Chapter 7

Only once we were all in Viper's office and the door was shut did Viper let me go. He had me sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Ace sat beside me with Lug in front of me. Brick behind me. Instead of going to sit in his chair Viper leaned against his desk. “ Lilly, are you sure you are ok?” I nod “ Yea, Mr. Viper. I’m fine. Just my hand. And a little shook up is all. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.” Ace takes my good hand “ Lilly, you're not any trouble. You did the right thing by calling Lug.” I nod but don’t really agree with him. I should have been able to handle this myself. I just called Lug for advice. I didn’t think the club needed to be involved but Lug seemed to think it did.

“ So, you want to tell me what happened before you called Lug?” Viper asks. Lug grabs my hand and starts to clean it up from where I cut it. I take a deep breath before I answer. Today has been a weird day. “ I honestly don’t know. I was in town running a few arrends. I had this weird feeling all day I couldn’t shake.” Ace stopped me before I could go on. “ Weird feeling? Like what?” I let out a shaky laugh. “ Like I was being watched or followed. Which is stupid. Who is going to follow me? I tried to ignore it but it wouldn’t go away. It was really creeping me out. I couldn’t find the source of it.” “ Did you feel like that all day?” Brick asks. I hiss when Lug pulls a small piece of glass from my hand.

“ No. I didn’t have it until I left the coffee shop. That was my first stop. But from there I felt it wherever I went. I looked around but nothing stood out. But it bothered me so much I did what I needed to do as fast as I could. My last stop was the grocery store. I wasn’t inside very long. I swear. Just to grab a few things. I never heard anything but when I came out the front window and side windows of Merigold’s truck were busted out. There was a note in the front seat. I only called Mr. Lug Nut to find out who I could take it to to have it fixed. I told him he didn’t need to bother you with this.” “ What did the note say?” Viper asks. Lug hands a plastic bag with the note in it to Viper. “ It was sitting on top of all the glass in the driver’s seat.” Lug says. Viper looks over the note then hands it to Ace.

Ace reads it out loud “ Found you alone again. Thought your fat ass could hide from me. You owe us. The club won’t keep you safe anymore. You will get what’s coming to you.” Ace throws the note on Viper’s desk. “ Lilly, that note says again. Has something like this happened before?” Viper asks. I look at the floor and nod. Lu has just finished bandaging my hand but looks up at me “ Oh, Lilly. Why didn’t you say anything.”  He crouches down next to me with worry and hurt in his eyes. He is hurt because I didn’t come to him. I reach in my bag and pull out the first note. I handed it to Lug “ This one came three weeks ago. It was stuck under the windshield wiper. I didn’t think it was something the club should have to deal with.” Lug reads the note then passes it to Viper who passes it to the others.

“ Lilly, someone is targeting you. That is club business. You have been under our protection since the day we found you.” Viper says. “ I figured it was time to stand on my own. You know. Whoever did this is after me. Not the club. And I kinda thought it would just go away.” I say still not looking at anyone. I can’t. I just brought  trouble to their door after everything they have done for me. I feel so guilty for causing such a mess even though I don’t know what it is all about.

Ace huffs “ That’s not all, is it Lilly.” He gets out of his chair and kneels in front of me. He lifts my chin with his thumb making me look at him. “ There is a part of you that thinks someone in the club is behind this.” I jerk out of his hold and look at the floor so he won’t see the tears that are trying to fall. He isn’t wrong. I know some of the members don’t like me and want me gone. So I wouldn’t put it past them to go to great lengths to get me out. There are a few like the ones in this room that keep me safe and want me around. But the rest I don’t trust.

Ace stands,  “ I should have dealt with this a long time ago.” “ Ace what the fuck are you talking about? You think one of ours is terrorizing Lilly?” Viper asks. Brick steps up “ Prez, you know there are several people who have been very vocal about what they think about Lilly  being here. It ain't like they have been quiet about it. One in particular. You know who I’m talking about. I know some of the bunnies have got as far as hitting her. I don’t think it is unreasonable for Lilly to think it would be one of them trying to run her off when we aren’t around to keep her safe.”

“ I know things have been said. But I didn’t know the bunnies had actually hit you Lilly.” Viper kneels in front of and puts his hands and says “ Why didn’t you come to me? I would have done something.” “ I shake my head “ I wasn’t sure if you would believe me. They have been here longer than me. And if you did do something it would have made the situation worse.” Viper lightly grabs the back of my neck and presses his forehead to mine. He whispers “ I’m sorry I let you down Lilly.” I shake my head no to let him know he didn’t let me down but he ignores me. He kisses my forehead and says “ Yes, I did. But not anymore.”

He stands up and looks at the others. “ I’m calling an emergency church with only our most trusted members. If it is one of ours I want to know immediately. I don’t care who they are. If it is one of ours doing this to Lilly I want them gone.” Before I can think better of it I grab Viper’s hands and plead with him “ You don’t have to go through all this trouble. I’m not worth it. I can just stay away from the club. If it is one of them then this will go away if I’m not here. If it isn’t one of them then I’ll figure something else out. Maybe leave town.”  Lug comes up and grabs me “ No, Lilly.” I know he is thinking of the band and Harry. But if me leaving gets this to stop it is probably for the best. I look Lug in the eyes and say, “ I’m not irreplaceable.”  Even though it will hurt to quit the band and not get a chance to  perform at Harry’s. Tonight is my first show. If it will make this go away then it is for the best. Hell, I’m sure several of the members here will throw a party when I’m gone.

“ Lug Nut is right Lilly. You aren’t going to go anywhere. We aren’t going to let this chase you away. We are going to get to the bottom of this and get it dealt with. End of story. You are one of ours. You are part of the family. We protect what is ours. Even if it is from one of our members. If they can do something like this they don’t belong here anyway.” Viper pulls me to him and hugs me again. “ Just trust me to take care of this.” I wrap my arms around his waist and nod. I know there is no use arguing with him over this. If there is anyone I trust it is the men in this room. “ Good.” Viper says.

Viper pulls out his phone and starts texting. “ Meeting in twenty. Be ready. It will be trusted members only.” he says. “ Lilly, I want you to stay in my office while we are in church. I’m going to have a prospect guarding the door. Is there one you are more comfortable with?” I think of the prospects I know which aren't many. I do know the one that is around when we are at the bar for rehearsals. I trust him to help keep me safe. I have come to think of him as a friend. “ Goof. He is nice to me.” Viper nods and texts again.

Five minutes later there is a knock on the door. Brick checks the door and lets Goof in. “ Prospect, we have church in fifteen minutes. While we are in there your one job is to protect Lilly. No one gets in this room but who you see here now. Understood?” Goof looks at me then Viper “ Yes, sir.” “ Good. Lilly, do you need anything before we leave?” “ I could use some water if it isn't too much trouble.” Goof nods and he is out the door.  Lug sits beside me and puts his arm around me “ We are going to handle this. Don’t worry. If I have to do it personally. Trust me?” I lay my head on his shoulder and whisper “ I do.You know that.”