27-Crow
1022 Words
~CROW~
The sun was a harsh slap in the face as it crept over the horizon, the light spilling into the bar and revealing the mess of the previous night. I rubbed at my eyes, the hangover not nearly as bad as the mess in my head. Oceano. What the f**k had I done?
I knew I needed to talk to her, but every step felt like I was walking through quicksand. She had changed everything, and I wasn’t sure I liked the taste of the world as it shifted under my feet. But as much as I tried to ignore the pull she had on me, I couldn’t. She was in my blood now, a part of me. And I had to make sure she knew the score.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice gruffer than I meant it to be. She was behind the counter, wiping down the sticky residue of last night's whiskey with a damp cloth. She looked up, her eyes red and puffy, and I felt a twinge of something unfamiliar in my chest. Guilt? Concern? f**k, what was I supposed to do with these feelings?
"I'm fine," she said, her voice shaky. She was lying, and we both knew it. But I didn’t push it. Not yet.
"Look," I began, leaning against the bar. "I know things got... complicated last night."
Her gaze met mine, filled with a mix of anger and hurt. "You think?" she snapped, throwing the cloth down.
"I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into," I said, trying to keep my cool. "This life isn’t easy."
"I'm not a child, Crow," she retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can handle it."
"You're a part of this now," I told her, my voice firm. "And that means you're a target."
The room grew quiet, the weight of my words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. She took a deep breath, nodded once. "I know."
The tension between us was thick, a tangible thing that made the air feel heavy. I didn’t know if this was a good or a bad thing, but I did know that I couldn’t let her go. Not now. Not when she was all tangled up in this mess with me.
"Come with me," I said, holding out my hand. She took it, and the feel of her skin against mine was electric.
Turning to Rouger, I ordered, "Hold the bar down for few. We'll be back."
At his "Sure thing, boss," I led Oceano out back, to where my bike was parked. "I want to show you something."
We rode out to the edge of town, the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces. When we arrived at a clearing in the woods, I killed the engine and climbed off. She followed, looking around with curiosity.
"This is where we train," I told her, gesturing to the makeshift gym hidden among the trees. "This is where we become stronger."
Her eyes widened as she took in the scene, the muscular bikers sweating and grunting as they punched bags and sparred with one another. "What are you saying?" she asked.
"I'm saying that if you're going to be with me, you need to be ready for anything," I said, turning to face her. "You need to be able to protect yourself. And I can teach you."
She searched my face for a moment before nodding. "Okay."
It was a small victory, but it was a start. I could see the determination in her eyes, the fire that mirrored my own. And as we drove back to the bar, I knew that no matter what happened next, she wasn't going anywhere.
~OCEANO~
Crow’s words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the reality of the world I’d stumbled into. I knew the risks, the dangers that came with being associated with the Renegade Riders. But as the bar grew busy again, and the sounds of laughter and camaraderie filled the air, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging. These were my people now.
But as I watched Mel avoid eye contact with me, I felt a pang of guilt. I’d promised her I wouldn’t let things get complicated, that I wouldn’t get involved with her dad. And yet here I was, knee-deep in the kind of mess that could tear us apart.
"Mel," I began tentatively as she passed by with a tray of empty glasses. "We need to talk."
She stopped, her eyes flashing with anger. "What's there to talk about, Oceano?" she spat. "You slept with him. End of story."
I reached out, but she pulled away, the tray clattering against the counter. "It's not like that," I protested, my voice cracking. "I...feel something for him, Mel."
The air between us was charged, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. "Look, I don't want to lose you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mel sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know," she said finally. "But you're playing a dangerous game, Oceano."
"I can't help what I feel," I repeated.
We stood there in silence for what felt like an eternity, the clinking of glasses and murmur of the bar patrons the only sound in the room. Then she looked at me, her eyes filled with a sadness that made my heart ache.
"Just be careful," she whispered. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
~~
As the days turned to nights, I threw myself into training with Crow and the other bikers. They taught me how to fight, how to handle a gun, and how to read the room. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
But no matter how much I learned, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was living a lie. Mel's words echoed in my head, a constant reminder of the promise I'd made to her. And yet, every time Crow looked at me with that fiery gaze, every time his hand brushed against mine, I felt alive in a way I hadn't in years.
- Writer
