Broken Read online

  Some he already knew and some is completely new to him. His first thought is to call the police and report him. Then after a bit he rethinks his stance and comes up with a ‘Plan B’.

  “We’ll protect you.” He declares.

  “What? No way.” I object. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the middle of a biker war? How the hell are you going to keep me under your wing at the same without attracting more trouble my way?”

  “You’ll stay here for starters. Inside this compound no one can get to you; police or otherwise. This is the safest place in the whole damn state!”

  “I was going to stay with my best friend actually. I’ve got my stuff packed and afte-”

  “Does this Mark know who your best friend is?” He asks, interrupting me.

  I nod.

  “What’s to stop him from showing up at her house? Even if he doesn’t already know her address he will soon. He may know about his compound, but inside this ring of 15 foot tall steel walls, he knows nothing and he’ll never get in by legal or illegal means.”

  “Okay…” I’m not sure how I feel about this new development.

  “My guys will let you in and out and two at a time will escort you wherever you go. I’ll put two guys on you who don’t have so much as a parking ticket on their record so they won’t be worried about harassment from the cops. It actually wouldn’t matter if they had a record or not. None of my guys are afraid of anyone in uniform.”

  “Is this just an elaborate way of getting me to move in with you?”

  “Oh you won’t be staying with me. The apartment next door is empty and we often use it for families in need. We’ve got five apartments in the compound and six bachelor pads that are used from time to time. Outside the compound we have just about a dozen safe houses, none of which the cops know about.”

  “What? You guys just moved into town I thought. How’d you get set up so fast?”

  “It’s actually been a long time in coming. We started buying up properties five years ago and we bought this compound and established the repair shop two years ago. It may seem like we just blew into town but we’ve been here a long time. It’s just that nobody knew it. Our brothers who have been here for years all drive Honda Civics and Priuses and seem like model citizens. But the moment the rest of us blew into town all covers dropped and we began flying our colors again and nobody’s going to be able to stop us; not the Devil’s Advocates, or the Sleazebags, or the cops; well maybe the Sleazebags. They might infect us to death. But the point is, you’ll be perfectly safe. Now how about going for a ride?”

  I respond with an enthusiastic yes. After talking and listening to Blade I feel lighter. It’s like I just took all this shit that’s been weighing down on my shoulders and dumped it on his very capable ones. We link hands and go outside to where his bike is parked. I know next to nothing about motorcycles so I can’t really say anything about his except that it’s badass! It’s big, black and chrome and looks like it should be ridden by the devil himself. On the fat black tank written in what looks like a swath of bloody letters are the clubs name; Death Crusaders. But the look is nothing compared to the feel of sheer power as the deep throaty engine rumbles beneath my ass. Blade gives me some last minute safety instructions before we start. When we pull up to the gate I notice we’ve picked up an escort on either side of us. The gate opens as we peel out of the safety of the compound. As we pull just ahead I get a glimpse of a shotgun that is sitting in a type of a holster that is mounted to the frame of the chopper just off to my right and back a few paces. These guys mean business! After a few minutes we leave Whispering Pines and hit the open highway. One biker sits on our tail while the other one is about twenty feet out in front of us. I guess Blade told them the route before taking off because there’s no signaling or anything between the three men. At first I’m pretty tense but after a little while I find I am pretty comfortable on Blade’s bike and I begin to enjoy myself. I thought this was going to border on being a chore, but now I think I understand the draw. You feel so free when you’re flying along at 90 miles an hour without 2000 pounds of steel and plastic surrounding you. Only once did I make the mistake of looking down by my feet. The road was going by so fast and so close to my feet that it did scare me for a minute.

  My stomach begins to rumble before Blade pulls off the main highway and onto a small park along the Sacramento River. Blade sets up a blanket and procures wine, cheeses and sandwiches for the both of us. I can tell by his choice of wine that he does know wine. His choice of cheese, cold cuts and the focaccia bread tells me he knows good food as well. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He did finish high school at an age when most kids were in middle school.

