Page 12 of Raven (Sinners Revenge MC- Rapid City, SD #6)

Sydney

Friday afternoon

T oday was payday and I had to figure out a way to slip away from Caleb for a while.

I had to make a payment toward my mother’s debt today and I didn’t need him to ask too many questions.

If I sent a payment every other week, I wouldn’t have to deal with Rooster and his fucked-up bunch of meth-head friends causing problems for me, or the Sinners Revenge.

Some of the parts for Roughstock’s bike arrived this morning and I was almost finished with the teardown to being the rebuild.

There wasn’t any major damage to his father’s bike, so I should be able to have it completed by the middle of next week.

I wanted to work on it tomorrow, but Caleb told everyone we had the weekend off to relax.

I didn’t want to relax. I wanted to finish the bike so I could start on another. Each new job got me one step closer to having my mother’s debt paid, and I wouldn’t slow down until that asshole was off my back.

Caleb was delivering a bike to a customer who was camping near Mount Rushmore, and I knew this was my chance to take care of business. Standing, I wiped my hands and removed my coveralls before walking across the shop to Joel.

“Joel,” I started, and he turned to see what I needed. “I’ve got to run to the store really quick, but I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.”

He stood and gave me a look before asking, “Are you okay? Do I need to send one of the guys with you?”

“No, I’ve just got to grab something, and I’ll be back,” I answered.

He seemed unsure, but reluctantly replied, “Just don’t tell Raven I let you leave without an escort.”

I rolled my eyes and responded, “I’m not a child, Joel. I don’t need an escort to grab something from the store.”

“It’s not that,” he explained. “Raven and all the Sinners want to make sure their ol’ ladies are protected, and he told me to keep an eye on you.”

I patted him on the shoulder as I replied, “I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.”

I could hear him sigh as I walked out of the shop, headed to my little pickup truck.

Caleb was still trying to get me to ride into work with him, but I liked the little bit of alone time I had during my drive every morning.

Plus, the weather was already getting chilly, and I hated the icy feel of the cold wind on my skin.

I enjoyed riding, but not when it was cold.

After getting into the truck and cranking the motor, I backed out of the space and pulled away from the shop, heading to the local money transfer location. I sent it that way, so Rooster didn’t know where I was. He seemed unpredictable, and I didn’t trust him to think I was part of the debt.

He hinted I could work the money off with him and his boys, and that statement was the catalyst for me leaving Oregon and moving to Rapid City. In a way, my mother’s last fuck up led me to the man I realized I couldn’t live without.

As I drove across town to the money transfer location I’d been using for weeks, I thought of all the long talks Caleb, and I had over the last few days.

We spent every evening until well after midnight talking about our dreams in life, our mistakes from the past, and the things we regretted.

He had said telling the bad things first was a good way to get to know each other.

I wasn’t sure at first, but those little shared admissions were cathartic, helping me shed the layers of guilt and shame I didn’t realize I was carrying around.

After pulling up and walking into the store, I quickly handed the woman behind the counter the pre-filled slip and a handful of cash I’d picked up when we cashed our checks at lunch.

She counted it and stepped to the side to enter the information into the computer.

When she handed me the confirmation number and the same pre-filled slip, I tucked them into my pocket and started to walk out.

“See you next time,” she said, and I glanced back to give her a nod.

I was almost back to my truck when I heard someone calling my name. Unsure, I carefully turned around to see Willow standing with a smaller woman covered in amazing tattoos. Willow and the woman approached with a smile.

“I thought that was you,” Willow began and turned to the other lady. “Paige, this Raven’s ol’ lady Sydney.”

“It’s nice to put a face to the name,” Paige said as she extended her hand to shake mine. I looked at my still dirty hands and was reluctant to touch her when she chuckled and said, “Sorry, my hands are covered in dirt from a dig with my students yesterday.”

I noticed she had short nails like me and there was dirt pushed into her cuticles, much like the grease in mine. I shook her hand as Willow spoke.

“Paige is a geology professor at the mining college.”

