Chapter 38 – Easton
Twenty minutes after CJ stopped in as he was leaving, Bash finally arrived in Easton’s room.
Easton had been brooding about his conversation with CJ, suspecting why the kid was so furious with Rory and Devon. It probably had to do with those fucking videos.
“Are you ready, boy?”
“Shouldn’t a nurse wheel me down?” If he had to ride bitch on a motorcycle with still healing wounds, he wanted to get assistance for as long as possible. “Hospital policy.”
Bash shrugged, then unclipped his cell phone from his waistband.
“Hold on a fucking minute,” he grumbled, gaze glued to the screen, before he sent a text.
A chime revealed a response almost immediately.
Sighing, he went to the chair and dropped into it.
“Dee Dee sent me instructions. Most of which I’m ignoring since we’re going straight to Celia’s. ”
“You know Diesel might kill me?” Easton asked in neutral tones. Despite CJ’s advice, he still didn’t trust Diesel. “He doesn’t like me very much.”
“He’s also unappreciative that you were there as a spy. Not much he can do about it without breaking the peace agreement.”
“You’re willing to gamble my life against his sanity?”
Sniffing, Bash folded his arms. “Odds are in your favor in this scenario. With Cleaner and Tio? Those motherfuckers are stacked against you. Even if I kill them for disobeying me and fucking you up, you’ll still be fucking dead.”
Fuck, he was right, so Easton changed the subject. “Exactly who will be at the dinner tonight?”
“Your sweet cousin Tabitha.” Bash smiled, like a motherfucker who ripped apart the canary. “I invited her myself.”
Easton narrowed his eyes. “I’m not following you.”
“Jana, Johnnie’s long-lost daughter, will also be there. Dee Dee is ignoring my orders to move back in with Tabitha and give their marriage a go for six months.”
That was stuck in Bash’s craw. Diesel was playing with fire, but Easton was positive he wouldn’t care. Bash constantly spoke of Diesel’s disrespect. For now, he took ‘Dee Dee’s’ arrogance in stride, though that could change at any moment.
“Diesel fucking hates Tabitha,” Easton reminded Bash. “If he’s bringing another woman, why the fuck did you invite your niece? Besides, would you want any motherfucker to force you to choose a woman you don’t want?”
“I don’t give a fuck one way or another about either of those cunts. Tabitha says if she has a fair shot with Diesel for six months and it doesn’t work out, she’ll walk away. Celia wants that for her.”
“And you believe Tabitha is telling the fucking truth?”
“Probably not, but it’s in the fucking agreement, Easton.
Celia knows. She will make that cunt understand that there’s nothing more we can do.
Diesel will give her a sizeable settlement and a nice house and she’ll set her sights on another motherfucker, while Celia will try to help that cunt make that new relationship work. It’s a win-win.”
“That would be a no, Bash. Diesel will kill Tabitha. You’re gambling with her fucking life.”
“If that arrogant fuckhead kills Tabitha and breaks Celia’s heart, then I will kill Meggie and Jana. It’s as simple as that.”
“Fuck, I didn’t fucking hear that.”
“You brought it up, fuckhead.”
Which Easton greatly regretted, because now he had information that he needed to relay to Diesel without getting fucking killed by that motherfucker or Bash. Fuck, he’d try to reason with Bash again. “You know how spoiled Tabitha is. If Diesel moves back in—”
“When Diesel moves back in…”
“Yeah, okay. When he moves back in with her, do you honestly think she’ll keep her fucking legs closed to other men?
She’d been fucking Shine for months. Now, she’s fucking Mickey.
” The president of the Gnomes, who was very much married.
“Would you want a woman you’re giving a second chance to still fuck other motherfuckers? ”
“Is this about me?”
“It isn’t even about Diesel,” Easton snapped.
“Nope, boy. It’s about Celia. If she’s happy, then I’m happy.”
“You’ve put me in a fucked-up position.”
“Blame your fucking position on Dee Dee,” Bash said flatly. “That motherfucker isn’t above rules, Easton. We all have them to keep the peace. You think he can go rogue and disrespect me? Fuck him.”
“Then why not kill him if he kills Tabitha? Why Meggie?”
Bash’s eyes lit up and he smirked.
Easton realized his mistake immediately, which he quickly rectified. “Or Jana?”
“Too fucking late, boy. I got your slip-up immediately. You want pussy from Meggie. You’re pining for that young cunt down the hall but wouldn’t mind sinking your cock into the gorgeous little blonde in the meantime.”
