The Last Riders - First Four Votes (16 page)

R
achel was wrong
, everything was not better the next day. Beth dragged herself out of bed early, determined to get back to work. Her clients depended on her and she was not going to let them down. The sheriff’s wife argued with her about going back to work so soon, however Beth was firm in her insistence that she was better. Finally, the good-hearted woman left her in peace, saying she would call her that evening.

Beth made her rounds of clients. It was hard to get all the patients done since Evie had quit and she was literally shaking by the time she let herself into her house where she immediately collapsed on the sofa.

Curling into a ball, she snagged the phone, calling Rachel to tell her she was going to bed and would not need her assistance that night. Hearing the hurt in the woman’s voice, Beth almost broke, but she hardened her resolve and said goodnight. Beth fell asleep for several hours, waking to fix herself some soup, which she ate with no appetite, yet she knew she had to eat to keep her strength.

The last two days of the week were more of the same. Beth worked hard and ate what she could force down her throat. All the time aware her heart was breaking. Imagining Razer with the different women at the clubhouse was like a movie playing in her mind. The picture of Razer stroking Bliss was engraved in her memory and it tormented her constantly.

On Saturday, she drove to see Lily. Her sister took one look at her bruised face and heartbroken eyes and simply held her arms open. Beth and Lily lay on her tiny bed as she was finally able to let go, crying her misery onto her sister’s shoulder. Lily lay next to her, stroking her back as she murmured questions, giving her unconditional love to soothe her broken ego.

“I hate him,” Beth sobbed.

“I do, too,” Lily whispered her agreement.

“I miss him so badly. I don’t think I can do this, Lily. Maybe if I go talk to him?”

“Do you think it would matter to him?”

“No.”

“Then that answers your question.”

“I love him, Lily.”

“I know, but you can’t have him. You have to let it go.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Beth admitted, ashamed of being so weak.

“Then let’s go.” Lily stood up. “We can leave now and be there in a couple of hours.” Beth also got up and picked up her keys along with her purse. She actually made it to the door before she stopped. Her forehead touched the door as she started crying again. She didn’t resist when Lily led her back to sit on the bed.

“It’s over.”

“Yes, Beth, whatever you shared with Razer is over.” With those words, Beth accepted what she had known from the first time she had seen Razer in front of the police station with that motorcycle; that given half a chance, he would break her heart.

T
he party was dying
down and the ones who hadn’t been lucky enough to find a bed for the night were sprawled on any available furniture sturdy enough to hold their weight. Several had even thought ahead, bringing a sleeping bag and finding an open piece of floor to crash on.

Slowly, methodically, he went down the steps, careful, not to make a sound. He didn’t want to wake anyone. He had planned everything down to the final detail, determined no drunk-assed member would screw his plans up at the last minute.

With his thumb on the detonator, he headed for the door. The sudden burst of light coming on blinded him for a second. Startled, he spun around to see Viper, Razer and Cash standing by the door.

“Hey man, you’re going to wake everyone. Douse the lights.”

“Everyone is already awake. What are you doing awake? Last I saw, you were upstairs with Evie.”

Memphis shrugged. “She’s asleep. I thought I’d go for a ride.”

“Sounds good; care if we join you?” Viper asked.

“I was wanting some alone time, if you don’t mind?” Memphis started to move forward, but the three men blocked his path.

“We do mind.”

Memphis turned to leave through the backdoor, but found his way blocked by the members he thought had been sleeping. Outnumbered, he tried to brazen his way out.

“What’s up, Viper? Since when does me going for a ride become club business?”

“It becomes our business when you’re planning on blowing us to smithereens on your lone ride.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Search him, Razer,” Viper ordered.

When Razer took a step forward, Memphis tried to make a break for it, trying to force himself through the men blocking the door, but he instantly found himself with his face shoved into the wall and his arms held high behind his back. When he tried to fight free, Viper smashed his face into the wall using his hair.

“Stay the fuck still.”

Memphis felt hands going through his pockets. “Well, look what I found.” Cash pulled the detonator out of his pocket, lifting it where all the members could see it. Razer jerked Memphis from the wall, throwing him across the room. Knox caught him, throwing him down on the couch.

“It took three fucking years of my life to figure out who betrayed my brother. You sorry piece of shit, you killed him for fifty grand. I would have given you the fucking money if you had asked, you motherfucker.”

Memphis was aware that he was a dead man, so he also knew that lying would only make it more painful. “I would have done it for free.” Memphis shrugged while Viper lunged at him, but Razer and Cash held him back.

“He’s just trying to piss you off so you’ll kill him quick. Find out your answers first,” Razer reasoned.

“First, answer my question then I’ll answer yours. How did you finally figure it out?” Memphis questioned.

“Sam, we promised protection and no jail time if she told us who her father paid to kill my brother,” Viper answered.

