Old Man's Ride: Dust Bowl Devils MC (2 page)

I laughed, incredulous. “You think I should be with him? After seeing that, you still think I should marry that guy?”

“
Yes. Well, maybe not. But you shouldn’t have provoked him like that.”

“
You shouldn’t have gotten us mixed up with these guys in the first place!”

She wiped her eyes again. “Maybe you
should
just go,” she said. “If this life is so unbearable for you. So
beneath
you.”

“
Mom…”

“
No. I know you’re only sticking around for my sake. I don’t need it. I’m fine.” She took off her apron and headed back to the kitchen. “I’ll be fine. I have some money saved up. You should take it and go.”

I held my tongue. I couldn’t tell if she was serious or not; she’d told me to leave before, then begged me not to the next day. I knew she’d be okay. For all her fucking around and her dumb floozy act, she was a smart and tough woman. I don’t know why she hid it. But she could take care of herself.

She was wrong that I was only staying for her sake, though. The other problem was, I simply didn’t know what else to do. She was my only family; my father had disappeared. We two were all we had.

---

I expected the fireworks immediately. It took a long time for me to fall asleep - I was just waiting for Bill to burst through the door and bodily haul me out of town. I was on edge at work all morning, just waiting for him or for Sam to burst in and cause another scene.

It was a busy Saturday morning, and I was just delivering eggs and sausage to an impatient trucker at the counter when my mother grabbed my elbow.

“
You have to do one of my tables for me,” she hissed.

“
What’s wrong?”

“
It’s Nomad. I can’t. I just can’t.”

“
What? Why?” Nomad - or Wilhelm Green - was the old president of the Dust Bowl Devils. He’d been voted out when the club decided to go in a different direction, but was still highly respected. I only remembered him from when I was very young - he tended to travel a lot, recruiting a little, visiting different chapters of the club in other states, even starting up a few new ones.

“
I’m embarrassed,” Mom said, blushing. “I threw myself at him once. Back when you were in middle school. He turned me down and I never got over it.”

“
Mom, that’s ridiculous. Besides, wasn’t he married?”

“
No, not at that point. She was dead already.”

I shook my head at her. “So maybe he was in mourning. Take care of your table, Mom, seriously.”

“
I’ll owe you one. I’ll give you one of my shifts. Or I’ll take one of yours. Whatever you want.”

I sighed. “Take the counter,” I said, “Which table is he?”

“
Eight. Thanks, honey!”

I muttered to myself as I approached the table, annoyed that I’d caved, irritated that I was so annoyed over something so dumb. “What can I get you?” I asked, staring down at my order slip.

A gruff, low voice answered. “Coffee, black. Steak and eggs special. You’re Veronica’s daughter.”

I finally looked up. My breath caught - a pair of light green eyes locked on mine. Wilhelm Green was supposed to be too old to take a young girl’s breath away like that. But he was definitely not just “some old guy.” His hair was white, but fully covered his head. His bared arms were thickly muscled; softer with age than a younger man’s, but still big, still tough. No one would mistake him for weak. His face was hard, deeply lined, but didn’t sag. He was truly the picture of a tough old brawler, and his age only made him look distinguished and wise.

As his brows furrowed, he also looked like someone who would tolerate no shit. None at all. “You gonna answer that, girly?”

“
Yes. Sorry. I’m Veronica’s daughter. Lily.”

“
Shame,” he said. “I told her to get the hell out of this town. Raising a young daughter with these brutes is a shit thing to do.”

“
Oh. Well. We’re all right.”

“
Sure. My order?”

“
Yes, be right up!” Heart pounding in my ears, I scampered off to deliver the ticket to the kitchen.
Why am I reacting like this? He’s just another biker.
He’d even been wearing the colors, I’d realized, though I’d only seen the front of his jacket.
Get it together.
It must have been nerves - I was still waiting for the shoe to drop after the incident with Sam the night before.

And boy did it drop. The breakfast rush was over, and the diner nearly empty when Bill finally showed his face. He didn’t disappear into the back with my mother this time. He grabbed me by the wrist instead and tried to drag me behind him towards the back door.

“
No,” I said, pulling back. It was like trying to stop a bull. “No! Bill, cut it out!”

He stopped and turned on me. “You turned down Sam’s proposal. And you haven’t left. So that leaves one option for you, sweetheart.”

“
I’m not going to fuck you, Bill, Jesus.” I rubbed my arm where he’d grabbed me.
More bruises. Lovely.

“
Then you’ve gotta go. To start, you’re fired. Do you want to do the rest of this the easy way or the hard way? The easy way means no one gets evicted. Your mom gets to keep the apartment.”

I looked between him and my mother, wiping down one of the tables. She refused to meet my eye.
So be it.
“
Fine,” I sighed, “I’ll just go.” I threw my apron to the ground. “I don’t know where I’ll go, but I’ll pack my things and be on a bus by tonight.” I couldn’t believe my mother still wasn’t saying anything. She wanted to be on Bill’s good side, I knew - she secretly hoped he’d make her his old lady someday. I knew that wasn’t going to happen, but that was her thinking. I couldn’t fault her. She’d been in this life for too long to make a big change and move away. She’d be just as lost as I felt.

Understanding didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, though. I squeezed my eyes against the rising tears as I rushed for the door.
Don’t cry in front of them. Just make it outside.

“
You can hitch a ride with me.” I looked up at the sound of that gruff voice. I hadn’t realized Wilhelm was listening. Hell, I’d almost assumed that he’d left already. He barely glanced at me as I stopped near the door.

“
Where to?” I asked.

