Page 5 of Striker

“My Mama should have whooped your ass a long time ago, Levi. You’re lucky she thinks the world of you and my big brothers. Damn lucky.” She sat her helmet on the motorcycle and turned toward me. “What are we doing here, Levi? I don’t have all night. It’s gonna pour and I’m not going to get caught in the storm on that stupid motorcycle.”

I walked toward the bench at the edge of the lake, motioning her to follow and sit next to me. “First of all, babe, the name is Striker now. No more callin' me Levi. Same goes with Sawyer and Silas. They’re Goose and Maverick. We run this club and you need to respect that. Don’t have to like it, but need to respect that. Silas is my Vice President and Sawyer is my Sergeant-at-arms. We’ve come a long way, Little Lark. Earned our respect inside and outside the club. Second of all, my motorcycle isn’t stupid. I know you enjoyed the ride here. You always enjoyed it before. Stop with all this sass, babe. Can we just be real with each other for a minute? I was serious before, I don't want to fight anymore.”

I looked up to see the tears start to form in her eyes again. “Lilah, come on, baby. I’m not trying to be an asshole...”

Lilah looked right at me and the fire in her eyes was back. “I don’t care. I don’t care what you do or who you are,Levi.” She narrowed her eyes at me as she hissed my name. “All I care about is the boys helping me and Mama out on the ranch. Daddy is gone, Levi. Fucking gone and I wasn’t even here! Everything is gone! My Daddy, my life, my brothers. Everything, Levi!” She got up and started to pace back and forth. “My life in the city is in shambles. I dropped everything to come here and help out. Everything! I had a beautiful apartment, a wonderful job, friends, a whole life. You don’t understand! You never left this stupid town, you never explored beyond what your Pop had planned for you.”

I pulled her down onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her. She started to relax and let the tears pour down her face. “Shhh, Little Lark. It will all be okay. I promise, I’m here for you, babe. The club is a good thing. Your brothers are happy, the town is thriving, things are good because of us. I wish you could see the good in us, Lilah, instead of the bad. Whatever you need help with, I’m here for you. You just gotta stop fighting me and talk.” I knew she was upset, but I just wanted her to see that things could be good in this little town.

She stood, wiped her tears, and grabbed the helmet. I started to grab her hands but she ripped them away from me. “Don’t touch me, Levi. Just get on your damn motorcycle and take me home. I don’t need you or the club doing shit for me. I’ve done everything on my own for the past four years and I certainly don’t need your help now. Let’s just go. The boys can bring Daddy’s truck back home tomorrow. Just take me home.” I didn’t even argue with her. She was angry and there was no getting through to her now.

I got on my motorcycle and waited for her to get on behind me. Her small hands wrapped around me and barely held on. “Baby girl, you gotta hold on tight. You don’t have to like me, but you gotta be safe.” She didn’t even look at me, but slowly held on tighter.

“You’re right. I don’t have to like you. I hate you, Levi Walker. Now take me home.” I started my Harley and rode off toward her family ranch before the storm opened up.

Riding back through town, I could see everybody rushing to get home. Couples hurried to their cars, families hustled their little ones into the stores to finish their errands. They all had somebody to go home with and it made me realize what I was missing. I buried that feeling deep down inside, burying that shit where it belonged. I didn’t have time for feelings like this. I was the President of the Devil’s Highwaymen and needed to focus on the club.

I turned down a side road and took the long way back to Lilah’s ranch to make sure her eyes were dried from crying. I didn’t need her Mama asking any questions, and even though her brothers were my Enforcer and Vice President, they were her big brothers first and I didn’t want to fight with them tonight. They loved their sister more than anything. The Crawford’s were a tight family.

As we got closer to her house I stopped at the end of her long dirt driveway. “Lilah, I know things aren’t okay with us and I don’t think they’ll ever be. But just know you and your Mama are family. The club will always be there for you no matter what. Just keep that in mind, Little Lark.” I didn’t even give her a chance to answer back before I revved the motorcycle’s engine and started up her driveway. I had so much more to say to her, but didn’t know how or when. Those feelings just needed to stay buried deep down inside where they belonged. I had gone four years without her and I could go the rest of my life without the hurt that Lilah brought to my heart. I shook my head and reminded myself who I was and how I got where I was; I was the President of The Devil’s Highwaymen and made my way to the top with nobody’s help.

Chapter 5

Lilah

We drove up our longdriveway and I could see my brothers’ motorcycles parked next to Daddy’s old truck. I was surprised to see them home after everything that went down. Maybe my talk with them snapped them back to reality. Levi parked next to their motorcycles, hopped off, and grabbed my hand before I could get off.

“Listen, babe. Things have changed around here. Your brothers help as much as they can. When they can’t, the Prospects are here to help. We’ve been helpin' your Mama and Pop since you left. Your Pop needed some extra hands, so I made sure to get him the help he needed. My own Pop gave all his livestock and horses to your family. He helps as much as he can too, but he’s getting too old for it; your Pop was too. You’ve been gone for a while, Lilah; never even came home to see your own family. I’m not trying to be a dick, but a lot has changed and you need to take a step back and see that change. ”

I didn’t know what to say so I just walked toward the porch. Levi was right, but I certainly wasn’t going to admit that to him. Things had changed around this town and I was starting to feel like I had no place here anymore.

I turned around to tell Levi to leave, when my Mama opened the door. “Oh Levi, dear! You weren’t about to take off without coming in to see me were you?” She had that big smile on her face. Levi and my brothers could do no wrong in her eyes.

“Awe, Mama Crawford, you know I would never do that to you! I was just bringing Little Lark home safe and sound, then coming in to see you.” Levi looked at me with a big grin on his face. He threw his arm around me and walked me up to the porch. “Little Lark, here was just telling me how happy she is to be home and that she’s so glad we’ve been helpin' you out. Isn’t that right, babe?”

I was pissed, steaming mad and there was nothing I could do without upsetting Mama even more. Clenching my teeth, I managed to mumble out a few words. “Yup. And now I’m heading to bed. Long day. Night.” I ran inside and up the stairs before anybody could call after me.

---