My plane landed about 3 hours ago. America the land of opportunity. Lets see how true that statement is. I just got a rental car, now it’s time for a road trip to see my aunt. I just realised something that worries me. If aunt Jodi turns me away, I don’t have the money to get back home. Its not like I can go home anyway. All the heat that Crossblade caused is gonna put a bullseye on my back. If things don’t work out the way I want I’m gonna be up shits creek. These are the thoughts I have while im driving. I’m cruising down the road in a silver Lexus. Its about 10 at night. It’s dark and I’m driving down a back road with trees either side of the road. I’ve planned out the route and I have 3 hotel stops ahead of me. I’m about 20 minutes from my hotel. As I’m driving I see about 6 sets of headlights in my rearview. As they get closer I can see they’re bikers. They start to surround me and I start getting ready for trouble. One of them gets close on my left side and I can see his patch “Satan’s Children” under it is a VP patch. He’s not exactly what you’d expect a biker to look like. For one he’s not a fat bearded man. He’s pretty thin with a black goatee. He’s wearing a set of black sunglasses. I start slowing down when they pass me and continue up the road. Thank god. I can fight but if one of them pulls on me, I can’t dodge bullets.

I keep driving wondering where those bikers went, not that I’m hoping to run into them. Eventually I roll into a town called Harmony. This is where im supposed to be, it doesn’t take long to find a hotel. I pay cash upfront and put myself down with a fake name. “Max Payne!” My favourite game when I had a ps2. I take my bag up to my room and see its a pretty nice room with a bed a shower in the next room and a tv at the foot of the bed. I drop my bag and decide to go for a shower. Once I’m showered I dress in jeans, plain white shirt, a leather jacket and decide to go for a drink. I’m walking down the street following the gps on my phone until I find a pub. Wait… America! I mean I find a bar. I stop when I see the bikes parked outside but I really need a drink so I shrug it off and head inside.

The lights are dimmed there are around 20 tables all with bikers sat at them talking and laughing. I sit up at the bar and a heavy set man with a grey beard and a bald he’s comes over. “Hey kid, what you doin in here?” I look up and notice he’s wearing a cut with a “Satan’s children” patch. “I’ll have a Jaeger shot!” I say confident but respectful. “You sure you’re old enough?” He asks. “Do you want my ID or my money!” I say. He smiles and nods lightly before going to pour my drink. I look around and see almost everyone in this place has the same patch. A minute later the bartender comes back with drink which I shoot down. “So what brings you in here kid?” He asks. I shrug my shoulders and answer. “I just needed a drink, I’ve been driving all night. I’m a traveller.” Sorta true. “Alotta people don’t like comin in here cause o’ the company we keep.” He says kinda skeptical as to my courage. “No offence mate, but I don’t let anybody scare me out of doing what I want.” I say. He smiles again and thrusts his hand in my direction. “Butch!” He says. I take his hand and say “Max! So is that short for butcher!” I ask laughing. “It should be!” He says laughing back.

We share a laugh and he tells me a bit about the club. “Does it’s service to the community dealing with drug pushers.” He tells me trying to make the club sound good. It would work if the guy sat behind me wasn’t snorting a line of coke. I’m not stupid. “That means the club hides the pushers good enough so that the community thinks the town is drug free. While the club uses them for its own benefits.” Butch is stunned at my statement Before his expression hardens and he says “You’re smart kid. That could be dangerous!” I shrug and say “Only if im not smart enough to know when to shut up!” With that he smiles and gets me a glass of whiskey before pouring one for himself. “Let’s see if you can handle a man’s drink.” I smile at his challenge and nod. We clank our glasses and shoot the drinks. I’ve had whiskey a few times before. It burns my throat but I keep my expression cold as ice. We’re staring dead at each other as we swallow our drinks. He’s waiting for me to break but it’s not gonna happen. Eventually he just laughs and pats me on the back. “I like you kid you got balls. Andre will like you!” He says. “Who’s that?” I ask curiously. “He’s the pres of this charter.” He says handing me a beer.

At that moment I feel someone tap me on the shoulder. I look round to see a skinny guy, probably late 20s he’s taller then me by a few inches. He’s got a bald chin because all his body hair has gone towards his long ass hair that’s been braided. I almost wanna laugh at this guy but I say in a neutral voice “Can I help you?” “Yeah kid this establishment is for members only!” I turn back to butch and see he’s looking the skinny guy with a frustrated expression. I lower my head and say “Funny. I didn’t see any sign on the door!” I say taking a swig of my beer. “Well maybe I should have Bonnie and Clyde tell you.” He says bawling up his fists. “Tell me.” I say still not facing him. “You call your right hand Bonnie because its the closest thing to a woman you’ll ever have?” Once the words leave my mouth, Butch breaks down laughing. I turn round to see skinny guy’s face go white. “I swear kid you don’t shut your mouth I’ll break your jaw.” I finish my drink and step down from my seat before turning to face him. “Is your name Andre?” I ask. And he looks at me confused before he shakes his head “No!” “Right. Do you wanna tell him why your starting a fight with a kid?” His face goes from confused to angry when he realises I’ve got him in a box. At that point he turns and walks away. I turn and see that Butch has poured me another drink. I take the glass and raise it to skinny guy as he walks out the bar. “Don’t get your hippie locks stuck in the door!” I call out to him.

I look around to see everyone staring at me a few have smiles. Especially the women. I raise my glass to them and turn back to Butch who has calmed down from his laughing fit.