Page 19 of Speed

“Reed’s riding in with him this time.” Carly sneered at this information. “Stop it. Get over it, it’s been a few years.”

“Does there have to be something wrong? His breathing pisses me off. He picked on us day and night growing up. He too could be used against your dad. But oh no, he is a man. He’s an Enforcer for your dad. Boo hoo hoo, I mean really, when does he find the time to stop looking at himself in the mirror long enough to take care of a club?” I was too late to stop Carly when the footsteps coming down the hall registered. “Self-centered asshole is what he is.”

“That’s a bad word, Aunt Carly.” My daughter entered the kitchen, rubbing her eyes as she took a chair at the table.

“Yeah, yeah, shortstop.” Ally giggled while Carly sat back down.

“Want to go to the park with Aunt Carly today?” I knew that question would wake my daughter up, she loved the park.

“Yay! Can we go now?” Ally lowered her hands all but vibrating in her seat and looked at Carly.

“First some breakfast.” I opened the cabinet and pulled out the pancake mix and syrup. “Then clothes.” I may have rolled out of bed tired, but as I looked at my daughter and her excitement, tired had no place to exist when I had the time to spend with her.

“Well, look. Churchmust be in service at Soft Tails.” I looked out the passenger side window and realized immediately what Carly was talking about. The parking lot was full of bikes.

“Must have something special going on. That’s the only time they use the club when it’s closed.” Soft tails closed down on Sundays and Mondays, it had been one of the changes I had requested from Black Hawk when I was hired. Sundays and Mondays were slow days; Sunday was spent with family for most people and, Monday, most were getting back into their workweek. They hadn’t fought me on it. Actually, to think back, I’d gotten most of what I wanted. Well, except for hiring my own people to work with. Oh, I got to hire them, held interviews and everything—I just happened to hire the guys from the club who applied for the positions. The leadership thought they pulled one over, that I didn’t know. I knew, went with it and didn’t say a word. I felt the smile spread across my face as I thought back on it.

“That has you smiling? I don’t know how you work for them. Arrogant pric—” I cut her off, little ears catch all.

“Don’t forget who is in the back seat. Carly, they aren’t bad, I don’t know why you are so against all that is MC, we were raised in one. And besides, you own a bike for God’s sake. Do you think that would have come about if you were raised in an everyday household: Mom, Dad, siblings, and a mini-van?” We’d had this conversation more than once over the years living here.

“Easy for you to say. You were the club princess, and even here, the Black Hawks treat you good. Sami, we might have been raised in Haven MC, but it wasn’t a haven for me like it was for you. You’re the president’s daughter. I’m the daughter of a dead club whore who took up with a p.r.i.c.k.,” Carly spelled, and it made me smile, “then she used her pregnancy to make her his ol’ lady, neither of them took that serious considering they never stopped sleeping with others.” I watched her hands tighten and clench on the steering wheel.

“Carly, so your parents weren’t perfect. Still doesn’t explain why you are bitter toward the MCs. Help me understand.” The change in her happened shortly after we moved here but she never would confess what took place. She’d had lousy parents but my dad and my mom, when she was still living, treated her good just like they did me. And considering the drugs and criminal activities that I figured they were involved in when I grew old enough to understand what exactly was happening around me, it could have gone the other way. But even with that, the members and the few ol’ ladies around treated us good.

“I grew up, got a clue.” She was evading. Her M.O. to everything she didn’t want to discuss. “And it’s got nothing to do with my bike. I like the freedom it offers. They’re fun to ride. I tried to get you to learn when I did.” Yes, she had. And the reason I didn’t was dumb, and I would never admit it out loud, but if I closed my eyes, I could still see my mother’s smile for my dad when she’d get on his bike with him and hold on tight as they pulled away. The only bike I’d ever sat on was my dad’s when he would take me for a ride.

“I want a bike like Aunt Carly’s.” See? Little ears pick up all.

“You do, huh? Maybe when you get a little older, your mom will get one for you. Whatcha think, short stack?” Ally and I laughed, Carly had been calling her different short-whatever since Ally was born.

“I don’t know about that, Ally. Don’t listen to Aunt Carly.” I wasn’t sure my daughter needed to be on a motorcycle, she was a big enough daredevil.

“That’s ‘k, my daddy will buy me a bike.” I whipped my head around to look at her. Days had passed and nothing after the initial daddy announcement she made. I’d so hoped she had forgotten and moved on. No such luck. I was going to let it pass so not to get her started on the whole business once again, but Carly was no help.

“Shorty poo, how is a daddy going to buy you a bike? Girls don’t need a guy to get her one, she can buy one herself.” My mouth opened to speak but Ally’s next words had me shutting it.

“My daddy is going to ride a bike just like my papa does?”

I turned back as if to look out the side window again but it was more so Carly or my daughter didn’t see the tears that rose in my eyes. Her words made me realize I couldn’t keep them apart, no matter what the outcome. One thing I knew for sure, he could forget me all he wanted, but if he hurt my daughter, he’d never forget me again—he’d remember every time he went to pee and his balls weren’t there.

“Sami?” I looked over to Carly as she glanced between me and the road. “You got quiet, what’s goin’ on in your head, bikes and daddies?” The last part said low enough only I heard it.

My dad wasn’t the only one I didn’t tell who Ally's father was and I wasn’t ready to tell now. “Sure, I’ll tell you everything as soon as you tell me why your attitude changed on MCs.” I opened the door as soon as she stopped the car in the driveway to my house.

When I opened the back door to help Ally out, Carly was out and looked over the top of the car, “My issue.”

“Yes, just like me, you hold secrets.” I walked toward the door, Carly and Ally following. “You staying for lunch?”

“Yeah, if you make pizza.”

“God, you act five.” I shook my head and walked in the house.

“That’s why short cake and I are besties.”

And just like that, everything was back to normal. At least for a little while.

---