Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
STORM
“You need to eat.”
“I’m not hungry. When she wakes, then I will eat.”
“Woman, take the damn plate of food and eat.”
“You really are a bossy son of a bitch.”
“And you’re a pain in my ass.”
I groan. “God, will you guys shut up? My head is pounding,” I moan, stretching out my body and instantly regretting it as pain shoots through me.
“Fuck!” I hiss. Blinking my eyes open, my lids feel like they’re weighted down.
My mom is sitting beside me, her hands covering her mouth, as if she’s holding something back, and my dad is standing behind her, his cold gaze sad, but relieved.
I look down, my mind still waking up. It takes me a moment; my thoughts are slow and heavy as memories of what happened flood back to me. I swallow and look back up at my parents as tears fill my eyes.
“Mom, Dad,” I choke out. They both move, coming either side of me, careful not to hurt me as they hold me while I sob.
My dad shifts me so I’m cradled in his arm, and he lifts his other arm; he pulls Mom to him, both of us resting our heads on his broad chest. My mom’s blue eyes are red with tears as she gently and soothingly strokes my hair.
We stay like this for I’m not sure how long.
The door creaks, and I look up, seeing Enzo standing in the doorway, his eyes—Dad’s eyes—scorched into me. Uncontained rage is pouring from him.
I lift out my hand to him. His jaw ticks as he slowly walks towards us. I push myself up as Enzo crouches before me, his eyes taking in every mark, every bruise. He holds out his arms, and I lean into him, embracing his hold.
“I swear, Storm, I will make him suffer. He will pay for this, in this life and his next,” he seethes.
I don’t protest, and I don’t tell him not to. There would be no point. Between him and my dad, they won’t rest until they have Zeke’s blood. I want them to. I want them to make him suffer. I want them to have him crying and begging for his life.
We stay like this for a long time. Just us. Much to my mom’s protest, I force myself to go downstairs. I know the rest of the club will be here, waiting, ready to support, to protect. However, before I can take one step, Dad is picking me up and cradling me like a child as he carries me downstairs.
“Dad.” I smirk in protest.
He gives me a side glance, his lips twitching with a smile.
As he rounds the corner and steps into the huge open plan living/kitchen area of our house, the loud chatter ceases when all eyes land on me.
Dad slowly lowers me to my feet. I wobble slightly from weakness and pain.
I place my hand on the kitchen island and offer everyone a soft, but anxious smile, feeling the split in my lip cracking from the movement.
I had caught a glimpse of myself when Mom took me to the bathroom.
I had to stop her from pulling down my shorts; she was willing to do everything for me.
Even wiping my ass. I drew the line, and though it put a strain on my ribs, I wanted my dignity in being able to do it myself.
She just watched on like a bouncer, ready to jump in if I needed her assistance.
“Looking good, Storm,” Hawk jokes with a wink.
I grin back at him. “Thanks, it’s something new I’m trying. Not sure I would do it again,” I counter.
A dark shadow is cast over me, and I look up to see Rage stood there. His amber eyes ablaze with the threat of murder. “Hey, Uncle Rage,” I greet.
He bends down and places a soft kiss on the top of my head. “I will wear his fucking skull as a helmet when I ride. Everyone will know what happens if you cross one of ours,” he growls.
“He won’t do that. Well...” Dixie pauses, looking at him. “I will try and conceive him not to.” She smiles tightly while guiding Rage away.
My grin deepens, causing blood to pour from my lip.
“Here,” a deep voice says, catching my attention.
I turn and look up to see Drix stood there, holding out a napkin, his rich blue eyes drinking me in.
I swallow, feeling my thoughts moving like a whirlwind in my mind.
He leans forward, lifting his hand with the napkin towards my face.
Panic seizes in my chest and I flinch away.
He immediately stills. Shame creeps up my neck, and I look away, feeling the assessing eyes of everyone here.
I keep my eyes cast down, and after hearing a slight commotion, the door slams shut, making me jump.
“I think I need to lie back down,” I murmur quietly to my mom.
“I got you,”she whispers in my ear. Helping me up, she supports me as I walk back towards the stairs.
“I will help you,” I hear Maisy call out as she comes up beside me.
“I will bring up some food,” Maggie calls,
“We will help,” the rest of the ol’ ladies call out.
“We have this lotion to put in your bath. We will run it for you,” Ripley states.
“Don’t forget the salts,” Raine adds.
“I’ve got my lavender-scented oils, too,” another voice calls. I’m now surrounded by every woman in the club, helping me.
I choke a sob.
“What’s the matter? Are you hurting?” she asks, worried.
I shake my head. “Not that. Just...” I pause. “Everyone.” I sigh.
My mom smiles and nods, knowing exactly what I mean. “The men of this club may have their brotherhood, but each one of us women has something just as strong.”
Once back in the safety of my room, the smell of lavender wafts around the room. There’s also enough meat, cheeses, and snacks to feed an army, and all the women are sitting around, eating, drinking, and talking. I sigh, feeling safe and comforted.
Maggie sits beside me, giving me a soft, gentle smile. “He would never hurt you,” she states.
“I know. I couldn’t help it. I just reacted. I know he would never…” Pausing, I shake my head. “I would trust him with my life; it’s just.... I don’t know. He raised his hand, and my mind went there.” I shrug, swallowing.
Maggie gently wraps her arm around my shoulder. “I know. It will get easier with time. He knows this. I just think seeing you like this is upsetting him. Well, it’s upsetting all the men. They just want to fix it, and at this moment in time, they don’t know how.”
She’s right, that’s what they do. They take care of us, and when something threatens or harms what they love, they take care of it. Erase the problem. They can’t do that right now, and it’s making them all feel a little lost.
“Drink this. It will make you feel better.” Ripley shoves a cold glass filled with an orange liquid. I sniff it and cough.
“How much alcohol is in this?” I blanch.
“Ripley, she can’t have alcohol with the pain meds she’s taken,” Maggie chastises with a smirk. She takes the drink from me and takes a sip, arching her brow at her. “Kid, you need to harden up, that’s not that strong. What’s in it?” Maggie asks, looking up at Ripley as she takes another sip.
“Orange juice, pink grapefruit juice, tequila, vodka, white rum, and some triple sec.” She smiles.
“A dash of sugar syrup!” Raine yells from the other side of the room, as she stirs a large jug of the cocktail.
“Nice.” Maggie nods. “You could mix this with Prosecco and make a lovely twist on a mimosa,” Maggie adds.
I blink, looking at her. “How have you got a liver left?” I ask, completely stunned.
“Sweetie, it’s all about practice,” Mom says, raising her glass. I grin, and as my attention is drawn to Maisy, she chokes trying it, her eyes watering.
“Your bath is ready, not too hot, but it should help soothe you a little.” Mabel smiles softly.
“Thanks, Mabel, how are you?” I ask. She is away for college most of the time now.
She shrugs. “Nothing new,” she says, looking away, her cheeks heating just slightly. I don’t comment, knowing what it’s like to try and have a semi-normal life outside of the club.
“Come on, let’s get you in the tub.” Mom ushers me, holding out her arm for me to take.
I stare at her outstretched arm. Ignoring it, I push myself to my feet.
My ribs, hell, every muscle and joint in my body protests in agony.
I grit my teeth and meet my mom’s gaze. She smirks and shakes her head.
“You stubborn fucker.” She smirks. “No idea where you get it from.”