Chapter 2: The Iron Wolves Clubhouse

Maya sat in the passenger seat of the truck watching her Kawasaki bounce on the trailer behind them and tried not to think about how much this was going to cost her. The older guy who introduced himself as Wrench drove while humming along to some classic rock station. He seemed nice enough but Maya had learned not to trust first impressions.

"You've had that bike long?" Wrench asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Three years. Bought it off Craigslist with money I saved from my first job."

"You fix it yourself?"

"When I can. YouTube tutorials mostly."

Wrench nodded like that made sense to him. "Not many girls your age know their way around an engine."

"Not many girls my age have to." Maya looked out the window at the warehouses and industrial buildings passing by. "Where exactly is this shop?"

"East side. We're almost there."

Maya's stomach tightened. The east side wasn't known for being safe but she was already in this situation so there was no point worrying now. She pulled out her phone and texted Riley that she'd be late getting home and not to worry. The message went through just as her battery hit ten percent.

The truck turned down a street lined with old buildings and pulled into a parking lot filled with motorcycles. Lots of motorcycles. The clubhouse sat at the end of the lot and looked exactly like what Maya expected. Single story. Brick exterior. Small windows. Music and voices came from inside.

Wrench parked and climbed out. Maya followed slowly and watched him unhook her bike from the trailer with practiced ease. The other Iron Wolves were already inside based on the bikes parked near the entrance. Maya could leave right now and walk to the main road and call an Uber with her dying phone but then she'd have no bike and no way to get it back.

"Come on inside while I take a look." Wrench started wheeling her Kawasaki toward a garage attached to the side of the building. "Won't take long to figure out what you need."

Maya followed him into the garage and felt slightly better. It was clean and organized with tools hanging on pegboards and parts labeled on metal shelves. This wasn't some sketchy chop shop. Wrench actually knew what he was doing.

He got her bike up on a stand and started examining the starter. Maya stood nearby with her arms crossed trying not to hover but also not wanting to go inside the clubhouse. She could hear voices and laughter through the walls. Women's voices mixed with men's. Music thumped a steady beat.

"Yeah it's definitely the starter." Wrench straightened up and wiped his hands on a rag. "Completely burned out. I've got a guy who can get me the part but it'll take a day or two to come in."

"How much?"

"Part's about sixty. Labor's another forty if you want me to install it."

Maya did the math in her head. She had maybe thirty dollars in her checking account until her next paycheck. "Can I pay you when I pick it up?"

"Sure thing. I'll give you a call when it's ready."

"I don't have your number."

Wrench pulled out his phone. "What's yours?"

Maya rattled off her number and watched him save it. Her phone buzzed a second later with a text from an unknown number that just said Wrench. At least she'd know who was calling now.

"Come on. Let's get you a drink while we wait for Dom to give you a ride home." Wrench headed toward the door connecting the garage to the clubhouse.

"I can call an Uber."

"With what battery?" Wrench nodded at her phone. "You're at eight percent. Besides Dom lives near campus. It's on his way."

Maya wanted to argue but she was tired and hungry and her knee hurt from hitting the pavement earlier. She followed Wrench through the door into the clubhouse and immediately wished she hadn't.

The main room was bigger than it looked from outside. Pool tables on one side. A bar on the other. Couches and chairs scattered around. At least twenty people were inside and they all looked up when Maya walked in. She felt every eye on her and fought the urge to turn around and leave.

"Hey everyone this is Maya." Wrench said it casual like bringing random girls to the clubhouse was normal. "Her bike broke down in Viper territory. We're fixing her up."

A few people nodded or raised their beers in acknowledgment then went back to their conversations. Maya spotted Blackwood across the room talking to two guys near the pool table. He looked up and their eyes met for a second before Maya looked away first.

"What do you want to drink?" Wrench led her to the bar where a younger guy was wiping down the counter.

"Just water is fine."

"Get her a Coke." Blackwood appeared next to them so quietly Maya jumped. "She looks like she could use the sugar."

"I said water."

"Coke has water in it." Blackwood leaned against the bar and studied her face. "You hit your head when you went down?"

"No."

"Your hands are shaking."

Maya shoved her hands in her pockets. "I'm fine."

"You keep saying that but I don't think you know what fine means." He nodded at the guy behind the bar who brought over a Coke in a glass bottle. "Drink. You'll feel better."

Maya took the bottle because arguing seemed pointless and she was thirsty. The Coke was cold and sweet and she drank half of it before setting it down. Blackwood was still watching her with those sharp eyes that seemed to see too much.

"Wrench says the part will take two days." Blackwood said it as a statement not a question.

"That's what he told me."

"I'll cover it."

Maya's jaw tightened. "I already told you I'm paying for it."

"With what money?"

"That's none of your business."

"It is when you're broke down in my city because of a problem with the Vipers." Blackwood's voice stayed calm but something underneath it felt dangerous. "Consider it an apology for them hassling you."

"I don't need your charity."

"It's not charity."

"Then what is it?"

