“Bet?” Yuki suggests. You want things in here, the best way to get them is by winning bets. That’s how the trade of the world is in here. I’ve scored a lot of shit winning bets. I should go to Vegas when I get out; try my luck with actual cash instead of cigarette, playboy, and pills.
I eye Geo, deliberating his pros and cons. He’s huge, like a sumo wrestler, his fat making him strong, but his large size makes him slow. Sandler is tall and skinny, making him an easy target, but he has muscle in his arms, and he’s quick. If he’s quick enough, he could win easily.
“Yeah, I got two packs of cigs that Sandler wins,” I bet.
“Oh, dumb move, brother,” Yuki laughs, clearly happy with gambling on Geo.
Sandler wraps his arms around Geo and pulls him downward, wrapping his legs around Geo’s upper body. Geo stands up, slamming into the back of the wall and falling on his back, giving Sandler his opportunity. Sandler grabs Geo by his head and bashes it into the concrete floor, causing Geo to go limp.
“Pay up, bitch,” I remark arrogantly, holding my hand out for payment.
“Fuck, I didn’t see that coming,” Yuki mutters, shaking his head.
“Break it up!” a guard yells, banging his nightstick against the bars.
“Fucking pigs,” Yuki curses, turning back to his bunk.
“Four more weeks,” I grumble, pushing away from the steel bars.
Jessica
I lay on my surfboard and stare up at the bright blue sky, the sun casting heat on my sweaty body as the waves slowly take me back to shore. One more week and Bobby will be home. Hell, I feel like I’m in prison too. All I want is to touch the scruff on his face, run my hands through his blond hair, and hear the nonsense from his cocky mouth. Never having Bobby not there for me before is hard. It was easier to walk away from him before as I knew he would always be there when I needed him. Having him in jail, however, and away from me 24/7 is torture. I’m going insane.
To admit I have given love a second chance, to put myself out there deliberately, knowing fate could terminate my scarred barrier of strength, causes me to take a sudden breath, shock riddling through my core. I don’t know if I’m stupid to allow myself to become so vulnerable, or if I’m simply along for the ride. My impending future now out of my control.
In the last three months, I have accepted the club as family and taken Addie to meet everyone. I can still see Bull and Shadow’s stunned face when I pulled up to the club, Addie riding with me in my Jeep.
“Bull, Shadow, this is Addie, my daughter,” I explained, running my hand down Addie’s long blonde hair.
Bull’s eyes were so wide, his eyebrows nearly met his hairline. Shadow just stared at her with his mouth apart in awe. They were both shocked I had brought Addie to them. I thought I was protecting her, keeping our distance, but really I was keeping a family that would go to the end of the earth for her, at arm’s length because of my own selfish fears.
“Nice to meet you,” Addie said sweetly, holding her hand out to shake. Her white sundress flapped in the wind as she looked up at the two burly men.
“Well, hello there, darlin’,” Bull greeted, shaking her hand. He squatted down, getting eye level with Addie and beamed one of the most sincere smiles I have seen on Bull.
“Hi,” Shadow responded, shaking Addie’s hand. His face was tense, looking between Addie and me like he couldn’t believe I’d actually brought Addie to the club.
“My have you grown,” Bull muttered, eyeing Addie intently. Addie smiled and swayed back and forth as both Shadow and Bull stared at her.
A wave pushes me with force, forcing me to open my eyes from the memory and cling to the sides of my board.
I was surprised with Addie’s confidence when she met Bull and Shadow. I thought she would be nervous meeting a bunch of rugged bikers, but actually, Bull and Shadow seemed more nervous than she did.
Every one of the ol’ ladies took to Addie quickly, going on and on about how much she looked like me, and if I’m not mistaken, I think Dani’s son, Zane, already has a crush on her. Thank goodness, their age gap will never let that go any further than a crush. Dani encouraged me to bring Addie by her dance studio for ballet, and of course, Addie was more than willing to take her up on that offer.
I sit up on my board lazily and see I’m only feet from the shore. Members of the club are standing around and talking, some of them around the grill cooking and laughing. This is the first get together I brought Addie to, and so far she seems to be loving it.
Wading out of the water, I tuck my board under my arm, and head along the beach to the group.
“I can give you something to ride, hot momma.” I look over my shoulder and spot a pack of guys with their surfboards staring at me hungrily. Their bodies are tanned beyond healthy, and their hair is bleached from the sun and ocean.
“Keep talking and your mother is going to be riding to your funeral,” I sass, shifting my board under my arm, glaring at them. They stop laughing, looking at me as if I’ve clearly lost my mind. To be honest, I have. Waiting for Bobby to get out has been torture all on its own.