  “Hungry?” He asks as he sets a plate of food in front of me.

  “Does an ant like a picnic?” I reply. “I’m famished actually.”

  “Yeah that took a little more time than I expected; sorry about that.”

  “Forgiven.” I say around a mouthful of sandwich.

  He smiles and begins to devour his own fare. As I fill my rumbling tummy I watch with amusement while he eats. He eats like he thinks this is going to be his last meal, it’s his favorite dish, and he’s got about two seconds to eat it.

  “What?” He says between wolfish bites.

  “You’re a man of many contrasts.”

  “By that you mean?”

  “I mean you eat like a starving homeless man on death row who has a limited amount of time to eat his favorite meal, yet the food you serve and its preparation tells me you’re an educated man with refined tastes. How can someone with your intelligence wind up being an outlaw biker? You’ve got the whole world at your feet and you choose what? Gun running and muling drugs across the Mexican border?”

  “Harsh! I should be calling you Blade. You’re both beautiful and you cut like a knife.”

  “Sorry,” I reply. “I just don’t get you. I’ve had biker boyfriends before…well sorta boyfriends. I never trusted them enough to go on a ride like this but I know the biker type and you’re not it.”

  “Oh so now you’re calling me a fraud, is that it, and right in the middle of an apology?”

  “I didn’t mean it that way. You’re different and I actually like that about you. This whole town is full of dirt bag bikers like the ones you’re battling so it’s both unusual and refreshing to find a biker who breaks the mold, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do. And I’m glad to be breaking the mold. If you stick around you’ll find I’m not the only Crusader who has some brains on him and who is educated. When you have members like that you attract more of the same. As far as the alleged gun running and muling drugs from Mexico…our founding members had few options for employment when they came back from the Vietnam War. So many of them had police records and took a plea deal.”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “Back in the mid-sixties when it was really ramping up over there guys of the right age who got into trouble were given the option to serve one or two terms in the war or go to jail. Most took the war option over jail. But after the war was over you got a bunch of guys with no education, criminal records, and no families so they turned to one another for family and drugs and guns for income. It’s what they knew. As my clubs Sergeant-at-Arms I have a lot of pull. My father was a member as well as three uncles; it’s in my blood and guys respect me. I will probably end up with the gavel one day too, but I’m not going to focus on that. Right now my focus is on the war. And as my clubs Sergeant-at-Arms, security is my job. I plan our battles and lead my brothers from the front. That’s where we differ from the military. In the army the generals lead from the safety of a bunker twenty miles from the front line. I am in the front line when it comes to battle and I am respected for that.”

  “Damn, and you’re a talkative one too.” I reply.

  “Whatever…”

  All the while that we’ve been talking we’ve slowly been easing closer and closer together. It wasn’t a conscious dec
ision either. It’s like something unseen has been pulling us together naturally and now our knees are actually touching sending little chills up and down my spine. I steel a glance around to see if our guards are snooping or minding their own business.

  “Don’t worry about them.” Blade says when he catches me looking. “They’ve been trained not to watch or pay any attention to anything done or said. Their only concern right now is to make sure no one gets close to us. We’re perfectly safe and very private here.

  With that last word Blade leans in and kisses me. I just melt. I reach around and grab his neck and pull him into me, opening my mouth for his tongue. The intensity of our kissing shocks me. There’s no build up at all. It’s like a bomb going off and we go from zero to ecstasy in an instant. Tongues tangle, breath quickens, my heart hammers, and I have this intense desire to just devour him. Almost immediately he begins to squirm and I know exactly what’s happening. His stiffening cock is making his position uncomfortable. To solve his little problem he grabs me by the waist and pulls me on top of him as he lies down on the blanket.

  “Oh my…” I breathe. “Is that a giant pickle in your pocket or am I the luckiest girl in the world?”

  “I don’t know, do you fancy pickles?”

