Eight

Balancing six pizza boxes, avoiding another slap off her mother, Kamryn walked the stone path towards the back door.

“Your father has been drinking all afternoon, so be patient”, Mai said opening the back flyscreen just as Bob opened the heavy wooden door with the square glass paneling showing his glowing red cheeks and blood shot eyes.

“Dad you’re sloshed!” exclaimed Kam.

“Shhh. No disrespect", Mai said over her shoulder. "Hoa anh đào (Cherry blossom) người đàn ông ấm cúng”. (Cosy man) she said facing her husband.

“Mum, that’s gro ... sssss ...". Kam didn’t finish her sentence, it died on her lips.

Two huge guys wearing leather stood from the kitchen table and were staring back at her, smiling.

Kam ... ryn, Maiiii. These men are the ones I’ve been telling you about. Please meet Craaaig and Gaaabe”, he slurred trying to sound less drunk than he actually was. His right arm extending to the men while his left circled his wife’s tiny waist.

“It’s an honor”, Mai said stepping forward and shaking each man’s extended hand. “My husband has a good reputation for working hard. I hope you were pleased with his work?”

Mai said smiling up at the two ginormous men standing in her kitchen, making the large room look infinitely smaller.

“You have refreshments, yes?” she asked being the good wife she was.

“Yes ma’am, your husband has been a great host”, Frost piped up, taking his eyes from Kamryn to look at the smaller woman who had stepped forward.

“We wanted to personally thank him for his work, last night’s open to the public was a success. Our members are in agreeance, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bob for further work”, Beetle offered, dragging his eyes from Kam to look down at the smaller woman.

“Ma’am! Old word. Call me Mai, easier for me to understand”, she said smiling.

Then she turned around to clip Kamryn on the shoulder.

“My daughter, spoke often of her annoyance. Told her father off for using her work and not taking pictures”, Mai said, pinching Kamryn’s upper arm who stood motionless with her head facing downward, looking at Craig and Gabe's knees.

“My daughter seems to have lost her tongue, surprising! She is not one to keep her trap shut”, Mai said taking the boxes and placing them on the table.

Beetle just smiled, his eyes twinkling. He now knew what she looked like, fucking gorgeous!

Frost was the one who spoke up again.

"Pictures weren’t allowed I’m afraid. Club business and all. All the tradies had to sign a confidentiality agreement before working for us, you understand?” he said resuming his seat.

“That’sss right. They were very professional my darling”, he said holding on to the back of his chair for balance.

“That cat seems to have quite a hold ...” Beetle said smiling at Kamryn’s lowered head “... losing that tongue and all. Quite impressed with all that steel work you supplied your dad”.

“She’s always made good work. Kept her first piecesss as souvenirs. I’ll show you later some of her other work, let’s eat”, Bob said dragging out a seat for his wife. “Kamryn, get Craaaig and Gaaabe another drink from the fridge, I might sit this one out and eat something first”, he said motioning to his wife before taking his own seat.

Fuck, shit, fuck, shit! Naughty words be damned!

“Yes dad”, Kamryn said meekly walking over to the fridge and extracting two more beers and a bottle of drink for her mum.

Beetle was sooo enjoying this, he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face, so Frost gave him an almighty nudge in the ribs.

“We’ve ridden a long way, appreciate your hospitality. Won’t say no to some grub”, Frost said trying hard not swear at Bob’s request.

“Kamryn, get some plates, knives and forks too. Nhanh!” (Quickly!)

“My wife flips between Vietnamese and Australian. Old habit”, Bob offered apologetically, looking at his wife adoringly.

“Vietnam. Rode there a few years back when I finished my time in the army. Rode from ... Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi along the west coast. Beautiful country”, Beetle offered, smiling again.

Kamryn raised her head and offered Frost the first can of beer because he was closer, then walked behind his chair and offered the man who had chased her, the second can without looking at his face.

“Oh my! I miss my home. My husband and I will return when Kamryn can stop giving us such grief”, Mai said waiting on the plates. “Vội vàng với các tấm” (hurry with the plates) she ordered.

