Rock Page 4
She examines my eye with a light and has me follow small commands.
“It feels bruised mainly,” I say.
“Yeah, you bruised the eye socket. How’s your vision?”
“It’s better, actually, blurry but better.”
“Okay, good. I don’t think you did anything permanent, but I think you caused some trauma and you will be bruised. I’m going to put a small splint up near the bridge of your nose for support and to help with the nosebleed.”
She gets to work and places a splint on my nose.
“Thank you.”
“You’re all done. Make sure you ice and take it easy. If you have any problems, please come back to see me or have Rock contact me.” She gives Rock a hug and walks out.
“Oh jeez, I hope Liz and Buzz didn’t wait.”
“Don’t worry about them, you’re the one who got into a fight with a figurine.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t win that fight.”
We walk towards the hospital entrance. I see Buzz and Liz cuddling on a waiting room couch. As soon as they see me, they get up.
“Hey, girl, how are you doing?”
“I’m alright, the pressure in my nose is gone and I can see better out of my eye.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“You guys didn’t have to stay, you know.”
“We wanted to make sure you were alright, plus we have the car.” Oh shit, I forgot.
“Oh jeez, I’m sorry, I’m sure you guys have better things to do that be stuck in an ER. I could’ve gotten an Uber or something now that I think about it.” Shit, I don’t know why I didn’t think about that.
“Don’t worry about it, it gave us some time to relax a little.”
Buzz has his arm around Liz. I feel envious of the love they have for one another.
“You ready to go?” Buzz says.
“Yes, very ready to be home.”
We walk outside and head to the car. The drive to my house feels super long. Rock follows behind on his bike. I can hear it.
Once we arrive, Rock is there to help me out and into the house. Buzz and Liz take off once I’m safe inside.
“Do you need anything?” Rock asks me.
“No, you’ve already done enough. Thank you. I don’t know how I can repay you,” I say with my head leaning back.
“Emma, you don’t have to repay me for being a decent human being. I like helping you out.”
I lift my head to look at him, confused.
“I’m not used to people helping me and doing things for me without wanting something in return. It makes me unsettled and uneasy,” I tell him truthfully.
“Well, with me, if you ever need anything, just ask.” He looks me dead in the eyes.
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Do you need anything before I leave?” he asks.
“I’m fine. Thank you, really, for everything,” I say as I grab his hand. I don’t know why he’s being so nice and helpful. I barely know him.
“I sent you a text with my cellphone number just in case.”
I hear the front door click shut. Wait, did I hear him right that he said he texted me? I don’t get how he could since I never gave him my number. He put his in my cell, but I never used it.
I go to my kitchen and grab a bag of peas to set on my face. I just need to remember that he’s just being nice. Someone like him wouldn’t go for someone like me romantically, right?
One and a half weeks later…
My house is mostly done, and I finally started to look for a job. I didn’t want to start work immediately, but I need to do something. The bills aren’t going to pay for themselves.
I’m about to pull open my computer to check on my online profile when I get a phone call.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Emma, this is James.”
“James who?”
“James, the man you gave a ride to the other day.” Oh.
“Hi, James. I’m sorry, I don’t get a lot of calls these days. How are you?”
“I’m doing alright, my dear. I actually wanted to know if you would be able to meet me for lunch soon. I came across your resume on a job-hunting website. I think I might have a position for you.” Oh my gosh, this is great, and it’s in town.
“Sure, of course. When would you like to meet?”
“How about tomorrow afternoon around 4 p.m.? You can meet me and my partner for an early dinner. You remember, next to Liz’s bakery.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll be there. Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“I will see you tomorrow, my dear.” He hangs up the phone.
Did that really just happen? I can’t believe I have a job interview tomorrow. At least, I think it’s a job interview. This is exciting. I start doing some research on his firm.
After about fifteen minutes of research, I realize they delve into all types of law. James specifically deals with contracts, real estate, and even some criminal law. That’s an unusual combination. I delved into different types of law in the military such as contracts and criminal law. I helped people understand different types of contracts they were signing and disclosures, and I would also write contracts. A large portion of my career was also criminal justice and foreign relations. I wonder why they would want to bring on another attorney; it seems like they have a full house.
I head to my closet to try and figure out what I’m going to wear. I realize that I don’t have any interview clothes, shit. There aren’t many stores in town that carry my size and that have formal business clothing. What am I going to do?
I grab my cellphone and dial Liz. She and I have become good friends since I came into town.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” She is giggling on the phone with what I think is Buzz.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I have an interview tomorrow and have a fashion emergency. I don’t have any interview clothes.”
“You’re not bothering, we are just cleaning up here at the bakery. What time is the interview tomorrow?” she asks.
“4 p.m. Shit. What am I going to do?”
“Don’t freak out, we can run into the city to get you something bright and early. I can get the girls together and we can take a trip out there. You can meet some of my good friends.”
