Page 2 of Xander (Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club #2)

Nola

“Uncle Merlin! Aunt Tempie!” I screamed as I raced down the driveway, my dark brown hair in pigtails swinging back and forth.

I had on a pair of black leggings and a pretty red shirt that had ruffles.

It had been a year since I saw the two of them last.

They lived in Louisiana.

Aunt Tempie was my mom’s sister, and her old man was Merlin.

He was a member of the Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club.

I thought it was cool.

Age 7

“I’m sorry, sweetie, we won’t be able to make the drive up for your birthday.” Aunt Tempie said.

I nodded, “That’s okay. I’m sick anyway.”

And I was.

Dang summer colds.

They were the worst.

Age 9

“Go pick out a movie, sugarplum,” my momma told me.

I smiled as I raced out of the kitchen and to the living room, dropping down on my behind in front of the TV cabinet where we had movies.

Seeing the movie I wanted to watch, I grabbed it and set it on top of the DVD player.

Just as I did that, the front door opened.

I smiled.

“Hey, Daddy,” I called out.

He winked at me as he dropped his lunch box on the entryway table, came over to me to get a kiss on his cheek, and a hug from me.

I had to turn my head when my momma walked into the living room, and they kissed, along with a bootie grab from my daddy to my momma.

Still hearing them, I said, “Guys? Hello?”

They both chuckled.

Tonight was Friday night.

And on Friday nights, we ordered pizza, had popcorn, and watched movies.

It was the best.

Age 14

I stretched my back as I stood up from my chair. My last assignment before winter break was finally done.

Now it was time to hang out and rest.

Age 16

“Hey, darlin’. The club has things going on, we can’t make the trip,” Aunt Tempie said.

I nodded, “Maybe we can make the trip this year. I’ll ask Mom.”

I heard her chuckle, “You know they won’t come down here.”

“But why?” I asked.

I heard her sigh, “They don’t agree with what Merlin does, sweetie. And that’s fine.”

I shook my head, “No, it’s not fine. That’s not right. Merlin is awesome.”

I knew she had to have me on speakerphone because I heard Uncle Merlin in the background say, “And so are you, shortie.”

After we talked for a few more minutes, I hung up the phone and then went in search of my mom to ask her.

I found her in the kitchen next to the island, starting dinner.

She smiled at me, then asked, “Honey? Can you get the colander for me, please? Time to wash the potatoes.”

I nodded as I moved to get the colander.

Then I asked, “Why don’t we make the drive this year to go see Aunt Tempie and Uncle Merlin? I think it’ll be fun.”

“Your dad can’t take off work right now.” She told me.

I knew that wasn’t the case.

My dad was the vice president of his company.

He really could do anything he wanted.

Therefore, I said, “Mom, that’s not why.”

She sighed, then looked over at me and said, “The club your Uncle Merlin is in does dangerous things. And I don’t want to be around any of that.”

I lifted my brows, “What kind of dangerous things?”

She didn’t answer me, not really; she just said, “Things that you don’t need to concern yourself with. Now help me with dinner. I think we need to have loaded mashed potatoes. What do you think?”

I dropped the subject because I knew that our conversation was over and simply nodded. “That sounds good.”

Age 18

“Congratulations, sweetheart,” My Aunt Tempie said as she hugged me.

I had just graduated from high school.

They had made the trip up for the event.

My dad hugged me next, followed by mom, and then my Uncle Merlin.

We were back at our house for a little party.

I was standing outside when Uncle Merlin stepped to my side.

“Uncle Merlin?” I asked.

He winked at me and asked, “What’s up, shortie?”

“Why would mom tell me that y’all do dangerous things?” I asked.

He inhaled a breath, and then he sighed, “Your mom thinks we do dangerous things. I can’t ever tell you about the club, just know that we do the right things that others consider wrong.”

I nodded, “Like what?”

He sighed, “Let me ask you a question.”

I nodded.

“Say you had a daughter, and you walked in on a man hurting her. You didn’t mean to kill him, but it happened. Do you think you should go to prison for that?”

I shook my head, “No. I would have been protecting my daughter.”

He winked, “Get it?”

I stood there.

And thought about what he was really trying to say.

I knew my mom would have said that killing a person is wrong, no matter what happened.

As would my dad.

But for me, if you were protecting someone... then you shouldn’t be punished for doing that.

And he was saying that they weren’t afraid to punish someone.

I nodded, “Got it.”

He winked, then pressed a kiss on the top of my head.

We weren’t only celebrating my graduation from high school, but we were also celebrating my acceptance letter to a university.

Age 21

I smiled at my mom and dad as we loaded up the rest of my things from my Junior year.

I had one more year of college to go, and then I would be finished.

I couldn’t wait.

Age 22

One more semester.

I smiled as I pulled into my parents’ driveway.

Like always, my mother and father raced down the steps and threw their arms around me.

Creating one Townsend Sandwich.

I smiled as I soaked in their love.

Then they gestured for me to go inside as my dad grabbed my bags from my car.

And that was when my mom looked at her watch and gasped, “We’re running late.”

I frowned, “Running late for what?”

“Tonight is the banquet for your father’s company.” She said.

“Can I come?” I asked.

She looked at me, then asked, “Can you get ready in five minutes?”

I smiled as I nodded and raced to my room.

It took me seven minutes, but seeing my father’s smile and then my mom’s, it was worth it.

***

“Dang, but the food this time was great,” My father said as he drove us home.

My mother giggled, “Last time we got food poisoning.”

I snickered, recalling that vividly over FaceTime.

They had both been pale and green, hugging the toilet.

I had wanted to come home and help them, but at the time, they had thought it was a virus, so they told me to stay at school.

“I’m so full,” I moaned from the back seat.

And then...

Lights.

Tires.

Squeals.

And then.... nothing.

***

Blue lights.

Red lights.

People screaming.

Pain.

Burning.

Charred.

***

My senses didn’t know which way was up.

Shooting pain.

Blissful numbness.

White walls.

Beeping.

Soft smiling nurse.

***

I rocked back and forth.

Back and forth.

Hoping that I would wake up.

Unfortunately.... I didn’t.

***

I didn’t wake up.

Not when the doctors gave me a clean bill of health.

And not when I was told that the bruises would heal over time.

I had walked away from that deadly crash with bruises, cuts, and scrapes.

My parents... had not.

***

I still didn’t wake up.

Not when I laid my parents into the ground.

Not when I packed my things to head to live with my Aunt Tempie and Uncle Merlin.

Not when I drove away from seeing the sold sign on my childhood home.

***

But depending on how you looked at it... I didn’t fully wake up... until him.