Chapter 4
-:- VICTORIA -:-
What the hell! This guy is sitting here giving me a panty-melting smile, and I really don’t have any idea who he is. “Who actually are you?”
“I told you, I’m Chaos and I’m your boyfriend.”
“Look, I may have a concussion, but I don’t have amnesia. I don’t know you. I’m sure I’ve never even met you before.”
Grinning again, the asshole leans forward a little more, and he’s still hanging onto my hand.
“Something happened that day that you dove into the river to save that kid. The parents are not acting like parents, and we are looking into it. By we, I mean my club brothers and me, but someone tried to put something into your IV line. We have him for questioning, so he’s not a worry anymore.
Jack, our prospect, will be along and stay with you throughout the night… ”
“Wow…someone came in here and tried to put something into my IV? You mean, like, with a syringe?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you. Our medic is checking out what was in the syringe and until we know what the fuck is going on, we can’t leave you without protection.”
Shaking my head because this is making my head throb even more than it was when I woke up. I lay my head back onto the pillow and close my eyes a moment. When the guy doesn’t leave I open one eye and see he’s watching me closely. “I need to contact a friend. Do you know what happened to my phone?”
“No, we’ve never found a phone. I went with a female friend and got you some things from your apartment. Luckily, you had your driver's license on you, so we used that information, but we didn’t find a phone in your apartment either.”
“Oh, that is kind of you. Thank you. What did you bring?” I ask, and my eyes flick around the room to see if I can spot what he brought.
When Chaos stands, I nearly salivate. I guess he is 6'2" of corded muscle, dark brown hair streaked with sun-kissed bronze, and eyes like aged whiskey—warm but with a sharp glint. He has a short beard and mustache. Some would call it designer, but it’s not quite that close-cut.
All-in-all he has a beautiful face. As my eyes drop I notice one of his arms has a full tattooed sleeve, shifting tattoos that ripple when he flexes.
He is one hell of a good-looking man. Trouble is, he knows it.
Looking back at his face, I can see he’s noticed my perusal, but I’m not going to be embarrassed at checking him out. “Well, I suppose I could have done worse by getting a boyfriend while unconscious.”
He has no shame. He gives me another shit-eating grin before showing me the items they have brought from my apartment. I’m not staying here long, or I’ll be found, and I’m thinking that I must be found if someone has tried something already. I’ve got to contact Bethy and see if she is okay.
Before I can ask him anything more a doctor walks into the room. “Ah, you are awake. How are you feeling?”
That is the start of checking all my vitals, asking a million questions, and eventually giving me some pain meds for the terrible headache I’m wearing.
By the time the doctor leaves my eyes are closing and I’m drifting into sleep.
I notice Chaos has sat once more, and again is holding my hand.
I murmur, “What is your real name? Surely your momma didn’t call you Chaos? ”
“Vincent, Vincent Styles, but nobody calls me that. I’m just Chaos…”
Just Chaos…yeah I bet he causes chaos wherever he goes! That is my last thought before sleep claims me.
****
“Do you think she’ll wake up soon?”
“I don’t know, but she took a nasty knock to the head so she may need this rest.”
“I brought her some fruit. Do you think that is okay?”
Who the heck are all these people? I don’t recognize any of the voices, and I have made no friends the last six months I’ve been here.
“Maybe Chaos will be back in time to introduce us.”
“Does it matter? We can speak for ourselves. Just got to say hi for goodness’ sake.”
“Don’t be mean, Amelia.”
“I’m not being mean, but come on, we can say who we are. We are not here to hurt the poor woman.”
“You three stop arguing, you’ll wake Victoria up. She needs her rest, and you know the doc said that she’ll be okay but has got to take it easy for at least two weeks.”
I can’t resist. I’ve got to see who all these people are. Slowly I open my eyes, and four women are standing at the foot of my bed. They are all giving each other dirty looks. Mild dirty looks, but dirty looks all the same.
Looking at the youngest of the four, I take her in.
She’s quite small, around 5’4” I would guess.
She has beautiful auburn hair tied in a low pony.
But what I like about her is her warm, chocolate-brown eyes.
They are so welcoming that you trust her immediately.
She’s carrying a small amount of extra weight, but looking at her she’s not what you would class as overweight, just a nice covering on her bones.
The next is an elderly lady, who calls the younger one Mia.
The other two are also elderly, but the youngest one who was called Mia, called her Amelia.
She’s older than the other two, and at a rough guess I would think eighty?
She has gray hair that is darker in some places and is in a bun at the nape.
She is quite portly, and on a tiny frame, 5’ at most, but she looks like she can hold her own against anything and anyone. I notice she is leaning on a cane.
Flicking my eyes to the next one, who Amelia called Bitty, I frown because I know I have not seen this woman before either.
This one is around seventy? Younger than Amelia, for sure.
Now I thought Amelia was tiny, but Bitty is only 4’11” at most. Short gray hair and brown eyes, but her eyes are soft, and with the crinkles at the sides of them I would guess she has laughed a lot during her life.
“Sybil, stop arguing. When Victoria wakes, we’ll make sure she understands what is going on and who we are.
” This is the one called Amelia, again telling Sybil what’s going to happen.
Now Sybil looks like she wants to argue some more.
Sybil is 5’6” and she’s a little overweight, but carries it well.
She has brown hair with flecks of gray and is a little younger than the other two I think.
Well, I’m guessing because she’s fewer wrinkles than the other two.
She looks feisty and I’m not sure I’d want to argue with any of them, but Amelia may be the one to watch the most, especially when she waves that cane at Sybil.
