Storm Chasers MC | Thor

“You know what, John?” I say, taking my apron off and throwing it over the wood. “Fuck you and your bar!” I walk toward the side and grab my purse from behind the counter.

“Yeah, Camila. You are fired!” Cute. As if I wasn’t already leaving. He screams loud enough that some customers look at us.

I flip him off, screaming. “Enfia esse bar no cú, seu arrombado!” (Shove this bar up your ass, you motherfucker.)

I say it in Portuguese because I know it will piss him off.

I take a deep breath when the cold night air reaches me. Fuck, I needed that. John has been an asshole. He didn’t pay me enough and It’s been three weeks since I got a day off. I take my phone from my back pocket and there is texts in a group.

Totally Spies!

Vicky: Girls, we officially bought the house!

Phoenix: Finally!! Are we going to have an opening party?

Vicky: Ink and I already have 👀😈

I laugh at the exchange. God, I miss them. Our summers by the ocean, late night talks and stealing the Harleys to go for a ride are my most cherished memories. I remember Phoenix and I sitting in the diner having milkshakes and planning the future. Vicky and Thor arguing who would play the first match at the ping-pong table. I laugh again.

I came to San Francisco to help mom during dad’s treatment. He is fine, finally the doctors gave us the green light. Why the fuck am I still here? I’ve spent three years putting my life on hold, and I don’t have to anymore.

I walk to my car and all the way home there is this voice in my head saying that it’s time to go back to Sea Harbor.

I arrive at the apartment maybe twenty minutes later. I get into the kitchen and there is a plate of food on the table, covered by a clean dish towel and my parents are sitting across from me in the living room watching some Brazilian Soap Opera.

“Oi, mãe. Oi, pai.” (Hi, mom. Hi, dad.) I say hi to them in Portuguese and they both look at me proud. They always say I should speak more of our native language and I annoy them that they need to practice their English.

“Hi, minha filha.” (my daughter) Mom says and then pauses, thinking. “You are home early.”

I wash my hands and put the plate in the microwave. I walk to the archway and look at them. “I quit today.”

Their eyes almost pop out of their skulls, it’s comical.

“Why?”

“What happened?”

They ask at the same time and I can’t help but laugh. In our culture, especially at their age, quitting is something unthinkable.

“The bar wasn’t a good job and he didn’t even pay me enough.” I say, taking my plate and sitting by the table to eat. “And I am thinking about returning to Sea Harbor.”

My mother stands up and grabs a glass of Orange Juice for me. “Are you sure?” She asks.

“Dad is okay. You’re okay.” I say, looking at them so they can see how truthful I am. “And I love that place. I have friends there that I miss.” I pause and decide to say the whole truth. “And I never liked San Francisco. I don’t really fit in here.”

They agree and I can tell my mom is already praying for my safety ‘alone in another town’. And dad doesn’t say anything at first, the only sign he disagrees is his mustache twitching. Then he stands up and walks toward us.

“The house is rented out. You know, right?” He asks.

I nod and take some time to think. “Yeah, I know. I am going to talk to Vicky. Maybe I can work at the Clubhouse.”

Dad used to be a mechanic at the Clubhouse, a well-paid job and honest. He was never a member at the club, but I was raised around it. Hawk made sure Dad had enough money to retire, and because of that, we weren’t drowning in medical bills after everything he’d been through.

“Just the legal part, Camila.” Dad says roughly and I nod.

Mom comes and holds me tight. “I am going to miss you.” She has tears in her eyes.

“I am going to miss you too, mom.”

The next morning, I called Vicky.

“Morning, Cami!” She answers in the first ring. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She seems happy, lighter than the last time I saw her after the kidnapping and that makes my heart warm.

I laugh a bit. “I actually need a favor.”

“That sounds interesting.” She says and I can hear the sounds of the infirmary around her. “What is it?”

“I want to go back to Sea Harbor.” I say. “Do you think Thor has some opening job at the Clubhouse?”

“Oh my God!” She says excitedly. “Of course! If there is nothing I’m going to invent a position!” I laugh and she continues, “Stay on the line, I am going to his office.”

