“That’s what she’s here for,”, I argue. “To provide for the club either keeping house or on her back. She knows the deal.”
“Nah man all we get is the cold shoulder.” He shrugs it off, but I can tell it bothers him.
“You got a thing for her?”
“What?” He scoffs. “No man. Pussy is pussy.” The scent of the lie fills the air, but I don’t call him on his bullshit. No man wants to admit he’s addicted to one pussy unless it’s his mate’s.
“Fine. Get it taken care of before we head out. I want this over and done. Make sure the van is gassed up and ready to go. We’ll meet back here tonight.” I walk over to my bike, straddling it with ease.
“No drinking tonight or anything else. We both need to be on top of our game.” It takes a shit ton of alcohol to get a shifter drunk, but I don’t need the added worry.
“Come on Slash,” he whines. “Prez said we have nothing to worry about.”
“They’re human.” I start the motor; the growl of the engine is music to my ears. “You can handle it for one night cub.” I grin when he snarls, throwing me a middle finger before strolling back inside.
I pull out of the front gate and ease the bike on the asphalt. I keep my speed within the law as I go through town. It’s bad enough that the townsfolk look down on us as a whole, but I don’t need the local cops on my ass for speeding. When the city limits sign comes into view, I open her up. The wind stings my face as I head out to my place on the lake. The smell of the lake fills my senses as I park my Fat Boy under the carport next to my black Chevy truck. The forest green front door swings open silently, and I put the eight digit code into the alarm keypad. I shrug off my cut and hang it on the hook behind the door and push my shirt sleeves up on my forearms. College football is on, and I select a random game to fill the house with noise. When there’s too much silence, I get into my head and that’s never a great place to be.
A few minutes later, I sit down on the couch with my sandwich, chips and a cold beer. Just as I take that first delicious bite of my sandwich, my cell phone rings. My mother’s smiling face looks up at me from the screen.
“Hey Mom,” I mumble around a mouth full of food.
“Good grief Kellen are you eating?” Her tinkling laughter is a balm to my soul.
I swallow my bite in bigger chunks than planned. “Yes ma’am. Sorry.”
“How’s is everything?”
“Same old same old.” I take a sip of beer, the brew bitter on my tongue. “How’s everything going with you? Any new cats?”
“Not recently,” she hesitates. “Sheba passed away last night.”
My heart lurches at the mention of the old cat. She was one Mom and Dad had rescued right before Kevin was killed by those assholes. Taking care of her and her sister, Isis, was the one thing that kept me from going feral when my heart was broken.
“Damn.”
“Yeah she had a good long life here with us. I knew how much she meant to you. I’m sorry, baby.”
“No, you’re right. She had a good life there with you. Better than she would have had anywhere else.”
“She was the last of the big cats that we have here. We’re looking into rumors of an illegal operation up in New York. If we find out the intel is good, we’ll be making a run up there.”
“If you need me, let me know.”
“Of course, Kellen. No one has a way with tigers like you do. Not even your dad.” She clears her throat. “Work treating you well?” She treads lightly when she mentions it. She doesn’t understand my need to be in the MC and all kinds of crazy things run through her head.
“Yeah it's good. Got an old Panhead I’m restoring. It’ll be a beauty when I’m finished.”
“I’m sure it will. You always had an eye for details. Listen, baby, I need to go help with the cages. We’re short staffed today.”
“It was good talking to you, Mom. Tell Dad I said hey.”
“I will. I love you Kellen.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
The football game fades into the background as I remember the times I shifted and stayed in the big cat run with Sheba and Isis. The first time I did it, Mom thought they would kill me. They were aggressive with anyone and didn’t like their territory invaded. They must have sensed the pain and rage coursing through my young body, something akin to their own at the hands of their previous master.
The night comes quickly before I head back to the clubhouse, several bikes are parked out front. It’s Saturday night and the music pulses throughout the night air. The scent of grilling meat wafts on the breeze along with the odor of weed. If I find out Kid has been fucking around with that shit tonight, I’ll kick his ass.
“Yo Slash. Bout time you got here,” Killer bellows across the room. Our Sergeant at Arms has himself a sweet young thing wrapped around him. He may be one of the oldest members of the MC but he still gets his dick wet more than the younger bucks. Trixie is up on a table shaking her ass. Her short skirt doesn’t even cover the bottom of her ass, and she’s either wearing a thong or nothing at all. Knowing Trixie, it’s the latter.
“Hey Slash,” a voice purrs from behind me as red-tipped nails glide up my arm. “I was waiting for you to get here.” Cherry stands on tiptoes to whisper in my ear before biting it.
“Were you now?” I grab a hand
