Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“I feel much better, Pres.” He tells me what is already written on his face.
I laugh as I put my half-shell helmet back on. “Well, I imagine being as full of shit as you are, it does feel good every single time you drop them rocks in the toilet.”
We both mount and crank our bikes as Grinder smacks his cut playfully on his chest before yelling out, “Raise hell, praise dale! Time to ride out, Hellions.”
TWO
COUNTRY BOY
“Remember to load your brain before you shoot your mouth off.”
Planes, trains, and automobiles, these barbecues never get old. This is one event the whole family comes to, and I swear it’s like a freaking carnival. At thirty-five, I wasn’t around for Roundman’s days, but they say he would have pony rides for the kids when Doll was little. Granted, the way everyone tells it, Roundman was rough around the edges and scary to most, but he was damn putty in Doll’s hands. That man loved being her dad. They had an incredible bond, one people still talk about to this day.
Tripp pulls out all the stops, but I can’t say I remember a fucking pony ride… yet. It might come in the future, maybe he’s waiting to have grandkids or some shit. There damn sure are enough blow up jumping things and slides to keep these kids, and adults, worn the fuck out later. Yeah, once the drinks start hitting, the adults climb on that shit more than the damn kids do. Doll picks new ones every year to add to the whole shebang.
Doll is Roundman’s daughter, and the only child he ever had. He founded the club and now her man, Talon “Tripp” Crews is the overall president. I’ve only been under Tripp’s leadership for the overall Hellions club and obviously Stud’s before he stepped down and patched me in as Salemburg Chapter President. Roundman is a legacy we all hope to live up to as a Hellion, a man, a husband, father, and human damn being.
Loyalty ends and begins with the Hellions brotherhood. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for a single person present on this compound today.
Now the compound, it hasn’t changed a bit. The three flags fly out front and the buildings are still the same. The garage is a place for the brothers to work on their cars, bikes, and a side business, along with the mini storage. The back lot holds the vans and trucks of the Transport company and it’s all here on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. The paint may be freshened up every year, but the concept is and always will be set up for the club first and businesses second. Even the duplexes for the brothers are still here for when the occasion arises a man needs a crash pad. The cave where we have sermon has not changed either.
Like I said before, this is coming home as a Hellion.
Everyone catches up, laughs, drinks, and even I play a round or two of cornhole before deciding to get behind the mic and sing with the band Doll brought in. I’m not meant to be a rockstar, but get a few beers in me and I’ll sing a tune or two. Especially like this, it’s all just family spending time together. The barflies aren’t here as this isn’t the time or place for them.
The song moves to the next where the band is covering Charlie Daniels, I stay on the mic. Dia, who happens to be Tripp’s daughter, is dancing around, singing, and definitely teasing Toon. Brother is dedicated to Haywood’s Landing and is solid as they come. He’s a good guy, covered in tattoos of cartoons to the point he looks like a walking comic book. She saunters up to him as he stands by the makeshift stage dancing around, while he’s simply nursing a beer and singing with me and the band. I can tell he’s trying to ignore her while she’s doing her best to be seen by him and him alone.
“Dia, don’t,” he warns sternly enough I can hear him while I’m singing.
“Don’t what, Toon? I’m having fun. It’s a party, loosen up.”
He gives her this look that is almost pain in his eyes, “remember to load your brain before you shoot your mouth off.”
Well, brother may be solid as they come for the club, but he’s a dipshit when it comes to women. He’s definitely not winning points with her after that comment.
Immediately, her face freezes as does her dancing. “Toon, what the hell?”
While I may agree with his sentiment, his delivery might be a little too direct. Sure, thinking before you speak is important, but when dealing with a woman, there are ways to word things … his way isn’t recommended. Plus, she’s Tripp’s daughter, that’s a woman not to fuck with on so many levels. Poor guy, he’s got it bad, but I’m not wading in on this shit. No way, the devil went down to Georgia and maybe that’s where I should be. Listening to these two feels criminal.