Page 18 of The Oath We Take

Maybe ten days away from home, away from everything that reminds me of Ember, will be a good thing. Time with brothers, too much alcohol because I don’t have to get up for anything the following morning, and some hot and willing pussy will set me straight.

We ride as one as we navigate our way out of Colorado and head to South Dakota. The roads are clear, the sun high, and I let myself find some measure of peace as the miles go by.

Butcher raises his hand and gives the signal to reduce speed as we hit Sturgis city limits. We fall in behind another MC out of Albuquerque. Their tail runner gives Butcher a nasty look, and of course Butcher returns it with the one-finger salute.

A part of me looks forward to the violence of Sturgis, and it wouldn’t be a bike rally without at least one of us getting into a shitload of trouble. It becomes the foundation for the stories we tell around the fire in the clubhouse during winter, when the weather is so cold, it turns your balls to brass.

The campsite is a welcome respite when it finally comes into view. There are guards on the gate, watching who comes in and out of the campground. Prospects Caleb and Wynn did a great job of setting up the main part of the camp. The big awning is up over the cooking area. There’s a second awning with some chairs underneath for those who don’t want to roast and sweat in the sun.

And our tents are lined up in the same order we line up our bikes.

King, our national president, and the New Jersey Outlaws are also here. And I see Whip from the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, chapter chatting with a shirtless Spark, who has a bandana tied around his forehead. The two sergeant at arms raise their hands in salute, and it feels like a homecoming of sorts.

We line our bikes up in order of rank, as always, and by then, I’m fucking half-starved. The scent of hot dogs and burgers fills the air and makes my mouth water. Yeah, this is what I need, new memories to replace those of a kiss in a stable.

A slap across my shoulder makes me jump. “You joining us?” Butcher says.

I force a smile on my face and shake thoughts of Ember from my mind. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

I step off the bike and strip to my chest as Bates, the New Jersey chapter’s enforcer. offers me a beer. “Good ride in?” he asks.

I look up to the sky. “Couldn’t have been better. You?”

“Three days in, ten days away, three days home. First time I’ve ever wondered if it’s worth it.”

“Your old lady good about it?”

Bates grins. “Vi’s a fucking rock star. Her and Iris, Spark’s old lady, decided to take the kids to my uncle’s cabin. Me and Spark dropped ‘em off before we left. They got enough supplies they could outlast World War Three if they had to.”

I catch sight of a woman with long hair wearing jeans and a cut with nothing but a bikini top beneath it on our site. “That Niro’s old lady?”

We heard about her briefly when they came to drop off the meth, but I never got the full story.

Bates grins. “Catalina. Yeah. I’m waiting for the first biker who thinks he can fuck with her. She took Clutch down the first day we met her.”

I do a double take back to Bates. “She nailed Clutch? How did her and Niro meet?”

Bates runs a hand through his hair. “She thought he was King and kidnapped him.”

My eyebrows almost reach my hairline. “She did what?”

“Yup. There was a big debate about whether she would come here with us or not. But she’s more a brother than some of the ass-wipes here. Gets her hands dirty for the club on the regular. Has the uncanny ability to harness Niro’s energy. Plus, he’d be a fucking pain in the ass being away from her so much. King said fuck it. Didn’t even take a vote. Invited Cat to come himself so she never felt like she was coming as Niro’s tagalong.”

I knock back half of my beer. The ice-cold liquid refreshes my dry throat from the ride. “You think he’ll move to patch her in properly?”

Bates nods. “Eventually.”

“Don’t know how I feel about that.”

Bates laughs as we walk towards the New Jersey chapter’s area. “Get to know Cat over the weekend. She’s one of a kind.”

“Will do.” When the president catches my eye, I say, “King.”

“Hey, big guy,” King says. “Those Russians giving you any more problems?”

I shake my head. “They’ve been quiet of late, but we can’t be complacent. Wraith and I have been making sure we’re collecting regular intelligence. We think we’ve got a handle on them.”

King grins at that. “Shame. Was kinda hoping we could drive south on our way back and cause some trouble. Ready for ten days of trouble?”

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