Chapter Twenty #4
That’s a low blow, and he knows it. I don’t know how I managed to survive prison without getting raped, but I did see way too many other guys getting attacked behind the scenes.
It makes me shudder just thinking about it.
“First off, asshole. That’s fucked up. Second, I thankfully managed to keep my ass safe.
My ribs and fucking internal organs… that’s another story. ”
He pauses for a second to look at me. “How bad was it?” You can hear the guilt and pain in his voice. This time I don’t brush it off, I tell him the truth.
“A collapsed lung, a few stab wounds, and bruises I still feel to this day. Other than that, just another day in Ely prison. The doctors say it’s a miracle that I survived. I like to think I’m just a stubborn motherfucker that refuses to die. I still got shit to do here.”
“Like what?”
“Like fucking ride that bike you got me. I hope you’ve kept it warm for me.”
He points to the bikes in the bay. “We take it out sometimes just to keep its engine running, but yeah, that’s your beast right there.” He motions to the one with ape hangers and skull mirrors. The one I was hoping for in the first place.
“This beauty is mine?” I question, rushing over to the bike like a kid attacking the presents on Christmas.
“Yup, figured you’d like the ape hangers.”
“Fucking love them. And the skulls? It’s like they made me in bike form!” He laughs when I show him my tattoo. “Fuck, man, I’ll pay you back for it as soon as I can.”
“It’s a gift, brother. Consider it a welcome home present. I can’t wait until you get your license and we can ride together.”
Grinning, I let him in on my little secret. “Dude, I’ve had my motorcycle license for years; I just haven’t told anyone.”
“What? How?”
“My uncle taught me how to ride, and when I was old enough, he took me to get my license. It’s kinda been a family tradition.
When I told him about me joining the club, he was fucking proud as hell.
He used to ride with a few clubs back in the day.
He says there’s nothing better than riding down the road with your brothers flanking you, rocking those cuts with the banner on full display.
If the man weren’t already in prison for murdering someone, he’d probably even want to join. ”
“Damn, I didn’t know you had family in prison?”
“Yup, he’s the one who kept me alive while in the clink.
I didn’t even know he was there until after I got my ass beat for the first time.
He couldn’t prevent the second one though, that one nobody saw coming.
Turns out a few of the guards were paid to look the other way.
Shit was definitely a hit, but after it happened, they sent me to a different facility, basically taking me underground. It’s the only reason I got out.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re home.” A truck coming up the driveway breaks our silence, and Eddie is all smiles again. “Shit, that’s Krampus. You should fucking hide.”
This is gonna be good.
“He’s gonna lose his shit when he sees you.”
The second he hops out of the truck, toting a fucked-up BMW behind him, I almost blow my cover. There are times where Rich has felt more like an actual brother to me than anyone else in this world. It takes everything in me not to rush him the second his boots touch the ground.
“I’ll never get used to seeing dead bodies,” Rich mumbles looking at the deployed airbags like they’re weaponized. “Two dead. One critical,” he informs Eddie as he starts unhooking the BMW from off the back.
“Drunk driver?” Eddie asks.
Rich shakes his head. “Apparently, the guy driving the BMW had a seizure and sideswiped a semi before careening into oncoming traffic and hitting a car with two female passengers. He and one of the passengers are dead; the other female is critical. It’s sad, Drac. Nothing good ever happens in Fernley.”
That’s my moment. From out of the darkness, I rush up behind him, grabbing him from behind so he can’t run away.
He immediately breaks my hold and spins with his fists ready, breaths coming out in frightened huffs.
“Jesus! What the fuck?” The second he sees me, everything changes.
His smile grows like a blooming sunflower, and his arms wrap around me so hard, I can barely breathe.
It’s another hug I’ll be depositing into the memory bank.
“I thought you weren’t getting home until later?
” he questions, smile only getting bigger the longer he stands there staring at me.
“Damn, it’s like ya’ll don’t want to see me.”
“Fuck you. You know we do. How the fuck you been?” Rich exclaims.
I’m still not used to the road name thing. I think it’s going to take me a minute. I’ve known both of these men for ages and calling them something new just seems weird right now.
“Better now that I’m home. It’s good to see you both. Speaking of which, have either of you heard from Poppy?”
