CHAPTER TWELVE
– FALCON –
I slowly become aware of my surroundings. Kenz is sleeping in a chair right next to my bed. I’m not in my own room. The clinical and minimum furniture is enough to know I’m in a hospital bed. Someone is touching my leg and when I shift to sit up I notice Thorsten standing on the other side of the bed.
“You have a tough old lady,” he whispers and jerks his chin in Kenz’s direction. “She still has your gun and wouldn’t leave you to get a shower or some rest. Damn, man. She pulled a gun on us when we tried to pull you out of the SUV. Something about you needing a C collar first ’cause you might have a spine or head injury. Which you don’t, but it shows how your woman is willing to fight for you.”
She’s fierce, I knew she was the first time I went to her tattoo shop and observed her. Lenz gave me all the information I needed on her. The personal shit she told me herself through text messages and the rest I learned from observation. Most might call it stalking, Kenz would too, but at least I know this woman inside and out.
It’s why I inked her name above my dick. The way she reacts, her temper, how fucking gorgeous she is. Everything about her became my obsession. Though, I never wanted to lock her in a cage or keep her at a distance. Tonight, we came together. No perfection by far, but it was more than enough.
I curl three fingers in the direction of my palm and stick my thumb and pinky out as I bring my hand in the direction of my ear. Thorsten honors my request by handing me his phone. I type the name Amadeo and show it to my brother.
Releasing a sigh he says, “We were supposed to hit his house after you came back, but it kinda slipped my mind, you know?”
I give him a tight nod and point at my arm, then at my wrist.
“Whenever you want, brother. Perks of our contract with the government and taking this cartel down. We did receive a new crime case to work on, but I’m putting Macsen on it first. Most of us will focus on taking out Amadeo so we can close the cartel case. So, if you want to get out of here, I’m sure I can get a doctor in here to clear you. Hell, it’s fucking great we can bring any member to the hospital and don’t have them report the gunshot wound.” Thorsten winces. “It does give me a bunch of paperwork I need to fill out though. Still, fucking great perk.”
I bob my head in agreement. Movement from my left catches my attention to see Kenz slowly wake up from her nap.
“Hey, you’re awake,” she muses in a sleep ridden voice.
I point at her with my good hand.
The corner of her mouth twitches. “Right back at me, eh?”
She leans in and places a kiss on my temple, making my eyes close to savor the moment. It’s a small show of affection for others. For me? Ground shaking, ear-piercing announcement where she shows she’s mine ’cause no one else will have those lips but me.
I should ask her how many men she’s been with so I can torture and kill them all. No one walking this planet will have intimate knowledge of my woman.
Warm hands cover my cheeks.
Her voice is soft when she says, “Stop with vicious thoughts, and allow yourself to rest for a bit, okay? Every single one of your brothers is in the waiting room. Livi is trying to keep them there and thank fuck Archer had you guys sign a contract with the government. My cousin does the same shit when something happens to one of his brothers, or one of the old ladies for that matter. Anyway. Promise me something.”
I lean into her touch and close my eyes for a breath or two to give her a mental “anything” before connecting our gaze again.
She places her forehead against mine. “Let the arm rest. I’ll do the driving from now on so you can kill whoever comes after us, okay?”
My mouth twitches and I give her a slight nod, agreeing with the promise.
“Good.” She pulls back and places her fists on her hips and adds with a load of sass, “Because I can’t sit on the back of your bike if you fuck up your arm.”
Thorsten barks out a laugh. “Sounds to me like you better listen to your old lady.”
I shoot my brother a grin and reach for Kenz to give her a kiss. When I end the kiss, I point behind her.
“Want me to get the brothers?” she murmurs.
I give her a nod and she wanders out of the room.
“She’s good for you, Falcon,” Thorsten states while he looks at the door. “I never once thought you’d have an old lady, let alone me having one. Fucking hell, we’re lucky fuckers. Both having ties to other MCs who helped pull our club out of the ashes Rainer buried it under. Kenz and Livi being best friends and cousins also makes them tighter.”
I slam the fist of my good arm against my chest and nod at his words. We never needed words in personal conversations. Having a pen and paper, or a phone to type a message is a huge help, but not once have I felt the need to talk or so much as try or go to have my throat checked out to see what the exact damage is.
If it would cause a gap between me and Kenz? I don’t know what I’d do and thank fuck we don’t have an issue and can communicate clearly.
Murmured voices are getting closer and then the door bursts open. Macsen is the first to stride to the bed, along with Lenz, Jocko, Elric, Mercer, and the others. I instantly feel better, even if my arm is throbbing and I’d rather be in bed with my woman.
We shoot the shit for over a half hour. Using Thorsten’s phone, I ask if he can get my discharge papers in order so we can move this party to the clubhouse. It takes another hour for me to finally get my ass into a vehicle.
Livi is behind the wheel, Kenz is sitting shotgun, and I’m in the back. Thorsten and Macsen are riding in front of the car while the rest of my brothers are following us. Once Thorsten and Macsen enter the parking lot, they slow down.
My brother’s arm goes up at the same time when I see what the fuck he’s seeing. I undo my seatbelt, reach for the ignition and take the keys. Turning to Kenz, I bounce my finger between them and point it down.
“Stay in the car, okay, will do,” Kenz mutters.
Once she gives me those words I jump out of the car and head for Thorsten and Macsen who are walking in the direction of the clubhouse. My fists clench at what I’m seeing.
The leather cut of our prospect is pinned to the door with a knife. “You will all pay,” is written in blood on the window. The prospect’s body is a heap of flesh and bones, lying in a pool of blood.
“I should have pulled him off surveillance,” my brother grunts.
Macsen shakes his head. “It wouldn’t have made a damn difference. Fuck. I don’t think Amadeo knew his girl was going after Falcon. This retaliation is on Amadeo alone. Hell, it’s on Renata.”
Jocko curses. “We need to end this shit. He’s bringing the fight to us and we should go over there right fucking now, guns blazing to kill the motherfucker.”
I snap my fingers and point at Jocko, indicating I like this plan. If we stay put and keep thinking strategies it won’t do shit either. It’s already been days, and now he killed one of us right on our damn doorstep.
Thorsten takes out his phone. “I’m going to call Archer. He needs to come and pick up our old ladies. This motherfucker came to the clubhouse. I won’t have them here and leave half our brotherhood.”
My head bobs in agreement. Forget getting in bed with my woman. I won’t let her see this shit, even if we got rid of a dead body together. After what happened tonight, she needs a good night’s sleep along with solid protection.
Besides, it’s better to know she’s safe so I can fully focus on killing this fucker instead of dividing my attention and getting killed for it. The stakes are too high. Weird, because all my life I never once thought about consequences, or dying for that matter.
Now? Having Kenz in my life has opened up my eyes to a future I never saw in the darkness surrounding me. But I’ll raise hell before someone will take it from me now that I’ve had a taste of what my life with Kenz can be.