Wild Child (37 page)

Thorn looked at me sadly. "Kima, carry the gun. Some of those places you dance in aren't safe. I still care about you but you aren't using your head lately. Yeah, club rules. Get back to the old Kima, the one we all miss, she's in there somewhere!" He kissed my head and left.

I went to the bathroom to wash my face. Once the make-up was off I looked for the old Kima, but I didn't see her.

The woman staring back from the mirror wasn't me. I was startled at first but maybe this new Kima was going to be a wiser stronger woman.

~
☠
☠
☠
CHAPTER 30
☠
☠
☠
~

After I dated Darko a few times, I felt alive again. I started to live again like a normal person. Well normal for me at least. I was working quite a bit and socking my money away. I still had some moments of depression but they passed. Usually it was when I saw babies. If I thought of Veiko, I just thought of what a fool I had been and hated him even more.

I talked to my dad about getting rid of the VW bug. I explained to him that it made me more visible to Bound for Hell and that I wanted to avoid them. Jack had finally pissed off my father. My dad was going to give him the VW bug and let me have one of Jack's cars. He had a black 1972 Monte Carlo he barely used so my dad handed me the keys to it. I wondered what Jack would have to say about that. Not that I really cared what he thought anyway. At least my father knew I was serious about staying away from Bound for Hell MC.

That car was a dream to drive compared to the VW bug and I felt a whole lot safer too. I knew I'd have to leave the Lodge after Hunter patched over to Bound for Hell. When Elena called to check up on me, I told her I'd be moving. Thorn must have given her my new number. I didn't want her or Hunter to know how things with me really were. she'd come straight home. I know she was upset but she said I had plenty of time.

She told me Hunter wouldn't patch over until Rabid was out of the club, I asked if she knew him.

“I know
of
him and, when it comes to women, I've heard he’s pretty sick and twisted. Stay away from him. When I come back, we'll talk. Just behave yourself Kima."

I missed Elena and Hunter. But they needed this vacation. I wasn't going anywhere near the members of Bound for Hell and figured I would be safe.

~
☠
☠
☠
~

Darko and I were getting to know each other better. Sometimes he would meet me at Wiggles and we'd go out after I got off work. We never slept together, which was disappointing, but he wisely told me that waiting would make the first time even better.

If I had never met V, I could've fallen hard for Darko. He was charming but, underneath it, I knew he was all steel. He was always polite and seemed to care for me. He still believed I had feelings for V, though. I was tired of telling him I hated Veiko since he didn't believe me. Something still was holding me away from Darko and I really believed fucking him would end my tie to Veiko. Too bad I couldn't get him to agree. He said he wanted me totally free of V and no ghosts in our bed. I really didn't blame him. But I had my needs too. Part of me wondered if Darko was playing me because why wouldn't he have wanted to get laid? I was done trying to understand any of them!

He brought me to his parent's house and it was really nice he wanted them to meet me. That impressed me because Veiko had never taken me to meet his mother. I thought about how China had been treated and I hoped she and Thrash were happy. I didn't hate Thrash - I knew he would have been there for me. I'd miss those two more than I wanted to admit.

Darko and Nefarious MC had business up in New York. He was gone a few days so I was bored, since he was the only person taking me out. So when our boss at Wiggles had tickets for a fairly well known band at the Loft in Ocean Cove, Joy and I decided to go. I knew I should stay out of Ocean Cove but I doubted I'd see Bound for Hell there. Joy picked me up and off we went. When we pulled up I saw motorcycles lined up in rows outside the bar and I knew the club was there. I recognized some of them. There were so many bikes there I wondered if the whole damn club was present.

I debated on leaving. Fuck it! I wasn't hiding forever. Joy said she didn't mind missing the show but I was done hiding. I’d done nothing wrong to any of them. Some family! If that was what they meant by family I had my own crazy one that at least cared for me.

