Chapter Nine.
Savage
U pset, I stood beside Earle’s bed, holding his hand. Grace sat in a chair in the corner of the room, and Harley had taken the girls for food.
It had been five hours since I got the call, and Lettie had called again to let me know Earle had suffered another stroke. Doc Gibbons had met us at the plane, Phoe calling in a marker. The man was mostly retired now, unless one of us needed him. Must be nice to retire at fifty. I was reassured seeing Doc; it meant Earle would be looked after and not subject to whatever substandard care the town’s prejudiced doctor handed out.
Harley’s presence surprised me, but it made sense when we arrived at the airport. We hit bikes while Grace, Doc, and the girls got in an SUV that Harley was driving. Assured they were in safe hands, we lit out of the airport and joined the I-64 E.
It was a two-hour ride to Layton, a tiny one-horse town set at the foot of the Appalachians. And it hadn’t changed.
I noted each familiarity as I rode down Main Street, ignoring those who stopped and stared. Which was nearly everyone. We stayed in formation around the SUV, ensuring its safety.
Lettie was outside waiting when we got to the care home. She was different from what I thought. She sounded young on the phone, but Lettie was at least forty and met us with a warm smile.
Without wasting time, she rushed us to Earle’s room, where he was asleep.
Doc Gibbons introduced himself and immediately began checking Earle and his chart. His lips pursed, Doc Gibbons noticed some unusual entries and then demanded to speak to the idiot treating Earle.
Doc Gibbons had informed me that several things were affecting Earle, but he would ensure he got the right meds. For instance, Earle’s blood pressure was dangerously high, and it could have been lowered with medication.
My eyes narrowed on the information, and Drake went outside when the town’s doctor, Doc Turner, someone I recognised, arrived. As I sat with Earle, I allowed Doc Gibbons to tear shreds off his counterpart and then threaten to report Turner for lack of care.
Apart from Lettie, the staff sent us dirty looks, making us unwelcome. But Lettie ignored her peer’s pressure, fetched refreshments, and kept me updated on what was happening. Anxiously, I tapped the bed, waiting for Earle to open his eyes. I refused to believe my forty-eight-year-old uncle would die from this.
“Earle was looking forward to your shopping trip,” Lettie announced as she brought a tray of drinks.
“Me too,” I admitted. “We’ll still get to do one.”
“Savage, did Doc Gibbons not—”
“Lettie, I know what Doc said. Earle’s chance of survival isn’t great. But Doc doesn’t know the man who crawled over twelve hours with serious injuries to fetch help for a stranger. Earle’s going to get through this,” I replied, shaking my head. I refused to consider anything else.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I went to shrug it off before I realised it was Grace. She’d moved from her chair and was now sliding her cute ass onto the arm of my seat.
“Savage, Earle will fight, I have no doubt, but his body might betray him. Just be prepared for the worst, and if the best happens, we can celebrate,” Grace suggested.
I wanted to scream and rail at her; Earle couldn’t and wouldn’t die. But I knew Grace made sense. I nodded and held Earle’s hand, watching his face for any signs of awareness.
My brothers came and went, and Grace stayed at my side until Earle opened his eyes three hours later.
He looked confused and dazed… until he saw me. Then, Earle’s mouth broke into a crooked smile, and his right fingers weakly clenched mine.
“Not well,” Earle slurred.
“You’re fine, old man,” I replied, and Earle offered up a half laugh.
It was a joke between us that Earle was my uncle, although there had been only an eight-year difference.
“Ol’. Yea, I ol’ now Jess,” Earle responded. He frowned as his words didn’t form how he expected them to.
“Uncle Earle, you’ve had two strokes. But I’ve brought the best doctor in the world with me, and he’s gonna help you get better,” I explained.
“Let go,” Earle ordered, and I shook my head.
“Never. You’re my uncle, not letting you go without a fight,” I denied.
“Jess. Hurts. Numb. Tired,” Earle said, his eyelids fluttering.
“I know you are exhausted. But we’ll get you better and then you’re coming home with me. No, I’m not arguing; there’s too much distance for me to actively look after you. And Uncle Earle, this is my girlfriend. She has two little girls. Grace wants to get to know you, so you have to move to Rapid City,” I bribed.
Earle’s gaze roamed around until he landed on Grace. His eyes widened, and his half-crooked grin appeared again.
“Pretty. Too good, you,” Earle teased.
“Hello, Uncle Earle,” Grace announced with a beautiful smile. My heart warmed as Grace took his left hand and held it.
