Chapter 11
I was on the fourth day of my week of helping Tiago.
It hadn’t been a strenuous job, and I tried several times to have him not pay my usual salary or to let me come and go so there were fewer hours.
He refused.
I had time to search for a job and do other planning, but not as much as I thought.
Tiago would get me involved in discussions, and time would fly.
He was working himself, but he adhered to my instructions on repositioning.
With that, the nutrition and treatment, his wounds looked better. The dead tissue, the necrosis, was almost completely gone. New, healthy granulation tissue was forming at the bottom of the wound, which was what we wanted.
If it had been just Tiago and me, the shifts would’ve been easy and relaxed, but that wasn’t the case.
Every day, Scorpion would show up at various times.
I never knew when to expect him.
When he was there, I couldn’t ignore the sensations he created inside me. He made me acutely aware of myself as a woman.
Over the years, I’d had lovers and a couple of boyfriends.
My time with them varied, but they were never what I’d call totally in sync with me.
They would embrace parts of my character but not all, and wanted to change the parts they didn’t like.
Most people would be surprised to know I could be introverted when I first met people. It was more on a social basis rather than professionally. I was that way until I got to know them. One guy had criticized me for not immediately warming up to his friends. We’d only been dating a few weeks. He never got to the boyfriend or lover stage.
One boyfriend hated that I was independent to a fault.
I wouldn’t ask for help.
I’d learned growing up to rely on myself.
It was a trust issue. I knew I should be flexible, but it was hard when you’d been burned. Another guy broke up with me because he didn’t understand that I worked shifts, which wasn’t a day shift then. He hated that I wasn’t on the same schedule as him. And the fact that I didn’t get every weekend and holiday off was a sore point. We lasted six months, and then he left me for a woman who lived an everyday life, as he called it.
My last relationship ended two years ago.
I’d tried dating sites, but those never panned out for me, so I’d just remove myself from those sites.
Maybe one day I’d find someone.
However, Scorpion was making me yearn for it intensely and, in addition, desire sex. I was a woman who relished sex if it was good. I’d gotten enjoyment from my prior sexual relationships, but I wouldn’t call them earth-shattering. I wanted that one time before I died.
The dreams I was having about Scorpion were rated XXX.
I’d wake up on fire.
The only way to relieve it was to play with myself.
I was killing the batteries in my vibrator and other favorite toys. My time spent reading smutty books had increased as well. Whenever I saw Scorpion at Tiago’s, I blushed because of my thoughts about him.
Tiago and I had become friends, and he’d used that against me.
Well, he and Scorpion had.
They’d hit me up on Tuesday, asking what I was doing for Thanksgiving this week.
I’d tried to be vague and redirect the conversation, but they wouldn’t let it go. Next, I told them I was spending it with a work friend. It wasn’t a total lie. Emma had called and asked me to come to her house for the holiday. I’d politely declined, telling her I was headed out of town. After the two men had badgered me almost to death, I confessed that I didn’t plan to celebrate it.
That’s when they insisted I was coming to the Horsemen’s compound for their Thanksgiving dinner.
I adamantly said no way.
They played dirty.
Diablo showed up at Tiago’s and insisted they weren’t taking no for an answer. I was coming. His wife needed female companionship. She was the only old lady in the club. His oldest daughter and her family would stay in Tennessee for this holiday, but then would come to spend Christmas with her dad, stepmom, and siblings.
I’d been holding out, even against Diablo’s intense stare and alpha aura.
It was incredibly hard.
What made me cave was when Scorpion’s president got dirtier.
He had his wife, Jauhnna, stop by. She begged me to rescue her from listening to nothing but men talk all day. It was her pleading that made me say yes.
Now, here I was, pulling through the gates of the Horsemen’s compound as they called it.
I rode with Tiago.
He insisted I come with him.
I think he was worried I’d chicken out. It was cool to see him in his adapted van. He honestly didn’t let his physical impairment stop him from having a productive life.
There was a guy at the gate when it opened.
He waved at Tiago, who waved back.
After entering the gate, a vast building was directly in front of us.
A chain-link fence surrounded the property, and I saw what appeared to be security cameras on the fencing as well as razor wire. That wasn’t scary, not.
The compound, located in the Cowan Swamp area just outside St.
Augustine, was private.
Several bikes were in front of the large building.
Off to one side was a small house, and then, in the distance, what looked like a barn. To the left of the clubhouse were two lines of three houses.
“Those houses belong to some of the members, like Diablo, Scorpion, and Butcher.
You’d expect the top three officers to have them, but so do a few others.
