Chapter 7
Josh
Ican’t believe I finally told her. Veronica was always the woman I crushed on from afar, never expecting a chance with her. It was common knowledge that she and Luke had something going on, though he never formally claimed her as his ol’ lady.
But when Ash was rescued, God that day still kills me. The way she looked when she was found will always be burned into my brain. She was so frail, broken. It was then I got to spend one on one time with Veronica.
Those moments with her, though the circumstances were horrible, were amazing. She’s fierce and caring at the same time. But I knew I could never be the man she needed. I barely have time to breathe as it is, much less be a present boyfriend.
Luke’s not only an amazing brother in the club, but an honest to goodness great man. He’d give his right arm to you if you needed it. Him and Veronica are perfect for each other.
Then Hank got shot. And Veronica stepped up to take care of him.
I could see the spark happening between them, and I knew there wasn’t a place for me.
Where things would lead between the three of them I wasn’t sure, but I knew she’d be loved and cared for.
She’d have their undivided attention, which was more than I could give her.
But seeing her broken this morning and hearing what happened and that she was open to having a multi-partner relationship, I knew it was time. She had to know how I felt. No, how I feel.
I was scared shitless, but I had to shoot my shot. When she told me she had feelings too, I wanted to scream from the rooftops. Then that kiss. It was mind blowing. More than I could ever dream it could be.
But then she told me about Hank and Luke. The ultimatum. As soon as I left her house I planned to go and talk to them. It was the honorable thing to do. Plus, maybe, just maybe, I could get them to see reason. To accept a poly relationship.
But that idea went to shit when Hank and Luke both showed up.
When Hank opened his mouth and spewed his venom at Veronica, I’ve never wanted to punch a brother so bad. But she needed me. I didn’t need to lose my cool, like him, and do something that I’d regret later.
A conversation needs to be had, but only when cooler heads are present.
So, I waited. I stayed. Until Veronica finally made me leave. She needed time and I’m prepared to give her that. But like I told her, I’m not staying away. She has until the end of my next shift.
But now, I still have a patient that needs to be seen. I tried to call, but he didn’t answer, so I called in reinforcements.
Me: Hey where are you?
Mack: At the clubhouse right now. Planning to head home to my firecracker. Why? What’s up?
It’s not even noon yet. Him heading home, I know exactly what he’s planning on doing. Not that he’d give the specifics. Thank goodness for that.
Me: Is Hank around?
Mack: Yeah, he’s currently sitting at the bar with a beer in hand and club girl, sidling up to his side.
Fucking hell. If he screws with one of them before he makes shit right with Veronica, I’ll kill his motherfucking ass.
Me: Keep him there. I need to check his wound, and he’s not going to want to see me.
Mack: ??
Me: Long story. Shit’s happened between him and Veronica and I, well I have a part in him being pissed at the moment.
Mack: 2 questions. Did he hurt her and am I killing him?
Me: Yes. Not physically and not yet. But in the future the answer may be yes.
Mack: He’ll be in his room. Find me when you get here.
He doesn’t question me about what happened. As long as Veronica is okay, he’s not in the doghouse with Ash.
I start my truck, pull out of Vee’s apartment complex, and head to the clubhouse, ready to face the wrath of the man that’s normally the biggest teddy bear you’d ever meet.
God I need to sleep. First, I need a coffee.
Along the way, I detour through a drive thru and get a cup of coffee and a biscuit. I figured I should eat something before I head to bed.
I’m about to handle Hank, but I still need to talk to Luke first.
I pick up my phone and scroll through my contacts until I get to his name, and hit the phone icon. Ringing sounds through the speaker before he finally picks up and speaks.
“Is she okay?” I can hear the desperation in his voice.
“No, she’s not. She’s hurting, and she doesn’t know what to do,” I tell him, hitting the turn signal and slowing to a stop as I check to make sure it’s clear to turn.
He clears his throat. “Did she tell you what’s goin’ on?”
“Yeah, and I really need to sit down with you and Hank and have a conversation.” I’m going to be honest with my brothers because I don’t plan to make her choose between me and them, nor let her get away.
All of us being together is the perfect scenario.
Each of us can be there for her in different ways that she needs.
She’ll never be alone or crave attention.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He was pretty pissed with me when we ran into each other at her place.”
Interesting.
“You didn’t come together?”
“No. I wanted to talk to her and check her tattoo. She got pissed at the shop and ran off and I…”
He doesn’t finish what he’s saying. He just goes silent, and I can hear his deep breaths echoing through the speakers.
“I have a twenty-four hour shift tomorrow. I told Vee I was giving her until it was over, and I was coming back. I like her, Luke. Have for a long time, but I’ve stood to the side waiting for you to claim her as yours, and you didn’t.
” I swallow hard. “I know she loves you. She loves Hank. But she has feelings for me, too, and I won’t make her choose.
If she’ll have me then I’m hers, but I’m done staying on the sidelines. ”
He doesn’t say anything. Just silence.
“Think about what you want, Luke. Are you willing to lose the best woman who has ever walked into your life? If you’re not, then message me, and we’ll talk to her together.”
With that I hang up. He needs to decide what he wants. If he’s smart, he’ll make the right choice.
