2. Demon – The Origami Bird
TWO
DEMON – THE ORIGAMI BIRD
Demon
“When are you coming back from Vegas?” asks Bomber, sounding his normal blunt self, though this time there’s an undercurrent of... worry?
Everyone in the club thinks I travel to Vegas to hook up. It’s an easy cover for what I don’t feel like explaining. The truth? I visit my sister. She’s in a vegetative state—can’t talk, can’t move—but she’s still my only family. Ever since the traumatic incident that left her this way, she’s been prone to illnesses like pneumonia.
“I just got back to Crown Village,” I reply casually.
“You’ve never been away that long. When are you coming back to the clubhouse?”
I pause to make him sweat. “My sister’s in the ICU here at Crown Village Hospital.”
There’s silence. “Fuck. I didn’t know you had a sister. Is she going to be okay?”
Only Reaper knows the truth about my past. I told him everything before I joined the MC.
“She’s got pneumonia. I had her transferred from Vegas to the hospital here.”
“Can we do anything? Want me to bring you some fresh clothes, or are you returning to the clubhouse?”
“No need for clothes. I’ll stop by the clubhouse for a shower and come straight back.”
“Understood. If you need anything, anything at all, just call.”
“Will do, boss.” And with that, the call ends.
Bomber is the sergeant at arms of our club. His priority is the safety and security of the club and the protection of our president, Reaper. I rub my hand over the word enforcer stitched onto my club vest. I help Bomber out, but my specialty lies in handing out the punishment on behalf of the club. Whether that involves a bit of torture or just downright killing. I inflict pain, and I don’t hate it either. I’m a lot more fucked-up than people think, and that says something.
I’m sitting in the ICU waiting room, thinking back to my last job. Two men had gone after Sophie—Viper’s wife—and I took care of them. The first guy? Drugged, dragged to my shack near the warehouse where we grow pot, and ripped out his fingernails one by one. You’d be surprised at how sensitive fingers are when it comes to pain. After ruining his knees with a hammer, I finished the job by slitting his throat. The cleanup, though? That’s the real pain in the ass. Nine pints of blood is a lot to deal with, but thankfully, the floor’s tiled with black grout for a reason.
The second guy got the same treatment. Everyone at the club tells their women that the men who hurt them just magically “move away.” I let out a dark chuckle in amusement. Yeah... they moved, all right... straight into the ground. Living near a national park has its perks—plenty of places for bodies.
Feeling the presence of someone, I peer up to see a nurse making her way over. Her eyes are bulging as she bites her lip, looking like she would rather be walking on glass than talking to me. Her eyes dance between her feet and me. “Madeline is all set up and ready for visitors. Can I have your name and details about your relationship to her?”
I give a devilish grin. The one I force on my face for everyone to see. I stand. It makes her recoil and take a step back. “The name’s Jett... I’m her brother.”
She visibly swallows. “This way,” she squeaks, and I follow her as she bolts through the doors of the ICU. I stride past room after room until she stands outside of one, giving me a tight smile.
“Madeline’s transfer went well, without any problems. She’s still on intravenous antibiotics and connected to a ventilator. We will monitor her and do assessments every hour to check how she’s doing. If you have any questions...” She pauses. “Don’t hesitate to ask me or a nurse at the front desk.”
I step into the room to see Maddy lying in bed. She looks peaceful, apart from the ventilator tubes coming from her mouth. The ventilator sound is a combination of a hum and a hiss. She’s been on the ventilator for ten days. It’s been touch and go, but she’s gotten through it. She has a private room because I started paying for her health insurance as soon as I started making money for the club. The only good thing I’ve done, but hey, something’s better than nothing.
I drag a chair over beside her bed and take a seat. “I’m here, Maddy,” I murmur. I pull a piece of paper out of my bag and make an origami bird and set it on her bedside table.
* * *
The next day
I’m awake when the sun rises. I stand and stretch out wide, my limbs feeling stiff from the concrete-like chair. A nurse I had seen yesterday in the elevator walks in. Yep, I’m that observant.
Her smile is wide. “Hi, Madeline,” she says cheerfully, like my sister can hear her. She spots me and her eyes brighten. “Hi, Jett. I’m Ivy. I’ll be looking after Madeline for the next twelve hours.”
I tilt my head. No woman smiles at me... Strange! And she knows my name. How? I study her. She’s short and has long, dark brown hair. I advance toward her and give her one of my best forced smiles, curious as to why she’s by no means intimidated by me. If anything, she leans in closer. Odd. Nobody leans in closer to danger, but she does. Once she realizes I won’t answer, she begins checking the machines while I take a seat.
She glances at the side table. “I love the origami bird,” she says sincerely, then turns her eyes to me. “Did you make it?”
“Yes.”
“If I remember right, it symbolizes hope, peace, and healing, doesn’t it?”
With her gleeful personality and how the light just beams out of her, she reminds me of sunshine. “Yes,” I answer again. I’m not one to enjoy conversations with civilians, but she has piqued my curiosity. Being in the hospital... the humanity here is clearly rubbing off on me. My mouth twists. Fucking yuck.