The small house on the other side was Diablo’s original house, where he raised his daughter, Brooklyn.
It’s a guesthouse now. And beyond it is the stable. Cowboy keeps his horses there.”
“Bikers have horses?”
“Cowboy does.
They’ve ridden them, but only Cowboy, and a few ride often.
Jaycee loves them and can’t get enough,” he explained as he parked by the door.
When he stopped, I saw a sign in front of the spot. I giggled when I read, Wheelchair or Spaceship Parking Only.
Tiago snorted and rolled his eyes, but I saw the happiness on his face.
“These crazy asses think that’s hilarious.
They recently put it up.”
“I think it’s cute,” I admitted as I undid my seatbelt.
He groaned.
“Man, don’t tell them that.
They’ll think of something more to do.
Before you get out, you need to know one thing about this bunch.”
“What?” I asked nervously.
“They’re crazy but not dangerous, and they’re a bunch of fun.
Oh, and watch out, they’ll be flirting their asses off.
You met a few at the hospital, but not everyone.”
“Tiago, are you sure this is a good idea? With our history…”
“Our history is just that, ours.
You have nothing to worry about.
I accept you, Paige, and so will they.
Here comes the welcome committee,” he said, grinning.
As I turned to see what he meant, my door was jerked open, and the opening was filled with Scorpion.
His scent hit me.
I had to hold my breath.
His eyes stared into mine. A couple of other guys were at Tiago’s door, chatting with him as he got his chair out of the van. It was so cool how the lift brought him into the vehicle, and then he rolled his wheelchair forward, locked it into place, and put on his seatbelt. He had a system of doing it. Scorpion took my hand, and I was guided out of the van.
“About time you got here.
I thought you ran on us,” Scorpion said gruffly.
“I should’ve, but I couldn’t disappoint poor Jauhnna that way,” I sassed.
He leaned down to whisper in my ear.
“That sassiness makes me crazy.
Be careful.
I might overheat, and then you’ll be in trouble.”
I thought before there were times he’d intentionally brushed against me or touched my body, but I’d dismissed them as fanciful.
However, this remark made me wonder if they had been overtures.
Was I nuts to think Scorpion was flirting with me? My mind went blank, and my mouth dropped open as I stared at him.
He turned his head, and his lips grazed mine.
I would’ve dropped to the ground, the way my knees went weak, if it weren’t for his hand under my elbow holding me up.
He smirked.
Scorpion’s mouth was opening to say God knows what when he was halted by the men who had been talking to Tiago, crowding around us.
“Don’t be hogging our guest.
Since you have no manners, we’ll introduce ourselves.
I’m Turbo.
I work with ole Scorpion at the garage,” the first guy said. He was smiling, and I had to admit, he was good-looking. I was about to say hello when the other one introduced himself.
“I’m Lucky.
I oversee the club’s restaurant.
Have you ever been to Shipwrecked? That’s my baby,” the second one added.
“Shipwrecked belongs to the club? I had no idea.
I love the food,” I acknowledged, then recalled my manners.
“Oops, I should say it’s nice to meet you both first.
Thank you for sharing your holiday with me.
Now, back to Shipwrecked, do you cook any of the food because I might try to get a few recipes out of you,” I hinted.
“He doesn’t cook.
He manages it because he wouldn’t let anyone else do it.
This guy eats like an elephant.
His road name is Lucky because he’s lucky he doesn’t weigh a thousand pounds the way he eats,” Tiago interjected.
Lucky shrugged.
“Hey, you’re all jealous.
As for recipes, you play your cards right, and I might be able to get them from our chef.”
“And how would those cards be played?” I asked.
“Maybe a kiss,” he winked.
“If you don’t want your luck to run out and you be dead, I’d keep your lips away from Paige,” Scorpion snapped.
I hadn’t taken Lucky seriously, but it seemed that Scorpion did.
“Let’s go inside so you can meet the others.
Everyone is in there.” Scorpion said a second before I was whisked away from Lucky and Turbo.
I felt their presence, along with Tiago’s, behind us.
The door was pulled open, and the sound of multiple voices hit me.
I unconsciously stepped back.
Scorpion’s arm around me kept me in step with him.
The room grew quiet, though not silent, as everyone became aware we were there. Chair legs scraped along the floor as guys stood. As a massive wave, they came toward us. Diablo was in the lead with Jauhnna. She was holding a baby, and in Diablo’s arms was a little girl. That had to be Jaycee. Tiago explained that she was deaf and communicated using sign language. Her lip reading was improving, but it wasn’t the best way to communicate with her. At five years old, she was only beginning to learn to read.
“Glad to see you came, Paige.
