The Biker in Lace

Chapter 3.

The first leg of their trip was only an hour away so when they arrive at the residence of one of the Arch Angels M.C. members, the sun is just setting, colouring the sky in an orange hue the rays of the sun painting golden streaks across the sky. The small, but neat house with white walls and blue trimmings belonged to one of Mr. Michaels' best friends and previous vice president of Arch Angels M.C. Dave Duncan.

They had a tradition in the Arch Angels M.C. that the president's first born son would become the president and if he does not have a son older than twenty one by the time of his passing the president's brother would take over or the closest family member that is male and older than twenty one as long as the surname stays Michaels. The vice presidency has always belonged to the best friend of the president and they too needed to be over twenty one. If the president passed away the vice president would automatically step down for the new president's best friend. The result being that the president is Josh's and Bradley the vice president.

In the Falcon Pride M.C. the next in line of the presidency is the vice president from the age of twenty one. When the president retires or passed away the eldest child becomes president and does not have to be male like in Lacy’s case. The vice presidency always belongs to their eldest child or next of kin. The only age restriction is eighteen for members to join and become prospects which everyone has to go through even the president’s children if they wish to be part of the M.C. When the president pass away before the next in line is at the right age one of the Cavanagh family members steps in until the prospect becomes of age. All members of both motorcycle clubs needs to be prospects for at least two years, then they get voted in or out by the president, vice president and the one that nominated the prospect before becoming a member or not.

Dave Duncan was a big man with a beer belly that hangs over the top of his dark blue jeans and showed under his black t-shirt. His leather colours with the Arch Angels M.C. emblem on the back hang loosely over his shoulders the one thing all members had to wear at all times in public. His scruffy looking hair and the greying beard he has makes him look rough and domineering. A friendly smile forms around his lips as the three bikers swing their legs over their bikes almost in unison. He knows the Cavanagh girl just as well as all the other members of the motorcycle club as well as the rivalry between the two vice presidents. They caused great entertainment for both motorcycle clubs, where ever they went fun times was expected. When Dave heard that Lacy would be joining the two boys on this trip he had the inkling of suspicion that this trip maybe disastrous. He has nothing against Lacy, but Lacy and Bradley together is like oil and water and everyone knows they never work together on anything. This could just get a bit more interesting as these two most certainly will have to work together by the end of tomorrow. After they greet each other and exchange pleasantries Dave invites the kids into his study where they can calmly discuss the plan that they need to execute in the next few days.

As they were told Dave's wife, Tracy is a cousin of one of the Beastly M.C. members, the club that they needed to get into in order to find Ethan Cole. Dave was able to arrange a meeting with said cousin, Clive. Clive sits on the windowsill with his back against the windowpane, one leg bent with his elbow resting on it and the other one hanging down, his whole demeanour looked mean, evil and slimy, just what you would expect from a gang member willing to do anything for his boss. His dark brown waist length hair is oily and unkempt. He is tall and slender with a thin face and crooked nose. His eyes are a dull green and glossy like someone that drank himself into oblivion.

A shiver runs down Lucy's spine as she shakes the man's hand in greeting. His eyes roam her body and he licks his lips to show that he likes what he sees. Instantly Josh takes a step forward and shield Lacy with his body, the look in the man's eyes told him that Lacy was in great danger near this man. Bradley also saw the look in his eyes and for the first time in his life he felt the urge to punch someone for the sake of Lacy. The feeling did not sit right with him as he did not like her, but she was a girl after all and he was taught to keep all women save. She might not be his favourite person, but that does not mean that he likes others mistreating her or any other woman. Bradley flanks Josh successfully blocking Clive's view of Lacy. Lacy feels grateful for their protection even towards Bradley although it does come as shock to the core of her being. Never had she ever felt grateful towards Bradley before and somewhere in her mind she starts to think that maybe he is not always a Jerk.

When they take their seats Bradley is the one that takes hold of Lacy's elbow and steers her to the chair the furthest away from Clive. Fighting the urge to yank her arm away from him Lacy gnashes on her teeth. Josh takes the seat between Bradley and Clive keeping his eyes on Clive. Bradley sits down next to Lacy and then he pulls her chair closer to him, swinging his arm around her and leaning it on the backrest of her chair, giving Clive a glare that said back off. Lacy's eyes look like saucers and Dave struggles to keep the chuckle that rise up his throat at bay. Bradley does not even realise the protective way he treats Lacy all of a sudden and when Josh gives him a questioning look, his face form a confused furrow between his eyes as he shrugs his shoulders. Lacy tries her best to just ignore the jerk beside her and focus on the men talking about the plan.

"Okay, so I understand that you would be infiltration our gang?" Clive starts and point to Josh to indicate who he is speaking of. Josh nods and then Clive continues with an ugly smirk. "You should really get a makeover, boy. The gang would smell your preppiness from a mile away."

