Page 80 of Chaos
He was the man who made Christmas magical to me. We weren’t related, but he made me feel like family. My guys did that too. They would share everything they got for Christmas with me. New toys. Electronics. Anything.
That was when I knew that they were my family. They were the ones who cared about me. They were the ones I could rely on through anything. I eventually stopped caring about Christmas. It was just another random day of the year.
But this year was different. Having Serena in my life made me want to do these things again. After listening to her tell us all about her Christmas traditions with her mom, it made me want that. With her.
I wanted to be the one with whom she baked cookies, even though I have never baked anything in my life. I wanted to snuggle up under blankets and watch those corny Christmas movies she loved so much. To decorate a tree with her.
What I wanted the most, though, was to see her face light up with pure joy as she did all these things. That is the most magical thing I could think of. Her smile shines so bright that it banishes the darkness that consumes my life. It reminds me that I am more than what my father wanted me to be.
I spent way too long looking at stores to try and find her the perfect present.
Instead, I am in Paradise with Midas and Zeus meeting with a rival gang. The small beachfront town isn’t far from home, but still too far for my liking.
Why we were sent here is still a mystery to us. I have my suspicions that our dads were hoping that we would be killed while out here, but that hasn’t happened. This crew has been very accommodating and welcoming to us.
No one told us why we were here. No business has been done. No goods exchanged. Nothing. It is one of the oddest things we have ever been sent to do. Our phones were taken away, so we couldn’t communicate with anyone. Not that I wanted to speak to my dad, but not being able to ask what the hell is going on here has put me on edge.
We have been staying in their clubhouse. Taking up three unoccupied rooms. I have spent as much time as I could in mine, but we have been forced to socialize when needed. The longer we were here, the more paranoid I became. Waiting for someone to strike. To attack. I started sleeping with my gun on the bed beside me and my favourite knife under my pillow. Just in case.
We have been here for almost a week now, and it has been nothing but parties. But today is the last day we are here before we ride back to Fallingbrook, and the air has suddenly gone tense.
There was a knock at the door before Phoenix, one of the members who is close in age to us, opened the door. Phoenix seems like a chill dude, but there is a darkness in him too. I barely know the guy, but it’s clear as day. The only people he seems happy around are his brother, Cove, and his friends Cruz and Felix. The four of them have been inseparable since we got here. The four of them have been nice enough to us. Showing us around town. Talking about how great a place it is.
“Boss man wants to talk to you guys.” He says, leaning against the door frame. Boss man is referring to Viper, the leader of this gang.
We nod before following him out the door.
Being locked in a room with someone as notorious as Viper isn’t high on my list of things I wanted to do today, but if this meeting gives us some insight into this weird non-vacation, then I am for it.
Each of us are similarly dressed for the occasion. Jeans, dark t-shirts, and our cuts. The skull with a crown taking up our backs, reminding anyone that we are Kings of Chaos. We aren’t just random eighteen-year-old kids to mess with.
Phoenix leads us down the hall and towards the other side of the clubhouse. The layout out here is similar to our own. Bedrooms in the back for people to crash if they need to. A large area with a bar, couches, and a few pool tables. A large kitchen off the bar where the wives come in to prepare food for the men.
Music plays loudly in the background as everyone around enjoys themselves. Most are laughing as they hang out together. The place has been decorated for the season. Even having a Christmas tree in the middle of the room, filled with presents underneath.
No random women are roaming around. Instead, the men’s wives and families are here. Spending time together. A sense of longing hits me as I watch kids running and chasing each other. This is what our clubhouse used to be like when Pops was alive. The clubhouse was for everyone, not just the members of the club. Families are coming together to spend the holidays together.
This is what it should be like. They may not be a motorcycle gang like we are, but they are still a gang. A notorious one with a reputation that would scare anyone. And yet, by looking at this place, you wouldn’t guess that. It’s too wholesome.
I vow to make our club like this again one day. The day I finally take our father’s power away, I will change everything back to the way it was before. With my guys. With Serena.
Phoenix knocks on Viper’s office door, and his deep voice yells at us to come in. Phoenix opens the door for us, but doesn’t follow us in. Instead, he waves as he closes it behind us. From what I have heard about Viper, he is a no-nonsense kind of guy in his fifties. He likes to think of himself as an OG. Tattoos all over his body. A business suit to replicate the mafia look. His salt and pepper hair slicked back.
He is known as a hard ass motherfucker to everyone except the people he cares about. His friends, family, and crew. Those are the only people who get to see the “sweet” side of him.
The hype seems to come from a place of fear more than respect. It’s hard to tell what is fact or fiction about him. The only people who didn’t try to hype him up to us were Phoenix, Cove, Cruz, and Felix. I asked them about Viper once. Phoenix stormed off while Cove explained that there is a complicated history, and not to believe everything I heard.
I take in the space. It’s not a large office, but it's homey. Photos of his family line the walls. A bookshelf to one side filled with little knick-knacks and homemade trinkets that his kids have made for him. A large oak desk cluttered with papers. Behind that desk sits Wheels.
He is a large man, taking up his entire chair. His greying blonde hair is pulled back into a low ponytail. Dark green eyes watch as we stand in front of him. His eyes trail over the three of us, taking in everything he can. A warm smile grows on his lips as he looks at us.
“So… I hear you three are thinking of joining my crew. I was surprised when your fathers called and said that you wanted to leave the Kings and come here. They were hoping that this could be a peace treaty between our two crews, and I will admit I like the sound of that.”
My jaw drops. What the actual fuck? I am at a complete loss for words to that.
“I’m… I’m not sure what you mean.” Midas starts.
“Sir, we don’t have any plans on leaving Fallingbrook.” Zeus pipes in.
