Page 12

Whizz arrived at the beach a little after one. Lacey climbed off the bike, handing him the helmet. He watched her as she took in the scene around them. The beach was filled with lots of people soaking up the last of the sunshine before fall truly hit. It wouldn’t be long for Christmas to be upon them and then all chance of sunshine would be lost. Fort Wills often got a lot of snow, making it impossible to drive anywhere.

“Wow, this is beautiful.”

Over the horizon he saw the ocean. A couple of ships were out at sea, but the sun shining down created a beautiful, picturesque view. Whizz was more interested in the woman staring out at the view. Lacey looked like she’d never seen a beach or ocean before, and he asked her if she had.

“I’ve seen one. I’ve just never gotten the chance to enjoy the view before. It’s beautiful. Breathtaking.”

“Come on. Let’s go and join in with the crowd.” He left his bike and took her hand.

On their way down to the beach his cell phone started to ring.

“I can’t go anywhere,” he said.

Lacey started chuckling.

Answering the call, he saw Killer was calling him.

“You went to the beach and didn’t even think to invite us?” Killer asked.

Whizz started to laugh.

“Why would I invite you? Your woman’s sick.”

“She’s got a stomach bug. It would be better than being here.”

“Why?”

Lacey slowed down, and they took their time getting mixed in with everyone. He was aware of some of the men staring at her. She was a striking beauty with her blue hair and body covered with ink. When she was naked she was even more tempting. None of these men would ever know how truly beautiful she was. He didn’t like anyone looking at his woman.

“Ned and Tiny have started shouting and not stopped. It’s fucking insane.”

“Do you know why he brought a couple of fighters?” Whizz’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Yeah, you should see them. They actually look like mutants or something. They’re large, strong, and deadly. They’re three of his prized fighters.”

“I don’t need you to tell me that you fancy them, Killer. Why are they here?”

“Bite me. Ned wants Eva to keep them around as an extra layer of protection. He’s let Tiny know he doesn’t trust him or the club. His little girl was never in danger when she was in Vegas, and there were a lot more threats when she lived at home. It’s more a pissing contest between the two men. Ned’s fucking scary for an old dude.”

“I doubt that went well with Tiny.” Ned was an old man, but he’d kept in shape and was still a deadly fucker. No one should underestimate him.

“Eva called Alex. We’re waiting for him to make a stop to try to talk to one or the other. They’re both too hard-headed to let the other one have space. Eva’s ready to snap.”

“Thank you for giving me a heads-up.” Whizz stopped outside of a shop. Lacey didn’t question him. She rested against the wall that separated the footpath from the beach.

“No problem. When are you due home?”

“We’ll be home in a day or so. I just want to spend some time away from the club with my woman.”

“You’re claiming her?” Killer asked.

“Yeah. She’s the one for me.”

Lacey’s face heated under his assessment. He wanted her naked with no fear of the club interrupting with their time.

“I’m happy for you, man. I’ll leave you to it.”

He hung up, leading the way into the shop.

“Do I want to know what’s going on?”

“Ned wants to leave three fighters for Eva’s protection.”

“Is Tiny happy with that?”

“No. He doesn’t want anyone who’s not part of the club there protecting his woman. Tiny can do a lot of shit, and say a lot of shit, but he loves that woman more than he loves everything else.” Whizz picked up a blanket and a couple extra towels. When he passed a stand, he grabbed the sunscreen, and bottles of water.

“I feel bad for you paying for everything.”

“Don’t.” He liked her depending on him for everything.

Once outside, they made their way close to the sea. There was a small section of beach that had a space for them. He placed the blanket on the sand as Lacey removed his jacket, taking a seat.

“It’s so warm.”

She pulled her knees tight up against her chest as he took a seat beside her. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. She was so beautiful.

You’re going to marry her.

When they got home he’d start looking for a place for them to share. After they were settled he’d start to look at adopting. He never thought about children. Sure, he loved the kids his brothers had back at the club but never for himself.