"Preppiness is not a word." Josh automatically corrects him without thinking. He has a thing with words that do not exist. Clive gave an amused laugh and leans his head back against the windowpane.

"Ai, man you need a lot of work. You. Do. Not. Correct a Beastly." He emphasizes the do not part and sighs as he stands from the windowsill. "If you don't act and look like a Beastly you will not be able to pull this off. If I'm wasting my time you better tell me now. They would literally kill me if they know I am helping you. You are just lucky they never saw you and don’t know how you look." The way Clive talks makes Lacy think of a snake. Clive moves closer to Josh as he speaks his eyes serious and narrowed. "If you break your cover it is all on you. You dig?" He asks and bends down to look Josh in the eyes.

"Yes, Sir." Josh’s voice is strong as he answers without flinching at this intimidating man in front of him. Clive stands up again and gives a mean laugh. Shaking his head he walks back to the windowsill.

"You better leave your manners at home kid." He takes out a cigarette and lights it letting it dangling from his lips as he continues to speak. "First we need to get your appearance a bit more scumbaggy.”

“Again, not a word.” Josh huffs in between Clive’s words, earning him a glare from said speaker.

“Hair, clothes, piercings to your ears and eyebrows would help. Do you have a tattoo?" His muffled voice comes through the fog that clouded Josh's brain after the word piercings. He is distractingly rubbing his earlobes as Clive speaks, imagining the pain and burning sensation already.

“No.” He shakes his head distractedly still hung up on the piercing thing. "No, Clive I do not have tattoo's." He replies more firmly and meets Clive's eyes.

Not once did Clive take his eyes off of Josh as they talked. No one noticed that he did not include anyone else in the conversation either. "We need to get you a few even if it is those stupid semi-permanent ones. Unfortunately the piercings would have to be real the fake ones does not work with pulling the helmet from your face." Clive lazily blows the smoke from his mouth, still giving Josh a calculation look, before he turns his attention towards Lacy and Bradley. "The two of you need to act like husband and wife, unless you don't mind being the whole gang's woman." He states again looking at Lacy with a sly smile and a lift brow.

"What?" They both say in unison. Instantly Bradley moves his hand from Lacy's chair as if it caught on fire resulting in hitting her against her head. Lacy turns her head at him and gives him an appalled look, while she rubs her head. They both ignored the last sentence and the look he gave Lacy as their brains were still stuck on the words husband and wife.

"You are such a butthole. That hurt." Lacy focuses back to Clive, unhappy with the turn of events. "Why do we have to act like a married couple?"

"Because my dear it's either this or the newest stripper at the club house and believe me they do not just want you to strip in there." Clive says flatly, rolling his eyes.

"I say let her go as the stripper. She wanted to come along and it can't be too hard for a harlot." Bradley says from beside her and gets a slap from Lacy against his head. “She can just go back to where she came from too.” He snarls, still not happy that she tagged along. Lacy just pulls her face before sticking out her tongue at him and then with a huff she focuses her eyes on the table in front of her.

"What's the deal with you two? Don't tell me it's one of those 'I act like I hate you, but I actually can't life without you, because I love you' relationships." Clive asks with a frown on his face as he motions with his hand between the two of them.

"It's an 'I act like I hate you, because I truly can't live my life with you, because I hate you' relationship." Bradley says flatly as Lacy rolls her eyes before shooting Clive a murderous glare for even asking such a stupid question of course they don't love each other.

"Well, you better start getting along with each other, because there is no other choice than to pretend you guys are married." Dave intervenes and gives the two a stern look.

"Why can’t I be married to Josh instead?" Lacy asks with a pleading look on her face, pretending to love Josh would come naturally.

"Josh has to be single and available so he can get close to Ethan's daughter.” Clive retorts rolling his eyes. “Ethan will trust him more quickly if his daughter likes him and you have to pretend to be married so Amy will not get suspicious and think there is something going on between you and Josh when you spend time together. He will also need to spend lots of time with her so she can trust him enough to share her secrets and a married man cannot do that even when the gang has no morals they do not mess with each other’s woman." Clive snaps irritated.

“But won’t the man w***e be more suitable for the job then?” She argues again.

“No, because this is Josh’s mission.” Clive states angrily as Lacy folds her arms across her chest and slumps back in her chair with a scoff turning her head away from the men. "Now if you don’t mind we can sort out the rest out tomorrow and leave for the first campsite in the afternoon. You have been to a rally before, right?" Clive asks doubtfully.

"Yes, Clive we've been to rallies before." Josh says in a bored tone, this man's snide assumptions about them are starting to get irritating. "You know why I'm here so obviously we have been to rallies before, so stop treating us like snot nose children."

