Chapter Seven
Savage
T he phone rang, and I lifted my head. I’d only just gone to bed and was bone tired. There’d been a big pile-up on the highway, and several bodies were DOA. I had been requested to transport the dead to the hospital mortuary and had obliged.
My eyes narrowed as I checked out the number; it was an out-of-state one. Gut churning, I pressed answer and barked a hello.
“Good morning, Mr Walker; this is Warden Gayle Rochester, calling from the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women. Miss Sandie Sawyer has asked me to contact you regarding communication,” a woman said.
My fuckin’ mind froze at her words. I wanted to speak but couldn’t form a sentence.
“Mr Walker?” Gayle questioned.
“Here.”
“Did you hear my request?”
“Yeah, now you gotta tell me, how did you get this phone number? Because that bitch should not have it,” I managed to snarl and not yell.
“Ms Sawyer gave me it,” Gayle said, sounding confused.
“How did Sandie get it? That bitch is not allowed contact with me. I’ve several restraining orders against Sandie, barring her from contacting me,” I informed the warden.
Gayle drew in a sharp breath. “There is?”
“Did you even check the file?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes. However, Sandie has been working voluntarily in an admin position recently, and now I realise why. I apologise, Mr Walker, for disturbing you. You can be assured I’ll deal with this,” Gayle stated.
“You better. I want nothing to do with that murdering bitch or her family. Keep them away from me, Miss Rochester,” I said, and cut the call.
Sleep was far from my mind, and the conversation had unnerved me. Memories swirled; none were welcome, and I punched in a phone number.
“Yo,” Drake muttered on answering.
I didn’t hesitate and blurted everything out.
“Got a run you do can. It’s just Hellfire and back, not too far. If you’re tired when you get there, Chance will give you a bunk,” Drake offered, knowing instinctively what I needed.
“Thanks, Prez. No way could I have settled with this being dragged up,” I replied, relieved.
“Got your back, brother,” Drake said and ended the call.
Grumpily, I swung out of bed and dressed, stamping into my boots. So much for sleep; all hints of sleepiness had fled. My gut turned in anger, and my head was a mess. The open road was the solution I needed.
With raw emotions clawing at me, I left the house and bumped straight into Nancy.
“Not got time,” I grunted out.
“Can see that, son. Ride carefully,” Nancy said, moving aside and letting me pass. Shit, the expression on my face must have been terrifying, judging by the look the old lady gave me.
I moved swiftly, hit my Harley, and, swinging a leg over, I settled myself before starting the engine. Moments later, I pulled off my drive and rode towards Rage, ready to collect whatever Hellfire needed.
◆◆◆
After a couple of hours shooting the shit with Chance and a few others, I decided to return home. The need to sleep was creeping up on me, and I knew I’d end up sleeping at Hellfire tonight if I didn’t move.
It was on the I-90 just outside of Black Hawk when the accident happened.
A car swerved out of its lane and hit my bike head-on. The last thing I remembered was soaring through the air while my Harley veered off in another direction.
Drake
Gut churning, as it always did when I had to come here, I stormed into the hospital. The nurse on duty spotted me and beckoned me over. I strode towards her, not willing to deal with crap.
“Savage,” I demanded.
“As soon as I saw his cut, I realised Rage would be here. Currently, your brother is in a bay being checked over by doctors. I’ve also alerted doctors Paul and Gibbons because that’s who you prefer. Savage looked in a bad way, Drake, but he was breathing and stable. The road rash will be nasty, though,” the nurse explained.
Mildly surprised at the flow of information coming my way, I nodded. Usually, we had to kick off some shit to get info. This made a nice change.
“What happened?”
“Savage was sideswiped and sent flying by a car. He was wearing a helmet which was damn lucky because his brains would have been splattered everywhere. That saved his life,” the nurse continued.
“Thank fuck,” I muttered. It was something I’d lately started to insist on. I was relieved the prospect had listened. Of course, our older brothers didn’t want to use a helmet, but it made sense with what was happening around us.
“Was it deliberate?” I asked, suddenly making the nurse jump.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “Not heard anything like that.”
“Is Savage awake?”
“Yes, but you can’t enter while he’s being assessed, Drake. As soon as Savage is free, I’ll fetch you,” she said.
