Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SHORT
At least I hadn’t really dropped my bike.
It was more civilised than that. I’d kicked down the stand, stepped off it, and stood ready to let Freak have a go at my face.
Even if the enforcer had been a little too enthusiastic in leaving his mark, the pain I’m in will be worth it.
It had gotten us into Doc’s house, and hopefully, he’ll take Prez’s threat seriously, and it will serve to stop him laying his hands on Bronwyn again.
After our little theatre, instead of the crashed bike we’d led Doc to believe, I’ve got my transport ready to ride back to the clubhouse, even if my face throbs like a bitch. I file away a promise to make Freak pay when I’m mended.
I have to keep reminding myself, Bronwyn means nothing to me.
Seeing her with those two, now well-developed black eyes, and watching Doc ordering her around as if he owns her, shouldn’t make me wish I could whisk her away to protect her.
I’m even arguing with myself, it’s not her.
I’d be feeling the same for any abused woman.
A man would have to be a misogynistic dick to be unaffected.
It was bad enough hearing last night how he’d hurt her, but seeing him lying and showing no remorse had made my blood boil.
Even if his story about her having an “accident” had some truth in it, any well-meaning parent would have had her resting, and not suggesting she apply her nursing skills to what should have been his patient.
Nah, it’s not a sign I care for her. I’d have been irate on anyone’s behalf in a similar situation.
These are the thoughts going around my head as I ride back to the compound. As well, of course, as planning my retribution on Freak. He’d taken far too much pleasure in making my wounds look realistic. So much so, I now need time to recover. When I’m healed though, he’d better watch out.
Following behind my prez, sergeant-at-arms, and enforcer, I pull into the compound, then paddle-walk my bike back into its parking spot.
While the thoughts in my head had kept me otherwise engaged, I’d ridden back on autopilot.
Now the adrenaline seeps out of me, and my injuries make themselves known.
Rather than dismounting after kicking down the stand, I lean over, putting my aching head in my hands.
My “road rash” burns, my nose hurts, and I feel like I’ve gone ten rounds against the world heavyweight champion, rather than just being laid out by the enforcer.
Fucking Freak. And, of course, it had to be him who’s approaching me. He clears his throat to get my attention.
Raising my eyes, I find him standing in front of me, his hands held out to his sides. “Take your shot at me, Brother, I deserve it.”
“Brother,” I growl, letting my frustration and sarcasm win out. “What’s the point of hitting you now when I feel weak as a kitten and like I’ve been used as a punching bag?”
“Which you have,” Tempest helpfully puts in, as he too approaches and slings his arm around Freak’s shoulder. “Would it help if I hold him for you? Hey, what the fuck?” The last is because Prez has just stepped up, and cuffed his sergeant-at-arms around the ear.
“Short, you did well tonight, but you look like you’re going to collapse at any moment. Freak, help him to his room, and you.” He points at me. “Get some rest. We can regroup later when you feel better.”
“I fuckin’ hate Doc.” I can hear my own words slurring, and start to wonder whether, despite Doc saying I hadn’t, I might well have a concussion courtesy of Freak’s over-exuberant blow to my face.
Bullseye snorts. “Don’t reckon you’re alone in that. But unfortunately, he’s the devil we’ve got to deal with. Best we can hope for is to clip his wings and that he starts to be on his best behaviour.”
But how can we be sure Prez’s threats will work? “We need to keep an eye on Bron.”
He places his hand on my shoulder. “We’ll make sure we do. Reckon Doc is going to have some unwelcome visitors arriving at his house quite often in the future.”
That might work. At least Bron will know someone’s got eyes on her. My worry, tempered for now, a wave of dizziness comes over me, and once again my head droops.
“Come on, Bro,” Freak says gently. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Right at this moment, I’d rather have anyone’s assistance than his.
Remembering that revenge can sometimes be best served cold, I park my anger and lean on him as I swing my leg over the saddle of my bike.
And, unfortunately needing his help, submit to him putting his supporting arm around my shoulder as he helps me into the clubhouse and up to my room.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten I owe you,” I tell him menacingly as, after making sure I’m settled on the bed, with pain killers within reach – the last of the good shit left from when I was last injured - he turns to leave.
He sends me a salute. “When you’re healed, it’s you and me. But I’ll still fuckin’ beat ya.”
Dick!