“She didn’t know. Bedford swore he wouldn’t tell. He was scared enough of me to keep his mouth shut.”

“Sam followed her father to one of your meetings. She recognized you when she started hanging around the house.”

“Damn slut,” Memphis muttered.

“I answered your question, now answer ours. “

“I killed Gavin because he was a pain in my ass. I was dealing drugs on the side and he was going to tell you at the next meeting. I would have been out. I couldn’t have that going down. I had a plan and was going to stick to it no matter what happened. Him being dead distracted everyone enough that I was able to move a lot of the patents to my name and, with the money I made off them, as well as the insurance policy on everyone, I would have been a rich man.”

The insurance policy had been taken out between the eight friends when they had started their survival business. That way, if any one was killed, the business would not be affected because the insurance was made out to the surviving group members. The bomb he had planted and planned to detonate would have killed a large number of them, especially those carrying the larger chunks of stock.

“What did you do with my brother’s body?” Viper braced himself for Memphis’s answer.

“I buried him behind the Road Demon’s clubhouse.” That time, when Viper struck out at Memphis, no one tried to stop him. He pulled back and landed a final jab to his jaw, which sent Memphis down to the floor, groaning and curling into a ball.

“Tomorrow, I’ll ask for a meet with the Road Demon’s to try and get Gavin’s body. If it’s not there—”

“I’m telling the truth. What are you going to do with me?”

“Keep you alive long enough to bring Gavin home. After that, the club will deal with you one by one.”

Memphis had hoped for a quick death, but Viper had taken away that prospect with his words. Each of the original members would stand in a circle with him positioned in the middle, the members would then each have the opportunity to give him a killing blow. It wouldn’t matter if he were dead after the one chosen to go first. In this case, because it was Viper’s brother, he would be allowed the first strike. After each had their turn, he would be disposed of just as he had disposed of Gavin. The only difference was Gavin would now be coming home to a proper burial.

“We’re going to show you the same mercy that you showed my brother.” Viper’s promise was deadly accurate.

B
eth came
out of the restaurant, her heels clicking on the pavement. Pastor Dean had asked to meet her to talk. It had been hard sitting at the booth with him since it brought back memories of the dates they had shared, interchanged with thoughts of what might have happened if she hadn’t been so attracted to Razer from the moment she’d seen him. Fortunately, Beth had realized that a relationship with Dean would have never worked. The sexual chemistry that she’d shared with Razer was absent with Dean.

The meeting hadn’t lasted long. He was unhappy with the way she was looking, and Beth had to admit that she had lost quite a bit of weight since Razer had finished with her. The paleness of her face and her lackluster hair gave her an appearance of being ill.

“Thank you for your concern, but I am fine.” Beth laid her hand on top of his, seeing the disbelief in his eyes. “It’s not every day a girl gets kidnapped and pistol whipped.” She gave a self-deprecating smile. “Perhaps I should have taken that Las Vegas trip.” Beth had returned his gift, not wanting to go alone. She had no one that she could bear to spend time with right now other than Lily and she was busy with school.

“I could still arrange it for you.”

“No, thank you. I have no one to cover my patients right now. Perhaps this summer when Lily is out of school. I have a couple of interviews next week to hire someone to replace Evie.” Dean saw the flash of pain that Beth was unable to hide. Without hesitating, though, Beth began discussing church business, offering to volunteer to have a rummage sale for a member who had a fire which had destroyed their belongings.

Dean leaned back in his seat, watching her pick at her food as she talked, getting the message that the members of The Last Riders were not up for discussion. Not long after, Beth left Dean sitting with two church members who had stopped by their table to volunteer their services. With a grin, she escaped, using the excuse of an early workday.

Outside, it was just getting dark when she heard the loud motors of the bikes. Beth didn’t hesitate in her footsteps across the parking lot, neither did she turn her head to see the passing bikers. It was only when she almost walked into Razer’s bike that she lifted her head. Another pulled in behind her, pinning her between the two bikes. Shade and Evie each gave her a nod as Razer and Shade’s motors were cut. The sudden silence was a relief.

“Beth.”

“Razer.”

“How have you been?”

“Good.” Beth didn’t ask how he was, she didn’t care. At least that was what she kept telling herself.

“You don’t look so good.”

Beth shrugged. “Appearances can be deceiving.” Razer nodded while Beth stared at her car behind his back to keep from looking at him.

Razer cleared his throat, drawing her attention to him. Beth glared at his mirrored sunglasses to keep from having to look at him on his bike. His hair was a little longer since the last time she’d seen him. Wearing leather pants and a black shirt with a leather jacket, she wanted to jump on the back of his bike and forget everything that had happened. A wry smile touched her lips at imagining Razer’s horrified reaction if she did.

“Yes, they can. That’s why I want to talk to you. Can we go somewhere to talk? I would like to explain some things to you.”

