Chapter TWO - Loneliest girl in the world

It had been a couple of days since the vote and Kozik was starting to get used to his new life. He still missed Charming and the brothers but he knew if he showed his worth, he would do well with the Tacoma Charter. All he needed now was a place to live. He had been crashing at Happy's since his arrival but if he was here to stay, he had to get his own place which was how he now found himself in front of an upmarket real estate agency, his friend next to him.

Kozik raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

Happy gave him an enigmatic smile and let himself in the agency leaving Kozik no choice but to follow suit. A cute receptionist looked up and smiled warmly at Happy.

"She'll be right with you"

Kozik looked around and couldn't help but feel ill at ease in the place. Everything around him suggested that any house on these books was probably way above his means, illegal or not.

"She's a friend of the club." Happy offered in response to Kozik questioning look.

Kozik looked at the woman his friend had just referred to as a "friend of the club". She was a tall and sophisticated blond in her early forties with a great rack and an ass you could probably bounce coins off. She was pacing in her office talking through a headset, a short power suit showing off her fine attributes.

She took off her headset and threw it on the desk before walking into the reception area. "Happy." she pouted seductively before undulating to him. She cupped his face in her hand pulled him into a full-on kiss. She took a step back and the pout was back on. "You don't call, you don't write."

"I've been busy doll."

"You always say that."

The woman then turned around to look at Kozik as if she had just realised his presence "And who is this?"

"Transfer."

She looked him up and down evaluating him before holding out her hand "Hi. I'm Joan."

"Kozik."

"I think I have just what you need Kozik. Won't be a minute darlin'."

She strolled back into her office and Kozik turned to Happy "A friend of the club, uh?"

Ella looked up from the book she was holding and noticed her mother had fallen asleep. She put the book down on her chair and reached out for her mother's face to delicately brush a strand of hair before pulled the covers back up and quietly exiting the room. Ever since, Nell had fallen sick, Ella had taken up to reading to her. But lately, her mother was so tired that she almost always fell asleep halfway through. She was getting worse, Ella was very aware of that and it scared the hell out of her.

A few minutes later, Ella found herself walking in the stables direction. It had been a long time since she'd been out here. She strolled along the empty boxes until she reached the last one.

"Hey boy."

She opened the gate and let herself in. A beautiful stallion was standing in the back watching her every move. Storm had been a gift from Ray. Proud, stubborn, sometimes reckless, he had been Ella's escape for many years. But somehow, she couldn't remember the last time she had ridden his powerful back.

She approached the animal and raised her hand to him. He neighed, moved backwards, avoiding her touch. It was his way of letting her know she wasn't forgiven.

She didn't back down though, and continued to her approach step by step. He trashed around some more but was stuck between her and the wall and Ella was confident he would never take the risk of hurting her. She took one last step and stopped, staring straight into him. Both of them stayed in this position facing each other for the longest time, until finally Storm took a step towards her, resting his muzzle on her shoulder, leaving her free to caress his sides.

"I know boy. It's been a while."

After a moment, she led him out and saddled him as best as she could. He wouldn't stop moving, too exited to stand still. They hadn't been out together since her mother had fallen ill. Simon, the caretaker that her father employed at the ranch had been taking care of her beloved horse for her, but Storm was a young horse and needed more than a weekly stroll around the ranch.

"Alright boy, you're ready?"

She slid over him and let him lead the way. A few minutes later, they were galloping through the fields, rider and horse in complete harmony. Ella had missed this but she hadn't realised just how much. Growing up, Storm had been her escape. Every time she rode him had been an adventure, the only moment where she felt completely free. Storm abruptly came to a halt and Elle realised they had reached the high electric fences her father had had installed a few years back. For security reasons, he had decreed, putting an end to any conversation. Nell had kept silent, even though Elle knew she hated the very idea.

The ranch had once belonged to Nell's father and his daughter had inherited it when he'd died. Nell had grown up there, surrounded by horses and once upon a time she had explored every inch of the land. She had passed that love of riding to Ella when she was a little girl. But Nell had not looked at a horse in years. She never went anywhere near the stables. Not since that summer eight years ago

Ella had been twelve years old. Her mother had woken her up one night and told her they were leaving. They had driven for hours that night until they had reached a small town in Dakota. Nell had been planning the escape for months and everything had been ready for their arrival. They lived there for two months, happy, free. But then Nell got news that her father had gotten sick. She had thought she could go visit discreetly and be back in no time. She had left Ella, promising her to be back soon. But it hadn't been Nell that had come back for her a couple of days later, it had been Ray. When they got back to the ranch, Ella was so scared for what might have happened to her mother, she almost ran from the car. She had found her mother sitting in the kitchen, unharmed. But something in her was different; it had been as if her eyes had lost their spark overnight. Ella understood what it was when she went to the stables. All her mother's horses had disappeared, every box empty but for blood stains on the straw. Nell never told her daughter what had happened to the horses but Elle had a pretty good idea.

