Chapter 13 #2
I start wetting his hair, our eyes meeting in the mirror. There's something in his expression, a mixture of exhaustion and something brighter, almost giddy.
"So," I say casually, combing through his damp locks, "how have things been since girls' night? I haven't had a chance to catch up with you."
A flush creeps up his neck, and his smile turns genuine. "Actually, that's part of why I wanted to see you specifically. I have news."
My scissors pause mid-snip. "News?"
Xavier takes a deep breath. "Zach claimed me. Officially. In front of the whole club."
"What?" I nearly drop my scissors in excitement. "Xavier, that's huge! When? How?"
His entire face lights up, years dropping away from his tired features. "Earlier today. He showed up at the hospital after my shift in his bike. Told me to get on and drove me straight to the club.”
I smile happily. “I’m so happy for you, and hearing that everyone was so supportive, which I knew they would be.”
He grins at me before his smile drops a bit.
"I grew up surrounded by people who believe people should love who they want, be what they want without judgement.
I never understood how people can be cruel because of liking the same gender.
School was tough, I was bullied but I knew my family loved me no matter what, and that made it easier on me. "
I pause, noting the shift in his demeanor. "What do you mean?"
Xavier hesitates, then sighs heavily. "There's this nurse at the hospital, Alex Donovan. She's been… problematic. She was a major reality check for me.”
"Problematic, how?" I ask, though I have a sinking feeling I already know.
"At first it was just comments. That I just hadn't 'met the right woman' yet. That being gay was a 'lifestyle choice.'" He makes air quotes with his fingers, rolling his eyes. "I ignored it. I'm used to that kind of ignorance."
I nod, waiting for him to continue.
"But lately, it's escalated. She keeps finding reasons to touch me, brushing against me in the hallway, putting her hand on my arm or back when it's not necessary." His jaw tightens. "Two nights ago, she cornered me in the supply closet. Told me she could 'fix' me if I'd just give her a chance."
Anger flares in my chest. "That's sexual harassment."
"It gets worse," Xavier says, his voice dropping. "She put her hands on me. Tried to kiss me. When I pushed her away, she grabbed me…" He gestures vaguely toward his groin, looking deeply uncomfortable. "Said she could 'prove' I wasn't really gay if I'd just let her try."
"That's assault," I say, setting down my scissors before I'm tempted to use them as weapons. "Have you reported her?"
He shakes his head. "I started to file a complaint, but then I overheard her telling another nurse that no one would believe a man could be sexually harassed by a woman. That they'd think I was making it up because she 'threatened my gay lifestyle.'"
"That's bullshit," I seethe, my hands clenching into fists. "Complete bullshit."
"I know," he agrees. "But she's been at the hospital for fifteen years. Has connections with administration. I'm still relatively new, still establishing my reputation."
My blood boils as I finish Xavier's haircut, my movements precise despite the rage building inside me. This woman—this predator—thinks she can get away with assaulting someone because she's a woman and he's gay? Not in my town. Not to someone under club protection.
"All done," I say, forcing a smile as I brush stray hairs from his shoulders. "And, Xavier? Thank you for telling me."
He looks relieved, as if unburdening himself has lifted a weight. "Thanks for listening. I just needed someone to know."
The moment Xavier leaves, I grab my phone and call Tiana.
"Hey, girl, what's—"
"I need you," I cut her off. "Now. It's about Xavier."
Fifteen minutes later, Tiana storms into the salon just as I'm closing up, her eyes wild with fury after I explained everything over the phone.
"That bitch put her hands on my brother's man?" she seethes, pacing like a caged animal. "Oh, hell no. Not happening."
"Exactly what I thought," I say, grabbing my purse. "Xavier's shift ended at four thirty. Which means Alex will be leaving soon."
Tiana's smile is all teeth. "Perfect timing."
We drive to the hospital in tense silence, parking in the staff lot where we can watch the exit. Tiana texts Rose and Meadow, who arrive minutes later, both radiating the same righteous anger.
"No one touches our family," Rose says simply, cracking her knuckles.
"Especially not some homophobic predator who thinks she can 'convert' someone," Meadow adds, disgust evident in her voice.
At six forty-five, a woman in scrubs exits the hospital, her blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She matches Xavier's description perfectly.
"That's her," I confirm, my voice cold.
We follow at a distance as she walks toward her car that's parked in a secluded corner of the lot. Just as she reaches for her keys, we make our move.
