Angels from Hell: A Biker Erotic Romance Read online

  “Charlie! I need to talk to you,” he says waving his phone. “It’s Ron.”

  Charlie looks at Shep, then back to me, clearly torn. “Sorry,” he says to me. “I’ll be right back.”

  Charlie jumps to his feet and hurries to the garage, closing the door behind him.

  ***

  Later that night, I’m walking back into Charlie’s bedroom after my shower when I hear Charlie and Shep talking softly downstairs. I pause at the top of the steps to listen.

  “She’s my sister, Shep.” Charlie says.

  “I know. And I would do the same for my sister. But…”

  “But what?”

  “Charlie. You don’t need any distractions right now. You need to stay frosty or you’re going to get yourself killed. Did you forget what happened Saturday?”

  “No,” Charlie says. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have gone Saturday, not after that long of a drive. But it was already setup. I had to go.”

  “I know. But that’s what I’m talking about. Look, Claire seems like a nice woman, but just having her here…I warned you, didn’t I? Look at you, you’re sleeping on the couch for Christ’s sake!”

  “Yeah,” Charlie agrees. “But there is nothing else I can do. It’s okay, Shep. We only need this one big score and we can quit. Just like we planned. She’s only going to be here three or four weeks. I can hold it together that long.”

  “I hope your right,” Shep says.

  ***

  Tuesday night, as I sit in propped in Charlie’s bed, reading, I hear the garage door go up again. I close my eyes, sick with dread. I hear the motorcycles start and settle into their heavy idle. When the bikes pull away, I can feel a single tear leak out of my eye as the garage door grumbles closed.

  I’m still holding the book, trying unsuccessfully to read, when Charlie and Shep return less than an hour later. They seem jubilant as they bang and rattle around in the kitchen.

  “You up for this?” Shep asks.

  “You bet your ass. It’s what we’ve been waiting on,” Charlie says excitedly.

  “Yes, mate, it is,” Shep says. “Tomorrow I will let the group know. Listen, I know we have talked about this before, but you need to kick Claire out of your bed. You need to be rested and ready to kick ass. We don’t want a repeat of Saturday. If that happens this time, you’re going to get your ass handed to you.”

  “Make her sleep on the couch?” Charlie asks. “Or are you offering your room?” he adds after a pause, laughing.

  Shep chuckles. “I know who got the looks in your family and the brains, too. I don’t think she will give me a second look. Or, are you suggesting I sleep on the couch?”

  Charlie laughs with Shep. “That’s because she has good tastes. It’s fine, Shep. The couch is comfortable enough. Besides, if she’s down here, she is really going to be in the way.”

  “I know, Charlie. Despite the fact you never listen to me, I like you. I don’t want you to get hurt. Or killed.”

  I hear Charlie chuckle. “I listen to you. Sometimes. Don’t worry man, I got this.”

  “I hope your right, Charlie. I hope your right.”

  ***

  The next two days are perfectly normal. No late night trips, no mysterious conversations, and no secret phone calls. I even begin to warm up to Shep, a little. He can be very charming when he wants to be. He seems to be going out of his way to try and win me over. I still don’t trust him though. I wonder what he and my idiot brother have gotten mixed up in.

  Friday evening, over dinner, Charlie invites me once again to join him for a ride.

  “We’re going to cruise the Cherohala tomorrow. Why don’t you come along?” Charlie asks.

  “Do come along, Claire,” Shep says. “I promise not to let anyone think we’re sleeping together,” he says with a grin.

  “Is that what you have been telling everyone?” I ask, my voice flat.

  “I have never said we are sleeping together,” Shep says, his grin growing wider. “I just haven’t, uh, denied it, exactly.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means-” Shep begins.

  “It means,” Charlie says talking over him with a grin, “that he refuses to talk about it. But, people think you two are sleeping together anyway.”

  “Thanks a lot you two. Now people think I’m nothing but a harlot,” I snap, annoyed that even my own brother won’t stand up for me.

  Charlie chuckles. “Now don’t get mad,” he says. “If Shep were to deny it, everyone would be sure you two are sleeping together. You know how it is. The more you deny something, the more people think it must be true. It’s better to just not talk about it at all and that is what Shep is doing.”

  There is a certain logic in what Charlie says, but I still don’t like it. On the other hand, if I go with Charlie and Shep tomorrow and just ignore Shep, maybe people will…. “Okay. I accept,” I say.

  “Great!” Shep says with a big smile. “Gives me a chance to show you I’m not such a bad bloke.”

  ***

  Saturday morning Charlie gets me geared up for the ride. I start out in shorts, a light top, and sneakers, but Charlie sends me back for jeans. I have nothing to replace the sneakers and top, so those remain. I do slip on a jean jacket. “Can you hear me?” his voice sounds in my ears.

  “I can,” I reply into the microphone dangling in front of my lips.

