Part 20 (1/2)
”I...s.h.i.+t...”
”We could've been together. If you were honest and told me that old piece of s.h.i.+t did it, we could've...”
”It's not that simple, Luce. You were a witness. Mac would've used you. He would have blackmailed us both... You think I wanted you dancing in Big Sal's just so we could be together? f.u.c.k no. I didn't want to pull you into the club's business and despite every effort, I f.u.c.king did anyway. I wanted you to see me as a monster so it'd be easier to forget me.”
She falls against the bike and bends half over, unable to breath steadily. I hold her a while, letting it all sink in.
She's dead silent.
”My hand grips her neck and I kiss her forehead. ”You don't need to bear the weight of this. If I could take it all from you, I would find a way.”
”You were looking for me when you crashed your bike, weren't you?”
”You were the last good memory left in my life. I've thought about you every single f.u.c.king day since you left,” I said. ”I couldn't just leave the club... Not with my head still on my shoulders. I wanted to see you one more time...”
”Why did you make me leave? I would have stayed with you Landon...”
”I'd made my choice to be an outlaw and I couldn't put that on you. You deserve the best of everything, Lucy. Everything. Daryl wasn't the father you deserved and I wasn't the boyfriend...”
”You were. And you were the boyfriend I wanted, too. You were everything to me, Landon. My whole world. Every happy memory, every laugh, every good time. What the f.u.c.k?”
She backs away from me to take a stroll and a breather.
”Lucy...”
”Mac tried to rape me at the motel. Gagged me with a rag. Drew his knife.” She says it clearly, straightly, powerfully.
”W-What?”
”He's probably on his way here to kill us both and then what do we have? All I want is to just f.u.c.king be with YOU!” She's talking to the G.o.ds more than me but I'm with her every word. ”Is that too much to ask? To just be with the person I f.u.c.king love?!”
Any pain I felt post-fight drifts into pure, unadulterated rage. My raw fists clench.
”He threatened me, said he'd go to the cops and tell them where we buried Daryl. I...I ca...” She trails off.
I embrace her tightly as if to squeeze her fears from her to take them for myself. ”Hey, hey. You don't cry. That f.u.c.ker doesn't even know where he's buried. I chose the spot. He has nothing on you. Nothing. Luce.”
”I...I'm so scared.”
”Boys!” I yell to the crowd, knowing my next move I have to make.
”W-What're you going to do?” Lucy says, taking my hands probably worried I'll do some more damage that will keep us apart.
”I'm going to make this alright again. Where is he, darlin'?”
”Th-the motel was where I left him.”
”And you stole his bike?”
We smile at each other as she nods. ”Good girl,” I tell her with a kiss on her head. ”He's probably back at the club. That's walking distance from the motel...”
”What do you need, brother?” Garrett says from behind me.
”We need Mac gone. Tonight. I want him out of this club. We need a vote of no confidence and I want you all with me.”
They look at each other nervously. ”The f.u.c.k is this coming from? You get hit in the head too many times?” Rev says. ”We don't discuss this s.h.i.+t outside church.”
”Then let's go to church.” I take Lucy's hand in mine and pull her into me. ”That p.r.i.c.k thinks he can get away with anymore of this psychopathic, manipulative bulls.h.i.+t with me, he's got another thing coming. He put his hands on my girl tonight and he's going to f.u.c.king pay.”
I see Mia's face in the distance. Her lips draw tight as she moves in behind Rev.
”Will you stand with me?” I say to my brothers.
Slowly, more members move closer to hear what the commotion's about. Lucy tucks in further behind me and clamps my hand tighter. I feel this urgency, we have to do this tonight or that's the end of us.
”I need a vote of no confidence! Mac just tried to rape Lucy, and I'm not f.u.c.king standing for that.”
Mia squeaks. ”You can't get rid of Mac. We had an agreement.”
”You had an agreement with his d.i.c.k. There is no f.u.c.king agreement. Not anymore.”
”F-Fine, f.u.c.k you. I'm outta this. Best be believing my daddy's gonna have something to say. Kiss our f.u.c.king deal goodbye.”
”I'm sure we'll get through it.”
”Don't,” Rev catches her arm. ”Don't go.”
”Why not? Seems like I'm not welcome with the new meat in town.”
”Stay,” Rev orders. ”You don't need Landon and you don't need Mac. You can ride with me.”
I see it all over Rev's face. He's had his sights on this girl the whole time. I don't have time for this right now...
”Find Mac. It's time for church.”
27.
Lucy wraps her arms tightly around my torso as we cruise up the back roads toward the clubhouse. I've never felt so powerful. I don't feel an urge to run from my problems. With Lucy here, I'm whole again. I have a plan. I'll see it through.
My heart is racing. I can't let go of Lucy... I can't let go of her ever again. I can keep her safe, but not so long as Mac is part of my f.u.c.king life.
Maybe it won't even make it to a vote... All I know is the darkness ends here. Tonight.
The club is with me. I'll speak my mind and they'll vote with me. I'm sure of it. Most of the club fears Mac more than they respect him. I ride with the Dragons, and they ride with me. The roar of our engines falls silent as we park outside the club.
”He's here,” I tell Lucy as we step off the bike.