Chapter One
GWEN
The roar of engines thunders through my bones as I step into the rally with my camera in hand. Leather-clad figures blur past, their bikes gleaming under the harsh sun. I raise my Nikon, eye to the viewfinder, capturing the raw pulse of the Royal Bastards MC.
Click. Two riders laugh, shoulders knocking. Brotherhood.
Click. A fist flies, connecting with a jaw. Conflict.
Click. An older member, face lined with stories, nods at a younger one. Mentorship.
“Nice shots?” The voice rumbles deep, close behind me.
I lower my camera and turn. Justice. He’s a little too pretty and confident, and I can’t help but think the nickname ‘Peacock’ would suit him better. The one I want, Highway, hasn’t so much as tried to talk to me, so I entertain Justice. He’s offered to take me to Okefenokee Swamp, and I’ve said yes.
“Could be,” I reply with a smile.
He leans closer and looks at my camera. Holding it out but not letting go of it, I show him a few of my photographs.
“They look good.” He touches my elbow. “Are we still good for the swamp?”
Nodding, I smile up at him. “Sure are.”
“Cool. I’ll pick you up at seven so we can get back for an early dinner?”
Moving out of his grasp, I say, “How about we see how the day goes?”
Nodding, Justice gives me another of his smiles and saunters away. He heads for Highway and says something to him. Highway frowns at him, and Justice laughs as he walks away.
Curious, I move to stand next to Highway, whose gaze is fixed on Justice’s back. “You really don’t like him, do you?”
Highway jumps and blurts out, “Justice is a peacock.”
Laughing, I nod. “Because he struts around? You know that nickname suits him better than Justice. How’d he get Justice, anyway?” I put my camera to my face and snap a photograph of Highway.
“He has a pretty black-and-white way of looking at things with a level head in situations. Are you familiar with the term ‘His own brand of justice?’ Well, that’s sort of how he got it.”
“And you? How’d you get yours?”
He leans against his bike and pats the seat. “Hop on, and I’ll show you.”
Shaking my head, I glance at the men and women around me. “There’s so much to capture here.” I nod at Creed talking to Reaper. “Comradery.” I put my camera to my face and snap a picture of a group of MC members huddled around a bike that’s being repaired. “Intellectual conversations.”
Highway barks out a laugh. “Intellectual?”
“Look how serious they all are.”
“You have a different way of looking at things,” states Highway.
“Not me, the camera.” I cradle it in my hands. “It gives you a different perspective.”
“Lucy says you work forNational Geographic?”
“Sounds very impressive, doesn’t it?” I laugh. “Sort of… I sell them photographs of things I find on my journeys.”
“You travel a lot?”
“Yeah. Well, I used to.” Holding up my camera a little higher, I say, “I’d better get back to it.”
