Chapter Twenty-Five
Jinx
ONCE KING GAVE us the location of where Hope is being held, we all kicked it in high gear and loaded up.
None of us ride our bikes because even though we won’t hesitate to get in the warehouse, we want some kind of element of surprise on our side.
My entire focus is on seeing my girl and getting her the fuck away from whoever’s taken her.
We know there’s a tie to Morgan, but none of us have talked to her about things because she’s just healed after her ex beat the fuck out of her.
Unless we absolutely have to, Vault made the decision to leave her alone in this situation because there’s nothing it’s going to do but hurt her more than he already has.
I rode in one of the SUVs with my dad, grandpa, Killer, King, and Fox. We quickly made our way to a rundown warehouse and I was filled with rage even more than before.
“We wait for Vault to give us the signal and then we’ll bust in the front door. Jinx, if you can’t control yourself, you’ll be locked in this SUV,”
my grandpa states, turning around to face me as he glares so I know he’s serious.
“I know. I’m not gonna go in there and do somethin’ stupid with the risk of somethin’ happenin’ to Hope or anyone else innocent. This isn’t my first time doin’ this shit. Yeah, I got more on the line this time, but I know I can hold my shit together,”
I inform him as my dad and Killer nod in response to my words.
“That’s what I wanted to hear, Carson. Let’s get our girl back,”
my grandpa says with a large smile on his face.
I have to say, I’m not surprised to see the smile because he loves this shit.
It’s been quiet for far too long in Benton Falls and the guys haven’t had anything big like this to do.
They haven’t gotten their hands dirty or felt the rush of adrenaline as they prepare for battle to take out their enemy.
Now, they get that chance knowing they’re saving one of the club’s princesses.
We all get out of the SUV and head for the front door to wait for Vault’s signal.
King and Fox made sure we all have one of the comms in our ear so we can communicate during this attack and rescue.
Killer and I are to hold back while another team goes in search of Hope.
They know we want to see her, and get her in our arms, but we have so much rage and aggression built-up that we need to release it all before we see our girl.
So, we’ll be taking out as many assholes as we can while Raptor goes in search of Hope with a group of men.
I believe Bronx is with him along with Valor, Ghost, and Stryker.
Typically, I wouldn’t have Killer, King, and Fox with me because three of them are already related and I will be soon enough.
However, we’re not leaving one another alone because there’s no way in hell any of them will leave me alone because of the way I reacted when we got that video.
“When I say three, boot your fuckin’ door in and take out these sick fucks,”
Vault’s command sounds in my ear as I line up behind Slim, my grandpa. “One. Two. Three.”
I watch as my dad kicks the door in and ducks out of the way allowing Killer to make his way inside the warehouse first.
In seconds, the sound of gunfire fills the air as I hold my own gun out in front of me and make my way inside.
My eyes lock on Killer up ahead of me and the asshole trying to sneak up on him.
Pulling the trigger, I watch the fucker drop to the ground and Killer nod his head without even looking back at me.
We all work together to clear out everyone who is holed up in this rundown warehouse.
They’re all wearing suits that don’t flatter their bodies and you can tell they’re from one of the cheaper chain stores in the city.
I don’t typically wear suits or know too much about them, but I can tell that these ones are cheap as fuck.
Killer remains close to me and I watch as he pauses for a fraction of a second before his body relaxes.
That can only mean one thing.
He sees Hope.
She is the only reason he would allow his body to relax in the middle of a battle.
I focus on taking out the rest of the assholes trying to surround us and worry about seeing Hope the second we’re done out here.
As long as I know Killer has seen his daughter and that she’s okay, I will get through this battle.
I lose all track of time as we take out the last of the men and I look around the main room of the warehouse.
When my eyes get to the hallway, my Sweet Girl is standing there, covered in blood with a group of women and girls behind her.
I don’t see or hear anything else as I race to get to Hope.
The second I can reach out and touch her, my hands grip her hips and I lift her into my arms.
In seconds, her legs are wrapped around my waist and I feel her breath on my neck as she buries her face there.
Her entire body is trembling and in seconds I feel the tears she’s allowing herself to shed soak through my shirt and roll down my cut to the bare skin of my arms.
“I’ve got you, Sweet Girl. No one’s ever gonna hurt you again,”
I promise Hope as I hold her even tighter for a few seconds before she’s being removed from my arms.
Looking up, I can’t even be mad because Killer is the one who’s taken my girl from me.
I know it’s been killing him not to know where she is, what’s being done to her, and every other thought he’s had going through his mind about Hope and those who have her.
