"Y'all ready to ride?"
A chorus of hell yeahs went up around me. I got on my bike and waited for Solana to slip on behind me, then slid my own helmet on and signaled for everyone to fall in. Juelz and Rico pulled up on my sides, Money and Koast falling in behind me.
We moved through the city unified. This was what I loved about being a Thorn. We all shared a love of riding, but it went deeper than that. It was a connection, a bond. These were my people and my family. It was why what Rafe had been doing cut so deep. I looked out for everyone around me. If I had it and you brought it to my attention, you had it too.
I wasn't one to go digging in anybody's business uninvited, but if you came to me, I was going to make sure you were straight. No questions asked.
As we rolled through the streets, kids waved from the sidewalks and people stopped to watch. It took us about twenty minutes from Chrome to reach Pierce Street. This was a neutral zone for everyone in the Parks. Folks knew that when something was being held here, it was a good time and nothing else. We weren't here for nonsense.
As we turned onto the block, music hit us first. Thick smoke from a row of grills drifted into the air and a few food trucks were already pulling a crowd. The energy was exactly what I needed.
I motioned over my head with two fingers in both directions, signaling everyone to split and park. Once I cut the engine and pulled my helmet off, I turned back to check on Solana. She was already working her helmet loose with a smile spreading across her face.
This woman. I bring her to the hood and she's looking around like I took her somewhere magical. I held her hand as she stepped down, then she came around to stand beside me.
"Damn, let me talk to you for a second," I said with a tilt of my head.
She tucked an imaginary curl behind her ear and stepped in close. I wrapped my arm around her waist and leaned down to her ear.
"What kind of night do you have to have for me to get what I want the minute we walk through the door tonight?"
She moved in closer and rubbed my beard slowly, biting her lower lip.
"Oh, baby, that's already a given. But if you act like you have some sense out here tonight, I might let you collect on something extra."
I bit her earlobe and gripped her waist.
"Duke, if you don't let my friend go. Y'all have all night for that. There are children out here," Jessa said, walking up with Aubree right alongside her.
I held my hands up with a smile and pointed at Solana.
"That's your friend who has been trying to cut the night short all day."
Solana swatted my shoulder. "Stop putting my business out there."
I chuckled.
She leaned up to kiss me quickly, then took off with Jessa and Aubree. I watched them go, then felt Juelz and Rico appear on either side of me.
"When is the wedding? And I already know I'm the best man," Juelz said.
"I wouldn't care either way. That's up to her. But how are things going with her girl?" I asked.
Juelz's eyes went wide. "Now you care about my love life?"
The man was dramatic as hell.
"Nah, you just lost your chance to tell me anything about it."
Rico cracked up. Before Juelz could come back with something, the distant rumble of bikes pulled our attention to the left. Then the colors started coming into view. Chrome and gold bikes, a few of them carrying flags bearing a gold crown.
I stood from where I was leaning, and Juelz and Rico fell in on either side of me without being asked. I glanced over at Solana. She was already watching me, questions clear in her eyes. I raised my hand and signaled for her to stay put with her girls.
She nodded.
I moved toward the barricade that had been set up along the perimeter of the block. The music dropped on its own, like the crowd already knew. The Crown didn't need an introduction. Each bike lined up along the barricade and left a gap in the center. A moment later, Casper rolled through it on an all-chrome Harley with gold finishes and a skull wearing a crown printed across the tank.
I stepped forward and he met me halfway.