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

interstate. Colors are respected here, but the bikers have been told many times to not get in any shit, that they’ll be thrown out on their ass and won’t ever be allowed in again.

I shrug my shoulders and grab a clean towel to wipe down the bar. “It’s honestly not bad at all. I think people just like to scare others.”

Kasi inhales sharply. “We’ve had an easy couple of nights the past few days. I know a few people have been out of town at Sturgis, so the issues are gonna start slowly comin’ in. You know where the bat is, right?”

The bat they have with barbed wire around it. “Yep, I do.”

Kasi nods. “Okay. I don’t want to freak you out but you will need it eventually, so don’t be afraid to use it. We know what our customers are like and while most of ‘em are sweet as pie, there are a few rotten apples, Calli.” Kasi’s calling me by my nickname and no one’s ever called me Calli before. It’s odd, but I’m not opposed to it.

My life has changed so much over the last week and a half, it’d only make sense I have a new name to go along with it. I left my job, left Detroit, and left the only family I’ve ever known. Why? Because I promised myself as a young woman, I’d find my father. With the help of Beretta Bosco, New York’s best private investigator, we found him. I’d hoped to discover he was here in Alabama, but Beretta gave me more info than just his location. She gave me information on the club, the people in it, and one of their club members has a younger sister who had a room for rent. It seemed flawless, figuring I’d either run into a biker from the club here, or at the house where I’m renting a room.

“If you say so.” I laugh nonchalantly, trying not to let it bother me too much.

She raises both her brows and looks me up and down. “Girl, I know you’re new here and you think some of this might be a bit extreme, but I promise you it isn’t. As soon as everyone gets back from Sturgis you’ll see.”

“What’s Sturgis?” I know Kasi’s talked about it before, but I can’t remember if she told me what it’s for. For some reason, the word hits somewhere in the back of my mind, but I just can’t figure out why.

“Only the biggest biker rally in the world, so a lot of our regulars aren’t around because of it,” Kasi says, getting Toad a new beer. Toad’s one of the regulars, an older biker from the Vile Serpents MC.

“So, why aren’t you there?” I question Toad.

He instantly scoffs, “If you think my fat ass wants to ride all the way to Sturgis in the middle of summer, you’re crazy. I’d be nothin’ but a pile of sweat, and this ol’ bastard, shit . . . do I look like a camper to you?”

Both Kasi and I break out into laughter and Toad smirks. He’s probably in his mid-fifties and from looking at him you can tell the guy really enjoys dessert. Just as I’m about to reply to the old clown my phone vibrates in the back of my jeans. So, I pull it out and my eyes widen as I read who it’s from.

From: Mama

When should I expect you home?

Wow. She’s got some nerve thinking I’ll come crawling back to Detroit.

I think about not responding to her, but I know if I don’t respond she’ll simply think I’m on the way, and I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of thinking she talked some sense into me.

To: Mama

I’m not. I just got here. I know you’re not happy I’m here, but know I love you, even though words that were said before I left were extremely hurtful.

She’s not supportive I’m looking for my father, and she’s really not happy about the fact I want to speak to him. In her mind, speaking to him is somehow betraying her. Because of it, she said some nasty things to me before I left and I know they weren’t said because she meant them . . . she only did it because she was hurting and wanted to take it out on me.

I figure it’s best to shut off my cell and put it back in my pocket. It’s a bit past nine and we close at midnight, so I don’t want her texts to overflow into my work, even if it is just refilling drinks. Hell, I never thought I’d be working in a bar at almost thirty years old, but sometimes life has other plans for us.

I worked in aviation for the U.S. Navy aboard the ship in San Diego for over nine years, and then I transferred to the recruitment office. My mother was pressuring me to come home and I wanted to be back on shore duty for a while anyway. Only, I didn’t know what stepping into that recruiting office would be like. The men in my office thought I slept my way to the top and right at my eleven-year mark I chose not to reenlist. I didn’t have a lot of bills since the U.S. Navy paid for my apartment with the basic allowance for housing. So, I have a good bit saved and am able to pretty much live here without having to stress too bad because of money. The last two days I’ve brought home about three hundred bucks in tips. Considering the bar hasn’t been super busy, I’m making out pretty well.

The door creaks and Toad smiles from ear to ear. “Prez, what’re you doin’ here?”

An older gentleman who looks to be a few years younger than Toad comes walking over. He’s tall, has salt and pepper hair, and his dark eyes make me a bit nervous. He’s the type of guy you can instantly recognize is bad news.