Chapter 14

Trix

Well, I'm tired of playing it safe. After spending the night at Vapor's tattoo shop, he took me to a motel saying it would be safer. The Hounds knew that the tattoo parlor was owned by members of the Savage Legion, and he couldn't risk them finding me there. Vapor had gotten my car back for me and checked it for any tracking devices, but I still didn't know where to go. We'd talked and talked about how I could get away from my grandfather—or even make him realize I needed to be free. But after four days and nights of waiting, and Vapor telling me that he was gonna try and get the Legion to do something, I was sick of waiting.

It wasn't just about me, this is my chance to do something for another person that really matters. Saving Jamus is the one thing I can do in this situation where all my personal power over my life is being usurped. No matter what kind of illegal stuff my grandfather's club is into, I wasn't going to let Jamus suffer for it, when all the old man did was fix cars. I would get him out of here or die trying. A determination I'd never known before settles over me as I pull up to the chain link fence with a huge sign that reads, ‘Savage Legion MC'.

It had been four days since the Legion took Jamus during the attack. I need to get him the hell outta there. He has meds he needs to take to stay alive, I made sure that Vapor knew, and he insisted that he'd get them to him, but still. A biker's clubhouse jail is no place for an older man with health problems.

I'm let in through the front gate with nothing more than a few wolfish looks from the good-looking prospects manning the entrance. Once through the front door, I approach the bar. I was expecting it to be a dive like the Hounds clubhouse, but the Savage Legion runs a tight ship. It looks more like a smart sports bar, or at least some place where it's safe for families to hang out. The young woman serving drinks looks to be around my age. She's perky and greets me immediately.

"You must be new around these parts. Love the hippy vibe you have going. I can tell you're gonna be really popular around here."

I sigh and step closer, "I'm here to talk to your club president."

"Sorry, he has a wife and never messes around with club girls. We've got a lot of single brothers, but you'll have to do your own introductions."

"I'm actually here to negotiate the release of one of the Hounds. I'd like to speak with your club president."

The woman looks uncomfortable. "Umm… we don't disturb him when he's in church."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I give her a stern look. "If he's busy with church, I'll wait."

A smooth female voice interrupts, "I got this."

I turn to see an attractive, short haired woman wearing tight jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather vest that said ‘Property of Siege' on the back.

"My name's Cleo and I'm the club president's wife. Our prospects told me we had a new woman who didn't look much like a vixen."

She must have caught my look of confusion, because she clarifies, "That's the term we use, rather than club whore."

I smother back an anxious smile, "That's actually cute."

"Just trying to treat the women who come here with respect."

This is a situation I hadn't expected to find myself in. Having it out with club president, yes. Dealing with his wife, not so much.

"Most folks need a minute to get used to the ambiance of a clubhouse environment. You seem to be right at home here."

"I'm not here to get used to anything, I just need to see your husband. The quicker my business is concluded, the quicker I can… you will be free of me."

The woman shoots a tentative look at the bartender. "They don't break from church until they've covered all the business they need to discuss. And we sure aren't going to interrupt them."

"Like I told your bartender, I can wait."

The woman follows me to the bar and sits down beside me.

"Want to tell me what brought you to the Savage Legion clubhouse."

"Jesus, are you their private duty security or what?"

"I'm actually a social worker for CPS. I'm just always on the lookout for issues that can be resolved without disturbing my husband. He's a busy man and it would be pretty rude to interrupt them, especially since you don't have a meeting scheduled or anything."

I relent. "I suppose you're right. Thanks for explaining all that to me. I guess, I should have called first or texted him."

"If you want to tell me why you're here, I might be able to help you."

"I'm personal friends with one of the Hounds, and I'm here to negotiate his release."

"Is he your old man?"

I shake my head, "No but he's an older man. He's like a father to me, he's got health problems. He's works in the Hounds' garage and somehow got caught up in this mess four nights ago."

The woman looks me up and down for a brief moment before continuing. "The Hounds are a rival club, one that's been causing trouble for the Legion. My husband might not want someone like you hanging around his club without permission."

My eyes flash to hers with irritation but I force my voice to remain casual. "What do you mean like me? They let me in at the gate. I didn't sneak in or anything like that."