  “I’ll do just about anything for the right cucumber, Mister.”

  “Well it’s not every day you run into a vegetable of this caliber so you’d better take advantage of it.”

  “Nah…I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll take my chances. I’m not much in the mood for vegetarian today. You understand right?”

  “Actually I don’t. What I do know is I have a pickle and I’m going to put it in your pocket and you’re going to like it.”

  “Wow an aggressive man, I like it. Why don’t yo-”

  Abruptly his mouth covers mine and my protests go up in a cloud of intense pleasure as he grinds his pickle on my kitty sending waves of pleasure throughout my body. I can’t help but respond to him. I have wanted this from the first day I saw him ride through town and thought somehow his father had resurrected himself from the past.

  I’m so caught up in the moment I don’t even notice when he rolls over pulling me on top of him. A practiced hand pulls up the bottom of my tee and in one fluid move slips up my back to my bra strap and…and stops!

  “What?” He starts to ask.

  “Ah… you found my scars. Look no damage done. We can just pack up and you can take me back to my car. It’s okay I won’t complain I won’t think anything less of you. I wo-”

  “What the fuck are you talking about girl?” He asks with what seems to be genuine surprise. “You think I’m going to be scared off because of a few beauty marks? You really don’t know me do you?”

  “You say that now, but you haven’t seen me. It’s on the backs of my calves too. Wait till you’ve seen my legs. You’re incredibly handsome and can get any girl I’m sure. I’m no one’s charity case Sean.”

  I squirm around until he lets go and allows me to slide off of him. I stand up and straighten my clothes. I should never have let this get this far.

  “What happened to Skunk?” He asks suddenly.

  “What? Just take me home now…please.”

  “And where’s Rocket?”

  Blade is standing up now and spinning around like top looking for his guys. Their bikes are where they left them but I don’t see them either.

  “Where should they be?” I ask.

  “Get down, now!” He commands.

  When I hesitate he literally tackles me to the ground at the same time I hear the supersonic sound of a bullet crackle through the air so close it moves my hair like a sudden breeze. I hit the dirt hard as several more bullets hit the dirt in front and kicks up rocks and sticks in my face.

  Blade grabs me dragging me after him. There’s a fair sized rock just a few feet from us. We scramble towards the rock expecting to feel the bite of a bullet any second. When we get to the rock Blade shoves me over and follows behind. He rolls over on his back and draws a large black handgun. I hug the dirt as he rolls over and scoots up to the edge of the rock and peers over. I’ve never been shot at before and it’s far more terrifying than I have ever imagined. I can hear the invisible bullets crackling over our heads as Blade methodically returns fire. Pop pop, pop pop. He doesn’t look the least bit afraid or even worried. He doesn’t duck or dodge or even flinch as bullets whiz by us. One even strikes the rock next to his right elbow and he’s as still as the rock itself.

  After what seems like forever I hear a cry of pain somewhere beyond our hiding spot. Blade has hit at least one of them. A minute later and another of our assailants cries out and the hail of bullets dies down to a dull roar. Then I see Blade jerk and roll away from the lip of the rock cursing and grabbing for his left shoulder. Right away I see bright red blood blossoming beneath his cut and white tee shirt underneath. Blade barely looks at the wound. Instead he drops his empty magazine, puts in a new one and returns to the edge of the rock, but just as he does a large figure of a biker looms over head, his gun bearing down on Blade.

  The man is so close I can smell his stale sweat as it wafts off his grimy body. I’m pretty sure this guy belongs to the Sleazebags who are known for their lack of hygiene. He pulls the trigger sending hot lead into the dirt next to Blade’s head, but the Death Crusader is too fast. He rolls to the left onto his back while at the same time he brings his own weapon up between the other man’s legs and fires off four quick shots. The force of the slugs actually lifts the man off his feet before he lands in a heap on the other side of the rock. Then in one fluid motion Blade rolls back on his stomach and continues firing over the edge of our rock. Maybe two more minutes pass before I suddenly realize it’s quiet. Well…quiet except for the sound of me in pain.