I wanted Joy to stay close to me and told her Nefarious was a nicer club. I really wasn't sure about that but she agreed. She knew some members in Nefarious anyway.

We walked into the Loft and headed right for the bathroom. I caught Jersey eying Joy up and I warned her about him. She said she knew him already from dancing and they were friends. But she did agree to stay away from him. I hoped she would but I knew Jersey - he'd be all over Joy. That was her business not mine. I'd be staying away from that damn club!

I had my plans. I wondered what it would be like to be a groupie. I'd always fantasied about being with a rock and roll star. I made my way right up to the stage and watched the keyboard player. He had really long hair and was cute. Not my usual kind of guy but I caught him looking at me. I was single, Darko hadn't made it clear to me IF I was the only woman he was seeing either. He'd played it cool and was a friend not a lover. At least so far... Since I wasn't driving I decided I'd party a bit.

While I was at the bar there was this one spooky guy sending drinks over to me. I sent them right back, he made me nervous. He was freaking me out so I basically ignored him. I had my own money and I didn't intend to have some asshole buying me drinks, thinking he was going to get laid. I did check him out though because there was something my gut was trying to tell me. Or was it the drinks I was downing?

He was handsome for an older guy. He kept stroking his goatee that looked like the devil's. There was this aura around him that I didn't care for and it put my senses into overdrive. I thought about drinking just soda but I was out to party!

He sent more drinks over and I continued to send them back. Finally I told the bartender to tell him to stop bothering me. Joy was off dancing and I was still trying to catch that keyboard player’s eye. Seemed like many girls had the same idea too.

I looked around and watched the guys from Bound for Hell as well. I didn't see Veiko or Nailz but, sure enough, there was Jersey. Each time he looked my way I'd toss my hair and look at the stage.

I went to the ladies room and saw Jules. She and Crazy had broken up. Of course the club had turned against her since he had a new old lady. She was on welfare and Crazy wouldn't pay child support. She’d sneaked into the Loft to beg him for money for the baby's diapers.

I looked sadly at her. "Some family, huh, Jules? You know none of the guys even visited me at the hospital, but I guess V was all that mattered. I was just good enough to cook, clean, and screw."

She was crying and I took some money out of my purse.

"Here, take this. Do you think you can dance?"

"I can try! Kima, I did visit you but you were sleeping. The guys don't give a shit about us, we're just there to fuck and make life easier for them, I think. You know what they say, club first, we come last!"

I gave her my phone number and promised I'd help her.

"Kima, you got a dirty deal and watch out for Rabid, he’s here. I've gotta get out of here before Crazy sees me. I don't want another black eye. I'll give you a call. You know, Kima, the best way to get rid of one of these assholes is for another woman to take them. Whenever I tried to leave Crazy he wouldn't let me go. Finally some bitch caught his eye. That night I got on my knees and thanked the Lord. I hope V is really going to let you go, hun. With bikers you never know what their deal is.”

I stared at Jules. “V doesn't have a say in my life,  I don't come last in my man's life all the time! Everyone deserted me and I don't care anymore. Anyway I am sort of seeing Darko and maybe I'll end up as his old lady if it goes anywhere. He treats me pretty good at least... so far. But after V, I don't know about being an old lady again!”

I felt bad as I watched her go. Just as I thought. The club didn't give a shit about anybody but the men.

Jules was strong, She'd make it
if
she stayed far away from Crazy.

I started to plan how I could help her. Since it was clear nobody else was going to, I'd do my best. I really hated Bound for Hell MC!

~
☠
☠
☠
~

I watched that spooky man carefully. In a way he looked sexy as sin, but I wasn't dancing with the devil - that was who he reminded me of. He was about six feet tall or so, in his thirties, and had that wicked looking goatee. He wore a leather jacket, like the bikers, but I didn't see any colors. He had dark, brown hair and he had a style about him I couldn't put my finger on. He was also messing with my plans for the keyboard player.