  “I think we’re ready then,” he says, cranking the bike over. Its thudding heartbeat is muffled by the helmet Charlie has provided. I hear Shep’s bike rumble to life and we roll out of the garage. I have ridden behind Charlie one other time, years ago, and he scared the shit out of me. Now, I find he is a confident, careful rider. We work our way through traffic. We are on our way to meet the rest of the Kings who are going on this cruise.

  We pull into a restaurant that has about fifteen bikes parked in front. Shep and Charlie wheel their bikes around and back them beside the others. “Big group this morning,” Charlie says, as he pulls his helmet off.

  “Yeah,” Shep agrees. “First decent day for riding this year.”

  Inside, Charlie introduces me to about twenty people. Most are wearing King of Chaos jackets. A few of the woman are wearing attire similar to mine, although I think I am the only person there wearing sneakers instead of some type of boot. We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, talking and laughing. Everyone goes out of their way to make me feel welcome. I am once again struck by how…normal...everyone seems. Not at all how I imagined a biker gang or club would be.

  With breakfast over, we hit the road. We ride sedately along some of the most beautiful roads I have ever seen. The wind in my face, the smell of open country, the relaxing thrum of the bike, all conspire to make me forget my troubles. “Charlie,” I say into the mic.

  “Yeah?”

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  “What do you mean?” Charlie asks, clearly puzzled at what I’m talking about.

  “I found the money. I’ve heard you and Shep talking.”

  “What? Are you snooping now?” Charlie asks, his voice hard.

  “No. I was just seeing if we needed more mayonnaise before I went to the store. Then, I overheard you and Shep talking after my shower the other day.”

  I hear Charlie’s breath roar in my ears as he sighs. “Nothing to worry about.”

  “Is it drugs?” I ask, my heart in my throat.

  Charlie chuckles. “Is that what you think? No. It’s not drugs. Mom would come back and haunt me if I were involved in drugs.”

  “Okay, so it’s not drugs. But it’s illegal, isn’t it?”

  Charlie doesn’t answer for a long time. I wait him out. “Better you not know. Is it illegal? Yes, but it’s not what you think. Listen, Claire, there are a lot of things that are illegal that don’t hurt anyone. We sped most of the way here from Green Bay. That’s illegal, but it doesn’t hurt anyone. Hell, I’m doing 55 in a 45 as we speak, so I’m breaking the law. What I’m doing is kind of lik
e this. Illegal, but not really hurting anyone.”

  “I heard Shep say you could die.”

  “That’s right. I could. We could get hit by a car and killed around the next corner, too. Don’t worry about it, okay? There are no drugs, knives, guns, or anything like that involved. Nobody is being forced to do something they don’t want to do. We’re just out having a little fun, that’s all.” He reaches back with his left hand and pats my leg. “Don’t sweat it, okay?”

  Talking with Charlie makes me feel a little better. At least it isn’t drugs, which is what I thought it was. But try as I might, I can’t figure out what he might be involved in. No matter how much I beg, he won’t tell me anything else. I finally give up and begin to enjoy the rest of the ride. I find that I like the feeling of freedom while I’m on the bike. The seat and ride are surprisingly comfortable, too.

  “Huh-oh,” Charlie says slowing rapidly.

  “What?”

  “I think we have a tire going down.”

  As we slow, I can feel the bike moving in an odd way, like it isn’t rolling straight anymore. Charlie wrestles the bike along until we find a place wide enough to pull off of the road. We were last in line. By the time I dismount, Shep and a couple others are slowing down, preparing to turn around and check on us.

  “What’s wrong? Oh.” Shep says looking at the bike. He pulls out his cell phone. “No bars. You want me to go get you a tow?”

  “I got it,” Charlie says, looking at the bike as if it has insulted him. “I have a plug kit and a compressor-”

  “Can I help?” I ask, interrupting Charlie.

  “No thanks, Claire. I just need to find the hole and plug it. Hang on a minute, Shep. Chuck, if y’all want to go on, Shep and I can handle it,” Charlie says, addressing the other two men that came back with Shep.

  As they ride off, Charlie begins to bark orders. “Shep, help me muscle this bitch up onto the center stand.” Charlie grabs the bike. Shep gets on the other side. With a grunt, they lift the bike up, allowing the rear tire to spin freely.

  Charlie lies down the ground and begins to turn the wheel. “If I can’t plug it, you’ll need to get me a tow. Otherwise, I’ll just fix it here. It’ll be quicker and easier. Ah, there you are, you bitch. It’s a screw,” Charlie says getting to his feet.

  “You can fix it? Here? On the side of the road?” I ask, impressed.

  “Yep,” Charlie confirms. “Why don’t you ride on with Shep? Depending on how long it takes to fix, I will either catch up or see you at home.”

  “I don’t know, Charlie,” I say.

  “You don’t want to just stand around and listen to me cuss at the bike do you?” Charlie asks with a grin.

  “No, but-”

  “Claire,” Shep says. “I’m harmless. I won’t bite. Promise.”

