Chapter 37
Lark
This past week has been stressful. On Sunday when we left the Harley Davidson shop, we found a note on the club car Drake drove me in. Yesterday, there was another one on my car as I left the tavern to head to Anthony’s place. Both were worded with a similar message.
For me to get away from the club before I get hurt.
On top of that, there were three more breathy phone calls, but each time, Python said they were from burner phones and he can’t trace them except for knowing that they pinged off the cell tower outside of town.
To say Anthony and I have been on edge is an understatement.
I’ve been staying with him ever since that first night, and frankly, I really don’t want to go back to my house or an empty bed.
Ma even asked me this morning if I was going to move in with Anthony.
I’d love to… but he hasn’t asked me to, so I’ve just been gradually bringing more clothes as needed the couple of times I’ve stopped back at the house to check on Ma and Granny.
The door opens as I finish pouring a customer’s beer and as I hand it to the man on my right, I look over to see who came in, and my jaw drops in surprise.
If I could, I’d vault over the bar, but since I’m physically not able to, I rush to the end of the bar and embraced Miracle at the same time that she throws her arms around me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask her, still not believing that she’s here. I hadn’t seen her since the fourth of July and even then, it was only for two days before she had to head back to Madison.
“Took some vacation. I head back after Halloween.”
My jaw drops in surprise before it narrows on her. “You aren’t telling me something.”
She hesitates and looks down.
That’s when I see it.
A mostly healed bruise on her upper cheek that she tried to hide with makeup.
“M…”
Her eyes turn glassy as she shakes her head. “Not here,” she whispers.
I nod. I’ll give her some time, but if that asshole, Grant, did this, I’ll be raising some hell.
“Sit down and I’ll get you an old fashioned.”
She gives me a tight smile before she walks around the bar.
It’s then that I catch another sign that something’s wrong.
Right now, the only space available is either on Cannon’s left or Atlas’ right with Anthony sitting in between them.
Her hands shake a little as she eyes the other customers hesitantly.
Anthony’s gaze narrows on her hands before we share a quick look. He gets up and gestures to his seat.
“Take mine, Miracle.”
Surprisingly, Miracle’s shoulders slump with relief and she gives him a small, grateful smile. “Thank you,” she says so quietly I can barely hear her over the noise level.
I get to work on her drink and right as I hand it to her, Anthony’s phone rings. I take care of another order, but out of the corner of my eye, I notice Anthony, Cannon, and Atlas all stiffen. Anthony’s still on his phone but Cannon and Atlas are reading something on theirs.
Anthony’s gaze meets mine and my stomach sinks at the concern etched on his face. He tilts his head toward my office and I nod. Turning around, I walk over to Erica.
“Hey, can you man the bar by yourself for a few minutes?”
She nods. “Not a problem. Take as long as you need.”
Walking back down to the end of the bar, I tap the bar in front of Miracle. “Be right back.”
She gives me a worried look, most likely having noticed the change in the guys but she nods. “If Erica gets slammed, I’ll hop behind the bar and help her. She’ll have to ring them up since I don’t know all your prices, but I can help with the drinks.”
I give her a tight smile in thanks and hurry down the hallway to my office. I don’t see Anthony, so he must have used his keys to let himself in. I’d given him the keys to the tavern and the supper club last week when I gave him spares for the house.
Walking in, I find him pacing the length of it.
“How bad is he?”
The knot in my gut gets worse. Was someone hurt? Who?
Oh God, please not Mae!
Wait, no. He said he. Not she.
Shit.
Was someone hurt protecting Mae or someone else? Anthony had told me a bit more about Oasis trying to get their hands on Mae.
Anthony curses and I twist my fingers as I shift from foot to foot.
“We’ll grab some gear and head your way. Do you want us at the hospital or at the clubhouse?”
After a few moments, he nods and hangs up before he curses again.
“What happened? Who’s hurt?”
Somehow, Anthony face gets even harder as his eyes go icy with rage. “Smoke. Some fucker scaled the wall and tried to shoot Mae. He got to her in time, but he was shot and got a graze. They had to take him in—it wasn’t a through and through and he was losing too much blood too fast.”
“Fuck…”
He pulls me into his arms, and I hug him tight as he buries his head in the crook of my neck. I’m not sure how long we stand like that before he pulls back. I wipe my tears before reaching up and cupping his face.