“Unc’ called me,” Earle responded.
“Yeah, Grace did call you Uncle Earle. Grace says she doesn’t have an uncle, nor do her girls, so she’s going to steal you,” I explained.
Earle managed a weak chuckle and then closed his eyes. A few minutes later, he opened them again when Drake, Apache, Texas, Gauntlet, Jett, Gunner, Harley, and Doc Gibbons walked in.
“Party?” Earle asked.
“Not yet, when you’re better,” I answered. I introduced them, and Earle nodded at each name. Faces now matched the names he knew from stories.
“Dyin’,” Earle slurred to Doc Gibbons.
“Not if I have anything to do with it. You’ve plenty of life remaining, Earle, but your care here has been lacking. We’re making arrangements to send you to a hospital for a scan of your brain. Earle, I hear you had a bad fall the other day and hit your head. That idiot out there never sent you for a scan, which I believe caused your stroke. A brain injury. I’ve already ordered some different medications for you. Your blood pressure is very high, which could cause another stroke, and you’ve been prescribed blood thinners for no reason. Which increases the risk.”
I stiffened. Was Doc Gibbons saying what I thought he was?
“So from now on in, nobody will give you meds unless I approve it, Earle. I’ll also be checking the other medication you have been taking. Because I’m not convinced you need all of it,” Doc Gibbons said.
Drake cocked his head towards the door, and I hesitated. Grace gave me a little shove and took my place at Earle’s side.
Earle’s watery blue eyes, once so sharp and sparkly, smiled at her.
Leaving Earle in Grace’s sweet hands, I followed Prez. Outside, there were a couple of staff members, but they were ignoring us for now.
“Doc’s worried. He thinks Earle’s care has been mismanaged for a good while. Doc can’t find any medication reviews in Earle’s file, and it’s far thinner than it should be. Earle’s last check-up was four years ago.”
“No. I receive a report each year saying Earle is fine,” I replied to Drake.
“They’re faked, brother, I reckon. Doc’s going through Earle’s records and has confiscated them. Doc has reported Doctor Turner to the state medical board. Phoe has Steven working to get Doc named as sole carer, and he’s already applied for privileges and received them at Kings Daughters Grayson. That’s a heart hospital, but they have everything Doc needs to check Earle properly,” Drake said.
“They’ve been feeding him shit he didn’t need?” I asked. My temper was beginning to boil.
“Doc doesn’t know that for sure. He’s gonna run checks, but we gotta move Earle now. Doc has called for an ambulance, and they’ll transport him so he can do what’s needed,” Drake explained. “You gotta hold it together until we get the necessary information.”
“Fuck, I thought he was safe here!” I snarled and caught the eye of several of the nurses. They quickly left upon seeing my expression.
“Don’t jump to conclusions until Doc finishes his report. Trust Doc to take care of Earle. Brother, he said it would be a long struggle, and Earle was very sick. He’ll do his best, but he can’t make promises.”
“Yes, I understand,” I growled out as I caught sight of the care home manager disappearing into a hallway. Yeah, they better run.
Grace
Earle was asleep when the ambulance came, and I was worried when he didn’t stir as they transported him to it. Doc Gibbons was barking orders, and Savage was about to burst out of his skin with worry. I felt completely useless, but Savage kept a tight hold of my hand, so I guessed I was providing some comfort.
Savage wanted to go with Earle, but Doc had forbidden it. He had said when the testing was done, Earle would likely be brought back here, but that wouldn’t be tonight.
Drake made the decision for us to get a hotel because hanging around Earle’s room when he wasn’t here was pointless. And Drake pointed out when Savage began to argue that the girls and I needed to eat and get settled.
I wasn’t surprised to discover there were only two hotels. One was decidedly nicer than the other, so we headed to that. The woman standing behind reception gave us a dour look and took her sweet time sorting rooms. Or she did, until Drake lost his patience and asked for someone competent. The insult to her pride ensured she dealt with us much more swiftly.
Drake slapped down a black Amex card (I’d never seen one before) and paid for the rooms. Undoubtedly, she’d run it as soon as our backs were turned to ensure it was not stolen.
Drake handed out keys to everyone’s room and sent them off with the order to meet in reception in an hour. Savage grabbed mine and the girl’s bags and helped us to ours. The kids chatted happily, oblivious to the tension.
Savage tried to reassure me, but I honestly didn’t care. These small-minded townspeople needed to get off their high horse.