Easton glared at Bash, whose unserious tone annoyed the fuck out of him. Almost as much as his words—since they were true. Fuck it all. “Meggie loves Outlaw.”
“You can take her cunt, even if she isn’t willing to give it, boy. But that isn’t your style, so live in cock misery.”
He’d long ago made his feelings clear about Bash’s treatment of women. “Aunt Celia likes Meggie, too. If you kill her—”
“Fuck, fine, you win. I won’t kill that little cunt.”
Bash’s disgruntled tone didn’t inspire either relief or belief in Easton. He took it as the brush-off it was. “Tabitha can end up dead anyway. She’s a cokehead and she’s fucking a motherfucker with a crazy bitch for a wife.”
“Celia will still be devastated, so I will retaliate. It just won’t be against Diesel. That’s a fucking no-brainer. What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
Before Easton answered, Griffin Cox walked into the room. He was a hospital administrator who served as the Death Dweller’s liaison. From what Easton understood, he’d been installed mainly for the club’s benefit.
“Thank you for your patience,” he said to the room at large, his politeness matching his sharp attire and professional mien. He nodded to Bash. “Mr. Caldwell.”
Bash grunted, his only response.
Cox turned to Easton. “I will get what I need for you and personally escort you downstairs, sir.” Once again, he addressed Bash. “If you’d pull the vehicle to the entrance, I’d appreciate it.”
After a moment of consideration, Bash got to his feet. “Why are you wheeling my boy downstairs and not one of those nurse cunts? Are you sure this isn’t a fucking setup? A signal to cut Easton down when they see their special liaison?”
“It isn’t a setup,” Cox said, the words brimming with sincerity.
Of course, any brother worth his fucking salt wouldn’t admit to setting an enemy up.
The fact that Cox was club adjacent was irrelevant.
He was still on the Dwellers’ payroll. He’d follow their orders or risk death.
“Diesel instructed me to give you a bulletproof vest and have a team of hospital security escort you. He wasn’t certain if any Death Dwellers would be available since the date of your release was unknown. ”
“Are you expecting someone to take a shot at Easton?” Bash asked, frowning.
“Are you, Mr. Caldwell?” Cox retorted. “I follow the instructions I’m given. I don’t request intimate details. If you’d prefer to talk to Diesel so he can explain, I’ll be happy to wait.”
Bash’s nostrils flared, and he flickered his gaze from Easton to Cox. “If my boy’s hurt while he’s in your care, I’ll kill you. Just remember that,” he said and left.
Cox heaved in a breath. “Give me five minutes.”
“I’ll be in Molly Harris’s room,” he said. He still hadn’t seen her and wanted to check on her for himself instead of receiving secondhand information.
“I’ll wheel you there—”
“I suggest you move your ass. Bash isn’t known for his patience. My way is better.”
Hesitation crossed Cox’s face. Easton suspected he’d been given very detailed instructions that he feared deviating from.
“It’ll be our secret,” Easton promised.
“At least allow me to assist you there.”
Giving in that much wasn’t an issue, so Easton nodded and lumbered to his feet, grabbing the cane Cox held out to him.
Easton planned to load up on pain killers and alcohol because he didn’t want to rely on the cane tonight.
It wasn’t vanity. It was survival because Tio and Cleaner would be there.
Not only did Easton need to keep himself safe, but the women and girls who’d be at Celia’s.
Extra eyes and ears were needed to keep those fuckheads in line.
For now, Easton leaned into his cane, wincing every step of the goddamn way.
Cox opened the door but remained in the hallway. “Give me five minutes.”
Molly’s room was almost twice the size of Easton’s. The extra bed surprised him as did all the balloon bouquets held in place by various sized teddy bears.
Long lashes fanned her closed eyelids. Her color was much healthier and while she was still skinny, she wasn’t as gaunt.
Someone had combed her hair and styled it into two pigtails.
She looked so fucking young and vulnerable.
He hated the idea that she’d be on the wing at the mercy of strangers.
True, he hadn’t seen her since the day Cleaner shot him, but he was on premises.
As he healed, he’d planned to spend more time with her, never expecting to be released so soon.
He grabbed her hand, the one without the IV and kissed the back of it, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Her lashes fluttered and unfocused blue-gray eyes settled on him. She smiled. “You’re the nice bull,” she said groggily.
She classified all the motherfuckers who had taken advantage of her as bulls.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said gruffly. They’d been through a lot together as he’d tried to save her life. Their sex battered his conscience. However, she was safe now and that was all that mattered. “You’re going to be fine.”
