Tank Fallen Angel's MC 2 (3 page)

Breathing heavily, I pull out of her rolling her to her side to untie her hands.

Bringing them around in front of her, I massage them gently to get the feeling back in them.

“I never thought I would  like that.” Her head tilts to look at me. Flushed and beautiful.

“I’ll show you all kinds of tricks darlin’. Right now, sleep.” I lean in and kiss her gently before dropping down and pulling her naked body against me.

Damn this feels perfect.

               Chapter 6

Working in the garage today seemed like an easy enough job but there is something nagging at me in the back of my mind.

I try to shake it off but it won’t leave. Forcing myself into my work, I hear the side door open.

“Hey, we got church.” Torch hollers over at me as I grunt. I knew something was off, I could feel it!

Tossing the wrench to the floor, I stand and grab a towel wiping my hands as I make my way to the door.

Shit hasn’t felt right around here in days but I couldn’t place what it was. I guess I’ll be finding out in a minute. I never did like having these damn feelings. Something bad usually came out of them.

I walk the long hallway through the club as my mind wanders. Days like this and with these feelings I get have me rethinking everything. Especially when I have Bella.

Shaking those thoughts away, I head into church behind a few other guys. My eyes instantly land on Creed’s as I make my way to the head of the table next to him.

The slight glint in his eye lets me know there is hell coming down. I always know by the look he gives me.

Creed bangs the gavel on the table as we all take our seats and calm down. We all feel it; the tension in the room is thick.

“Got a call a few minutes ago about an incident out near River’s Creek.” Creed’s head drops down as he takes a deep breath. Shit, this is worse than I thought.

Looking back up he glances around the room. Creed is the best president we have ever had but when it comes down to the hard shit, he hates it. He doesn’t do death well after what happened to his best friend so many years ago. I can’t say that I blame him either.

“Dougie was killed this mornin’. We aren’t sure who it was or why. We need to take a ride over there though. Devil’s Spawns territory so we’re welcomed.” Creed looks around but his eyes land on me. I know he wants me to take this ride and I for damn sure will.

“I got this.” I nod at him as he nods back.

“Torch, you ride along incase anythin’ pops up. Rich and Carter, you two head out east and see if you can dig up anythin’ as to why Dougie was even out that way alone. I got a feelin’ they may know somethin’.” I look over at the guys as they both nod.

We don’t take deaths lightly, not when it was a good man that went down. With Sharp and Fly, they weren’t good guys so that was like an all-out party when they died. Nothing about them is missed.

Dougie was different, a lot like me in ways. He has a family that he worked hard to protect from this shit. Just the same as I do for Bella.

“Tessa know yet?” Looking back at Creed, he shakes his head. Shit, his wife doesn’t know yet and she will lose it when she does.

“I’m gonna head over there when you guys head out. I wanted to have some answers for her before I went but I know she’s probably losin’ her mind not hearin’ from him.” I nod my head as Creed raises the gavel bringing it back down on the table.

I wait while the other guys file out of the room. Watching the last of them go, I close the door behind them. There is something more going on here than he’s saying to the guys and I want to know what.

“Gettin’ closer to home. You don’t think Shadows are retaliatin’ do you?” Sitting back down next to Creed I watch his face for answers.

“Don’t know brother. Dougie knew not to ride alone after that shit. What the hell was he doin’ out and over there? I don’t get it.” I have to agree with him there. After that shit with the Shadows blew up all the charters knew not to be out alone. Granted Dougie lived out a ways much like I do, it still doesn’t make sense as to why he was over that way alone. That’s nowhere near their clubhouse

“Want to cancel out the lake?” Creed shakes his head before glancing back up at me.

“Nope. We have plans. Life has kicked our asses the last few months Tank. This club needs that time to unwind. We just need to handle this first.” I get what he’s saying. We have had a shitty couple of months and money is just now flowing again. We are nowhere near what we need to be but its heading that way.

With Sharp out of the head position we are finally getting the club going in the right direction. We are making progress and moving forward just the way we should be.

“I got you. The guys have been workin’ hard brother. You’re right they need a break. I’m gonna go get packed up. I’m goin’ to get Piper to look after Bella. Surely she can’t slip past his ass.” Chuckling I stand up as Creed laughs with me.

