Chapter 2
Two
Madison
It’s been twenty minutes since my manager officially closed the bakery, and Joker and I are hiding out behind one of my cabinets.
It’s pitch black, so I can’t see much. And true to his word, Joker must have brought every type of candy he could get his hands on.
Before my manager, Bianca, left, I had her make us some coffee to leave in my office.
At least now I’ll have something to keep me awake.
“You doing okay, Madison?” Joker whispers, scaring the crap out of me. We’ve been silent for so long I wasn’t expecting it.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I just want this to be over with. What happens if it is a child and they need help?” The thought of someone going that hungry just breaks my heart.
“Then we will help them with whatever they need. There is no sense in worrying until we know for sure what is going on. I promise you, we will fix this.”
“Thank you.” I whisper. I know he may joke around all the time, but Joker is taking this seriously.
He grabs my hand in the dark and gives it a squeeze. “Anytime, and I mean that.”
He picks something out of his bag and opens the package. “Gummy worm?”
I can’t help but snort out a laugh. “These are my favorites. I ate so many of these during nursing school I gained so much weight.” All those late-night snacks were a killer on my hips and ass.
I can hear him moving around. Trying to get comfortable on the hard floor. “Wait, you're a nurse?”
Crap, I never meant to share that. I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this before.
“Technically, yes, I am, since my license hasn’t expired yet.
Graduated early at the top of my class. I was working at an old age home.
Got a little too attached to a few of the patients.
I just couldn’t handle the death that comes with it; it broke my heart each time one of them passed.
I guess I wasn’t tough enough to hack it.
I already had my business degree, so I just turned my love of baking into this place.
Honestly, I felt like such a failure when I didn’t go back.
” It was the hardest decision I had ever had to make.
“Hey, you're not a failure, far from it. You graduated top of your class, and not many people can say that. You turned one success into another. You should be proud of yourself. I have a quote that I’ve used in the past to keep me going. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. And you look at what you’ve created here.
You're not only a nurse but a damn good baker. So be proud of how far you’ve come. ”
I have to swallow the lump forming in my throat from his words. Which hit me hard, but it’s something I’ve needed to hear. “Thank you, Joker, that meant a lot. You know you're not so bad.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. All it took was a little stakeout for us to finally have that date. I’m a great catch. You really should have listened to me before.” Even in the dark, I know he's smiling big.
I swear I’m going to throttle this man when this is over. “You just had to ruin it, didn’t you?”
Before I know what’s happening, Joker has his hand over my mouth. “You can tell me how awesome I am later. The show is about to start. Be very quiet, and whatever you do, stay behind me.”
My body shakes with fear, and I nod my head as he removes his hand.
I can hear the back door opening and tiny footsteps coming our way, making my heart pound so loud.
The person heads into my kitchen, and I can hear things being moved around.
We purposely left some things out for them to take.
Joker quietly gets into a crouch and silently moves.
It all happens so fast. Joker moves silently and swiftly, and that’s when I hear a scream.
“Son of a bitch.” Joker yells, and I spring into action, turning on the kitchen lights, blinding me for a split second.
As my eyes adjust, that's when I see a scared little girl standing there with a pocketknife in her hand. I quickly look at Joker and see he has a big gash on his arm that’s definitely going to need stitches. I turn my focus to the girl who looks like she’s ready to bolt.
I put my hands up and give her a smile. “Hey it’s okay. No one is going to hurt you. My name is Madison, and this is Joker. I promise you that you're safe. Can you tell me your name and how old you are?”
“Bailey Grace Fisher, and I’m thirteen.” Her voice shakes with fear as she keeps side-eyeing Joker, who gets a strange look in his eyes, but as fast as it was there, it’s gone, making me wonder what it is. I know by now that the rest of the guys are on their way.
I keep the smile on my face and point to the knife still clutched in her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Bailey. Do you maybe want to put the knife down and I can get you something to eat?”
She looks at the knife that’s still in her hand and at the blood that’s dripping from the gash on Joker's arm, and her eyes widen in horror at what she's done. The knife clatters to the floor, and she starts crying. “I’m so sorry. Please don’t send me back. I promise I won’t come back again. Please.”
My instincts kick in, and I take slow movements towards Bailey, and before I know what’s happening, she jumps into my arms, holding on for dear life, sobbing.
Shattering my heart into a million pieces, right along with her.
Whatever is going on can’t be good for her to show this much fear.
I know one thing: I'm not sending her back.
“It’s okay, Bailey.” I rub her back in soothing circles, trying to calm her down. I look at Joker and see a pained look in his eyes. He walks over slowly, grabbing a towel and wrapping his wound.
“Hey Bailey. I promise you, whatever is happening at home, we will help you fix it. I’m going to let a few of my friends in and we can talk, okay?” Joker says with a smile on his face.
She peeks her head out, her tears tracking down her dirty face. “So you're not sending me back?”
