One Ride (The Hellions Ride) (25 page)

Things Change For Us All

Tripp comes out of my dad’s office.  That’s a good sign in itself.  He leaves to go visit Tank with the promise to be back when I get off work for the night.  How am I supposed to get any work done now with Tripp in town?  I want to be with him, not sitting in this office.  I’m drawn out of my musings when my dad’s office door opens.

“Until you and Tripp sort your shit, you got work to do Doll.  So do it.” 

And with that he leaves.  Left to my own thoughts, I get no work done.  Sort our shit, what does that mean?  What are Tripp and I going to do?  While I was away at college, my dad had an ol’ lady of one of the guys that did the regular bookwork, answering the phones and such.  Maybe he’ll do that again so I can go to Catawba.  Does Tripp want me to move there?  It would be nice to be closer to him.

Caroline would let me stay with her.  I could live with her and get a job.  Maybe Ryder needs a girl Friday for his garage or Dina could use a secretary for her company.  I have opportunities there and don’t need to depend on Tripp.  Forming a plan in my mind, I’m lost in thought when the front door opens.  Sass is walking in, looking tired and depressed.

“Hey.”  I greet standing up to hug her.  “Did you come to look at new places together?”  I ask nervously because I’m no longer sure I plan on staying here.

“No, I came to talk to you about that.”  She says settling in the chair in front of my desk.

“Okay, what’s up?”

“You know I’ve been seeing Nick since we got home.”  Yes, I knew this.  I tried to ignore it, but she was out with him all the damn time, except her early morning visits to Tank.

“Yes, I know who you’ve been seeing.”  Looking at her, the confliction is written all over her face.

“He wants me to move in with him.”

“Are you going to?  How does he feel about you being in love with another man?”

“Don’t be bitchy, Doll.  He understands my feelings for Tank.  He’s not once tried to stop me from going to be by my friend’s bedside.  He gives me the calm I need.  I can’t get wrapped up in all the Hellions stuff.”

“Is this really what you want?”

“This is my chance at normal.  I want to know what normal feels like.”  She’s pleading with me to let her go.

“Sass, I’m always here for you.  If this is what you want, then go for it.”

Tears streaming down her face, she comes over and hugs me.  After a few minutes she straightens back up.  She never smiles, though.  How can this be what she wants if it doesn’t make her happy?

“If you’re gonna move in with Nick, then I think I’m going to take a chance of my own.”

“I see that look in your eyes, Doll.  What are you up to?”  She’s my best friend, and of course, she knows my recent trip to visit Tripp.

“I’m going to see if I can get a job with Ryder or Dina and stay with Caroline until I can set up myself.  If Tripp and I are really gonna do this, I don’t want to be five hours apart.”

She squeals in delight for me and hugs me again.

“You two are made for each other, Doll.”

“He’s everything, Sass.  I can’t describe it other than to say that.  He makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.  And when he kisses me, it’s like time stands still.  I know it sounds like all that cheesy romance bullshit, but he brings that out in me.”  I’m unable to keep the smile off my face.

“You know he doesn’t normally kiss his women, right?”

“What are you talking about?  He kisses me all the damn time.”

“Not you.  The women he fucks, he doesn’t kiss them.  Rex told me once after we saw you two kiss.  Tripp doesn’t kiss unless it’s someone he cares about.  Maybe it’s the intimacy, I don’t know.  To Rex, it was a big deal every single time Tripp kissed you.”

“Hmmm…”  I say trying not to think of him with Carmine and saying he won’t kiss her.  He’s mine now and all that’s in the past.  We both agreed to try and I’m going to give this my all with no baggage.

“I’m happy for you Doll.”  Sass smiles over at me. 

We chat for a little while longer making plans.  Once she leaves, I start getting my ducks in a row to give things a real chance between Tripp and me.  I call ‘Vida’, she’s Ruby’s wife.  They have three kids, and he works in the Hellions garage.  She agrees to come take my position in the storage office.  Talking it over with my dad, he agrees to let her replace me if I want to move to Catawba.  My ducks getting in a row, I’ve got to talk to Tripp and see if this is what he wants.

The smell of the hospital makes my stomach churn.  It’s clean, like the smell of disinfectant, not one of clean, crisp, fresh air. Entering the building I feel suffocated.  The walls feel like they’re closing in as I look around the room.