The woman speaks slowly. "More like you entered under false presences, I think."

I can feel my anger rising. "I'm not leaving here without talking to someone."

The bartender interrupts the tense exchange by asking, "Want a cold beer?"

My gaze drifts down the bar. "Give me a cold draft."

The bartender nods her head, quickly pulls a draft and sets one in front of each of us. The woman beside me smiles pleasantly, "I'm fairly certain the prospects thought you were coming in here to see about becoming a vixen."

I shake my head. "I'm not interested in multiple partners. I don't judge others but it's not my thing."

"Well, I'm totally monogamous, so we're on the same page when it comes to that."

Turning to her I ask, "Have you seen Jamus? How is he feeling?"

"The wives aren't really involved in club business here."

"Yeah, it's like that at most clubs. Would it be possible to visit with Jamus while the brothers are having their meeting?"

Cleo's eyes jump to the bartender and then back to me. "That's a really irregular request. I wouldn't know where to take you to find those kinds of visitors."

I choked on my beer and hit my chest several times. "Visitors. Is that what you call them?"

She just gives me a helpless shrug.

"Maybe you could text Siege and see what he wants to do about this situation," The bartender suggests.

We both looked at the woman behind the counter with wide eyes.

Cleo responded tartly. "Are you for real right now, Mel? I can't tell sometimes."

"You better believe I am. I'm not getting in trouble for letting a Hound drink at our bar without alerting anyone. You might get a pass, but I'll be out on my ass."

Mel, the name rings a bell. Then I remember the bartender whose arm got broken when Tracker and the Hounds tried to trash the Legion's bar in town—the woman he's now got the hots for. I wonder if this is the same person? I'm guessing it probably is.

Mel's eyes snap nervously up to Cleo and the other woman says, "You really think she's with Hellfire Hounds? Siege would lose his mind if he knew one of them was inside the clubhouse wandering around."

I hold up both hands defensively. "Whoa, I'm not a Hound and I'm not wandering around."

Cleo pulls out her phone and her finger hovers over the button.

I whip out my phone and quickly texted Vapor that I was in the clubhouse bar. I know I came to talk to their club president, but now I'm starting to feel more anxious than bold. With any luck he might step out and back me up—that's if he's not mad at me for disobeying his orders to stay inside the motel room.

I swivel my chair around in the opposite direction and wait to see who comes through the door first.

Cleo frowns as she kept texting away with her husband. I'm guessing he's telling her all about me.

Mel leans over and says quietly, "You don't have to worry about the brothers here. They would never harm a woman."

"Thank you for your concern," I respond. The problem is this nice bartender didn't know who my family is. I was pretty sure I'm risking my life coming here—though not from the Savage Legion, but from my grandfather once he finds out where I am. He killed my mom, so I don't doubt he'd have any qualms about finishing me off.

My phone jingles. It's a text from Vapor.

Sit tight. I'll be right out.

Relief swamps my chest. I wasn't alone here, he's still willing to support me.

Cleo glances up from her phone. "You're King's granddaughter. Is that true?"

Mel's eyes go as wide as saucers at that bit of news.

I nod. "I'm not in their club and as you well know we don't get to pick the family we're born into. Therefore, I'm not guilty of any of their crimes."

"Yeah, I get that." Cleo responds absently as she texts her husband again.

I take another drink of my draft and wait worriedly for Vapor to come to me. I feel vulnerable and out in the open at the bar. Anxiety slams through my stomach as I realize the delay probably means they are talking about what to do with me. Hopefully, Vapor is pleading my case. He knows I wanted to do this, we had discussed how things could be done. But as he isn't an officer, he held no sway. I couldn't wait around any longer while poor Jamus was in their holding cells. I just hope Vapor isn't too angry with me for coming here.

Within a matter of minutes, Vapor comes through the door I've been watching. He looks annoyed.

"Siege wants you in the meeting. Follow me, I'll show you the way."