Joker gives her a reassuring smile. “Hey, would I lie? We are practically besties now. I wouldn’t let just anyone stab me.” He sends her a wink, which makes her smile. I watch him walk away to let the guys in.
“Are you hungry, Bailey? I have some snacks you can have.”
She looks at the plate on the counter with longing, and that’s when I hear her stomach growl. I grab a chair from the corner and have her sit down. She looks absolutely exhausted, as if she hasn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.
She looks at the food before looking back at me. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Positive.” She picks up a muffin, and I watch as she eats slowly, savoring each bite, and I know for a fact it’s been a while since she’s had a decent meal.
I watch as the guys walk into the kitchen, which to some is an intimidating sight.
I watch Bailey's reaction, and she quickly stands up, hiding behind me, grabbing the back of my shirt and holding on for dear life. I can feel her body shake with fear.
“Who are they?” She whispers behind me.
Joker walks over, and I know his arms has to hurt. “These are my brothers. Blade, Ghost, Crow, Stone, and Hawk. Guys, this is Bailey, my new BFF.”
Bailey peeks her head out from behind me, and each guy has a smile on his face trying to look less intimidating. She gives them a small wave. “You guys are really big.” She’s side-eyeing Stone because he really is massive.
Joker looks down and winks at her. “That’s because we ate all of our vegetables growing up.”
Bailey scrunches up her face, making us laugh. “Yuck.”
Blade steps forward. “Hi Bailey, I’m Blade. Can you tell us what’s going on?”
She looks at me with fear in her eyes. “It’s okay, honey, he’s here to help.”
Helping her sit back down, I watch as she starts picking apart a muffin with shaking hands.
“I live over at the trailer park with my momma and her new boyfriend, Leo. I don’t like him; he's mean, and he and Momma are always high. I’m always so hungry; they never have enough food.
Last month, Momma said she was going to the store to get me something to eat, and she never came back.
I kept asking where Momma was, and he said she wasn’t coming back.
I heard him talking one night to his friends when they were drunk about selling me, so I ran.
I know he’s looking for me because I saw him last week around here.
You're not going to make me go back, are you? Please, I promise I won’t steal anything again.
” Bailey starts sobbing, and I gather her in my arms.
I lean down so I can look her in the eye and gently wipe her tears. “Bailey, I promise you, we won’t send you back.”
“Then where will I go? I don’t know who my daddy is. Momma said he didn’t want me.”
My heart just shattered. I swear, when I get my hands on these people, they are going to regret treating Bailey badly. “You can stay with me.”
“Madison,” Joker says, making me shoot my head towards him. There’s no way he’s going to deny me this.
“No Joker. Bailey is staying with me. I have the room and the means to take care of her. She deserves to be in a warm bed with plenty of food. But most of all, she needs to be safe.”
He holds his hands up, walking closer. “Easy, Momma Bear. No one is denying that she needs to be protected. I was only going to point out that the boyfriend is still out there.”
“Joker is right. Your house is too out in the open, and anything can happen there.” Blade says.
Shoot, he’s right. I don’t have any added security at all. “Then what do you suggest?”
“Okay, just hear me out before you start yelling.” He holds up his hands, and I know I’m definitely not going to like what he has to say.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Go on.”
“For tonight, since it’s late. I will come to your house and keep watch, and tomorrow we can move your stuff to mine. We have all the added security where he can’t get to Bailey.”
I was right. I definitely don’t like this idea at all. But as I look at Bailey, I know it’s the right thing to do. I want to protect her, and what better way than behind a wall with badass bikers?
“Fine, we can do it your way. Are you okay with that, Bailey?” She’s been through so much. I just want her to feel comfortable right now. She doesn’t know us, but we are her safest bet right now.
Bailey looks at the guys before looking at me. She tentatively reaches for my hand before holding on tightly. “I will go with you.”
We all release the breath we were holding.
Blade gives her a smile. “Okay, now that part is settled. Joker and Hawk, I want you at Madison’s tonight, and in the morning I will send the prospects to move whatever you want, and we can move Madison’s things over to your house, Joker.
And we will meet up at the clubhouse in the morning and form a plan.
I will square it with Colton and tell him what’s been going on. ”
“Who’s Colton?” Bailey whispers, looking on in fear.
I smile at her. “He’s the sheriff, and his grandparents own the general store.”
Tears spring to her eyes. “Am I going to jail? I swear I only took a little bit. I promise to work it off and pay her back. Please don’t send me away.”
Joker steps forward and bends at the knee so he’s in front of her. “Hey dry those eyes, Bailey Bee. No one, and I mean no one, is going to take you away. I made a promise to you, and I won't break my promises.”
Bailey looks him in the eye and sighs. She holds out her pinky finger, making me smile. “Do you pinky promise?”
I’m not shocked to see Joker's finger wrap around Bailey’s, which honestly melts my heart. “I pinky-promise.”