“Hell no. He hears every fuckin' thing. Look, Tank. If you want me to send someone else so you can stay with Bella, I can.” Shaking my head, that isn’t happening.

“You’ve known me for a long time Creed. Don’t look at me any differently now that you know about her. I’m still me brother and I still know my place.” Slapping him on the shoulder, he nods.

Part of the reason I didn’t want them to know about Bella was just that. I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t handle what the club had to throw at me. I know a few guys like to take a back seat to the runs to stay with their families but I’m not one of those guys. Do I love my daughter? Fuck yeah I do and I would do anything to protect her too. That includes trusting one of my brothers to watch out for her while I handle business that’s getting to close to home.

Heading out into the main room, I see Bella sitting by the bar with a book in front of her. That’s my girl. She will be smarter than your dad ever was.

“Hey baby girl. I need to talk to you for a minute.” Dropping down on the stool next to her, she closes her book and looks over.

“What did I do now?” Rolling her eyes, I can only smile. Just like her mother, I think to myself.

“There’s been some things goin’ on and I need to go out on a run. Handle some club business.” Bella just stares at me since this isn’t anything new to her. Before I could trust her to be at home alone with the doors locked up, but not after I caught her sneaking out.

Her face finally comes into a smile as she looks at me.

“So I get to go home?” I look over my shoulder just as the other guys start piling back in. I like that she thought she was getting off that easily. After what she pulled she will be 50 before she stays home alone.

“Piper. Come here brother.” I turn back to Bella with a big ass smile on my face.

“Nope, you get Piper though.” Piper steps up next to me as Bella cuts her eye to him before coming back to mine.

“Who gets me?” Piper stands there like a smiling jackass. If only he knew the little devil I am leaving in his care he wouldn’t smile like that.

“You get to keep an eye on my daughter Bella. Bella, meet Uncle Piper.” Standing up with a giant grin on my face, I slap his shoulder before making my way to my room to pack. That should be an interesting combination there.

               Chapter 7

“You can’t just do that! I don’t even know that man!” Bella stomps around my room while I pack a small bag to take. I knew she wouldn’t be happy about this.

“Should have thought about that shit before you went sneakin’ out of the house.”  Grabbing a few t-shirts, I walk over to the bed and shove them into my bag.

“Oh come on! This is stupid!” I glance over at her with her arms crossed over her chest. Something inside of me snaps. She looks so much like Candy did when I first fell in love with her. So young and innocent.

“Bella look. There is some shit goin’ on and I need to know you’re safe. Piper isn’t that bad.” Zipping my bag, I pick it up and throw it over my shoulder before walking towards the door.

“Isn’t that bad? Meaning he can be bad.” I chuckle as she mumbles behind me.

Piper is in his 60’s but he is wise beyond his years. He has so many sides to him that I don’t think we have even seen them all. He’s a good man, very trustworthy.

Walking back into the main room I dead stop when I see Piper at the bar with a stack of boxes.

Bella slams into my back from my sudden lack of movement. I can’t believe what I’m seeing though.

“What the hell dad!” She steps around me as I keep my eyes on those boxes. I explode into a fit of laughter once I realize just what they are.

Bella looks up at me and follows my gaze before she yells again.

“Are you kidding me? No dad! Come one.” She protests as I walk over towards the bar. Piper smiles as I look through the piles of board games he has set out.

“Candyland?” Raising my eyebrows, I look up at him. The grin on his face is killing me. I almost feel sort of bad for leaving Bella now.

“What the hell is chutes and ladders? Dad!” Bella hollers next to me. Turning to look at her I can’t help but laugh. Piper is going to have a fun time with this one.

“It’ll be fun. Love you baby girl.” Leaning in a kiss her head before turning towards the door. Creed is standing there waiting on me.

“What’s all that shit?” He points over his shoulder at the bar as we walk out of the club.

“Piper is goin’ to make her play board games for 2 year olds.” I chuckle. We walk over to the bikes and I tie my bag on.

“You sure you’re ok with this one? I don’t trust anyone else on it.” Looking up at Creed, he’s a tough motherfucker but he has a soft heart.

“I got this. No worries brother.” Creed nods as he takes a step back.

In reality, I’m ready for this ride. It’s been a while since I’ve actually been on good run. I can at least say that this one is for a good cause too. Besides, I know the President over there, he’s a special friend to me.