"Come on boy, let's go."

Kozik rolled on his back still panting. Joan sat up on her elbow and smiled lusciously at him. They had barely been in the house for a few minutes before they were tearing each other's clothes and Kozik had lifted her of her feet to the bed.

"So? What do you think?"

Kozik grinned like a kid. "I think I'll take it."

She got closer to him, resting her chin on his chest.

"Glad I was of service"

"Oh, you definitely were."

She let out a small chuckled and kissed him, her tongue teasing him. Suddenly, she pulled back and quickly got off the bed pulling her hair back into a professional bun, very aware of Kozik's lusting stare on her. She was hot. And she sure as hell knew it.

"Leaving already?"

"You bikers are all the same. You always want more."

"What can I say? We're greedy bastards."

She raised a knowing eyebrow and started getting dressed. "I have to get back to work." she explained before sitting back on the side of the bed to put on her shoes. "It was nice meeting you Kozik. Drop by later, I'll have the papers ready for you to sign." She gave him a quick peck on the lips goodbye and disappeared in a huff.

Kozik got off the bed. He found his boxers on the floor and pulled them up before looking around the bedroom satisfied. It had been a productive morning, he had found a place he could afford and he had bedded a woman who was great in the sack. Life was definitely looking up.

Back at the ranch, Ella had washed and fed her horse and was now leading him back to his box.

"I'll be back soon, promise."

"You and your damn horses. You know in psychology, they call that transfer?" Ella didn't need to turn around to see who it was. She would have known this voice anywhere. "You know in psychology they call you being a bitch." she retorted.

"I've' been called worse."

Ella finally turned around. Gillian Rose Price was standing at the threshold of the stables; hand on her hip, with a goofy smile on her face. She shrieked and ran to Ella hugging her tightly.

"God I missed your bony ass."

"Me too."

"What are you doing here?" asked Ella pulling back.

"I'm off to this crazy tattooist convention in Seattle and you were on the way. Bad timing?"

"No, your timing is perfect."

Kozik was whistling when he entered the shooting range main building. He walked to the sexy piece of tail whom Ray had recently promoted to "Office manager."

"Hey Doll."

"Hey Kozik. The boys are inside." She was beaming. "You found a place yet?"

"I did. Maybe you can visit someday. I'll give you the grand tour." He flirted.

Her attention was distracted by the door opening and Pete walked in.

"Hey Pete,"

The man ignored Darcy and turned to Kozik "Hey brother."

The two men went down the corridor to a door that said "Restricted Area." The restricted area was a series of storage rooms and small offices the boys used for business both legal and otherwise. At the far end, was the "staff room", where the boys relaxed when they were around. The shooting range had been an great investment for Ray and the club in an area where 80% of the population owned a gun license, but it was also a great cover for the club's business. And to be honest, it was like having a giant playing ground for the boys. Ray had bought the land more than 20 years ago when it has been a corn field. Now the external shooting range extended for five square miles around the main building which was split in two main areas, the private shooting lane, mostly used by some local cops and women who didn't want to be out in the open while learning how to use their gun and the restricted area. Club territory.

"What was that about?" Kozik asked curious. He clocked Pete's sideway look.

"Not her too! Who?"

"The Pres."

Kozik rolled his eyes.

"Is there any chick here without a sugar daddy? He sniggered before opening the door to the staff room. As soon as they walked in, question came flying.

"So how was the house hunting, Koz?" Chance grilled him

"Joan gave you the club special?"

Kozik turned to Pete with a questioning look. "The club special?"

"What? You didn't think you were the first one, were you? Joan has a thing for bikers."

"You mean… all of you?"

The VP burst out laughing at Kozik's look, "Sorry Brother."

"Jesus Christ."

"You thought you rocked her world, uh?"

The boys started to cat call and whistle and Kozik couldn't help but join in the laughter. It was good to be part of a brotherhood again. After his rift with Alex Tig Tragger, the Charming Sergeant At Arms, Kozik had found himself forced to request a transfer for the good of a club and it had pained him to leave his brothers. But now, he knew he found a new home here.

The wizard suddenly burst in the room and went straight to Ray.

"I checked all of Romero's known hang outs. Couldn't find shit. Then I checked under his old lady's maiden name, Luevo. I've got a hit on 3 locations."

"Good work, Wiz." he offered, patting the old man on the back.

The president turned to Pete and called him over.

"Are you with me on this?"

"I don't like this Ray." started the VP."But I got your back."

Ray nodded to him and called out "Boys, get everyone. We go in tonight." He paused and turned back to Pete. " Call the arsonist. We're going to need him."

Thanks for reading! Don't hesitate to let me know what you think!