SAVING REBEL: Renegade Rebels Motorcycle Club (22 page)

Instead of taking me to juvenile detention, and throwing me into the abyss of abusive foster homes, he took me home. He and his wife put me up in their frilly guest room and watched over me all night long, holding my hair back while I puked into their pink, plastic trash can. The next morning, over bacon and eggs, they watched me with kind smiles as I ate like a starving child.

They gave me a stern talking to about house rules, and said that I could stay there for a few days. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, and after a year of stability, love and kindness, they offered to adopt me. Tommy and Mable had always held out hope for a child of their own, but it just never happened. I was the next best thing, they always said. It was good enough for me.

Humbled by their never-ending kindness, I did my best to turn my life around and leave the past behind. I 
went to school, studied hard and immersed myself in athletics. When I received a scholarship for Track at UC Berkeley, I jumped on it. Inspired by Tommy, and rejecting every ounce of my past, I studied law and decided to become a cop myself. I was accepted into the police academy immediately after graduating.

As much as I tried to leave the past behind, it had ways of sneaking up on me. Little things would set off the memories. The smell of my college roommate's bong water, the loud, window-shaking rumble of a passing motorcycle, the feel of a piece of leather sliding under my fingers - all things that could bring me right back to the clubhouse.

My memories weren't all bad, but the good ones were far and few between. Unfortunately, it was all I had.

As I panted my way through my morning run, the memories were strong. I had come so far and that realization was hitting particularly hard on today of all days – I was graduating from the police academy this morning. As I trailed through the sprawling campus, making my way back to my room, I marveled at how strong and confident I felt now. It was a far cry from the craziness of my childhood, and if Tommy hadn't come along just when he did, I knew for sure I wouldn't be graduating at the top of my class today.

Soaked in sweat, my muscles tight and firm under my wet shirt from years of working out, I ran up the stairs to my room and headed straight for the shower. I tried to focus on letting all the bad memories wash down the drain and my heart swelled with pride for myself and my journey. After overcoming so much, I was proud that I had done so well and that I had chosen a different lifestyle than my parents. I wondered what they would think if they could see me now?

An hour later, I reached the auditorium where the ceremony was to be held. Tommy and Mable were waiting right out front, their smiles spreading widely across their wrinkled faces. Mable's green eyes sparkled as she embraced me tightly.

“I am so proud of you, Liv! So, so proud!”

“Thanks, Mabel. I couldn't have done it without the two of you. I owe it all to both of you!”

I kissed her on the cheek and turned, hugging Tommy, loving the smile on his face. Now that I knew him so well, it was amusing to me how he could turn his rough exterior on and off so easily. It was all an act, and not many people knew that.

“You've been a good influence, Tommy. I love you!” I said, smiling up at his tall frame.

“I love you too, Liv. Shall we do this?” He offered me his bent arm, and I slid my hand in. Mable took the other arm and we strolled into the roar of the crowded room together.

Bending his mouth to my ear, Tommy whispered to me, “I have your first assignment. It's big. I think you're ready for it. We'll go over it tomorrow, after all the festivities.”

“Oh, great, you're just going to leave me hanging like that, wondering all night?”

“Yes, I am! Today is a day for celebrating. Tomorrow, we work. So – go! Celebrate!”

“Okay, okay!” I said, laughing as I strolled away from him towards the group of other cadets of my graduating class, my imagination going wild with the possibilities. I had been trained to go undercover and I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else until Tommy filled me in.

CHAPTER TWO

“You're going back to the MC, Liv.”

“What?” I was dumbfounded. Tommy sat behind his desk, his hands folded behind his head, his feet up on the top of his desk and the worn out soles of his favorite leather loafers about a foot from my face as I sat across from him the next morning. That third celebratory whiskey last night had left me a little foggy this morning, and I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly.

“You heard me. We're sending you back in.”

“But the Blackhearts broke up years ago...” I murmured, my voice trailing off in confusion.

“Not the Blackhearts. The Crows.”

“The Crows! The Dirty Crows Motorcycle Club? Are you kidding me, Tommy? They are said to be the most violent MC on the West coast, Tommy!”

“Well, not technically. That would be The Outlaws.”

“Whatever! What do you mean by 'sending me back in'?” My voice shook.

“It's an easy assignment, don't worry. We only want you to go in, get acquainted with the guys, take a look around, see what you find. Dig a little, that's all. The DA has a hard-on for the President of the club, Billy Austin, better known as Crow. Crow did five years in the joint for beating up a cop. That cop turned into the DA. So now that Crow has been out for a few years, and he's running the MC, well - the DA wants a piece of him for revenge.”

“Why did he beat up the DA in the first place?” I asked.

“Crow came up on the DA and his wife in the middle of a fight. They were in their car, and Crow saw the DA slap his wife. He pulled him out of the car and beat him to an inch of his life. Injured one of his eyes so badly, he lost it. That's why he wears that eye patch. Ol' Cyclops, we call him. Behind his back, of course. Anyway, nobody has any evidence on the MC, but Cyclops is certain they are selling drugs and guns, and maybe even selling a few women on the side. We've been watching them for a year now, but we just haven't been able to get anywhere. They run a tight ship, and Crow is vigilant about knowing exactly what goes on there. We need an insider. But we can't afford to get busted, so we need a sure thing. That sure thing is you, Liv. You've lived the life. You've got that innocent face, and yet you're as street savvy as my most seasoned detective.”

“You've got to be kidding, Tommy! This is my first assignment! Why can't you give me something easy to do at first? Let me get a little experience under my belt before you throw me to the wolves!”