You know my wife.
That’s our son, Chasin.
He’s four months old. And this little missy is Jaycee, our daughter. She’s five,” Diablo said. Before he spoke, he set Jaycee on her feet. I understood why when he used both hands to sign.
“Thank you for inviting me.
Hello, Jaycee.
I’m Paige.
I love your dress. Purple is my favorite color,” I told her as I smiled at her.
I enunciated my words so my mouth formed them correctly.
I knew a little sign language, but not enough to communicate effectively with her.
I must’ve done a good job because her face lit up, and she beamed at me.
“Hi, Paige.
Let me show you around,” her mom translated as Jaycee happily signed.
I caught a few words myself, but I was rusty, and she was quick.
“Shortcake, let us introduce her to everyone, and then if she wants, we can show her the clubhouse, but she’ll be here all day.
We have time,” Scorpion told her.
I don’t know why I was surprised to see him signing.
“Fine, but I want to show her.
Don’t leave me,” she pouted before scurrying away.
This time, it was Diablo who translated.
“I won’t,” Scorpion promised.
“It’s good to see you again, Paige.
Welcome.
I’ll leave you to their tender mercies while I see where our daughter went,” Jauhnna said.
She passed the baby to Diablo, squeezed my hands, and kissed my cheek before wandering off. Diablo didn’t seem concerned that he was left with an infant. He held him expertly.
“You have to excuse Jaycee.
She’s always excited to meet new people.
She forgets that not everyone knows ASL, so if she comes up signing, just grab one of us.
She doesn’t speak, or I should say rarely. She’s been deaf since birth, so figuring out words and how to say them is hard. She’s in speech therapy, but it’s a long process, and even at that, she may never feel comfortable doing it,” Diablo explained.
“No worries.
I took ASL years ago but didn’t have a reason to use it, so I’m rusty.
I’ll figure it out or ask someone.
Thank you for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome.
VP, why don’t you make the rounds and introduce her to the rest of the club before they burst,” Diablo snickered.
That was how I was introduced to all the club members, including the prospects, for the next several minutes.
In addition, I was exposed to what it was like to have a dozen bikers tease and flirt with me.
Any other woman would be in heaven.
For me, it was kind of uncomfortable. The reason was that it came down to my inner self-doubt. I asked myself why all these wildly attractive men would do it. The only answers I got were that they were making fun of me or looking to get laid, and didn’t care who they slept with.
I laughed or let their comments slide off me.
They weren’t obnoxious, so I treated it as a game.
And I lumped what Scorpion said earlier into the same category.
The hours rushed by as I helped with the meal. I’d brought some desserts I’d made. In addition, I helped prepare a few side dishes. The men were pitching in where they could. Diablo prepared the turkey and ham. Others who couldn’t help held Chasin or entertained Jaycee so Jauhnna could work. The two prospects, Zax and Liam, were extremely busy. No matter how often they said I was a guest, I couldn’t sit and watch.
The food was terrific when it was time to eat, and I stuffed myself.
I saw what Tiago meant about Lucky.
He ate an incredible amount of food.
After the main dinner, once the bulk of the mess was cleared away, everyone sat down to watch football.
I ended up next to Scorpion on a loveseat.
They’d moved all the chairs and sofas around the common area to face a large television on the wall.
The guys were loud in their cheering or booing for the teams playing.
Jauhnna and I were talking since she was on my opposite side.
I wasn’t paying much attention when Micro got up and left the room.
He came back and got Diablo and Scorpion.
When the three of them returned, they frowned, which got my attention.
I wondered what the matter was. They acted like they had received bad news. I was shocked when the television was turned down and my name was called.
“Paige, please come with us.
We have something to ask you about,” Diablo said.
Glancing at Scorpion, I noted his expression was grim.
Nerves hit my stomach.
What was I about to be asked? I thought we were past me being the focus of their ire.
I rose shakily to my feet.
“Diablo, can’t whatever this is wait?” Jauhnna asked.
“No, I’m afraid it can’t, Serenity.
We’ll explain after we get answers.
I’d like Butcher to join me, Scorpion, and Micro.”
“I’m coming too,” Tiago said.
They didn’t deny him, so I was escorted to another room—the one I had seen in passing earlier—where they held church.
The door was closed, and I felt claustrophobic in a room with four bikers and Tiago.
“Have a seat,” Diablo said, pointing.
I slowly sat.
It ended up that Tiago had a chair moved out of the way so he could sit on one side of me.
Scorpion was on the other side.
Butcher and Micro were across from us, with Diablo at the end of the table in a huge, intimidating chair.
