Chapter Thirty-Two
Reckless
“C ALI! YA GOTTA answer me, Caliana. Come on, Reina. You were just talkin’ to me,” I shout even though I hear absolutely nothing from Cali’s end of the phone. The only thing I hear is the rain we shouldn’t be riding in right now.
“What’s goin’ on, Reckless?” Manic asks me through the comms in our helmets as I continue to yell to gain Cali’s attention once again.
“She’s not answerin’ me now. I have no clue what the fuck happened, but she stopped talkin’.
I don’t think Darren has her because I don’t hear him on the line.
In fact, there’s nothin’ from Cali’s side of the call,” I state for everyone to hear as I speed up despite the wet road and rain still falling.
“Caleb, ya gotta slow down. I know you wanna get to Cali and make sure she’s okay, but right now you’re about to kill yourself.
The roads are too fuckin’ wet to be ridin’ this fast,” my dad says and I know he’s worried about me but I can’t worry about that right now.
The need to get to Cali is overwhelming everything else.
“I’ll slow down when I get to my girl. She needs me and I wasn’t there to protect her when Darren took her from Kreed’s house. I’ll be okay,” I say, not sure if I’m telling the truth because there’s a real possibility I’ll crash before I can get to my girl.
As I turn onto the road where the abandoned house Darren’s been staying in is, I slow down the slightest bit.
Cali was outside and I know she started walking, I’m just not sure how far she got.
I let everyone know to keep an eye out for her because she could be anywhere.
Using the light from my headlight, I search frantically for Cali.
When I get about a mile down the road, I finally spot something on the side of the road.
Slowing down even more, I pull over a few feet in front of what I suspect is Cali.
Everyone else pulls over behind me as I barely put the kickstand on my bike down and jump off.
I race to Cali and drop down on the rough pavement next to her.
She’s facedown as I gently roll her over and get my first look at the woman I’ve loved forever.
“No! Cali!” I yell into the rain as so many men rush up to my side but only a few drop down with me. “What the fuck did Darren do to you? How could he hurt you this way, Reina?”
“Caleb, we gotta get her outta here,” my dad says as I keep my eyes locked on Cali while everything else fades into nothing.
My eyes slide over her body, cataloging every single injury she has.
The rain has washed the blood from her skin, but there are still traces coloring her pale skin.
Bruises have already started to form and I can no longer see the freckles that cover her body as a few guys shine flashlights on her body.
“Someone get the SUV up here. Now!” Kreed orders as I remain silent with tears forming in my eyes once again at the thought of the damage that’s been done to Cali’s body.
Grabbing one of her hands in mine, I take in the damaged nails that are broken down to nothing.
A few have been broken so short, her fingertips are bleeding.
My girl fought back against Darren. She remembered everything my family taught her over the years and managed to save herself before any of us could get to her.
I barely hear the SUV pull up next to us and my dad starting to order the rest of the guys to go get my bike back to the clubhouse, find Darren to take him back to the clubhouse and toss him into one of the cells, and everything else he gets done while I remain on the pavement with Cali.
“The SUV is here, Reckless,” Manic informs me. “Luca’s drivin’ and waitin’ for you to load Cali up in the backseat. Gotta get her to the hospital. We’ve got things here covered. I’ll see ya soon.”
As gently as I can, I lift Cali in my arms and stand with the help of Tank and my papa.
The back door of the SUV is open as I slide in without jostling Cali around too much.
She doesn’t stir the entire time. My dad jumps in the front passenger seat next to Luca as he starts to turn the SUV around.
I still don’t take my eyes off of Cali. The need to be the first one she sees when she wakes up so she knows I have her is overwhelming.
I don’t want her waking up and thinking she’s still with that fucker Darren.
He hurt her too badly and I know she won’t know what’s going on when she wakes up otherwise.
“She’s gonna be okay, Caleb. Caliana’s always been a fighter and she’ll pull through this,” my dad says, turning in his seat based on the sound filling the SUV.