I reined in my temper. The nurse was being nicer and more forthcoming than most of the bitches who worked here.
Giving her a nod, I sat and waited for the club to arrive. And arrive they did—every brother and every old lady. The older teens knew the drill and headed to the clubhouse to watch over the children who’d be dropped off there. The prospects would wait until the older kids arrived and then come, too. But Wild, Cowboy, Harley, Tye, and Carmine would have to remain to protect Rage. The others would probably be riding already. Shit, we needed to give them their colours; they’d more than earned it and were long overdue.
It was just whenever we planned shit, something with fuckin’ Fury happened and distracted us all.
To my surprise, an old lady appeared with purple hair and spoke to the desk, and then she sat down. She pulled out some knitting and began working on a scarf.
“Has anyone told Grace?” Summer asked as she leaned against Irish. Summer’s little baby belly poked out, and I smiled as Irish patted it absently. Slick stood to the other side of them, his arm wrapped firmly around Summer, who seemed perfectly happy where she was. It was an odd relationship, but it worked, and all three appeared satisfied. Well, as happy as Irish could be, the women didn’t show much emotion.
“Why?” I asked.
“Savage is interested in her,” Dana pointed out, having arrived and now wrapping herself in Ezra’s arms. A more recent pairing—and one I couldn’t be happier about.
“The prospect is?” I exclaimed, surprised. Damn, I’d not noticed anything during the cookout.
“Yes,” the old lady spoke up. “And Grace likes Savage too, even though she is fighting the attraction.”
“Who are you?” I questioned rudely.
“Their neighbour, I learned about the accident on the police scanner and drove over. I’m Nancy McKinnon,” Nancy announced, reaching out a hand.
I shook it, shocked at how firm her grip was.
“You’ve got a police scanner? That’s so cool,” Summer whispered.
“That’s nice of you,” Dana said sweetly.
Nancy nodded. “Savage is a decent man, a little closed up and uptight, and he needs the stick removed from his ass, but he’ll do for Grace. Of course, Grace needs her blinkers taken off and her own stick removed.”
The girls giggled, and I found I couldn’t disagree. I peered up as Mina rushed in and rose to my feet. Savage was her alternative, and they’d grown pretty close. Wild-eyed, Mina looked around and spotted me.
“Savage is fine, Mina. It was a bad accident, but the news so far is good, and he’s awake and alert,” I soothed, rubbing her shoulders. Mina folded into my embrace, and I wrapped my arms around her.
“When I was told Savage was…” Mina choked up.
“Savage won’t be taken out by a car swiping him,” I reassured her.
Mina shuddered in my arms, and I remembered she was pregnant.
“Let’s sit you down, babe; where’s Hunter?” I asked, moving Mina gently into a chair.
“On his way. Hunter had Demonicus and Zdrakias with him, so he’s taken them to Rage first,” Mina replied, rubbing her stomach.
“Do you need someone to check you over?” I worried as Mina made a face.
“No, I’m just uncomfortable, Drake. But that woman is staring at me,” Mina whispered, and I turned to see Nancy openly watching.
“Can I help you?” I demanded, moving to protect Mina. Even though Mina didn’t act anymore, she was instantly recognisable.
“No, but I must ask. Is Savage the father?” Nancy asked bluntly.
“No!” Mina gasped just as Hunter arrived and dropped a peck on her.
“Babe?” Hunter pulled back, thinking Mina was rejecting his kiss.
“Not you. You, kiss me. I was telling this lady that Savage is not the father,” Mina explained. Despite where we were, I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped at the outraged expression on Hunter’s face.
“I’m her husband and the father,” Hunter announced stuffily.
“Good, I didn’t want Grace to be in the middle of a shit show,” Nancy retorted.
Mina leaned forward. “You know Grace?” she asked.
“Yes, we’re neighbours. I heard what happened and came to check on Savage before telling Grace. No good upsetting the girl with only bits of information,” Nancy stated.
“Look, why don’t you go home and inform Grace?” I suggested. Seconds later, I yowled like a scaled cat as something hard jabbed me in the ribs. Disbelief ran through me as I looked down and saw Nancy had jammed her knitting needles into me. I swear to God there was blood on them as Nancy calmly wiped them with a tissue and resumed knitting.