“I visited the moon. Mama was there. So was her head.”
Easton closed his eyes. How the fuck could he respond to that? He wondered if her medical team planned to do anything for her mental state. Clearly, it wasn’t better.
Slender fingers wrapped around his wrist. Her touch jolted him in an unexpected and unwelcome way. His eyes flew open.
“Do you want to come with me the next time I visit?”
Leaning over, he kissed her forehead, allowing his lips to linger longer than necessary. “We’ll see, sweetheart.”
“I love you,” she murmured.
As before, he was at a loss as to how to respond, so he simply said, “I love you, too.” He didn’t need to offer a detailed explanation that it wasn’t romantic love. She probably wouldn’t understand anyway. But he didn’t want her upset, and not responding might’ve hurt her feelings.
They’d shared a very traumatic experience and would always have a connection, a fucked up bond that no one except the two of them, uh him, comprehended.
Unable to take the pain any longer, he grunted his way to the chair near her bed and dropped heavily into it, wondering what her future held.
She needed more than patches and bandages.
She needed intensive therapy and he said as much to Cox as the motherfucker wheeled him to the elevator surrounded by eight security guards.
Two in front of him, two behind, and two on each side.
Just what the fuck were they expecting to happen?
Cox waited until they were headed outside before he answered. “I have made my recommendations to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor.”
Ryan’s parents. That made sense since Molly had been that fuckhead’s girlfriend.
“She’s being flown to LA tomorrow to begin intensive therapy.”
Easton snapped his brows together, regretting that he hadn’t visited her more when he’d had the chance.
“About fucking time,” Bash snarled when Cox finally wheeled Easton outside where he drew in deeply to breathe fresh air for the first time in days.
Fuck, he’d never been so grateful to be alive and he laughed at the sheer joy of the breeze blowing through his hair.
The security guards fanned out, and Easton blinked. Instead of Bash’s Harley, a shiny Lamborghini roadster greeted him.
Bash grinned at his shock. “Always wanted one of these.”
“You don’t like cages,” Easton said stupidly. The concept of Bash driving a car shocked the fuck out of him. Rain, sleet, snow, or sunshine, Bash was always on a bike. “You drive?”
“Don’t like to, but yeah, I fucking drive. Don’t you?”
“You know I do!”
“Get the fuck in. We don’t want Cleaner laying in wait and taking potshots at you.” Bash indicated the guards, who now surrounded the sports car. “Dee Dee explained it all to me.”
Cox wheeled Easton closer.
“Scratch this fucking car and you’ll be sorry,” Bash warned.
Easton didn’t point out that Outlaw probably wouldn’t be happy that Bash was threatening a motherfucker on his payroll. Once Easton was settled in the car, Bash got behind the wheel and swerved away.
Instead of buckling his seatbelt, Easton took off his T-shirt, intending to remove the bulletproof vest, but Bash shook his head.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. As a matter of fact, I’d wait until you know we’ve cleared out and hightailed it back to Utah before you stop wearing that motherfucker. ”
“If he takes a headshot, I’m done for anyway, Bash,” Easton said, but put his T-shirt back on. “Besides, once you get back to Salt Lake City, Cleaner will get you back on drugs again and you’ll be gunning for me.”
“Possibly,” Bash said with a shrug.
“You can save us a lot of grief if you kill that fuckhead.”
“You said he didn’t shoot you. I have no good reason to kill him.”
Normally, Bash was logical if quite unreasonable, but his explanation defied rationality.
“One thing about sobriety, it makes a motherfucker think, Easton. If he didn’t try to kill you, I’d be less than a man to fuck up my little cousin for what he might do to me.”
Easton heaved in a breath. “I’d prefer him to die than you.”
“I’m touched.” For once, Bash sounded as if he meant such a sentimental thought. “But my destiny was mapped out long before you surprised me with your existence.”
“You can change it,” Easton argued. “You can go to rehab.”
“I spent all the money.”
Fuck, he’d spent all that money already? How the fuck was that possible? Fuck! Drugs. Had he blown the money on drugs?
Easton scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’ll pay for your stint,” he said suddenly. The money Outlaw gave to Easton was still untouched.
Bash snickered. “If I tell Celia what you’ve offered, you’d become her favorite. She’d love you forever.”
“I’d appreciate that, but I’m not doing it to win favors.”
“I know, boy. I’ll think about it. For now, let’s get you to Celia’s and settled in, so you can sign your life over to the Dwellers. Who knows? Maybe this is a new beginning for all of us.”