“We’ll all be there for her as she recovers and heals from the hell Darren put her through tonight.
Darren will get what’s coming to him as well.
Luca, step on it and get to the hospital.
I’m lettin’ them know we’re on our way so they’re ready for her. ”
The entire trip to the hospital, I keep Cali in my arms and my eyes locked on her body.
She doesn’t move an inch the short ride as Luca races through town.
I know he’s scared and wants to ensure the safety of Cali since he adores her, but he keeps his attention on the road in front of him as he drives faster and faster through town without a care in the world.
If we get pulled over, Luca will take whatever punishment comes his way because he’s doing this for Cali.
By the time Luca pulls up to the hospital, there’s a team of doctors and nurses standing there with a gurney.
Luca pulls right up to them and my dad jumps out to open the backdoor.
As carefully as I can, I slide out of the backseat and race Cali over to the gurney where I lay her down as the medical team surrounds her and gets her inside the hospital.
Knowing I won’t be allowed to go in the back with her, I don’t even try to fight because it will only delay my girl getting treated so we know how much damage has been done to her.
W e’ve been at the hospital and Cali has been taken into surgery.
Most of the wounds are superficial and will heal with time.
The surgery is for her elbow. When Darren took that pipe to her arm, he broke her elbow and the only way the doctors can fix it is with surgery and putting pins in there to hold the bones in place where they belong.
I’ve been pacing the waiting room the entire time as everyone stays away from me.
I’m like a caged tiger waiting to pounce and get this pent-up energy out.
“Go to the clubhouse, Caleb,” my dad says, walking up to me and resting a hand on my shoulder as he pulls me out of my head.
“I can’t leave her until I know she’s okay,” I state, shaking his hand off to resume my pacing once more.
“Caleb, she’s gonna be in surgery for a few hours still.
They aren’t sure about internal bleedin’ and need to ensure they get everythin’ fixed and taken care of while she’s out so she doesn’t need another surgery,” my dad states rationally.
“Right now, you’re no good to her and you need to get this shit with Darren taken care of.
If you can tell her when she wakes up that he’s no longer a problem, Cali will be able to heal in peace. ”
“Okay. Who’s gonna stay here with her?” I ask, looking around the waiting room to find every seat taken by a club member. With the three clubs together, there are guys standing against the walls and lining the beginning of the hallway leading to the entrance. We’ve taken over the waiting room.
“My club will stay here while I go to the clubhouse with you,” Papa says as I turn my attention to him.
“They’ll call the second the doctor comes out with any news about Cali.
Let’s go take care of this piece of shit so you can get back here.
You need answers and Darren’s the only one who can give them to you. ”
With a nod of my head, my papa heads over to the members of his club and fills them in on what’s going on.
Vault and Dylan walk over to me with Kreed and Luca.
No one has given Luca any shit for being here with us.
Most of the guys understand why I’m letting Luca in on everything about this situation.
He deserves to be there for Cali and get his hands dirty on her behalf.
After a few minutes of my papa giving out orders to his club, we all head out as one.
The rain has finally stopped when we exit the hospital.
Luca points to where the SUV is now parked as my dad, Luca, and I make our way over there.
Climbing back in the backseat while Luca and my dad get in front, I try to think of everything I’m about to do to Darren.
This fucker not only took Cali from me, but he put his hands on her and caused her immense pain.
Because of Darren, my girl is now in surgery to repair the damage done to her.
He’s gonna feel every fucking ounce of pain he made her suffer through.
Luca pulls up to the clubhouse in a matter of minutes while I zoned out the entire time.
I don’t wait for him to come to a complete stop before jumping out and heading for the door of the clubhouse.
My dad, Luca, Kreed, and my brother Dylan are right by my side.
We don’t speak to anyone in the common room as I storm through and head for the door leading down to the basement.
Stomping down the stairs, I want Darren to know we’re coming for him.
He's about to be sent to hell and I’m the one who’s gonna send him there.