Rumor (9 page)

Chapter 12

Drag Creek Kentucky 

Grim

Pulling up to my trailer instead of being greeted with a warm embrace I am met on the porch by Foxie and Sunshine going at it. "You are just another whore to him, you watch and see, Grim is never going to make you his bitch."  Foxie raises her hand to slap Sunshine but instead she is met by Sunshine's fist hitting her square in the jaw. Damn I picked a feisty one; Sunshine has one hell of a right hook on her.

"Look here bitch I am Grim's old lady, can't talk to me like that, got the motherfuckin' paper to prove it." Foxie's face goes
white; she takes a step back and looks to me to deny it.

"You didn't..." Foxie is rushing down the steps, she thumps against my chest with tear-streaked eyes. "It should
have been me." She cries as I grab her wrists to stop her from hitting me.

"Never loved you never promised you a damn thing, Sunshine is my top bitch, I suggest you take that into consideration the next time you decide to mouth off, I might not let you walk away."

Betty walks over to Foxie after climbing off the back of Romeo's chopper, "I used to think the same thing, come on I need a drink." The two of them walk off arm in arm towards the Roadhouse. I wave Romeo off, I know he is ready to go home and climb in bed with LL.  Baby is watching from the doorway as I nudge Sarah forward. "Sunshine, Baby, this is Sarah. She has survived a shit storm and could use a friendly welcome." I pointedly look at Baby, telling her she better wipe that scowl from  her face. Daddy is home and she best not give me any of that smart mouth she has, just like her mother.  I wonder if Sarah has that same fight in her...

Recognition is apparent on Baby's face as she looks at Sarah and
sees her own eyes staring back at her. The two girls walk into the trailer unsure of each other.
What did I just get myself into...
The thought hits me as I realize I am going to be living under the same roof as two teenage girls and a wife. I fucking got married, fuck me running.

"Glad you made it
back; I am ready for some time with my husband."  Sunshine nuzzles against my neck. "But first we have a birthday to celebrate." She nibbles on the sensitive spot behind my ear sending a flash of lighting to my dick as it twitches in response to her being smashed up against me. I want nothing more than to take my woman inside and bury myself between her thighs as she screams my name, but today is Baby's fourteenth birthday.  Kid is probably already pissed that I crashed her birthday with her long lost sister by the look of her face.  I take Sunshine, my wife, the words feel so funny in my mind, but I like the way it feels, into the house to get ready for Baby's birthday party.

**

Sunshine helps Sarah get settled into her room. Damn glad for having three bedrooms so I don't have to  make the girls share while they are getting adjusted to one another. I explain to Sunshine about the delicacy of Sarah's predicament and she says not to worry she knows what to do. The Fox's Den has a private doctor that takes care of all of the girls and she is going to take her to see him tomorrow so she can be checked out. I hate to put the girl through much more but she needs to be tested and we need to make sure she isn't carrying that bastard's child.

After a long hot shower with my woman soaped up, rubbing against me and burying myself in her, I go into Baby's room to see how she is coping with everything that is going on.  I know she has had her whole life to get used to the fact that somewhere out there she had a sister, but now that sister is here and I hope that, they can be friends. I know Baby has an attitude on her and a mouth, I just hope she does not use it to push Sarah away. "Happy birthday," I pat her on the back and she removes her headphones from one of those gadgets she is so fond of. "You okay?' I ask not sure, if I want to hear anything other than I'm fine.  I am not good at dealing with feelings and girly shit. I am treading in a mothers' territory, not sure how to handle any of this.

"I'm good; did you really kill Foxie's brother?"  She looks up at me with sad eyes. That is one thing I have always been honest with the kid—about my life and how I live...how we live.

"That piece of shit, killed your mother, it was his time to meet his end.  Don't you cry for him or shed no tears, he got was coming his way. He was a sick man...a bad man; he hurt your sister real bad too. If she chooses to tell you about it that's on her. Now that is all I am going to say about it.  Are you ready for your party?"

"Yes," she smiles at me with them wild eyes, that fire dancing in them just like her mother, that look is enough to bring a grown man to his knees.
It hits me in my gut and spreads down to my toes, as I look back at this child, my child. She is growing up, one-day man is going to look at her and love her the way I loved her mother, and I will kill him. I will kill any bastard that tries to make her his. I want my girl to go out into the world and live. Don't want her to be no man's whore.