When she’s standing a few feet away, her eyes catch the light. They’re a rare amber color. I’ve never seen that color. As I lean closer, I see a light brown or coppery tint in them.
“There’s been a slight improvement. If Madeline keeps moving in the right direction, she can come off the ventilator.”
I blink out of the haze. “Good to hear... thanks... Ivy.” I watch the blood vessels in her face dilate, causing her skin to flush a light pink.
“The nurse told me you’ve barely left Madeline’s side. Are you hungry? I can grab you something if you’d like?”
My stomach growls, making her chuckle. “I guess,” I reply with a shrug.
She bops her head. “If there’s anything else I can help with, press the help button on the remote there. I’ll be right back with some food.”
And with that, she’s gone. The light leaves with her.
I shake my head. I don’t know why I have a sudden interest in the bubbly nurse. I release a throaty chuckle. I’m fucking losing it. Ten days away from the club, add my sister’s sickness into the mix, and it’s clearly screwing with me. I fist my hand, feeling on edge. My monster needs to get out to exercise my demons. My life experiences have made me become this way... as deadly as a knife’s edge.
Thinking about weapons... My fingers twitch to touch my knife. To flick the knife open like I do when I’m bored. It’s my trusty people opener. But I can’t because I’m in a hospital and I don’t feel like going to jail today.
About forty-five minutes later, Ivy comes back. She hands me a plate with two pieces of toast, a tiny square of butter, and a small container of honey. She blows out a breath. “I’m sorry it took so long. It’s been a busy morning.”
“No need to apologize.” She’s saving lives while I’m dreaming of killing someone.
There’s a knock and Milly walks in. Milly’s an ER doctor, the club president’s sister and our club doctor. “Reaper only just told me your sister is here in the hospital.” She looks at Ivy. “Can I please have her chart and all relevant information?”
“I’ll get that for you now. Madeline’s due for her obs soon.”
“It’s okay, I can do them.” Milly directs her attention at me. “Go to the clubhouse and have a shower and get some sleep. I’ll monitor Madeline alongside the nurse, and we’ll call you if anything changes.”
I narrow my eyes slightly. “No can do.”
Milly’s eyes widen, but to her credit she stands up straighter. “You need rest. You’re no good to her like this. Go.”
I’m never one to argue with a woman, especially Reaper’s sister and my club brothers’ ol’ ladies, because I respect them, but this is my sister we’re talking about, and she has no one else but me.
Ivy steps forward. Her voice is soft but steady. “I’ll sit with Madeline as much as I can. I promise, I’ll keep you updated if there’re any changes.”
Every molecule in me wants me to stay, but there’s something about the sincerity in Ivy’s voice that makes me pause. I rub the back of my neck, torn. My eyes are burning from lack of sleep and I’m dying for a shower... Maybe I’ll have a shower and come straight back.
“Okay,” I answer reluctantly.
Ivy flashes a triumphant grin. “Take care. I’ll catch up with you later.” She walks away, once more taking the light with her.
I ride to the clubhouse and park outside the shed, then hang my helmet on one of the ape-hanger handlebars. When I get off the bike, I roll my shoulders back. They’re so tense. I walk to the porch and go inside the clubhouse.
Bomber walks toward me, his face stern. “Are you all right?” he asks gruffly.
Me and him aren’t into our feelings and shit, so this is unfamiliar territory. I inch back, surprised. My lips curve into a grin. I think this is what people do, to offer reassurance. “All good.”
He gives me a sharp nod. As we walk farther into the clubhouse, everyone’s eyes fall on me and the clubhouse goes quiet. Everyone knows. I don’t want the sympathy and the conversations that follow, so I dart up the stairs, grab some fresh clothes, and go and have a shower.
After my shower, my body is relaxed and my muscles feel the full effect of the sleepless nights in uncomfortable chairs. I look at my reflection in the mirror. I smile so that I can see what the world sees. Fake smiles hide how dead I am inside. It’s easier to fake a smile than to explain my trauma, easier to exist rather than live.
Back in my bedroom, I grab my phone from the side table and press the home button. No phone calls. Ivy said she would call if anything changes. I set the alarm to go off in two hours.
There’s a knock on my door. “Come on in,” I say in an exaggerated voice.
Reaper walks inside. “I’m sorry to hear about your sister.”
“All good.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Improving.” Slowly.
He sharply nods. “Great news.”
“Is there anything the club needs from me?” I’m still a bit edgy. Nothing a ripe old bashing won’t fix.
Reaper chuckles. He’s quite aware I’m crazy and twisted. “No. You just worry about your family.”
I frown.
“I’ll let you get some sleep, but know that the club is here for you.”
“I know, Pres.”
The men have my back. Reaper was the one who helped me off the streets and offered me a position in the club. We are a brotherhood. That’s why I joined the MC. I’d never fit in anywhere until I met them. I found a place I belong. I can be myself and live in society rather than a prison cell.
I close my eyes and let the blackness take over.