  I’m torn. I don’t want to ride with Shep, but I don’t want to stand around and bake in the sun either. It’s so damn hot in North Carolina, even in early April. “You’re sure you don’t mind if I go?” I ask Charlie. “Do you mind if I ride behind you?” I ask turning to Shep.

  “Actually, I feel better with you going,” Charlie says. “One less thing to have to worry about if this goes badly.”

  “I would be honored to provide the lady a lift,” Shep says gallantly.

  I wipe at the trickle of sweat forming on my brow. “It’s so damn hot!” I complain. “Okay. Thanks, Shep.”

  “Just wait until summer,” Charlie says with a grin.

  ***

  I crawl onto the back of Shep’s bike. The bike is similar to Charlie’s, but not nearly so comfortable. Once Shep gets on the road, he rides hard for thirty minutes or so until he catches the rest of the Kings. I still have on the helmet that Charlie loaned me; but, I have no place to plug in the wire, so I can’t talk to Shep.

  The group pulls over at a small gas station and everyone dismounts. Shep fills the group in on Charlie and there is a brief discussion about going back to help. When Shep asks who among them thought they could fix Charlie’s bike if Charlie couldn’t, it elicits a laugh from the group. They decided to proceed with the ride. Shep assures them he will check on Charlie if he doesn’t catch up or isn’t at home when we get there.

  I lean against Shep’s bike, sipping my soda, sweating like a pig, and rethinking my decision to move south. “Shep, will you tell me something?” I ask.

  “Sure.”

  “I was talking to Charlie about what you two are doing. It doesn’t sound safe to me.” I say, trying to sound like I know more than I do.

  “He told you?” Shep says in surprise.

  “Well, I had to wheedle it out of him, but yeah he told me.”

  “Then, he must have told you we do everything we can to keep the riders safe,” Shep says.

  Now, I’m stuck. I don’t have a clue what to say to that. “Yeah, he said that, but he didn’t say how,” I finally say, mentally crossing my fingers.

  “We sweep the corners. We put people at the crossroads and corners on the circuit. We watch for the cops. A couple of the Kings are EMTs. They are always there with their equipment. Not much else we can do. That’s why people come here. Good roads and we take it seriously. We don’t want anyone hurt.” Shep grins. “Well, nothing but their pride anyway.”

  “Their pride?”

  “Yeah. They think we are a couple of country bumpkins. Until they get here and Charlie blows them into the weeds.”

  It finally clicks. “You’re racing?” I say, louder than I mean too.

  “Yeah. What did…” Shep begins, then pauses. “He didn’t tell you, did he?” he says sourly. “You played me like a wanker.”

  I smile tightly. “Yeah, I guess I did,” I say, then I soften. “I’m sorry, Shep. I had to know.”

  Shep sets his mouth in a hard line. “What are you going to do? Turn in your own brother?”

  “What’s your involvement in this?”

  Shep clams up, but as I stare at him waiting for him to answer, he relents. “I’m his manager,” Shep says, making tick marks in the air with his fingers when he says manager. “I set up the races. Make sure the track is ready. Hold the money, etc.”

  “Where do you race?”

  “Not far from here, actually. We call it the Mini-Man, after the Isle of Man race. There is a section of road about ten miles from here that forms a fourteen mile loop through a national forest. There aren’t any roads that cross it. We start the riders two minutes apart. One lap, fastest time wins.”

  “You do this in the middle of the night? Is that where you go?”

  “Can’t very well do it in the middle of the day. That would be dangerous,” Shep says with a grin.

  “You think this is funny?” I snap.

  “No. I think you are over reacting,” Shep says just a firmly. “Charlie is natural. He’s never lost. Well, not since he started winning. He wears armor. Except for racing at night, he’s as safe as he would be on a race track. Almost,” Shep finally admits.

  “Why is he doing this? For that matter, why are you?”

  “We’re going to go into business together,” Shep says. “We’re going to open a custom bike shop. Charlie is going to build them, I’m going to run the business.”

  “You?” I ask in disbelief.

  “What? Don’t think I can do it?” Shep says with a smile. “I have a MBA, I’ll have you know.”

  That surprises me. “And you are racing to raise the money?”

  “That’s right,” Shep says. “Banks look at us and laugh in our face. We can do this. Charlie Decker’s reputation is getting around. We have people ride up from Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, you name it. They all come to have Charlie work on and customize their bikes.”

  “So Charlie is going to build the bikes and raise the money to open-”

  “Not all of the money, Claire,” Shep interrupts. “I sold my car and my house to raise my portion. That’s why I live with Charlie. I have $125,000 sitting in an account at the bank, wai
ting for Charlie to get his. Claire, I’m not trying to take advantage of your brother. He’s my best friend. We joined the Kings at the same time. We watch out for each other. When I found out Charlie was street racing, I tried to get him to stop; but, he wouldn’t. I knew he wanted to open a shop, so we hatched this plan.”

  I pause to think, my mind swirling. “You have a name for this adventure?” I ask.

  “Blue Mountain Cycles,” Shep says. “I have a complete five-year plan at home if you want to see it.”