The Black Aces MC Read online

  He stares out at the mountains and sighs; I take his hand and he looks over as I smile.

  "You're a good man for these boys and I'm sure she's watching down on you smiling at how good you've taken care of them. Just...don't forget about yourself."

  He smiles, taking in a big breath of air before exhaling. Cheetah sticks his head out from the kitchen door, "Hey Lyric, there's a man here to see you."

  Me? Who even knows I'm here? I walk through the house to see a tall man with blonde hair and grey eyes sitting on the couch. He stands when he notices my presence.

  "Miss Pullman?"

  "Yes?"

  He holds out his hand to shake, "I’m Dillon McDermott from Trisler & Scott law firm, I have been assigned to Mr. Adams' estate."

  "You mean Dave."

  "Yes, can we have a moment to speak about his final arrangements?" I motion for him to sit back on the sofa and I sit beside him. He was no Aleister, but he was handsome, and I found myself admiring his features.

  "Mr. Adams' will and testament was very simple and pretty straightforward since he had no family or children..." Some heavy boots came stomping in and then they stopped.

  We both looked up to see Aleister staring at us, well Dillon in particular, and he was not happy.

  Typical biker possessiveness, don't know how that works when he hasn't even staked claim, so I ignore him and continue my talk with Dillon, not even bothering to introduce him. He walks off somewhere.

  "Go on, Dillon."

  He shuffles some papers and nervously clears his throat. How cute.

  "Well to be blunt, Dave left the bar and all his assets to you, Miss Pullman."

  "WHAT?!"

  I didn't mean to yell and grab the attention of everyone, but I did not see that coming. That sweet man, my rescuer in my darkest hour, gave me all his earthly possessions and now I was responsible. I felt the tears start to form.

  Oh, Dave.

  Cupid was the first to come in, seeing he hadn't gone far since he saw us. I’m sure he was listening close by somewhere.

  "Hey, what's wrong?" He slides his arm around my waist and I quickly step out of his grasp and wrap my arms around myself.

  I see what you're doing there.

  "Dillon just told me that Dave left everything to me, including the bar. I own Cinnamon Alley."

  I’m ignoring that he’s trying to stare Dillon down and intimidate him, which he was. Dillon was moving uncomfortably in his gaze. He tried to remain professional, despite the fact.

  "Yes, and his insurance will cover the expenses of any remodeling or renovation you may need to re-open. Here is their contact information for any questions you may have and mine if you need assistance. The assets, if liquidated, total $350,000 not including the bar."

  I sat down immediately, in shock. He left me so much money and I could finally leave...then realization hit, and my heart sank.

  I look at Aleister and Dillon, getting up to shake Dillon's hand, "Thank you Dillon we'll talk again I just need to digest everything."

  "No problem, Lyric, if you need anything don’t hesitate to call." I look over at Cupid, he's not happy I got a guy's number in front of him but that's not my problem.

  "Thank you, I will speak to you soon." He nods and then looks between us before leaving.

  I run my hands through my hair as I pace the living room. Dave left me the bar and $350 grand. I could leave tomorrow for the beach and buy a nice home, but I couldn't shut down the bar, it's the only bar in town. It was my saving grace.

  "That's a stroke of luck, isn’t it? What are you going to do, Lyric?" I look at Digi whose childlike face was just so positive and innocent.

  I shrug my shoulders, "I don't know. I have enough money to leave this place and finally find my dream home on the beach...but..." I glance over, "I loved that bar and Dave loved me enough to trust me with his estate. I... I just don't know."

  "You can't open that bar, it's too dangerous. I won't let you..."

  I spin in the direction of his voice and raise a brow, "YOU don't have a say in this...what's it to you, anyway? What do you care, Aleister? Huh? You've been hot and cold this entire time and I'm tired of trying."

  You could hear a pin drop and feel how extremely awkward everyone felt, I didn't mean to bring it up in front of everyone, but I did. He doesn't say a word.

  "Whatever." I huffed.

  I didn't have time for this, I stormed out and walked to the bar, it wasn’t that far, or I was just that angry that I needed the distance. Besides, I needed to see the damage and if the place was even worth saving. If it isn’t, I can move away from this horrible place and the likes of him.

  LOCKED AWAY

  CUPID

  She walked away from me. I couldn't gather up the nerve to say I didn't want her to go, I hate to be so distant, but my heart won't open not after the ultimate heartbreak.

  Do you ever wish you could relive one moment in your life and change it so that what you lost doesn’t happen and you gain the ability to realize just how great love and happiness is?

  Well, I didn’t get to relive that moment and my mom never recovered from the pain of heartbreak instead she found another way to hurt.

  After Mr. Wellington and having her committed, mother seemed to come back to some form of her former self but not quite. She went from the 60's contoured sheath style dress to wearing tight leather pants and skirts, hanging out at Cinnamon Alley with the socially depraved. She became a social drinker and came in all hours of the night. And sometimes she was not alone.

