Outlaw (10 page)

Angel watched as his eyes lifted to hers. She had
long ago consumed the telltale celery stalk, so she wasn’t sure he could tell
right off what it was, so she told him. “Bloody Mary.”

“Where’d you get this?”

“I made it.”

“You made it?”

“Well, I taught Crystal how to make them, and-”

“You taught Crystal?”

Angel studied him, wondering if he was pissed. She
heard him murmur more to himself, “I should have known better than to hook you
and Crystal up.”

He looked from the glass in his hand, to her, his
eyes studying the flush on her face, a smile tugging at the corner of his
mouth. “Christ, how many of these have you had?”

“Um. Two,” she admitted, grinning.

“You gonna be able to ride?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

He set the glass back down, and pulled her to him.
His mouth came down on hers, his tongue delving inside. After a moment, he
raised his head, and smiled. “Mmm. Delicious.”

She smiled back.

“My baby likes Bloody Mary’s, does she?”

She nodded.

Cole grinned, and released her. He turned without
saying anything, and walked into the bathroom. Grabbing a flannel shirt off a
hook on the back of the door, he walked back toward her, tossing it at her.
“Here. Put this on over that shirt.”

“That bad, huh?”

“No. You look smokin’ hot, babe, but I’d rather not
have to fight off the rest of the club.”

She put the shirt on, but left it unbuttoned.

He turned, and dug through the top dresser drawer,
pulling out a couple of ammo clips.

Angel watched as he pulled his gun from the shoulder
holster under his cut, and checked the load. The clip slid back into place with
a smooth, sinister hiss and click.

He shoved the gun back in the holster along with the
extra clips, and grabbed an extra pair of glasses off the dresser, tossing them
to her. “You ready to roll?”

She caught the glasses, and shoved them up on her
head. “I guess so.”

Cole moved to the door, and held it open for her.
“Grab your gear, and let’s go.”

Turning, she picked up a lipstick and comb off the
bedside table, and jammed them into the pockets of the leather jacket, and
followed him.

As they walked past the bar, Crystal raised her
Bloody Mary glass, and jiggled it in the air. “Thanks, doll. These are a big
hit. The guys love ‘em. I’m starting Bloody Mary Monday.”

Cole looked over at Crystal, and shook his head. He
grabbed Angel by the hand, and tugged her along toward the door, grumbling
under his breath, “Christ, now look what you’ve instigated.”

When they walked outside, Angel saw there were about
thirty guys.
Some already on their bikes, some standing
around.
Most turned to get a look at her as she
followed Cole over to his bike.
Some, she noticed were munching on
celery stalks, big grins on their faces.

Cole took one look at them, and shook his head,
trying to keep from laughing. He turned to level her with a look that said he
was not pleased with this new development.

She sucked her lips in, trying to hold the grin
back.

“You realize you’ve been here less than a day?”

“What did
I
do?”

Shaking his head, he took her jacket from her, and
shoved it into one of his saddlebags. He threw his leg over the seat, and
lifted the bike up off its kickstand. He put his helmet and glasses on.

She did the same, and climbed on the back.

He fired it up, and looked to his left. A gray
haired, older man nodded, and they pulled out. All the rest fell in behind
them.

It was a beautiful, sunny day, and the ride felt
great. Angel took her left arm off Cole’s waist, and put it on her thigh, and
turned to look back. There was a line of bikes all the way
back
as far as she could see. She also noticed she was the only female on this trip.

“You okay?” Cole asked over his shoulder.

“Fine,” she shouted back over the wind.

Cole reached down with his left hand, and took her
hand off her thigh, and put it back around his stomach. “Hang on,” he ordered
as they turned onto the entrance ramp for the interstate heading out of town.

He hit the throttle, and Angel felt the bike surge
forward under her. She held on tight as he shifted through the gears. The whole
group took off, getting up to about eighty mph. The bikes spread out, leaving
more room between them.

They drove for hours, out through the desert, and
headed up into the mountains as the sun was setting, finally pulling into their
destination just as darkness fell. Angel felt the fear crawl up her spine as
she saw the place again. Everything came rushing back.

Cole stopped the bike, cut the engine, and told her
to get off. Then he backed his bike into a spot, along with all the others.
Dismounting, he pulled his helmet and glasses off, and stored them on the bike.

Angel pulled her helmet off, and Cole took it from
her hands, and put it with his. She pushed her sunglasses up on her head.

Cole took her hand, and pulled her to the side. He
looked down into her face. “Look, I need you to let me know when you see this
guy.
You spot him
,
you don’t say
anything
. You squeeze my hand. Understand?”

She nodded.

He studied her. “You okay?”

Angel nervously looked around. “It’s just…being back
here-”

Colt nodded. “Yeah. Last thing I wanted was to bring
you back here, babe. Didn’t see anyway around it.”

She looked at him. “I know.”

“You gonna be okay?” He searched her eyes.

She nodded. “Just please…don’t leave me, okay?”

“If I have to, I’ll make sure one of our guys is
always with you,” he reassured her. “Alright?”

“Alright.”

“Don’t talk to anybody, and don’t ask any questions.
You understand?” he warned.

“Yes.”

“Okay. Come on.” He took her by the hand. They
walked over to where the older man was standing.

“I’m going in. Talk to Wyatt.”

Cole nodded. “Okay, Mack. We’re gonna take a walk
around, see if she can spot him.”

Mack looked at her. “We appreciate your help with
this.”

Angel nodded.