“Tell me about yourself, Whizz,” she said, lying back. No one invaded their space. The noise of laughing adults and children filled his senses. Dogs barked in the distance, as the ocean swished about. The sounds were peaceful to him.

“What do you want to know?”

“Your life before the club and bikes? What was it like?”

He picked up a strand of her hair, twirling it through his fingers.

“You want to talk about my past.”

“You know my past, my family. I know nothing else about you. Were you normal? Human? Machine?”

He laughed at her teasing.

“I was normal. I had a family.” Whizz stopped thinking about his life before it all changed.

“I was the oldest son. I had a younger brother. My mom and dad were the kind of couple you adored. She was always in the kitchen baking.” Whizz hadn’t thought about his family for such a long time.

“She didn’t like buying pre-packed stuff that she could make herself. In her home the bread on offer was baked by herself. Biscuits, cakes, everything that was sweet she made. When we went out she’d make everything. My dad was on Wall Street. He was good with figures and shit, made a lot of money, but it never got to him.” He frowned, staring past her shoulder to the family lying a few feet away. The dad was ticking his son as the dog barked around them.

“He didn’t let the money or the business go to his head. Mom was a stay at home mom. She was there for everything, awards, football games. You think it, and she was there. We were happy.”

“Wow, it seems strange for you to have actually experienced a happy life.”

With every story it didn’t end there.

“What happened, Whizz? If your family was so perfect, what happened?”

“I was eighteen when the cops came. Mom and Dad had gone into the city with my brother for his birthday. I had to study. I wanted to go with them, but I wasn’t allowed to. I had studying to do for a damn math exam the next day.” Whizz stared into her green eyes, losing himself in their color.

“Mom told me to get an A and she’d make it up to me. I remember her kissing my head, my dad ruffling my hair on the way out. I fist bumped with my brother, and they were gone. They didn’t come home.”

“Why?” Lacey’s eyes were watery. He leaned forward, kissing each of her eyes in turn.

“You don’t need to cry for me.”

“Yes, I do. Why did they die?”

“A drunk driver in a truck. He fell asleep at the wheel at the same time my parents’ car was coming toward him. They were killed instantly.”

“How do you know?”

“I didn’t trust the cops. I hacked into the CCTV around that area and watched it happen. I’d always been a computer buff, still am. I’ve been working with computers all my life. I love them.”

“They tell the truth,” she said.

“Yeah, they tell the truth.”

“What did you do?”

“Dad made sure everything was taken care of. I sold the house when I was twenty-one. I went to college. I’ve got a degree in business and technology. When I passed, I got into bikes, somehow stumbled upon The Lions. The rest is it. You know the rest.”

“You’ve not had an easy life.”

“No one has an easy life, Lacey. You’ve not had an easy one, and neither have I. Shit happens.”

“Do you miss them?” she asked.

“Sometimes. I miss how easy life seemed to be then. They made all the decisions, and I just went with whatever they wanted.” Whizz hadn’t given them much of a thought in the last few years.

“What was your brother’s name?” she asked.

“Billy. He hated the name, but Mom and Dad loved it.”

“Billy and Adam?”

“Yep.” He smiled at his name.

“I think I like Whizz a little more.”

He released the strand of hair and moved to sink his fingers into the full length of her hair.

“Kiss me,” he said.

Whizz pulled her close until he hovered above her lips. He wanted to taste her, to touch her and know they were both alive to tell the tale. She opened up to his invading tongue, and he dived in.

He swallowed down her moans, relishing every sensation she inspired.

When he pulled away, he rested his head against hers.

“Come on, let’s go for a swim.”

“I’ve got no swimsuit,” she said.

“So? I’ll buy you an extra pair of clothes.” He grabbed her hand.

“Come on, Lacey. This was supposed to be about fun, not sadness.”

