CHAPTER ELEVEN #4
“Well, she’s not in the barn or on the main floor.
Let’s check the rest of the fucking house.
If they were here, she’s gotta be here. Let’s search the rest of the place top to bottom,” Maine tells us.
I hear a few brothers head upstairs. I look around and see a door, and I would bet a place like this has a basement.
I turn the doorknob, and it’s locked. The keyhole is on this side, but fuck if I’m gonna take the time to try and find a key in this place.
I kick it once, and my foot goes through the center of the door, but it doesn’t open it.
I kick it again, as close to the lock as I can.
It splinters open to a dark room. I look down the stairs, and I see a pair of eyes looking back at me like I’m looking at a mirror.
I can’t help the smile that escapes. “Hey, Kim Kim.”
Kimbra
Maybe I did hit my head when Brander threw me down the stairs.
My mouth moves without thought. “Brady?” He gives me a smile I’ve not seen in more years than I care to count.
“Yeah, it’s me. Long time no see, lil’ sis.
Heard there are some people looking for you.
Are you hurt? Did those fuckers touch you?
” I shake my head and stand up. “I’ve got some scrapes and bruises, I’m guessing from when the creeper tossed me in here a few minutes ago, but other than that, I’m fine.
” He flips on the light and comes down the stairs.
He opens his arms, and I rush forward for a big brother hug.
I can feel the tears starting. “You know I tried looking for you more than once.” I can feel him sigh and rest his chin on the top of my head like he used to when we were teenagers taking care of each other.
“I finally got clean about nine years ago but was too embarrassed to try and find you.” Before I can tell him how dumb that was, someone speaks from the top of the stairs.
“Let’s continue this family reunion at our clubhouse, shall we? Her family is going to meet us there.”
Brady releases me, and we head upstairs.
“That was my president, Maine. You okay to ride, or do we need to get someone to bring a cage over here?” When I step into the kitchen, I realize I’m surrounded by bikers, and they definitely look a bit rougher than the guys in Ben’s club.
“I’m good to ride, but it better be with you.
I don’t think Ben would be okay with me riding anyone else’s bike but my brother’s.
” Brady’s eyes widen. “Holy shit, you really are with a biker, aren’t ya?
” One of his brothers speaks up as we all walk out of this decrepit house.
“Man, Rock, why couldn’t you have kept in touch with your sister?
I have a feeling she’d have made a great old lady.
” The man with President on his cut, so he must be Maine, rolls his eyes and glares at the brother who said that as he gets on his Harley.
“Before Rock loses it, shut up, Maverick.” He looks over at me once I’ve climbed behind Brady on his bike.
“Let’s get our guest to our clubhouse and show her some decent hospitality as she waits for her ride home. ”
The ride is a short one. I’m still trying to come to grips with the fact that it’s my brother who I’ve got my arms wrapped around.
My brother, who I was scared I would never see again.
My family of blood has doubled in size now since I know he’s alive and well.
I know family is more than just blood, but there’s nothing like having the only other person in the world who shares your childhood memories back in the land of the living and in your life.
Brady and the other riders all slow down, turning onto a small, paved road.
I see a big fence with a gate ahead. Maine in the front waves, and the gates start to open.
They all pull in, parking next to each other across a parking lot from a big building.
I get off Brady’s bike so he can get off.
He takes his helmet off me and sets it on his bike.
“Let’s get you inside. Sparrow will have some stuff to clean your scrapes.
I’m sure Batya will have some food ready, and she might have a clean shirt you can wear.
” I look down, and it’s the first time I realize just how filthy my shirt is.
“Yeah, it would probably be good to clean up, but I want to have a long overdue conversation with you, too.” Brady grabs me by the shoulders and gives the top of my head a peck.
“I figured as much. Also, you should know that everyone here calls me Rock.” I scrunch up my nose at him.
“You aren’t anything like The Rock. Why do they call you that?
