Page 18 of Alice & Meg: Summer Vacation (Fallen Lords MC & Devil’s Knights MC Crossover)

I hadn’t expected to spend my afternoon surrounded by families and toddlers, but there we were, parked in rows of velvet seats at the Rick Wilcox magic show in the Falls.

Lo leaned over and murmured, “Definitely aimed at the juice-box crowd,”

but he was grinning like a man genuinely enjoying himself.

Part illusionist, part comedian, Rick Wilcox had this polished showmanship that walked the line between Vegas slick and hometown charm. The lights dimmed, the crowd hushed, and the spotlight snapped to center stage. He appeared like he’d stepped out of a magician’s daydream, in a tailcoat, crisp shirt, and a grin full of confidence.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!”

he boomed, and the room erupted.

He dove right in. No slow build, just bam, live dove in his hands, then gone in a puff of smoke. The kids around us let out a chorus of gasps.

I gave a nod. Solid opener.

When Wilcox singled Lo out for a levitating hand gag, saying, “Sir, your hand seems to have a mind of its own!”, even Lo’s tough-guy act cracked. His laughter was loud enough to make a nearby dad glance over.

The man knew his audience. There were disappearing scarves, a rope trick that ended mid-air in a perfect knot, and self-deprecating banter that kept the tone light.

“Oops! Hope my assistant didn’t tie me up for real,”

he joked, and the crowd rolled with it.

But then came the acts I’d low-key been waiting for.

The levitation box. He climbed into a small, shadowy container with bolts locked into place. A beat later, smoke curled out, and he floated out like gravity took a break. Even knowing it was sleight of hand and smoke-and-mirror magic, I still loved it.

The burning scarf. He called a little girl on stage who had on a purple unicorn shirt and was missing a front tooth. He waved a scarf, ignited it in flame, and poof, it reappeared around her shoulders like it had always been there.

Amazing.

The electric chair. Classic bit. He sat in a wooden seat rigged with metal bands, flicked a switch, and jolted up with wild, white Einstein hair.

“Always check the voltage,”

he deadpanned. Lo snorted loud enough that I had to elbow him.

Then the finale. An assistant vanished behind a black curtain and popped up in the back of the theater five seconds later. No trapdoor in sight, and no delay. Just… gone, then reappeared. The whole room was stunned. Even the adults.

I glanced around at everyone, and I could see it. The excitement and the wonder in their faces. That look of pure awe? It made the show worth it.

Between tricks, Wilcox bantered about the Falls.

“You brave the ducks, scream your lungs out on rides, now look at you, ninety minutes of calm. Bet you didn’t expect that.”

The moms near us nodded and laughed.

Magic and comedy. That was the real trick. He somehow managed to pull in every age without losing anyone along the way.

The lights rose. Wilcox gave his thanks. The theater emptied with the kind of buzz that followed you out the door.

Outside, the summer air hit like a soft exhale. Lo nudged me with a grin.

“Good call on the magic show, babe.”

We drifted down the strip toward the motel.

Alice

Wrecker lounged on the bed, legs crossed, watching me with that calm, confident look he always wore. I was standing in front of the mirror, tugging at the back of my dress. It was a simple dress that managed to hug my curves in the perfect way. I always called it my “not too dressy, but nice enough” dress.

“Another dress?”

I heard him drawl lazily from behind me.

“Keep your hands to yourself, mister,”

I warned, slipping on diamond earrings.

“We’ve got two minutes to meet everyone out front.”

Wrecker grunted, but he stayed planted. I slid into black flats and zipped up my clutch.

“Can you believe our vacation is almost over?”

I asked and checked my reflection.

He padded over and shrugged easily.

“Every day feels like a vacation, babe, so long as you’re around.”

His words made me smile so hard my cheeks ached.

“You’re getting sweeter in your old age.”

He tugged at his beard.

“It comes with the territory.”

He grabbed my hand. We left the room, side by side.

We’d just wrapped up our second-to-last full day in Falls City, and though our sunset dinner boat had already pulled away ( and I miscalculated the dock time), the night was still ours.

We regrouped at the Flamingo Inn lobby, each of us in fresh clothes for a proper Saturday night supper.

Adley was there sipping water.

“I live in my parents’ basement,”

she told us, “so... I don’t think I should be blowing a hundred bucks to eat steak on a boat.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Greta raised a hand.

“I don’t live in my parents’ basement,”

she said, “but I second that sentiment. I’d rather eat steak on dry land for half the cost.”

I guess they had done some investigating while Wrecker and I had been in our room. I had planned to pay for everyone’s dinner boat ticket, but I was happy not to throw down that fifteen hundred.

“Then supper club it is,”

declared.

“A round of old-fashioneds and some good food on dry land.”

We all cheered. It was exactly what we needed.

Two blocks later, we stepped into the warm glow of The Velvet Timber, our supper?club for the evening. The front fa?ade had a striped awning, a small patio with string lights, and that “supper club” charm.

Inside was classic supper club cozy: dark wood paneling, checkered tile floors, and a small band tucked by a fireplace, playing easy covers of Fleetwood Mac and Eagles songs. Their lead singer was crooning “Landslide”

just as we walked in.

