Chapter 4 Margot
MARGOT
“What the hell’s going on?” I hissed.
I ripped my arm out of Piper’s grasp once we finally got to the kitchen. I turned around and locked my eyes with her, fuming at everything that happened. What was Bear doing with people like this? What was she doing with people like this?
“You told me when you married Rock, you wouldn't get wrapped up into this. And now, in the span of a few hours, I’ve stolen shit from the hospital and performed minor surgeries in an unsterile environment?” I asked.
“I know. I know this looks bad,” Piper said.
“This looks worse than bad. It looks like you’re wrapped up in men who do illegal activities, and that’s why you can’t take them to the hospital. Because they’d be arrested on the spot!”
“Not…quite. But sort of?”
“Start explaining, or you’re on your own. You promised me when you got married to that man that you’d—”
“I know what I promised, okay?” she asked curtly.
I stood back and drew in a long breath as my hands clenched at my sides.
“I know what I promised, and I know how this looks. But there isn’t anything I can do about it. I love these men. All of them. Rock, the most. They’re my family. We ride or die with one another, and that’s just how it is. We’re a close-knit family. That’s what you have to understand,” she said.
“This is fucked up and you know it. You’re with a crew, Piper. A gang. That can’t go to the hospital or any other federally-regulated institute because they’ll get arrested. For their illegal dealings. What in the world has gotten into you?” I asked.
“Look, I know. I felt the same way when I first came upon these guys. But they’re good men. Men who help this community whenever they can.”
“Well, right now? It looks like they’re in a hell of a lot of trouble. Why do I get the feeling that trouble has been brought upon themselves?”
“Actually, we had some more family come knocking at our door, and that’s how it started. But we’re in this because we protect our own. We protect family. Always,” she said.
I narrowed my eyes as her before I drew in a deep breath.
I watched Piper pull out a chair at the kitchen table, and I sat down with her.
I didn’t know what to think about all this.
I didn’t know what was right and what was wrong.
All I knew was that I deserved answers. Especially since I had to call into my residency shift and fucking fake sick so I could be here when Bear woke up.
And I still had to come up with an excuse that justified the materials I took if the hospital ever found out what I’d done.
“Okay, what’s going on?” I asked.
Piper took my hand in hers. “Do you know why Rock and I got back together in the first place? Why I married this man in the first place?”
“No. You’ve never told me how you guys met or fell in love.”
“We got back together because I knew I had to help him when he needed it. See, Rock and I had a history. We dated back one summer when I lost someone I loved dearly, and he was my distraction. He was how I got my mind off that death. And just as I started to fall for him, he got thrown into jail. Which solidified my track in this world. I went on to get my medical degree. I went on to hold jobs. I went on to raise my son until I ended up back here. Back in town, where I ran right back into Rock when he needed someone the most. Just like I’d found him when I needed someone the most.”
“I mean, it’s a sweet story. But you just told me he went to prison,” I said.
“Look, the point is, these men are more than their pasts. We helped one another during our darkest hours, and from it blossomed a love that spiraled into marriage. That spiraled into more children. These other men are my family. I’m protected with them.
I love them all the same. So, when they get themselves into trouble like this—which, from the sounds of it, Bear was beaten up by happenstance—I help as much as I can.
It’s one of the reasons why I got the medical certifications I did.
So, if I needed to sign out supplies for specific things, no one would bat an eye.
So, don’t worry. If someone questions why you took those supplies, I’ll simply tell them you were helping me with a patient because you’re interested in those same certifications.
So, you’re doing some research work in your spare time. ”
I paused. “Well, I—I appreciate it, Doctor—”
Piper held up her hand. “You’ve been calling me Piper this entire time. Don’t stop now because you want to make things more formal and less emotional. I know that road. It’s a lonely road. Take it from me and don’t do that.”
I sighed. “You said these guys have cleaned up their act. But they still can’t go to hospitals? Why?”
“They’ve mostly cleaned up their act, yes.
