Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition by Elizabeth Knox (top 5 ebook reader txt) 📕

“Not exactly. I think Angus is on his last ride and is making calls, if you know what I’m sayin’. I need to go pay the man my respects. If I’m not needed there, I’ll be back sooner. Just estimating a week. Do I have any runs that can’t wait? If so, I’ll get them done before I leave.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from rambling out more than I want. I’ve buried my regrets deep down, and one was leaving Angus behind. It’s never easy saying goodbye, but it’s even harder when it’s for good.

“Shit.” Axl exhales. “Wish there was more I could do or say, but you need to go. I’m sure whatever needs done can wait.”

Blade dips his chin. “We got you covered here while you’re gone.”

“Can you guys watch Lucky while I’m gone? I don’t know what will be going on and it would be easier to leave her here.” The words twist in my gut and it’s the old trucker in me that hates to leave behind my lucky charm. Once again, I shake off the thoughts and man up.

“Vegas and the kids will love to keep her. Don’t worry about it, she gets along with Tugger, too.” Blade’s lip lifts and he fails at holding back a smirk. Their dog likes my girl a little too much. “He’s fixed, asshole, don’t worry about it.”

“See ya’ll, it’s time this cowboy hits the trail.” I tilt my hat and whistle for Lucky. I give her a pat on the head and tell her to sit and stay with Blade. She walks over to him and sits at his side. I don’t want to leave her here, but I give them my back and head out. In my room, I grab a duffle bag and stuff in what I need. One last check, and I can’t pinpoint it, but it feels as if I’m leaving something behind. Right now, it doesn’t make sense. So much has happened today. I felt like the luckiest bastard this morning, and now I’m the most confused. It’s as if I’m on the verge of change and it has my gut unsettled. I’m leaving a piece of me behind and it’s hard for me to pinpoint what or who it is.

7

Angie

Staring straight ahead, the cursor blinks at me. I focus on that and not the pit of despair I feel in my stomach. “What am I going to do?” I mumble, shaking my head. For the last couple of years, I worked at the shop and did my classes online. At the shop Jazzy worked in, there was a chair available and I got the spot. Finally, I had a win, but this has my heart in pieces.

Since I was in grade school, I wanted to be a nurse. My parents wanted me to be a doctor since I had no interest in the corporate world, and I mentioned nursing schools as an alternative. Being a nurse wasn’t good enough in their eyes. It’s a huge part of the reason we hardly ever talk anymore. Everything has strings and their money or help costs me too much, mainly my happiness. I paid to go to beauty school and worked at the salon while I was paying my own way through nursing school.

“What is it?” Jazzy scoots onto the kitchen stool next to me. She blows on her coffee and reads the screen on the laptop. She squints her eyes, trying to decern the problem I’m experiencing.

“I can’t do it. I can only work a max of twenty-five hours per week while I finish my degree. I’m so screwed. For one, how am I going to pay for rent and school only working part-time? Even that is pushing it with how much time I need to study. Not to mention the baby that’s coming. I can’t take all of that time off—alone. And did I mention alone? Even if I could manage the bills, I have no car, and I’ll have a baby in six months. The baby won’t even know who I am because I’ll never be home.” My heart wants to explode from my chest with sadness. I was so close to proving my parents wrong. My lip trembles and a lone tear teeters on my lower lash.

Jazzy gives me an incredulous look. “Angie, did you call your parents?” My hesitation to answer says it all. I did and it was gruesome. “What happened?”

“I called them both at the same time. Thought may as well get the worst over with. My parents were disgusted I didn’t know who the baby’s father was. It was pretty bad, then my parents and I hung up with an understanding. My lifestyle, with my choices, they want nothing to do with me and I felt the same. They thought I wanted money and help. Jazz, I just wanted my parents.” I feel the anguish at the harsh reality of what I have always been to them—an inconvenience. It stung more than ever because for the first time, in a long time, I poured my heart out to them. The only difference is now I’m older and can accept the truth. It doesn’t take away my fight to want to prove them wrong though. If anything, I want to beat them with my success.

She sets her cup down and dedicates her smart ass to me. “Those people will get theirs. Hand to god, they have to be the most miserable people on this earth. You know not everyone is like that, right?”

“I know that’s true. Our relationship felt like a wound that can finally start to heal. It needed closure and their reaction, calling my baby a bastard, set a tone. I will never allow anyone to treat her like that. In that phone call, I knew what needed to be done and I cut them from my life.” I could