Tank’s lying in the bed, tubes everywhere.  His head wrapped, his face swollen, and all life seems drained from him.  The steady hiss of the ventilator reminds me that my brother can’t breathe for himself.  The constant beeping of the machines keeping the rhythm of his heartbeat isn’t soothing.  Every sound is a distinct reminder that every second that goes by is another moment missed.  Tank is fighting to either wake up or succumb to the dark angel of death.

Sitting beside the bed, I stare for the longest time.  The nurse comes in and says to talk to him.  She claims he can hear us.  According to the nurse, the only time they see any change in him and it’s subtle, but it’s something, is when his one lady friend visits each morning.  There is a slight change in his vitals, but nothing bringing him out of this state.  No doubt in my mind that special visitor is Sass.  The nurse leaves and I’m still staring.  Memories invade of the good times I’ve shared with Tank.  He’s made a lot of runs with me for the Hellions.

“Tank, damn it, wake up.”  I begin speaking before I can stop myself.  “Sass is missing you man.  Don’t make her stress.  Hell, I’m missing you.  Wake up and shake this off.”  Nothing.  No movement, no change. 

I continue to sit there and blankly stare at my friend.  Thoughts invade of the brothers lost in the Delatorre fallout.  We can’t lose Tank too.  Thinking of Sass sitting here day in and out trying to bring him back to her, my chest hurts.  Time is short, tomorrow isn’t promised as Doll tells me constantly.

Making the call to Lucy isn’t easy, but doing it with Tank here, in his situation keeps it in perspective.  Deciding to forgive my mother isn’t an easy task.  The conversation isn’t long.  It’s straight forward.  It’s an agreement that she goes to rehab to get sober, and I will to get to know her when she’s cleaned up.  I want to know my mom for who she is, not the person she’s become because of the alcohol.

Finishing the call, I sit back.  Is Doll willing to leave Haywood’s Landing for me?  Is what we’re building strong enough for her to leave what she knows behind?  The more I ponder, the more I look over at Tank unmoving in the bed.  Watching him lifeless like this, and being helpless to do anything is killing me.

“You’re stronger than this.  You’re a mother fuckin’ Hellion.  Wake your ass up and let’s ride.”   I say over him, hoping for something.  He’s got to pull out of this.

Leaving the hospital, I’m lost for my brother, but I’m completely sure of what I want in life.

We Gonna Do This

Tripp spent the night with me.  Waking up with him feels right.  In a wild moment of passion last night I almost slipped and told him I love him.  It was on the tip of my tongue.  As much as I may feel for this man, I don’t know if he’s there with me yet.  Tripp is obviously giving me more than he’s given any other woman, but that doesn’t mean he’s in love with me. 

Insecurities build inside of me.  What the hell am I doing?  Walking away from everything I know and rely on for a relationship that’s one sided.  At least I will have Caroline there for me.  Moving from the bed, Tripp stirs beside me.

“Go back to sleep, babe.  I have to get ready for work.”  I say, trying to settle him back into his slumber.  Without a word, his arms snake around my waist, pulling me naked over to him.  Leaning over I kiss him gently.  “I have to go to work, Tripp.  This will make me late, you’re not quick.” 

“You want it quick, darlin’, I’ll give it to you quick.”  He says with a smile full of unspoken orgasms.

Maneuvering out of his hold, I jump up.  “Meet me in the shower and let’s see if you can make it quick.”

After our shower together, I make my way to my office.  I’m still feeling insecure.  Things are going on around me, everything is changing rapidly.  Sass is moving her stuff to Nick’s today.  Danza met him.  Given the situation with Tank, he’d rather Sass be with Nick than in this lifestyle.

Settling in for the day, I get organized to train my replacement.  Jenna Mariella Castillo de Natera, ‘Vida’ arrives not far behind me to start her first day.  She’s Ruby’s ol’ lady.  Her dark hair, natural tanned skin, and dark eyes all add to her Latina beauty.  She’s twenty-seven, but looks more like twenty one, and you can’t tell from looking at her that she’s had three kids. 

We start going over everything right away.  She’s a quick learner and great with the computer.  Considering my dad hates the thing, this will be good.  With Jenna here, I don’t feel like I’m abandoning him quite so much.

Around lunchtime, Tripp stops in.  I stand to meet him.  Immediately, he pulls me into one of his all-consuming kisses.  Forgetting everything but being in his arms, I moan as I melt into him.  He pulls away leaving me breathless.  He laughs, breathing on my ear as he whispers to me.

