Page 2 of Oz (Marked Skulls MC 4)
I walked with a skip in my step now as I headed for the morning shift to the diner. I was looking forward to the rest of the day. Melody and the others at the diner were always making fun of how happy I was to get to work, unlike the others for whom this was just a job. For me, it was a chance to get to know the neighborhood and the locals, and to make friends.
I’d never had a job like this in Perry, and as small as it was—this still felt like a huge step for me.
While I walked, a swarm of motorcycles zoomed past me and parked in a hoard outside the dive bar across the street from the diner. I tried not to look but I couldn’t help but notice the big rugged men who got off the bikes and walked into the bar together.
The place was called T-Bone, and even though I didn’t know much about it, I saw these bikers parked there often. It piqued my curiosity, and I wanted to know more. I walked into the diner, and turned to look back at the bikers again, hoping for some strange reason that one of them might look in my direction. I had no idea why.
The diner was about to open up, and other than Melody and the chef, there was nobody else there to greet me.
“Mornin”, she said, rolling her eyes. The day hadn’t even begun and she was exhausted already.
“Hiya!” I exclaimed with a bright smile as I made my way to the back of the diner. Melody had been wiping the countertops, but she followed me to the back now.
In my bag, I had the uniform. It was a yellow and white checkered dress, in an old-fashioned style, with lace around the collar and on the short sleeves. The dress itself was somewhat short, leaving our legs scrumptiously bare. Melody complained that the owners did it purposely because they knew exactly how the waitresses’ uniforms attracted customers.
I agreed with her that it was wrong, but I’d also noticed how most of the girls here flirted with customers for the extra tips. So, as long as everyone was safe and not harassed, I didn’t see anything wrong with the uniform. It seemed like a win-win situation to me.
Melody continued to chat about random casual things while I changed into the uniform in the bathroom.
While she talked, I thought about the bikers again. I could still hear the roar of their engines outside.
“You know the bikers?” I said abruptly, interrupting Melody’s speech about some new nail salon that had opened up in the neighborhood.
“What about them?” she asked.
Flipping my blond curls out of the back of the dress, I stepped out in her view.
“Who are they?”
Melody tipped her head to one side, standing there with her arms crossed over her chest.
“You want to know about the bikers?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows notoriously.
“I’m just curious about who they are. And why they are at a bar at eight in the morning. Why are you looking at me like that?” I said, grinning.
“Because we all, and especially a delicate little flower like you, need to stay away from men like them,” she said. I was in the process of tying my hair up in a ponytail. I could sense her watching me curiously.
“I have no intention of anything, I’m just asking you a general question. I see them around here a lot.”
Melody was smiling. Maybe she had the same interest in them that I did—they were a group of strong rugged men. What else were we supposed to feel?
“Well, they’re part of an MC called the Marked Skulls.”
“MC?”
“Motorcycle Club,” she clarified.
My eyes grew wide.
“So, they’re a part of some kind of hobby club?” I asked, just before Melody broke into a loud uncontrollable laugh.
“A hobby club?” she kept repeating and laughing. “Aww, bless you. This is why I adore you already. You’re so sweet. Too sweet maybe. No, hun, they’re more than just a hobby club. They ride their bikes and conduct business,” she explained.
I could feel my cheeks flushed to a deep red. I still wasn’t sure what Melody was talking about.
“Okay…but what kind of business?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“Why not?”
“Because they can be dangerous when they want to. Just know this, nobody messes with the Marked Skulls around here,” she said, and gave me a knowing wink.
I sighed and shook my head.
“I don’t understand why you feel like you need to protect me from something.”
Melody came over and gave me a quick hug as we prepared to go out into the diner and start our shift.
“Just trust me, hun. Keep your distance from them. No matter how delicious they look, they’re trouble,” she said. I shrugged my shoulders and nodded, but I knew Melody hadn’t done anything to quench my curiosity.
I was still hoping that one of them crossed the street and came into the diner, so I could really see them. Since they were a part of Orlando, I wanted to experience them too. Something new.
Chapter 3
Oz
After we were done prepping for the shipment at the docks, we all headed back to T-Bone for a few drinks. It was still the middle of the day, but we had time to kill.
The shipment wasn’t due to arrive before midnight, which meant we had hours to occupy ourselves. Abe and I had gone over every last detail of the shipment with the prospects, and we seemed fairly confident that the drop-off was going to go smoothly tonight. It would be the first time that the prospects were involved in a shipment, and it would help us know who could handle what.
We rode to T-Bone and parked our bikes outside as usual. Across the street, the new Starlight Diner was opening up for business. I saw an employee walking in, a sexy young thing whose hips swung as she walked. I forced myself to look away from her and followed Abe into the bar.
Since Lewis hadn’t called for Church, the bar was nearly empty. Nobody felt the need to come in this early in the middle of the day. So, it was just us hanging around, filling our stomachs with beer.
While Dash and the other prospects sat around a table drinking, Abe and I took up our usual chairs at the counter. We hadn’t got the chance to share a drink alone in some time.
We popped open our cans and drank deeply from them.
“Once we get the shipment tonight, maybe you can start working alone with the Cubans, handling the prospects yourself,” Abe said.
I nearly spit out my beer. I couldn’t believe he was fucking serious.
I turned to him in my chair, and he must have been able to see the look of shock on my face.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Oz, you don’t have the job yet,” he smirked.
“You want me to do this alone?” I asked, a smile spreading on my face.
“I spoke to Lewis and he gave me the green light to decide when it was time,” he replied.
“And you think I’m ready?”
“I think you are,” he said and before I could stop myself, I was bear-hugging the guy. Abe laughed and pushed me off him. He could see how excited I was about this. He was happy too.
I was Abe’s personal recruit. He’d handpicked me, trained me and now he was going to watch me fly. Even though he wasn’t going to admit it, I knew he was proud.
“Thanks, man,” I told him, and he shrugged his shoulders like it was no bother.
“You deserve it, you’ve been working hard. The new prospects like you too, and you’ll make a good trainer. Dash is the brightest new recruit and he’s learning from you. So, good job!”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. If this was true. If this was really going to happen—then I’d be the youngest newly patched-in member to get sole responsibility of a contract like this. The Cubans were harmless, but they were still important to us.
Abe and I sat in silence for a few moments. I was lost in thought, excited about the new opportunities that were opening up for me. I knew I’d made the right decision joining the Marked Skulls. This was what I was good at, and now I would have a chance to grow.
When I looked over at A
be, I could see he was lost in thought too—dreaming about my sister, no doubt.
“How’s the wedding planning going?” I asked him. Abe blew air out of his mouth and shook his head.
“It should have been going well but that woman can’t make up her mind about anything,” he said, and we both laughed.
We were both well aware of Alexis’ moods. One day she decided she wanted something and the next day she didn’t anymore. My sister had always been temperamental like that. The only thing she wasn’t going to change her mind on was how much she wanted to marry Abe. I was truly happy for them.
“I feel sorry for you, man,” I told him and we laughed some more.
