Significance, Satan's Attitude MC (20 page)

Elena held out her hand. Violet grabbed it. “Oh, it’s beautiful, Elena. I’m so happy for you both. I never thought Whiskey would be happy with anyone.” She dropped her hand and hugged Elena.

“Vi, do you think you could help me with shopping today? Whiskey said we’re going to get married at the Wedding Chapel and I know exactly what I want to wear.”

“I’ll be glad to take you, but you’ll want to go register first.”

“Oh, and I’m also supposed to tell you,” Elena remembered, “that I’m not company and Rebel wants to eat in his kitchen.”

“Screw Reb. I like to eat in the dining room. Now, what did you have in mind to wear?” Violet poured Elena coffee and handed it to her.

Elena sipped the coffee. “I want to wear black leather pants and a silky lace shirt. I’d never buy them normally, but for my wedding, I will.”

Violet looked at Elena and spoke seriously. “Hun, Whiskey can afford to buy you a lot of leather pants. You can wear a dress if you want. I can get a party together in forty-eight hours, trust me.”

“No, I want leather and lace, and we’re hiding the marriage until … Oh, hell, let Whiskey explain it to you. Do you need help bringing food to the table?”

“Yes, grab that platter of bacon and I’ll be out with the eggs. Whiskey better explain this to me,” Violet muttered angrily.

They ate while Whiskey explained his plans to Rebel and Violet. She wasn’t happy there wouldn’t be a party, but she understood the reasoning behind it. Violet insisted that she was going shopping with Elena and that Whiskey couldn’t see what she was wearing until their wedding. He finally gave in and Elena went up to shower. Violet went to check with Maude about Brandon and ask her to watch him.

* * *

R
ebel sat back and rocked on the chair, knowing Violet would yell if she saw him. “You got a good woman, Whisk. I’m glad I had that talk with you.” He started to laugh as he thought about Books reading the meaning of significance to Whiskey. “She’s sane, at least, and you won’t be cleaning up her messes. I’ve got the feeling she won’t take any crap though.”

Whiskey shot a look at Rebel. “I don’t fuck around like you do. I swear you do it just to piss Violet off. One day, she’s going to put a bullet in your ass. Who do we have to follow them shopping?”

“I promised Vi no more fooling around. Lemme think who is on my shit list today. I think we’ll send Voodoo and Gripper. Now that Zero is with you, Gripper better get used to Violet. Voodoo wants to go with you. Seems a dancer named Nikita caught his eye up there.” Rebel drank the last of his coffee and went to make his calls.

Whiskey sat there and thought of what he’d do while Elena shopped. He needed to say goodbye to Shannon. She’d been buried in her family’s plot in an old church cemetery. He doubted there would be a reason to go back there again, but he’d take her favorite roses and place them on her grave. He’d kept his promise to love again. She would be happy and he smiled, thinking he’d kept that promise to her.

* * *

T
he next forty-eight hours passed by in a blur.

Rebel insisted on taking Whiskey to the clubhouse for a small party to congratulate him on becoming New Jersey’s state president and reinforcing the fact that Whiskey was indeed still his national Vice President. If anything happened to him, Whiskey would take over Satan’s Attitude MC.

Violet had taken Elena to her favorite shops and Elena had gotten everything she wanted to wear—even a new pair of boots that Violet thought looked great. They found barrettes with various lengths of feathers trailing down from them and decided they would be perfect on each side of Elena’s head. She would wear curls in her hair because Whiskey had liked them so much.

The wedding was planned for right after lunch because Whiskey and Elena had to head back to New Jersey. Since Voodoo was coming, he’d drive the ladies in his truck to the Wedding Chapel.

The Wedding Chapel in Elkton was a stone-faced building and very old. Countless weddings had been performed there. The ceremony was fast and Whiskey loved Elena’s wedding outfit. She’d be getting more leather pants since her ass looked so good in them. 

Promises were made to see each over as soon as they could. Elena and Whiskey headed back to New Jersey as husband and wife to begin their new life.

Early Spring

1976

T
he winter had been a bad one for the shore area, but for Elena and Whiskey, it had been a happy one. He had the schoolhouse turned into the clubhouse and his plans were all coming together. Wolf and his boys were onboard and he was pulling together a strong, large chapter. The Drop Inn was giving Dirty Deeds a lot of competition. Rebel and Violet were due to come up today and Elena was getting Penny to come give her a tattoo later in the afternoon.

Joy burst into the house and looked at Elena. “I think we need to talk. Jersey is tired of dealing with us,” she announced.

“As long as you didn’t talk shit about my ol’ man, you could have come here anytime, Joy.” Elena was feeling tired and wanted her to go back home.

“I found this letter in one of Jersey’s drawers and it is addressed to you.” She held out the letter and Elena recognized Hunter’s handwriting.

She took the letter and muttered, “It’s from Hunter.”

