Ten

**

Kam took her time. She didn’t want to rush out back or maybe she should, then leave her dad with those two rough looking men. Either way she knew she had to go to the bikers, mum's request. Craig and Gabe. Beetle and Frost.

She remembered their names from last night when President Stone asked them to say something.

It was confusing sitting next to Beetle through dinner. He’d scared her half to death when he was chasing her, tonight had been different, he was all friendly and conversational. Talking about Vietnam, had mum eating out of the palm of his hand. Fool!

Even dad thought the sun shone from their ... behind their backs. Now they were staying the night, in her domain. Her private place. Where she worked and slaved, sweat and tears and all that jazz.

All her work, some secret pieces which she had hoped remained unseen, shown to the men from Razors M.C.

Get them settled then say ‘tạm biệt mãi mãi’ (Goodbye forever) she thought smiling as she walked with her arms full and a plastic bag slung over her shoulder. Even if he was a good looking man and those hands, those big huge hands that worked with wood like herself.

It didn’t matter if his hair was so gloriously long, his messy beard making him look like a magazine model. And those eyes, the darkest blue Kamryn had ever seen.

Stop it! He tried catching you last night and you got away, remember?

Got away after nearly losing control you mean!

**

“These are fucken’ incredible. Bob, just the mere idea is genius. Why hasn’t more of her work been recognised?”

“Her mother is very strict, her only freedom is her work and her motor riding. Actually, I don’t view her riding as freedom, more along the lines of stressful,” Bob said which made Kamryn feel a little sad. “As for her work, it’s ... rather ... alternate, wouldn’t you say?”

“There are plenty of folk out there who’s into this. Huge! Kamryn could ask her own price, if she kept up with demand that is”, said Beetle putting something down with a clunk when he heard the jail house door close with a bang.

“Sweetheart, we were just discussing your work”, Bob admitted a little guiltily, the redness in his cheeks giving him away.

“The sheets, pillows, you should be comfortable”, Kamryn said laying it all on the couch which was yet to be assembled. “I have six cold beers which should keep you going for a while. Dad there’s only two left in the fridge,” Kam said carefully placing the plastic bag on her workbench, still full of odds and ends.

Her sanctuary felt invaded, and the feeling was quite unpleasant thought Kam looking around at three pairs of eyes watching her intently.

“Thank you...“Bob said nodding at the six frosted cans sitting in a row “... we were just discussing your attempt at apprehending unlawful citizens. Urmm! The handcuffs especially. You know the old fashioned style with the chunky key and lock”.

“Uh! You didn’t?” Kam said looking at her dad horrified, exasperation written all over her face.

“... and the magnetic field sweetheart”, he added looking prouder but sounding a bit too sheepish.

“Dad! If mum found out, gan của bạn sẽ được nấu chín như bữa ăn nấu tại nhà tiếp theo của chúng tôi” (your liver would be served as out next home cooked meal).

Bob burst out laughing and looked at his two guests with tears in his eyes, rubbing at the wrinkly skin with the back of his hand, trying his hardest not to laugh at his daughter again.

“Something funny?” asked Frost confused. He clearly didn’t understand Vietnamese but finding out two bikers had just seen some kinky shit, and the old man laughing at something was awry! Kamryn on the other hand looked dangerous...

That look was what prompted Beetle to ask, “You make this by commission?”

“What? No! ...” she said then added as an afterthought “... Yes! Why?” Kam asked looking between her father and Mr. Deep blue eyes.

Fuck, shit, fuck, shit! Naughty words so be it!

“Fucking shit dad! Some of this is personal”. Ooops! That came out wrong.

“I mean some of this stuff is private and not even tried and tested”. Oh fuck it!

“Listen, what I mean is, don’t touch what’s mine”. Nope that didn’t come out right also.

“Please do. not. touch. anything unless you ask and with those I say, no!” she said nodding at the handcuffs.

Shaking her head, it didn't stop the heat that crept up her milky skin as two small patches of pink stained her cheeks. Kam just growled in frustration trying to ignore her embarrassment.

“See, that’s what my wife was talking about. Lucky you don’t drink sweetheart”, Bob said obviously intoxicated. “You should be proud of your work; I know I am”.

“Why haven’t they been tried and tested?” asked Beetle highly amused.

“You think this is funny. Imagine if I went into your workspace and began pulling out drawers. What would I find, hmmm?” Mal shot back exasperated.

“They’re locked”, he said not smiling but his eyes were.

Damn him to the centre of the earth!

“You swore!” Frost said looking at Bob who had clearly missed his daughter’s language.

“That’s right, that’s right! Perhaps I have had too much to drink”.

“You think?” asked Kamryn beyond frustrated, she was lethal.

“Show me if they work. Let me be the test bunny, at least let me try; if they fail no foul if they hold, success, then ‘we’ can say they have been tried and tested”, he said lifting his two wrists and placing them together, his action an act of submission.

Frost coughed into his clenched fist and sat on the couch next to the fresh sheets and shit, his leg had shooting pain running into his hip joint while Bob placed his hand on the bench nearest the beers for support, trying to look more sober than he actually was.

Beetle didn’t even look intoxicated, if anything he seemed more alert than ever thought Kam, trying not to look him in the eyes.

“‘We’ can, did you say! You want me to lock you in those handcuffs?” Kam asked skeptically. “If I can’t open them after you have been ‘incapacitated’ then so help me God. I will let mum cook your liver for dinner”, she said looking at her father.

“You know that was the most you’ve talked all night Ryn”, Beetle said, his nickname for her not going unnoticed by Frost but completely missed by Bob who was now nodding his head.

“Here Bob sit, I’ll make some room”, Frost said feeling sorry for the old codger.

“Don’t call me Ryn!”

“Why?”

“It’s not my name”.

“It’s the side I see. Reason why you got bugs in your eye”.

Kamryn quickly looked at her father and then back at Beetle. Or Craig. Or whoever he was.

“Listen you two, they don’t know I went to your club last night, so I’d like to keep it that way”, she whispered, thumbing towards her father and nodding her head towards the house.

**