  “Stay here!” Blade commands.

  “I’m not moving.” I reply. No freaking way am I sticking my head up over that rock.

  Sean stands up and disappears. I wait listening and wondering what he’s up to. I don’t have to wait long. Pretty soon I hear a pop pop, followed by a short pause, then another pop pop. A couple minutes later Sean reappears carrying an armful of cuts. I was right. Most belong to the Sleazebags motorcycle club. But he’s also carrying two others.

  “What are you doing with two Crusaders cuts?” I ask without thinking.

  “I’m returning them to their families.” He replies with a dark look on his face. “Skunk and Rocket died trying to keep the two of us safe. They’ll be honored later. Gather up our picnic stuff while I arrange for someone to come pick up my guys and their bikes.”

  I do as commanded. I don’t dare object to anything right now and I have a pretty good idea that questions about anything right now will not be welcomed. I stow our things in the leather saddlebags and retrieve our helmets. Without a word Blade gets on his bike and waits for me to get positioned before going. He’s just about to take off when he stops and looks back over his shoulder.

  “It just occurs to me that there may be more Sleazebags on the road waiting just in case their buddies failed in their task.”

  Then he reaches down and pulls a gun from an ankle holster.

  “Ever fired a gun before?” He asks.

  I nod. One of my biker boyfriends took me to the range once and I shot his pistol. Despite his showing me how to shoot I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn back then and I doubt I’ll do any better today.

  “You got 16 rounds so don’t shoot them all off the instant you see trouble. Count your shots and don’t pull the trigger unless they’re close enough for you to hit them or their bikes if they’re on bikes.”

  “Got it.”

  I got it but I’m shaking like a leaf in a stiff breeze.

  “How’s your arm? Don’t you need a tourniquet?”

  “It’s fine. Looks like the bullet just passed through the meat of the shoulder. It burns like hell but I’ll be fine. We got a doctor who is a friend of the club. He’ll take a look at it later. Now w
e gotta leave before they get suspicious and come here. Hang on tight and be prepared for trouble!”

  As we take off I’m pretty sure I’m shaking more than the giant engine beneath us. I think my adrenaline is still surging through my body and I can’t believe I didn’t get shot. I don’t know what happened to our guards but we were just lucky we didn’t end up like Skunk and Rocket.

  We wind our way back out to the highway and as we’re speeding back to Whispering Pines, every time I see a motorcycle I begin to panic in a big way. Everyone that approaches us in the oncoming traffic I expect to see a gun shooting at us. In fact I was so paranoid I just about shot several people. I finally just stuck the gun in my jacket after pulling it on a man and what appeared to be his son out for an afternoon ride. When they saw the gun they actually swerved wildly away from me and nearly wrecked. That was enough. I will not be responsible for causing the death of another rider(s). Just putting my gun away seems to calm my nerves. Almost like me not having a gun lessens the actual danger we’re in.

  The ride back probably only takes an hour at most but to me it seems like it takes forever! I think I held my breath the entire time until we entered the compound and the gate closed behind us. The news of the brother’s deaths obviously reached here before our arrival. There must be more than a hundred people here right now; a combination of bikers, family, and friends.

  As we park someone with a medical kit approaches us immediately. Another biker with a powerful sense of authority walks up and everyone fades back.

  “Get yourself patched up then join us for church immediately.” He commands with a stern expression.

  “You got it!” Blade replies. Then he turns to me. “Why don’t you go back to the apartment and wait there. I’ll come by and check on you when I can but don’t expect me to soon. We need to come up with another plan for staying safe and responding to today’s attacks.”

  “Attacks…as in plural?”

  “Yeah apparently another brother was fired on about the same time we were but he was unhurt and the attackers managed to get away. Be ready Jen, things are about to jump off!”