Chapter Three.
Oakley
I t was hard to relax. Harley had brought me to a genuinely nice hotel near his clubhouse. The room was lovely, with a separate bedroom and a small lounge area.
Harley seemed invested in helping me. But I remained suspicious. Honestly, I didn’t understand why Harley was being so helpful, even if he appeared genuine.
In my world, for the last two years, every single thing had come at a price. It had ever since I’d realised what was in my grandfather’s will. Was I really safe? For now, probably. It would take a while for Reverend Jefferies and my parents to track me down. And using cash would help delay them. But logically, people would have noticed me on the back of Harley’s bike and knowing the ‘let’s film everything culture’, it possibly meant there was a video somewhere.
And the fact Harley had carried me everywhere. That was something that also caught people’s attention.
I winced. As I had escaped with Harley, I’d seen my bloody footprints on the ground. My family would know I was hurt. They’d be looking for that. I wanted a phone to check in on social media to see if there was any footage. Bronson would use that to hunt me down.
But I’d left my cell behind. Actually, no, I hadn’t. Dad had taken it away two months ago when they’d also made me quit my job. Dad had become frightened that I might ask for someone’s help, especially after they foiled what was then the latest escape attempt.
A knock banged on the door. Harley stood and peeked through the peephole before opening it.
“Hello, Doc,” he announced.
“Harley,” a tattooed man said, entering. “Hey there, I’m Doc Paul.”
Doc Paul smiled, and I liked him. There was a warmth about his eyes that set me at ease.
“Hi, Doctor Paul.”
“It’s Doc or Doc Paul. No need to be formal; God knows Rage MC doesn’t stand on formality. Harley informed me that you’ve hurt your feet.”
“She’s cut them bad, Doc,” Harley began, and Doc Paul held a hand up.
“Let Oakley explain, please. And Oakley, everything you tell me is confidential and off the books. As part of my work for the Trusts, I can assign patient numbers, and that’s what I’ve done for you. It’s legit. You’re being treated under the Trusts, although Harley’s offered to foot the bill. Tell me what happened,” Doc Paul said.
I sent Harley a smirk as he glowered for a few seconds at being scolded.
“Basically, I ran about three hundred feet down a pebbled drive that had sharp stones, and they cut my feet up. I was shoeless, so it was quite bad. Harley doctored them when we stopped driving for the night,” I replied.
“Riding,” Harley corrected.
“Sorry, riding,” I repeated.
“What action did you take?” Doc Paul asked, turning to Harley.
Harley quickly explained, and Doc Paul nodded. “Thanks. Now I must ask you some questions, Oakley, would you like Harley to leave?”
“No, if I can’t answer, I’ll say so.” “These might be uncomfortable,” Doc Paul added, and I realised what he meant.
“Oh, I wasn’t raped or sexually assaulted,” I exclaimed, and Harley’s shoulders relaxed. I hadn’t noticed that’s what he’d been thinking.
“That is good news. Are you hurt anywhere else?” Doc Paul questioned, and I shook my head. He asked me several more questions along that vein and then about allergies and so on. Once Doc Paul was satisfied, he took off the sock and began studying my feet.
“Your right foot is badly infected. I don’t doubt that Harley cleaned this properly, but you need antibiotics, and there’re two cuts that require lancing. Your left foot is also infected, and I’m going to have to lance another wound on that. Looking at them, these will smell quite bad, Oakley. But once lanced, I can clean them out again, and we’ll let them air heal for a bit. Harley needs to wash these four times daily.”
“This is gonna hurt, isn’t it?” I asked, wincing.
“Afraid so, but I’ll numb your feet,” Doc Paul replied, opening his medical bag. He busied himself setting up the syringe and then injected my feet. A blessed numbness came over them, and I relaxed back in the chair and sighed.
“Here,” Harley said, spraying some air freshener. He grabbed the duvet off the bed, wrapped it around me, and then opened the window. A cold wind blew in, but I was grateful when, seconds after, an awful stench rose.
I gagged. Doc Paul carried on ministering the infection, and Harley remained near the window.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Not your fault,” Harley said.
Doc Paul just shrugged and continued.
Half an hour later, he’d finished and wrote a prescription out. “This is for painkillers and antibiotics. Finish the course. Please remember that if you’re on birth control, the antibiotics will invalidate that!”
I blushed bright red. “Oh no, we’re not like that.”
“That would make a change for Rage. But it’s something you need telling. Harley, there’s a late-night pharmacy you can fetch the medication from. They are also aware of the Trust code of using numbers instead of names. Oakley, I’ve wrapped your feet for now to absorb the remaining infection and blood.”
“Okay,” I replied.