“No explanations are necessary, you got your message across clearly the last time I saw you.” Beth took a step to the right, trying to get to her car.

“Beth, let him explain. I want to tell you how sorry I am for the way things went down. If you would listen…” Evie trailed off as Beth stopped and turned, meeting her eyes. Evie flinched from the pain that Beth didn’t try to hide this time.

“I don’t need explanations, Evie. I provided employment for you until the factory opened. It’s not your fault that I misinterpreted it and thought we had become friends.”

“We were friends… no, we are friends. Beth, listen to me—”

With a sad smile, Beth shook her head as she spoke over Evie once again, “No, Evie, you are no friend of mine. You left me in that hospital to wake up alone, scared and not knowing what had happened. I kept thinking you would come by and bring me a few magazines or couple of things I could have used. You never did, though. Then, when I came to the club and was humiliated in front of everyone by a man I cared about, did my friend stand by me? No. She ignored me and cut me deep by quitting when I needed her the most. Did my friend come by and see me to let me cry on her shoulder? No, you didn’t. A friend would have been there for me. I would have been there for you.” When Beth finished in a soft voice, Evie looked stricken. Again Beth took a step, determined to leave.

“Beth, wait… I can explain.” Razer’s hand snapped out and caught her arm, keeping her from leaving.

Beth took a deep breath and let Razer have his piece also. “Razer, explanations are not necessary for the simple reason that they won’t make a difference to how I feel about you. You were wrong that night at your house. I wasn’t beginning to care for you, I had fallen in love with you. I knew you didn’t return my feelings and I let it happen anyway. I’ve had a few bad weeks since then, but I am getting over you. If the explanations you want to give me end with you wanting to be friends, that won’t work for me. It would be too painful for me to see you with other women and not touch you myself.” When Razer would have spoken, Beth raised a hand to stop him. “Let me finish. On the other hand, if you are hoping these explanations lead to us being back together again, that no longer is an option. You are incapable of giving me the relationship I need to be happy, which involves trust, fidelity and love. Even if you swore to do all three, I would never, ever believe in you again.”

This time, when Beth took a step forward, Razer’s hand dropped to his side. Both bikes sat immobile as Beth carefully maneuvered her SUV around them, pulling out onto the road without a look backward.

“
W
e fucked up bad
.” Evie’s head fell forward to Shade’s back.

“More like crashed and burned,” Dean said, stepping out from behind a parked van.

“Back off, Dean. You had no business eavesdropping.”

“I had every right. I handed you that girl on a silver platter, and what did you do? You screwed her over so badly that now, not only don’t I have her, but you don’t have her and it’s not looking like you ever will.” Dean ruthlessly threw Beth’s words back in Razer’s face.

“She’ll come around; she’ll forgive me. The girl is incapable of holding a grudge.”

“Did you even make an attempt to get to know her?” Dean asked in disbelief.

“What does that mean?”

“It means, she is not going to forgive you. You hurt her too badly; she won’t put herself back in that vulnerable position again, with either of you.” The sympathy in Dean’s voice had Razer feeling fear that he wouldn’t get Beth back once he explained for the first time. He had never doubted that once she understood why he had broken it off with her, they would resume where they’d left off. Now, by the look in Deans eye, he felt he had overestimated the ability of Beth to forgive, if not forget.

“Come with me.” Dean left the parking lot without another word, walking towards the church across the street.

“You two go on back to the club.” Shade nodded and left with Evie at his back.

Razer rode his bike across the street, parking it before going inside the church to find Dean waiting in his office. There was a filing cabinet there and he was taking a key out to unlock it when Razer walked in.

Razer watched as he took out a medium-sized box and handed it to Razer. “Go home and watch a couple of these. When you’re done, destroy them. I could only stomach watching a couple of them, but I think you need to see what you’re up against.”

“Why are you helping me? You already paid your favor back to me.”

“This isn’t about you, Razer. This is about a pastor doing what is best for a member of his congregation whom he put into harm’s way.” Razer took the words like a punch in the stomach. It was evident that Dean felt as if he had hurt Beth by giving Razer a chance with her.

Razer left without a word, strapping the heavy box onto the back of his bike, he headed to the clubhouse. Once there, he searched for a private room with a television, the box in his hands. Finding none, he ended up in the back room, which was empty, and hooked up the VCR recorder that Dean had also given him. Opening the box, Razer found each tape neatly dated along with the title of the sermon that Beth’s father must have taped. Razer started at the earliest date.

Hitting play, Razer took a seat on the couch and watched as the grainy film came to life. A tall, thin man with wire-framed glasses stood behind the pulpit, giving a sermon. It was a thing to shrink a grown man’s balls with hell and damnation used as threats. He gave a blistering sermon that would have put the fear of God into a grown man, much less the tiny girl sitting on the front pew by a rigidly stern woman who nodded her head in agreement with every sentence the preacher mouthed.