That can, and will, come later. All I want to do now is to feel my head hit the pillow and get some rest. I even turn down Star when she comes to offer me some comfort.
But I don’t turn Trixie away when she enters at dinner time with a plate of fried chicken, a beer, and some more painkillers.
For the latter, I could kiss her. My head still throbs.
Fucking Freak took his task too seriously.
With food in my stomach, the pain relief starts to work, so I heave myself upright. When the room stops spinning, I go down to the clubroom, more for a change of scenery than for anything else.
“How’s the head?” Tempest asks as I approach and come to stand next to him. His hand comes to my chin, turning my injured cheek to face him. He gives a wide grimace. “Fuck, Bro, that must sting.” He shakes his head. “Freak got a little too enthusiastic.”
“Freak was having the time of his life.” Saint joins us, nodding at Knight to pass him a beer.
In his enthusiasm to serve the VP, Knight is a bit too quick and almost drops the bottle when he takes the top off.
Saint points two fingers at his own eyes, then turns them toward the prospect.
Knight gulps and seems to shrink in front of us.
When he moves off to serve Words, who’s at the other end of the bar, Saint chuckles. “Got to keep them on their toes.”
“Ain’t that right, VP?” Tempest smirks.
Me? I’m just fucking glad my prospecting days are long behind me.
Inwardly, I snort. What I also thought I’d left in my rearview was being a punching bag for one of my brothers.
At least the full patch on my back allows me to get my revenge.
I’ll wait, though, until I know my lungs are up to the fight I’ve prepared in my head.
“Wow, you’re a sore sight for the eyes.” Rattler slaps my back as he comes up behind me.
“Shouldn’t that be a sight for sore eyes?” I ask.
“Have you fuckin’ seen yourself? You look like a raccoon and a hamburger had a baby.” He chuckles. “Freak should be proud of his handiwork.”
My eyes narrow, but I don’t say a word. He’s quickly getting added to the list of people who’ll feel my fist when I’m fully recovered.
But he doesn’t know when to shut up. “Heard it worked. Got you in to see Doc and that nightmare family of his.”
That does spur me to respond to him. “Doc’s family’s not the problem. Fuckin’ Doc is.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. “Speak of the devil,” I murmur.
“Doc?” Saint’s brow furrows. I know he’s thinking that Doc doesn’t usually randomly check up on his patients, and never by phone.
“Nah.” I turn the phone toward him.
Bronwyn? he mouths. Then snaps, “Put it on speaker.”
I stiffen. What’s he think we’re going to do? Exchange sweet nothings? But I’ve nothing to hide, so prove it by doing what he’s asked.
Bronwyn’s voice comes through. She’s breathing heavily, and there’s an unmissable tremor. “It’s Dad,” she whispers so softly, I turn up the volume without being asked. “I’m scared, Short.”
“You think he’s going to hit you again?” I growl, curling the hand not holding the phone into a fist.
There’s a slight hesitation before she gives her answer. “Yes.”
Saint leans over the phone. “Give us a moment, darlin’.” He then presses the mute key.
“We can’t leave her there.” Riled, I spit the words at my VP. “If Doc’s worked himself up because of our visit, there’s no telling what he’ll do to her. She’s such a little thing. She can’t take much more punishment than he’s already dished out.”
“Fuck.” Saint smooths his hand back over his hair. “Prez might kill me for this, but he’s not here to make the decision. Tell her to get herself to the club. Doc wouldn’t dare follow her here.” He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. “We’ll send a prospect to make sure he doesn’t.”
I hadn’t noticed until now that the music has been switched off, and all the brothers who are here have gathered around us.
“If Doc does come after her, we’ll give him a dose of his own medicine,” Words promises.
Glad, but surprised at his quick capitulation to do what I thought only I believed needed doing, I raise a brow toward Saint.
When he gives me a chin lift in return, I activate the phone once again.
“Pack a bag, Bronwyn. Then get in your car and drive here. We’ll send a prospect to give you an escort in case you’re followed. ”
There’s a sob on the line, then she blurts out, “I can’t. I can’t leave Trip here alone.”
“I’m sure your brother will be fine. Your mother will look out for him.”
“You don’t understand.” Her voice is now a desperate plea for help. “Dad threatened to… hurt him.”
“Has he ever hurt the kid before?” Tempest growls.
“No, but I’ve never seen him like this. He’s beyond angry. I’m so scared. Trip’s so small. If I leave and Dad takes his fury out on him...”
