Chapter 3—Kooper #2
Kids? Never met one who knew when to shut up.
Princess talks more than she should about things that no little girl should know.
Teddy and Grace are still learning the club life, so no clue on them.
And Ruby is just a handful enough to be an issue.
Her dad has the president patch, but she walks around like she owns the place.
It’s a look for sure. One most can’t pull off.
She does, though. I’m just not sure if it’s a look or an attitude and expectation all at once.
So far, she gives me the most sass, usually when I tell her no—something she doesn’t hear a lot from the rest of the brothers.
Not that I’ve ever seen her ask for something beyond the normal bullshit.
I just like telling her no to see her get all riled up.
Her angry face is funny to me. She tries to look all mean and pissed off, but it just reminds me of the model looks you see on billboards selling perfume or some shit, all pouty lips and sharp cheekbones—something she hates being compared to.
She doesn’t want to be just another pretty face.
She wants people to think she’s as fearless and badass as her dad.
Girl doesn’t realize that her dad’s image is all a front.
He looks like that just to keep her, and the rest of the club, out of shit that could get someone killed.
Can he be a dick? A badass? Sure. We all can.
But to keep the look on every second of the day?
It’s an act. Get the old man drunk a bit and ask him about his late wife.
Or hell, just ask about Ruby and you’ll get a bumbling fool of a man who’s proud as fuck at what his daughter has done with all the judgment of the entire town and sometimes the state breathing down her neck. Guy is all bark.
I climb back up to my bike when I’m sure the EMT has it all handled and walk over to the line of brothers. We don’t give a fuck that we’re taking up prime real estate in the middle of a major road and blocking traffic on all sides.
I notice a few prospects walking to cars that are lined up on either side, either to answer questions or tell someone who’s complaining to shut the fuck up.
What helps, I’m sure, is that not even the cops who’ve arrived on the scene are yelling at us to move along.
Granted, we make a huge donation to their causes every quarter.
Money goes a long way in all directions.
“Domino, keep an eye on Ruby and Abs, will you? They’re just down the hill.”
He nods and heads in the direction I came from as Casper raises an eyebrow.
“Thought that was your job?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Only to make sure she’s alive. We’re going to need to call it in to get a tow truck out here. Her car is wrecked from what I can tell. Probably not going to be able to drive it out.”
“Already on the way. Figured it would be easier to have both her and Izzy’s cars towed since we all took our bikes,” Casper says, nodding toward where Izzy is getting into an ambulance with Princess as two other ambulances are let through by our guys.
I raise an eyebrow in question at the multiple EMS vehicles.
Casper nods as if he gets it. “Ruby’s roommate was in the car with Izzy and got hit or something. Blood everywhere. They’re taking her in a separate vehicle to keep Princess from seeing more blood.”
“And the third?” I ask.
Casper shrugs. “Must have gotten the call from the one looking in on your charge. She or Abigail must need it. Just hope whoever is driving has brass balls, ’cause the boss is going to lose it if he sees his little girl pulling up to the hospital in an ambulance.”
“He won’t be the only one,” I mutter, already knowing that Bulldog is going to rip the place to shreds. Hound men don’t do well when one of their own is hurt. Even worse when they ain’t here to see what’s going on when it happens.
“Get your fucking hands off me!”
“Ahh, Sleeping Beauty is awake at last,” I say, looking toward the wailing banshee that is Ruby as she emerges onto the road ahead of a distressed EMT attempting to offer aid.
She pulls out of his grasp once more and marches toward me and the rest of the boys.
“Well?” she demands.
“Well what?” Casper turns and spits on the ground, away from the rest of us.
“Did you get who it was?”
She’s a far cry from what she looked like when I first saw her today.
Her outfit is rumpled, there’s a knot on her head, and her skin is darkening from the black eye she got from the airbag.
A bit of blood is running down her chin from a split lip, but other than that, she seems fine.
But she’s fucking crazy if she thinks we’re going to talk club business right now.
Not because of who she is, but where we are.
“No clue what you’re talking about,” I say and raise an eyebrow at her. From the steam rising off her, she gets it but hates it all at once.
“Whatever. Where’s my dad?”
“On his way to the hospital. He was across town when you called him. Said he’ll meet us there,” Casper supplies.
“Fine. Whose bike am I riding on?”
I snort at her.
“Ah, miss?” The paramedic is still close.
He never did turn back to Abigail. I hope they have someone else working on her or something.
I would hate to think Ruby’s rant pulled medical attention away from someone who needs it so she didn’t run into traffic or something.
“Protocol requires that you ride with us. You were unconscious when we found you, and we need to make sure you don’t go under again.
If you get on the back of a bike, you risk falling.
If someone has a car, they could take you, but unless they do, you must ride with us. ”
She keeps glaring at me as if it’s my fault. But I’m not the idiot who ran off the road. Not sure how it happened, but I’ll get the details on it soon. Just not here.
“Fine. But I’m not riding alone.” Ruby turns and stomps back to her car.
At least she has the sense to get back to Abigail. I was half afraid she’d force me to ride with her. And I’m not getting in a cage unless I’m the one driving. I learned a long time ago that they really don’t let just anyone drive ambulances. And they especially throw a fit when you do it anyway.