Clive sneers at Josh and then continues with an undermining tone. "You guys are gonna be so over your heads with this and you don't even realise it. These guys are not like your average guy on the street wanna be biker. These oaks are mean and unkind and rude, though to the bone and ruthless. They steal r**e and murder as they please. They don’t have respect for women and treat them as objects. You better be prepared to stay close to your friend and protect her as you would protect yourselves. Especially you Mr. I hate her. You cannot leave her alone for a second. This is not a joke and you better be prepared to face your fears, because you're entering a nightmare." Clive stands up from the windowsill and without a look back at the three he walks out of the study leaving them deep in thought.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Dave asks from behind his desk. The seriousness of what will be their future is pressing down on them like a thick cloud.

"I have to." Josh says with a sigh and shakes his head. "If you guys don't want to, I'll understand and go on my own. I know this is too much to ask from you especially you Lacy. I am really afraid for what might happen to you. Please stay." He begs as he looks her in her eyes, but even before she spoke, he knew what she would say.

"I know you are afraid that I would be in danger, but I need to be there with you Josh. Your father was like my second dad. I too need this closure and I need to help you find it." She says sincerely, pleading with her eyes that he will not make her stay.

"I can't believe I am going to say this, but for once in my life I have to agree with Lace. I have to do this too." Bradley says as he drops his head in his hands while resting his elbows on his knees to emphasize his reluctance to admit agreeing with Lacy. “So, Mrs. Jones are you ready to do this?” He tries one last time to get Lacy to back out of it, but again it does not work as she just pulls her face at him as an “ugh” sound comes from her mouth.

"Okay, so I guess there is no way to talk any of you out of this is there?" Dave sighs as he push his chair away from the desk in front of him, the old wooden chair groans under his weight and for a second Lacy thought the chair just might give in. Standing Dave gestured for them to follow as he leads them out the study to the living room.

Dave's wife and children are watching a show on television as the four of them enters the room. Tracy was a beautiful blond woman with a slender frame. Her hazel eyes are always friendly and her clothes always neat and clean, but casual and relaxed. They had three sons all with their mothers blond hair and hazel eyes, but the facial features of their father. Lacy remembers all the times she helped Tracy at the rallies or charity events to watch the three hyper active boys. Thankfully they started to calm down a few years ago as the youngest turned twelve this year. The eldest is a prospect for the Arch Angels M.C. Tracy is a few years younger than Dave and only got married when Josh turned five. He was the ring bearer at the wedding and his father the best man.

They all greeted each other and Tim the eldest son goes to fetch them all a beer and cool drinks for his mother and brothers. Clive is nowhere to be seen and Lacy has this eerie feeling about him that she just cannot place. He scares her, but yet there is something pulling her to him. When Tim returns with the drinks he gives Lacy a wink as he hands her the beer. Bradley sniggers where he sits across from her and sees Lacy's face contorts into shock. Don't get her wrong Tim was a handsome boy, but it was just that he was just a boy to her and a few years younger than her. She pulls her face at Bradley as smirking Tim turns around to give the rest of them their drinks. Josh gives them a warning glare before continuing his discussion with Dave. Bradley can only imagine what the kid did as he could only see Lacy's shock on her face and the large gulp she took as the kid turned around with a smirk plastered on his face, but just the thought made him cringe. Sure Lacy is quite beautiful, but her personality sucked in his opinion and that made him pity the poor kid and his hormones.

Clive only turns up when dinner is served and what he looks like now is like the opposite side of a coin. Lacy even had to give him a second look to make sure it is him. His untidy and oily hair was washed and braided and even though he still had a bit of stubble it suited him, his clothes did not have holes and rips in them and was clean. Even his crooked nose fits perfectly in his narrowed face as the look on his face is open and friendly. His eyes shine like green emeralds and are kind. There is no trace of the scruffy and evil demeanour they saw earlier. Lacy's jaw drops as she takes this version of Clive in. He is one of the most handsome dudes she ever saw and feels bad for the judgement she made earlier as she could now feel why she was so pulled into him earlier. His eyes are like magnets. The Clive in front of them was someone she was used to, every day, ordinary and just like them law abiding.

Clive slowly lifts his hand and gently press on Lacy's jaw to close it. "We don't want you to catch flies now do we?" He asks with a hint of playfulness. His smirk is back, but instead of the ugly one this one is sexy and heart-warming. The spot where he touches Lacy's chin catch fire and Lacy pulls away instantly. Her eyes trained on the green orbs that sparkle.

"Uhm." Bradley clears his throat, he felt uneasy to see Lacy's face light up at the sight of Clive. The look in her eyes felt like a stab to his gut and he wished he knew what it meant, because it could definitely not be jealousy. "You mind if we pass." He says in a rude voice and Lacy jerks back to reality.

Clive gave Bradley a smile that says he knows something Bradley did not as he gestures for him to pass, as Bradley passes Clive he frowns at the look in Clive’s eyes, but Clive just smiles and focuses back on Lacy. Josh moves beside them and wiggle his eyebrows at Lacy when he catches her eyes. He had a knowing look in his eyes indicating that he caught her reaction towards Clive and it made Lacy blush beet red.