I follow behind him with my head down. This is probably not one of my better ideas. I should have found another way, sent an emissary to negotiate on my behalf, something other than this. When I step through the door and see a bunch of brothers all staring a hole through me, it slams home that this visit is not going as I had planned, not at all. As soon as the door shuts, Vapor takes me to the front of the room and pulls me up a chair beside his club officers, then makes to leave.

His club president states gruffly, "You can stay for this, Vapor. Pull up a chair."

"What do you think you're doing coming to the Savage Legion clubhouse?" The president asks.

"I didn't know what else to do. I can't leave my friend to fend for himself. He's too old and sick. All I want to do is talk about what it would take to get Jamus released, and then I'll be out of your hair for good."

"You can't just walk in and out of an MC clubhouse anytime you please," one of the other men counters. He's massive and built like a house.

"Maybe that's how the Hounds do it, Tank," another man adds. "Their clubhouse is like a fucking crack den."

There was a rumble of laughs at that. Despite my hatred of my grandfather, I feel the need to jump in, and defensively spit out, "Jesus, Jamus is an old man. Why don't you just let me take him with me today? Don't you have any basic human compassion?"

"Don't play games with us. King sent you, didn't he?" The big man who I now know is Tank, states.

"What? No, of course not."

"I'm in no mood for a bunch of lies." The man glares at me angrily then turns to the club president. "You hearin' all this bullshit, Siege?"

"What's with all the paranoia? It seems like you're looking for an enemy behind every tree. You guys need to grow a backbone. I'm a woman who weighs maybe a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet. What kind of threat can I possibly pose to a whole clubhouse full of big strong bikers."

Siege tilts his head slightly as if trying to figure me out. He huffs out an exasperated breath. "I'll make this simple. What do you want?"

Clearing my throat, I repeat my demands. "I've already told you what I want, Jamus."

"Not gonna happen, sweetheart. Now get the hell out."

This man was absolutely insufferable.

"I can always call the police," I suggest just as menacingly.

With that, Siege starts laughing. I sit there for five minutes waiting for him to stop. Finally, he speaks, "Seriously, you come here asking for favors and threaten us if we don't give you what you want? You know King, I don't know how fond he is of you—Vapor's been telling me all about what happened and I'm guessing as he had you thrown into their cells, then you ain't on the top of his list of favorite people—but even if you were, you think he's gonna be happy if you get the cops involved? That is not smart of you."

Vapor finally speaks, "You want Jamus. What about the others?"

"I already told you, I only want Jamus. I don't care about the others they can rot in hell for all I care."

Vapor turns toward me and the look in his eyes was unfathomable. "What if we gave you the opportunity to save them all? Would you take it?"

I gaze at him, not sure where he's going with this. When he came out to fetch me, I got the feeling he was spitting mad at me for turning up at the clubhouse without telling him what I was doing. Maybe he wasn't just sitting around on his ass these past few days, but had been trying to figure out how to save me? I think about the other men in the cell with Jamus, they're human beings—maybe not very nice ones but they don't deserve to die. "I don't like them, but they have families who want them back. If there were a way to save them all, I'd probably take it."

"Even if you had to sacrifice yourself?" Their club president's question takes me by surprise.

"It depends on what you mean by sacrifice."

He just stares at me, making it clear that I had a bit of a credibility problem. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Jump up and down shouting yippee, and agreeing to whatever they said? "Look, I'm trustworthy. You can ask Vapor."

Their club president gazes at me steadily. "We already spoke with him about you, and he did believe you could be trusted. He said you have problems of your own that you're grappling with. We're prepared to work out a solution that solves both our problems, but you are not to leave the clubhouse until that solution is found. Am I making myself understood?"

I nod. Given that my grandfather, the Hounds, and maybe even the Grave Diggers, all want my head on a plate, being at the Savage Legion clubhouse is probably way safer than a motel on the outskirts of town. "Of course. I guess, I'll just go sit out in the bar until you and your club make a decision."

"A solution won't be found that easily or quickly. You might be here a few days."

"And you can guarantee my safety?" I feel my mood lighten at that prospect. I'd barely seen daylight since escaping from my grandfather's jail cell. While I'd been free to go wherever I wanted to, I couldn't risk being seen.