"Go on to your party, I'll catch up. And ask Sarah to go with you and be nice ye hear me!"
Fuck, I'm not ready for this—teenage girls and growing up, nope not a damn bit ready.

**

Over at the Roadhouse, all of my brother's are present with their families for my girl's birthday. The kid still has an eye for pink, the clubhouse is done up all girly and frilly for the party and my mind goes back in time to another life it seems...
I can see Red standing up at the bar hugging her belly, looking at me with them wild breathtaking eyes, with so much love in her heart as she steals glances at the ring I put on her finger. I was ready to give her the world; I was ready to be the man she thought I could be...
I hope she is happy, I hope I made her proud—her girls are together and I am going to do right by them. I hope she would approve of Sunshine...I think she would, Red wasn't the kind of woman to judge a person, she loved me good, bad, ugly didn't matter she wanted every piece of me that was true. Though if she were here she'd knock out any bitch that tried to even look at me, I laugh to myself as I see Betty sitting at the bar and I remember the look on her face when Red put her in her place.

"What's so funny?" Sunshine
wraps her arms around me and reaches me a jar of shine. It seems surreal in this moment to be here in this room again celebrating surrounded in pink; I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Nothing," I kiss her and decide it's time to share my news...our news.

Getting everyone's attention, "First, I want to wish my kid a happy birthday, may all her wishes come true." I look over to Baby and see her nestled right between Rebel and Striker like the meat in a sandwich,
fuck no
. I grit my teeth and decide to finish what I started before I put an end to that shit. "I have some news to share, Inkman hope you brought your gun with ya. I have a few new tats to get and so does Sunshine." It takes my brothers a minute to understand the meaning behind my statement.  After a few congratulations and watching Foxie drink herself into oblivion, Slim tells me that he and I have a lot to discuss. I know he isn't happy that I went behind his back to bring Sarah home, but I had to do what I had to do.

I send the girls home so the adults can party, and so Sunshine and I can get our new ink.  For the first time in a long motherrfuckin' time I feel at peace and like I am home where I belong.

LL comes over and hugs my neck thanking me for bringing her man home safe and sound. I talk to her about Betty. I don't like the bitch and don't want her hanging around here, so LL offers to give her Sunshine's room at the Fox's Den. I think it will be a perfect fit for her. Inkman adds two new teardrops to my chest for Benji and Squirrel. Sunshine and I get matching skull tattoos on our ring fingers to signify our union. I know she probably hates that I have a portrait of Red on my back, but I will never change it or have it removed, Red will always be a part of me, it is something she is going to have to live with.  However, I don't want her to think she isn't just as special to me, so I am having Inkman design a sun with her name in it.  I didn't want Sunshine to have a brand that looks just like Red's so he is designing something special for her; he said it will signify my claim on her. The only hint he is giving is that it will have to do with finding light in the darkness.

While Inkman finishes Sunshine's skull on her finger, I join Slim for some darts. "Look man, I know you aren't happy that I went behind your back to bring Sarah home. Nothing-personal brother, I didn't want to preach it to the choir and have it up for discussion. Someone was aiding Benji from the inside and giving him a heads up every time I found his location.
Had to make sure this time was different."

"It's all good brother," he shakes my hand.
"I have some information for you on that, the mole was Blaze; motherfucker had been feeding information to the Rejects and the Disciples for years under our noses. Going to put it to vote to strip him of his patch tomorrow at choir, you will get a chance to voice your opinion on what else fate holds for him then." We stop talking business and enjoy the rest of the night after I tell him about Betty. He agrees that it is the best choice for now. He is going to tell Foxie about Squirrel later in private.

The following day at choir Slim preaches to
the brothers and me about Blaze and his betrayal. It is a unanimous decision to strip him of his patch. The choice to make him go cold is harder than I thought; I have known him a long time. He really played me for a fool. He twisted and turned things and made them look as though my oldest friend was betraying our club and me. Not being able to ride and losing his patch isn't enough. He is going to die but not at my hands, it was a club decision to let Trouble do it, a new kid looking to earn his stripes. The boys is ripe and a close friend to Rebel and Striker.  He claims he has connections at the hospital—he can get in and out, while making it look like Blaze succumbed to his injuries from his accident, he will not be buried with club honors either.

