Chapter 5 Bear
BEAR
The girls slipped out of the room before the guys filed in around my bed.
They surrounded me, blocking my eyesight of Margot.
But they didn’t block out her smell. It was different, but still reminded me of all the things we used to do.
The things we used to share. The firsts and the beginnings we had with one another back during our senior year of high school.
I wanted to call her back into the room.
I wanted her to stay with me. I wanted to take her hand and pull her close and hold her on top of me, despite the pain I knew I’d feel in the process.
But instead, I had Diesel’s touch.
Because I felt him bring his hand down to my shoulder to try and comfort me.
“The fuck happened out there?” he asked.
I shook my head. “They literally rolled up on me in the damn grocery store. I mean, they were plainly clothed and whatnot. Not those black suits we’re all used to. But, those stern looks? Had to be the mafia, right?”
I watched Diesel look over at Cage and I knew something was wrong.
“What?” I asked.
“What did they do to you after they cornered you?” Knox asked.
I shrugged. “One of them stuck a gun in my side and led me out into the alleyway beside the block of stores. That was the first gunshot wound before I hit my knees. They started beating on me, and I don’t remember much after that.
I just remember coming to sitting on a fucking couch.
I didn’t even know where the hell I was until I heard Sutton’s voice talking to Cage on the phone. ”
“So, you heard all that. You were conscious?” Cage asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Couldn’t move worth a damn because I was beaten to hell and pumped full of lead. But, yeah.”
“You also had a knife in your upper arm,” Grave said.
“Ah, explains that shit, then,” I said.
“There was a note attached to it, too,” Diesel said.
I slowly panned my eyes up to his. “What now?”
Cage looked around the room before he brandished the note. It was folded up in his pocket, the yellow paper stained with my blood. Great. Fucking great. A knife used to pin a damn note on me. I reached over with my good arm and ripped it from Cage’s grasp, a grimace coming across my face.
“Take it easy,” Rock said.
“Yeah, yeah,” I murmured.
I’m coming for you all, princess. You should tell your boy toy he needs better aim. Not every part of the back of someone’s head jives with death.
I read the note, over and over. And the only thing I could think was where the hell was Sutton? I looked up at Cage and he must’ve read my mind, too. Because the second he waved his hand in the air, I knew she was okay.
“She’s shaken. Glad we’re still living at the lodge instead of on our own just yet. But, she’s okay,” Cage said.
“How the fuck did Lars survive that?” I asked.
“We’re not sure he did,” Diesel said.
“So, this might be someone pretending to be him?” I asked.
Saint shrugged. “Maybe. If someone wants to take over his throne or whatever and send a message to his new empire.”
“Fucking hell,” I said, sighing.
“We need to find the guys who did this to Bear,” Cage said.
“You think that’s smart right now? With this note floating around?” I asked.
“I think we should find them and slit their throats,” Toxin said.
“We won’t be doing anything of the sort,” Diesel said.
The room fell silent as I propped myself up against the headboard of the bed.
“We need to regroup. Do recon. Put out feelers in the community. We need to do this the way we know how, and the way we do it best. If we go out there half-cocked and ready to be loaded, we’re going to get slaughtered,” Diesel said.
“Not on my watch,” Cage said.
“We regroup, and do we recon,” Diesel said curtly.
“We figure out what our next moves are, and we make up a plan. Obviously, this war isn’t over.
Someone’s bringing it to us, and we need to face facts that maybe Lars didn’t die in that diner like we thought a couple months ago.
I mean, the man’s loaded with serious connections.
We rode off pretty quickly after that shitshow was done.
For all we knew, he had a medical crew on standby somewhere. Just in case.”
“We should’ve stayed back and killed them off, too,” Toxin said.
“Enough with the killing. I know you’re upset, but—”
“Of course, I’m upset!” Toxin exclaimed. “Look at Bear. Seriously. Take a good damn look at him. They’ve just proven we’re easy to get to because we let our damn guard down.”
“Enough, Toxin,” Rock hissed.
“No, he’s right,” Cage said.
We all turned our heads to the newest prospect of the group, watching as the man sighed.
“Whoever is behind this, he just proved we’re easy to find.
Easy to get to. Easy to dump off into this lodge.
And while Sutton is happy we’re still here because she sees this place as safe, I’m not so sure this is a safe place anymore.
Especially since it’s so easily-accessible to this faceless enemy,” Cage said.
“You guys any closer to finding yourselves a spot?” Diesel asked.