"Of course. We have several suites in the attic. Vapor will take you to one. He'll return to this meeting and then fetch you when the meeting is finished. You cannot be out of the room without a proper escort and I'm assigning Vapor to be your protector for the duration of your stay here."

"I agree to your terms. Would it be possible to see Jamus? I brought medication for him," my eyes briefly went to Vapor, I saw a flash of annoyance cross his face. He might have vouched for my trustworthiness earlier, but given I ignored his advice to stay at the motel room, and now have pretty much doubted his word, I guess he has reason to be pissed.

"Medication? Is this something else? Vapor told us the man had health problems, so we got our doctor to sort everything."

My eyes went back to Vapor, I'd half expected a told you so, smirk. But instead, he just glanced back at me calmly. I felt bad for not believing him. "He has high blood pressure and is an insulin dependent diabetic so if that's all in hand then great." I fish around in the bag, bringing out a red tube, "He's also got arthritis in his fingers, he won't tell anyone about it because he thinks it makes him look weak. He uses this heat rub in the evenings."

Siege takes the tube of ointment from me and says gruffly, "We'll get it to him."

"You look angry, Mr. Siege."

"Take her upstairs, Vapor. Do it now, the sooner we can get back to business and sort out this mess, the better."

"Are you always this annoyed," I say over my shoulder as Vapor leads me to the door.

"No. You're needlessly complicating and already complex situation," their club president shoots back.

"What are you even talking about? I don't understand why you're being so defensive. I'm just worried about Jamus. Can't I just speak to him for a minute and make sure he's okay?"

Vapor stills at my words. His eyes drift shut for a brief second, before he opens them and speaks in a calm and controlled voice. "We've got a lot on our plate today. We don't have endless hours to argue the same thing over and over with you. We're doing exactly what you asked us to do, but maybe if you hadn't taken matters into your own hands and come here, then we could have gotten everything sorted without risking more bloodshed."

I'm shocked Vapor is acting annoyed with me. Frowning at him, I say, "Okay. I'll do as you say."

Vapor tugs my arm pulling me out of the meeting room. "Let's head upstairs. The quicker I get you where you belong, the quicker we can get down the business of negotiating a release for your friend."

When we leave the meeting room, he glances down at me. "You didn't trust me to advocate for your friend."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact. And he is right. I didn't trust him. "You're a member of the Savage Legion. Why should I trust you to help Jamus?"

"Because I care about you and promised that I would. I also promised that we'd find a way to keep you safe, but instead you waltz in here, probably alerting God knows how many Hellfire Hounds spies to your presence. Darlin' any chance you had of hiding out from King has now gone to zero, you realize that don't you?"

He leads me up the stairs and into a rather nice suite of rooms. When the door closes, I turn to him. "Look, I've made bad decisions in the past, trusted people I shouldn't have, and it cost me dearly. At the end of the day, I just couldn't gamble that old man's life on you keeping your word to me. The stakes were too high."

He fixes me with a hard stare, "I might not be back tonight, but I will send one of the prospects with food for you. I need some time to think about our relationship."

"I try not to think of it as a relationship because it has such a short self-life.

"That's a shitty thing to say to the only man in the world looking out for you."

"I'm sorry, Vapor. I really am. I honestly like you, I care more about you than any man I've ever met but if my grandfather taught me one thing in life, it's that club business comes before everything else—including friendships and even family. I can't afford to learn that lesson the hard way when it comes to someone who has helped take care of me my whole life. He's too important to me.

"I get what you're saying, Trix. I can't talk about it anymore right now. I need to get back downstairs. We have a lot of things to discuss today."

"Alright. I hope to see you later this evening but if that's not possible, I understand."

Before he walks out the door, he steps forward and gives me a hard kiss. "Don't worry, I'll make sure this situation lands in your friend's favor, no matter the price."

"Thank you. That's exactly what I want."

"Just so you know, this room is off limits to everyone but me. When the prospects bring your food, they will knock and give you the tray without stepping over the threshold."

"Am I a prisoner?" I ask, thinking yet again I'm leaving one awful situation for another."

"No, the door won't be locked, but don't leave the room, please," he says giving me an imploring look.

"So I am a prisoner," I state.

