Page 5 of Speed

Chapter Two

Speed

“You’re an ass!” wasyelled from a pint-sized woman in a deputy’s uniform as she faced off with my brother, Crusher. I stepped in and leaned against the doorframe to take in the show. No one had even turned when I walked in, all attention focused on Crusher and the deputy.

Sheriff Lance stood next to the deputy. He’d been the sheriff in these parts since I could remember. The club was lucky to have his backing, he never hassled us. But he expected us to tow the line in return or at least if we did do something, he didn’t want to hear about it.

“Now, sugar, is that nice to say?” Crusher said, a smile plastered on his face. He towered over the woman with his six-three height, but it didn’t faze the little thing.

“Don’t sugar me you walking sack of sh—” The deputy was cut off by the sheriff standing beside her. From my vantage point, I couldn’t see his face, but if the shaking of his head was any indication, it maybe wasn’t the first time he’d been put in this situation.

“Deputy, don’t go there. Christ, I brought you out here so we could get this settled,” Sheriff Lance said with a sigh.

“He started it when he passed me on the road. They all,” the deputy’s arm waved in front to include some of the surrounding brothers, “flew by me. Mr. Davis just happened to be the only one who flipped me off,” the deputy finished and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Now wait a damn minute...” Crusher paused, looked up, and before I knew what was happening, he headed in my direction, all but knocking the deputy out of the way.

“Goddammit, Speed, it’s good to see you, brother,” Crusher yelled out as he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground. The fucker had always been as strong as an ox, ‘cause I am anything but a lightweight.

“Didn’t want to interrupt the cop powwow. Nice to know nothing’s changed while I was away.” I hugged Crusher back, and we shook hands. Then the room erupted as the rest of my brothers made it to me.

“What the fuck, Speed. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming back?” Stroker said and gave me a man hug.

“Wanted to surprise you guys, Prez.”

“Well that you did, son,” the Prez said and stepped away making room for the others to get in back slaps and handshakes.

As I looked around at the familiar faces of my family, there was several missing, “Where’s Devil, Coast, Flirt, and Jag?”

“They’re in town. When they get home, we’ll go down to the strip club and have some fun. Give you a chance to rest and get your stuff settled at your place while we wait for them. You been by the place?” Crusher asked, and all I could do was shake my head in reply. It would be the first time back in the cabin after Cutter’s death, and in one instance I was happy to be back, but in another, I knew it would feel different without him around.

“Jesus, another one. Now the reunion is over, do you think we can get this taken care of before I grow old?” Hell, looked like we’d all forgot about the sheriff and deputy in the room.

“Ah, sweet cheeks, you feeling neglected?” Crusher turned and spoke to the deputy and from the fire shooting out of her eyes, I expected him to burn to ashes in front of me.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak again the sheriff cut her off, “Carly, let’s go. Time to let these gentlemen be with their friend.” Sheriff Lance started for the door, the deputy following and none too happy by the expression on her face.

“Glad to have you home, Speed. Let’s see how long you can be back without getting a ticket,” the sheriff laughed and patted me on the back as he walked out the door.

“Never going to live that shit down, am I?” I really wasn’t asking a question, ‘cause they hadn’t let me forget back then, so why the hell should now be any different. But one could hope.

Most of the men in the room chuckled and then disbursed to do their thing. I was back, and each would catch up with me sooner or later.

---