One
DARCIE
Panting, I stopped for a second, needing to catch my breath. I’d always thought I was in shape, but apparently, ‘run a moderate timed 5K’ in shape and ‘run for your life’ in shape were two different things. Go figure.
A snap had me jumping, and I took off running again, cursing the leopard print boots that had looked amazing earlier with my outfit.
“Stupid cute boots; why couldn’t you be more functional?” I hissed under my breath as I came out of the trees I’d been trampling through. I’d hoped it'd be a good enough diversion, but it had only slowed me down as much as the person chasing me.
When I finally made it to the street, I sagged in relief, hoping to blend in with the crowd of tourists. It was Friday night, and a festival was going on. People littered the streets, giving me excellent coverage as I weaved in and out of them. Glancing over my shoulder, I didn’t see my pursuer anymore, and I smiled in relief.
Turning down a familiar street, I picked up my pace, needing to only make it a few more blocks, and I’d be home free. My heart raced, my skin covered in a layer of sweat in the summer heat. I didn’t dare look at my make-up, already feeling the eyeliner and mascara sweating down my face. My hair was damp on the back of my neck and felt lifeless as it hung there. I desperately yearned for a shower, but I knew this would be worth it in the end. I was so close.
With throbbing feet, I stomped up the stairs, the lethargy sinking in with each step I took. That had been a close one. Pulling out the keys, I unlocked the door and stepped into the place that had become a second home to me.
My father sat in his chair, his legs spread wide as he regarded me. His long beard hid most of his face, and the rest was obscured by the hand placed there, covering his mouth as he watched me.
I stood, waiting to hear what he’d say. The monitors blinked behind him, the buzz from the servers a soothing sound. Shuffling on my feet, the tiredness in my limbs and the need to wash the stink off got the better of me, and I folded.
“Well? Did I pass?” I asked, biting my lip.
The door opened behind me, my pursuer entering to stand next to me. He knocked into my shoulder, and I smiled, taking the encouragement for what it was.
My dad stood, walking toward me. Hank Preston was an intimidating man. He had to be in order to control the Mississippi Mavericks—the motorcycle club he was President of. For most people, motorcycles were either a hobby or a nuisance; for us and others, they were a way of life.
They were everything.
Hank gripped my arms, pulling me forward. “You were almost caught, but you were able to outsmart him in the end. I thought you were done for when I saw what you were wearing today.” He gave me a disapproving look, but I shrugged, smiling.
“Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for cute footwear.” I beamed at him, pleased he wasn’t yelling. My dad grunted, the corners of his mouth lifting a smidge.
“Well, Mad Dog, what do you think?” my dad asked, using the road name of the man next to me. “Do we have another graduate of the MCD program?”
I looked at the guard next to me, the man as familiar to me as my dad. He’d been around most of my life in some fashion, either visiting with his family, or when he’d come to go through the program himself. He was only a few years older than me and had become the son my father never had. Mad Dog peered down at me with his dark blue eyes, assessing me. Despite being close, I knew he’d never go easy on me. Neither of them would risk it for my pride.
It wasn’t a matter of passing, but life and death.
If they didn’t believe me to be ready, then I’d go back through like I had three times before. But this time, it felt right. This time, I’d felt strong and in control.
“I think she’s ready, Pres,” he finally said. My shoulders relaxed, and I breathed out, a huge smile spreading across my face. My dad pulled me into a hug, holding me tight.
“I’m so proud of you, peanut.” When he held me close, I knew it was my father—the softy—speaking, and not the hardass Pres. “I thought I was done for when your mother gave me a girl, but you’ve shown me how strong a woman can be in this world. I still worry about you, but that’s a father’s right. I don’t want to let you go, but at least now, I know you can handle yourself.” He kissed the side of my head, and I pretended not to feel the wetness that dripped down his face.
Turning to Maddox, I wrapped my arms around him as well, needing his approval. “Promise you didn’t go easy on me?” I whispered so only he could hear.
“Promise. You’re too precious for that.” He squeezed me tight, pulling back a little. “Now, go shower. You stink, Runt.”
Sticking out my tongue, I giggled as I skipped off to the shower. I didn’t care that he called me that today or told me I smelled. The only thing that mattered was I’d officially passed the MCD program. I was a Maverick.
* * *
“What are you going to do now?” Chelsie asked. She was a family friend I’d grown up with, but we hadn’t ever been close. We didn't have much in common outside of our ages and our dads being in MCs. My dad had always told me to be friendly, though, needing to build relationships between clubs. She wasn’t bad, just kind of boring. Her older brother was a lot more interesting, but he didn’t always join her when they visited. Which was a shame, since he was hot as fuck.
She’d arrived two days ago with her mother and father, and I was already bored, ready for them to leave. I tended to be more active than this, needing to do something other than lounging out by the pool. But here we were, day two of laying out as the pool glistened in the sunlight, beckoning us in, but Chelsie didn’t want to get her hair wet, so gossip and tanning had become my routine.
Kill me now.
With school ending a week ago, I didn’t even have that to escape to. It felt nice to officially be a college graduate. I’d just finished two years at the Community College getting an Associate’s degree in business management. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I figured I could use it with the club. My only goal for my future had been to be an MCD graduate, and I’d finally done that.