Rich shakes his head, that smile fading to a frown. “No one's heard from her since Pippa—” He glances over at Eddie, who sheepishly looks away. The man still blames himself for her death too.
“Damn, do you know where she is?”
“Last I heard, she went to college, but I don’t know,” Rich informs me, scrubbing at the back of his neck. “She kinda disappeared when Amber did.”
Eddie freezes, then pretends to be elbow deep in car repair. He’s not even touching anything with his wrench.
“Sorry, man, I know you hate hearing her name,” Rich quickly adds.
The girl in the shop saunters over, standing in front of Eddie like he’s her next meal. She barely looks my way; her attention is solely on him. “Is it okay if I get out of here and clean up for later?”
“Sure, but before you go, let me officially introduce you to Wesley. We call him Voorhees. Sorry that I got so caught up with him being here that I forgot to introduce you two.”
Extending my hand, I hold it out for her to shake. “You’re just being stingy. I get it. I wouldn’t want to introduce her to me either, with a face like this…” My hand waves over my scar. “Chicks dig the scar.”
Sammie giggles.
Rich watches as she lays a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, her voice dropping into a seductive whisper. “See you tonight?”
“Yup, I’ll pick you up around seven.”
The second she leaves, Rich is pissed. “I fucking knew it,” he grumbles, kicking at a tire as he passes it.
“Knew what?” Eddie fires back.
“That you were fucking hot for her.”
“Who wouldn’t be?”
Rich can’t help but laugh. “I just can’t believe you’re actually following through with it. That’s a real woman, Eddie, not just some toy to play with.
“I know.”
“You better treat her right,” Rich threatens.
“Trust me, Krampy, I haven’t felt like this about a girl in a long time.”
“And what if Amber were to walk through that door tomorrow? What would your tune be then?”
Oof, he said her name out loud. This isn’t going to be good.
Eddie’s voice raises, his anger cracking like a fresh spark. “That won’t fucking happen.”
“How do you know? It hasn’t been five years yet.”
Fuck, now Rich is bringing up Eddie’s mother’s prophecy? Not good. Not good at all.
After Amber left Eddie at the altar, his mother predicted she’d be back, but it may take up to five years for her to return.
Those five years are almost over now, and no one has seen or heard from Amber in that amount of time.
It’s crazy when you think about it. The two were head over heels for each other, and now she’s just gone, leaving him here to harden and go cold without her.
“Yeah, but it will be in a few months. Then what? I’m good, man. I’m over her.”
“I really hope you’re right, Eddie. Sammie’s a good girl.
She deserves to be treated with respect.
Hell, if I had a chance with her, I would’ve made a move on her long ago, but I saw the way she looks at you.
I’m nothing in her eyes compared to you.
So, treat her fucking like the queen she is, or so help me… ”
“I get it. I get it. Don’t worry, I have every intention of treating this one right. This time I’m going all in.” Eddie sounds like he’s serious but we all know he’s still holding on to the one girl that has his heart. Just like I am.
Many people have asked me why I’m so in love with a girl that treats me like shit and hates to even look at me.
And for a while, I really didn’t know how to answer that question without saying I like a good chase.
But these past three years have put a lot of things into perspective for me.
It’s not just the chase that keeps me holding onto Poppy, it’s everything.
That day she caught me trying to steal her dad’s car, changed me.
She could’ve ratted me out, but she didn’t.
She let me go. That told me more about her than she’d like to believe.
Unlike her, I knew almost immediately that she was my person. Call it love at first sight. Call it infatuation if you want, but something in my bones just tells me that Poppy Kiplinger has and will always be the only girl I’ll ever want or need.
It’s why I’ve worked so hard to woo her, and why I shrug off every insult like it’s foreplay. She may not see the bigger picture between us, but I do.
We’re meant to be together.
And from the second I saw her standing in that doorway; I knew I’d always protect her.
It sounds crazy when you say it out loud, but it’s a vow I live by. As long as I’m breathing, I’ll always put Poppy before myself, and unlike everyone else in her life, I refuse to turn my back on her.
She can push me away.
Tell me to fuck off.
Hell, she can even stab me in the heart if it makes her feel better, but nothing is going to keep me from protecting Poppy like she’s mine.
I just have to find her again.