“You really don’t have to do that. I know you are all busy.” I don’t even know what girls she’s talking about.
“Please, we are always looking for an excuse to go shopping.”
I guess it won’t be that bad to meet some new friends.
“Okay. I’ll be ready whenever you say.”
“How about we pick you up around seven? It takes a little over an hour to get to the city, and that way we will have time to shop and get you ready.”
“That sounds perfect to me. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early.”
“See ya tomorrow. I’m so excited for a girls’ shopping trip.”
“Thanks, Liz.”
“No problem, girly, that’s what friends are for.”
We both hang up the phone.
I head back to my bedroom and get ready for bed and my day tomorrow. I have my resume printed out for when I get back.
Next morning…
I’ve already gone out for my run, showered, eaten breakfast, and dressed for my day shopping. I’m now just waiting on Liz and her friends to get here. It’s almost 7 a.m.
I’m just getting out of the bathroom when the doorbell rings.
“Coming.” I grab my cellphone and take a peek at who is at the door. It’s a guy I’ve never seen him before. “Who is it?” I yell through the door.
“My name’s Joey, ma’am. I’m a prospect for the Corrupted Saints. I was sent to pick you up for a trip with the old ladies.”
My phone buzzes. I answer it. “Hello.”
“Emma, it’s Liz. Joey is heading over to pick you up, he’s our escort for the day.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know who you were. Liz didn’t tell me ahead of time, but she just called me. Where is everyone?”
“They’re waiting on Pres’s old lady back at the clubhouse.”
“Oh, ok. Let me grab my purse, I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, ma’am.” He’s so polite.
I run to my kitchen and grab my purse, cell phone, and keys.
“Alright, I’m ready.” I lock the door behind me and head towards the black SUV. Joey opens the door for me. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.”
“Oh, please stop with the ma’am, it makes me feel like I’m back in the military.”
“You served?”
“Yeah, I was discharged not too long ago. Did you?”
“I sure did, I was an Army Ranger for ten years.”
“Why did you leave?”
“I was injured and medically discharged.”
“Really? But you’re here with the bikers?”
“I’m a prospect, ma’am. I can only wish to be a part of the Corrupted Saints. They are good guys, always helping people out and making sure the town is taken care of. They’re the brotherhood I’ve missed since I left the Army.” He’s right, there is a brotherhood, a sense of someone always there for you when you are in the military.
“What does being a prospect mean?” I ask.
“I basically am trying to become a full-fledged member. I have to prove myself trustworthy, reliable, and worthy of the Corrupted Saint’s patch.”
“So, when you are a member, does that mean you become a president or something? Everyone keeps mentioning President’s old lady.”
“No way, ma’am.”
“Call me Emma, please.”
“Emma, there is a group of leadership in the club. The club president is Breaker, VP is Tank, Sergeant at Arms is Buzz, Secretary/Road Captain is Winger, and Treasurer and resident techy numbers man is Rock. They are the so-called Board of Trustees. What they say goes, they keep the club running.”
“This is interesting. I never knew any of this. I’m new to town. I guess all the ladies I’m going with are what you called old ladies then?”
“Yeah, they captured the heart of a Corrupted Saint. They get full protection and respect just like the members do, even more so because they are the leadership’s women. No one fucks with them.”
“Thanks for letting me pick your brain, Joey.”
“Do you mind me asking you, ma’a... I mean Emma, what did you do in the military?”
“I was JAG, an attorney.”
“Did you deploy?”
“I sure did.”
“I know it ain’t easy. Why did you leave?” he asks me.
“It was time for me.” I leave it at that. He seems to understand.
We sit in silence for the rest of the ride until we get to a giant wall. We enter through a gate, like we just entered a compound.
“Where are we going? What is this place?” My senses are on alert, and I feel my heart racing.
“This is the clubhouse for the MC. You’re safe here.”
He pulls up right to the front, and we both get out. I take a look around and notice a crapload of bikes parked up front as well as a bunch parked in the back. The place looks like a fortress.
“This way. The old ladies are waiting for ya inside.”
I follow behind him. As soon as I step inside, my nose is assaulted by cigarette smoke. It’s a huge room. There’s a bar to my right when I walk in, pool tables and darts in the back to my left, and a living room space with TVs and about four leather couches. Off to my right behind the bar is kitchen and eating area, and to the right of the bar in the back corner of the building looks like a long hallway. There are also two giant wooden double doors to the left of the pool tables.
“This place is huge.” I follow behind him to the hallway.
“This way. The old ladies are waiting for you in Breaker’s room.”
I peer through a few doors that are open and can’t believe my eyes. People are just having sex and fucking publicly. It’s turning me on. We reach the end of the hall, he knocks, and the ladies open up the door.