"Until we know what's going on and have a plan of action, we need to know where you are. Trust me, I don't want you trapped here any longer than you need to be."

Trust me. This time I suppose I had to.

***

When the door closes behind him, I begin to pace the room and worry about what kind of arrangements they would make for Jamus. Strangely enough, I didn't realize how much he meant to me until his life was in danger. I've been panicking ever since Vapor told me he was one of the Hounds captured by the Legion.

Their club president asked if I would sacrifice myself for the Hounds. Sacrifice could mean several things. Most of the options are not appealing and I start to regret my impetuousness.

I don't know how long I pace but at some point, there is a knock at my door. It's just a curtesy as they can come and go as they like, but I get up and answer it anyway.

There is a younger man standing there with a tray. He's not a prospect though. I tilt my head upwards and gaze at him because he looks so much like Vapor that it takes my breath away. It slowly dawns on me that it must be his brother, he'd told me they were twins, but not identical.

"Did Vapor send you with food."

"I'm not a prospect," he says testily.

I guess that around the Savage Legion's clubhouse only prospects serve food.

"Look, if you don't want to serve me food, go on back to wherever you came from. I can probably miss a meal or two without passing out."

He snorts a laugh. "Yeah, you're just my brother's kind of woman. Smart and sassy."

Trying not to rile up his brother, I respond politely, "I'm going to choose to take that as a compliment."

"Good call," he says wryly.

When he moves forward carrying the tray, I hold out one hand. "Vapor said no one can come into my room but him."

The man gives me an amused look and comes in anyway. "I think that rule is for guys who aren't his actual brother."

"Oh, I suppose that makes sense."

He drops the large tray down on the table. It's covered with a white cloth. He gestures to it with one hand. "I don't know what you wanted to eat, so I brought a bit of everything."

"Thank you. I don't know if I can eat right now, anyway. I'm too worried about my friend."

"Gee, you must really dig old men."

"He's been like a second father to me and he's a really nice human being."

"I'm sure he is in your mind. In my mind, he came here with the Hellfire Hounds and tried to kill us and set our clubhouse on fire. I'm not seeing him through the same rose-tinted glasses that you are."

"He runs the tire shop on our club property. Jamus is normally non-violent. The thing is that every time my grandfather calls for all boots on the ground everyone has to go, whether or not they want to. If they don't, he uses the bullwhip on them. Jamus is too old to be bullwhipped."

"Fucking hell, I knew that old man was crazy, but that's some seriously antiquated thinking there. Maybe it's time for Jamus to retire from club life. Have you ever had that conversation with him?"

"I tried to once. He cursed me up one wall and down the other. Club life is all he's ever known. The Hounds are his family, he's got no one."

"How about if he could go wherever you end up? Do you think he would want the two of you to stay together?"

"Well, I'd absolutely love it. I don't know about Jamus. He might not be interested in anything like that."

"One day soon, your asshole grandfather is going to call him out for some run of the mill act of violence and he's not going to come home. What are you going to do then?"

I drop down onto the sofa, unable to fathom losing him like I have so many others. "I would be heartbroken."

"Yeah, well we all gotta die sometime, right?"

"That's a really awful thing to say to me in this situation. Brother or not, I think you should leave."

Instead of leaving, he takes a step closer and stares at me. "Who did you really come here for, Jamus or my brother? Tell the truth."

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"I want to know if you if you're quite stupid enough to walk into this clubhouse today and make some insane attempt to rescue a member of the Hellfire Hounds MC, knowing damn good and well that he's our mortal enemy who tried to burn down our clubhouse with us still in it. Vapor and Siege might buy your little story, but me? Not a bit. You don't grow up in an MC like the Hounds and not get tainted."

"When you put it that way it does sound a bit insane."

"So, you're not here for my fucking brother at all, are you?"

Clearly, this man is not aware that I've been hooking up with this brother all along. And since I'm not sure Vapor wants him to know that, I stick to the story I told their club president. "I came for the old man and nothing more."

Haze curses under his breath, does an about face and storms out the door, slamming it behind him so hard it makes the whole wall shake. I don't know anything about Vapor's twin brother, but I feel like I've just dug myself in a big hole with him.