Chapter 3
Kelly
My GPS took me out into the country, an area on the east side of the town, next to a line of mountains. Off in the distance I could see fencing with barbed wire on the top. It made me think of a prison.
Could it be the Kings’ property line? According to the directions, it had to be where the clubhouse was located.
Why did a club need to be so well protected?
I tried to dial into the radio. Sara Evans was singing “A Little Bit Stronger.” Boy, talk about a relatable song. It could have been my anthem during the months leading to mine and Brock’s breakup.
It was stupid to believe I could change a man. But since Brock, I’d gotten stronger. I was okay and if there was to be a new guy, he’d better put me first and accept my brother. Those were my two deal-breakers. I wouldn’t spend years learning about a guy like I had with Brock.
At thirty, I didn’t want to waste a second on the wrong guy hoping he’d turn out to be the right guy.
Slowing my car as I neared an iron gate, my heart pounded in my chest. I had major second thoughts about coming out here. They didn’t need me. The drugged woman would be fine. Hector had already examined her.
I wasn’t needed.
I should turn around and go home…
Before I could speed off or turn my car around, a guard appeared from behind a concrete wall. He had a rifle in his hands and a scowl.
Oh, shit! Too late.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! Never hesitate, Kel!
The scary looking man approached my car and gestured with his finger for me to roll down the window.
Recalling my brother’s words about bikers giving orders and not options, I didn’t balk and lowered my window.
“Hi,” I said with a forced smile, trying to hide my unease. “I’m Kelly. The nurse Hector sent to help the woman.”
The man in loose, faded jeans and a black leather vest considered me. “Identification.”
“Oh. Okay.” I nodded and dug my wallet out of my bag.
Did this guy not believe I was the nurse Hector sent? Like how would I know anything about it, if Hector hadn’t contacted me? I didn’t feel comfortable showing him my driver’s license, but did I have a choice?
“Can’t find it?” he asked.
“Nope. I mean, yes. Here it is.” I presented my wallet and when he tried to take it out of my hand, my grip on it tightened.
He growled and thankfully let go. “Kelly Lloyd,” he said my name in a weird way and studied my I.D., flicking his dark eyes at me, then my license.
“Mhm.” I gave him the fakest smile I could produce under duress. “That’s me.”
“This has a San Francisco address.” It wasn’t a question. “Is that where you live?”
“No. I moved here a few months ago and haven’t gotten the address updated.” My stomach tightened under his scrutiny. I’d just been so busy that I forgot to go to the DMV, which was always a nightmare to deal with in California.
“Height. Five five. Weight. One sixty-two.” He peered into my car to check me out. “Nice.”
“Excuse me?” I’d had enough of this. “What does my weight have to do with letting me in? A woman has been drugged for Christ’s sake. If you’re not going to let me in, move out of the way so I can leave.”
“What the fuck is the hold up? Slay is getting pissed off,” a man yelled. He stalked toward the gate and grabbed onto the bars. His fingers looked rough and I could see tattoos on his tan arms. He was handsome, in a gritty slasher movie sort of way, and he was also wearing a leather vest.
“Just checking out the goods before everyone else stakes their claim on this beauty, Jefe.” The guy took a couple steps back. “I’m Dom. After you get Slay’s woman sorted out, come find me.”
“She won’t have time,” Jefe yelled. “Now, open the gate!”
Dom didn’t reply and strolled back to his post. The iron gate magically opened and the man in the compound waved me in and pointed to left side. I assumed he wanted me to park my car next to a couple of motorcycles.
I swallowed thickly and sent a quick text to Kevin, letting him know I’d arrived.
The Latino man met me as I exited my car.
“Kelly, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m Jefe, the president. Thanks for coming out. We appreciate it.” He was more welcoming than I expected.
“Of course. How is she?”
“Still unconscious. My enforcer is really worried about her so if he’s short with you for taking so long to get here, just ignore him.”
“Okay.” My eyes widened. Damn, I’d gotten here as fast as I could. But I understood how he must have felt. A patient’s family wasn’t their normal selves when a loved one was injured or sick. “I’ll do my best to put his mind at ease.”
“Good. Follow me.” He headed for the building, and I couldn’t help but notice his long strides and tight ass. His cologne floated in the air, and it wasn’t awful in the least. “Jesus…”
A crowd of people were hanging out at the door.
“Make room, for Christ’s sake,” Jefe barked. His booming voice made me stiffen. “Never seen a nurse before?”
“Not one as fine as this one,” one guy said, winking at me.
“Mind your p’s and q’s, ese,” another guy said.
“She’s okay, if you ask me.” A woman in booty shorts and high heels glared at me. “Her purple scrubs are tacky.”
“Shut it, Yoli,” Jefe hissed. “Come on, Kelly.”
“Oooh, Kelly. I like her name.” The younger guy blew me a kiss.
“Y’all know I can hear you, right?” I rolled my eyes. “Surely, you have better things to do than gawk at me.”
Jefe snorted.
“Not really, Kelly.” Young guy followed behind me. “Gimme a holler if you need help.
“Get lost, Skillz. Dom already called dibs,” Jefe told him.
“But no worries, Skillz. I’m here to work, not to play.”
“We’ll see about that, Kelly baby.”
I rolled my eyes.
Jefe turned around sharply and I nearly bumped into him. Skillz rubbed up against my back… intentionally, I presumed.
“What did she say?” Jefe asked him in a severe tone. He grabbed me by the arm and moved me in front of him. “She’s here to work, not play.”
“I heard.” Skillz grinned at me. “Catch you later, Kelly baby.”