Before I know it I’m at the clubhouse. I wave to the prospects in the guard shack, happy to see them both there and alert.
I pull up beside Hank’s bike and smirk. Guess Mack held true to his word.
Picking up my medical bag from the passenger seat, I head inside. For the time it is, the club is already alive. Brothers are drinking beers, club girls are milling around, or sitting on someone’s lap. Mack is nowhere in sight. I head toward Earl’s office, hoping to find him there.
When I get to Earl’s office the door is shut, but I knock.
“Come in,” Sam’s deep timbre voice shouts.
Opening the door, I see him and Earl both sitting at the desk looking at something on a computer while Mack stands off to the side.
“This is the one,” Sam says boldly.
“They’re getting a crib for the clubhouse. Do you believe it, man?” Mack says, stepping over to me. “Did you ever think we’d see the day?”
“No, but it looks like times are changing.” I grin. Happy to see it too. It’s high time for some little ones to bring life into this clubhouse. I know how much Earl is looking forward to the birth of Ash’s baby. He missed out seeing her grow up, but he plans to be there fully for his grandchild.
“I need to talk to Josh real quick then I’m headed home to be with my woman,” Mack tells them, giving Earl and Sam a little salute.
“Don’t forget to tell Ryker to call me,” Sam reminds Mack as I step out of the room.
Mack mumbles something about not forgetting and steps out behind me, shutting the door.
“So, on a scale of one to ten, how pissed is Hank?”
“Man, he’s nowhere near on that scale. If he hasn’t found a way to remove the door, bust through it, or climb out a window, I’ll be surprised.” Mack lets out a laugh.
As we walk through the common area of the clubhouse, my eyes scan the area.
I’ve never been one to just hang out here, always too busy with school, then the hospital.
Even now, I feel like an outsider at times.
Sitting out in the open with a club girl sucking my cock while I talk to my brother, isn’t something I long to do.
“He doesn’t have a gun in his room, does he?” I ask, suddenly nervous. Mack just shrugs his shoulders in response.
When we get to the room he stands to the side of the door, and I raise my eyebrow in confusion.
“What? You were the one who mentioned a gun. I’ve got a baby on the way.
I can’t afford to get shot.” He looks at the key in his hand and then back at me.
“On second thought, you can open the door. Just give the key back to Earl for me.” With that, he hands me the key and takes off running down the hallway, cackling like a hyena the entire way.
I take a deep breath, place the key in the lock and turn it. There’s no rush to the door, flinging it open, which has me worried even more. While Hank can be soft hearted, he can be the most sadistic killer known to man when provoked or angered.
Knowing I can’t put this off any longer, I take hold of the handle and open the door. I’ve not even stepped a foot across the threshold, when a book flies across the room, barely missing my head.
“Get the fuck out!” he bellows, anger lacing each word he utters.
“Hank.” I step further inside, shutting the door behind me. Hank’s sitting on the bed, his back resting against the headboard, legs stretched out in front of him, crossed as he glares at me.
“Fuck you, Doc. I said get the hell out.” He doesn’t move, just scowls at me.
“Hank, I was hoping you’d be calmer by now.”
“You’d be better off hopin’ for rainbows to spurt from your ass.” He lets his head fall back, hitting the wall above the headboard with a hard thunk. “How could you, man? You knew I had feelings for her. That we’d gotten close. I thought you were my brother.” He adds at the end with a snarl.
“You are my brother. But she wasn’t just yours.
You knew her and Luke had been seeing each other.
And fuck, man, I can’t help that I couldn’t fight my feelings for her.
” I run my hand through my hair, and hope that he doesn’t chuck something at my head again, as I move closer to him.
“Veronica wants all three of us. She doesn’t want to choose. Is that so bad?”
He moves off the headboard, feet swinging off the bed onto the floor. “Yes, it is. She was mine. And now I don’t have her.”
“But you do. That’s what you don’t understand.” He snaps. “I’m not like Bash and Jace or Colin and the others. I can’t share her with my brothers. My woman is for me and me alone.”
“Even if it means losing her?” I ask him, hoping that it hits him that this will end things between them forever.
“I can’t share. I hate it. I wish I could. But I can’t. There’s nothing else to say.”
“Give yourself some time to think about it. Don’t make a rash decision.” I try to reason with him.
Hank laughs. Not a funny ha ha laugh. But one full of anger, and a hint of vindictiveness. If that’s even a thing.
“Oh, I get it. She’s made it clear she won’t choose between us. Either we all say yes, or it’s no one. Hate it for you, Doc, but I’m not going to agree to it just to keep your dick happy. If that’s why you came, you can fuckin’ leave now. Just go.”
“That’s not it at all. She may say it’s all or nothing, but that’s where you and I differ.
I know I want her and I’m willing to fight with everything I have for Veronica.
Guess you can’t say the same.” My words are cold, calm, and firm.
I mean each and every one of them because I’m not letting her go without a fight.
“I don’t care,” he grumbles.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Hank. You do care. Maybe too much. I just hope you don’t wake up one day when it’s too late and Veronica is gone for good. She’s the best thing to happen to all of us, and you’re just throwing it away.”
With that I turn and leave, not even bothering to do the wound check. I’m too pissed right now. Neither of our emotions are in the right place to continue being in the same room together.