Once she’s gone, Python turns his attention to me. His expression is somber, which is odd considering how fucking big and mean he looks.
“It’s always the memorial tats that get me,” he says. “Most people want stupid shit, but those memorials…”
It’s at this moment that I know exactly what my next tattoo is going to be. “Up for another one?” I ask him.
“A tat? Always.”
“A memorial one?”
“Aw, hell,” he grumps. “Yeah, kid. I got you.”
An hour and a half later, I inspect the new ink in the mirror. The black lines form three heartbeats, and a knife, tipped in blood, slashes through them. In bold script font, my sister’s name is bright pink because that was her favorite color.
“Who’s Ally?” Python asks as we walk out to the reception area. Neither of us had talked while he worked, and I’m sure he’s dying to know the story.
“My sister.”
“And the three heartbeats?”
Pointing my finger at each one, I reply, “Ally, my mom, and my dad.”
“Damn, man.”
“Yeah.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
My lungs seize, and it takes several long minutes to get any words out. “Ally’s husband killed them all.”
Python’s eyes widen. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.” After paying, I step back from the counter. “Well, thanks. I need to get back on the road.”
“Where ya headed?” he asks.
I shrug. “Wherever my bike takes me.”
“You ride?”
“Yeah. My dad had an old Harley from when he was younger, and we rebuilt it together so I could have it on my sixteenth birthday.” My heart skips a beat at the memory.
“Listen, if you really don’t have a destination in mind, why don’t you stick around for a while? I’m gonna be closing up soon, and there’s an open party at the clubhouse tonight. Have a little fun before you take off.”
“Clubhouse?”
Python turns around so I can see the back of his cut. “Soulless Kings MC. I gotta say, I think you may have stumbled into a place where your people are.”
“My people?”
“Bikers, kid.”
I didn’t know it at the time, but Python was right. I found my people that night, along with my purpose.
CHAPTER 1
ROXIE
All I’ve managed to do is trade the devil I knew for the devil I’m still learning.