He turned, and walked off.

Cole looked down at her. “Come on.” He signaled to
another member, who she noticed fell in behind them.

They walked through the crowd. Cole spoke to several
guys that he knew. There was a bonfire, and they walked over, and stood by it
for a while. Cole made small talk with several more people. He didn’t introduce
her to anyone.

Cole lit a cigarette, and glanced down at her. “Nothing,
babe?”

She shook her head.

He took a hit off the cigarette. “Come on.”

She felt his hand close around hers again. He led
her around another time, and then headed back up to the building. They sat at a
picnic table that was located a few yards in front of the porch for the
clubhouse. Cole sat with his legs straddled over the bench, and pulled Angel
down between them. One of their guys walked up, and set two bottles of beer in
front of them.

“Thanks, man,” Cole said, sliding one over in front
of Angel.

The guy sat down across from them. “Pike said
Chuck’s here somewhere, but he hasn’t seen him in the last hour.”

Cole nodded. “We’ll deal with him later.”

Angel took a sip of the beer.

Cole bent close to her ear. “Keep your eyes open.”

She nodded, and looked around.

They sat there for almost an hour, but she never
spotted him.

One of the guys walked up, and leaned over Cole.
“Mack wants you inside.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Cole turned to him. “Stay with her,
Crash.”

“You got it, bro.”

Cole kissed her, and got up. The other guy sat down,
but didn’t speak to her. He was about the same age as Cole. He had long dark
hair, pulled back in a ponytail. His beard was trimmed close to his face.

He drank his beer, and pretty much ignored her.
Angel tried to observe him out of the corner of her eye, without looking
directly at him. He caught her, and the corner of his mouth pulled up in a
small smile.

Cole was inside the clubhouse for about half an hour
when Chucky wandered over to the table. He leaned his hands down on the end of
the table, and glanced at the Evil Dead club members sitting with her, and then
he looked at her. “Hey, baby. They passin’ you around?”

The guy next to her, and the guy across from her
both stood up. Chuck raised his hands, and backed away. They stood there a
minute, staring at Chuck until he blended back into the crowd, and then they
sat back down.

Angel reached for her beer, and her hand was
shaking. The guy next to her, that Cole had called, Crash, noticed.

“You got nothin’ to fear, darlin’. We’re watching
out for you,” he reassured her.

She looked up at him, and nodded, wondering how much
he knew, and if Cole had told him everything.

A few minutes later she saw Cole and Mack emerge.
They stopped on the porch, talking. Cole lit a cigarette, and blew the smoke
out, and looked over at her. He raised his chin in acknowledgement. She saw his
gaze slide to the brother next to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw
Crash shake his head at Cole.

Cole nodded back once.

He and Mack continued talking. From the distance,
she couldn’t hear any of their conversation.

Mack looked over at Cole. “Anything yet?”

“Naw. Doesn’t look like it.”

“You sure she isn’t making this shit up?”

Cole could hear the irritation in Mack’s voice. He
shook his head. “She’s got no reason to lie about it.”

“I hope not.”

Cole looked at him, understanding that if Angel
was
lying, it wouldn’t go well for her. He nodded, and
looked back at her. Just then he saw her face go still, and she slowly lowered
her beer. He followed her gaze to a group standing by the fire.

She turned, and looked at him, and nodded.

Cole’s left arm came up, and tapped Mack on the
chest.

Mack looked over at him,
then
followed his gaze to Angel.

Cole tossed his cigarette to the ground, stepped off
the porch, and walked over to her. He stood at the end, leaned down, palms on
the table, and looked in her face.

She turned, and looked toward the group again.

He turned his head, and looked over his shoulder
following her gaze. “See him?” he whispered.

Angel looked up at him, and nodded. She whispered,
“Yes. The one with the bandana around his head.”

Cole glanced back, spotted him, and nodded once
letting Angel know he saw him. He looked her in the eyes. “We get closer. You
take a good look. You
gotta
be sure, you understand? If
it’s him, squeeze my hand.”

She nodded.

He straightened up. “Let’s take a walk, boys.”

They all got up.

Cole took her by the hand, and pulled her behind
him. He led her over to the bonfire. He walked up, and clasped the back of one
of the other guys standing in the group. “Hey, Birdman. How’s it hangin’?”

The man turned to look at him. “Cole! How ya doin’,
man?”

“Good. Good. You still ridin’ that old shovelhead?”

“Spend more time broke down on the side of the road,
than riding,” he joked.

They all laughed.

Cole looked over at the man next to Birdman.

Birdman jumped in, “You remember AJ? He’s been away
a couple years. Just got out about six months ago.”

Cole nodded. “No shit? Where at?”

The guy in the bandana took a hit off a beer.
“Folsom.”

Cole nodded. “What’d they get ya for?”

“Possession. Dealing. Weapons. Bunch of shit.”

“Bet your not itchin’ to go back, huh?”

“Ya got that right, brother,” he laughed.

Cole laughed back.

Angel squeezed his hand.

Cole looked back at Birdman. “I got a new ride. Real
sweet.”

“Yeah? What’re you ridin’ now?” Birdman passed him a
joint.

“A ‘58 pan-head.” Cole took a hit off it, and passed
it back.

“No shit? Where at?” Birdman perked up.

“Parked around the side.” Cole nodded his head back
toward the clubhouse. “You should take a look.”

“Let’s go,” Birdman agreed.

“Come on, bro. You gotta see the paint job,” Cole
said to AJ.