We’ve had the same thoughts and the hours we’ve been separated from her have taken its toll on us.
When I say hours, I’m not talking just a few.
I mean the past three days she’s been gone. Yes, it’s been that long since she was taken.
“Baby Girl, are you okay?”
Killer questions Hope, setting her on her feet as he looks her over from head to toe and I allow my eyes to follow the same path. “Where are you hurt? That’s so much fuckin’ blood.”
For the first time I take in the blood coating Hope.
It’s literally covering various parts of her body and coating her hair.
Her face is covered in the remnants of blood and I can tell that it’s been cleaned off with something.
Hope’s clothing is covered in blood and panic starts to fill me with the thought of her being so hurt and I didn’t notice anything wrong with her to begin with.
Looking down, I even notice blood covering my shirt and skin that’s been transferred from her.
I didn’t believe it would be possible considering it appears to be completely dry on her skin and clothes.
It does nothing to lessen the fear consuming me until my Sweet Girl opens her mouth and says the best words imaginable.
“It’s not my blood, Dad. I’m okay. I was hit and beat on a little bit, but that’s all. These women and girls need to have Doc check them out. They’ve all been here so long and I can’t even begin to imagine what’s been done to them,”
she says, her voice full of pain for the girls behind her and I know we’re about to see her heart open up for them based on what she’s been through with them.
“We’ll get Doc for them, Sweetheart. Whose blood is that?”
Slim asks as him, my dad, Fox, King, and Devil make their way over to us. I’m surprised to see my brother over here with us and not with Raptor since the shooting and fighting is over now.
“Well, I killed three men. They’re in the room at the end of the hallway. Morgan’s ex-boyfriend is one of them. He was in charge of this whole operation. Including everything Becker was doing. Did any of you see him here?”
Hope asks us, her voice full of concern and worry with the thought of Becker escaping us and still being free to wander this city and world to continue doing this to other women and girls.
Shock fills me at the bombshell Hope just dropped.
I honestly have no words for what she’s said and it seems the other guys standing with us are feeling the same thing as they all stare at Hope with various degrees of shock and surprise on their faces.
Killer looks at me and I know what he’s saying without even opening his mouth.
We’re going to have to watch Hope after this because this is the first time she’s taken a life.
We can train her all we want and ensure she has the mental capacity to deal with taking a life, but unless she’s been through it, there’s no way she’ll know how she will cope with blood staining her hands.
Before I can give her my full attention once again, I see Raptor making his way over to us.
“I got him, Hope. You don’t ever have to worry about him comin’ after you again,”
Raptor states, something I haven’t ever seen in his eyes filling them completely and it’s almost as if he feels the need to do something to make something up to Hope.
“Thank you, Raptor. Can we get the hell out of here now? I know you’ll want to check on the fuckers I killed, but the rest of us need to get out of here. The girls and women need fresh air and sunlight. Once Doc checks them over, they’re gonna need to bathe and get something to eat. It’s been so long since some of them have eaten. I don’t even know how long I’ve been here, and I’m starving,”
Hope asks us, her voice full of pain as she lets her eyes glance around our group.
I know she wants to get the hell out of here even if she’s making it sound like the girls and women are the only ones who want to get out of this prison.
None of us will truly ever be able to understand or feel what she’s been through at the hands of these sick fucks.
Just like she’ll never truly understand what the girls and women she was being held with went through.
Every single one of their experiences were different and while there are similar aspects, they’ll all experience them differently and have different reactions based on who they are as a person.
Without words, we surround the group of girls and lead them through the warehouse.
I take Hope’s hand in mine and know her dad is holding onto her other one.
None of us have to say a word to ensure that the girls are protected at all costs.
I let my eyes travel over the group and already see the women shielding the girls from the sight before them.
I’m glad to see they have common sense and are still protecting the younger ones because they’ve all been through so much together.
Killer, my dad, and grandpa nod their heads and I know they’ve all seen the girls being protected as Raptor and Devil bring up the backend of the group of us.
When we get outside, Hope goes over to the first van with a group of girls and women.
She assures them they’ll be safe and that no one will harm them.
I watch as she exchanges some words with Bronx before Deegan gets in the passenger seat of the van and they take off once Hope closes the door.
Killer and I step up on either side of her and escort her to the SUV we’ll be riding in back to the compound.
King stays close, but doesn’t get inside the vehicle as Hope sits in the middle of her dad and me.
I grab her hand and lace our fingers together and watch as Killer holds her other hand.
He’s not ready to let his daughter out of his sight or get too far from him.
