Chapter Four
Zeke
I ENDED UP staying with the farmer, Fred, for just over a month. For the first three weeks of my recovery, I was barely awake or coherent. I’ve still got a cast on my arm and the damage done to my legs has healed enough for me to be able to limp around. My body is still racked with pain each morning I wake up and there’s nothing I take for it. The doctor that’s been overseeing my recovery has given me pain medicine, but I haven’t taken it unless absolutely necessary. While I was out of it, I had no choice but to take what was given to me through the IV the doctor started almost as soon as he arrived, according to Fred.
My injuries were extensive. I have cuts and bruising over my entire body and needed over a hundred stitches for the cuts. Those have been removed by the doctor and it’s just a matter of the remaining bruising to fade while the cuts continue to heal. I’ll have the cast for another two weeks at least. When it comes to my legs, I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the slight limp I have, but that’s the least of my concerns. I also had a nasty gash on the back of my head, busted ribs, and a burn on my left arm. I’m not even sure when I got the burn because I sure as hell don’t remember it happening.
Fred has been at my side the entire time as I’ve healed. He’s a widow and doesn’t have any children. The farm is his family’s and has been with them for several generations. He works the land, raises the cows, and whatever else he has going on. I’ve offered to help him, but there’s not much I can do as I continue to heal. Most of the pain is gone and the bruising has faded to almost nothing at this point. There were a few bruises that were so dark it’s going to take a little bit of time to leave my skin completely. So, while Fred works his land, I sit on the back porch and watch him.
My thoughts are consumed with Melissa. I want to know if she’s okay, where she is, and what’s going on with her. I’d also like to know what she needed to talk to me about over a month ago. If you ask me, I have a feeling she was going to tell me she’s pregnant. I’m just not sure that’s the news she was set to deliver though. Not without talking to her.
When I think of the possibility of Melissa carrying my child, my heart beats faster and excitement fills me. We might be young as hell, but I know we’ll make excellent parents. I’ve dreamed of having a family with Melissa and if she’s carrying my child right now, I want to be at her side to experience everything with her. To see her grow round with our baby and hold her hand as she gives birth. I want to hold our son or daughter, go to bed with my girl at my side, and only leave if I have to go to work. That’s been my dream since I met Melissa and we’ve talked about it more than once over the time we’ve spent together.
Fred has given me the freedom to roam his property so I’m up and moving about every day. It helps me work out the stiffness in my body and makes me walk on my legs to strengthen them once again. While they weren’t broken, the bones were severely bruised and I had a lot of swelling in both of my ankles. The doctor doesn’t know how they weren’t broken with the amount of damage done to them.
Pushing myself off the porch, I make my way to the last barn I have to explore. Walking inside, I find a bunch of farm equipment waiting to be used by Fred. Everything in here is old but looks as if it’s in excellent condition. He definitely takes care of his stuff and doesn’t let anything break down and rot away so he has to go out and buys brand-new stuff to use. I like that about him. Fred would rather use the same things his family before him did instead of going out and buying the latest piece of equipment that will supposedly make his life easier.
As I get to the back of the barn, I find a sheet covering what looks to be a motorcycle. It’s tight to the frame and that’s the only reason I know what is underneath the thick sheet. Walking up to it, I pull the sheet back to find an older bike that doesn’t have a spot of rust on it. Even the leather seat looks new.
“See you found my dad’s bike,” Fred says, walking up to stand next to me. “Was wondering how long it would take you to wander out here and find it.”
“You ever ride it?” I question Fred, continuing to look the bike over.
“No. I come out here a few times a week and start it up. Check all the fluids and everything else. Hasn’t been out of this barn in a long time. I’ve also replaced all the filters, hoses, gaskets, and everything else you’re supposed to on a regular basis. Just changed out all the oil and stuff too,” Fred answers me, his voice no-nonsense as always.
“What are you plannin’ on doin’ with it?”
