Chapter Seven
Anastasia
What the fuck just happened?
I am so dumbfounded as Watson storms away that all I can do is gawk at him.
I look over my shoulder in question at the big man who was comforting me not five minutes ago.
The man shrugs, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing it before walking back over to the ambulance and another man in a leather vest. They all turn to look at me at once.
Some with suspense, some with intrigue, and the last two with boredom and annoyance, I think.
I really can’t tell with all the flashing lights.
Rusher stands in the middle of all these men with a look of awe and a little fear on his face.
He goes to take a step towards me only to be stopped by the men closing ranks around him.
The fire chief comes back to me. “Anastasia, sweetheart, do you have somewhere you can stay?”
I don’t know what to say to him. Watson just told me I was going to the clubhouse, whatever that means, but then he left.
Should I ignore him and go to a hotel until I figure something out?
Looking back at the house to see everything that Auntie Lynn and I loved is gone, I have to fight completely breaking down right here, right now.
Auntie Lynn … a sob tears through my chest at the thought of her.
This can’t be true. I can’t have lost her.
How do I continue without her here to guide, love, and support me?
Another sob rocks my soul because now it’s truly just Rusher and me.
A large hand lands on my shoulder, grounding me to the here and now.
“She is coming with us,” the new person says.
The fire chief looks between us before giving a sharp nod and turning to leave. My brain finally goes back online, and I turn to glare at the man.
“Who exactly do you think you are?” I demand with hands on my hips.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is Prez said you're going to the clubhouse,” he shrugs, smirking before turning to walk back over to the rest of the men.
I stand there in pure shock at the audacity of every one of them. They’re all standing around talking to Rusher. I push my way through them to Rusher, who is looking around with a mix of emotions on his face.
“Ma, what’s going on? Where is Auntie Lynn? Who are these guys?” He steps closer to me, dropping his voice. “Was that man my dad?”
I hug him again, needing to reassure myself that he is indeed alive and okay.
“I will answer all of your questions once we get settled somewhere,” I tell him, fighting the tears back.
“But where are we going to go?” he asks me, a scared five-year-old looking at me through the eyes of the teenager in front of me.
“They have special programs that will get us set up and get us some things we need for tonight,” I say. “Tomorrow we’ll figure things out from there.”
The surrounding men look back and forth between each other, a look of confusion passing between them. Not in the mood to deal with people anymore, I grab Rusher’s hand and start to walk away. The medic, who had been taking care of Rusher, steps in front of me with a knowing smirk on his face.
“Prez says you're going to the clubhouse,” the medic says. “That means you go to the clubhouse and stay there until he says otherwise.”
“I don’t know who you are talking about, but that man who just stormed off like a damn toddler does not get to tell me a damn thing,” I shout, pointing in the direction Watson stormed off to.
The good-ol’-guy act falls away, replaced by a darkness that only comes from years of pain.
“Who I am talking about is the club president. He has left instructions that you and the boy are to go to the clubhouse. If you don’t like it, you are welcome to take it up with him when you see him next. Until then, you will go.”
We watch each other, and then it clicks, and I release a humorless laugh. “Did the entire crew join this little club of yours?”
He leans in close and says low, “Tasia, this is not the time or fucking place. Watson was not asking. A lot has changed since you ran off, taking that man's soul with you. Do us all a fucking favor and for once in your life do what he fucking tells you to do.”
I lean into his face. “It’s hilarious that you are telling me I took his soul with me when he was busy screwing my fucking sister. So, you and Watson can both fuck all the way off and take the rest of your bullshit with you.”
“Tasia, this is not a goddamn game. You can either go willingly, or we’ll have no other option but to force you to go,” he growls in frustration.
“Colton,” I snap back, too fucking tired to deal with this. “I am not playing fucking games. I’m doing what I must do to protect myself and my son. You and Watson have no motherfucking idea what we’ve been through. So, once again, you can fuck off.”
“Welp, you’ve given me no choice,” the playful man is back in place. “Just remember when you tell Prez about how you got back to the clubhouse, we gave you choices first.”
“Colton, no!” I scream as he leans forward, wrapping an arm around my thighs as he places his shoulder into my lower belly, throwing me over his shoulder.