I watch as King stares at Hope for a minute before he heads back into the warehouse to finish dealing with the mess that’s been created here.
Nothing will point back to the club if we can help it and there’s nothing the men won’t do to ensure Hope isn’t incriminated in a crime against the three men she killed.
It's not long before Hope falls asleep between her dad and me.
Killer stares at his daughter for a minute before looking at me.
“She feels safe and protected. That’s the only reason she’s able to sleep right now. I know my daughter and know if she didn’t feel that way, she’d be wide awake despite the exhaustion fillin’ her. You’re the reason Hope’s able to sleep right after leavin’ that hell hole. Don’t ever take it for granted, Jinx,”
he states, his voice barely above a whisper so he doesn’t wake her up.
“I won’t ever take a single second of my time with Hope for granted. None of you ever have to worry about that shit. I love her and will spend the rest of my life showin’ her on a daily basis just how much I love and cherish her. She’ll be treated like the queen she is and I will always make sure she has what she wants and needs,”
I promise Killer, my dad, and grandpa as we get closer to the compound where I hope Doc is waiting to check all these women and girls out before we can figure out what to do next.
“I’ve called Shy and let her know what we have comin’ in. She’s gatherin’ everyone so they’re ready to help everyone and Doc just showed up. He’s preparin’ his room to be able to help everyone. The ol’ ladies are in the kitchen cookin’ up a storm and gettin’ rooms ready for the girls. They’ll have to stay in the hall with the Phantom girls and Prospects, but that can’t be helped. Annabell is makin’ the Phantom girls share rooms so there’s more space for everyone,”
Slim informs us as we pull up to the compound and he parks the SUV as close to the door as he possibly can.
“Not leavin’ my girl’s side for any reason. Whatever needs to happen, count me out until I know for sure Hope is okay and she doesn’t need to go to the hospital. I believe at least half of the girls and women will end up goin’ there for one reason or another,”
I state, not letting anyone argue with me as I open my door and get out to pull Hope into my arms.
Killer gets out and doesn’t even attempt to remove his daughter from the SUV.
We head inside and I get to Doc’s room to find it empty so far.
No one else is in the clubhouse as I go inside and lay Hope down on one of the gurneys he’s got inside.
Doc busies himself drawing blood, setting up an IV and hanging fluid from the pole attached to the gurney.
“I’m gonna test her for everythin’, Jinx. I’m gonna need her to be stripped down and cleaned up so I can examine her to make sure none of this blood is hers. Can you handle that while I turn my back to give her some privacy?”
Doc asks me as he finishes taping off the IV going into Hope’s hand.
“Of course. If you wanna grab me some water and a cloth, I’ll get her cleaned up until she can take a shower,”
I answer, already moving things out of my way so I can strip my girl down to her panties and bra.
Doc hands me a gown to put on her once I’ve got her clothes off before he makes his way over to the sink where he grabs a bucket from the cupboard above him and places it under the water he’s turned on.
I work quickly to strip her out of the soiled clothing and put on the seat next to me.
Laying the gown over her body, Doc makes his way back over to set the bucket and cloth on the tray next to me so I can clean her.
With his back turned once more, I clean her up and get the gown on her fast because I know others will be entering the room.
Hope woke up a few minutes ago to the chaos in the medical room Doc has at the clubhouse.
He’s already sent a ton of girls and women to the hospital and some of Slim’s members are staying with them.
They’ll help deal with the cops who show up and make sure the girls are comfortable.
For some of them, the men in this club are the only ones these girls have seen in a very long time.
Now, Doc is working on everyone else as he waits for the blood tests that have been picked up by one of his nurses to be run at his clinic.
Currently, he’s on the phone getting the results that have already come in so he can properly treat his patients.
“Jinx, can we get out of here to give up some room to one for the others?”
she asks me as Killer and Gwen walk in the room followed by my mom, dad, and grandpa.
“Not yet, Sweet Girl. We have to wait for Doc to talk to us before he decides what you need to do movin’ forward. I know you aren’t in pain and the injuries he can see right now are essentially superficial. We just don’t want to miss anythin’,”
I tell her, leaning over and pressing my lips to her cheek as Killer and Gwen step up to the gurney across from me.
“Baby Girl, you’ll be out of here soon enough. For now, just relax and let Doc do his job,”
Killer says, his voice gentle and soft with his daughter.
She lays her head back and closes her eyes until Doc makes his way over to us once he’s done with his phone call.
“So, Hope, I’ve got some news. I’m not sure if you want everyone to stay here with you or not,”
Doc says and panic fills me with what could be wrong with my Sweet Girl.
