I thought Buck noticed, but he didn’t do anything to prove it. He just gripped the chopper’s handlebars and carved out a path to the rival gang’s hideout.
It was probably near an hour-long ride. I didn’t mind the time; I enjoyed being driven again.
The tavern we pulled up to was in much better shape than the one Buck owned. The neon sign stood prominently by the road, inviting us inside.
As we turned into the lot, we were met by several members of the rival gang. All of them brandished a weapon of some kind, and I felt helplessly unprepared. Buck seemed unfazed by all of it as he parked in the middle of the entryway.
“Which way is that prick, Connor?” he asked.
A few of their number seemed to be preparing to attack, but a shout echoed out from the tavern.
“I’m in here,” he shouted.
The two of us pressed onward. I stayed close enough to Buck that I could smell him, which really wasn’t that close, if I was being honest. I wrapped my arm around his.
The inside of the bar was quite nice. The tables were mostly new, the bar was decently lit, and they even had a pool table in the back that didn’t appear to be missing any balls.
“You beat up two of my boys,” Buck said.
“And you fucked my sister,” Connor replied.
“Yeah, but she wanted it,” Buck barked out.
“I didn’t,” Connor said.
“And what does that matter to me?” Buck asked.
“It should mean everything. I have enough guys here to wipe your small club off the map.”
Buck laughed. “But you wouldn’t all make it back.”
A girl walked in and sat next to Connor. I could only assume it was Gracie. She was a petite thing, and I was surprised Buck hadn’t broken her in half when they’d slept together.
I wondered if that was what Buck preferred now, petite women. He had always seemed more interested in full-bodied women when we were together. Not that I would consider myself very busty in any way, but I still had curves. More guys liked me for my long, taught legs, though, and even I thought they were my best feature.
“You Gracie?” I asked the girl.
“That’s my name. Now what does an old worn-out hag like you want with me?” she asked spitefully.
I wanted to break her, and Buck could tell. He threw an arm in front of me and shook his head no. I understood what that meant right away, and Buck always made good on his threats.
“I’m glad I got to see the little slut Buck spent the night with,” I said. “Now I know what a broken condom looks like.”
Gracie went red in the face and dang near leaped from her seat to strangle me. She would have if Connor hadn’t held her down.
Connor and Buck just seemed to share a laugh, watching us girls duke it out. It probably did well to diffuse whatever animosity was between the two men. Still, the more I looked at Gracie, the more I could see the man Buck was. It was as though I were staring at every woman Buck had ever slept with while we were an item. It only served to make me fume.
“Tara, get your ass outside. This is between me an’ Connor. I don’t wanna listen to a shouting match between two bitch seats.”
I exhaled, trying to rid my lungs of the fire that was building. I knew Buck was right. Taking his advice, I marched out of the bar and took a seat on his bike.
I was interested in hearing what was going on, but a nagging feeling in the back of my head told me Buck wouldn’t like knowing he was being spied on. I shuffled nervously in my seat while the rest of Connor’s gang eyed me like a pack of ravenous wolves.
If anyone in Buck’s gang were to eye me like that, they’d be missing teeth and memories. Buck always made me feel safe, no matter where I was. Even now, I knew nothing would happen. But I still didn’t want to wait too long.
The door swung wide and Buck strode out, tucking his shirt into his pants.
“I think we figured it out,” he said.
“That’s good.”
“I’ll tell you all about it on the way back,” he added.
He got onto his bike, and after I returned to my usual place behind him, he took off down the road. I heard Connor shouting behind us, but paid it no mind.
Buck didn’t say anything for a while. He was a stoic man, rarely discussing matters with the gang; it was nothing new. I broke the silence after we hit the halfway point.
“Are you going to tell me what the plan is?” I asked.
He didn’t respond right away; it appeared he didn’t have the words.
“Buck, if it’s bad news, you should tell me,” I said.
“Gracie wouldn’t let up,” he said, “so I told them I was gettin’ hitched.”
I gave his back a puzzled look. I’d never imagined him getting married. I hadn’t even know he was dating someone.
“Who are you gettin’ married to?” I asked.
“You.”
I started chuckling at his obvious joke, but that changed when I noticed he wasn’t joining in on the laugh.
“You’re kidding, right?” I said.
“Nope,” he replied.
I was trying to piece it together in my head, but it still wasn’t making sense. I began to feel faint.
“Buck, stop the bike,” I said.
“We’re almost back—”