“Read it, Elena. You’ve always bitched he didn’t leave you a letter.” Joy couldn’t wait to hear what Hunter had to tell Elena. Maybe she would come to her senses and get rid of Whiskey.

“You don’t understand, Joy, and I don’t know what it will take for you to get that Whiskey and I are building a life together. We’ve got the girls. We’re happy. I should just burn this damn letter.”

Joy was horrified. “I’ll read it if you won’t, Elena. It might be something important.”

Elena folded the letter and slipped it in her back pocket as Jersey came through the door.

“You had a letter from Hunter and never gave it to me, Jersey?” Elena sounded hurt.

He turned and glared at Joy. “What the fuck are you doing going through my drawers? Elena, Hunter had told me to give it to you at the right time. I never could figure out when that was. Maybe you ought to burn it. You’re happy now.”

Elena walked into her bedroom and hid the letter away in a safe place.  She could hear the other couple arguing as she came back into the living room.

Joy’s eyes blazed at Jersey. “Maybe if you had given it to her instead of hiding it away, we wouldn’t have to deal with Satan’s Attitude all over the farm. I was putting away your winter clothes, by the way. I was not
snooping
.”

Elena had enough. “Sit down, both of you. I see this isn’t working out. I own the house at the beginning of the lane. Hunter left it to me. The renters moved out. If you want to live there, I’ll do a rent-to-own deal. It’s much nicer and we’ll still stay partners in the track horses. You’re not interested in these horses on the farm. As a matter of fact, the money you put down here, I’ll apply to the other house. I can also sell you a bit of the land that backs up to this farm if you want some horses up there. You’d have to clear it. Jersey, it has a big garage. It’s a good deal, you should take it.”

Jersey knew the house and looked at Joy. “It’s a good house for us and it’s a good deal, Joy. I think we should go look at it.”

Elena walked to her desk and got the key and tossed it to him. They left finally, and she sat down and hoped they’d move as soon as possible.

Whiskey came in and looked at Elena. “I saw Jersey and Joy here. What the fuck did she want?” He sat down next to her and rubbed his hand over her stomach protectively.

Elena looked into his eyes. “She found a letter Hunter left with Jersey for me. I put it away. I don’t know if I want to read it. But maybe I should keep it for Rhiannon.”

Whiskey was pissed. It seemed he would never be rid of Hunter. “Elena. I’m not comfortable with a letter from him in this house. Either read it … or get rid of it.”

She got off the couch and went to get the letter. Sitting back down next to Whiskey, she looked at Hunter’s writing. She carefully opened it and took out the letter. Whiskey watched her read it.

Elena,

If you’re pissed at me, I’m sorry. I loved you too much to have you take care of me and see me grow weaker. You are the love of my life and I hope you’ll be the love of another man’s life. You deserve that kind of love. Whoever you pick, I hope he’ll treat you better than I did. I always meant to tell you how much I loved you from the day I saw you and brought you home… I was a stupid man and I regret that. I know I said I love you but I should have said it so many more times while I had the chance. Rhiannon is beautiful like her mother and I wish I could see her grow up. I hope you’ll tell her about me and keep Thorn in her life. I figure you might hook up with Thrash but if you don’t, I hope you’ve found your true love, baby. Thank you for all the years of love you gave me. Be happy. That is all I can hope for you.

Love, Hunter

Silently, she handed the letter to Whiskey to read. He read it and handed it back to her.

He cleared his throat. “Put it away for Rhiannon. She may want to read that someday. Hell, maybe Thrash should read it. At least he wanted you to be happy, darlin’. When is Penny coming? I know Violet wants to see her.”

Elena was folding the letter and putting it back into the envelope. “I’m waiting for her anytime now. Are you really getting my name tattooed on your heart?”

“Of course I am. You’ve made a new man outta me and you’re in my heart and soul darlin’.”

* * *

P
enny stood next to Thrash, watching the waves crash on the beach.

The wind was bitter. Standing there made her cold. She had a tattoo appointment she needed to get to. Things with Thrash were good. She lived for the moment, but she felt they were both finally happy with each other. She knew he’d be pissed at who she was tattooing, but she couldn’t say no to Whiskey. It seemed like Thrash wanted to stay on the boardwalk, so she left him there and went back across the street to the shop. By the time he came in, she’d be gone and have a lie for where she went. She packed up her tattoo stuff and left through the back door.

* * *

E
lena lay on her stomach as Penny tattooed the words “Property of Whiskey” on her lower back. Penny had insisted it be pretty with fancy lettering and scrolls.

“Thank you for coming, Penny. I needed this done as soon as possible. My doctor wasn’t happy I was even getting the tattoo, but I know Whiskey wanted it.” She lowered her voice. “How’s Thrash?”

“I guess he’s okay. I’m falling in love with him. He doesn’t know it yet. He doesn’t talk about you anymore. I hope he’ll leave you and Whiskey in peace. I’ve never seen Whiskey so happy. Even Zero was nice to me.” She concentrated on finishing the tattoo and cleaned Elena up and bandaged it. “I can’t wait to see Violet and Rebel. You know how to care for the tat?”

