Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 156

Fixer POV

It was a struggle to get Sticks to listen to reason. Threats and bribes that didn’t work, but I kept giving them to her.

I was more than relieved when Prez said Sticks agreed to a nurse. We had one all lined up. Well, I didn’t organise it, but our club doctor suggested someone Sticks already knew, which would reduce the stress for a club member.

I left that room feeling much happier, knowing she would, sort of, behave. Happy Sticks made a happy Prez, and that flows to everyone else, whether they notice it or not.

‘I cleaned up the kitchen and headed to bed. Even though I achieved little off my list, I felt good about today.

Things were moving along, and for some reason, I was happy that Uncle Simon and Tandy had left. Uncle Simon would return back and forth, and they were both on the end of a phone call if I needed them. I felt I was under some kind of microscope when they were here; whether I was or not, that was real. I don’t know or care, just that with them gone, I feel I have a little more control of my life. I know I will stuff up, and often, but I need to have those failures without them watching closely, trying to catch me when I fall. Even a child needs to fall off the skates a few times before they get the hang of it.

Tandy sent me a message, and I reluctantly opened it while I sat in bed, waiting for Tank to finish in the bathroom.

‘Alice was in a car accident, and was in the local hospital, DNA reports, that I requested, purely because of her friendship with Zoey and Cricket. Just came in. It appears that Alice was related to them, not a sister, but a cousin, and her father was the Jones Gang president. Does that mean that Heather, whom I had thought was Alice’s sister, not her sister, or was she a snitch who managed to get into your inner circle? Waiting on Heather’s DNA results.’ end of text.

Wow, another avenue to go looking into, I hadn’t heard anything about Alice since the guys kicked her out, not a whisper. Which was strange, because Zoey was always quick to get in my face; could Alice have been sent home packing for not making it in the group? I haven’t seen Heather either, for that matter; she texts occasionally but hasn’t caught up with us in town yet. Might talk with Jenny and Melony, see if they have heard from Heather lately.

The way this was going, I doubt anyone was who they claimed to be, and it had been this way since childhood. That means this had been a long-term plan. Was this something from our grandfathers’ day, or beyond? When was the club first formed? Need to ask Prez to look into the club’s history, see if we can find any connection.

“What’s causing that frown?” Tank asked, climbing into bed beside me. I handed my phone.

“Time to get into the club’s archives,” I say, as he hands back my phone.

“This sure was getting confusing, and it all leads back to the Jones Gang. Looks like someone in the club’s past pissed someone off, and that grudge still lingers.” Tank rolled me over and climbed on top. Kissing my nose.

He captured my lips and nibbled my neck before a big yawn broke what was building. Tank pulled back and looked at me, watching me yawn again and chuckling.

“Better get some rest.” He climbed off, and I rolled over towards him, throwing my leg over his thigh, and snuggled into his warm chest.

My mind was busy, and sleep wouldn’t come; no matter how tired I was, the new information kept rattling around in my brain. Tank’s breathing slowed and deepened, and yet I still couldn’t get my head to rest. Giving up, I went to the bathroom, washed my face with warm water, grabbed a quick drink from the mini kitchen, and climbed back in, snuggling up to Tank’s warmth.

Sleep must have claimed me, because when I woke, I had drooled on Tank’s chest, leaving a wet trail. It was so embarrassing. I rolled over, grabbed a tissue, and started to wipe it off.

Tank’s hand suddenly grabbed mine.

“Hiding the evidence?” He chuckled, looking at me with a smirk.

“I am mortified,” I admit, as I try to finish cleaning him up.

Tank, Blaze, Zero, and I climbed into Tank’s truck, Prez and Tandy climbed into Tandy’s SUV, and a SUV with guards followed, as Tandy took the lead, being the one who knew where the place was.

“Blaze, why are you coming?” It didn’t make sense; He wasn’t family, was he?

“The Prez is my cousin, I am going to be there for him, and to support our family and club,” Blaze answers, with a little heat in his voice, the first time he had said anything since we greeted at breakfast.

“Didn’t know that, thanks, I understand more clearly now. Thought you would stay home with Jenny, being her first full day off.” That made a lot more sense. I thought Blaze was here because I invited Jenny to live with us; I had no clue it was family-related, too. I feel a lot better knowing he was family.

“Jenny is going to spend the day with Sticks, meet the nurse, and fill her in on Sticks’ medical situation, since Sticks won’t inform the nurse much and it’s easier for Jenny to use those big medical terms.” That sounds like Jenny; she was a people person, part of why she will make a good paramedic. I would want her at my side if I needed help.

We followed Tandy to the industrial area, to a neat, modern warehouse. From the outside, it looked like any other warehouse in this area, nothing said jails or holding cells.

The large roller doors slid open as we arrived, and we drove straight in. Inside, there were numerous guards, all armed, some sitting at a table playing cards, eating burgers, and drinking what looked like soft drinks, and relaxing. Others surrounded our vehicles and greeted us with a salute.

Climbing out, we were guided to a wall that slid open, revealing an elevator, and we climbed in. The lift took us down. The doors slid open to reveal armed men waiting, who greeted Tandy and me, then led us down a long corridor lined with doors on either side.

“Who would you like to see first?” A tall man asked when we were halfway down the corridor. He didn’t stop or turn around. He kept walking forward leading us deeper.