“Nothing. I don’t ride and never wanted to. My dad loved to ride and took it out every chance he got. Bought it because my mom loved to ride and he fell in love with it too,” Fred reminisces. “If you’re interested in buying it, I’ll sell it to ya. Know you gotta get on your way soon. You figured out a plan of attack yet?”
Fred knows everything that happened to me. I didn’t want him to be left in the dark in case someone came by here looking for me. It’s also why he hid Melissa’s car. After removing the tracking device he found on the damn thing. At this point, either no one’s checked the device or they haven’t stopped by to see why her car was moved. I just don’t want to take any chances and put Fred’s life in danger. More danger than I’ve already done because of me being here. Venom isn’t fucking around and I know it’s only a matter of time before he comes after me.
“Not yet. All I know at this point is I need to get out of here. As far away from this town as I can. I just wish I could look for my girl and take her with me when I leave,” I tell him, letting my anger and fear fill me once again. “I think I’ll take you up on the offer of buyin’ this bike from you though. Need a way to get out of town and it looks to be in excellent shape.”
Those are the two main emotions I’ve been feeling lately. Anger at what happened to me. Of being attacked by a group of men and left for dead. Fear at the thought of what’s being done to Melissa. Of her father or the other men of the club hurting her. She loves those men and has always felt safe and protected by them. Now, that’s all been shattered which only adds to the anger I feel. Melissa doesn’t deserve to have anything bad ever touch her. Venom let it happen and started a chain of events that I’m going to end his fucking life for. I’m going to take out as many members of his fucking club as I can and I don’t care if they kill me in the process. Without Melissa in my life, it’s not worth living anyway.
“Good. It will be good to know it’s being ridden again. It’s just wasting away in this barn and I could use the space for something else,” Fred tells me as he hands over a set of keys.
Starting the bike up, I listen to the loud rumble of the engine. Revving the motor a few times, I don’t hear any hesitation or anything. The bike even has a full tank of gas in it. Fred really has been taking care of it to ensure nothing happened to his dad’s bike. The man will forever hold a place in my heart. He didn’t have to take me in, help me recover, or anything else he’s done since I’ve been here.
After shutting off the bike, I pull out my wallet and pull out the amount of cash Fred wants for the bike. I always keep all of my money on me. I’ve never trusted a bank because I was positive my father would find a way to get his hands on my money. So, if it’s always on me, there’s no chance of him stealing it. Yes, I know I shouldn’t walk around with the amount of cash on me that I normally have. Eventually, I’ll put it in a bank, but not until I get the hell out of Mirfield and away from all the evil in my life.
“Think I’m gonna head out after dinner. I want it to be dark when I leave so no one sees me,” I inform Fred as we walk toward the house so he can sign the title of the bike over to me.
“Sounds good. I’ll keep my ear to the ground about your girl and if I hear anything, I’ll find a way to let you know,” Fred assures me as we step up on the porch. “You keep this bike in my name until you get to where you’re going. Don’t want you registering it in your name to pop up on anyone’s radar when you’re still so close. Just turn the plates in and I’ll get notified. You stay in touch, Zeke.”
“I’m gonna buy a burner phone as soon as I leave here. I’ll stay in touch. Once I put some distance between me and this town, I’m gonna start lookin’ for my girl. One way or another I’ll find her. Need to know if she has my baby growin’ in her. Need to be with her and make sure nothin’ like this shit ever touches her again.”
“You’ll do it, Zeke. If anyone can, it’s you. You’re a fighter and it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out about you. Been fighting all your life if I had to guess.”
Fred and I walk in his office where he pulls out the title and signs it over to me. He places the cash I’ve given him in the safe and then we walk out to the kitchen. Since I’ve been up and about, I’ve been helping Fred cook on a daily basis. It’s something I used to do with my mom while my father was deployed. I’m not great in the kitchen, but I know my way around it.
***
I ’ve been on the road for about four hours at this point. There’s no traffic other than tractor trailers going to their next destination. Fred saw me off before going to bed and made sure I had everything I’d need. The only stop I made was to get a burner phone and buy some snacks. My plan is to continue driving until I can’t physically stand to any longer. If I get hungry, I can pull over and eat a snack and have some of my water before getting back on the road. The need to put distance between this town and me is the only thing pushing me right now.
