Page 19 of Alice & Meg: Summer Vacation (Fallen Lords MC & Devil’s Knights MC Crossover)

We stepped out of the restaurant, full of delicious food and tasty drinks.

My stomach was stretched to its limits, and walking the two blocks back to the motel sounded like a good way to make a little room.

The cool night air hit us as soon as the door swung shut behind our group, and I breathed a little easier as the pressure in my gut had some room to settle with every step.

Everyone was chatty.

Wrecker and Alice were ahead of us with their fingers laced together, while Reva and Hero trailed behind, talking to each other.

Lo was next to me with his pinkie hooked with mine.

It was a soft, familiar gesture that always made me swoon. The sidewalk lights cast long shadows behind us, and the hum of the town at night buzzed low.

“That might have been the best scallops I’ve ever had,”

I admitted, patting my stomach.

“You said that the last time you had scallops,”

Lo replied.

“Yeah, and I meant it then, too. They just keep getting better.”

Alice laughed up ahead.

“I’m just glad we skipped the boat. We couldn’t have stuffed ourselves full and then walked back to the motel on water.”

“Plus,”

Adley piped up, “I’m not exactly rolling in cash right now. That meal tonight was worth every penny and only cost half of what that boat ride would have.”

We all murmured in agreement. The supper club had been a win.

As we stepped into the parking lot of the Flamingo Inn, headlights flared behind us, high and blinding. Everyone flinched and turned to look at the car.

“Yo,”

Bear called, waving a hand.

“Go around us.”

The car didn’t move.

“What the hell?”

Alice muttered. Her tone switched from relaxed to wary.

Four motorcycles rolled in behind the car, their engines low and throaty. Tension snapped like a rubber band stretched too far.

The guys immediately moved in front of us, like instinct. Slayer stepped in front of Adley and Wendy. Lo was in front of me without hesitation.

“What the hell do you want?”

he called out.

The headlights on the car flicked off, and a door opened. A guy stepped out. One by one, the bikers parked and dismounted. They approached with that overconfident swagger that usually spelled trouble.

“Hey, there you guys are,”

one of them called as if they were friendly.

I squinted, trying to place any of them. Nothing. Not a single familiar face in the bunch. We were just trying to enjoy our second-to-last night of vacation. This? This was not part of the plan.

“There you are,”

Wrecker parroted, crossing his arms.

“But I’m pretty sure I don’t give a damn.”

The guy from the car snapped.

“You’re gonna get your fucking asses beat!”

“E, chill,”

another guy barked.

They formed a sloppy line about ten feet away. Still, none of them looked remotely familiar.

“We don’t know what you want, but I’m pretty sure you’re barking up the wrong tree,”

Wrecker said.

“Get back on your bikes and leave.”

The ringleader shook his head.

“Yeah, not sure we can do that yet.”

“Then tell us what the fuck you want,”

Clash growled.

The leader stepped forward.

“Heard you had a run-in with some of my guys the other day.”

That’s when it clicked.

“Lo,”

I whispered. “April.”

He gave me a tight nod.

“I know, babe.”

“We took care of that,”

Lo called.

“There isn’t anything else to discuss.”

The guy rubbed the back of his neck.

“Really? You think that was handled?”

“Yeah,”

Wrecker said, stepping forward.

“Your guy mistreated his woman, and we showed him what happens when you do that.”

“You didn’t need to step in,”

he snapped.

Lo’s voice darkened.

“We don’t owe you an explanation. You’re a riding club on crotch rockets and Hondas. Do you even know who the fuck you’re talking to?”

Lo motioned to Rigid to turn around. Clash followed suit. The backs of their cuts gleamed under the motel parking lot lights.

“Heard of us?”

Wrecker asked.

The leader visibly gulped.

“Yeah,”

Slayer said with a low laugh.

“I think they just figured it out.”

“You came on our turf,”

the guy tried.

“We’re on vacation, asshole,”

Lo replied.

“Your buddies acted up. We handled it. You should be thanking us for setting them straight.”

Lo and Wrecker stepped forward again. The tough guy facade cracked. You could see the hesitation. The sweat. The nervous glances.

Rigid stepped in front of me. Clash moved Alice behind him. The guys weren’t taking chances.

“How about we tell you who we are?”

Lo suggested.

“Then you can decide how the rest of this conversation is going to go.”

Wrecker jabbed a finger in Lo’s direction.

“This guy? Closely tied to the Banachi. As in blood ties.”

The guy blinked. “Banachi?”

Lo nodded.

“For the past twenty-odd years.”

“Next,”

Wrecker said, but the guy cut him off, hands raised.

“No, no. I don’t need to know what’s next.”

He whirled on E.

“Fucking apologize.”

Elooked ready to argue.

“Do it,”

the leader growled.

“Sorry,”

E grunted.

Wrecker cupped a hand around his ear.

“What was that?”

“I said sorry!” E barked.

Lo pulled out his phone.

“Let me just give Leo a call.”

“No!”

E shouted.

“I’m sorry! I never should have shouted at April!”

Lo smirked. I knew that smirk. Smug, lethal, and beautiful all at once.

Wrecker looked to Lo.

“That good enough for you?”

Lo shrugged.

“If he promises to never speak to April again. You go after her because you’re mad at us, and we’ll make sure you regret ever being born.”

The leader raised his hands.

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”

The leader motioned for everyone to leave. E looked like he wanted to argue again.

“Ernie!”

the leader barked.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

“Ernie?”

Alice giggled next to me.

Ernie growled and stomped back to the car. He started it, slammed it into reverse, and almost clipped one of the bikes.

“What the fuck, Ernie?! I’m gonna kick your ass myself!”

the leader shouted.

They finally all cleared out, Ernie’s taillights disappearing first.

“Ernie?”

Greta said, her voice laced with amusement.

The whole group erupted in laughter.

“I truly now see the appeal of having a road name,”

Adley giggled.

“Pretty sure if that was my name, I’d never tell anyone.”

Lo returned to my side and slipped his arm around me.

“You okay?”

he murmured.

I nodded.

“Been through worse than Ernie on a power trip.”

He pressed a kiss to the side of my head.

“Yeah, we really have.”

“Did that really just happen?”

Greta asked.

“What did they think was gonna happen? That you were gonna beat his ass again?”

“Dumbass thought adding a few more friends would change the outcome,”

Bear snorted.

“Not happening.”

Alice stifled a yawn.

“I should be jazzed after that, but all I want to do is go to bed.”

“Same,”

Cyn agreed.

Everyone murmured in agreement. We headed to our rooms.

Back in ours, I kicked off my shoes by the door. Lo locked up and peeked out the window.

“You think they’ll come back?” I asked.

He shut the curtains.

“No. Pretty sure they were about to piss themselves when I mentioned Leo.”

I laughed.

“He does have a reputation.”

Lo tugged off his cut.

“I hate using that connection, but I wasn’t in the mood to mess around.”

I walked into him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“I appreciate it. And I’m sure if Fayth had been here, she would’ve done the same thing.”

He chuckled.

“Yeah, she would have.”

We changed for bed. I pulled on my purple muumuu, climbed into bed, and exhaled deeply. Lo turned off the lights and slid in beside me.

“One more full day,”

I said, barely suppressing a yawn.

“Yup. Let’s hope it’s not as eventful as tonight.”

I snuggled in.

“Let’s hope not.”