Jefe growled and pushed me along. “The room is down this hallway and back the other way is the bar. There will be food available if you get hungry. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the bar. Beer, whiskey, tequila.”
“Thanks. Um… Do I need to be worried about him and the others?” It was an honest question.
I wasn’t full of myself or conceded, but these guys were more aggressive than I was used to.
The vibe I was getting from them was that they wouldn’t take no for an answer and that was more than a little concerning.
“Probably. But if you don’t want anyone to touch you, just tell me. They’re harmless and will respect your wishes.”
“I don’t want anyone touching me,” I blurted out in rapid fire. “I’m only here to help the woman.”
Jefe hiked his eyebrow. “Damn. The guys are going to be disappointed, but okay. Nobody will touch you.”
“Thank you.” Jeez, way to make me feel like an unappreciative snot.
He stopped at a door and knocked.
The door swung open. “Finally!” A frazzled man appeared. “Why won’t she wake up?”
“Well, let me get her stats. I’m Kelly, by the way.”
“Slay. Hector said she would be fine, but maybe she won’t be.”
“I’m sure Hector is right.” I entered the room and went to the bed where the woman was peacefully sleeping. It was almost 8:30 pm and the sun was setting, making the room dark.
“How about you take a breather,” Jefe told Slay. “Grab a burrito and a beer. Let Kelly check out Cass.”
“I shouldn’t leave her,” Slay said, obviously very worried. It was easy to see how much he cared for her. She was a lucky woman.
“I promise, she’ll be fine.” I smiled at him. “I’ll call you if she wakes up.”
“I don’t know.” Slay dragged his hand down the side of his face.
“You need to recharge. It could be a long night, and you need to keep up your strength. Get a bite to eat and some fresh air.”
“Listen to her. She knows what she’s talking about.” Jefe nodded at me. I appreciated him taking my side.
“Okay. But you’ll get me.” Slay kissed the forehead of the sleeping woman, stared at her a long second, then went to the door.
“I will get you.” I wasn’t a fool. Anyone with half a brain could see these men meant business. Slay would probably end me if I did anything to harm his woman.
In a strange way I envied his love and devotion. My ex couldn’t even support me and my brother after my parents’ death. He didn’t love me enough…
Jefe nodded at me and nudged Slay out the door. When the door latched, I instantly felt relieved and safe. I could breathe again without Slay’s suspicious gaze beating me up.
But more than dealing with an out of his mind man worried for his girl, I was out of the line of fire from the others.
I didn’t have to be subjected to bikers licking their lips like I was a fresh piece of meat to devour.
Undressing me with their eyes. The testosterone in the building was off the charts, and I didn’t like it one bit.
Such animals. It wasn’t like I was naked or wearing a skimpy bikini.
A shiver crawled up my spine and I felt icky at the thought. After working a twelve-hour shift, I was a mess. I’d been awake since five this morning. My purple scrubs were wrinkled. There wasn’t a single thing attractive about me in my current state.
Especially not compared to the women in booty shorts and miniskirts. They had sized me up in less than ten seconds. Obviously, I wasn’t competition for them.
I wouldn’t be stealing anyone’s man, and after tonight, they’d never see me again.
Whatever. I was only here for Cass.
Under different circumstances, I might feel different. If I was partying with some girlfriends and interested in a one-night stand, then I would welcome a man’s interest.
Like most women, I wanted to feel desired, but not while I was working or in a place I would have never voluntarily came to on my own.
Glancing around the small room, it reminded me of Kevin’s bedroom. Just a bed, dresser and nightstand. Beige walls. Dark linens. No pictures. The were blinds on the window and a ceiling fan with a light. Functional, not spectacular by any means.
I shrugged off my sparce surroundings and proceeded to examine Cass. Her breathing was normal. I took her pulse, which was a little slow but nothing alarming, then listened to her heart and lungs with the stethoscope I’d retrieved from my medical bag,
My movements were gentle and quiet, trying not to disturb Cass. She would be disoriented when she finally woke up. Seeing a stranger could scare her and I’d never want to scare anyone.
Once I was confident my patient was fine, I sat in the corner of the room on the floor. It was great to get off my feet and listen to the peaceful hum of Cass’s breathing a few feet away.
I took my phone out and texted Kevin.
Kelly: How’s it going? How’s your wrist?
He replied in a flash.
Kevvy: All good here
Kevvy: What about you
Why didn’t this generation use punctuation? It was so annoying to me. Like please finish the sentence with a question mark.
Kelly: I’m fine. Hoping to be home in an hour or so.
Although, I wasn’t sure Slay would let me leave before Cass woke up, which could be several more hours. Fortunately, I didn’t work tomorrow so once I got home, I could sleep as long as I wanted.
Kevvy: Stay as long as the kings need you
Of course he’d pressure me to stay. What was with his obsession with the Kings?
Kelly: I’ll keep you posted. Elevate your wrist and take ibuprofen.
Kevvy: Ok
A yawn took hold of me, and I stretched my arms above my head.
My stomach rumbled. I never finished my dinner.
I could sure use a cup of strong coffee, otherwise, I might fall asleep.
In an attempt to perk myself up, I went on social media to check out the latest hack, recipe and beauty tip that had gone viral while I worked all day. Not that I had much use for any of that, but I always told myself that someday they might come in handy.
Another fierce yawn dominated me and made my eyes water. It was approaching nine o’clock. If I sat here any longer, I would surely fall asleep.
Scrolling made my tired eyes heavy. Nothing was interesting enough for me to care. I put my phone next to me, bent my knees, put my arms on them and rested my head. I just needed a quick catnap…