“Doll, you’re at work.  As much as I’d love nothing more than to take you right here in your office, on your desk, we have company.  No more moaning like that or I won’t give a fuck who watches as I take what I want.” 

Smacking his chest playfully, I pull away and purposely sashay my way to my desk.  I’m in jeans that hug my every curve, a tight fitting, scoop neck black shirt that shows cleavage, and my black heeled boots give extra swoosh to my swinging hips.  I feel him come up behind me, his arm snaking around my waist to pull my back into his chest.

“You’re playin’ with fire, Doll.  You feel what you do to me?”  He asks pushing his hips into me so I can feel his erection in my back.  “Apparently, I didn’t work you over good enough last night because you can still strut those sexy ass hips of yours.  Tonight, babe, tonight, I’ll make sure you feel me for days to come.”  He whispers against me before sucking hard on my neck.

I want nothing more than for him to bend me over my desk and take me now.  He loosens his grip around my waist.

“I came by to tell you that I’ll pick you up after work so we can go for a ride.  Gotta go back tomorrow, Rex needs me for a run.”

Turning to face him, I nod my head.  The thought of goodbye, even for a few weeks, saddens me.  He leaves after a quick kiss.

“You two are caliente.”  Jenna says to me, her Spanish accent and words coming out.

Smiling at her, I can’t help myself.  “Look at him.  It’s because he’s hot.”

“He’s hot for you.”  She says to me smiling from ear to ear.

“You think?”  I ask, my insecurities showing their face. 

“Doll, that man looks at you like you’re the only woman in the room.  You’re his vida, his life.”

“Is that why Ruby calls you Vida?  You’re his life?”

“Yes.”

Jenna and I spend the afternoon talking about work, men, and life in general.  She’s amazing as a mom, wife, and ol’ lady.  Before I realize it the day is done and Tripp is here picking me up.

Doll on the back of my bike is exactly where she’s supposed to be.  Nervous energy runs through me as we make the ride over to Cedar Island.  We stop for a quick bite to eat.  Then I take Doll down to the beach.  In boots, it’s not an easy walk for either of us, but I need to talk to her without any distractions.

Finding a spot, I sit down.  Pulling Doll to sit between my legs, her back to my chest, I wrap my arms around her.  We watch the ocean silently for a while.   Inhaling the scent of her hair, I lay my head into her neck. 

“We gonna do this, Doll?”  I ask as she leans back further into me.

“Do what, Tripp?”

“This Doll, us?  We gonna do this?”

“What are you asking me Tripp?”  She turns forcing me to look up and meet her eyes.

“I leave tomorrow, Doll.  I don’t know when my schedule will allow me a trip back.  We got shit to sort out before I leave.  I’m asking if we’re gonna do this?”

“Yeah, Tripp, I wanna do this.”

“You gonna move then?  With my business and club, I can’t leave Doll.”

Her face breaks out in the biggest smile.  She entwines her fingers in mine.  “What are you smiling about?”

“Well, I’ve sort of been thinking.  I didn’t want to be so far away from you.  Jenna was at the office today training.  I talked to my dad and she’s gonna take over my job.”  My smile must give her encouragement because she doesn’t sound as insecure as she continues.  “I talked to Caroline and I can live with her.  I’m gonna check with Dina or Ryder about a job.”  I lift my finger up to her lips to quiet her.

“Doll, you wanna move to Catawba?  For me?”

“Well, for us, yeah.”

“You ain’t livin’ with Caroline.  You wanna work that’s on you, but you don’t have to.  You wanna do this, you live with me.”

“Rex?” she questions.

“He’s been talking about getting a place of his own for a while.”

“You sure?”  Her face is one of panic.

“Never been more sure of anything in my life, Doll.” 

I lean down and kiss her with all the love I feel for her but can’t ever seem to bring to words.  The thoughts clutter my head as I continue to kiss her.  She’s been working on finding a way to be closer to me.  She’s done all this because I mean something to her, being together means something to her.  Pulling away, I rub my thumb across her bottom lip.

“We gonna do this, Doll?  You gonna live with me?  You gonna be my ol’ lady?  You know the club is part of me.”

“Yes to everything.”  She says in a whisper.  Tilting her head to me, I bring my forehead down to hers.  Eye to eye, nose to nose, I say what I’ve known for months now. 

“Love you, Doll.”

“Love you, Talon.”