“What’s going on? Why am I here?” I asked.
“We’d like to talk to you about a few things.
And we’d love for you to be truthful with us.
A lot of progress has been made in the past week.
We’d love for it to continue. Will you do that for us?” Diablo asked. He was studying me intently as he did.
“I have no idea what you mean, but yes, I’ll do what I can.”
“First, a little lesson about the club.
Anyone who comes in close contact with us, our loved ones, or works for us is investigated.
It’s my job to ensure they don’t pose a danger to the club.
I did the same with you since your situation with Tiago is what it is. However, everything that comes back about you indicates that you’re a responsible woman who takes her life and others seriously. You’re a professional with no marks against you, except for one night when you were sixteen,” Micro paused.
I wasn’t thrilled to have anyone investigate me.
I held back my temper until I saw where this was headed.
When I didn’t say anything, he kept going.
“Diablo has felt for a long time, but especially after meeting you, that there were things we didn’t know and needed to know.
So, I was tasked with digging deeper.
I’ve been doing that since Scorpion exposed who you are in Tiago’s hospital room.
We were about to give up, but a report came into my possession minutes ago. That’s why you’re in here,” Micro finished.
“And what did this report tell you?” I asked.
My mouth was so dry I almost couldn’t get the words out.
“We’ll get to that.
First, tell us why you never go to Texas to visit your parents and brother.
We found that you haven’t done so since you left home eleven years ago.
In fact, there’s barely any contact between the four of you. Why are you spending a holiday alone when you have family?” Diablo fired off.
I felt a tight, squeezing sensation around my heart as if a hand gripped it.
I fought not to panic or hyperventilate.
I could do this.
They had no idea the whole truth.
“I’m not close to my family.
Some families are like that.
It’s sad, but true.
We speak occasionally on the phone. That’s all.”
“Does your lack of closeness have anything to do with the fact that they paid for a huge portion of your brother’s college, yet not a dime of yours? Why didn’t they help you like they did him?” Scorpion asked.
“I didn’t want their help.” It was the truth, but for a different reason.
“And why did you go to Pennsylvania to school instead of staying in Texas to be near family?” Butcher asked.
“I got partial scholarships to go there.”
“You did, but that wasn’t the only school that offered you scholarships.
There were two in Texas,” Micro added.
Damn, was there nothing the man didn’t know? God, I prayed there was.
“Why do you care? My family and I aren’t close.
What’s the big deal?” I twisted back on him.
“And why aren’t you close, Paige?” Scorpion asked.
The room was warm.
I couldn’t seem to catch my breath.
What were they getting at? There was no way they knew.
“My brother is my parents’ favorite.
He’s the oldest.
They never had much use for me.
I was a surprise for them. They intended to have only one child, and they wanted a son. It’s sad but true. I chose to get out of their lives when I was old enough to leave. That’s it,” I stated. It was the truth, just not all of it.
“So it has nothing to do with the fact that the night of the accident, when Tiago was hurt, they forced you to take the blame for the wreck when it wasn’t your fault.
It was Paxton who was driving.
You weren’t even in the car,” Scorpion stated so softly at first that I thought I had misheard him.
As they stared at me, Tiago appeared in shock, and I realized Scorpion had said what I thought I had heard. I came to my feet.
“I’m not staying to hear any more ridiculous stories.
I’m leaving,” I snapped.
I made it two steps before my arm was snagged.
I thought it was Scorpion, but it wasn’t. It was Tiago.
“Dragon, don’t run.
Tell me.
Is what they said true? You weren’t the one to hit me? I need to know the truth,” Tiago pleaded.
Tears smarted my eyes.
“Please, don’t,” I croaked.
“I have to,” was his whispered reply.
I closed my eyes to fight back the tears.
Once I thought I had control of them, I opened them up.
I scanned the room.
The others were watching me. Scorpion was on his feet right behind me. I tried one more time.
“Don’t ask me about that night.”
“We need to hear it from you.
We already know, Paige.
That’s what the report Micro received confirmed.
I knew there was something rotten about that night. It never sat well with me, but it wasn’t until I met you and how Tiago described you that it hit me. You’ve carried this around long enough, haven’t you?” Diablo asked kindly yet firmly. The dam I’d hidden everything behind for so long didn’t crack. It blew apart.
I bent forward and rested my hands on the table.
I glared across the table at Micro and Butcher.
They were just in my line of sight, so they got the glare.
“What do you want to hear? That my parents have so little love and regard for me that when their precious son, the child they wanted, messed up, I was the scapegoat.
The golden boy, who in their eyes could do no wrong, got drunk and drove again while home from college.