**

It has been two months since I brought Sarah home, her and Baby are no closer to acting like sisters, but I hope in time they will. Baby has pulled away from me, I think she is jealous of the attention Sunshine and I pay to Sarah. Baby is young and doesn't understand how much Sarah needs to heal, shit takes time.  I don't know if I'll ever put my demons to bed. I carry a lot of shit with me, all of the blood I have spilled, the guilt of killing my mother even if the whore got what was coming to her, I know how it feels not to have a mother. The girl's have Sunshine but it isn't the same as them having Red.  I have them helping Sunshine pick corn for Romeo in the garden for his next batch of shine, I am hoping they will do some bonding or whatever it is that females do when they get together.

Trouble walks over carrying a box, as I am working o
n replacing the bottom step to the front of the porch, damn thing broke last week, split right down the middle. This boy finds any excuse to come over, I don't like the way he eyes Baby, I know she will fall in love one day, but I hope to prevent it long as I can.  He is a good kid and will make a fine brother one day, but I don't want this life for Baby. I want her to go to college and make something of her life.  "You got a delivery."  He quips looking around, I know exactly who he is looking for and he ain't gonna' find her today. He must have the part I have been waiting on by the size of the package.

I take the package from him and lay it across the hood of my truck. "You don't fool me boy, I know you came over here hoping to see Baby. I know you are a good kid but she is only fourteen. I know she may not look it, but she is too young and too good for you. Ye feel me. I am telling you man-to-man, stay away from my girl if you ever want to earn your patch." He looks like he is bout to shit his pants. He nods and stands there looking dumbfounded.  "Well since you are here, make yourself useful. I need a beer and a joint." He scurries off to fetch my shit and I open up my package so I can get this truck running, so I can have the girls deliver the corn to Romeo later.

Opening the package, the name Gypsy Red is staring at me from the lid of a charred metal box.  I remove the lid and on top is an envelope marked Grim.  The letter reads:

Grim,

Consider this a peace offering. Inside are some of the answers your girls will seek when it comes to their mother.  A day will come when all will be revealed. I am not a man of many words, but one day I am going to ask something of you and you will do it. Consider it a payment you owe me for killing my son and stealing my granddaughter out from under me. I will contact you when I am ready to collect your debt. DO not try to contact me, you won't find me unless I want you to.

Hook

Part 3

Chapter 13

Drag Creek
Kentucky 

Sarah

Two years later

I have been living with Grim and his family now for two years, I am finally eighteen and free. I can take on the world however, I choose to, but a part of me is scared to go it on my own.
Everyone here has been great to me and very welcoming...well almost everyone. Baby has had it out for me ever since I got here. I don't know what I ever did to her, but I suspect it has to do with all the time I spend with Rebel. He has been a great friend to me. On the nights when Grim is on the road and Baby is occupied elsewhere, Rebel keeps me company on the bad nights.  I think he likes me more than I do him, don't get me wrong he is a great guy, but I made a promise to myself that I would never settle for a man with a Harley and a patch on his back. Somehow, he is able to chase my nightmares away. He sleeps on my floor on those nights that it is just he and I. I know that I am eighteen, but I suspect if Grim were to find him in my room late at night, he would go ape shit. That man has a temper that you don't want to be on the receiving end of. I have seen firsthand what he is capable of. My father and Squirrel are evidence of that.

The fact that I walked in on my little sister blowing him a few days ago does not help his case. For one he is five years older than her, she is sixteen and he is twenty-one
, it pisses me off. And two I don't do my sisters sloppy seconds and I haven't fully gotten past my issues with men period. He says he does not remember it, but I know how men are—how they lie to get what they want.  The only reason I allowed him—Rebel anywhere near me was that he wasn't trying to get in my pants.

I still see Betty from time to time, but not often, seeing her brings back too many painful memories for both
of us. She still works at the Fox's Den, doing what she has always done best. Every now and then, she will send me a book she thinks I would enjoy; my love of reading is the one thing from my old life that hasn't changed. My name on the other hand has. I go by Rumor now. Baby used to make up so many stories about me, I started going by the name Rumor as a personal stab at her. She thinks spreading lies and rumors about me hurts me, but it doesn't except for the most hurtful thing I heard her say about me, she had the tits to actually say that when I first came here that I had an abortion and that it wasn't known if the baby belonged to Squirrel or my father. My father was many bad things, most of the horror stories spoken of him are true, but he never would have touched me like that. 