As the evening progressed, I was well on my way to getting drunk. I was leaning up against the bar as the bartender put yet another shot glass in front of me from that asshole. I decided I’d had enough. Now I was pissed off. I picked up the shot glass, aimed it at the bastard, and threw it. It clocked him in the back of his head.

Damn it! It wasn't enough to draw blood.

All of a sudden, the place went wild. I was grabbed from behind. My arms pinned and it wasn't the bouncer holding me, either. It was a fucking Bound for Hell member restraining me. I was suddenly surrounded by them and I noticed
he
was coming toward me.

“Oh fuck, Kima. You just hit Rabid! This isn't good. Just shut the fuck up and I'll try to help you.” Jersey muttered in my ear.

I snarled, "Fuck you and fuck him! Let me go now, Jersey!”

I felt a finger stroke my face. Looking up into those spooky shrewd, brown eyes, I felt as if I was meeting Satan himself. It was that asshole sending me drinks all night! "Strange way you have of wanting to meet me. What's your name?”

"Kima Regan. Sorry but I have some fucking anger issues at the moment, Rabid” I hissed.

I saw a brother whisper in Rabid's ear. He smiled wickedly. “You’re V's old lady?”

"Not anymore,” I replied, irritated.

He narrowed his eyes. "That's interesting because I'm told you are. You hit me. I imagine you understand what that means?”

I was now sobering up really fast. "I don't know you. V and I just had a fling before he damn near killed me. I don't talk to him now. So, kindly remove yourself from my area and I'll stay out of your way. I don't want anything to do with him, you, or the club. And get a message to Veiko - I want his shit gone. You can all go fuck yourselves!” I was getting really angry. The old Kima, of before Veiko, was coming back. This was too much for me to handle. "Where is that bastard anyway? I've never heard a word from him and I want his stuff gone.”

Rabid laughed in my face. Nobody laughs in my face! Especially not some bastard who couldn't understand I didn't like him. Nor, for that matter, did I like Bound for Hell MC!

His eyes were gleaming as he spoke to me. "Little girl, V is still in the hospital and has a serious infection.”

I felt like I was just hit in the gut. V was that sick?

Rabid smirked. “So, you really don't know who I am? I would have thought Veiko would’ve told you. I suppose with him being in an accident he didn't get around to it.” His eyes lit up with sudden interest. “Is Regan an Irish name?”

I just wanted this nutcase to go away. "Yes, it's Irish, and my over protective daddy isn't going to like the fact his daughter is being strong armed by a motorcycle club. My dad owns businesses all over New Jersey. My Irish side is mostly cops and lawyers, so tell your 'bro's' to let me go now!”

The bastard nodded and continued to smile at me. "Please tell me you are full Irish.”

What's it to him?
"Hell no! I'm half Russian and those  uncles are nasty bastards. They own coal mines in Pennsylvania. Now get away from me or I'll be calling that side of my family to dump all of you down a mine shaft.”

 Jersey slapped me in the face. It wasn't hard but it stung. "Kima, I told you this is Rabid. He's the National President of Bound for Hell! You can't talk to him like that.” He looked at Rabid. “Kima's had a head injury from the accident and was banged up pretty bad. She really doesn't know anything about how the club works.”

This Rabid jerk turned to speak to Jersey. "Veiko hasn't seen her or talked to her? That's odd. If she were my old lady I'd take better care of her.” Rabid paused and stroked his goatee contemplating. “Jersey, she attacked me. You know what that means. I'm demanding my rights. So you better explain to Kima just what those rights are. I'll give you a few minutes before I send one of my boys to see V. Make her understand, Jersey, or V's gonna be hurting more than he is now. I'd really would hate to hurt him, you know that, but Veiko is responsible for her actions. Rules are rules! But she's saying she doesn't want him and it seems he doesn't want her. With that being said, I'm within my rights to claim her.” He said it all with a sinister smile.