Liz greets me first. “Emma, I’m so glad you came. Let me introduce you to everyone.” From left to right. “This is Sky, Sam, and you know Charlotte.” They are all curvy and beautiful.
“Nice to meet you all, I’m Emma.” They all give me a hug. They are so welcoming like Liz. My phone starts ringing. I pull it out and it’s James. “Sorry, guys, I’m going to step out for a moment.” I leave the room and stand in the hallway. “Hello.”
“Emma, it’s James.”
“Hi James, how are you?”
“I’m great, my dear. Listen, I need to reschedule our meeting, my business partner’s kid’s appendix burst. Do you mind us rescheduling in a week?” Damn.
“Yeah, of course, it’s no problem. I hope his kid feels better. I’ll see you in a week.”
“Thank you. I will see you then.”
I hang up.
“Shit!” I exclaim loudly in the hall.
The door across the hall opens up. “Everything okay?”
“Shit, you scared me.” It’s Rock, and he looks gorgeous in a tight white t-shirt.
“Didn’t mean to.” He leans up against the hallway.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you, I had a job interview and it was rescheduled.”
“That’s not so bad,” he said.
“It’s just sucky, I wanted to get it over with and be done. I’m going to head back into the room with the girls.”
“Catch ya later.” He stands there watching me enter the room, I look back at him and bite my lip. He looks yummy standing there, I could gobble him up.
“Everything okay?” Sky asks as I walk back in.
“Yeah, my interview was rescheduled for a week. I guess we don’t have a time constraint now.”
The girls all clap and holler.
“Yahh! We’re going to have a good girls’ day and night,” Charlotte says as the other girls cheer.
“Oh my god, we should totally go to a club. We can find Emma here a hot date,” Liz says.
“Are your boyfriends and husbands okay with that?” I ask. I don’t want them getting into trouble because of me.
“They’ll be fine,” Charlotte says. I don’t think I agree with that.
“Alright, ladies, shall we get on the road? Let’s get to shopping,” Liz says.
We all head out to a giant black SUV with tinted windows. Joey and another guy named Hill are escorting us today. I wonder why we need escorts; why do they need the protection?
As we are riding in the car, I can’t help but wonder why we really do need escorts.
“Hey, you guys, why do we need escorts?” I ask to everyone in the car.
“Pres’s orders,” Joey answers me.
“Breaker and the rest of the guys don’t want us out there alone unprotected,” Charlotte adds.
“Are we not safe?” I ask.
“It’s just a precaution, ma’am,” Joey says again.
“It was either we bring the prospects or we don’t go,” Liz says.
“Don’t worry, Emma, they blend in the background. They always come with us if we are going places, you won’t even notice they are there,” Sky says.
“If you say so, I guess,” I reply.
We spend the rest of the ride listening to music, getting to know one another and just chit-chatting.
Chapter 7
Rock
All the old ladies and Emma are going out on a shopping trip in the city. I heard them mention they are going to go to a club. I don’t think it’s a good idea, considering we might have a potential threat right now. One of our old rival clubs that we dismantled has popped up again and is causing problems for us.
<
br /> “Rock, anything new financially that we need to know about?” Breaker interrupts my thoughts.
“No, everything has remained the same or improved in terms of revenue,” I respond.
“How about a status on the progress for the new clubhouse?” he asks.
“Everything is under way. I’m contracting with James to create non-disclosure agreements for all the contractors so that they don’t speak of or discuss anything related to the construction. I want to make sure we can keep it as tight as we can with security.”
“When will you hear from him about the NDA’s?”
“He has his partner working on it right now, but he mentioned something about his kid being sick, so we can expect them by the beginning of next week,” I respond.
“Stay on top of him. Buzz, I want you to check in with the prospects and make sure the old ladies are okay.”
“I already have, as I’m sure the rest of you have checked in with your old ladies. So far everything is going smoothly. They’re shopping and pampering themselves.”
“They plan on going to a club,” I say out loud.
“What do you mean?” Tank asks.
“I heard them talking, and they said they were planning on going to a club.”
“Do you know what club?” Buzz asks.
“I can find out,” I reply. They know I have connections in the city and I also have GPS on all the old ladies’ phones. Plus, the prospects are with them.
Breaker calls his old lady. “Baby, are y’all going to a club?” I can hear Charlotte talking into the phone. “Well, let me know which one so we can send over a nice bottle of champagne for ya,” he says back and hangs up.
“What club are they going to? I can make sure they are taken care of.” My brothers know I frequent the city often; I have a feeling they know why, but they never ask because we trust each other.
“They said they are going to a place called Heat. You ever hear of it?” Breaker asks me.
Oh shit, that place is crawling with fuckers looking for their next lay. It’s a beautiful club, it’s actually owned by the same owners as Esclavage.
“I’ve heard of it. How do you guys feel about making a surprise visit to the city?” I don’t like the old ladies out there alone; Emma is fresh meat.