Sybil flicks her eyes to me and seeing I’m awake brings a huge smile to her face. “Oh, hello Victoria. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling okay. My headache isn’t as bad as it was earlier. I’m sorry, but who are you?” I bluster out before thinking how rude that could sound.
“I’m sorry. Let me introduce us. I’m Mia. I’m the First Lady of the Raging Barons MC. This is Amelia, Bitty and Sybil, who all help and support us. They are here to help you in any way that they can. Myself included in that.”
I’m still not sure this explains who they are, but I’m thinking it may be best not to push the issue. The three older ones look like they could cause trouble if they felt like it.
“I’m Victoria…”
“Yes, dear, we know. You are Chaos’ woman, and we are going to make sure you are okay and you have everything you need. He had to leave as he had business to attend to. You know a mean man who tried to hurt you…”
“Bitty, be quiet!” Mia orders, and it is an order. Bitty snaps her mouth closed, and if it wasn’t so mind-bending I’d giggle.
“Who are you all?” I ask and I know I must have a shocked look on my face as Mia steps closer and pats my hand gently.
“We are family to Chaos. He will be back in the morning. He’s taking some of his things to your place so he’ll be with you when you are released.” Mia squeezes my hand. “The brothers are good men, but they are what you would call Neanderthals. You know, me man, you woman, you mine!”
All four of them laugh at this, and I stare at them because, honestly, what the freaking heck is going on here?
“We’ll make sure you have a full fridge and freezer. Everything will be clean and ready for you,” Amelia says and gives me a huge smile. I return it because I’m not sure what else to do.
The door opens, and a young man steps into the room. He gives the women a warm smile and then walks towards me. “Hi, I’m Jack. I’m here to sit with you during the night, so no one else tries to put something into your IV or do anything else.”
“Chaos sent Jack so you don’t have to worry. Axel has approved everything,” Mia tells me, and I must frown as she giggles then continues, “Oh, sorry, Axel is the president of the Raging Barons MC, he’s also my husband. He makes sure everyone is safe, and that includes you as you are Chaos’ woman.”
Blink…blink…blink. Again, I have no idea what to say to any of that. “Okay,” is all I manage in response, and it feels enough, and must be enough as Mia pats my hand.
“Mia, you and the others go home. I’ll be here with Victoria and I can answer her questions.”
“Okay, Jack.” Mia kisses my cheek, squeezes my hand and gives a pointed look to the elderly women. “Say goodbye, and we’ll see Victoria again soon.”
It’s said in such a pointed way that they can’t miss the fact they have to leave. They don’t look happy, but they all give me a smile and a finger wave as they leave, Mia right behind them.
Turning to Jack, I open my mouth then close it. Confusion is running riot and I’m not even sure what questions to ask!
“Take your time, Victoria. I’ll be here until morning.
It’s cleared with the hospital, so nobody is going to be bothered that I’m with you.
You can ask me anything, and if I can answer I will.
” Jack takes the comfy seat and stretches his legs out in front of him, and at the same time crosses his arms over his chest.
Studying him, I imagine he’s around eighteen.
A good-looking young man. His hair is shaved just under halfway up at the back and sides.
Longer on the top, but shorter at the back.
It is swept back at the front, and shows he takes care of his appearance.
He is clean-shaven and looks what he is, which is a teenager, but he has an aura of having seen more than he should have in his young life.
He is fit, but not muscular. That could be his age too, but on the whole a handsome and attractive young man.
When I look back at his face he is watching me, watching him.
A blush rushes up my neck and into my cheeks.
Shit, that’s embarrassing. He gives me a crooked smile.
“It’s okay, Victoria. It is bound to be strange.
Waking up with people around you that you don’t know.
It’s not that long since I was in your position, you know, meeting all these people, but I can tell you they are good people.
They mean you nothing but kindness, and if you let them, they will be family before you know it. ”
The evening is strange I have to admit. I sit with Jack, and we talk about nothing much.
Neither of us really wants to talk about our pasts, but we speak of things in general.
A nurse brings both of us a meal, and Jack sends it away.
He sends a text to someone, and a while later we have a meal brought to us by another man Jack calls a brother.
I don’t even look at this one because honestly I can’t cope with any more.
There seems to be a heck of a lot of them, and I’ll never remember them all.
If I have to run again, then it’s pointless getting comfortable with these people. However, it would have been nice since my mother is gone now, and my dad is with his little whore. I shouldn’t think of her like that, but she’s just nasty and I want nothing to do with her.
“Jack, can I use your phone?” I ask, and without a thought Jack hands it to me before sitting down and continuing to eat.
I’m going to have to take a chance as the message I’m sending will show Jack’s number and not mine.
Jack: Bethy are you okay?
I’m not sure if Bethy will even read the message, considering she does not know the contact information.
I eat and watch the phone, itching for Bethy to read and reply.
Bethy: I’m okay. Someone asked me if I knew where you were. I think they are on to you, Vicky. My brother is watching me closely, so I’ll delete this message. Don’t worry about me, keep safe.
I hand Jack the phone and thank him. But he’s looking at me questioningly. “Victoria, if you need help, tell me. Even if you don’t want the club to know I’ll help you.”
“I’ll think about it, Jack, but thank you.”
“Chaos is prior military, as are many in the club. If you need to be safe, they will keep you safe. You don’t have to live in fear; just tell them.
I had to tell them my story, and you can do the same.
I know trust doesn’t just happen, but I can tell you firsthand that these are good people who have the ability to keep you safe.
No matter what, or who, is chasing you.”
“Thanks, Jack. I will think about it.”
I lay back and close my eyes, considering if I should share what is happening or just run again!