I’m exhausted and my body hurts. Still, I don’t stop or slow down as I make my way down the highway leading me away from Mirfield and Melissa. If I thought I could get away with it, I would have gone by the clubhouse to see if she was there. Because I don’t have my phone on me, I don’t even have her number. Or Oaklynn’s. With a cell phone, I haven’t had to memorize phone numbers so I don’t know any off the top of my head. It fucking sucks. However, I knew if I went close to the clubhouse, Venom would find out and they’d be after me. So, I headed straight out of town and didn’t try to look for Melissa.
My heart breaks a little more the farther I get from the small town. If Melissa is still there, I will return to get her. To make sure that she never has to worry about her father hurting her again. I don’t know what’s been done to her, but there’s a feeling deep in my gut telling me he hurt her. Badly. Even if it’s just from what happened to me, he hurt my girl and that’s not acceptable.
I ride all night long, letting the wind flow over me as I pass through one town after another. Nothing pulls my attention and I still don’t feel as if I’m far enough away from Mirfield to stop for any reason. Other than needing to get gas, I remain on the highway and push the speed limits while testing out the bike. There isn’t a damn thing wrong with it and I’m thankful Fred had it. Especially when I remember mine being destroyed.
***
I ’ve ridden for almost an entire day and know it’s time to stop. I’m tired as hell, in pain, and need something to eat that’s more than a few snacks. Entering a town I take in the sign welcoming me to Frostford. Slowing down to the town’s speed limit, I take in the shops and buildings lining Main Street. At the very end is a diner. It’s set a little apart from the other buildings and I slow even more to pull in. Parking my bike at the very back of the parking lot, I back it into a spot and shut the engine down.
Getting off the bike, I take a few minutes to stretch out my body before starting to make my way to the diner. Just as I get to the front door, I hear a commotion coming from the side of the building. Every part of me is telling me to ignore the noise and go inside. It’s not until I hear a man’s voice tell someone he’s gonna gut them that I make a decision to interrupt whatever is going on.
Rounding the diner, I find two men fighting. One of them has a knife in his hand and is trying to stab the other one. Each man has a leather cut on their backs, but they’re not from the same club. I quickly assess the situation before stepping in and catching the man with the knife off guard. I slam my fist into the back of his head before wrenching his arm behind his back and making sure he loses his grip on the knife so I don’t get stabbed with it. Instead of letting it go there, I take out all of my rage and pain from the last month out on the man I stopped.
As I’m destroying the man, the other one doesn’t make a move to step in or stop me. At least not for a long time.
“Don’t think he’ll be gettin’ back up, son,” the man’s graveled voice washes over me, finally pulling me from the haze that settled over me.
His arms wrap around me and pull me off the man who’s no longer moving. He looks down at the destruction I left behind before letting his eyes shift to me.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt, but heard him talkin’ about guttin’ ya. Figured I should step in,” I tell him, not taking my eyes off the man laying at our feet.
“The name’s Rooster. You saved my life, kid,” he says while bending down to feel for a pulse in the man I beat. I watch on as he pulls out his phone and makes a call to someone. “Need a clean-up at Mama Mia’s. Round the side of the buildin’. Bring the van and take the trash where we usually do.”
“If you need me, I’ll be inside. Don’t mind talkin’ to the cops about what I did. Just want a full stomach before I get taken into custody,” I inform Rooster before walking away from him.
Walking inside the diner, I see a booth in the back and head straight there after making sure I don’t have to wait to be seated. Some places require it. Since I’m new here, I don’t want to cause any problems. Not like I just did outside this place. That’s more than enough for one day.
“What can I get you?” a waitress asks almost as soon as I’ve taken a seat.
“Chocolate shake, cheeseburger loaded with everythin’, and an order of fries with gravy on the side,” I tell her, hoping they have that shit here since I didn’t have a chance to look at the menu sitting in front of me.