“Okay.” I say, realizing I feel weirdly nervous.

I hear footsteps and then a door opening.

“Hey, Thor. Can we talk?”

“Sure, sis. What’s up?”

“Camila is coming back to Sea Harbor. Do you have an opening at the bar?”

“She knows how to work a bar?”

“She’s been working in one for three years.”

“Then tell her to come by when she gets here.”

“She will need a place to stay.”

“Your old room is available.”

“Thanks.”

There is a moment of silence, then a door closes and I hear Vicky again. “It’s yours!”

“Thanks, Vicky! I owe you!” I tell her and she laughs at me.

“You don’t owe me shit.” She says. “See you soon.”

Two weeks later, I have my entire life fit inside the back of my car. I say goodbye to my parents and drive to Sea Harbor. The first thing that changes is the air, it goes from polluted recycled air to the clean ocean breeze. I drove past the diner I liked, the tattoo parlor and the bakery I love. It all feels familiar, calm and like home.

I park my old Honda and scratch as I get out. Phoenix and Vicky are already coming in my direction and a huge smile appears on my face. “I am finally back!” I say as we hug each other.

“How are your parents handling the moving?” Phoenix asks me.

“You know them. They are Latinos.” I say, rolling my eyes. “They cried as if I were going to war.”

“Come on.” Vicky says. “The prospects can take your things later.”

We laugh, I grab my purse and we walk into the Clubhouse. Phoenix and Vicky are making plans to celebrate her return, a night out with the girls, drinks and dancing. I feel a warm feeling spreading across my chest. It’s a Saturday afternoon, the movement is low, but I catch a few patched members sitting at a table, with some mugs around them.

“Hey, guys!” Vicky announces. “Look how it is officially back!”

I wave and they all greet me happily. “You gonna handle the prospects at the bar?” Joker asks and I nod.

“That’s the idea.”

“Good luck, Cami!” Noise adds. “They are savages!”

We all laugh and I see the elevator door opening. Ink leaves first, followed by Thor. Fuck. How come every time I see him, he is even more handsome? They walked toward us, Thor is wearing dark jeans, a black t-shirt and his cut. His hair is loose, long blond strands framing his face. I smile at him and his face softens a little.

“So am I hired?” I ask him, raising my eyebrow. He lets out a low chuckle.

“You know how to make drinks and you need a job?” He asks and I nod. “Then you are hired.” He points to the bar. “Later the prospects can show you their system.”

“Thanks, Thor. I appreciate you letting me settle here.” I say, honestly.

“No problem, Cami.” He stares directly into my eyes and I feel a little shaky.

On Monday, I am already settled, my things are organized in my room. And I head to the bar, where three prospects are waiting for me. “Hey, you must be Cami.” The tall one says and I nod. “I am Bear. Thor said you are the new manager.”

I smile despite myself. “Yeah, he just hired me, didn’t say the position.”

The other one, a bit more chubby, completes. “Well, we try to keep things going here.”

They start explaining their routine and soon enough I find out they have no organization. The bar is chaotic. The prospects don’t know what they’re doing. Things are disorganized, nobody knows where anything goes and the orders are backing up.

I feel a chill down my spine and start making a list of everything we need to do. “Bear, clean these glasses and organize them on the shelf.” He nods and goes to work. “Slayer, you restock the fridge.” He starts moving. “And you,” I point to the third prospect. “Carry those boxes to the deposit.”

I start inventory and within an hour, the bar is working better than I thought it would. I already have a list of things we need to buy and another with some beverages that we have extra and we need to come up with some drinks to use before it spoils.

It’s already dark outside, when Thor arrives with Bruiser and Ghost. He stares in my direction, looks at the prospects moving, the shelves that have been reorganized and checks behind the counter.

He nods toward me and I raise one eyebrow. “What?”

Thor looks around the bar. “Nothing.” He pauses. “Good work, Cami.”

It had only been three days since I came back and Sea Harbor already felt more like mine than San Francisco ever had.