” I hear chuckling around me, and Brady smiles and shakes his head.
“Nah, it has nothing to do with him. It’s because when I was a prospect and still fairly new into my sobriety, I used my head to head-butt a few guys I got into fights with.
A few of the brothers said I have a head as hard as a rock.
I’ve since learned not to do that, but the name stuck.
You, however, call me Brady.” Thank goodness.
I don’t think I could really call him Rock.
We head inside, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how clean and bright it is.
I know that’s judgey, but if they’re all bachelors, then can you blame me?
A woman who’s about my height and also carrying a little more around the middle, but on her, it just looks like beautiful curves.
I want to hate her, but the smile on her face is so welcoming it’s like I physically can’t.
“You look like you could do with a drink and some chocolate. Am I right? I’m Batya, by the way.
I’m kind of the Malka or queen bitch around here.
Without me, they would eat crap, and this place would look like a frat house.
” I can’t help but smile at her. “You are a genius because I could really use a drink and some chocolate.” I sit down at a table in the room as Brady grabs a chair to sit next to me.
I watch a young man, probably in his early to mid-twenties, walk over toward us.
He has a slight limp, but it doesn’t slow his gait.
He glares over at Batya. “Don’t give her a fucking big head.
We’ll never hear the end of it.” He sets down a bag and looks at me.
“I usually patch these guys up, but you being a doctor and all, I’m feeling a little underqualified.
” I smile. “Well…” He gives me a small grin.
“Sparrow.” He nods toward the bag. “Well, Sparrow, first of all, I’m an OBGYN and not a wound expert or anything.
You also probably know that it’s always easier to have someone else clean up your wounds than trying to do it yourself, so if you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate the help.
” He sits down next to me and gets to work cleaning my hands and elbows, which got the worst of it.
Batya comes out a few minutes later with a cup of what smells like cinnamon tea and some chocolate cookies.
“Here ya go. I’m gonna go find some clean clothes for you to change into.
” I give her my thanks as Sparrow finishes up.
“You might say you are underqualified, but your bandaging and method of cleaning is as good as I’ve seen in the emergency room before.
” He gives me a huge smile and a nod. He gets up and leaves the room.
I look over at Brady, and I can see by his face he’s got a question on the tip of his tongue.
“Go on and ask me.” He leans on his elbows that rest on the table.
“I see by that ring on your finger you're married or engaged to this biker who’s coming with his brothers to get you. What happened to Brian? You two seemed so in love, and you had just had a baby the last time we talked.” I take a sip of the tea and set the mug back down.
I tell him what happened with Brian, and I can tell it pisses him off.
“He and I are doing alright co-parenting so far, and that’s the best I could hope for.
I’ve got three kids. Branson James is almost thirteen and obsessed with playing baseball.
” His eyebrows go up, but he lets me continue.
“Bentley Jonathan is nine and way too smart. He loves working on anything machine-related, and if I let him, he would be building a car in the backyard. Bailey Marie is almost six and a total princess. There’s not enough pink in the world for her.
Ben and I are engaged, we’re planning our wedding.
He’s…he’s amazing. He’s great with the kids, and he treats me wonderfully.
We love spending time together. I can’t wait to marry him.
” I look up from my tea, and I swear, Brady’s eyes are glassy.
“You gave your oldest dad’s middle name, and your second, you gave mine.
Even with all my shit with the drugs and everything.
” I shake my head. “Brady, we both dealt with the accident and Mom dying in different ways. You had the added stress of keeping a roof over our heads while I finished high school. I probably spent way too much time studying because, frankly, doing anything else would’ve given me time to think and deal with my emotions.
I probably still really haven’t dealt with it in a healthy way all these decades later, but we’re all human and deal with things the best way we can.
I’m not mad at you about the drugs, Brady.
I’m just sad you’ve been clean this long, and you didn’t think I’d want you to be a part of my and my kids’ lives.
They’ve got an uncle who they’d love to meet. ”