"Alex Donovan?" Tiana calls, her voice deceptively pleasant.
The woman turns, confusion crossing her face. "Yes? Do I know you?"
"No," I step forward. "But you know Xavier Blane. The doctor you sexually assaulted in a supply closet."
Her face pales then hardens with defiance. "I don't know what he told you, but—"
"Save it," Rose cuts her off. "We're not here for your excuses."
"We're here," Meadow says, stepping closer, "to make sure you understand one very important thing: Xavier is family. And in this town, you don't fuck with our family."
Alex backs up against her car. "You're those biker bitches," she realizes, fear creeping into her voice. "Listen, whatever Xavier said—"
"Shut up," Tiana snaps, closing the distance between them. "You put your hands on him. After he told you no. After he made it clear he wasn't interested."
"You think because you're a woman, you can get away with it?" I ask, moving to block her escape route. "You think no one will believe him?"
"We believe him," Rose says, her voice deadly quiet. "And unlike the hospital administration, we don't need proof or witnesses to deliver consequences."
Alex's eyes dart between us, calculating her odds. Apparently deciding she can take us, she sneers, "Four against one? Real brave. What are you going to do, beat me up for rejecting your little gay friend's advances?"
The slur is the final straw. Tiana moves with lightning speed, her fist connecting with Alex's jaw before any of us can react. The nurse staggers, eyes wide with shock.
"That's for touching him," Tiana snarls.
What follows isn't pretty. We're not savages, we don't put her in the hospital, but we make our point with brutal efficiency.
Meadow pins her arms while Rose and I deliver calculated blows to her midsection, careful to leave marks that won't show in scrubs but will remind her of this lesson with every movement.
Tiana delivers the final blow, grabbing Alex by her ponytail and forcing her to make eye contact.
"If you ever touch Xavier again, if you ever even speak to him, if you so much as look at him wrong," she promises, her voice ice cold, "what happens next won't be a warning. Do you understand me?"
Alex nods frantically, blood trickling from her split lip.
"And if you report this, or try to retaliate against Xavier at work," I add, "we'll be back. With more friends next time."
We're so focused on delivering our message that we don't notice the motorcycles until they're right behind us, engines cutting off with ominous finality.
"What the fuck is going on here?"
Greyson's voice sends a chill down my spine. I turn slowly to find him and Zach dismounting their bikes, expressions thunderous as they take in the scene: Alex slumped against her car, with the four of us standing over her with bruised knuckles and fierce expressions.
"Livie," Greyson says, his voice dangerously calm. "Explain. Now."
Before I can answer, Zach pushes past, his eyes fixed on Alex's battered face. "Who is she? What did she do?"
Tiana steps forward, chin raised defiantly. "She's the nurse who sexually assaulted Xavier. Put her hands on him. Tried to 'convert' him."
Zach goes utterly still, the kind of stillness that precedes violence. "She what?"
Alex whimpers, trying to make herself smaller against the car.
"Xavier told me this afternoon," I explain quickly. "She cornered him in a supply closet. Grabbed him. Told him she could 'fix' him."
Something dark and primitive flashes across Zach's face. He takes a step toward Alex, but Greyson's hand on his shoulder stops him.
"Not here," Greyson says quietly. "Not like this."
For a moment, I think Zach might ignore him, might give in to the rage clearly building inside him. Then he exhales slowly, his focus never leaving Alex.
"You touched what's mine." His voice is so low it's barely audible. "You put your hands on my man."
Alex's eyes widen with fresh terror as she realizes exactly who Zach is—not just another biker, but Xavier's claimed partner. The man who publicly declared him under his protection.
"I'm sorry," she stammers. "I didn't know— I didn't realize he was—"
"Shut up," Zach cuts her off. "The only reason you're still breathing is because these women got to you first." He gestures to us without looking away from her. "And because Greyson's right, this isn't the place."
He crouches down, bringing himself to her eye level.
"But understand this, if you ever come near Xavier again, if you ever speak his name, if you even think about him too hard…
" He smiles, and it's the most terrifying expression I've ever seen.
"I will find you. And there won't be enough left of you to identify. "
He stands abruptly, turning to Tiana. "Does Xavier know about this?"
She shakes her head. "We didn't tell him. Didn't want him involved."
Zach nods once, his jaw clenched tight. "Good. Keep it that way." He glances at Alex, who's shaking uncontrollably now. "She won't be a problem anymore. Will you?"