"Common decency." Blackwood pushed off the bar and crossed his arms. "Someone helps you when you need it. That's how this works."

"That's not how anything works in my experience." Maya finished her Coke and set the bottle down harder than necessary. "People don't help for free. There's always a catch."

"No catch."

"I don't believe you."

Something flickered across Blackwood's face too fast for Maya to identify. He glanced at Wrench who shrugged like he had no idea what to do with her. The silence stretched uncomfortable and tense.

"Fine." Blackwood said finally. "You want to pay for it. Pay for it. But you still need the bike fixed and that takes two days minimum."

"I know that."

"So what are you going to do until then? You live on campus?"

"Off campus. About five miles from here."

"You have a car?"

Maya didn't answer which was answer enough. Blackwood made a sound that might have been frustration or amusement.

"I'll give you a ride home." He pulled keys from his pocket. "Unless you want to walk five miles in the dark through neighborhoods worse than where we found you."

Maya hated that he was right. Hated that she needed help. Hated standing in this clubhouse surrounded by people who lived in a world she didn't understand. But she was practical above everything else and walking home wasn't an option.

"Fine. But just a ride. Nothing else."

"Nothing else." Blackwood agreed but his smile said he didn't believe that any more than she did.

They headed toward the door and Maya felt the eyes on her back. People watching. Judging. Wondering who she was and why their president was giving her personal attention. She kept her chin up and her shoulders back and told herself this didn't matter. In two days she'd get her bike and never see any of these people again.

They stepped outside into the parking lot now dark except for a few overhead lights. Blackwood walked toward a truck parked near his Harley. Maya followed and climbed into the passenger seat when he unlocked it. The interior was clean and expensive. Leather seats. Touch screen display. Nothing like her beat up Kawasaki.

Blackwood started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Maya gave him her address and he plugged it into the GPS without comment. The drive was quiet for the first few minutes. Maya watched the streets pass by and tried not to think about how close she was sitting to someone who probably had more money in his wallet than she made in a month.

"You never told me your name." Blackwood said it without looking at her.

"You never asked."

"I'm asking now."

"Maya."

"Maya." He repeated it like he was testing how it sounded. "I'm Dominic."

"I know who you are."

"Yeah you said that before." He glanced at her finally. "But you never said how you know me."

"Everyone knows you. You're kind of hard to miss on campus."

"That right?"

"You show up once a month in your leather jacket and expensive bike and everyone acts like you're some kind of celebrity." Maya kept her voice flat. "Must be nice having everything handed to you."

Dominic's jaw tightened but he didn't respond right away. They drove in silence for another block before he spoke again.

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough."

"What do you know?"

"That your family owns half this city. That you run a motorcycle club like it's a hobby. That you probably haven't worked a real day in your life." Maya turned to look at him. "Am I wrong?"

"About most of that yeah."

"Which part?"

"All of it." Dominic's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "But you've already made up your mind about me so what's the point."

They pulled up in front of Maya's apartment building and she reached for the door handle immediately. Dominic hit the lock button before she could open it.

"What are you doing?" Maya asked.

"Making sure you get inside safe."

"I can get inside fine."

"Humor me." Dominic unlocked the doors and climbed out. He walked around to her side and waited while she got out. "Which apartment?"

"You don't need to walk me up."

"I'm walking you up."

Maya wanted to argue but she was too tired. She led him to the building entrance and used her key to get inside. The hallway smelled like old carpet and someone's cooking. Her apartment was on the second floor and Dominic followed her up the stairs without comment.

They stopped at her door and Maya turned to face him. "Thanks for the ride."

"No problem." Dominic stepped back giving her space. "Wrench will call you when the part comes in."

"Okay."

Maya unlocked her door and pushed it open. She stepped inside and turned to close it but Dominic was still standing there watching her with an expression she couldn't read.

"Maya."

"What?"

"Those guys tonight. The Vipers. They're not going to forget about you." His voice was serious now. No charm or amusement. "You need to be careful."

"I'm always careful."

"I mean it. They saw you with us. That makes you a target whether you like it or not."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have gotten involved." Maya started to close the door but Dominic's hand shot out and stopped it.

"If we hadn't gotten involved you'd be in a much worse situation right now." His eyes held hers. "I'm trying to help you."

"I didn't ask for your help."

"Yeah well you got it anyway." Dominic dropped his hand and stepped back. "Lock your door. Don't go anywhere alone after dark. And if you see any Vipers you call me immediately."

"I don't have your number."

Dominic pulled out his phone. "What's yours?"

Maya hesitated then rattled off her number. Her phone buzzed a second later with a text that just said Dominic. She looked up at him standing in her hallway looking more serious than she'd seen him all night.

"Call me if anything happens." He turned and headed down the stairs before Maya could respond.

She closed and locked her door then leaned against it. Her phone buzzed again and she looked down expecting another text from Dominic. Instead it was from an unknown number.

The message made her blood run cold.

"Tell your new boyfriend the Vipers don't forget. See you soon college girl."