That was nothing new for him, but this time, he hit some poor guy on his motorcycle.
How would they sweep it under the carpet? When that occurred, they panicked, and the answer was to force their teenage daughter to take the blame.
“After all, she was underage.
A judge would probably go easy on her.
She might go to juvenile detention, but so what? All that mattered was protecting their son.
He couldn’t lose the football scholarship he had. That would ruin his bright future. He was going to make something of himself.
“Poor, shy Paige wasn’t going to ever amount to anything.
She needed to do this for her family, for her big brother.
No one could find out that Paxton hit that motorcycle club guy.
Who cared if he died or was left a paraplegic? All he was doing was wasting his life trying to be a biker. Paxton was important to the world. Paige and Santiago weren’t,” I snarled.
I was breathing hard like I’d run a race.
But the purge of all the poison I kept bottled up had started, and it wasn’t over with yet.
Scorpion placed his hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off.
I straightened and began to pace.
“I was shaken from sleep and told to get dressed.
I asked why and was told to shut up and do as I was told.
As I hurried to do it, I kept trying to think what had made my mom so angry.
I found out as they drove me out to the middle of Anastasia State Park. Paxton was sitting along the road when we got there, drunk as a skunk. He could barely stand up. Dad got him in their car and forced me to stay behind. They made it very clear what would happen if I didn’t call 911 and report that I hit a biker.
“I was terrified and alone in the dark, but I did it.
And as I waited, I tried to help the poor guy laying down the embankment.
Santiago was unconscious.
I knew not to move him, but I still tried to talk to him and kept saying it would be alright. He had a cut on his head, and I was staunching the blood with a piece of my shirt I ripped off.
“When the police arrived, I told them the story that I was told to tell.
I was arrested and hauled into the police station in cuffs.
Everyone kept remarking about how miraculous it was that I was uninjured.
And how Tiago might die. The cops couldn’t question me without my parents’ permission. They refused to give it and brought in a lawyer. I know why. They weren’t trying to help me. My parents were afraid I’d tell the truth.
“While we waited to hear if I’d face charges, they kept Paxton hidden at home until his bruises healed.
He somehow avoided breaking anything when he crashed the car.
He stayed a week past his break from college.
They made up some story about him having pneumonia. The school bought it. I kept begging my parents to let me see Tiago. I heard that he was paralyzed. They refused and made threats if I snuck off to do it.
“When we got the news that the DA wasn’t filing charges, the three of them celebrated.
I was relieved on one hand and tortured on the other.
I only wanted to apologize to Tiago and see him with my own eyes.
My parents still refused to allow me. Once the DA decided not to press charges, I assumed the worst was over, but I was wrong. I became a target for even more bullying at school than I had already dealt with. The few friends I had no longer wanted anything to do with me.
“Whenever I’d walk down the street, people would say hateful things and tell me I should be the one in a wheelchair or dead.
I had a part-time job at the time of the accident.
It was how I paid for anything I wanted since my parents wouldn’t.
I was fired one day because the owner didn’t want trouble from the Horsemen. By some fluke, I got another job that lasted one week before being fired. No excuse was given that time. Hateful messages were left on my car. My tires were slashed, windows broken out, and the headlights and taillights beaten out. I knew someone was watching me. I could feel their eyes on me and see shadows, but never a face. I was scared more than a few times. Eventually, it got so bad that…” I stopped. They didn’t need to know that.
The silence was deafening.
All four men were staring at me.
I saw concern, anger, disgust, pity, and what I thought was shame.
The last one was from Scorpion.
“Paige, sweetheart, I’m so fucking sorry that you were put through that.
God, how I wish we’d known, or you had found a way to tell us.
You said they threatened you if you told.
What threat did they use?” Diablo asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” I mumbled.
I was shaky.
The chair next to me was yanked out, and I was pressed into it by Butcher, who’d rounded the table.
“Like hell, it doesn’t.
Tell us,” the enforcer said gruffly.
What did one more truth matter?
“My dad had an uncle.
He was well-known within the family for having a thing for underage girls.
There was more than one young girl in the family who’d complained he had molested them over the years.
Why no one believed them or did anything, I don’t know. The threat was that if I told the truth to anyone, I’d be sent to stay with Uncle Claude. He gave me the creeps anytime I saw him. He’d stare and try to get me to sit on his lap or my parents to send me to stay with him.” I shuddered at the recollection.
Scorpion let out a roar and slammed his fists on the table.
Tiago swore and shoved a chair across the floor.
The others were muttering, and a fire burned in their gazes.
I was exhausted. I only wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep for a year.