The women stared at her with their mouths open, looking between us. Unsure how to handle an older woman with knitting needles as a weapon, I settled for scowling at her.
“Why don’t you stick your alpha male bossiness where the sun doesn’t shine and leave me alone? I’ll go when I hear how the boy is and not before,” Nancy retorted, and Mina choked, hiding a giggle.
Summer’s eyes went huge. “Nobody speaks to Drake like that.”
Irish snorted. “Behave, we speak like that to Drake constantly.”
“But we’re family. That is a stranger,” Summer argued.
“That is a good thing you’re doing, being a surrogate for them,” Nancy said, nodding in approval at Summer.
I watched as Summer didn’t even blush. Irish and Slick’s love had certainly grown her confidence.
“Oh no, we’re in a three-way relationship. Slick is married to me and committed to Irish. But we are not bi-sexual, so he has separate relationships with us both. And we’re best friends,” Summer explained.
Prepared to defend, I waited for the old lady to blast them for being unholy sinners, which was the usual reaction.
Instead, Nancy nodded thoughtfully.
“I can see the love, and that’s what’s important. A close bond exists between you and the other woman. If that works for you, then who can deny love? Only those bloody idiots who go around gianting everyone,” Nancy said.
“Gianting?” I wondered.
“You mean trolling!” Summer replied with a laugh.
“Yeah, I’m down with the times, boo!” Nancy replied, and I shook my head. She was funny.
But humour soon fled as Doc Paul approached.
“Savage is alert, awake, and responsive, although pissed about his bike and the damage. May I suggest that Jett gets the repairs done soon? As for Savage, he’s got a tear in his trapezius muscle in his left shoulder and a badly sprained left wrist. He broke his elbow when he hit the ground, so he’ll need a cast. Luckily, he doesn’t need pins. Savage has two cracked lower ribs, which is a miracle in itself there’s not more, and his left leg is hamburger-through road rash. We are going to take Savage to surgery to set the break and clean his leg. It’s the easiest way to do it.”
“Thank God,” I said, knowing everyone else had heard and was texting those who hadn’t arrived yet. One of them was Phoe… She should have been here by now.
“When can we visit him?” Mina asked.
“A couple can. Only two at a time and a maximum of six visitors,” Doc Paul firmly stated.
“Me!” Mina snapped and disappeared down the hallway with Hunter right behind her.
“Damn,” I muttered. I nodded to Paul, gripped his hand in thanks, and stepped back. “Nancy, would you like to visit next, along with Gauntlet?” I asked, knowing Gauntlet would be the highest worrier of Savage.
“Thank you.” She nodded.
“I’ll go last. Now we know Savage is okay, if people want to leave, it’s fine,” I offered. My words were met with sneers and insults. Charming bunch of assholes , I thought and sat to wait for Phoe.
But my heart felt peaceful now that I knew Savage would be fine, and his family waited for him. None of them would leave before they’d seen him, which I was fuckin’ proud of.
Savage
On waking, purple was the first thing I saw. Wondering if I’d banged my head and was now colour blind, I blinked, and the purple morphed into purple hair.
“Thank fuck,” I muttered, relieved.
“Language,” Nancy snapped.
“Why are you here?” I croaked, licking my lips.
Nancy held up a glass of water with a straw in it. “Don’t gulp.”
Gratefully, I drank some and tried to sit up. I disliked being flat on my back with what was virtually a stranger leaning over me. Nancy pressed an object into my hand, and raising it, I saw it was the bed control button. Gratefully, I hit up, and the bed lifted my upper body. Finally, I could face Nancy eye to eye.
“I’m here, boy, because I didn’t want to give Grace a half-tale. You’re awake, and okay, so I’ll tell her,”
“No, don’t,” I said, thinking of the phone call.
“Huh? You like her, she likes you, what’s the problem?” Nancy demanded.
“I’m no good for Grace. I come from scum, and Grace deserves better,” I exclaimed as Sandie’s shrill voice rose in my head. Distraught, I shook it away, but it took a lot of effort.
A sharp pain hit my right ribs, and I gasped for breath. Nancy had stabbed me with a knitting needle!
“Are you insane? I’m injured here!”
“No, but I think you are, boyo. You’d throw away a woman like Grace? A one-in-a-lifetime chance at happiness?” Nancy’s eyes narrowed.