They seated us at a long, rectangular table near the band. As we settled, I watched the girls in their colorful dresses and the guys in their cuts, Wrecker looking as effortlessly handsome as ever.

The waitress, Peri, came by with a soft smile and pen at the ready.

“Good evening, folks. Tonight’s specials are prime rib and scallops.”

let out a whoop that turned a few heads.

“That’ll do it! Scallops all the way!”

She wiggled her fingers for emphasis.

I closed my menu and set it down.

“I’ll have what she’s having.”

Everyone laughed.

The guys all ordered prime rib. Raven, Cyn, Reva, Wendy, and Adley split between scallops and salmon. We also decided to share three appetizers: seafood stuffed mushrooms, artichoke-spinach dip, and bacon-wrapped dates, because, of course, was insistent on trying them. We did have to order three of each appetizer to make sure there was enough for all of us.

Peri bustled away and moments later returned with a round of old-fashioneds for the table.

Adley raised her glass and inspected it.

“Why are these drinks just better in Wisconsin?”

she sighed and took a sip.

clinked her glass with Adley’s. “Amen.”

“What are the plans for tomorrow?”

Raven asked.

Cyn suggested, “We could do the wildlife park tomorrow. Hero loved it when he was little.”

Reva’s eyes lit up.

“And the deer park, too!”

“I’ll second that,”

I nodded.

“Let’s make tomorrow an animal day.”

Those suggestions thrilled both Reva, who had her own grooming business, and Greta, who was a vet tech.

Bear raised a thick brow.

“Only if she agrees not to free all the animals.”

He nodded at Greta, his tone half-amused, half-serious.

Reva laughed and twirled her straw.

“As long as the habitats are okay.”

Then the tale that apparently couldn’t help but be brought up: Greta at twelve, dragging a penguin out from the zoo in her backpack.

Adley asked, “What do you even feed a penguin?”

Greta answered earnestly, “Krill, squid, fish.”

She shrugged.

“I don’t even know what krill is,”

Raven laughed.

“It’s kind of like shrimp. The penguins love it,”

she answered swiftly.

“How were you going to feed it krill? Where do you even buy that?”

Clash asked.

Again, no hesitation from Greta.

“You can buy krill at pet stores.”

We all laughed harder.

Raven was intrigued, “What happened with the penguin? How did they catch you?”

Greta rolled her eyes.

“James Frank tattled. Wanted to keep the penguin for himself. I was on the bus, almost free, and he starts yelling he wanted one.”

Everyone bust into laughter.

“I wish I could have been there when Gwen got the phone call about there being an incident at the zoo,”

Clash sighed with laughter.

Greta sipped her drink.

“I learned then never to trust a man.”

Bear pouted mockingly. “Hey.”

She patted his cheek.

“Not you, baby. Or any of the guys at this table.”

Peri returned with the appetizers: soft mushrooms overflowing with seafood, creamy dip bubbling, and those bacon-wrapped dates.

“I dare you to try one,”

said with that devilish grin.

I hesitated. Bacon-wrapped anything was normally good, but I wasn’t sure about the date. But I’d trust .

I picked one up and smelled the salty bacon and sweet date aroma.

“I mean, it smells good.”

I bit into it. The sweet, sticky fruit that was wrapped in smoky bacon burst in my mouth. It was chewy, crunchy, salty, and sweet. My eyes closed involuntarily.

It was delicious.

grinned.

“I knew you would like it.”

I opened my eyes and popped the rest of it in my mouth.

“Yeah, that is damn good.”

Greta polished off another one with serious joy.

“You can’t go wrong with ,”

Greta said around a mouthful of dates.

“Down the hatch, Alice.”

handed me the last date. I popped it in and sighed.

“I’m never doubting you again,”

I told her.

The other appetizers disappeared quickly. It was honestly some of the best finger food I’d ever had.

Soon, entrées arrived.

The scallops were perfect, golden disks that were roasted brown on the edges, sitting on a bed of creamy lemon-butter sauce surrounded by tender asparagus spears. They smelled heavenly.

I cut a scallop—excuse me, I cut into heaven. It flaked under my fork. I tasted it. Silky, buttery, with a hint of citrus and sea. My mouth made the best inadvertent loud “mmph”

noise. I looked at . She winked and took a bite.

Raven dove into her salmon, and Bear carved into prime rib that steamed off. Wrecker cut a bite and offered me a piece. It melted in my mouth like velvet.

“This is... next level,”

I said, barely whispering because I was chewing so slowly.

Wrecker just smiled.

“It’s fucking good, babe.”

As dinner wound down, Peri returned for dessert.

Classic bread pudding with bourbon sauce, a towering chocolate mousse, and lemon cheesecake slices.

Even though we were all full, none of us said no.

Every spoonful prompted more moaning and more “God, that’s good” comments.

Finally, plates were cleared. We lingered, not wanting the night to end.

This had been one of our more chill things we had done, and it was amazing.

Another great night to add to the books.