After cleaning the girls and quickly showering, I gathered them up and walked downstairs. Considering the woman’s attitude at the front desk, I was surprised at how clean the hotel was.
The men were all waiting when I arrived, and they offered smiles at us and then dark looks at those watching us.
“There’s a diner down the road, or we can walk two blocks to a decent restaurant,” Savage announced.
“Diner is fine with me. Grace, are you okay eating there?” Drake said, surprising me with his courtesy.
I frowned as I realised Gunner and Texas were missing.
“Diner’s good; where are Gunner and Texas?” I asked. “Shouldn’t we wait for them?”
“They’ve gone to protect Earle. Who’s going to argue with those two big bastards?” Drake answered, and I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. It was a release of the tension inside me.
“That’s true,” I finally said as Savage’s hard face softened, and he moved to take Harper and Isla’s hands—one a little awkward with his cast.
The girls clung happily to him, babbling away.
As we stepped out, the guys surrounded me and the kids, and we walked down the main street.
I couldn’t help but notice the looks people were giving us. It made me very uncomfortable, especially with the children present.
Savage grew more tense as we headed into the diner, too. Not that I could blame him. Everyone stopped eating and talking and stared the moment we walked in.
“Why are they staring?” Isla’s little voice pierced the silence, and I noticed both girls had closed in on Savage, having picked up the vibes.
“Because they’ve never seen such beautiful ladies before,” Savage replied.
“Are you sure it’s not because they want to eat us?” Harper demanded. “It feels like we walked into the witches’ house.”
Harper’s words must have struck home because people began talking again, although their eyes remained on us.
“What do you want?” a woman asked.
“Service without an attitude; think you could manage that?” Drake snapped, and the woman looked shocked. I guess she hadn’t expected Drake to call her on it.
“How many?”
“Can you count?” Drake questioned, now giving her attitude.
“This way,” she groused and led us to a row of tables. “You can push them together.”
“Thanks for your help,” Drake responded, and Apache laughed.
“Just eat and go; we don’t want trouble,” the woman stated, and Drake’s eyes narrowed.
“And what would that be? Have we not been perfectly polite while you’ve been as rude as fuck? Did we walk in here and throw shit around, or did everyone all stop and stare at us? What drama are you referring to?” Drake challenged.
She blushed at being called on her behaviour again, and Drake stood up.
“We’re not eating here. If they can afford to push away paying customers who tip well, then good for them. Move out,” Drake ordered. “What idiot throws out a guaranteed three hundred bucks? Probably more than what they earn in a day.”
Apache laughed as we all followed Drake out. Savage kept the girls close to him, and Jett bent and scooped up Isla, who looked frightened.
“Will we receive a similar reaction at the restaurant?” Drake asked Savage.
“Don’t think so. They were friends of the woman who raised me,” Savage replied.
“Then we’ll head there.”
I was anxious when we entered. The town was indeed split in two, as Savage had predicted. Half the people we saw gave us filthy looks; the rest said hello and looked curious. As we entered the restaurant, a shriek erupted from a woman behind the podium, and she came bustling out.
“Jesse, my boy!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. “Let me see you. You’re even more handsome than ever. If only Simmy could see you, she’d be ecstatic. Are these your friends? How many of you? Okay, I’ll get Jed to put some tables together, and we’ll have you seated.”
We all blinked in astonishment as the woman bustled away without any of us saying a word.
“Hi, Elaine!” Savage called, and she waved a hand in the air.
“Wow,” Harley mumbled, and I agreed.
Elaine came bustling back and herded us towards three tables which had been pushed together. A guy stood there with a beaming smile as he saw Savage.
“Jesse, looking good, son. Come and sit. I’ll take drink orders when everyone is seated,” he said.
“Hi, Jed,” Savage replied, reaching out and shaking hands with the man.
I felt relieved by their kindness. The restaurant was jam-packed, which spoke a lot about the food here. Jed brought our drinks, and we ordered our meals and settled in. We spent three pleasant hours there, eating and drinking while talking to Jed and Elaine. Even the girls eventually returned to a chatty mood.
Both Jed and Elaine were saddened by Earle’s ill health, and Elaine wanted to send Earle a care package, but he was on nil by mouth.
After a nice evening, we left the restaurant to return to the hotel. Savage had Isla on his shoulders, and Apache was carrying Harper. A flash of lights made me jump, and a local sheriff’s car pulled up.
We stopped as an overweight man got out with a thin deputy joining his side.
“Can we help you?” Drake asked as he moved to protect me.
