CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile.
When we pull onto the highway I turn the music up and try to let go of the last of the tension I was feeling. The playlist full of Metallica, Disturbed, Sixx AM and a band I'd recently found called Devilskin doesn't sound like it would relax most people but the heavy beats and aggressive lyric's make my brain settle and begin to process the meltdown I had. Sitting in my car, Jax and Opie in front and Happy and Juice trailing behind makes me realise just how much of an overreaction it was. None of the people that I'm with would allow anything to happen to me.
About an hour after we left Fresno I'm hit with the sudden realisation that I am actually safe again, it slams into me with the force of a truck and trailer and I'm left wondering how on earth I got so lucky. Watching the Reapers in front of me as we travel over the road reminds me that even though I'm protected, loved, blessed and lucky there will be times in the future that aren't as easy as the past weeks have been. The pure absurdity of the last weeks being easy makes me giggle and I almost miss Jax and Happy drifting closer and talking for a minute before the pair slow and pull to the shoulder.
The motorbike engines are cut off as they roll to a stop and push stands down. I jump down out of the truck and walk towards Jax. "What's up?"
Jax turns and smiles at me "Just needed a 5 minute stretch. You got some water in the truck aye?"
I nod and open the backseat, throwing my hoodie over to the other side I pick up the bottles and pass them out to the guys. Dani brought us 4 bottles so there's one for each couple and one for Happy.
We stand on the side of the road for a few minutes, each of us stretching muscles that have started to cramp after over 3 hours on the road. Jax, Opie and Juice all hand over their water bottles after they've drained about half of the liquid in them.
Happy looks at his watch just before they move to the bikes again and says "About another 45 minutes then we'll be in Bakersfield."
The next 45 minutes pass quickly, I'm still listening to various music but the collection has mellowed, I've cued up the playlist that contains every song on my USB stick so I'm never sure what's coming next till it starts. As we reach Bakersfield Happy pulls off and takes the road that will lead to his mom's house while the rest of us stay on the main road, driving straight through the small town.
We pull to a stop at a service station just on the other side for the final driver switch and another break. The guys fill the three bikes and my truck while Donna, Al and I go inside and get more water, smokes for the boys knowing that they'll run out soon and pay for the gas and other stuff. None of the bikes have used much gas but the 3 hour drive has knocked just over ΒΌ of a tank out of my car.
As we do the final driver change I turn to Al "Hey, where are we staying?" Al grins and the look is decidedly evil "Fuck, how much did you spend?"
I'd given Al my credit card to book the 3 hotel rooms for the single night we were in LA and the glint in her eyes immediately lets me know she didn't pick cheap. "We're staying in the Ritz-Carlton. It cost you just over $1,500."
I roll my eyes upwards but lean into the car and to the GPS setting it for the hotel address. "You did check they had parking?"
"At that price I'll take the fucken bike to bed with me if I have to." Jax says collecting my helmet from the backseat and handing it to me. "We'll go check in, unload shit then go straight out to San Gabriel."
I fasten the helmet under my chin and lean into Jax's side "You do know after yesterday it's your money that she spent too."
Jax shoots me a confused look. "What?"
"Well, with the new will I'll be adding you to the bank accounts as well, and as a signatory on the investment stuff. What's mine is yours baby."
Jax shakes his head, it's obvious that the fact that I came with so much money registered, but the Old Lady title means everything of his is mine and likewise everything of mine is his. "Never thought of that."
I shrug "I guessed. You kind of have a deer in headlights look about you at the moment."
Jax straddles his bike and waits while I get on behind him before starting it and commenting "Guess that makes me a fucken good catch."
I poke his side "Yeah but you're MY catch."
"Damn straight." He twists his head around so he can kiss me lightly, the helmets banging which make us both laugh.
The last part of the ride is the shortest; we hit LA just over 90 minutes after we left Bakersfield. Jax stops at the outskirts and wait till Donna pulls up beside him in my truck "You've got the GPS. Lead on."
The guys manage to not get lost in traffic, Donna being exceptionally good with her timing of lights. We pull into the car park of the hotel and I can see the frown that immediately crosses the face of the valet.
He heads over and plasters a fake smile on his face "Can I help you?"
I climb off the back of Jax's bike and stretch for a second. "Donna, this guy's gonna show you were to park." I turn to him "Sorry, but no one can drive my car without being fingerprinted into it. Can you show her where to park; the guys can follow and bring the bags back?"
The valet looks a little stunned buy for some reason ignores the lie about not being able to drive my car "Do you have a reservation?"
I nod, "Three rooms for the night. Do you need to see my credit card to check?"
"Umm just wait a second and I'll go check." The guy rushes inside and comes back a few minute later with another man wearing a similar uniform who takes a look at us all, the guys are still straddling their bikes, the engines rumbling in their low tones.
He steps up to me "You have a reservation?" His voice shows that he doesn't believe it, the distaste is written across his face.
"I do 3 rooms under the name Sarah Hale. I'll get my card and you can double check it." I lean into the back seat of the car.
"Watch this D. The attitude will change the second they see the credit card." Donna raises an eyebrow in disbelief at my whispered statement. "Trust me."
I pull backwards out of the car, my black Amex in my hand. Handing it to the concierge he takes one look at it and then starts smiling "So I'm told you need to drive the car round to the parking yourself. That's not a problem. I'll show you just where to park it."
I smile politely "If you'd just show the person driving the car, we'll carry our bags ourselves."
"Certainly." He walks around the front of the car and Donna meets my eyes and inclines her head smiling slightly.
I get back onto the back of Jax's bike "Follow them." I mutter into his ear, I'm slightly annoyed that I had to provide proof of the money I have, the black Amex isn't commonly seen.
"What was that?" Jax asks as we slowly travel down under the hotel to the parking garage, passing Bentleys, Audi's and a couple of Aston Martins before we end up at 3 empty spots. Donna backs my truck into the middle one of the spaces and the 3 bikes are parked on either side.
"That was a black Amex. It's actually called the Centurion card. Effectively it has no limit. I don't use it much."
"Much?" Jax asks as we grab the bags from the back of the car.
"I've used it maybe three times. Both cars were paid for using it, and now this. In the 4 years I've had it."
The suddenly very helpful concierge shows us through the staff passage to the front desk where we're checked in and shown to our rooms quickly. Just before he leaves I have a thought "Can we come and go the way we just came in? It'll be a lot easier than having to go through the main entrance and walk down to the garage."
He nods, "Certainly, I'll let the staff know."
"Good. Thank you." I pass him a tip deciding it's easier giving him a tip and having good service then having to deal with shit. Waiting till he's left the room I turn and flop down on the couch.
**Devilskin is a New Zealand band; I am completely in love with their song Little Pills at the moment. watch?v=22rzW5eZFUM
***Are there any out takes, scenes from when they were kids that anyone would like to see...I'm always happy to please. :-)