Chapter Ten

Slim

TODAY IS THE day that we leave for Pine View and take our family members to the club with Vault and Valor. We all woke up early despite drinking last night and are now getting ready to load up in the trucks, SUVs, and the bikes after having a breakfast the ol' ladies prepared even earlier. They will always make sure we're fed and taken care of despite how exhausted they are. I told them yesterday that they didn't need to go all out, but they don't listen when it comes to taking care of their family. So, we ate, helped clean up, and left the club girls to clean the kitchen and dishes while we leave. We have to deal with things when we get back, but for now the only thing that matters is getting to Pine View and making sure we help the club there get the city cleaned up from the storms.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask Shy walking in our bedroom to find her putting her shoes on.

"Yeah. Well, I'm as ready as I can be today," she answers, standing up and making sure she's got everything ready to go.

"I know, baby. We'll be with them for a few days. I don't want to leave the club to take care of everythin' there on their own. There's no point in doin' it when we're right there and can help them. I know you ol' ladies will be in your happy place with everythin' that has to be done too. We've heard you all talkin' about what you wanna do and how you're gonna help everyone there," I tell my wife as she walks into my open arms and I wrap her up tight.

"Well, we can't just leave them to fend for themselves. If we were the ones that were hit with the storms, they'd come here and help us. If we're there, we can help instead of sitting on our asses and thinking that it's not our problem to deal with," she states as I let her go and we leave the house to head over to the clubhouse where everyone is waiting.

"I'm in the SUV with you and the girls. Playboy is gonna drive the U-Haul there. Everyone else will be on their bikes. We're pullin' the trailer with Kingston's bike on it and I've already loaded up mine so I have it while we're in Pine View. That way you have the SUV to get around and we can be in two locations if necessary. Plus I know you're not gonna want to be stranded at the clubhouse durin' the day," I tell her as we leave our house and make sure it's locked up and the security system is armed.

Walking hand in hand with my wife, we make our way to the front of the clubhouse to find absolute chaos. Everyone is all over the place and the ol' ladies are trying to get them even the slightest bit organized. No one's listening to them though. Pulling slightly away from Shy, I put my fingers in my mouth and whistle as loud as I can. It gets everyone's attention and those closest to me wince because it hurts their ears.

"I know you're all excited to get on the road and head to Pine View. The quickest way to make that happen is for you to listen and help get everythin' loaded up and ready to go. I know we've got all the major shit loaded and it has been for a few days. If you haven't grabbed the bag you kept with a few changes of clothes and toiletries, you need to load it up now. The SUVs and trucks will be in the middle of the bikes. I want the U-Haul at the front with Vault and Killer ridin' in front of it. Valor, you're in the middle with Kingston. Keep an eye on him. Kingston, if you need to get off the bike, let one of us know and we'll switch out with you.

"I'm gonna be in the SUV with Shy and some of the girls. Everyone else, line up the best you can. We're not gonna line up by position or anythin' else. I want this ride to go easy. If you need to stop, use the comms to let us know and we'll pull over. I'm gonna have access to them in the SUV and everyone drivin' a vehicle will also hear the conversation. Keep that shit in mind before you start talkin' random shit," I order everyone as a few of the boys leave and head for the clubhouse to grab their bags and whatever else is needed that they didn't already grab. "We're out of here in ten minutes so get goin'."

Everyone starts moving toward their bikes or vehicles. I watch as all the girls load up and watch their brothers, cousins, and the boys they grew up with in the club climb on their bikes. They prepare to ride while I watch on as everyone gets ready to leave. The boys who went in the clubhouse, rush back out and store their bags in the back of the SUV I'm driving. Closing the door once they're loaded up, I climb in the driver's seat and start the engine. We all make our way to the gate of the clubhouse and let Vault and Killer pull out first followed by Playboy.

I wait for the rest of the trucks and SUVs to pull out before I pull out behind them. Since I'm pulling a trailer with two bikes on it, I don't want to be in front of the other vehicles. I've got Stryker and Wood behind me with everyone else following them. Heading through town, we make our way to the highway and start the long journey to Pine View. I've got all of my girls in the SUV with me along with Hope and Faith. I'm not sure why they didn't ride with their mom, but for some reason they wanted to be with Rayven and Kinsliegh. I'm not gonna bitch and Gwen was okay with them riding with us. So, I'm listening to the girls talk and laugh about everything. The only time I tune them out is when the conversation turns to boys because I don't want, or need, to hear that shit.

We're finally in Pine View after stopping a few times on the way here for food and bathroom breaks. Driving through the city, I take in all of the destruction that's happened. It's easy to see that clean-up has already started and crews are out working even now when the sun has already set and there's no light beyond the spotlights they have set up to work in. I'm driving slower than normal like everyone else because there are work trucks and workers all over the place and we're not going to risk hurting one of them because we want to drive faster than what the conditions will currently allow.

Kingston has made us all proud. He rode his bike the entire way here and never once wanted to get off of it and ride in the SUVs or trucks. Fox has been behind him the entire ride and kept a close eye on him with Valor. Vault and Killer have been keeping us at a steady pace the entire trip and everyone has managed to keep up. It takes us almost triple the time to get to the clubhouse as it normally does. We're re-routed a few times and get to see even more destruction than we would have witnessed if we went straight through the city like normal.

"Fuck! This is bad," I tell Shy quietly as the girls sleep in the back of the SUV.

"Yeah. I wasn't expecting it to be this horrible. We're gonna have our work cut out, that's for sure," Shy responds, keeping her eyes out the front window as we take everything in.

I have full faith that we can help the city rebuild and keep the bad elements out that always seem to take advantage of towns and cities when they're at their lowest. We might have to stay here longer than we anticipated, but I don't have a problem with that. As long as we can help this city out, I'll be happy.

"We're gonna have to check in with the boys in Cedar Bay. If they need help, we'll have to lend a hand to them while we're here too. If not, maybe they can come over and help us out here. I can't remember if the storm hit them or not," I think out loud and slow down more to turn into the clubhouse parking lot where the Nomads are waiting for us.

Parking the SUV and trailer along the side of the clubhouse, I shut the engine off and turn to face the girls. Shy gets out and stretches before waking the girls up. They all grumble and slowly wake up before heading straight into the clubhouse to find some place to go back to bed. It's been a long ride and I can't blame them for wanting to get in and go back to sleep. I want to find a bed and go to sleep myself. We've been on the road all day long and the trip definitely took even longer than normal with all the towns and cities that were hit by the storms on the way here.

Grabbing Shy's hand, I lead her from the SUV and we head into the clubhouse to find a place to sleep. The boys are young and if they want shit unloaded tonight, it's gonna be up to them. Vault hands me the key to a room that's in the hallway with the Prospects and Fallen girls. Leading Shy there, I unlock the room we're in and let her enter before me. We head straight to bed without showering or even changing. I'm lucky I remember to take my boots off before I climb in bed and pull my wife in my arms to hold her close. The second Shy is in my arms with her head on my chest, I fall asleep and dream of my family and our future.