  One night I went to check on her and there was my mother straddling the lap of Johnny Picardio and they were making out heavily.

  "Ugh, hello mother. Could you dial it back while your son is in the house?" She hops off his lap and he smirks at me. I knew instantly that I didn't like him, sitting there cocky and arrogant. He didn't move other than to wipe her signature lipstick off his lips.

  "Oh, hey baby. This is my friend Johnny, Johnny, my son."

  "I know who he is." His tone was sharp and caused me to turn territorial, she was an adult but not a functioning one when it came to men and she was my mother.

  She stands in front of me eyeing my clenched fists. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

  "Do I need a reason; I was making sure you're okay."

  "I'm fine, see? You can go now." She pushed me in the direction of the door.

  "Oh, no need to kick me out because of your pathetic little boy toy, I'm on my way out. Don't call me when he hurts you." I snatch my hand from hers and storm out.

  She was lovestruck again.

  LYRIC

  It's not so bad, the damage is fixable and after a good dusting and some rearranging it could be the live wire of this town again.

  "I didn't ask for a babysitter, you know." I look over to see Blondie leaning against the door frame and smoking a cigarette.

  "Not leaving you alone in this place and I promised I’d protect you. Now, I know you're upset at Cupid..."

  "Upset?! I'm fucking livid! Don't know why I should even care, we haven't even had sex yet."

  Okay, that WAS NOT supposed to come out.

  And his raised eyebrow said it all. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that out loud." He just nods exhaling the menthol smoke of his cigarette as I jot down a few notes.

  I look back at Blondie, "So what's your deal, anyway? You could be a world-famous model with your looks, yet here you are. What gives?"

  He flicks the cigarette away and steps inside the saloon doors.

  "I spent most of my life getting ragged on for these very same features that people consider beautiful now. I was drifting from Cali to Vegas then Tucson and one day I ended up here and nobody ragged on me hardcore, many were curious, thought I was albino. Reckon I should stay but I didn't have any money. So, I slept against the side of this bar when Jackal found me and offered me a place to stay. Been like a father figure ever since. That's my story, what about you?"

  My shoes step on broke
n glass and I take note, "Pretty simple, I had an asshole of a druggie boyfriend who stranded me here with nothing but my clothes and a phone. Dave took a chance on me, gave me a job, money to get my place, and I couldn't be more grateful that he did." I sniffle back the tears as I think about the crime scene and the cruel way his life ended.

  "What about your parents?" He sticks close as I continue to survey.

  I laugh out loud, "I don't have parents, parents show emotion, like love and adoration, what I had were guardians who couldn't even do that right. Me and my brothers fended for ourselves. I was their mother! While mommy was too busy climbing, and sleeping, up the corporate ladder, stay at home daddy was too busy drinking his sorrows away, reflecting on his failure and failed marriage, and taking his misfortunes out on us. He was jealous of mom's success, he knew she was screwing around, but we were the closest thing he could hit." I shrug my shoulders as I turn off the lights and walk past him.

  "Wow, that's deep."

  "Yeah...fucked up family to fucked up boyfriend, ready to go?" He simply nods.

  As we walk back, I see a familiar shadow by the entrance of the clubhouse.

  "Oh great, just when I had forgotten my troubles at home..."

  Blondie chuckles, "Kid's crazy about you just doesn't know how to express it." I just shrug, I don't even know what to say anyway. Blondie squeezes me into a half hug before heading towards the garage.

  I avoid the direct route as I wander side to side to give me more time to think of what to say.

  I think he knows what I'm doing so he beelines straight towards me, pulls me in and kisses me hard and deep. It feels like heaven and when I pull back, he's gazing at me.

  He's mouth-wateringly gorgeous.

  "Sell the place."

  Until he opened his stupid mouth.

  What the fuck, man?

  I step back because I feel my anger exponentially grow at that statement.

  "Fucking Christ, way to ruin a perfect moment! Here I thought you wanted to make up, but you just want to control my decision of what to do! You're incorrigible and for the record, I will NOT sell it and I WILL run the place after it has been renovated, do you hear me?!"

  It's a knockdown drag out fight in the front yard. I see a few blinds ruffle from different parts of the house.

  "No, I don't hear you because it's stupid and you're going to get yourself killed. You think Johnny's just forgotten about what happened? He's going to hurt you; he's going to hurt me by hurting you. I don't trust that bastard, never again."

  "What do you mean never again?" I saw a break in his tough guy persona before it came roaring back.

  "Doesn't matter, I won't allow it and that's final."

  I couldn't help but laugh, not a cute laugh either more like a 'you got to be kidding me' laugh, borderline crazy sounding.