“Sutton might not be happy with me right now, but I’ve already signed a lease for the place,” Cage said.
“When the fuck did you have time for that?” Saint asked.
“When she called me, I was already in the process of filling out paperwork. Just needed her okay that having only my name on the lease would be all right, since I was there to sign and she wasn’t.
When she screamed into my ear, I knew something was wrong.
I finished signing the lease, picked up the information packet, and booked it the hell out of dodge,” Cage said.
“When’s the big move-in date?” I asked, coughing.
“You good?” Grave asked.
I waved his question away as my eyes locked with Cage.
“As soon as we can,” he said.
“Okay. Good. Cage, you and Sutton start getting a move on, well, moving. The guys’ll help you out, since you don’t have furniture. Making one trip from here is going to be less risky than making several trips. Less of a chance we’ll be followed,” Diesel said.
“Let me go break the news to Sutton,” Cage said, sighing.
Everyone watched him with sullen eyes as he made his way out of the room. Diesel, especially. Because I knew the two of them had grown even closer over the past few weeks.
“We’ll get them,” I said, looking up at our president.
He flickered his eyes down toward me before he nodded.
“I know we will. I just hate they’re going through this,” he said.
“I hate we’re all going through this,” Toxin murmured.
Diesel cast the prospect a very unhealthy glare.
I knew everyone was on edge, but we still needed to pose a united front.
We still had to listen to what Diesel wanted us to do, even if we didn’t agree with it.
Yes, Cage and Sutton were the reason we were in this mess.
But Cage and Sutton had also brought a great deal to this club we wouldn't have had otherwise.
Knowledge and outside connections. Resources and skill sets.
Sutton was in the process of teaching the girls how to fend for themselves if they ever had to get on the run, and Cage was in the process of teaching the new prospects how to fight properly with knives. Fucking proper knife fights.
They were a great addition. And I was more than willing to step up to fight alongside them.
“I’m sorry I got snatched up like that. I’m usually not so easily caught off-guard,” I said.
“Don’t worry about it. Happens to all of us. You’d do well to remember that, Toxin,” Diesel said.
The prospect rolled his eyes before he scoffed. Then, he made his way out of the room, yelling for Cage in the process. I shook my head as he walked out, wondering how the hell we were ever going to tame that wild boy.
“He’s been through a lot in his life. Give him some time,” Brewer said.
I chuckled. “You been pretty quiet over there.”
“I’m in a bit of shock,” Brewer said.
“Makes two of us,” Rock said.
“What’s your gut telling you?” Diesel asked.
“Yeah. What’s that infamous Brewer gut saying?” I asked.
And when he sighed, I cursed underneath my breath.
“My gut is telling me Lars survived,” Brewer said.
“Not to be the downer, but do we even think it’s remotely possible that Cage let him live?” Rock asked.
“I don’t think it is,” I said.
“Me, neither. He was proud coming out of that diner. He was proud of putting bullets in that man’s head.
Or bullet. However many shots he took. Either way, you can see it in Cage’s eyes.
In the way he carries himself. He’s been both proud and beating himself up for it.
And now, with this note, he’s walking a bit taller.
He’s fighting with guilt right now. And I can’t blame him.
Guilt from all sides. From bringing this to our doorstep, to killing Sutton’s father, to not actually killing Sutton’s father.
It’s a lot for any one man to process,” Diesel said.
“That’s true,” Rock said, nodding.
“Look, the only thing that matters right now is that Bear’s okay. Let’s get Cage and Sutton moved into their new place, get them situated, and get protective detail up and running,” Brewer said.
“You sound like me,” Diesel said, grinning.
“Sorry,” Brewer said breathlessly.
“Nah, don’t be sorry for it. You're absolutely right. And that’s the plan we’re sticking with,” Diesel said.
“I’ll go see if they need anything,” Rock said.
“Right behind you,” Grave said.
“Hey, Diesel?” I asked.
“Yeah, Bear?”
“I want to see Margot,” I said.
He paused. “I don’t think that’s safe right now for you. You’ve been excited enough over this.”
“I know she’s still here. I haven’t heard the front door open. Her and Piper are still here, and I want to see her,” I said.
“You need rest. Whatever history the two of you have—”
“You either send her in, or I go out to her,” I said.
“Just let the man go,” Knox said.
“No,” Diesel said curtly.
And as my eyes locked with his, I felt a determination rush through my veins.
If he didn’t want to send Margot in, I’d go to her.