Motorcycle clubs have always been a boys club. It makes sense: the violence, the hierarchy, the fact that they haven't exactly met the women's movement. Now, there's a new club in Northern Cali, looking to make a name for itself. It's already allied...
Once they made Lodi, Tig turned off onto a back road and Tiki followed, curious to see where they were meeting Laroy and his crew. Tig pulled up at an old warehouse and waited for Tiki to park beside him before getting off. She glanced around the property approvingly as Tig watched her with a grin.
"Nice location. Remote, easy access from the road, but secured on the other three sides by fencing." She nodded, grinning at Tig. "Nice."
He smirked and walked over to open the heavy door. "Yeah, we know what we're doing." He turned to look at Tiki as they walked into the shade of the old building. "So, I've heard about the deal Clay laid out for the Valkyries. What's your take on it?"
Tiki shrugged as she followed him. "I don't really know yet, but my gut is saying that it's a bad idea. Where we are now... we got no real ties to any one group. Yeah, we have family ties to the Mayans and Diosa, but... "
Tig raised a brow. "Wait. How are you connected to the Mayans?"
Tiki grinned. "Alvie. Maria Alvarez, Marcus's cousin. Tony is Nero Padilla's niece."
Tig chuckled and shook his head as he offered Tiki a cigarette. "Nice. Who are you affiliated with?"
Tiki grinned and shook her head. "Not a damn soul, just the way I like it." She thought for a moment, finally deciding that she could trust him. "Look, like I was saying, right now, we got it pretty good. We mule for Marcus once in a while, I run security at Diosa when Nero needs it, we have a few girls that we run with Duke and T.O., and we freelance like we're doing here today." She shrugged as she slowly paced the floor. "I don't think we need to permanently align ourselves with any one group, ya know? Keep it loose."
Tig nodded, looking at her with his head cocked to one side. "You're the muscle, right? Like me and Happy."
Tiki nodded. "Yeah."
He nodded again before leaning forward in his chair. "Look, doll, people like us, we know how to get shit done, and we may not always agree with the ones in charge, but at the end of the day, we do what we're told, right?"
Tiki nodded and grinned at him. "Yeah, but we don't always have to like it, do we?"
Tig chuckled. "No, no we don't." He rubbed the back of his neck as he grinned at her. "Ya know, I, for one, would be thrilled to have you around more often. You kicked ass last night, T, and you aren't hard to look at either."
Tiki laughed as she shook her head. "You boys... I think you all flirt as much as you fight. Tony and Alvie already have heart eyes for Chibs and Juice, but I think I'll remain unattached if that's ok."
Tig winked at her as he nodded. "I get that, but I don't think Happy will. He's pretty much already acting like an old man, even if he doesn't see it."
Tiki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, I'm not in the market for one of those. A nice fuck between friends, yeah, but commitment? I don't know about that."
Tig let his head fall back as he laughed. "Damn, you're sassy! I like that you have no filter, like me. We're going to have fun together."
Tiki grinned but before she could reply, they heard the thunder of bikes approaching the building. They walked out to greet their friends, Tig's arm once again slung over her shoulder as the others walked over to the building. She saw Happy glaring at Tig and chuckled as she thought that was probably the exact response Tig was trying to get as she heard him snicker quietly.
Clay looked at them before looking around the area. "Everything quiet?"
Tig nodded. "Yeah, no sign of anyone from Laroy's crew yet."
Clay nodded. "Good. Tig, you, Tiki, Happy and Duke, go find your positions. The rest of us will be the welcoming committee."
Tig nodded and motioned for them to follow him back into the building. The four took the stairs to the second floor where they could have an uninterrupted view of the proceedings down below. They spread out and got comfortable as they waited for the others to arrive. Tig grinned over at Tiki as he leaned on the railing. "So after this is over, why don't we go get a bite to eat somewhere?"
Tiki rolled her eyes as Duke looked on in surprise. "Are you seriously asking her out? Now, in the middle of everything?"
Before Tig could reply, Happy did it for him. "No. He's not."
Duke chuckled and Tiki snickered as she shook her head. "Ok, boys, tuck your dicks back in and pay attention, huh? I hear cars."
The meeting itself was surprisingly civil. The Niners had ambushed a group of Sons three days before and Clay wanted answers. Laroy assured him that it wasn't a sanctioned action and that the men would be dealt with. Clay seemed to be satisfied with that, and the meeting ended amicably.
Tiki walked outside and threw a leg over her bike, ready to be rid of Charming, but the others were dragging their feet, taking forever to say goodbye. Tig and Happy walked over as she lit a cigarette and ran a hand through her hair.
"Hey T, don't be a stranger, ok? Don't make me come hunt you down in Oakland."
Tiki chuckled and nodded. "Understood." She turned to Happy, who looked anything but. "Try to stay out of trouble Sunshine."
In a move that even Tiki knew was uncharacteristic, Happy stepped forward and laid a hand on her cheek as he kissed her forehead. "You too, little girl."
She was speechless as Tig just chuckled and slapped Happy on the back. As the other girls got on their bikes, Clay told them all that he would be waiting to hear from them and to drive safely. As they pulled out to head home, Tiki was still trying to figure out what the fuck just happened and why her heart was beating out of her chest.
The second the women were out of sight, Happy had a hand slapped to Tig's shoulder and was in his face. "Stay away from Tiki. She's not for you."
He let go and stomped away as Clay, Jax, and Chibs stared after him in shock. Finally, Clay sighed and shook his head as he looked at Tig. "Were you trying to push up on Tiki?"
Tig tilted his head and gave a small shrug as he grinned. "Maybe a little."
The guys started chuckling as Clay pointed a finger at Tig. "I don't want to have to call a Mayhem vote on Happy because you couldn't keep it in your pants, especially if they join the fold."
Tig grinned and nodded, looking over at Happy. "I'll keep that in mind, brother."