  "That's cute, real cute. Listen here, I am going to open that bar after renovations and clean up, Dave trusted ME with his bar and his money. What I'd rather do is leave this godforsaken town in the dust and never look back to find my little love nest on the beach, but I won’t, and you know why? You, you overprotective neanderthal nitwit, I want to be with you! But you won't fully give me you and I'm tired. Tired of fighting and tired of holding my breath, so if you won't even try then I will bury myself in my work and plan out my next steps...including leaving here."

  I wasn't trying to cry, didn't want to show weakness but the tears welled up quickly.

  I tried to step past him, but he grabbed my arm and spun me around. "Don't! Touch me."

  "Is that what you want? To leave this place?"

  "No! I want YOU but it's obvious I don't have a chance, maybe you should get those slut bunnies back. I'm sure you'd like someone to make you feel good."

  I snatch away and storm into the house telling Digi I'd be in his room again.

  I hate feeling like this.

  STAYING OCCUPIED

  CUPID

  DAMMIT! I can't seem to say the right thing or anything at all. I know Jackal said to be honest and forthcoming, but that’s easier said than done. My memories are no fairytale and proof positive that love doesn't exist. I stomp back into the house and go behind the bar to grab a bottle of scotch and make myself scarce for a while. She didn't need someone like me but that doesn't mean I wouldn't watch after her since she insists on opening that bar.

  LYRIC

  It's been a rough but productive two weeks; I barely spend my free time at the house anymore. I have remodeled and redecorated Cinnamon Alley but didn't take away from the rough cowboy saloon theme, I only enhanced it. Adding two new pool tables, new bar stools and sturdier tables. Dave was right, there would always be a fight, so I purchased several handguns and a bat to stow in addition to his shotgun.

  I was doing a deep clean of the bar, I mistakenly wore a white tank top and distressed jean shorts with my cowboy boots. I wasn't expecting to clean, I wanted to see if I needed any more bar glasses. But with my frustration, one thing led to another and now I'm practically running a wet t-shirt contest after I washed and waxed the bar surface. I didn't even hear the doors swing open.

  "Excuse me, Miss, are you open?"

  I look up to see a rather well-dressed man in a dark gray three-piece suit, definitely out of place here.

  "Um, no not yet. We will open in a few days. Sorry, sir."

  He checks his watch and gives me a devilish smile. "It's okay. Sad I won't be here when you open but maybe next time I conduct business I'll get to see the place in all its glory and perhaps buy the pretty lady a drink."

  I watch as his eyes wander down to my soaked t-shirt and my cherry red bra. I cleared my throat; he was pretty handsome for a much older gentleman. He was tall with dark brown hair and an intense stare, he had familiar eyes even though I'm certain that I've never seen him before. The expensive tailored suit just wrapped him up in a pretty package.

  "Have a nice day, miss." I was broken out of my trance as I watched him walk out. He was definitely out of his element, wonder what he was doing here? No matter, I finished up cleaning and by 8 pm Digi was waiting to walk me home.

  "Are y-you and C-Cup-Cupid broken up now?"

  He is so adorable with his bashfulness around the fairer sex.

  "We were never together, dear, he made sure of that."

  "Is that w-why you're staying in my room?"

  "Sort of and I'm sorry for crowding your space, I really am. I can sleep on the couch if it's too much."

  "No! I l-like having you there, you're like the big sister I never had and... you help me understand about girls. I still don't think I could talk to a girl but I'm getting more comfortable talking to you so that's a win." He shrugs and I laugh, his innocence is pure and after hearing about how he was dumped by his group of so-called friends, we share a weird bond of being abandoned here.

  Dinner was ready by the time we got back, and I was starving. I walked in and all eyes were on me as I had forgotten about my wet t-shirt outfit and the bra was completely visible. Everyone looked then looked away...except him. He couldn't look away if he tried.

  "I have to change; I'll be right back," I tell Digi and he says he'll fix me a plate.

  I take a quick shower, find my grey leggings and a burgundy crop sweatshirt that shows the bottom of my lacy blue bra if I lift my arms too far up. I wanted to make him drool or suffer, whatever got it through his thick head.

  I bounce down the stairs and the crop top bounces up and down with me. I admit, I'm being somewhat evil but, nonetheless. I skip into the kitchen to see Digi and Cupid eating at the table and talking.

  Want to guess what it might be about?

  Yeah, me either.

  "Hey Digi, where's my plate?"

  "Microwave, Cupid warmed it up for you."

  Great.

  "Uhh, thanks." I grab my plate and a fork, "Hey, I'll be trying to master level 12 of Brick Invaders. Whenever you’re done you can show me how to get unlimited lives. Night!" I didn't feel like being in his presen
ce, all he was going to do was stare or try to get me to change my mind. It's not my mind that needs changing.

  CUPID

  "Well, did she say anything?" I knew she was close to Digi, like brother and sister especially since she's been in his room since the blowout.