“I’ll get your order put in and bring your shake right over,” she says as I still don’t look at her.
It’s not long before Rooster walks in the diner and sees me sitting in the booth alone. He makes his way over to me and stops at the end of my table.
“Mind if I join you?” he questions me, his voice breaking me out of my thoughts as they started turning to Melissa once again.
“Not at all,” I finally tell him, sitting up straighter in the booth as the waitress makes her way back over to us. “I’ll have the special sweetheart. And a coffee.”
“I’ll be right back with it,” she says after setting my shake down in front of me.
“Cops aren’t gonna be comin’ to talk to you, son. What you did out there means a lot to me. I don’t give out markers for any reason, but you’ve got mine. You new in town?” Rooster asks me, sitting back when the waitress sets a cup of coffee down in front of him.
“Yeah. Not sure if I’m stickin’ around or just passin’ through yet,” I state, taking a sip of my shake.
“Well, I got a proposition for ya. I’m the President of the Dirty Slayers MC here in town. After we eat, why don’t you come back to the clubhouse with me and check it out? If you’re interested in joinin’, I won’t make you go through the hang around phase at all. You saved my ass out there and it’s the least I can do to start repayin’ ya,” Rooster offers me.
“Not sure about joinin’ a club. My girl’s father is the President of one and he just had me jumped and left for dead. Buried me the fuck alive. That’s not shit I wanna be a part of,” I tell Rooster, giving him the bare minimum.
“The fuck?” Rooster says, his face showing his confusion as he stares at me. “That’s not shit anyone in my club would ever fuckin’ do. We handle our beef face-to-face like real fuckin’ men. Not a bunch of pussies who can’t take care of shit on their own. We might be a one percent club, but there’s a family vibe more than anythin’.
“The men at my back would have done the same as you did a few minutes ago without hesitation. If I came up on you bein’ attacked, I would have stepped the fuck in as well. Even not knowin’ your ass. That’s who we are. We don’t beat our women, love and protect our ol’ ladies and kids, and there’s nothin’ I wouldn’t do for a single woman in the clubhouse. Even the club whores, or Slit Slayers, as we call them. Not sayin’ you gotta join, but you’re welcome to follow me back.”
“What would it take for me to join if I like the vibe I get when I’m there?” I question Rooster as our food is brought over.
“First, we’d do a background check on you. Make sure you’re of age, don’t have a violent criminal history against women or children, and aren’t into drugs and all the other bullshit that’s banned in the club. You’d be a Prospect for a year before a vote would be considered to bring you on as a full patch member. We have monthly days that are just for family. The Prospects are there and can eat and enjoy the day as they work. The Slit Slayers aren’t allowed on the compound durin’ family day though.
“You’re gonna bust your ass workin’ for us and provin’ your loyalty to the club. The guys will haze your ass like they do with every other Prospect. We’ve also got several businesses we can put you in so you have a job and there’s room in the clubhouse for you to stay until you’re ready to get an apartment or build a house on the compound. We’ve got land for sale and it’s only available to the members,” Rooster informs me, digging into his food.
I sit back and eat my own while thinking over what he’s said. If I had saved Venom or any of the guys from the Burnt Brothers MC, there wouldn’t have been an offer to join the club or even a thank you. They’d have changed the narrative to make it seem as if they took down the person attacking them. They’re a bunch of selfish fucks who are only concerned about getting their next fix and fucking the next girl. Whether she’s willing or not.
“I’ll head back with you after we’re done and see what kind of feelin’ I get. If I like what I see, I’ll take you up on your offer. As long as everyone else is okay with it. Not gonna be there if it’ll cause a ton of shit,” I finally tell Rooster.
He nods his head at me before we continue to eat in silence. Once our meals are done, Rooster pays both of our bills and we head out. No, he wouldn’t let me pay for my own meal. I’m not one to take charity from anyone, but I have a feeling this is more than that for the man I saved. Now, I’m following him to the clubhouse where I’ll soon learn if I’m staying in Frostford or moving on again. Only time will tell.