Chapter 19
NINETEEN
COBALT
Sitting in chapel, waiting on my brother to get here, I’m struggling with how to go about giving him this information.
Fuck, why won’t this just go away? Rarely does it happen that I feel sick to my stomach when having to either tell one of the brothers’ shitty news or having to make a decision that will affect a brother or our entire club.
This is one of those times. Pushing my fingers through my hair, I let my head fall down on my hands, which are held up by my elbows on the table.
This is how my brother finds me when the door flies open and hits the wall behind it.
“Cobalt, what the fuck is goin’ on? Dreamer came rushin’ in screaming his ass off that you wanted to see me immediately.
That motherfucker is lucky I wasn’t cleaning my guns or knives because he rushed into my office downstairs.
I’m here, so what’s so fuckin’ important that you couldn’t just call me?
I’m not too fond of having prospects in my room, even when it’s not in use.
Come on, cat got your tongue, or is it Girlie who’s hanging on to it? ”
It hurts even more that he’s in such a good mood to be teasing me about Julie.
Son of a bitch, makes me think of that saying that is something like “Enjoy this Ride we call Life.” I saw some bitch who had a tattoo of it on her forearm at one of the bike rallies.
Someone said she wrote biker books, can’t remember her name.
Hearing a throat being cleared, that tells me my time is up.
Shaking my head trying to clear it and find the right words, I look into his eyes before grabbing my phone.
I open my texts and hit the picture sent so it’s the entire size of the screen of my phone.
I know there probably is a better way to do this, but I’m chickening out, knowing there is no way to present this without hurting him.
I push my phone across my desk and his hand reaches out for it.
When his eyes move to look down, I can see immediately when his eyes focus and he sees the entirety of the photo.
Instantly his face turns bright red first, right before he jumps up, shoving his chair back so violently it flies across the room, crashing into the wall.
The sound that comes from deep in his chest frightens even me, and I know for a fact he’d never hurt me.
Turning he stalks to the wall by one of the shelving units in our chapel room and starts whaling on it.
His fist goes through the drywall time and time again.
Hearing running boots on concrete, my eyes go to the door just as it bursts open, and I see what looks to be the majority of our brothers.
Psycho is first in, then Mammoth, followed by the others with the prospects being last. All eyes are on Incubus as he continues to box the walls, though now his knuckles are covered in blood that is dripping off and hitting the floor.
When my VP looks my way, my eyes hit my phone so he quickly moves to it, lifting it up.
Mammoth is directly behind him and when their eyes see what’s on the phone, Psycho drops his head while the big guy swings around and moves toward Incubus.
Shouting to tell him not to bother, I’m shocked when Mammoth wraps his arms around our enforcer from behind, lifting him straight into the air.
All the fight instantly goes out of Incubus and he sags in Mammoth’s arms. When Mammoth bellows, I know this ain’t gonna be pretty.
“Every motherfucker except Cobalt, Psycho, Jackal, and Nickel go. Now move your asses.”
Nickel looks shocked to be one of the brothers requested to stay and I know why.
Mammoth is one of the smartest brothers of all of us and he’s gonna use the kid to reach Incubus.
The rest of us are here for support. Mammoth walks to the couch and places Incubus very carefully down.
Immediately, Jackal moves around the big man, throwing his bag on the floor.
Thank God this brother never goes anywhere without his medic bag.
He grabs one of Incubus’s hands and lets out a groan.
“Fuck, Bus, this looks like you might have broken at least a knuckle, if not the entire hand. Cobalt, call one of the brothers. I need a bucket filled with ice, please. Let me see the other one. Come on, Incubus, focus for just a little while. Let us help you like you’ve help each and every one of us when we needed it. ”
When Incubus moves his other hand to Jackal, I see Mammoth pushing Nickel toward the couch.
At first, I see total confusion on the kid’s face but something must click, so he sits right next to Incubus, putting a hand on our enforcer’s leg.
We all take in a shocked breath ’cause, like I told Julie, Incubus doesn’t want anyone touching him, even when he’s fuckin’ them.
But this time he looks at Nickel for a few seconds, leans down, dropping his head on the prospect’s shoulder carefully, and I watch in amazement as his shoulders start to shake.
Nickel raises his other hand and begins to pat our enforcer’s head.
Jackal continues to inspect the hands and when a knock comes at the door, Mammoth goes there, opens it, pushes someone back, grabs the bucket, and slams the door in whoever was there’s face.
He places the ice bucket on Incubus’s lap and picks up the hand Jackal isn’t working on, shoving it in the ice.
I mean right in, no tiptoeing around. Incubus starts swearing like crazy until Mammoth cracks him upside the head.
Oh shit, when Incubus is in his right mind again, Mammoth might want to switch to a different chapter for a while.
Bus looks up, eyes blazing fire. Mammoth doesn’t give a shit and lets his brother have it.
“You dumbass, was it worth it? If we gotta go after her, what good are you to all of us brothers if ya don’t have the use of your hands, Incubus?
Jesus Christ, think a little before you lose your ever-lovin’ mind.
Now get cleaned up while Cobalt, Psycho, and I take a few to weigh some options.
Thinkin’ we gotta call the mother chapter ’cause they are messin’ with a brother’s property. ”
Yeah, we call females in our club property.
That goes from sweet butts, girlfriends, wives, and ol’ ladies.
Even though she was only his girlfriend, she was still Incubus’s.
Then to my utter amazement I hear Incubus call my name, so I look at him.