“This gets fuckin’ worse.” Saint’s murmur is close, so only I can hear.
“Why would he turn on Trip?” I wonder aloud. “Is it because we saw him today?”
“Yes,” Bronwyn gushes, picking up on my words. “Dad likes to keep him hidden. He doesn’t want anyone to know about him. He’s his failure and embarrassment. That’s why he’s kept secluded at home.”
Rattler goes to open his mouth, probably to ask some inane question, as he hadn’t been there today and hadn’t seen what we saw. Saint slaps a hand over his lips before I can do so.
I drop my head into my hands. Then, ignoring Bronwyn can hear every word, I make my case to the VP.
“Can’t leave Bron there, and if she leaves, sounds like the kid is at risk.
If we didn’t know about him, maybe no one does.
He could already be off the radar.” Which means Doc can go as far as he wants with no one any the wiser.
Saint’s set jaw suggests he, too, has done the math. His eyes look to the ceiling, then back down at the phone. “Bring the kid as well,” he finally says harshly.
Bronwyn takes a moment to respond, then she says softly, “He doesn’t take to change well.”
“He’ll take even less to having the shit beat out of him,” I growl. “Just get both your asses here, Bron. We’ll have time to work out the logistics.”
“Okay,” she replies. “I’ll get some things together, then leave.”
“The prospect is heading your way now,” Saint tells her, and it’s then that I notice Knight has already disappeared. Presumably, having already received his instructions.
“I’ll see you soon,” I tell her, then shut the phone down.
“Where the fuck are we putting a girl and a kid?” Rattler may be an asshole, but sometimes he can ask pertinent questions.
“The only room we have empty is in the bunkhouse, where Griz, may the Devil spit on his soul,” Tempest breaks off to make the appropriate motion to accompany his words, “stayed. Maybe the girl could be persuaded to bunk in among the brothers, but with a kid? Can’t see how that would work.
They’d have to share a bathroom, and when that was cleaned last, I don’t know. ”
All eyes come to me, and I know the reason.
While not an officer, I managed to wrangle one of the few rooms in the clubhouse for myself.
I don’t much relish having to go to the barn, and those reserved for the prospects have only the basic necessities, and no en-suite bath to myself.
But it doesn’t take a moment to come to my decision.
“Okay,” I growl. “Bron and the kid can take my room. I’ll go bed down in the traitor’s old room. ”
“What about your house?” Spinning around, I lock eyes with Winchester as he gives me an option I hadn’t considered.
It’s not club business, but the property I recently purchased is something most of them know about. Saint cocks a brow.
Lifting my hand to scratch an itch on my nose, I think aloud. “It’s only a two-bed, and I bought it to flip it. It needs work and is unfurnished at the moment.”
Saint shrugs. “So, we go to Goodwill and get the place kitted out.” He holds up his hand to preempt any objections.
“Obviously, it’s too late to do anything tonight.
But if Bron and her brother can’t go home, then that’s an option that keeps them away from the club and provides cover for our involvement in their disappearance.
And,” he adds with a smirk. “Doc won’t know where they are.
If he comes to the compound looking, we can give him the tour, and he’ll come up with nothing. ”
I can see the sense in the suggestion, but also the drawbacks.
They’ll be there without the club’s protection for one, and for another, Bronwyn has her studies and work.
And when she’s not there, the kid obviously can’t be left to his own devices.
But I stay quiet about the downside for now.
At least the club is with me and wants to get Doc’s offspring away from him.
“Hey, if Bronwyn’s going to be staying at the club tonight, does that make her free game?”
I launch at Rattler so fast that it sends a burst of pain through my head, and I have to catch my breath from the heaving in my lungs.
Luckily, Saint gets in before me. “Nothing’s changed.
She’s still off-limits to everyone.” Am I imagining the pointed look he gives me?
“All of you be on your best fuckin’ behaviour while she and the kid are around.
She’s an innocent girl, probably never been fucked before, so she won’t be able to handle any advances or want to see anyone’s dick hanging out. ”
“She’s a nurse.” Rattler shrugs. “Bet she’s seen numerous cocks before.”
“Diseased and near dropping off,” Tempest drawls. “Which yours will be, Rat, if you go near her.” As if anyone else needs the message, he continues, “And that applies to every one of you assholes.” Like the VP, he seems to be staring straight at me.