“
LA.”
It’s a big city. There’s always work in big cities.

“
I’d appreciate it,” I said.

Bill chuckled from the counter. “She won’t appreciate it enough to repay you, though.”

“
It was an offer, Bill, not a sale,” Wilhelm said, sitting back in his seat. “Go on home, Lily. Get your things. I’ll pick you up in a couple hours.”

I nodded and raced outside, my tears dry and my feet lighter. I was filled with a different kind of anxiety, though - butterflies.
I’m riding across the desert with Wilhelm Green.
I barely knew him. The thought shouldn’t excite me. But my situation suddenly felt a little less terrible.

---

I stopped at the bank on my way home. My meager savings would be enough to cover my costs on the trip, so I wouldn't owe Wilhelm for more than the ride.

I must have been in shock - I packed a backpack as if I was going on vacation, quick and efficient. I wouldn't be able to carry much more than that anyway if we were taking his bike. Then I shot off emails to the few girls I considered sort-of friends. They'd think I was crazy. Maybe I was.

I should have been more worried about the end of the road. I should have felt worse about leaving my mom. Instead, all I could think about was hanging onto Wilhelm as we went speeding through the desert. My arms tight around his strong chest. My legs parted and aligned with his. The rumbling vibrations of his motorcycle.

When the bell rang, I grabbed my helmet and ran out without looking over my shoulder. Without saying goodbye. I still felt like this wasn't real, like I would be back in a few days after everyone had calmed down. It was the only way I could handle thinking about it. Otherwise, I might relent and let Bill - or Sam - have me.

But I was too stubborn for that.

My heart jumped when I saw him waiting astride his motorcycle. It was big, painted black and purple as was the style of the club, but he was a far more impressive sight than his bike. Cool, calm, wearing a black helmet and big black sunglasses and an unreadable expression.

"Packed light?" he asked. I showed him my purse and my backpack, and he nodded. "Hop on."

Just like that, I was leaving my whole life behind. My home, my only family. I felt a strange pull as I climbed onto the seat behind him, like I should stop, stay home. Like I wasn't meant to leave.

But it had to be. They pushed me out, gave me no choice. I sighed as I settled down and clipped my helmet's chin strap. Wilhelm said nothing. He revved his engine, and once my arms were locked around his waist, we took off.

Home's pull evaporated as we crossed into unfamiliar territory. Nondescript stretches of desert whizzed by, every mile the same as the last. We didn't turn from the highway until the sun began to set, and didn't find civilization until it was nearly dark.

He parked us in front of a tiny burger joint. The only other building nearby was the gas station, though we could see the town further up the road.

I slid from the back of the bike and nearly fell over. He grabbed my elbow before I could land on my ass.

"Careful. You aren't used to riding for long, you're bound to be pretty stiff."

"You don't say." I bent my knees one at a time, working some circulation back into my legs.

"No need to be sarcastic, honey."

My first instinct was to respond with more sarcasm, to let him know that I didn't respond to "honey" or "sugar" or anything like it. But something stopped me. The term of endearment that would normally set my teeth on edge instead filled me with warmth and put me at ease. Maybe it was the way he said it. I kept my sarcasm to myself and instead mumbled, "Sorry. Stressful day."

"Hungry?"

"Yeah."

He didn't release my elbow. Maybe he thought I was still going to fall over. I hated to admit it, but I enjoyed the contact, possessive as his grip was. I'd never been so far from home, so far from my mom, and those facts were just starting to settle in and churn my stomach. His touch kept me grounded.

We settled across from each other in a booth. The layout of the place was similar to the diner back home. Or maybe I just couldn’t get home off my mind and saw it in everything.

Wilhelm lit a cigarette. “Want one?”

“
I don’t smoke.”

“
Good girl.” He took his sunglasses off and hooked them on the front of his shirt. “I heard about your little talk with Sam.”

Oh, fuck.
Wilhelm Green. Sam Green. I’d nearly forgotten that Sam was his son. I could feel the color drain from my face.
What the hell must he think?
I tried to play it cool. “You did?”

He nodded. And that was all. He showed no sign of wanting to continue the conversation, but I was curious. “What did he say?”

“
Doesn’t matter. Sam’s a liar.”

I didn’t know what to make of that. “Then why bring it up?”

He took a long drag on his cigarette, those light green eyes studying my face until I squirmed.
He’d be even more handsome if he wasn’t so cranky.
Finally, he said, “I know you think you’re a real tough girl. You don’t take shit from anyone, right?” I nodded. “Well, you’re wrong. So far all I’ve seen from you is petulance. You’re going to have to get a whole lot tougher if you’re gonna make a go of it alone.”

I gaped. His cocksure tone sent a shiver down my spine, though I boiled with indignation. “Are you serious?” He smirked.
Is he just baiting me?
I looked around and tried to keep my voice down. “My only options were to be a fuckhole for your son, or for the entire damn club. I’m not a piece of meat, dammit.”

“
You could have earned your place like a man.”

“
What?” Was that an option?
No. That was never an option.
The men had to fight. They had to spill blood. Sometimes, they had to kill. I was no weakling, but no one would mistake me for a fighter. I was a slim nineteen-year-old girl, not muscular, not even tall. And for all my bluster and bravado, I hated violence. The thought of being in a fight, of hurting somebody, made me nauseous.

Our food arrived while I turned that thought over in my head. I ate my burger like I was starving, despite my racing mind. It had been a very long day, and even the butterflies in my stomach needed to eat to continue on.

When the waitress delivered the check, I tried to pay my part. He pushed my money away. “You’re gonna need that at the end of the road.”