Last night was okay. Tessie is a nice enough girl. Sass and I spent our time at the bar with her. Rex went off with a barfly to who knows where to get off. Some chick was pawing all over Tripp, but he ignored her for the most part. He watched me and stayed where he could see me at all times. The two guys that did try to chat up Sass and I were quickly scared off when Tripp merely approached. The actions of everyone around us made it clear, this is Tripp’s territory.

Apparently, Tripp got intel that the business end of the transport to Delatorre is complete. Now we go on the move, while my dad handles the threat. Business is business. Delatorre paid for a job, therefore he will get his transport. He made it personal, or I made it personal when I got involved. Either way, shit’s personal now. We’ve been packed and ready, so when Tripp woke me up at five AM to leave, I wasn’t surprised. Good thing Tripp doesn’t have neighbors close to his house, the rumble of the two Harleys cranking that early in the morning would’ve surely pissed someone off.

One thing about traveling by motorcycle, you have to stop pretty often for gas. Tripp won’t share our destinations with me. According to him, we may have to change plans in a moment’s notice. His last words before pulling out this morning resound in my head.

“Doll, I don’t wanna lie to you. I’d rather say nothing at all than lie to you. Accept it as it comes.”

Between the promises to keep me safe and not to lie, I’m starting to turn to mush. Sure, I know all the Hellions will do their best to protect me. But when Tripp says it, something inside me wants it to be about me alone, not club duties.

His words continue to tug at me. Deep inside, he’s all things good. Yet, he claims he’s not. Last night he could’ve fucked that random chick, but he watched over me instead. When I felt insecure, he owed me no reassurances. He didn’t have to explain shit to me about why he won’t tell me where we’re headed. A simple, “shut the fuck up,” or the, “I’ll tell you what you need to know and you don’t fuckin’ need to know,” would’ve been the answer I got from anyone else when questioning where we were going. Either way, he didn’t owe me an explanation about not wanting to lie to me. Slowly, the more we are together, the more I can see past his exterior roughness.

Tessie told me he’s taken women right there in the pool room, the hallway, or the stock room. That’s what all those boys do. She says they’re a wild bunch, but loyal and take care of their own. Would Tripp take me in some random bar hallway? What turns him on? What makes him tick?

The bike’s vibrations settle between my legs, as I pull myself closer to him. Taking in the mountain scenery as I see the signs showing we are headed towards Tennessee. If this ride wasn’t about safety, I’d ask Tripp to take me on The Tail. All Hellions ride The Dragons Tail as their rite of passage. It’s the one ride I’ve never done.