His face looks so sad and I’m actually afraid of what his next words are gonna be. And I’m fuckin’ right.
“Cobalt, brother, don’t be pissed. I need ya more than ever.
Stella ain’t just my ex-girlfriend, fuck…
I should have told you when all that shit went down with the Mob, but thought we were over.
As you can tell I’m still not over the bitch.
Brothers, brace ’cause I know why that asshole Gino grabbed her.
Stella is not only my wife/ol’ lady but the mother of our daughter.
Yeah, that’s right, I’ve got a kid who’s been livin’ with Stella’s family to keep her safe.
Not sure if Gino knows or not, but he’s lookin’ for something to get me to come work for him.
I’m guessin’, after looking at what he’s done to her, this is it.
I don’t care what the mother chapter says, Cobalt, I’m gonna get Stella and our girl back and put Gino and the rest of those motherfuckers to ground. ”
I can’t believe he kept secrets from me of all brothers.
I’ve generally shared everything with him, even before I did with my VP.
Then it hits me and I get it. He’s been tryin’ to protect the club, and since whatever is going on between him and Stella, they thought this shit was under control.
Thinking and processing this information as best I can, I start shouting orders.
“Incubus, tell Psycho where your kid is being held. We’ll send brothers to get her now.
Not sure how much longer Stella will be able to keep that to herself.
I’m gonna call Big Daddy, just to fill him in.
Not gonna ask for permission, I’ll worry about that after.
Ya know, the whole sayin’ rather be judged by twelve than carried by six bullshit.
Psycho, also fill in the brothers wait, Bus, is that okay to let them know?
It’s time, brother, to let us help you with this burden, but the final call is yours, I mean it’s your family. ”
We watch as our enforcer gives a nod, which sends Psycho running out of my office.
Nickel has put his arm around Incubus, which he’s allowing while Jackal cleans and stitches one hand then the other.
I catch the kid’s eyes and am shocked at the rage in them.
Yeah, I was right about this prospect, he’s gonna go far.
He gives me a chin lift then leans in to listen to Incubus.
After I’m guessing he received his orders, he reaches into Bus’s front pocket and takes out a set of keys.
Holy fuck, it’s the keys to Incubus’s cabin behind our homes.
That’s where he keeps all of his weapons and torture tools, or as he calls them, his toys.
Nickel gets up and, without a word, stomps outta my office and leaves.
Jackal looks to be finished as he’s putting the final wrap on Incubus’s hand.
Once he’s done, he gathers all of his shit, placing it back in the bag.
He pulls out two old-time ice bags and fills them with ice before screwing the tops on.
“Incubus, try to keep these on twenty to thirty minutes every two to four hours. We gotta keep the swelling down. I’m around if you need me, otherwise, going to get ready to go to war. Look at me, brother…we will get your Stella back and bring your little girl home, promise.”
We watch our medic walk out, trying to close the broken door. Incubus stands up after a bit of a struggle with his hands, then moves to my only remaining chair. His eyes are solemn but steady. I give him time, not saying a word though I have many ready.
“Liam, truly I’m sorry. Wanted to tell ya, but Stella convinced me otherwise.
Got one more thing to share and if this changes things I’m gone, swear.
Stella isn’t just some bitch that happened to catch my eye.
Kind of met her years ago when still in the military.
She showed up that one time you were taken by rebels and we had a helluva time finding ya.
Well, you can thank Stella for that. Brother, she was Military Security at the time.
Stella used her connections to not only find you but buy you back.
The rebels had posted the three of you for sale to the highest bidder because you were military.
Yeah, human trafficking our military. She bid and won.
We were seeing each other whenever we could.
We got pregnant with our daughter and she decided to leave the government job behind and be a consultant so she could, ya know, be a mom.
Then later she first heard then found out the Kings of Anarchy were making deals, very dangerous ones, with the Mob especially Gino’s section.
So she was upfront and honest with me and by then, Cobalt, shit brother I was so into her and my daughter.
The whole fuckin’ family thing. We decided to keep our finger on the pace of how shit was gonna go down.
We did that whole bullshit about her leaving the club and being taken by Salvatore to hide the fact we had a family.
And it’s run smoothly until recently. Somehow, she got word that her cover was blown and she put our girl with her family who also have connections.
I was gonna tell ya, then Girlie showed up and we had to deal with Stash.
That’s when shit hit the fan. I’m sorry, Liam, never wanted it to go this far.
Gotta get my ol’ lady and kid before Gino loses the last little humanity he has left. ”
Knowing this is neither the time or place to have this discussion, I stand and walk around my desk. I offer him my hand to help him up then I punch Incubus right in the mouth, splitting his lip.
“That’s for not believing in me as your brother, not only in this fuckin’ club but in our lives.
Now isn’t the time, we will hash this bullshit out later.
Let’s get to chapel to figure out our next steps.
Just gonna say, motherfucker, ya keep anything else from me and seriously, Bus, I’ll burn your ink off myself. Got me?”
After a second or two he nods. Together we walk down the hallway to call all our brothers together so we can put our heads together and find a way to save not only a woman who works for some section of the United States government as some kind of consultant whatever the fuck that is, and apparently has shit on the Kings, which her ol’man is part of.
More importantly, there is also an innocent child who’s Incubus’s kid.
This ain’t gonna be easy, but knowing our brothers they’ll each fight ’til their dying breath to bring the kid home.
Stella, well, that’s an entirely different story. Only time will tell.
One thing I do know is that no one fucks with the Kings of Anarchy and gets away with it.