“Well, boys, how about you pack up and go,” the sheriff said.
“Ain’t causing trouble, and here to visit a relative. Don’t see why we need to leave,” Drake replied.
“Your type isn’t wanted here,” the sheriff snarled.
“Our type?” Apache repeated. “Decent law-abiding folks?”
Jett laughed and muttered something as the sheriff glared.
“You think this is funny? We don’t like criminals here.”
“Which one of us has a criminal background?” Drake shot back quickly.
“Bet all of you have. Anyway, we don’t want you in Layton,” the deputy interrupted.
“Try researching before making accusations,” Drake retorted.
“Yeah, yeah. We want you to leave,” the deputy pushed.
“Don’t care what you want. Ain’t nobody here committed a crime, nor does anyone have a criminal background,” Drake replied.
“Listen here, boys, we can do this easy or hard.”
“What’s the hard way?” Drake taunted, and the sheriff flushed.
“We’ll take you in, keep you overnight, and then escort you out of our fine town in the morning,” the deputy explained.
“Again, on what grounds? The fact we walked down the street and ate at a restaurant. Or the fact we spent five hundred bucks and let a hundred tip? Is that against the fuckin’ law?” Drake asked. “Yet, making threats and attempts at intimidation is illegal. Ain’t that right, Harley? You get all this?” Drake questioned, and I turned my head and saw Harley with his phone out recording this.
“Turn that off. I haven’t given permission,” the sheriff snapped.
“Kentucky is a one-party consent state, which, as this conversation involves all of us and we consented, my son can film us and your attempts at threats.”
“Parsons, get your lapdog and take a walk. Nobody has a record, and even if they did, no outstanding warrants exist. However, this is harassment, and it’s being recorded. You’ve no idea who these guys are, or you wouldn’t be causing such a fuss and being an idiot,” Savage ordered.
“Shut your mouth, Sawyer scum,” the sheriff shot back.
Drake’s eyes narrowed, and he drew himself up. “Tell me you got that,” he said to Harley.
“Loud and clear, Dad.”
“Send that video to your mom, get Steven on it, and then pass it to Antony and Andrew. They can contact the state senator for Kentucky and have him do a review of this asshole. And tell Phoe to send some lawyers out because we’re gonna need them if Doc Gibbons discovers what he thinks he will,” Drake demanded.
“Mommy? I thought you said the police were good guys!” Isla mumbled as tears rolled down her face.
“In Rapid City they are, don’t worry. Nobody here will let these idiots hurt you. They’re headed for a world of legal pain. Jett, Apache, take the girls back to the hotel,” Drake ordered. “Grace, go with them.”
Anxious, I looked between Savage and the kids and nodded reluctantly.
“We’re leaving now, sheriff,” I heard Drake say. “Should anyone try to stop us or cause trouble, remember this is being fully recorded, and you’ve no idea who you are messing with.”
“We don’t want his kind here,” Parsons spat.
“What? The innocent child of a rape? Did Savage ask to be born and for his father to be raped? No. But you small-minded assholes needed someone to blame and took it out on a kid.” Drake looked at those watching. “You are all fuckin’ big and brave, punishing a child for what his mother did. Makes me sick that you’re free to pollute the air of good people.”
“Move, Grace,” Savage said. Savage wrapped his arm around my waist and walked me speedily away.
I was grateful the girls had been moved before Drake spat his last words. We strolled back to the hotel, keeping a sharp eye out. When we arrived, the woman at the desk glanced at us and blushed.
“She’s sister to the diner lady,” Savage whispered, and Drake chuckled.
“Considering we just spent five hundred bucks, that’s gotta sting.” Harley laughed loudly.
The receptionist threw us a dirty look—even through her embarrassment—but we headed to our rooms. Karma lurked for those who were assholes.
Savage stopped by my door. “Are you going to be okay? Should I fly you and the girls home? It might be safer,” he suggested.
“If Grace goes, send someone else with her.” Jett squeezed past us. “Sin’s still threatening to do mean things to me,” he added, chuckling.
“I’m staying; this is nothing I haven’t seen before,” I said.
Savage looked guilty, so I reached out and grabbed his hand.
“I’m sorry, maybe—”
“Savage, not interested in hearing that maybe we should put the brakes on or whatever you were going to say. I don’t need your protection. I need you to treat me normally,” I interrupted.
“Okay,” Savage agreed. He leant forward and kissed me, leaving me yearning as always.
“One day, you’re going to fuck my brains out. I’m tired of being left needy,” I muttered, and Savage laughed.