The money they bring in is legal. How they make their living is legal.
But whenever a problem arises, they’ve struggled in the past with the police taking them seriously.
After all, they have the same initial prejudices you have right now.
So, they’re used to taking matters into their own hands. ”
“You mean the police won’t help them at all with stuff like this?”
“Hardly. I’ve seen it happen, too. A few months ago, there was a shootout. The crew wasn’t involved with it, but Diesel was caught in the middle of it,” she said.
“Who’s Diesel again?” I asked.
“The big, stern one that barged into the room.”
“They all look big and stern.”
She threw her head back, laughing. “I’ll point him out later. How’s that sound?”
“Sounds good, sure,” I said.
“So, the shootout had nothing to do with the crew, but Diesel got caught in the middle of it. Wrong place, wrong time. And after a year and a half of keeping a clean record and building a positive rapport with the community of Redding, when the police arrived, they arrested him immediately. They didn’t take his eye witness account.
They didn’t ask him questions. They put him in handcuffs and hauled him off.
Put him in a holding cell, assuming he had something to do with it.
It wasn’t until Monroe came into the picture and helped him that the police even started listening,” she said.
“Wait, they just hauled him off? Just like that?” I asked.
“Just like that.”
“And who’s Monroe?”
“Knox’s wife and baby mama,” she said, smiling.
“And let me guess, Knox is the big, stern one?” I asked, giggling.
Piper smiled. “Now, you’re getting the hang of it.”
I leaned back into my chair, sighing. “I’m not going to lie, that’s some bullshit. They should’ve at least questioned him at the scene.”
“And for fun measure, they came knocking on all our doors, too. They wouldn't give Diesel his phone call while in the holding cell, so Monroe didn’t even know he’d been arrested for something until the police practically took down their house door.
They actually took ours off, Rock and mine’s.
We had to sue the county for them to replace it.
With a door that didn’t match nor hardly fit.
Rock ended up replacing the damn thing again anyway.
It was the principle of it by that point. ”
“And you guys always deal with this?”
She nodded. “Yes. We always do. So, when trouble comes knocking, we’ve gotten good at taking care of it without the police. Without hospitals. Because hospitals are just as bad for being prejudice. Like, somehow, guys like them aren’t worth the same effort and treatment styles as ‘normal people.’”
“That’s insane!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, it is. And when I finally assessed Bear’s condition after they called me, I knew I needed help. And I knew you were the only person I could trust with something like this. You know, once I explained it to you.”
I nodded. “Well, I really do appreciate the vote of confidence. Even if I’m just a resident.”
“Margot, there’s nothing ‘just’ about you. You’re an insanely talented doctor. And once your residency is up, I know this hospital is going to be fighting to get you to stay. I hope you’ll consider it, too. We could use another doctor in that place that isn’t so high and mighty all the damn time.”
“So, what’s the trouble right now? Why is Bear in the condition he’s in?”
“Well, despite a few random instances, things have been pretty quiet. Especially now that the crew is above-board with their monetary dealings. But with the threat of the mafia breathing down our necks, things have gotten worse.”
“Wait, did you just say the mafia?” I asked.
“Margot!” Bear roared.
I stood up from my chair and whipped around as those lumberjack footsteps barreled down the hallway. Piper was out of her seat instantly whenever the men started yelling. But, above all their cries, I heard Bear’s voice. Yelling for me. Calling out for me. Yearning for me.
“Margot! You still here!?” he bellowed.
I fought between rushing toward him and standing where I was. I didn’t know what else to do. The men emerged, with Bear in the middle of a circle as the guys helped him to stay upright.
“Margot?” a man asked.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I’m Diesel. Nice to meet you. Apparently, Bear wants to see you. So badly, in fact, he’s willing to jeopardize his recuperation to make sure you’re still here.”
“Ah, so you’re Diesel. Nice to meet you,” I said.
“Margot,” Bear said.
And the rumbling notes of his voice slowly pulled my eyes over to his.