Elena nodded yes, and Penny went out to the living room to do Whiskey’s tattoo. The gun was soon buzzing and Elena’s name was over his heart.

Zero opened the door for Violet, Rebel, and Brandon. It was like a whirlwind when Violet saw Penny. They were hugging and crying and laughing. Penny fell in love with Brandon and kept him on her lap.

Whiskey finally got everyone’s attention. “Elena and I have something to tell you. She’s going to have a baby, and we’re hoping to have a son. I don’t want to be like Gringo with a bunch of girls.”

Elena walked out of the bedroom to a round of applause and Penny warned them not to hug Elena because of her new tattoo.

Rebel and Whiskey asked Penny to come into the kitchen while Violet and Elena talked.

“We bought a tattoo parlor and want you to run it, Penny.” Rebel was blunt. “You’ve learned enough from Thrash and we need you to have your own place. You’ll be able to get information for us on other clubs.”

Whiskey saw her face fall. “Penny, that man isn’t for you. Trust me, after what I heard him say to Elena, you don’t want him. You’ll be a half partner in this shop. Think about it.”

Penny didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want a shop without Thrash. “I don’t know. I’ll have to take a few days and think it over.” She looked at Rebel. “How many days are you here for?”

Rebel was annoyed and his eyes showed his anger. “As long as it takes.”

She looked at the time and realized she’d been gone for hours. She walked into the living room and grabbed her stuff and shoved the stencils she created into her bag. She hugged Violet and told her she’d be back the next day.

As she pulled away, Rebel looked at Whiskey. “I need to make a call to make sure Honey is still working for us. She should be. Last time I talked to Devious, she was. After that, I’m calling Tramp. Penny isn’t turning us down.”

Whiskey pointed to the phone. He and Zero went out on the porch to talk.

Zero said what Whiskey was thinking. “I hope he doesn’t find out she was here. I don’t like him or his brother. Maybe Indigo and I should ride up there and be in the area.”

“Yeah, I don’t have a good feeling about this. She was here too long, but it’s Penny, and she can lie her way out of anything.” Whiskey watched Zero head over to the trailer and went back inside.

* * *

T
hrash was in a mood.

Nobody knew where Goldilocks had gone and he was worried about her. She was like his shadow and he didn’t like not knowing where she was. It infuriated him.

Her car pulled up to the front of the shop and he watched her get out of her Cadillac. She had a bag slung over her shoulder and she was rushing to get inside.

“Where were you all day? Gone for fucking hours, Goldilocks.” Thrash tried not to sound angry, but failed.

“I had to do some tats for the girls. I told the guys I’d be gone.” She didn’t look him in the eyes and he knew she was lying to him.

“Bullshit. Where the fuck did you go for hours?” He grabbed her bag and she held on to it, but the contents started to fall out. Penny grabbed for the gun while Thrash stared at the stencil that floated to the floor. “You tatted Elena, didn’t you? How the fuck could you do that to me? I love her and you know that.” His eyes burned into Penny and she was scared.

“I did it because she loves Whiskey. They’re married and she’s having his baby. I thought we had something here. I guess I was wrong.”

Thrash grabbed her and shoved her hard against the wall. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? You knew and you didn’t tell me? I can’t believe this! There is no ‘you and me’. It was fucking, plain and simple. I thought you were smarter, but I guess not.” He didn’t let her go, but kept staring into her face.

The door opened and Zero and Indigo walked in. Thrash looked up and snarled. “Get the fuck out.”

Indigo walked toward him. “Let go of her, motherfucker. She is Satan’s property, and you don’t touch her.” He pushed Thrash hard and Penny had the chance to run to Zero.

“I got ya, babe. Whiskey thought he might get nasty. Come on, let’s get your clothes while Indigo talks some sense into him.” He took Penny’s hand and pulled her toward the back door and the stairs that lead to her apartment. They grabbed bags and tossed her clothes into them.

“Zero, where am I going to go?” Penny’s world had just fallen apart.

“My place until we get you moved into the apartment over your new tattoo shop. You’ll love it. It’s named Pynk’s Ink.” He gave her the assurance she needed.

* * *

I
ndigo looked at Thrash with scorn. “You changed, I never saw you put hands on a chick. What the fuck are you thinking? Rebel hears about this, he’ll put a bullet in you. She’s as good as a daughter to him.”

The door opened and Tramp walked in. He took in the two bikers glaring at each other and wondered if Thrash had fucked up again. Nobody said anything until Penny and Zero walked back in.

Thrash looked at her and saw the hurt in her eyes. “Goldilocks, I’m sorry. I want you to stay. You don’t—”

She cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it. You called me stupid, but I’m far from it. I have my own shop now. Sorry the apartment is a mess, but I’m outta here. If anyone was stupid, it was you, Thrash. I’m going to ruin you. I’m better than you are now. Too bad it had to end like this, but it was always going to end.”