“When we get home. We’ll find a babysitter,” he promised.
Savage
My worst fears were realised. Whether on purpose or not, Earle’s care had been sabotaged by Doctor Turner. Fuckin’ asshole was on my list.
Doc Gibbons had got Earle stabilised, and he was coming home to Rapid City. Phoe was organising a medical flight, and Texas, Gunner, and Doc would travel back on that.
Naturally, I blamed myself. I should have known better. Lettie was beside herself when she was told, and I genuinely believed she’d given Earle the best care. Worse, Lettie was also being let go because they were over-staffed. Funny that shit, as Lettie was the only nurse being given marching orders.
I’d promptly hired her to care for Earle in RC if she wanted, and Lettie had accepted gratefully.
Doc Gibbons had sent off several complaints about Doc Turner, as had some of the other doctors who’d been involved in accessing Earle. I knew Turner faced losing his licence, and I didn’t care. There was blood to be spilt.
Carefully, we’d packed everything in Earle’s room, and Harley had put it into the SUV and done two trips to transport it all to the jet. I was checking nothing had been missed—as I didn’t trust those assholes to send shit on—when the door opened.
To my surprise, my father walked in.
“What the fuck do you want?” I snapped, glaring at him.
D. J. looked at me briefly and then at the empty room. “Came to pay my respects and offer my best wishes,” D. J. Ellison said.
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me? Where were you when this town turned on him? Villainised him and then victimised him? What use are you now? Should have stepped up forty years ago, D. J.”
“You don’t know what it was like!” D. J. shouted back.
“No? I know that you were such a coward you told those assholes about Earle. Anything to save your dick, yeah? How did that work for you? You ended up remaining a prisoner for extra months. If you’d shut your mouth, Cletus wouldn’t have found Earle and given him brain damage!” I yelled in return.
“It was rape!” D. J retorted.
“Yeah, I know. I’m the product of it. And I tell you now, they raped your dick; I’d let my ass be fucked raw before I ever gave a kid up to be beaten and left. You stole everything from Earle. Earle got you help in the end, and you still left him to swing in the wind,” I bellowed.
“Son—”
“No, D. J. You made that fuckin’ clear. Your legitimate kids made that plain. You don’t get to come in here and act like your shit doesn’t stink. This town may buy your victim status and your holier-than-thou bullshit, but I see straight through you. I know you sold Earle out to save your dick for one bastard night. Cletus hunted him straight down and nearly killed him. All so you didn’t have to shag Loretta or Sandie’s dirty cunts. If you’d sucked it up, you’d have been free. Fuckin’ coward. Sacrificing an eight-year-old boy for your fuckin’ cock. You motherfuckin’ asshole, walk in here and pretend you care? Get the fuck out, D. J. Now!” I screamed.
“You’ve got no idea what it’s like to be held hostage, given drugs, and raped. None, son. Think I did you bad walking away, but I couldn’t look at you. Buck, I wanted to love you, and all I could see were their cunts. And you suffered? Boy, I was in hell every day because I had a child and couldn’t love him like he deserved. You were a victim just like me, and I couldn’t overcome it.
“That’s the difference. I’d have done anything to not wallow in that shit. D. J., you wallowed and loved it. Everybody said how you’d suffered, but you sat back and watched them punish me, and you never told them to stop. One word from their tragic hero and they would have done. Fuck you, D. J., you were a poor excuse for a man and still are. You’ve no idea the depth of hate I have for you. And worse, you left Earle swinging in the wind. Earle’s I.Q. was off the charts, and he lost that chance at a golden life, but you kept yours, didn’t you? Take your money and shove it.
“I learned a lesson you never did, D. J. Family is more important than anything else. It took me a while, but I found one. I would sacrifice for any of them. Because they’re worth it. Funny shit is? Some of them have been through worse than you, but they picked themselves up and moved forward. You like being a victim, so you’ll always remain that. But not me. Hope you understand I got out and made life fuckin’ good!” I snarled.
D. J. opened the door and stepped back as he saw the corridor filled with people. Some were even filming, their phones held towards us.
“Leave!” I yelled, tearing my voice chords.
D. J slammed the door and raced away. Once he was gone, I sat down heavily and sighed. I guess that had been a long time coming.
“Sorry, Uncle Earle,” I whispered.
Earle had never wanted this confrontation, and he’d be mortified to know it’d finally come to pass. But the pipers had to be paid before we left, and I meant to make that happen. D. J. was just one of them.