“Nancy, you don’t know who I am. So don’t sit on your high horse making judgements. Grace can do better than me, and who the fuck said I’m interested, anyway?” I demanded.
“Boy, I know you are. The chemistry sizzles between you two,” Nancy challenged.
Okay, maybe I was a walking hard-on when around Grace, but I wasn’t going to admit that to a woman old enough to be my grandma.
“Grow up, Savage. People have bad pasts, it’s what you do with your future, boy, that matters,” Nancy said with another jab. She headed towards the door but looked over her shoulder and chided, “Only a fool throws away the possibility of love. Didn’t take you for one!”
I rubbed my ribs as I finally had a few moments to take stock of my injuries. I was relieved not to see my legs in casts, although one burned, and I knew that would be through road rash.
The door opened again, and Drake entered with Phoe. They looked happy to see me awake.
“Oooh, you’ve got some bruises,” Phoe said, cocking her head and perching on the bed as she patted my uninjured leg.
“Bet I look like a grater’s been run over me too,” I suggested with a dark chuckle.
“Yeah, I don’t do ick, and that’s ick,” Phoe replied.
“Good to know. The Harley?” I asked Drake, who laughed at Phoe’s expression.
“Told ya, baby, a biker always worries about his ride.”
“Seriously, how is my bike?”
“Jett’s got it. There are dents and damage; he’s going to re-do the paintwork. Jett has already ordered the replacement parts,” Drake replied.
“I liked that fuckin’ paint job.”
“Now you’re gonna get a new one, and you’ll say thanks, bro,” Drake said, and I nodded.
Of course, I would, but I loved that paint job.
“My arm or elbow?” I asked, lifting the one with the cast on.
“Elbow, but you sprained your wrist and tore your shoulder up. You’ve got a sling for a while, brother,” Drake replied.
“Can manage that.”
“If you hadn’t worn a helmet, you wouldn’t be here,” Drake said bluntly, and there it was. The truth of the matter. Head injuries would have killed me.
“Was it a deliberate hit on me?”
“Not that we or RCPD can see. Lucas took the case and is investigating, but it does seem like a simple accident,” Drake replied.
“Some asshole not watching and ran me off the road,” I suggested, and Drake’s chin lifted. “At least I’m alive.”
Drake nodded at my words.
“Okay, what’s up? This feels very stilted and formal. What am I missing?” I demanded.
“You never changed your name legally. I had to speak to billing about charging the club direct. There’s no Jesse Walker anywhere,” Drake said, and I frowned.
Shit, I hadn’t considered that. My body stiffened.
“Did they get my real name?”
“No. Doc Paul put it through on the Rage account. But we need to sort something out with your name,” Drake pointed out.
I glanced across at Phoe, and Drake snorted.
“Jeez, Savage, you honestly think you got any secrets from Phoe?” he asked.
I let out a huff as Phoe merely smiled sweetly and shook my head. Drake wouldn’t have told her, but I would bet my bike that Phoe had got Artemis to do some digging. And I’d not lose my Harley because I knew I was right.
Drake smirked even as Phoe dropped her chin and studied her nails.
“I prefer the name Jesse,” Phoe murmured before winking. “Much better than Buck.”
“Thanks.”
“Your secret is safe, Savage, but you should tell Grace. She deserves the truth,” Phoe prodded.
“Grace and I aren’t together. We’re neighbours, nothing more,” I denied.
“Not what that kiss you shared in the hallway indicated,” Phoe replied, grinning.
“Grace told you?” I blurted and cursed myself when Phoe’s smirk grew bigger.
“Hell no, I watched it on camera. Mac was telling Slick, and I overheard and made him play it back. Now I keep asking Drake why he can’t give me a remake film kiss like that.”
Drake glowered at Phoe and then turned to me. “Savage, some words to the wise. If Grace is your one, don’t fight it. Just let shit flow. Because the drama that always follows when you fight against destiny isn’t worth it.”
“Nothing’s happening,” I insisted, but the words didn’t mean what they should because thinking of that kiss warmed me from head to toe. And after all, Grace had her history. Could she see past mine? Only one way to know.
As I was thinking, I caught Drake and Phoe exchanging a smug glance. I hated to make them right, but love wasn’t anything to be ignored. Gah, this was driving me nuts!