Razer recognized Beth immediately and a smile touched his lips at seeing her sitting so quiet and still throughout the longwinded sermon. Not that Razer listened; he fast forwarded through much of it and was about to stop it when a movement from Beth’s father caught his eye, so he pressed play once again. He was motioning Beth to stand in front of the large congregation.

“Now, we come to the part of service where I give everyone a chance to repent their sins and take their punishment to be forgiven of them. My daughter will begin. Beth?”

Beth stared straight ahead as she stood before the congregation. Razer’s gut clenched, it was the same look she had given him earlier that night

“I am pleading for forgiveness from my Lord to forgive my tardiness to dinner twice this week. My mother works hard to make the meal and my father works hard to provide it. I should be more appreciative and show my respect by being on time.”

“Beth, do you repent your sins?”

“Yes, Pastor Saul.”

“Then kneel before your peers and take your punishment.”

Beth got to her knees as her father stood behind her carrying a leather strap.

“REPENT!” he screamed and the strap struck out, hitting the girl on her back.

The church members yelled back. “Repent.”

Three more times the leather struck her on her back before her father allowed her to resume her seat. Horrified, Razer was unaware of Shade and Evie entering the room to stand behind the couch, watching. Clumsily, Razer removed the tape and put in the next one. He watched six more tapes, each with Beth getting strapped for little or no reason. Razer noticed not a single member of the congregation volunteered to repent their sins along with the child, yet each sat mindlessly as Beth took beating after beating. The room began to fill as member after member came to get dinner, becoming engrossed in the tapes being played. Razer continued to pay no notice to the fact that he was no longer alone.

Cash was one of the last ones to come in and he stood shakily behind the couch as one particular tape began. He remembered it well. In fact, he still had nightmares because of it. He had done two tours with the seals and no single sight had affected him as much as the tape brought back to life.

It wasn’t a regular church meeting; instead, it seemed as if they were in a smaller church and the parishioners were standing around chanting. Razer didn’t know what they were doing or saying as they danced in place and chanted in a language he had never heard before.

A large, bearded man went behind the podium and pulled out a snake. Beth who had been stepping slowly back and forth between her parents was pushed forward as the snake was held out. She didn’t speak, she simply continued moving, holding out her frail, little arms. The snake slid up her forearm as, pale and obviously frightened, she couldn’t have been more than nine-years-old. A look of pain and a whimper escaped her as the snake reared back and struck her in the upper arm.

“Praise God.” The man pried the snake’s teeth from her arm and she fell to the floor, crying as the parishioners circled around the whimpering child. Suddenly the tape ended as if the machine taping it had fallen to the floor.

“I remember that day. I tried to get to her and knocked the camera over.”

“What the hell was that?” Jewell said in shock.

“Snake handling. Her bastard of a father would take us into the mountains once a year to a sister church. Every year I watched the same scene. Didn’t Beth tell you when you saw the scars on her arms?”

“No.” Disgust was eating at Razer that he hadn’t tried to get to know Beth; that he had never even noticed the scars which marred her beautiful body.

“Did they take her to the hospital? Why didn’t someone call social services?” Bliss questioned.

“No, they never took her to the hospital. The proof of faith is when she doesn’t die. So no medical treatment, no one reported it to social services, and the Sheriff back then was a member of the congregation who couldn’t have given a shit. The congregation prayed over her all night while her little body was wracked with pain till morning. It was the last time I ever prayed.”

“The next year they went, they didn’t make her do it again, did they?” Viper asked.

“As far as I know, from what my grandmother told me, yes. A couple of times it was a close call, but she survived. The members took it as a sign of their faith, but I would say it was more likely that she built up an immunity to the venom. I wouldn’t know; I left town the next day and enlisted in the Navy. I never went back to that church.”

Knowing now that he wasn’t alone, Razer still went to the next box and picked a tape from a couple years later. He couldn’t stop himself even if he’d wanted to; the desire to know more was overruling every other piece of common sense in his head. Beth would be about eleven, he thought. It was more of the same except the beating became worse. However, Razer noticed one deviation; she begged God’s forgiveness, never her stern faced father, no matter how many times the leather struck her back.

The next tape had Lily’s first appearance. The small, underweight child was brought forward as they explained the charity they’d had to give to a child in desperate need of a home. No mention was made of where she’d come from, though. Several tapes were gone through before the minister ordered Lily forward for a misdemeanor for punishment. When she would have stepped forward, Beth pulled her back, explaining it was her fault that Lily had committed what had been deemed as sin. The pastor, thwarted in his desire for new prey, took it out on a blank-faced Beth. This continued on until a tape where the pastor ordered Lily forward and when Beth would have stepped forward she was denied.