“Mai, all in good time”, Bob offered soothingly.

As Kamryn reached up to grab five dinner plates from an overhead cupboard, she winced, rubbing her lower back quickly before resuming her mum’s request.

Nice butt thought Beetle looking at her derriere with the not quite see through pants she was wearing, earning him a stomp from the bottom of Frost's booted heel.

Not that it hurt but Beetle took notice.

“See, gái hư (bad girl) gets insects in her eye and fights as well”, Mai scoffed.

“I’m sure these men don’t want to hear about our daughter’s misgivings”, Bob said trying to be discreet.

“Hardly! Frost and me have seen our fair share, saw a scuffle last night in fact”, he said looking at Mai, but his peripheral vision caught Kamryn falter with the plates, making them rattle a little in her grasp.

Perfect he thought grinning wider.

“On the first night? Golly, how did that fair?” asked Bob leaning forward in his seat. “My wife has been teaching Kamryn martial arts since she was a child to prevent our daughter from encountering such louts”.

Frost nearly choked on his beer, leaning back to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes watering a little at the corners.

“Dad!”

Ahhhhh! She speaks thought Beetle, picking up his beer and taking another sip.

“My daughter seems to think prevention means intervention. I teach her and she shows it off. Just last night, I can tell, her muscles are tender”, Mai said pouring some of her drink into a glass before taking a sip.

“Last night we witnessed a young woman take down two grown men. Insulted her apparently; had to finish what’s she’d started of course. Can’t have disrespect in our club”, Beetle added.

“Of course! Bad manners. Our Kamryn has been taught over and over to walk away. Ha! If I know my daughter, she would have beaten those men too but of course she would not have been so disobedient and ridden so far from home”, Mai said grabbing the plates a little too gruffly from Kamryn before placing them in front of each man.

“These men. Did they end up leaving?” asked Bob, his old ways obvious with his enthusiasm to know the outcome.

“They did ...” Frost said leaning forward and snagging two pieces of pizza and dropping them on his plate “... a two inch hole below one fu ... fella’s chin and a hella black eye on the other. Knocked them out cold for a few”.

“Got blacklisted. Remember the geek who ... our tech guy from South Korea, he was the one who thanked you for installing all that upgraded shi ... stuff! He made the call. President, Gabe and me backed him. Then showed ’em the door.”

Beetle grabbed three pieces of pizza, still waiting on the cutlery from Kamryn who was standing open mouthed at the cutlery drawer.

“Ddao kéo bây giờ! Kamryn”. (Cutlery now!)

“Yes of course. I might not eat mum, dad. Tôi cảm thấy không khỏe”. (I’m not feeling well)

“English Kam, your mother speaks another language when she is excited. You are being rude in front of our guests”, said Bob looking at Craig and Gabe apologetically.

"Bạn sẽ ăn sau đó cho họ thấy công việc của bạn (You will eat then show them your work).

"Mum!" Kam complained, slamming the cutlery down on the table.

"Ha! Now she shows. You will sit and eat. Your father has guests need I remind you my beautiful daughter", Mai said narrowing her eyes towards Kam.

"I'd love to see your work Kamryn. Discuss my ride through Vietnam maybe later if that's okay", Beetle offered picking up a piece of pizza and taking a huge bite. Beetle knew he needed to say something if he wanted Kamryn to stay for a while longer, call it a peace offering with a purpose!

She didn't know that they were there for the right reasons and not to kidnap her back to their club.

Not a bad thought though!

"That would be wonderful", Mai praised cutting her pizza into smaller portions.

Frost sat there and smiled at Bob. Who'd have thought an old codger like him could snag such a beautiful woman as Mai and have a stunning daughter like Kamryn. He may need to ask ....

"How did you two meet?"

"My wife and I met through the internet, best letter writing of my life ..." so Bob continued to tell both Craig and Gabe how he wooed his wife and brought her to this country.

Kamryn had no other choice than to sit next to Beetle and pick at her own pizza even though she was starving.

**