Lecture after lecture from him about going to another motorcycle club have me on edge. He doesn’t want me to fly off at the mouth to the other club. The shit I may get by with in his club is one thing, but these other bikers don’t know me, and none of them owe me a damn thing.

Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore, I think to myself. I fucking get it. I’m not in the safety of the Hellions’ compound. No popping off at the mouth to the bikers. I’m not an ol’ lady. I may be Roundman’s daughter, but I’m on my way to Shifter’s territory. They don’t know me, and they don’t give a fuck who I am. They’ve earned their cuts and my respect, period.

‘Know your place, Doll.’ My dad’s voice reverberates through my head. We have an agreement with the Shifters, but at the end of the day, agreements can be broken in a moment’s notice. For whatever reason, my dad likes these guys and trusts them, so I will know my place, be seen, not heard, and nowhere near business.

Thinking about the many rallies and trips I’ve taken with my dad, I know I’ve opened my mouth one too many times before. Bikers are brash, blunt, and rough around the edges. I know these things, but approaching me like a club whore never ends well. Sass and I have never been degraded in our own club, but it happens when we’re out. It usually ends with us cussing someone out, a Hellion either stepping in to pull us off, or to kick the ass of whoever offended us.

Keeping my mouth shut is never easy, but the club needs less drama right now. Pull it together, Doll. I’m twenty-five years old, I hate when they act like I’m seven-damn-teen. I’ve been sheltered, that’s fuckin’ apparent in this trip, but I know how to act.

Tripp is at the bike ready to go when I get outside. Without a word, I put on my helmet, and climb on. Keeping as much space between us, we silently ride. Another state line crossed with no map. What the fuck ever, I don’t really feel the need to memorialize this trip anymore anyway.

Traveling normally doesn’t bother me. Outside of the club I’ve got no roots. That’s why I was given the name Tripp. I’m always ready for the next ride, the next trip out of town and my next moment to escape the ordinary day to day. When no one has been truly solid in your life, there’s nothing holding you down. Outside of my club, no one cares if I’m in Carolina or California.

Rex and I make sure his mom, Jolene, doesn’t have to work as hard anymore. She checks in on us, but the connection never has been strong. We’ve always been too much for her to handle. She smiles, cooks us a meal every so often, and calls every few days to check in. She doesn’t like taking our money, but she does use it to keep flowers on our grandparent’s grave and keep up their old house. I’m pretty sure she helps my mom. She’s never admitted to knowing my mom’s whereabouts to us or my grandparents, but she always acts funny when you mention her sister.