****

“Hold on.” Lacey bent down to untie her laces, kicking off her shoes. Whizz did the same. His story had been a sad one. She couldn’t imagine a boy who looked like Whizz being given the news. He was a strong man who kept a great deal locked up inside.

When she finished with her shoes, she ran down with him to the sea. The moment she hit the water, Lacey screamed. The water was cold.

Whizz was right behind her.

“No, you don’t.”

He started to push her further into the water.

She screamed, laughing as she tried to fight him. At one point she managed to break free of his hold but not for long as Whizz caught her up against him.

“You’re not going anywhere.” He lifted her up in his arms and started walking further out to the ocean.

“No, Whizz, no.” She tried to pull out of his arms.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Don’t you dare, Whizz. I swear if I go into that water you’re going to regret it.” Not long after she spoke the words he dropped her in the ocean.

Lacey didn’t let him get away. She grabbed onto his legs and pulled him under with her.

Together they broke the surface, laughing. His face changed with the happiness. There was no darkness reflected in his eyes. He looked so happy. This was what she wanted to do for him, to help him find that glow for life. He made her feel exactly the same, and she didn’t want to lose that.

Flicking water at his face, she pushed her hair off her face.

“I’m so not happy with you right now.” She tried to glare but failed as he caught her close.

“I can make you happy with me,” he said.

“No, you can’t.” Again, she went to glare at him. One of his hands moved between her thighs, stroking her through her trousers.

“That’s cheating,” she said, gasping.

He shook his head.

“It’s not cheating. I’m using all the tools at my disposal to get what I want. What I want is you, Lacey.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts to his hard chest.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“I’m right where I want to be.”

Lacey wouldn’t let any of the memories or guilt invade their moment. When she was with Whizz, he made her want to be a better person.

“I love you,” she said, whispering the words against his lips.

“You’re the first man I’ve ever said that to.”

“Funny, you’re the first woman I’ve said that to.”

“We broke each other’s love cherry.” She nipped at his lip, not wanting this moment to end.

“It’s a good job I left the phone back on the beach.”

His change in conversation made her laugh. She flung her head back, chuckling.

“You’re completely insane, Whizz.

He took possession of her lips once again making her moan.

“Eww, they’re kissing, Daddy.”

A young girl with her father passed them by. They were paddling on a surf board together.

“Honey, leave them.”

“Sorry,” Lacey said, burying her head against Whizz’s neck.

“It’s all right. Sorry about my daughter.”

They passed, and when they were far enough away Lacey groaned.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” she said.

“It happened.” He kept kissing her.

Together they stayed in the water for a good twenty or thirty minutes. Lacey didn’t care how long they were in the water. She loved every second of her time with Whizz. He knew how to have fun. They walked out of the ocean, completely soaked through. She collapsed onto the blanket, groaning as Whizz’s cell phone went off.

She handed it to him, staring up as he looked at the screen.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing. It’s just the club. They can’t seem to handle me being away.”

Lacey smiled.

“You’re the whizz of the club. Tiny probably wants you to find something to dig on Ned.”

He collapsed beside her, pulling her in close.

“The club can wait.”

Whizz held the phone up for her to see. He switched it off, disconnecting them from Fort Wills. They were finally alone.

The time at the beach went by so fast. Lacey loved every second. After they took a little breather on the sand, they went back into the ocean for a swim. At some point Whizz was pulled into a game of ball where they hit a ball over the net. She sat and watched him, cheering him on when he beat the other team.

When he joined her back at their pitch, he groaned.

“I’m starving.”

“Thank God. I thought it was only me,” she said, laughing.

“I’m starving, Whizz.”

“Come on. Let’s go and get something to eat.”

They packed up their blankets, carrying them under their arms.

“Did you have fun today?” he asked.

She linked her arm with his.

“You’ve got no idea how much fun I had. I didn’t want it to end.”

“It’s not going to end. We’re not driving back tonight.”

They found a burger place and entered the shop. Lacey took the booth in the back corner. She picked up the menu as Whizz took a seat.

