“Yes, she will,” Razer heartily agreed.
Shade’s shoulders slumped. “Why are you both up so early?”
Beth smiled brightly at Shade “Razer is taking me for a ride this morning.”
Razer didn’t see as he was eating the breakfast she had set before him. Shade looked down at the one she sat before him. “I thought you might be hungry.” Beth said taking a bite from her smaller portion breakfast. It was obvious she had given him her breakfast.
Shade started to slide the plate back towards her, but the disappointed look on her face had him picking up the fork and taking a bite gingerly. After being up all night partying, he had been heading to bed when he had walked in from the backyard and saw them in the kitchen. Seeing Razer in his riding clothes, he had been curious as to where they were riding, but now he was wishing his boots had kept on walking.
“Where to?”
“If it’s okay with Razer, I thought we could ride to see my sister?”
“Cool with me,” Razer said, finishing his breakfast taking mercy on his friend he slid Shade’s plate towards him and began eating his food.
“Mind if I ride along?” Shade said, trying to keep the small bite of egg he had forced down to try and stay in his heaving stomach.
“I don’t mind but…” Beth frowned.
“What?”
“Don’t be surprised if my sister is a little nervous around you.” Beth said, not wanting to hurt Shade’s feelings.
“Any reason why?” Shade probed.
A curtain fell over Beth’s face. “Probably the whole biker aura.”
Razer finished eating and poured himself another coffee. “Finish eating Beth, so we can get on the road. Lily will be fine, she needs to get used to the biker aura. The sooner the better.”
Beth started to argue with him to tell him her sister didn’t adjust well, but shrugged to herself. It was really none of his business and it would only force her to make more explanations, which she really did not want to do.
It was a beautiful day. The motorcycles flew down the road, and from what Razer yelled at Shade, they were going WFO, whatever that meant. Beth appreciated the expert way Razer handled his bike on the winding roads. It was obvious Shade and him had ridden many times together, each knowing what the other would do beforehand. Halfway to Lily’s college, they stopped for gas. Beth was standing, watching the men pump gas when the roar of bikes filled the air. Five motorcycles road into the gas station, the men in the group gave Razer and Shade hard stares. As they passed to park at the side of the store, four women that had been riding on the back of the bikes climbed off as the men stood lighting cigarettes.
”I need to go to the restroom.” Razer gave her a curt nod, hanging up the nozzle.
When she came out of the restroom, Beth found herself surrounded by the women with the bikers.
“Hi.” Beth smiled amicably.
The women stared back in confusion, their threatening glares disappearing.
“You guys out for a ride? Beautiful day isn’t it? I love your jacket, where did you get it?” The awe in her voice wasn’t feigned as she stared at the black and red leather jacket the woman was wearing. “I have a pink one, but it’s not as nice as yours.”
“Thanks.” The one with the leather jacket was finally able to get in a word.
“My name is Beth.”
“Is she for real?” One female biker asked.
Beth looked at the one who spoke. “Where did you get your hair done? I have been wanting my hair like that for forever.” She touched her own fine silky hair, staring enviously at the red haired woman’s glorious curls.
The ice was broken: the women introduced themselves.
“I am Crazy Bitch, Sex Piston, KillyaMa, and Fat Louise.” Beth could only gape as each woman introduced herself.
“You haven’t been warming back long, have you bitch?” The one called Sex Piston asked.
“Warming back?”
“Are you for real?” KillyaMa repeated sex Piston’s earlier question. She reached out and poked her in the arm, forcing Beth to take a step back.
“Cool it. We don’t want to start no trouble,” Fat Louise said.
“It’s fine, no offense taken. I know she was just joking.” Beth smiled reassuringly. Feeling another poke at her back, Beth turned to see Sex Piston.
“She’s for fucking real.”
“Well, it’s been nice meeting you. I better get back. We are on the way to see my sister. She goes to Breckenridge College.”
“That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
“Nothing. Better get going, your man will be waiting.”
Impulsively, Beth pulled out the pen and paper that she always carried in her purse.
“Text me sometime. I hope we can get to know each other better. What is your club name?”
“Destructors.” No one reached out to take the paper with Beth’s phone number.
“Oh, that’s cool.”
“Your man’s?”
“The Last Riders.” Even Beth wasn’t oblivious to the respectful look that appeared on their faces.
Sex Piston snatched the paper from Beth’s hand. “We’ll keep in touch.”
Beth smiled and hurried back to the bikes. “Sorry I took so long.” Getting on behind Razer, she noticed Shade had cut his lip, but the drone of the other bikers leaving distracted her from asking if there had been trouble, Beth reminded herself to ask Razer later. Another hour ride and they pulled up in front of Lily’s dorm. The men patiently waited outside as Beth went inside to surprise Lily.
It took several knocks before Lily opened her door, only answered after Beth called her name.
“Beth.” Lily threw herself into her sister’s arms.
“Lily, what’s going on?” Concerned, Beth drew her sister inside her room and sat her sister down in the only chair in the small room.
“Nothing.” Giving a lie to her words, she burst into tears.
“Don’t tell me nothing is wrong. I want the truth Lily,” Beth said firmly.
“I just don’t fit in here, Beth. All the girls hate me, and the boys just stare, it creeps me out. I wanted to come home, but you said I couldn’t.”
Beth felt terrible. Because she had tried to protect Lily from whomever was trying to kill her, she had wanted Lily to stay at college until it was safe, but she could see that had been the wrong move. She should have come down and spent the weekend with her. Lily had to have stability in her life, if anything changed, it frightened her. Beth’s father’s rules had stymied Beth’s emotional growth, but the same rules had been a lifesaver for Lily, giving her the feeling of being protected and loved.
Beth had carefully been working on loosening the control Lily needed while at the same time trying to encourage her to spread her wings. Instead, it had made Lily feel lost and alone in a new environment. She wasn’t flourishing, she was retreating.
“Well, I am here today. We are going to go out to lunch and do a little shopping.”
Lily’s bright smile rewarded her efforts.
“Let me get my purse.” Lily threw herself in Beth arms, this time with a beautiful smile. “I am so happy you came to see me. I have missed you so much.” As Lily let Beth go, she grabbed her purse from the desk. Beth took her sister’s hand.
“I didn’t exactly come alone. A couple of friends brought me.”
“Evie?” Lily liked Evie, developing a guarded friendship.
“No, Razer and Shade. You remember the men who gave us a ride home when you were released from the hospital?”
“Why would they bring you?”
“Well, I am kind of seeing Razer. I really like him Lily and I want you to like him also. I swear they won’t do anything to make you uncomfortable or I wouldn’t have let them come.” Lily trusted her sister, even the thought of being near the two men made her sick. Beth never asked anything of her in return for taking care of her. If Beth wanted her to get to know her friends, then