and I had sped up too much.

“What the he…” Axel moans as the front left corner of my car clips the bumper on the SUV, violently shoving theirs out of the way and making mine skid sideways.

Fighting for control, I don’t let up on the gas as Candy continues to shout instructions. When I’m straight on the road again, I do as she screamed and stomp on the gas.

I can hear Axel on his phone, and glancing at Candy, I see a handgun in her hand. She’s watching over her shoulder, so I look in my mirror and see the SUV is doing a quick turn to follow in pursuit.

“You’re doing great, Lucy. The gate will be open, so haul ass through it. James is letting everyone on club property know to lock down. Gunner’s there too. Candy? You know how to use that?” Axel asks in a calm voice.

“Yep. I never leave home without Black Betty,” she responds.

“Good to know. When we hit the clubhouse, Lucy’s going to drop me off, and then you two go straight to my house. I want someone armed with Bailey and Alex. Don’t leave until James or Gunner comes there. Okay?”

“Got it, boss,” Candy answers just as I drive through the gate and see James shutting it behind us.

I stop only long enough for Axel to bail out of the car and Gunner to hand Candy Mac. Then I drive directly to Axel’s house. Bailey opens the door, and Candy hustles me and Mac into the house, then locks the door behind us.

“I’ll check windows and doors,” Candy states, then walks away.

“Where’s Alex?” I ask, not wanting to say something that she might overhear and scare her.

“In her room, watching a Disney movie. What’s going on?”

“I’m not really sure. An SUV was blocking the road just before the club property line, and two men tried getting us to stop. Candy said to keep going, so I did. I was bringing Axel home because he wasn’t feeling well, and Candy came along for the ride. Axel got out at the clubhouse with Gunner,” I explain.

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