“Yeah, we’ve moved up some,” Bianca says.“In more ways than one.”
“Oh, yeah?Tell me all about it,” I say as eagerly as my closed-up throat allows.
“Well, we’re a proper MC now, for one thing,” she says.“And I’m the Sarge… I mean, the Sergeant at Arms.”
That must be where that command in her voice and demeanor comes from.
"I actually go by Alice now… that’s my road name,” she adds.
“Like that movie you used to like so much?”I ask.“What was it?Alice Isn’t Here Anymore, or something?”
She smiles.“It’s ‘Alice Does’t Live Here Anymore,’ but close enough.And yeah, you’re right.I chose it because I left all of the old me behind when I joined the MC.I never thought I’d slip into being a Sarge so easily, but here I am.And I love how we’ve been able to help so many people.I’ve definitely found my calling”
And she really has.She comes from a very wealthy, non-mafia family and had it all.But she was always very quiet and shy in school, mostly staying in the background and keeping her head down.So I guess she had it all except the chance to be herself.I’m glad she found that here, in this MC.
“But I’m sure Blade’s told you all about that,” she adds, glancing at him and grinning.
He shakes his head, looking a little embarrassed.“We didn’t talk about the club much, to be honest.”
This time it’s him grinning at me and me blushing.What we did a lot was hold hands and kiss, cuddle and reconnect with everything that made usus, made us perfect together, back then and now.And no, we didn’t talk much about home, because we weren’t sure how welcome I’d be here and by extension, whether it was still home at all.But I don’t need to go there now.
“He did tell me you’re still catching bad guys and making them pay,” I say, looking around the table.
They all look pleased with themselves, but a shadow hangs over all their faces regardless, even Blade’s.Maybe it’s the memory of their beginnings and Ghost that I brought up.On Rogue’s face, that shadow is darkest.
He and Angel were as in love as Blade and I were back then.He might have avenged her now by finally killing Ghost, but did he ever find love again?For all his hard words to me today and back then, and even despite his less than joyful welcoming me back today, I still want him to find love and be happy again.
“So how many members do you have now?”I ask looking around the room.
More of the tables have filled up, there’s dancing and pool playing now and I count at least fifty people in the room.Men and women both.Most of them dressed like bikers.Except the brunette beauty over by the counter who looks like she could be a club girl, but is wearing what looks like surgeon’s scrubs.
“We’re up to thirty,” Rogue says.“Our numbers swelled up after we brought down a trafficking ring about a year ago and we became sort of famous.”
“Famous as a crime fighting biker club?”I ask.“I guess your dreams came true then.”
Rogue looks at me, the sharpness in his bright green eyes clearly telling me he thinks I’m making fun of him.And back in the day, before anything bad happened, I did have a habit of doing that.Just for kicks.Because that’s how I was raised in my dysfunctional mafia family, with just a dad and two older brothers.I’ve grown out of that since.
“Yeah, a lot of them did,” Rogue says, clearly seeing that too.He was always good at reading people.And being a leader others loved to follow.I’m sensing he’s grown into that nicely.
“So you’ve found the bastards who killed your parents, Creed?”I ask.
He gulps at suddenly being the center of attention.Or maybe at my blunt question.Then he shakes his head and a sadness so deep washes over his eyes they turn from the usually dark blue to black.
“Haven’t been able to do that yet,” he says.“But at least I’ve been able to put all the money they left me to good use.It’s going towards funding the MC.”
“Every member of this MC is looking for justice in one way or another,” Blade says, squeezing my hand.“And I’m sure we’ll all find it.”
He means me, that I’ll find it.But I’ve stopped looking a long time ago.Just having him back in my life is so beyond my wildest dreams I don’t need anything more.
“And you?What have you been up to these past ten years?”Trinity asks, breaking the silence that followed Blade’s words.
I shrug, no idea how much they need to know right now.“I never really found my feet out East.But I did find my calling.I’m a tattoo artist now.”
“Oh…” Comes from all around the table.
“And she’s damn good,” Blade adds.
“Well, you’ll have no shortage of work here,” Rogue says and smacks Zane on the back.“This one alone needs a lot of tats fixed.”
