13. Chapter 13
Leigh
Hammer was getting impatient with me. I had duties to him and the club but I reminded him we all played a part in this and she deserved better.
Still, he said I needed to start at least fielding members or prospects to sit with her because I had to shit to do.
The cops seemed to be off our tail but there were rumblings that the Scorpions had been nearby.
It was going to be tough to find someone to stay with her.
Ollie was assigned to Linny and he was killed, Glenda was beaten to within an inch of life, and Linny was taken.
Sure we found them, but Ollie ain’t coming back.
And he was seasoned, smart, and brave. But he was outnumbered.
Even if I could find someone to order around, who would be good enough for her?
She was struggling. I wanted to help her, but how?
After serving up their pizza, I plopped down in my recliner.
So many sleepless nights in a row had me edgy.
Linny and Bruce were with her and my house was off the beaten path and safe.
Plus, Bama would be by in a while to collect Linny.
If I could get just a little shut eye, I’d be good for another night.
I dozed off, but it was short lived as someone pushed at my boot hanging over the end of the footrest.
“Hey. Leigh.”
Blinking away the haze, I squinted. “Hammer? What’s up?” I hadn’t seen him in days. His brown scruff was more of a beard now and hair was starting to fall over his ears.
“I didn’t want you to wake up and realize, but Glenda’s gone back to the clubhouse.”
Pushing myself up, I jumped from the chair, not pushing the footrest in. “What the fuck, man? Glenda? Glenda?” I ran to the back porch and flung the door open, my voice breaking. “Glenda? Bruce?”
The porch was empty besides the normal table and chairs, which were pushed in and no sodas or plates were there. No sign that Glenda or Linny had been there.
My mind raced as I flew back through the kitchen, not bothering to shut the back door. Three o’clock. I’d only been out a couple hours.
I ran down the hall. “Glenda? Glenda?” I looked around my room. Bed was made, her phone charger was gone. “Fuck! Glenda!”
Rushing to the other bedroom, I went inside, checking the room and the bathroom. “Glenda? Linny?”
Blood whooshed in my ears. I opened the door to the garage and it was dark and quiet but still, I called out, “Glenda?” After a few beats of silence, I slammed the door.
I’d made it back to the living room where Hammer stood, arms crossed but I heard something out front and darted back outside. “Glenda? Glenda?”
But I looked down, it was Bruce climbing the steps then looking around, like he was wondering the same thing I was.
I leaned down to pat his head and asked, “Where’d she go, boy?”
“I told you,” Hammer said from the doorway. “She went to the clubhouse. Bruce followed them out front, but I made sure he didn’t get in the way of the SUV.”
Flying back inside, I went to find my keys and Bruce walked to the back deck. Hammer followed me in.
“You can’t go after her, Leigh.”
Rushing toward Hammer, my jaw tightened as I grabbed his cut, jerking him closer. “Did Bama put you up to this? Huh?”
Instead of answering, he grabbed his pistol and knocked the butt to the side of my head.
Letting out a roar, I tackled him and we landed in the kitchen.
Bruce barked from behind me. I didn’t want him to get any ideas, so I grabbed Hammer’s shirt, slamming him to the floor two good times.
Then, I looked back and kicked the door closed with my boot before turning back.
I was met with the butt of the gun again, this time getting my temple.
I was seeing stars, but that didn’t stop me from balling my fists and wailing.
The gun cocked and glass shattered behind me.
“Are you fucking crazy?” I asked, going for his wrist. “You could’ve hit my dog!”
“Get the fuck off of me or I’ll shoot you!”
I got his wrist, then bent it hard and fast and he lost the grip on the gun. “Fight me now, fucker!” I yelled before throwing a hard blow to his cheek.
But Hammer was a big guy. He grabbed my shirt and jerked me down, headbutting me before tossing me off then he rolled on top of me, slamming his fist to my ear before I could turn away.
Bruce was barking, jumping, and scratching at the back door. We both kept struggling against each other, getting in awkward hits.
“Leigh, that’s enough,” Hammer growled through gritted teeth as he grabbed my wrists, practically binding them together.
We both were panting and Bruce was losing his mind. Looking over Hammer’s shoulder, the glass on the top of the back door wasn’t where he shot. But I worried Bruce would jump through it if he got enough momentum.
“Get off,” I said, defeated. My chest rose and fell as I tried to catch my breath.
Hammer pushed himself off the ground, still not letting me go until he was mostly standing, then he released me.
Once I peeled myself off the ground, I found where the glass was shot. The window over the sink was missing a pane and a few shards were at the windowsill. “You owe me a square of glass.”
“I don’t owe you shit. You’re lucky I don’t fine and flog your ass in front of everyone. Are you out of your mind?”
“Yeah. Which is why you’re here. Everyone knew I would be.” Reaching into my fridge, I pulled out a bottle of water and drank half of it down. “Why the fuck did she leave? And why the fuck did you pull a gun on me?”
“Saw Bama. He told me what happened earlier. I ain’t here to fuck around with you. I’m the goddamn president,” he said, patting his chest, his breathing still labored. “You’re not gonna get in my face. I’ve been more than patient with you but you need to get your head out of your ass.”
I drank the rest of the water and crushed the bottle. Bama was one thing. Hammer was another. “You still didn’t answer me.”
He reached down and grabbed his gun from the floor, putting it back in the holster. “I’m gonna tell you, but I’m also gonna remind you that I already let this slide. I won’t do that shit again, you understand me?”
It wasn’t the best decision to rush the president, but I wasn’t thinking straight when I realized she was gone. “I get it. What did she say?”
“She called Sam. They talked about therapy or some shit, so he called me and said she needed to leave here.”
“What the fuck, Hammer! He’s not even a member!”
Hammer crossed his arms. “He’s also the one that kept her alive. If you gave a fuck about her, you’d be more worried about her than your own fucking ego. Get a grip.” Hammer started to turn to leave. “Don’t come to the clubhouse until I say it’s okay.”
I glared at him. “Or what?”
“You show your face before I say, you will be fined and flogged.”
“Get out.”
Bruce was whining at the back door, but I waited for Hammer to leave before I let him in. “Good boy.”
Bruce sat at my feet, so I knelt down and rubbed over his ears and down his thick neck. “You tried to stop her, huh?”
He chomped his jaw.
“I figured you would.” Looking around, the kitchen was a mess and we’d knocked over Bruce’s food and water bowls. I told him, “Guess we gotta clean all this shit up now. And see how long it takes before I say fuck him and go, anyway.”