I smiled, stating, “That sounds like a fun career.”

Paige shrugged and replied, “It pays the bills. I hear you’re an amazing mechanic. I’d love to be able to fix things without having to get Animal to help.”

“You’re Animal’s ol’ lady?” I asked, still trying to put the couples together.

“Yep. He’s my ol’ man,” he giggled then asked, “Are you coming to the clubhouse tonight? We’ve all been eager to get to know you.”

I nodded and replied, “We finish up around six then Caleb said we were driving out to the Sin Den for the evening.”

Paige slapped her hands and gave a little squeal. “I can’t wait. The only one not coming is Laura. She’s less than a month away from delivering and Phantom doesn’t want her around the smoke or loud music.”

Willow looked behind me and asked, “What are you doing on this side of town?”

“I had an errand to run, but I need to get back to the shop to finish for the day,” I replied, hoping they didn’t ask why I was specifically in front of a money transfer service.

“We won’t keep you, but we’ll see you tonight,” Willow answered, and I stepped around them and walked directly to my truck.

Waving from the sidewalk where they still stood, I returned the gesture and got into the truck, quickly cranking it and pulling away from the parking space. I needed to get back from the shop before Caleb got back from his delivery, and I just hoped the ladies didn’t tell him where they saw me.

The last thing I needed was for him to start asking questions about the debt before it was paid off. Something told me that Caleb wouldn’t like that I was dealing with someone like Rooster and his nasty friends. And the last thing I wanted was to him to think I needed him to save me.

I could save myself.

Returning to the shop, I saw Caleb’s truck and trailer weren’t in the lot and I exhaled the worry I was holding deep inside.

After parking my truck, I walked back inside and put my coveralls back on, getting back to work on Nitro’s bike.

I didn’t realize how deep into my work I was until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Shocked, I dropped the bolt in my hands as I spun around, shrieking as I grabbed my chest before I saw it was Caleb. He raised his hands and smiled as I leaned over, fighting the tremble that was building deep inside.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he began as I grabbed the dropped bolt and stood back straight. “Are you about finished for the day?”

I placed the bolt onto my workbench and glanced at the bike in front of me. I’d like to do some more tonight, but knew the day was winding down.

“I need about ten more minutes to get this new mount installed then I can wash up before we go. Is that okay?”

Caleb leaned over and kissed me softly before he answered, “That’s fine, beautiful. I’ve got to get the deposit ready to drop at the bank on the way to the clubhouse, so take your time. I’ll find you when I’m done.”

“Okay,” I responded and watched as he turned and walked away.

He paused at Joel, and I worried he was about to tell Caleb about me leaving.

Not that I had to justify myself to anyone.

I just didn’t want to get into everything with him today.

Soon, but not today. Caleb clapped Joel on the shoulder and continued his walk to the front office.

I shook my head, hating that I was keeping this truth about myself from him, but worried how he would react.

Turning back to the bike, I grabbed the bolt and began to position the mount inside the frame. Looking through the open frame, I saw Joel approach.

“I didn’t tell him, but whatever you’re keeping from him, just know that all our secrets come to light eventually.”

I looked up and gave him a confused look, asking, “What are you talking about?”

He shook his head and started to walk away. When he was ten feet from me, he glanced over his shoulder and said, “Whatever you’re hiding will come out. Save yourself the trouble and tell him.”

Without another word, he walked to his workstation, turned off the radio and his light, and exited the shop, leaving me alone in the large building.

I knew Caleb was just in the office, but it was suddenly a little scary.

I made quick work of the mount before standing and beginning my end of day routine.

I put away all my tools after wiping them down, I secured the rolling cart with the new parts for Nitro’s bike, and I removed my coveralls and balled them up so I could wash them tomorrow.

I started wiping my hands when I heard Caleb closing the office door and his heavy boots walking across the silent shop.

Moving to the small sink near my workstation, I began to wash my hands, paying close attention to getting the grease and dirt from under my nails. When my hands were as clean as I could get them, I turned and saw Caleb leaning against his workstation, reading something on his phone.