“In the morning, soak the bandages before removing them, otherwise you’ll be ripping the stitches out. That was some nice work, Harley. Try to keep your feet dry. I’ve also prescribed a numbing cream. Even cleaning them will hurt, Oakley, so use it. If you need more, Harley can contact me. You can’t walk for at least a week. If you do, you’ll injure them further and possibly cause nerve damage. I cannot stress that enough,” Doc Paul explained firmly.
I nodded and resigned myself to movie marathons and being bored stupid. Doc Paul called a goodbye and said he’d return in three days.
After he left, Harley turned to me.
“Oakley, I’m going to fetch you some clothes, magazines, and shit. It’s pretty obvious you can’t go anywhere. Were the sizes I chose, correct?”
“Yes,” I answered, and Harley jerked his chin and disappeared out of the door.
What on earth was that? I wondered.
Harley
Now I knew Oakley couldn’t move around for a week, she was my responsibility. Which would play mayhem with work. I had a sword to complete and a dagger. The collector was coming two days before Christmas, which was six days away. Four days to finish the pieces wouldn’t normally be a problem. But I’d have to stop in and check on Oakley morning, noon and night.
Unless… I was owed markers. Lots of markers. I started wracking my brains for which brother I could tap for help with Oakley. I needed someone who was medically skilled and who’d keep their mouth shut. Klutz was the logical one—he’d trained as a surgeon.
So be it.
“Yo,” Klutz announced on answering the phone.
“Bro, I’m calling in a marker,” I stated, and Klutz snorted.
“What?” he asked, worried.
“Listen up, I’ve got an issue,” I said and explained the situation. Once done, silence met me.
“What do you want from me?” Klutz finally inquired.
“I’ll clean Oakley’s feet in the morning and evening when I finish work. But I need someone to help lunchtime and say around five,” I stated.
“Harley, I can do five, but I’m at the veterinary during the day. Gunner is around, and he’s a decent medic. He’ll be able to do the noon cleaning,” Klutz offered.
“Thanks, I’ll call Gunner and use a marker. And Klutz, no telling Aurora Victoria. Oakley is on the run, and until I know what from, I want her kept on the down-low,” I stated.
“Okay.”
“Could you meet me at the hotel at eight tonight so I can introduce you? Oakley won’t open a door to a stranger.”
“If she’s hiding out, I can’t blame her. See you then,” Klutz replied and hung up.
I dialled Gunner and had a similar conversation and then headed into Windfells. I was halfway round and in the lingerie department when I felt someone staring at me.
My gut sinking, I turned around and almost groaned.
Rosie, Vivie, and Summer stood there wide-eyed, gazing at the underwear and bras I held. With a scowl, I shoved them into the trolley and their gaze roamed over that.
“Does your mother know?” Rosie demanded instantly.
“Nope, because there’s nothing to know,” I replied.
“You’re buying clothing and underwear for a woman!” Summer stated, folding her arms.
She caught my glare next. When Summer had started her relationship with Slick, she would have quailed. Not now. She’d spent too long around the old ladies. Now she gave shit out like the rest of them.
“I have sisters, women friends,” I retorted, but I saw the glimmer in their eyes. They were digging in.
“Bullshit,” Rosie spat with a grin.
“You have a woman!” Vivie exclaimed.
“You wish!” I retorted, but all three stared at me.
“I’ll call Phoe,” Summer said, and I smacked her hand as she lifted her phone up.
Summer smirked.
“Don’t. The truth is, I’m helping someone, but she’s not mine and never will be,” I replied.
“And that’s how all good love stories start,” Vivie added with a sigh.
“This story begins with a woman so desperate to escape her life she cut her bare feet to shreds and now can’t walk. Oakley was running from an arranged wedding and is traumatised. I’m simply helping somebody out,” I snapped.
“Damn, have you called Ramirez?” Rosie demanded.
“If I do that, she’ll run again. Oakley is fully in flight mode,” I replied.
“You seem to know her quite well,” Summer said with narrowed eyes.
“Summer, I’m not romancing someone who can’t walk and has been told to stay off her feet for at least a week. She injured herself badly. Oakley doesn’t need romance right now.”
“Liar!” Vivie snorted.
I bristled as Vivie turned a knowing gaze on me.
“You know too much about this Oakley. If you were that worried, you’d have taken her to a Rebirth Trust. Instead, you’re out buying clothes for her. There is more to your story. Where is she staying, this mystery woman of yours? Not at Reading Hall because we would have known,” Vivie pushed.
I looked to the heavens and sighed. Lowering my head, I steeled myself to tell them about Oakley’s circumstances. The three pecking hens listened closely as I explained what had happened.
“Oh, that poor girl. Barefoot and in a wedding gown in December. She must have been freezing. And her feet… Doc Paul has checked her out?” Rosie asked.