“Come back to me. Protect Smoke and protect Mae. You do what you need to do.”
“I want you to stay at my house when I’m gone. Miracle can, too. Hell, I don’t care if you bring Emma and Granny, too. Just stay safe, Darlin’. I don’t know if these fuckers will try to come here to hit us as well, or if they’re just trying to get Mae right now.”
“It will probably just be me and Miracle. I’ll warn Ma and Granny.
Maybe Uncle Mark can help keep an eye on them as well.
If they’ve been watching us or are still watching us, I don’t want to bring them to the clubhouse if they don’t know about them.
I’ll go grab some more clothes tonight so that I have enough for a while.
Then I’ll keep my distance from the house, but I can’t take more than a couple of days off here because two of my bartenders needed off this weekend. ”
He hesitates but nods. “I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself. I want someone with you when you leave the compound. Please.”
My jaw clenches at having a shadow, but I nod.
A little tension bleeds out of him at that. “Thank you, Darlin’. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
He leans down, kissing me and I try to get control of my emotions.
“Be safe.” My voice cracks, and I fail. A tear falls down my cheek and he wipes it away with his calloused thumb.
“I will. I still want you to tell me if you get any more phone calls or notes. Whoever the fuck this is, is reaching stalker level. It’s going to drive me crazy that I can’t be here to protect you if you need it. Please, Darlin.’”
I nod, knowing he needs this. I reach up and give him another kiss.
“Now, go get what you need and head on out to help them. They may try to take advantage of the club being split up between the hospital and the clubhouse. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.
” I pause as my grip on his cut and shirt tighten.
“Please, keep me posted on what you can. I’m going to be a blubbery, anxious, and bitchy mess if you don’t. ”
The corner of his lips twitches a little and he gives me another quick kiss. “I’ll fill you in on what I can, which will include how Smoke pulls through.”
We hold each other for a few moments, before he pulls back and starts texting someone, probably the guys.
“I’m going to have Python, Razor, Loki, Atlas, Cannon and the Prospects stay here.
Hopefully it won’t take us long to track down the fuckers that shot Smoke, but if it does, we may need to switch out.
” He tucks his phone back in his pocket and kisses me.
“Remember, always have a brother with you. You have all their numbers now. Might not be a bad idea to text one of them if you’re walking from the house to the clubhouse and vice versa just so everyone’s aware.
” His fingers trail down my cheek. “I can’t lose you now that I’ve finally found you. ”
I give him a watery smile as I swallow hard and nod. “I will, now get out of here. They need you and the guys.”
He gives me a curt nod and heads out, pausing for a second at the door to look back at me before he slips out.
I slump in my chair and finally let my tears fall. I’ve only texted and chatted with Levi so far from the Forest Creek chapter, but she’s told me a lot about the other members, especially her chosen sister and brothers, which includes Smoke.
After a few minutes, I blow my nose and wipe my cheeks. Opening my drawer, I pull out my makeup kit I keep stashed here and freshen up a bit.
Once I feel a bit more composed, I step out, lock up my office, and head back out to the bar.
Scanning the crowd, I notice only Cannon and Atlas are still here and they are still sitting protectively on either side of Miracle.
The rest either left with Anthony or they must have headed back to the clubhouse.
As I approach, they both give me chin lifts before Cannon pulls his phone out and texts someone. A moment later, my phone buzzes.
Cannon: Atlas and I will stay until you close and then follow both you and Miracle back to the clubhouse.
Lark: Thank you.
Cannon: Don’t worry, Lark. They’ll find who did this and they’ll get what’s coming to them.
I don’t even have to think as I type my reply.
Lark: Good, so long as it’s painful.
Looking up, our gazes lock and I know I’m right.
Whoever did this is going to hurt before taking a long dirt nap.
And not surprisingly, I find that I’m okay with that.
Ever since the fire, I’ve been even more protective of those I care about.
Suddenly stories about how Grandpa Raymond dealt with those who betrayed him and the speakeasy come to mind.
Seems I may have more in common with Grandpa Raymond than I thought.
That night after closing, Miracle, Cannon, and Atlas follow me out the back door and as I turn around, I freeze when I see my car.
There’s another note tucked under the windshield wiper.
With what looks like blood on it.