The rumble of the bike under me sends chills over my body. Glancing over I see Torch ready to roll. With a slight nod, we head out on our way.

The air blows around me as we ride. The one thing that has always kept me grounded was to be able to hop on my bike and ride. I’ve been on a bike since I can remember.

The assholes that were my parents never did much with me but my neighbor rode a Harley. He quickly became my best friend. He would take me out all the time, even if it were just around the block. Once I got big enough to really ride, he would take me all over with him.

Those are my first memories of being on a bike. It stuck with me over the years. When I came to this club, it was on the shittiest bike you had ever seen. It was rusted and half shit, but it was mine. I was proud of that bike. In a way that bike was a big piece of my life. In fact, it’s still in the back of the shop at the club.

I’ve come a long way since those days. Those were days of loss and torment for me. They hold so much hurt and agony that I never want to relive them again.

It’s funny to think just how much life can change over the years. I’ve become a man in this club. I grew up here.

18 years old doesn’t make you a man. Living is what makes you man. Taking care of your family is being a man. You learn quickly in this lifestyle how to grow up and become that man. I know I did.

The reality of it all didn’t hit me until Bella showed back up though. My heart never felt at ease until that day. Having my daughter back has brought something back into me. Something brighter than the dark days I held onto for so long.

The day Candy took Bella away from me never left my mind. I couldn’t be a man or live right until I found her. I hated that it took so long and I missed so much but I can’t be happier than I am now that she’s here. I missed her whole life. I missed her first day of school, her first loose tooth. I hated knowing that but I do have her now. I won’t ever miss anything again.

The one thing cemented in my mind is to keep her safe and with me. Her life is precious and valuable. I will protect that girl with everything I have in me until the day I die. Even after that I know she will be taken care of through my brothers.

             Chapter 8

Pulling into the Devil’s Spawn’s clubhouse parking lot is surreal. We drove for 12 hours straight stopping for only gas.  We have an alliance with them and they’ve always held up their end of our arrangements. I know a few of the guys over there including their president. They’re not bad guys once you get past their rough exteriors, much like the rest of us.

Climbing off my bike, I see their president, Griffin come out to greet us.

“Look at you motherfucker.” He walks towards me with a smile plastered to his face.

“How’s shit, Griff?” We meet in the middle before we step into a slight hug. Pulling back, he doesn’t look as good as he used to.

I know Griff helped me out with Bella but that’s been a while. It was mainly Sandra that I’ve seen these last 8 months.

“Same old shit. Glad you boys came out. I know why you’re here but there is somethin’ else I want to discuss with you brother.” Nodding my head, Griff and I have always had an awkward relationship. I met him when I was first patched in. Hardass motherfucker that didn’t care who he hurt or why. He taught me many things about this lifestyle. That was way back when the clubs were closer though.

Things change with time just as they should. Griff has become a better man much like the rest of us.

I nod at Torch before I follow Griff inside the clubhouse and up the set of stairs.

Once we step into his office, he motions for me to sit.

“How’s life over this way?” Griff walks around and drops in the chair behind the desk. He looks like hell now that I see him up close.

“Hard brother. So this Dougie shit. Couple of guys went out to run checkpoints and found him by river. Not your normal style killin’ either.” I cock my head to the side as I listen to him. Nothing about our world is normal that isn’t any kind of news to me.

“What do you mean?” Griff huffs slightly before he leans on the desk.

“Military style, Tank. That shot was taken from at least three blocks out. Straight through brother. You have to be one solid shot to hit a fuckin’ movin’ target straight between the eyes brother.” My head goes into a spin. Military style. Who the fuck has that kind of manpower behind them.

I scrub my hand over my face as I try think this through. We have plenty of rivals but none with that kind of manpower. This shit is off the charts. We never had any kind of trouble with anyone that ran with military. That fact in itself sets me on edge. That is never a good sign.

“That’s all we got?” Looking back up at Griff, he nods his head. Shit this is just getting worse and worse.

“I know Tank. Wish I had more news for you. We can head out to the site after you rest up and eat somethin’.” Nodding at him, I drop my head in my hands trying to make some kind of sense out of all of this.