“They can stay. They’re all family,”
she says, her voice alert as she opens her eyes and grabs my hand tight, squeezing our fingers together.
“Hope, you’re pregnant. It appears to be relatively early in your pregnancy, but the test is definitely positive,”
Doc states and I immediately look at Hope to see tears in her eyes.
“Are you sure? I’m on birth control and we’ve still used condoms,”
she says, darting her eyes up to Killer as he smiles down at her. Definitely not the reaction I was expecting from him.
“I’m sure, Hope. Nothin’ is ever truly a hundred percent effective. And if you’ve been on antibiotics it can stop your birth control from workin’. I’m not even gonna suggest the options because I know how you all live. Just know I’m here to talk or discuss anythin’ you want to talk about. Both of you,”
Doc says, turning his eyes to me as I keep my eyes locked on Hope.
“Um, should we have one of those imagin’ things done? You were just kidnapped and held in a cage, Sweet Girl. Not to mention those assholes beatin’ you,”
I ask her, fear filling me with the thought of something happening to our baby before we even knew he or she existed.
“An ultrasound. Yes, I want you to have one done immediately to be sure there’s nothin’ goin’ on,”
Doc says as he looks at our family with a serious expression.
“Why don’t you go take a shower and get somethin’ to eat. Do not move around more than you have to. Jinx, stay with her at all times. Especially in the shower. Call me immediately if she experiences any pain, dizziness, or anythin’ that doesn’t seem right. As soon as you’re done eatin’, we’ll go to the office and get you an ultrasound done.”
“Thank you, Doc,”
Hope says as she begins to sit up in bed and I help her.
Doc takes out her IV and places a Band-Aid over it as our family leaves and I help her out of bed.
I’m handed a second gown to put on her backwards so she’s not flashing her ass to everyone in the clubhouse.
Lifting Hope up into my arms, I carry her from the medical room to find my family and Hope’s waiting in the hallway for us.
“Baby Girl, we’ll be waitin’ in the common room for you guys. Take it easy and don’t linger in the shower. We’ll have food waitin’ for you when you get down here. Don’t think we won’t be havin’ a talk about this, Jinx,”
Killer says as he leads Gwen from the hallway and we make our way upstairs to my room where I help Hope get in the shower after making it warm enough she won’t be cold, but cool enough that it’s not going to boil her skin off her body.
I get Hope cleaned up and dressed in a pair of loose sweatpants and one of my tee-shirts.
After brushing out her hair, she tosses it up into one of those knots on the top of her head.
I carry her back down to the common room where we take a seat at the table with our family to eat something.
Everyone else is moving around the clubhouse to help the women and girls still on the compound.
The second we’re done eating, we all load up in two SUVs and head for Doc’s office with him leading us there.
Hope and I are the only ones to go in the room for the ultrasound.
Doc doesn’t want a ton of people in with us and no one complains at all.
I honestly believe they’re here for moral support in case something is wrong.
Doc does an internal ultrasound and explains what we’re looking at.
Everything looks like nothing to me, but he still points things out.
“Things look really good, guys. I don’t foresee you havin’ any problems movin’ forward in the pregnancy. I’m goin’ to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins but you need to get into an obstetrician as soon as possible. I know Annabell and Savannah have both used Dr. Craven. She’s my daughter,”
Doc informs us as he presses a few more buttons on the machine and lets us know he’s printing out some pictures for us to have.
“Jinx, are you okay with this?”
Hope suddenly asks me when we’re alone in the room.
“I’m okay, Sweet Girl. How about you?”
I return, still not sure how to feel about us having a baby.
“I’m happy. It’s really fast and we’re still so new, but I want our baby,”
she says as if I’m going to turn my back on her and our child.
“I want our baby too. As long as your dad lets me live, I’ll be there every step of the way. I love you, Sweet Girl,”
I tell her, leaning down and pressing my lips to hers as happiness fills me.
“I love you too, Carson,”
she says once we break the kiss.
Once Doc hands over the prescription and pictures, I take Hope out to the waiting room where our family is waiting.
We assure them everything is okay and that we don’t need to put Hope on bed rest or anything.
Together we all return to the compound and spend the rest of our night helping the women and girls get settled in.
Most of them look for Hope and we all stay close to her side as Doc returns and gives more medicine to those who need it.
By the time we go up to our room in the clubhouse, we’re both so exhausted it’s all we can do to keep our eyes open to change for bed.
Hope and I fall asleep immediately with her wrapped tight in my arms and her head on my chest.
Life is about to change and become an even wilder ride than it already is. I’m here for every fucking second of it!