Chapter 44: Encroaching Insecurities And InnuendosThe Quinn Residence, Backwoods, Temperance, South Dakota... The familiar sight of the yellow house amid tall trees put Layla on edge as she had not known if and when her father had decided to show up and she had not wanted there to be an altercation between the two apparent men in her life. She'd still been reeling mentally and physically from what happened between her and Brick at the creek and for the most part, had not known how best to deal with it. He had been vastly experienced in comparison to her and she worried that if they had crossed that untouched threshold and she accepted him, then he'd simply get bored with her and her lack of ability to please him and move on to the next available body he'd come across. Brick seemed to note her relative silence and felt the anxiousness within her as if it had been his own. "Something wrong?" he asked catching her completely off guard as they got close to her house before he stoppe
Chapter 45: A Beautiful MessOpen Road, Temperance, South Dakota... The wind beating against Brick's body and making his cut flap in the distance had been quite the sight as the leather-clad brute of a man made his way down various winding roads as he took his leave of Layla's family home. He couldn't hide the smile filed across his ruggedly handsome and bearded face as he thought back to the past few hours when he'd been on the road with the young waitress and how she clung to him. He'd even liked when she had her hair all over her head. The rugged biker found himself leaning more and more into the notion that the old timers had been right about him, and the issue with imprinting. Layla had been unlike anyone he'd ever known and she had yet to even go out and experience the world for herself. Crossing state lines had been something he'd done the moment he was able to hit the road. His quest to see as much of the country he'd shipped off to defend was what had initially driven h
Chapter 46: A Petty Means Of RetributionBack Country Dirt Road, Unknown City, Unknown State....(2001) The eerie bright orange glow of a freshly lit cigarette had been all that the rather intense-looking and silent driver had in the way as a means of an active thing to command his attention. His dulled blue eyes had been fixated on the hard water battered faded yellow trailer at the very end of his sights. It was near dusk and the sun had long since disappeared from view as the icy chill filled the air about as cold as the heart of the poised man who had been patiently awaiting the inhabitants of the trailer. Heavy bags could be seen beneath his eyes and his nose being wrinkled in disgust had been part of the reason for the noticeably visible frown lines along his rugged-looking pale face. His long dirty blond locks were draped over his broad shoulders and beneath a dark cap as he slowly ran his fingers along the smooth silver barrel of the gun that rested across his right thigh. H
Chapter 47: The Short Ride Of Steel CowboysEarl's Diner, Temperance, South Dakota... True to form, old man Gunner and Rooster were already sitting at the front counter and discussing their upcoming travel plans. Taz and Goldie were getting a bit hot and heavy in the back and Art had finished inspecting the bikes and determining their condition for the road trip, despite being a short way from Temperance. He'd been of the mind to be better safe than sorry and for once Brick was inclined to agree with him. Ironclad had been ensuring the boys didn't get into too much trouble while their President had been away. Brick walked up to the counter and ordered a beer settling his nerves to ready himself for the trip ahead. Gunner seemed to be the first to notice the rather serious expression on the younger werewolf's face as he downed the beer quickly and called for the attention of his boys, Goldie included. The rowdy bunch had instinctively turned their attention to the matters at hand
Chapter 48: Mr. Saturady Night SpecialUnkown Location, Unkown State (2001)... Tearful blue eyes awakened surrounded by the unwelcome darkness of an empty room as a tiny six-year-old girl set about getting to know her new surroundings once the effects of the chloroform wore off and she found herself alone in an unsavory and unfamiliar place. A good deal of fear coursed through her young body as she attempted to make sense of what happened to her. The flickering of recollective fragments of her limited young memory of going out to a carnival with her parents and having a good deal of fun with various games and rides before everything took a turn for the worst following a trip to the portapotty. More tears streamed down her tiny cheeks as she began to believe that it had been her fault that her parents had not come back for her. She wasn't too keen on the company she was forced to keep in the form of the blonde woman that she'd run into at the carnival and the silent man who often
Chapter 49: So Much For BoundariesForest Lake High School, Temperance, South Dakota... Once more Layla Quinn found herself distracted as school had finally let out for the evening and her thoughts made their way back to her last afternoon with Brick Kenneally before his most recent departure on assignment for Sheriff Tillman. Derrick was of the mind to give her odd looks and smiled at her every chance he got as he pretended to fan himself with his hand and mouthed the words about recalling everything he walked in on at her place. Layla narrowed her eyes at him as she knew he couldn't hold water and was eager to tell both Amy and Casey about what went on between her and Brick. She dreaded their input as they had also been of the mind to tease her about her newfound affection for "the big bad biker man", as Amy called him beforehand. "So," said Amy rushing toward Layla with a big wide grin filed across her pale face. "What's the latest on your biker man?"Layla's cheeks turned re
Chapter 50: Slimy Fish And Sharp TeethThe Outskirts Of Temperance, South Dakota... Roaring engines and the rapid sound of furious winds had been all Howler M.C. President Brick Kenneally could hear as he sped down the winding road with his gang behind him riding in formation. They were of the mind to keep riding given the short distance between Temperance, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Rooster had spoken of being in the area a while back and knowing a few places to lie low and take in the atmosphere before venturing into random towns and asking questions. He narrowed their travel down to minor exploration given that the moon would still be full and none of them wanted to risk shifting in the middle of the town and terrifying the people. He was quite anxious to get the job done as he was more interested in seeing what this cold case had been about and the added bonus of getting done and venturing back to Temperance to be with Layla.The Howler M.C. pulled up a-ways just before t
Chapter 51: Getting Down To BusinessThe Sherif's Office, Grand Street, Keeding, Wyoming... Brick had been in a foul mood ever since he captured the bail jumper Clive Taylor and he was even less pleased to have to venture to yet another sheriff's station. Clive looked to have been beaten up in a running gauntlet with sharp objects he was so covered in scrapes and bruises. The local sheriff didn't seem to mind as he greeted the well-welcomed guest into the establishment along with his captors. Brick tossed the idiot Clive into the waiting officers' hands and glared rather menacingly at the lawmen that stood before him. He had not much liked it when they had him jumping through hoops but the prospect of the cold case had intrigued him to the point that he had complied and then some despite it being a difficult thing not to end right there and then Clive after the bumbling idiot threw beer in his face. He had managed to reign in his temper of course and now he wanted to see the resu