“Wanted to ask you a favor brother.” My head pops back up as I look at Griff. He looks so lost, in his own world right now. I’ve never seen him look like this before.

“Anythin’ brother.” Griff smiles slightly before he passes me a photo. I grab it and look it over. It’s his daughter holding a baby. I knew he had a daughter but not a grandchild.

“That your grandkid?” Smiling, I point at the baby in the picture while Griff grins ear-to-ear nodding his head.

“She’s 2 months old.” He looks so happy. A proud grandpa that’s for sure but there’s more to it, I can see it in his eyes.

“That’s great brother. Beautiful family.” Passing him the photo back, he looks at it for a second longer. Shit there is something else going on, I can feel it.

“I’m dying Tank. Cancer. I’m ready for it and I don’t want no I’m sorry or none of that shit. I have an account set up where most of my earnings go. When I’m gone, I need someone I can trust to get that to Abby. Can you do that for me brother? Can you make sure she gets that?” Griff looks up at me with a tear in his eye. Griff is one of us, he’s family.

“You’re damn right I will.” Griff smiles as I stand up and shake his hand. I know he doesn’t want the sympathy so I don’t give it. I treat him the same as always.

Griff means a lot to me and I would be honored to do this for him.

“You’re a good man Tank. You’re an even better brother. I knew if I could trust anyone with this shit that it would be you.” Nodding I run my hand over my head.

“You know I got you Griff. You taught me a lot, like a father. I’ll never forget that.” Griff nods his head before he looks back down. He grabs a pen and writes something on a small piece of paper before passing it to me.

Folding it up I stick it in my pocket already knowing what it is. There is no need to exchange that information again.

“Let’s get you and your boy some food and god damn beer.” Chuckling I follow behind him out to the bar.

             Chapter 9

“This shit doesn’t make sense Torch.” Pacing around the scene where they found Dougie just throws me off. This isn’t even a road he should have been on.

“I don’t like this shit VP. You’re right, this is off brother.” Torch looks around a little as he talks. I pull out a cigarette and light it up.

Looking in the direction of where the supposed shooter was, it makes no sense.

“Let’s walk up there and see what the fuck we see.” Nodding toward the tree line, Torch follows behind me.

We walk around trying to place where the hell the shot could have come from. This isn’t even a main road that anyone but bikers would know of. The Spawn’s like to keep it that way for protection purposes.

“VP, take a look.” Tossing my cigarette to the ground, I walk over to the spot that Torch stands looking down at it I shake my head.

“The fuck. Someone knew about this road. They knew the clubs barely used it. FUCK!” Looking down at the pile of cigarette butts someone has been out here often. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I pull my phone out.

“Let’s move out. Call Griff and let him know what we found. I’m checkin’ in with Creed.” Torch nods as he slides his phone out.

Walking back towards the bike, I really don’t like this shit. It all seems off and that all too familiar feeling in my gut kicks in.

“What did you find?” Creed answers quickly. I know he wants answers as much as the rest of us.

“Fuck, brother. Dougie was out on the maintenance road. We looked around, found signs that someone has been out here a lot brother. Looks almost set up. Military style shot, Long range.” I hear Creed blow out a breath. He knows this shit is bad.

“Son of a bitch!” He growls into the phone. I know the feeling. My stomach feels like it wants to bottom out.

“Fuck Tank! Get your ass back to the clubhouse. We need to figure this shit out.”

“Got it.” Sliding the phone back into my pocket, Torch walks up.

“Griff’s settin’ up a perimeter. He’s throwin’ some guys up that hill to keep watch.” I nod my head as I look around one last time. This was a set up, I know it.

“Creed wants us back. So much for a vacation.” Torch chuckles as we walk back towards the bike.

“This isn’t typical club shit brother.” Torch climbs on his bike looking over at me. I already know that but I don’t know just how far off it is.

“Sure the fuck not. Doesn’t make sense either. Why the fuck out here?” We both look around again as we sit on our bikes. The fact that Dougie was out here and that the only ones that know about this road doesn’t sit well with me. In fact it down right chokes me.

As much as I want to stay and investigate, I know I need to get back. There’s just something off about this and I hate that nagging feeling I get. It’s there now and strong as hell.

“Convenient. Quiet. No witnesses.” Torch talks as he lights up another cigarette. I’m thinking the exact same thing.