Grim and Sunshine have been so good to me; they took me in and have treated me like a real daughter. I finally received my GED and I have been working at the Roadhouse in the kitchen
, only helping Sunshine with the pizza and sandwiches on the weekends. Grim won't allow me out in the front. 

I don't have enough money saved up to leave yet but I will one day.
My grandfather sends me money but Grim sends it back, he says we don't accept money from the Devils Rejects. A part of me wants to get to know him, but another part of me is scared, the stories I have been told about him are so bad they are so disgusting; I don't want to know a man like that. I know Grim has done a lot of horrible things, but he is a good man. Sometimes good people do bad things, doesn't mean you can't love them despite their faults. Sunshine has been trying to talk me into going to college but I am not ready to go out that far into the world just yet. Crowds of people still make me nervous and Squirrel still haunts me in my dreams. I don't know if I will ever be able to escape him. It as if his touch has marked me for life. Some nights I wake up screaming and feeling as if I can smell his breath and feel his touch on my skin.

Baby runs around doing whatever in the hell she pleases, she is spoiled and self-centered. Grim and Sunshine cannot control her and when they try, she runs to Foxie and hides under her skirt. Foxie coddles her so much and Rebel and Striker play right into her bullshit, even some of the brother's fall at her feet. This one poor guy Trouble has it for her bad. He does anything Baby asks of him, he is so hungry for a patch on his back, guess he thinks worshipping Baby is a good way to get it.

Being branded and claimed is the furthest thing from my mind, though I think my sister would become an old lady right now if her dad wouldn't kill the man who would be dumb enough to try it.

**

I take my time getting ready for work tonight; Sunshine has changed how I see me. She has been so wonderful with me. It took me a good eight months before I was able to let her get close to me, but she showed me all the things I would have been shown had I lived with a mother. Betty was good to me, but she did not have a maternal bone in her body. How can you love someone else when you do not even love yourself...? My strawberry blonde hair is in a fishtail braid and lying to my left shoulder and my makeup is always minimal but I wear enough to give myself that extra zing.  I dress in my favorite Harley shirt, my black Chucks and a pair of ripped pants. When I came here, I didn't have anything but the clothes on my back, the shirt I am wearing is one of Grim's old shirts,
and it is so worn and soft.  He gave me some of his t-shirts to wear until they got me my own things, I have done away with most of what he gave me but this one is my favorite. I spray myself with some body spray for the final touch other than my cross ring. It belonged to my mother and I never take it off except for when I shower. Baby wears her engagement ring; even though she is a little bitch, I am glad we both have a ring to remember our mother with.

Over at the Roadhouse it is Friday night the place is packed for Runner getting his patch today. The Black Rebel Riders' sure do love a good party.
I am trying my best to help Sunshine get all of the orders out in a timely fashion. It'd be real nice if Baby would get back in the kitchen instead of flirting. She knows she isn't supposed to be out there. Grim isn't here tonight or she wouldn't be getting by with it. Sunshine says there isn't time to worry about it to quit my bitching and get back to work. It is not fair, not that I want to be out front with all of those men, but why does she get to slack off?

After two hours of nonstop cooking and having grease splattered across my arm burning me twice the orders have stopped coming in and the guys are focused on getting drunk and getting some strange.  Betty is here tonight, all the women from the Fox's Den are here as a courtesy
to the club.  I don't know how Rebel and Striker stand to see their mom parading around out there like a common everyday whore.

I am in the back storage room getting some ice to cool myself with; the kitchen gets so hot from having two ovens and fryers going in the small room.  I am standing with my eyes closed enjoying a minute of downtime before I have to start on the dishes, I have an ice cube rubbing it over my lips when I hear someone clear their throat. 
Rebel is looking at me as if he wishes he were the ice. The ice has begun to melt and is running down my chin through my fingers and off of my lips. Rebel walks over to me and licks the water from my mouth.  He catches me off guard and for a moment, I enjoy his touch—the scruff of his beard scratching my skin, but my mind flashes to him with his head back, pants around his ankles with my sister's lips around his cock.  I push him away, "don't Rebel. Just don't," he is holding my hand against his chest, the look he has tells me he knows where my mind went.