He spins, going back over to the group of men as I beat on his back. “Colton, put me down right the fuck now.”
“In a moment, Tasia,” he chuckles. “Did any of you bring a cage with you?”
“Does it look like we brought a fucking cage?” I hear someone deadpan.
“Well, Tasia, it looks like you're going to be riding with a brother,” he singsongs.
“Remedy, who the fuck do you have on your shoulder?” Someone with some sense deadpans.
“You see her our friend Tasia has a tendency to pull a disappearing act. To make sure she does not do that and to ensure she follows the directions given by Prez, I decided to restrain her.”
“Colton, I swear to all that is holy if you do not put me down, I will tell everyone standing here about the night of my twelfth birthday party.” I’m beyond exhausted and not in the mood to deal with this shit.
Instantly he flips me upright and puts me on my feet, glaring at me. “You will not.”
I smirk at him with my arms crossed over my chest. “I will, and you damn well know it.”
“Oh, I have to know this story,” the big man who held me when I got the news about Auntie Lynn laughs.
“No, you fucking don’t,” Colton shakes his head hard. “It also includes Prez, and he would spank your ass for telling that story.”
“Can we move this show on the fucking road?” A very large, scary man demands.
“Play nice, Mercy.” Another man says.
“Fuck you” is his only reply.
Rusher is standing there watching the entire exchange with excitement and awe on his face.
He eventually looks back at me. “Please, Ma, can we just go with them? You seem to know some of them.”
I drop chin to my chest because if I look at any of them, hell, if I breathe wrong, I’m going to fucking lose it.
The scream I’ve been fighting since I stumbled out of the house claws at my throat.
My hand won't stop shaking. My chest hurts. I cannot do this right now. I’m too raw.
Too goddamn overwhelmed. Watson is back and making demands.
My gut is telling me Shea is responsible for the fire, and to add salt to the wound, Auntie Lynn is gone.
As I stand here still just breathing, letting the world fall away and getting lost in my head, Auntie Lynn’s words come back to me.
“I know you're scared, and things are overwhelming. Just know that you can trust the men of Kings of Anarchy. They will protect you and Rusher if for no other reason than they owe me a mark.”
“Ma, what’re we doing?” Rusher whispers, shifting to stand closer to me.
“I don’t know, Rushy,” I rub my temples. “I just can’t tonight …”
“It is decided already,” I hear Colton state firmly behind me. “The only choice you have currently is how you will get there. Willingly or by force?”
That is the straw that fucking breaks the damn camel’s back.
I spin around. “Fine! We’ll fucking go! How do you suggest we get there?
If you haven’t noticed, my house is on fire with not only all my shit in it, but my aunt too.
So tell me, oh great one, how do we get to this great clubhouse?
Seeing as my car seems to have been a casualty of the fire as well?
” I break off the sob that tries to escape as I finish that sentence.
“A prospect should be here any moment,” someone else says.
Colton beams at me still with that boyish grin on his face. “Follow me this way and I’ll lead you to your chariot.”
“God, you still haven’t changed,” I huff, throwing my hand out in front of me. “Lead the way, Your Highness.”
Colton, or Remedy, I guess they are now calling him, smirks at me before wrapping an arm around Rusher’s shoulder and guiding him away.
Sighing, I slowly follow behind, looking at my feet, realizing for the very first time tonight that I don’t have any shoes on.
I cover my mouth with my hand to help hold back the sob still trying to claw its way up my throat.
We have nothing left, and I do not know how we’re going to get anything.
“It’s all going to be okay. We’ll make sure that everything is taken care of,” someone says softly.
I just shake my head, unable to speak and fighting against the emotions.
We make it just past the ambulance when a set of headlights comes bouncing up the driveway, and I finally get a good look at the bikes lined up in a perfect row.
The SUV pulls to a stop. A tall, dark-haired man steps out, only he doesn’t have a vest on like the others.
Reaching out, I grab Rusher by the back of his shirt, pulling him to a stop while at the same time I step in front of him protectively.
“It’s okay, he is with us,” Remedy tells me, looking back with a look I can only equate as pride on his face.
“He doesn’t have a vest on like y’all,” I state suspiciously. “I just don’t know … we really can go to a hotel or something.”