“Yes. And that’s why I’m here buying her clothes and everything else,” I replied.
“Give us her sizes. We’ll be back,” Summer demanded, rummaging in the cart. “Right, girls, let’s go.”
I stood there, bemused, as the three women rushed away.
Taking a seat, I waited, and minutes later, Summer returned with armfuls of sleepwear. She dumped them in the trolley and dashed off again. Vivie brought some cute winter dresses with leggings or tights, while Rosie had jeans and sweaters. Summer emerged with tees, and Vivie made a mad dash and collected thick, fluffy socks and some wonderfully soft slippers for Oakley.
An hour later, Summer and Rosie stopped and sat down next to me, looking pleased with themselves. We were missing Vivie, but she appeared ten minutes later, pushing a cart full of toiletries. Vivie was beaming all over her face and waving madly. I groaned when I saw Marsha.
There would be no keeping this from Mom.
“In order for our silence, you owe us a marker,” Marsha stated.
That was her mistake. Marsha shouldn’t have reminded me.
I grinned. “Think again. Each of your men owes me and the prospects a lot of markers. Now I can ensure my markers aren’t used for anything too terrible, or I can guarantee they are used for something really awful.”
Marsha glowered. Her attempt at blackmail had backfired. I got to my feet, smirked, and ducked Marsha’s slap.
“Do we have an agreement?” I asked.
The women nodded.
“Watch your back, Harley. Revenge is a bitch,” Marsha warned.
I laughed. “Marsha, the biggest one is my mother!”
Marsha tilted her hand from left to right. “Lindsey, Artemis, and Autumn would give her a run for her money. Let alone Casey and Irish.”
“True point,” I said, laughing. “Night, ladies. Have a nice evening.”
I hauled the two carts to the cashier and paid. Luckily, my blacksmithing earned good money, or this would have hurt. A shop assistant helped me get the bags into an Uber back to the hotel. I couldn’t carry this haul through the streets.
A member of staff saw me being dropped off and grabbed a trolley to help me take everything up to Oakley’s room.
Oakley was relaxing on the bed when I let myself in. The staff wheeled the trolley in, I tipped him and sent him on his way.
“What have you bought?” Oakley gasped, sitting up.
“Don’t blame me. I ran into three of the old ladies, and they went crazy. Then Marsha arrived, and you ended up with a cart of toiletries and shit. Let’s get some food, as I’m starving, and then we’ll put this lot away. The hotel offers laundry service, so I’ll have your items cleaned.
“That’s a good plan. Especially the underwear, who knows what pervs have touched it!” Oakley said, and I scowled.
That idea pissed me right off. I grabbed the bag of lingerie and called down to reception to arrange the laundry.
“That took care of that. Could we order some food? I’m hungry,” Oakley asked.
“Why didn’t you get anything?”
“Because I guessed you were coming back, and it was rude.”
That was kind of sweet of her. Mom would love those manners. I checked what Oakley wanted and then called down with our orders.
“I’ve got two brothers, Gunner and Klutz, coming to meet you tonight,” I said as Oakley began rummaging through the bags.
She was admiring a wool dress that Vivie had picked and froze before turning to me. “What?”
“I’ll come in the morning and night to clean your feet. But I can’t do the noon or five o’clock check. And looking at your feet now, they need re-wrapping. There’s blood and puss on the bandages.” I deftly unwrapped her feet and winced. “These need lancing again. There are spots where the infection has built up,” I said.
Oakley drew her feet up and away from me and shook her head.
“Nope, not doing that without them being numb,” she replied.
“Oakley, we must get the infection out; we can’t let it fester.”
“But last time, it stank so bad,” she muttered, eyeing me balefully.
“Yeah, but better out than in. Let’s get it over with, and then we can eat. I think if we do it after food, you might be sick.”
Oakley glared at me as she hugged the dress but slid her feet towards me.
I cringed as I saw how raw they were. They truly did look like hamburger. I slathered the numbing cream over both and let it kick in before taking care of her. The smell was not as bad, but it wasn’t pleasant either. I really felt sorry for Oakley because even with the cream, she winced. Once done, I gave her two Tylenol and cleared away the mess.
Our food arrived, and we ate, although Oakley did look a little green. She was rummaging through the bags as a distraction, with wide eyes, when someone knocked.
Oakley stiffened as I checked and opened it.
Gunner and Klutz entered, offered nods to me and a smile in Klutz’s case at Oakley. Gunner grunted. Surly fucker.
Oakley took one glare at Gunner, and I saw her set against him.
“He is a miserable bastard, but he’s a good guy,” I said as I introduced them.
Klutz snorted. “Gunner’s a raging asshole unless you’re called Silvie or Autumn or happen to be a Hellion.”
“Hellions. You heard what they’ve been up to at the Hall?” Gunner grunted.
