Page 7 of Misguided

FOUR

Mel

Hooch slides the entrance to the barn open, throwing his back into it as he shoves the heavy wooden door along its steel rail. The reverberation of bikes grows louder, headlights casting shadows as he passes by the waiting vehicles.

I’ve never missed a sound more; the comforting syncopated rhythm of multiple V-Twins.

King rolls in first, lifting his fingers from the handlebar in a semi-wave as he smiles at me. I step back, allowing him room to turn around as the second bike enters. The rider holds my gaze with wide eyes, never once breaking as he follows King’s path and pulls up alongside. I fail at fighting the smile that twitches on my lips. I couldn’t forget those dark and soulful eyes if I tried, but damn has he grown up a lot in the last year.

Dog was a prospect when I saw him last, young and misplaced. Looking for a home like so many of our members are. He’s a definite man now, comfortable and at ease in his new life. It makes me so happy to see that he found his niche, found where he belongs. Almost as happy as I am to see these familiar faces.

Hooch wanders over as the crash van reverses part way in, blocking most of the exit and any possible prying eyes in the process. The girl he brought with him, Dagne, sits off to the side of our group, watching intently as she no doubt sizes the guys up.

Men in leather and denim, wearing colors and weapons, are nothing unusual for me. But for those not accustomed to the life, the brotherhood, they’re intimidating, threatening and most often misunderstood because of it.

I reach out, offering her my hand, and she slips to her feet to make her way over.

“Don’t be shy,” I say with a smile. “They’re harmless.”

She nods, giving my hand a squeeze before letting go and heading for the relative safety she finds in Hooch. We had a chance to talk a little this morning, and I like her. She’s straight up, headstrong, and sensible. Everything Hooch needs in his life.

Big sis approves.

I turn to my right as Dog approaches at speed with his arms out wide. He wraps me in his strong embrace and lifts me clean off the dirt floor.

“Fuck, Mel. You know how good of a surprise this is?”

“I can guess,” I say with a laugh as he sets me down.

“Heard you were missing, assumed dead.” He reaches out and picks a piece of hay off my sweater, pain clear in his eyes. “And yet here you are.”

“Here I am.” I fold my arms as I smile shyly at him.

Dog and I are about the same age, so naturally when he became a permanent fixture at the club gatherings, the two of us found common ground in our struggles to find our place amongst the ranks. Although our stories couldn’t be any more different: I was born into this life, he chose it; I’ve had my life’s choices dictated to me from as young as I can remember, whereas he’s been able to pick and choose his path into the Fallen Aces.

Still, the two of us would hang out at the club meets, swapping stories from our respective chapters and generally enjoying each other’s company. He’s my first real friend inside the club, and was right up until I walked away.

When his touch became something I’d crave, rather than pay no mind to.

I shake my head while I appreciate how ridiculously good he looks now his physique fills his shirt right out. “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed.”

“Been a while, huh?” He knocks his shoulder into mine.

“Far too long since I’ve seen anyone, that’s for sure.” I duck my head and pull in a deep breath. “So, how the hell are you anyway? You look as though you lift weights in your sleep. Mighty been sharing his tubs of protein with you?”

“You approve?” He throws me a wink, the same one he would always give me before stealing a bottle of liquor from the bar at the club get-togethers.

The man sure is pretty, but damn I hate cocky son of a bitches.

“You make me feel as though I should have applied all my spare time a little better,” I tease, pulling the sides of my loose sweater out to show how little I’ve changed.

He shrugs; lip pinched between his teeth as he blatantly checks the length of me out.

“No complaints over here, Mel.”

I snort a laugh at him and look away at the prospects as they open up the back of the van. Dog was always trouble with the ladies back when he was a prospect, so Lord only knows what a killer he is now with all the thirsty women that turn up on a weekend.

Something I sure as hell don’t need to mess with, that’s for sure. Almost went there once, not getting sucked in again.