“If you ever happened to answer your phone, you would know shit,” Sex Piston said snidely.
Diamond avoided her sister’s eyes, going to her mother for an explanation as she started to pull her hair up off her neck.
“I was doing that,” Sex Piston snapped. Diamond’s hands dropped away and she went to sit on a chair as Sex Piston resumed fixing their mother’s hair.
Silence filled the room as Sex Piston worked her mother’s hair until it was on the top of her head and fell in curls against the back of her neck.
“Why did they merge?” Diamond asked.
“Because Joker and Ace can’t handle the club. They had a couple of fights three months ago and several of the members were seriously hurt. They can’t handle the club without your father and your father doesn’t want the responsibility of the club every day anymore. His heart isn’t as strong as it used to be; the doctors said, if he doesn’t take better care of himself, he’s headed for a heart attack.” Her mother’s voice wobbled on her last words.
“Stud and your pops have been friends for years, and he asked him if they were interested in merging. He said no, but he took the Destructors on as a charter of the Blue Horsemen.”
“So basically the Destructors are no more?” Diamond couldn’t believe it. She had thought they would be like cockroaches who could survive a nuclear blast.
Her mother looked close to tears. “It’s for everyone’s safety. If Joker and Ace can’t protect the club, then someone could get killed with their attitude. They can’t back up their brothers.”
Diamond had known all along that the younger members weren’t up to the standard her father had expected, although she had, of course, kept that knowledge to herself.
“How do the Destructors feel about the change?”
“Oh, I think the men are all happy with the change. Most of them are followers, not leaders,” her mom said, her smile returning as she put on lipstick.
“The women?” Diamond questioned, but she didn’t need to really. Sex Piston’s face said it all. She was the leader of the women. If she wasn’t happy then her crew sure as shit wasn’t.
“They’ll adjust.” Her optimistic mom said, picking up her bouquet from the dresser. Diamond couldn’t help the smile curving her lips at her sister’s mutinous face. “The Blue Horsemen don’t let their women become involved in club business and usually, uh...” Her mother’s face turned red. “They don’t talk back to the men with disrespect.” Her mother cast Sex Piston a censorious look.
Diamond could just bet the hostilities between the women of the Destructors and the Blue Horsemen was quickly becoming legendary. With their father the President of the Destructors since their birth, Sex Piston had pretty much been allowed to do anything she wanted and her crew were just as bad.
Having met the Blue Horsemen when she was investigating Knox’s case, she didn’t think the arrogant bikers were going to tolerate the attitude of the women. It was going to be interesting to see who would win the forthcoming battle. As much as she hated to admit it, from firsthand experience, the Blue Horsemen wouldn’t be able to deal with Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch and they sure as hell wouldn’t be able to deal with Killyama.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Don’t take all fucking day, I got shit to do.” Killyama’s voice on the other side of the door only reinforced her thoughts.
“I’m ready.” Her mother smiled, taking each daughter by the arm. Diamond opened the door, walking slowly down the hallway into the crowded room where one of her father’s friends was going to marry them. Diamond couldn’t help wondering exactly how legal the ceremony they were participating in was; she hoped the man had done the necessary paperwork. Pushing those thoughts away, her eyes drifted to her father as he turned around and Diamond’s breath caught at the expression on his face. All the love he felt for her mother was there for everyone to see.
When they drew near, her mother moved forward to stand beside her father. He turned, hugging Sex Piston as Diamond drew away to go sit down. Her father grabbed her hand, stopping her as Sex Piston stepped away. He pulled her close and Diamond stood stiffly in his embrace before he released her.
“I love you, Diamond.” Her father’s voice sounded strained with emotion. Tears filled her eyes as memories from her childhood surged through her mind, reminding her of the special bond they had once shared.
Diamond didn’t say anything as she stepped back to watch the ceremony.
It was short and sweet, and when it was over, they kissed like they had never kissed before with cheers and raucous comments from the audience. Her parents broke apart with a raucous comment themselves.
Diamond winced, going to get a beer from the coolers set up on tables against the wall. Pulling one from the ice, she noticed Crazy Bitch already had one as she stared back at her.
“You look all choked up with emotion, Diamond,” she said sarcastically.