“It's not the wolves, it's the crows!” He laughed loudly at his own stupid joke, and I sat there shaking in my shoes, glaring at him with angry green eyes. “Calm down. Listen, I have complete confidence in your abilities. You're sharp as tack, you're strong as a horse and you fight like a ninja – hell, you even know how to ride! This is an important case, Liv, and you are the only one that I know can pull it off. I need a woman, and if I sent any other female cop in there, it would be obvious they were faking it. But you grew up in that environment, you won't be shocked at anything you see, you know the culture, the way they talk, the way they relate to one another, you know the hierarchy....you are perfect!”

“I don't know, Tommy...” I was filled with dread and doubt. The thought of going back to that life, to experiencing it all over again was not something I imagined I would ever do.

“Well, I do. And I'm the boss, right? You'll be fine, you'll be safe, I promise. If anything goes wrong, we will be there in less than a minute.”

I looked at him silently, his brown eyes soft and kind, yet filled with excitement. He had been so happy when I decided to become a detective. I had done my best to excel at everything, to ease the burden on him and Mabel, to show them how grateful I was that they had saved me from that life. And yet here he was sending me back. What was I supposed to do? I knew I couldn't say no. I couldn't disappoint him.

“Okay,” I said, sighing deeply. “I trust you, Tommy.” “Wonderful! You won't regret it, I guarantee it!”

I laughed at his confidence, hoping it would rub off on me. “Okay, where do we start?”

“First we start with dying your hair black!”

CHAPTER THREE

The reflection in the full length mirror in my bedroom seemed to be of an entirely different person. My thin, long wispy blonde hair was now replaced by jet black curls that cascaded over my shoulders. The leather jacket I wore was unzipped, revealing an obscene amount of cleavage that was framed by a low-cut black tank top. My tight, faded jeans hugged the muscular curves of my hips and thighs, and the worn, leather harnessed biker boots I had tucked them into made my tall 5'10” frame an inch taller.

I looked nothing like the skinny twelve year old that left the MC life behind. I was used to the leather and jeans, but not the hair.

After my parents died, the Blackhearts taught me to ride. I wanted to learn earlier, but my mom wouldn't allow it. When she wasn't around to protest anymore, I was able to convince the guys to teach me. I fell in love with the speed, the force of the wind rushing past me, and the roar of the bike between my legs. Tommy bought me my own bike for my sixteenth birthday, insisting I take proper lessons and wear the safest helmet he could find. I was willing to do anything for the freedom the bike provided. Winding down the curviest roads I could locate, I found solace and peace during those hours alone. When it was just my bike, the road and me – I felt closer to my parents than I ever did. Riding was healing. The road was my church.

Luckily, Tommy understood that and allowed me the freedom and trust to be safe and stay out of trouble. And I did.

Until now, I had never put myself in danger. After today, my life would be full of it. I wasn't sure I was up to the job, but I was determined to do my best for Tommy.

Mustering up every ounce of courage I had, I looked in the mirror, gazing into the green eyes of the black haired woman in the mirror.

“You can do this, Liv. It'll be a piece of cake. Stay on your toes and stay focused. Get in and get out.”

I took a deep breath and collected my things. I was moving into a decoy apartment across the street from the Crow MC's clubhouse and was only allowed to bring a few items of clothing and necessities. No pictures of Tommy and Mable, nothing that would identify me as Officer Olivia LaVelle. Now I would be known as Krys Black, a loner from Chicago that loved motorcycles and dangerous men.

As I turned off the lights and locked the door behind me, I wondered for a moment how this assignment would change me. Who would I be when I returned to my real life?

Tommy and I had been going over the details of everything for a week now, and after stopping by the station for one last briefing, I was back on my bike and roaring over forested hills to my new, temporary life.

When I pulled up to my apartment, I turned off my bike and took off my helmet, shaking my newly darkened curls loose. Surveying my surroundings, I took in the bar across the street, and the Crow's clubhouse just down the block. Everything was quiet and calm, but I had a feeling I was being watched. Not wanting to call any attention to myself just yet, I ascended the stairs in front of me and opened the door to my apartment.

It was sparse but comfortable and Tommy had made sure it was stocked with everything I needed during my stay. My favorite beer was in the fridge and the cabinets were stuffed with food that I would probably never eat. I was not much of a cook, and I preferred eating out as much as I could. In fact, it was time for lunch and my growling stomach told me I should check out the offerings at the pub across the street.

I looked out the living room window, which faced directly across the avenue. From up here, I had the perfect view into the MC's parking lot and I watched as three leather clad men walked past the chain link fence and out onto the street. They were smiling and joking with one another, and didn't look dangerous at all at first glance. But then I saw the big knives hanging from their belts, and the bulging muscles rippling under their cuts, and I knew that no matter how good a fighter I was, I wouldn't be any match for men their size. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that. I comforted myself by letting Tommy's words run through my mind assuring me that he would be right around the corner if I needed him. He promised he would be glued to his phone and ready to act in a moment's notice if I called him.

I tucked my cell phone into the pocket of my jacket and took the first step out my door and into the MC life. When I pushed open the door of the pub, I could feel eyes on me right away. I stood by the door for a moment to let my eyes adjust to the light, and then walked directly to the bar.

It was showtime.

“I'll have a shot of whiskey and a beer back. And a cheeseburger and fries, please?” The bartender could have been a biker himself. Tall and thick around the middle, his face was framed by a full black beard. His smile was friendly and jovial, and his eyes met mine as he brought me my drinks.