“Penguin porn? Yeah, Phoe isn’t recovering too easily from that one,” Klutz answered, and I giggled.
“Mom’s more concerned about where the Hellions got the idea from,” I stated.
“Yes, well, I’ve been told the reindeer had a fuckin’ gang-bang,” Gunner grouched as he watched Klutz approach Oakley and sit down to examine her feet.
“He’s got medical training. Was nearly a doctor but became a vet instead,” Gunner said as Oakley stared wide-eyed at us. He tilted his head towards Klutz.
“Penguin porn?” she asked as Klutz examined her feet. I’d left them unwrapped, knowing Gunner and Klutz were due.
“Most of the brothers have children, and then there’re my siblings. They’re fuckers, the whole damn lot of them. And they’re split into two factions. The Princesses, which are all the girls and, are led by my sister Eddie. The boys are called Legacies and are bossed by my brother Dante. They are kids, but shit…” I broke off and looked at Klutz and Gunner.
“Eddie once created homemade cattle prods and electrocuted the boys,” Gunner said, and Oakley’s eyes widened.
“What?” she spluttered.
“The Princesses also plaster cast the Legacies when they got majorly pissed off. We had to take hammers and break them out,” Klutz added.
Oakley’s eyes grew wider.
“Calamity, Klutz, and Gauntlet decided to accept help from the Hellions, who were working together for once. Klutz, Calamity, Gauntlet, and the prospects had been tasked with decorating the outside of Reading Hall for Christmas,” Gunner said.
Klutz started scowling.
“The little shits wanted a hundred bucks each, and there were twelve of them offering to help. Calamity, being tight, offered them fifty. They weren’t too impressed but still took it, and then… yeah… Eddie.” I shook my head. “The kids did the outside ornaments and created a mass orgy. There were penguins humping penguins, reindeer mounting reindeer, Santas with canes up their asses. Fairies pole-danced candy canes, Santas humped elves, a polar bear was getting a blow job from another. It was a clusterfuck.”
“Phoe nearly had a heart attack,” Gunner boomed.
Klutz’s scowl darkened.
“Yeah, Mom had hysterics. She thought the brothers and prospects had done it at first,” I admitted with a laugh.
“The elves had a party with whips and chains. I think that was my favourite,” Gunner said, and chuckled.
“You knew what those brats were up to!” Klutz accused me.
I eyed him and laughed.
“Do you really trust the Hellions? I can’t believe Christian and Cody fell for their innocent act. And Grey? Some Fed he was.” I grinned.
“Christian and Cody?” Oakley asked.
“They are my brothers, club and actual brothers, although they’re prospects like me. Foolishly, they entrusted the garden decorations to the Hellions. Grey is a former FBI agent,” I explained.
“These… Hellions… are allowed out in public?” Oakley queried, and I laughed.
“Yeah, they should all be locked in a zoo,” I agreed.
“Leave my girls out of it,” Gunner stated.
Klutz and I turned to him.
“You do know Aria and Alyssa are ringleaders?” Klutz asked.
Now Gunner scowled. “My babies are angels.”
“With tarnished halos,” Klutz argued.
“Still got halos,” Gunner shot back.
No arguing with that.
“Here, I brought you this. Open the door, rose-coloured glasses,” Klutz said to Oakley and then Gunner.
Gunner glared at being called rose-coloured glasses as Klutz pulled in a wheelchair.
“When Harley explained what had happened and how bad you were hurt, I guessed you might need this. Seriously, Oakley, you need to stay off those feet. I don’t recommend you walk to the bathroom. Use the chair even in this room. You start walking before they heal, you could end up with nerve damage, a limp, and other defects,” Klutz warned.
“You’ll be able to answer the door in that,” Gunner agreed.
“Thank you,” Oakley replied with a shy smile.
“On that note, we’ll be going. Our women will want to know where we are. If Oakley is to remain a secret, we better move,” Klutz stated.
They both took their leave, and Oakley turned to me.
“Why am I a secret?” she demanded, her arms folded.
“Because my mother wants grandchildren and demands them right now. If she learns I’m helping you, Mother will assume we’re in a relationship and will be all over you. If you think you can handle a rabid woman desperate to settle her sons down and get grandkids, I’ll bring Mom tomorrow,” I explained.
“No thanks,” Oakley said, paling.
“Shit, sorry, I didn’t think,” I swore, realising where Oakley’s mind had gone. “I meant Mom would smoother you with love. She’d bend over backwards to keep you. Mom wouldn’t ever harm you or force you to do something you don’t want.”
“I’m just a bit sensitive. Will you explain what Reading Hall is and tell me more stories about the Hellions?”
“That, I can do. I’ll hang the clothes at the same time,” I replied and got to work.