Her clothing was dry. She’d spent most of the afternoon lying on the sand, waiting for her clothes to dry.

“Are you sure you don’t want to get back in touch with home?” Lacey asked.

He shook his head.

“No. Everything going on in Fort Wills can stay there for forty-eight hours. I’ve not done something like this in years. It’s time for us to live a little, Lacey.”

She smiled, glancing over the food.

“You’re going to think I’m a right pig.”

“No, I’ll order double of whatever you order. I can’t have my woman feeling like a pig.”

****

Alex cursed, closing his phone. Whizz had turned his phone off on purpose. He glanced across the room at Cheryl, the mother of his child.

“Where’s Michael?” he asked.

“He’s with Eva back at the club.”

Sunshine would be back soon. He’d been hoping for a peaceful Sunday to get his thoughts together.

“You want me to talk to Tiny about giving Butch a second chance.”

“Yes.” She was fiddling with her hands. He hated women who fiddled with their hands. Alex had been a complete ass to Cheryl. The attraction he’d once felt for her had long gone. She’d been a nice distraction. The only good thing to come from the weekend they spent together was Michael. His son brought a whole load of complications of his own.

“No. I’m not going to do it. You’ve got to be insane to think that.”

“Butch did everything you asked him to.”

“I didn’t once tell him to go to the Savage Brothers and betray our club. The Skulls was his club, not them.”

“I get that, and he paid that fucking price, Alex. I understand your anger, I really do. I was angry when he told me about it, but he also gave you their location when he didn’t need to. Butch gave you that location knowing that you could have still killed him once he had. He didn’t put the women in any danger. That was all on me. He made sure you killed them all but one. Butch held his end of the bargain. Do not bring this back to him. You were the one to put him at risk in the first place.”

He shook his head.

“Butch knew what he was getting into when I asked. You can’t know what shit he was getting into.”

Alex saw her eyes were filled with tears.

“You’re not going to help him?”

“No. I’m not going to convince Tiny to bring him back into the club. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Cheryl nodded. She took a step back.

“You better make the most of being with Michael.”

Alex froze. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“You can’t take my son from me.” He took a step toward her.

“I won’t be taking him away from you. You will. If Butch can’t be part of The Skulls, there’s no reason for us to stay in Fort Wills. We’re looking at homes out of town. Maybe a fresh start would be for the best.”

She turned her back on him. There was no way Alex was going to let her leave with his son.

“I’ll fight you for my son, Cheryl. You’ve got no chance of winning.”

Cheryl turned to face him.

“I’ve got every chance of winning. You can fight all you want, Alex. You’ve got the money, the reputation, the credit that is due a man of your stature, but you don’t have something that Butch and I have.”

“What is that?” he asked, calling her bluff.

“Michael’s love.”

Her words were like a gunshot wound. They hit hard, and direct.

“I can win.”

“Go ahead, Alex. When a judge asks our son who he’d rather be with and he says his mother and stepfather, no judge would ever give him to you, and if he did, Michael would hate you.” She shrugged.

“Butch doesn’t deserve to be cast aside. Make sure he isn’t and we’ll stay in Fort Wills. I’m make sure Michael forgives you.”

He stared at her for several seconds.

“Tiny got it wrong. You would be much better in the role of leading the club. You’re a manipulative bitch.”

“No, I’m not, Alex. What I am is a mother and wife, prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure her man is cared for. Butch and Michael mean everything to me. I’d never do anything to put them in danger. You’re nothing. You were a sperm donor. I’m not bluffing, Alex. Don’t ever think you can fuck me over.”

She turned on her heel and left him alone. He couldn’t chase after her or demand that she come back. Cheryl had the last word all the way.

His cell phone went off. Hoping it was Whizz, he answered without looking at the screen.

“Hello,” Alex said.

“You better get your ass down to the clubhouse before I kill my motherfucking father-in-law,” Tiny said.

“I’m coming.”

This was what his life had turned into. He’d become a referee.