Could I have been making a big deal out of nothing? Judging these bikers before I even knew their names? Most looked scary, but they also had a soul. Right? Even the scariest.
“I’ll be fine.” I smiled, drying my mouth with a paper towel.
“Cool! We’ll escort you to your car,” Tara said in a perky voice.
The second we left the bathroom, the awkward, tense vibe in the armory reminded me of home—during the MC war which had claimed the lives of several innocent locals.
Eyes darted around the room and seemed to avoid the bikers. Ray’s band sounded less vibrant than ten minutes ago.
Goose bumps spread across my body. I didn’t want to be here, but I also didn’t want to freak out. My spine jerked upright.Fake it till you make itflashed in my head. I could appear strong and confident as I left the building, instead of panicked and terrified.
The warm evening air wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. Just as fast, it choked me. A row of motorcycles greeted us. They were guarded by what I remembered were called prospects. One stood at each end.
“Jesus, what is going on here?” Steph whispered as we made our way to the parking lot.
I didn’t reply, keeping my eyes locked on my car, key fob in hand, thumb on the alarm button.
“Dirty Hunters, I think,” Tara said in a quiet voice.
“Are they a gang?”
My heart raced, feeling eyes on the back of my neck. My bare arms were cold and clammy. I’d never been afraid for my well-being like this before. Could it be the alcohol making me hyper-paranoid?
“Biker club,” Tara replied. “I guess it’s different.”
I swallowed thickly—just a little bit farther.
“They look intense,” Steph said just above a whisper.
“And scary,” Tara added.
Made it! I unlocked my door and jumped into the driver’s seat. “Sure, you want to stay?” I glanced back at the two guards. I’d been right; they were watching us.
“We’ll be okay. These guys are probably just looking for some fun.” Steph snorted. “Little do they know, this is Winters Township, ain’t nothin’ fun to do here on a Friday night.”
Tara laughed. “So true. Get some rest, Mads. Emotional stuff is exhausting.”
She nailed it. Emotional stuff was crushing me. Just not about who Tara thought. Who fell hard for a guy, a biker no less, so quickly? I felt ridiculous. Had I been drawn in by his sexy bad boy looks? Because he was a biker? I should make an appointment with a therapist.
“Okay. Call if you need a safe ride home.”
“Will do.” Tara shut my door. I locked it, waiting until they were safely inside before I left the parking lot.
On my way home, I was extra vigilant. In Winters, after six in the evening, it looked like a ghost town. Stoplights blinked yellow for drivers to yield down the main road. Local merchants were home with their families.
But after nine o’clock during the summer, when the sun finally faded into twilight, it was easy to spot the single headlight a half a block behind me. I bit the corner of my lip as I white-knuckled the steering wheel.
Was one of the Hunters following me? Maybe it was only a random guy on a bike. I’d seen a few in town. I wasn’t usually a paranoid person, but it felt like times were changing in Winters.
To test my gut instinct, I pulled into the drive-thru at Arby’s. No cars were in line, so I rolled my window down and ordered a four-piece mozzarella stick and a small chocolate shake. They would both go into the trash, but I wanted to appear like I was out getting a late-night snack.
Once I collected my purchase, relief washed over me as I continued toward my home. But then the single headlight returned.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I yelled, palms sweating as I squeezed the steering wheel. I inhaled and exhaled, trying to slow my racing heart.
Some biker creep was for sure following me. I couldn’t go home alone, but I also couldn’t drive around town all night either. Downtown Winters was small and quaint. Aside from Arby’s and Taco Bell, nothing else was open. I didn’t want to go back to the armory.
Then I remembered Walmart was open until midnight.