I approached and he lifted his eyes to me, smiling as I got closer.

“You ready to go?” he asked.

“Let’s do it,” I responded, hoping to sound eager, instead of worried.

He closed and secured the shop while I stowed my dirty coveralls in my truck.

Turning, I joined him, before I climbed onto the bike behind him as he cranked the motor.

He pulled out of the gate and closed it behind us, securing it closed with a giant chain and padlock.

The short drive to the bank was over quickly and after dropping the money into the night drop box, he pulled away, turning toward the Sin Den, and maybe, my reckoning.

The closer we got, the more Joel’s words echoed in my head. I needed to tell Caleb, but only if he promised to let me handle things. My problems weren’t his, but something told me he would want to take care of them.

During my conversations with Willow and Cheyenne the other night, I learned how treasured the ol’ ladies of the Sinners Revenge were, and it was foreign to hear their praises.

The Flying Dutchmen MC, Uncle Billy’s club, were scoundrels who loved to mess around with club girls, they weren’t shy about fighting, fucking, and all other manners of hell.

Cheyenne said it gets rowdy at the Sin Den, but they had rules about what occurred within the walls of the clubhouse. She didn’t get into many details, but I surmised that club girls didn’t cross lines with the Sinners, and she stated the only things served are alcohol and weed.

I was lost in thought when I felt Caleb slowing the bike down and pulling into the gravel lot of the Sin Den.

There were about twenty bikes parked outside and as we pulled around the back, I saw another four parked.

He maneuvered the bike before walking it back in line with the other beautiful machines.

Killing the engine, the peaceful South Dakota night came into focus.

The only sounds this far out were the faint sounds of music and laughter coming from inside the building. Caleb placed his hand onto my knee and leaned back, turning his head to glance at me. I pecked him on the lips, and he sat up before swinging his leg over the seat and standing beside the bike,

“Are you ready to meet the rest of my brothers?” he inquired as he extended his hand to me.

Placing mine against his, I stood on the pegs and swung my leg over, getting my feet stable on the loose gravel. Looking over at the clubhouse, I answered honestly, “I’m nervous but ready.”

I went to walk, and he tugged my hand, pulling me back. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he drew me against his hard body and leaned over, kissing me until we were both fighting for breath. Briefly, I closed my eyes and when I reopened them, he was pulling back with a sexy smile on his face.

We stared into each other’s eyes, and the need was evident between us. The sound of a motorcycle approaching drew his attention and with reluctance, he released me and retook my hand.

As we began to walk to the back door, he spoke quietly to me. “There’s no reason to be nervous, darlin’. My brothers are all good men who will protect you the same as I would. You’re mine now, and you’ll never be alone again.”

That sounded nice in theory, but what would happen when he got tired of me?

I didn’t want to let those thoughts creep into my head, so I pushed a smile onto my face and followed him up the stairs.

He opened the door, and I slipped under his arm, keeping his hand in mine.

The smell of cigarettes, weed, and beer filled the loud hallway as he tugged my hand, guiding me deeper into the Sin Den.

A chorus of greetings filled the room as Caleb, and I walked inside. Cheyenne, Willow, and Paige stood from a large table near the side of the room, waving us over with smiles on their faces. He clapped hands or bumped fists with a few brothers as we wove our way through the roomful of bikers.

I was pulled into hugs by Cheyenne and Willow, and oddly, Paige extended her hand and introduced herself.

“We haven’t met yet, but I’m Paige, Animal’s ol’ lady.”

Smiling, I returned the gesture and greeting. Next, I met Jackie, Phantom’s ol’ lady, and Claire, Comet’s ol’ lady. Caleb pulled a chair out for me, then he took the one beside me as a young-looking guy walked up and took everyone’s drink orders.

The smiles and laughter around the table were welcoming, and as I settled in with my soda, I realized something profound.

I was trying to hide a part of me from Caleb while he was opening his life to me. I owed him the same respect, and I vowed that tomorrow I would tell him about Rooster and my debt.

And I was going to let the chips fall where they may.