Page 27 of Bleed Me

CHAPTER SEVEN

As she lifted her helmet, long dark blue-tipped hair fell to shine in the sun that had been so blistering seconds earlier. Now, the rays were pointing to a courage I needed to learn from. But everything takes time…

This woman, somewhere in her mid to late twenties, straddled a Harley with an expertly painted blue version of the Stallion MC’s symbol. After she hung her helmet on a handlebar, she whipped her hair into a messy ponytail, exposing that she was shaved from above her left ear, around the back, to above her right ear. Both ears had many tiny silver earrings. Full matte red lips never smiled, nor did her large cat-like grey eyes as she removed her dark aviator sunglasses.

How many minutes passed, I’m not sure, but we stared. All there was for her to see was the tragic leftover of a life that no longer wanted this man who was no longer a boy. What she saw was so much more.

Of course, she wasn’t going to indulge me. “Have you ever washed bikes before?”

I gazed at the empty bucket at my feet. “Never.”

Her upper lip curled, displeased. “Ever been on a HOG, Prospect?”

Examining the bike between her thighs, I replied, “Nah. But willing to give it a go.”

Surrounding laughter had her instantly annoyed for reasons unbeknownst to me. She eyed the bikers with a silent snarl, exposing white teeth, then was off her bike and marching toward me. I stayed put as she angrily got all up in my space. “You want what’s between my thighs?”

What? Here I was thinkin’ we were having a moment. I took an annoyed step back. “Why the fuck does everyone think I want or need to fuck?”

Her eyes widened before she recovered to sneer, “Because you’re a biker, dickhead.”

“First of all, I ain’t shit. Second of all, how the hell do you know I’m a dick when these are the first words we’ve ever shared?”

She growled, “Watch how you speak to me.”

“Me?” I threw my arms wide. “Ya, leading by example?”

Her chin jerked back as if I had punched her and pissed her off, simultaneously. “I fucking outrank you.”

I rolled my eyes.“The toilets outrank me at this point.”

Even though I was slightly taller and definitely wider than her, the back of my hair was in her grip so fast it was surprising. So was the fist she had every intention of landing on my bruised face.

I knew I could outpower her but was beyond giving two fucks. “Go ahead. Do it. It’s not like I haven’t had the shit kicked out of me this whole week or am hurting due to whatever knocked me out yesterday, right where you have a hold of me, by the fucking way. Please. Be one more asshole who demands respect yet is so unwilling to give any.”

Not releasing my tender scalp, she stared up at me. “Give?” As if the mere thought was asinine.

Since my head was forcefully tilted to the sky, I stared into the sun, hoping to go blind. “Yes. Give.” Delilah… “To give can be a beautiful thing. That’s why I don’t want to take anymore, including all this bullshit.”

Her fingers tightened. “I’m your Road Captain. I can hand out any bullshit I want.”

“Great. Why don’t you start by telling me what a Road Captain is so I can start actually giving a fuck about your title and not your undeserved attitude.”

A large shadow suddenly hung over us both. “Enough,” announced the President. “Let him go, Justice.”

A smile crossed her face as she released me. “He did good. Got pissed but didn’t try me. Even with that egg on the back of his head.”

As my head came back to sit on my shoulders normal-like, I tried to understand what had just happened. I was now surrounded by bikers, including Dagger, who was smiling. “Did good, kid.”

I just stood there, blinking, trying to catch my breath and rein in my anger.

Prez lifted his chin to Justice. “You got him fired up. Take him to a bag.”

Her smirk over her shoulder as she walked away told me Justice had no regret for pushing my buttons. “Come on, Prospect.”

I looked to Dagger for approval. I had no idea of the rules. Was I free to roam? Did I always have to be escorted? I didn’t even know but two names: Dagger, and now Justice. This group wasn’t exactly forthcoming. They were accepting, clearly, because I was there, but they were most definitely guarded. Understandably. I was a hybrid Prospect.

Prez followed my questioning eyes to Dagger. With respect, he claimed, “This kid may not fuck you over, after all.”