"I told you, I don't remember that night. I would have never done that with Baby knowingly, it kills me. She is like my younger sister. I care about her, but
I don't feel for her the way I feel for you." He lets go of my hand and runs his hands through his blonde hair. If I were not so pissed off at him, it would be so fucking attractive. "I have watched over her from the time she was a baby, it was always me her and Striker, you gotta' know I would not touch her that way." I would like to believe him so we can get past this awkwardness between us, but he is a man, and men lie.

He trails his fingers down the front of my jeans, stopping above my pubic area, he takes a hold of the polka dot fabric—my panties and tugs on them, making me break out in a cold sweat. The only man to ever go near my panties was Squirrel, my mind tries to go to that dark place where the demons hide, but somehow I will them away when I hear Rebel whispering in my ear.  "I never knew polka dots could be so sexy, Rumor." His teeth catch on my ear and I shrink back from him. He is not getting in my panties.

The door swings open causing us both to jump. "There you are, you owe me a game of pool." Baby wraps herself around him like a damn scarf. "Don't you have dishes to wash Rumor?"  Clearly not a question but it is her way of brushing me off and like the rest of the guys around here Rebel turns and follows her like a lost puppy dog.

Back in the kitchen Sunshine gives me a look I have seen a lot of thanks to Baby and her stories—pity. "
Rumor, I can finish up in here if you want to go out and join the party. Grim isn't due home until tomorrow not that he can stop you, you are eighteen now. Baby seems to be enjoying herself." I cannot help but look through the small window used for placing orders and staring at Baby as she rubs her hands up and down Rebel's arm seductively. Striker comes over and joins them; they have always been the three musketeers, which is what Foxie calls them. I understand that they are close, Baby used to live with them before I moved here. The three of them are laughing and Striker is dancing with Baby and Rebel is sipping his beer oblivious to the fact that Baby is using them both. Maybe I am just jealous that I never had that—real friends and never will.

"No, I don't have any desire to go out there and make an ass of myself. If you want to go on I can handle it."

"If you are sure, I am going to go home and enjoy a nice hot bath and give Grim a call. I hate when he goes on runs."

I nod for her to go on and start scrubbing the kitchen, the quicker I close down the kitchen the faster I can go home and curl up with a good book.  Striker comes into the kitchen; he is looking for something to wipe his glasses with.  He and Rebel might be brothers and only a year apart, but they look nothing alike. Where Rebel looks a lot like their dad Striker favors their mom.
He has that smart pretty boy look going until you see all of his tattoos.

"You skipping out on the party?" He asks as he reaches into the cabinet where Sunshine keeps some of her cleaning supplies for quick use.

"You know that has never been my scene." I start to put the veggies in the cooler thinking we are done with this conversation.

"You know Baby will get over her infatuation wi
th him sooner than you think." He puts his glasses back on, "you should come play darts with us when you are finished in here. Live a little." He smacks me on the ass and laughs as he turns to go back to the bar.  Striker is just one of those people you can't get mad at no matter what flies out of their mouth or how ignorant they act.

And I decide you know what, I am sick of playing it safe. What is one party going to do? I can enjoy myself and not worry about some out of towner thinking he can put his hands on me. All the guys are here but Grim, they wouldn't let anyone hurt me.  I go into the back bathroom and touch up my face before I walk out front and surprise the shit out of everyone by joining the celebration.  I never knew it would mean so much to them to have me join them. All the guys are wanting to be the first I do a shot with. I can see Baby giving me the death glare, jealous that I m getting some of her attention.

I am sitting at the bar with Romeo; I know I am safe with him.  Rebel comes over and takes up the stool next to me. "So you can drink with his old ass, but you can't have a drink with me."

"Well you see Romeo isn't an asshole like you, so yea I can have a shot with him and not you." I turn my attention back to Romeo and his story about his kids, he and LL just had another baby recently.

Romeo laughs, "I have to piss something fierce, you got your hands full with this one son, and not sure you can handle her."

"It's her that can't handle ME." He retorts scooting closer than necessary to talk to me.  "So do you want me to come over tonight, you know in
case you have nightmares."

"I think I will be okay."  A part of me is yearning to tell him yes I want him to sleep over, but I don't wan
t him getting the wrong idea.  He thinks he can get into my pants, there is no need to give the guy false hope. "Goodnight Rebel." I pat him on the arm and head home to enjoy my book after all.  I look back to the bar before heading out and Baby is already in his lap, yeah he wouldn't touch her alright. Men!