Chapter Eleven.
Savage
A week later, I was walking down the street with Harper and Isla when several vans pulled up outside my house. Grabbing the girl’s hands, I dragged them into the shadows and watched as numerous reporters climbed out. They stormed towards my home and banged on the front door. Luckily, Grace wasn’t in. She was working her notice for Bernard’s.
“Savage, what’s going on?” Isla said, sounding frightened.
“I’ve no clue,” I replied. Shit, I needed to get the girls to safety. However, my truck was in the driveway, and I’d have to push past reporters to reach it. As we watched another couple of trucks get out, this time, the reports carried cameras.
“Shit,” I muttered.
I froze when a reporter noticed us hiding in the shadows.
“Over there!” he called to a cameraman, and they began hurrying towards us.
I got ready to grab the kids and run when a Ford Ranger slammed to a stop beside us.
“Get in!” Nancy bellowed through the open window. I hurried across, shoved the girls in, slammed their door, then I joined Nancy in the front.
Nancy spun wheels just as the media reached us, flipped them the middle finger, and shot off.
“Are you tall enough to drive this?” I asked as I looked behind us.
“Would you like to get out and walk?”
“Not really.”
“Then shut up, Savage. Text Grace and warn her to leave work. The reporters know where she works,” Nancy said.
“What’s going on?” I demanded, confused, and Nancy pointed to a newspaper. I picked it up and felt the blood drain from my face.
‘Leg of Lamb Lady Killer shacks up with Hillbilly Rape Child Buck Sawyer Ellison,’ the headline screamed.
“Shit!” I exclaimed.
“Exactly. Please call Grace immediately and ensure she leaves work for Rage. That’s where we’re heading, right?” Nancy demanded.
“Yes, straight to Rage; they won’t get into the compound,” I said as I dialled Grace.
“Savage, do you have the girls?!” Grace almost shrieked as soon as she answered.
“They are safe; we’re on our way to Rage,” I soothed.
“There are reporters everywhere. Bernard has thrown several out, but they’re crowding the entrance and back exit. We can’t get out,” Grace exclaimed, panicked.
“I’ll get the brothers there.”
“Bernard called for help,” Grace cried.
“Hang in, babe. I’m taking the kids straight to the compound. Someone will be there soon, I promise.”
“We can hear sirens. I think the cops are coming,” Grace babbled.
“The police are good. Don’t go with anyone until Bernard says it’s fine. He knows who our friends are,” I ordered.
“The girls… are they okay?”
“A little confused, but Nancy saved us before the press got to them. Hang in, shit’s going to be fine,” I tried reassuring her.
“Yeah,” Grace said. My phone beeped with another call, and I looked down.
“Babe, Drake’s calling me. I gotta go.”
“Don’t leave me,” Grace cried, breaking my heart.
“I’ll add him.” I pressed the button and added Drake. “Drake, you’re on with me and Grace. Bernard’s has been surrounded.”
“We know, Bernard called. Lucas and Hawthorne are bringing uniforms to rescue Grace. Grace, this is frightening, but everything will be fine. Lucas and Hawthorne will bring you to Rage, and then later tonight, we’ll take everyone to Reading Hall. They’ll not get past security at Rage or the Hall. You can all hide there for a few days,” Drake announced.
“Thanks, Prez,” I said, hearing Grace’s breathing calm. Shit, she’d been so panicked.
“Who are you with?” Drake demanded.
“Our neighbour Nancy. The woman saved us from being surrounded and the girls from being traumatised,” I answered.
“Straight through the gates,” Drake stated.
“Understood.”
“See you soon,” Drake said and hung up.
“Grace, you there, babe?”
“The police have arrived,” she replied, sounding much calmer.
“Check if their names are Nando Hawthorne and Bobby Lucas. If they are, go with them. If it’s not them, stay put,” I ordered.
“Okay… excuse me, can I have your names?” Grace called.
“Savage on the phone?” a guy asked, and Grace said yes. “Savage, it’s Nando. We’ve got your woman. Meet you at Rage.”
I relaxed, knowing Grace was in safe hands.
“Cheers, brother,” I said and hung up.
“When you get to Rage, head to the rear wall. There’s a double gate there. Someone will open it for you,” I informed Nancy.
“Yeah, guess the shit’s hit the fan. Didn’t think you were in hiding, Savage. Nice to see you ain’t let what happened stop you living, son,” Nancy stated.
“How does Mike put up with you?” I asked.
Nancy snorted.
“Mike had his secret, fancy shed at the bottom of the garden where he keeps his cigars and good whiskey and plays poker games. And don’t deny it, Savage, because I know you’ve visited him a few times there!” Nancy retorted.
“Are you sure you’re tall enough to drive this? Ain’t there a height requirement?” I demanded again, and Nancy snorted.
“You are an asshole, Savage, but an okay one.”
◆◆◆
Harley opened the gates, and Nancy drove through slowly and stopped. Everyone stayed inside until the gates were shut. There were fuckin’ reporters everywhere. The entrance to Rage was lined with brothers, stopping them from getting onto the forecourt. Apparently, Phoe was sending a security team to take over.
Paparazzi screamed questions at us as we had driven through, and I’d made Harper and Isla hide on the floor, so nobody snapped a picture of them.
As soon as the gates shut, I flung open the door and grabbed the kids. I carried them, one in each arm, and headed straight for the clubhouse.
There was a buzzing noise and a yell.
Axel stomped out. “Hell yeah, fuckers, can’t you read? The fence is electrified,” the big man boomed. “Fuckin’ idiots.” He turned to the girls and softened. “Hey babies, let’s get chocolate and ice cream,” Axel said, grabbing them.
Isla made wide eyes over his shoulder, but I laughed.
“Hey, Grandpa Axel,” Harper replied. “I can walk.”
“Yup, but I like carrying my grandbabies,” Axel boomed in return.
“When did we electrify the fence?” I asked Fish, who was laughing at another buzzing noise and a strangled shriek.
“Oh, a couple of months ago. Magic paid us a visit. Next thing the wall is zippidy zap,” Fish announced.
“Just the fence? Do we need to look for mines?” I demanded, alarmed.
“We kept a watch on Magic, he didn’t dig shit up,” Fish replied.
“Thank fuck.”
The gates opened, and a car drove in and parked next to Nancy’s Ranger. I realised I’d left Nancy in my hurry to get the girls safe, but she was quite happy chattering away to Harley, who seemed beleaguered.
Grace jumped out of the car and raced into my arms, and I caught her tightly.
“Thanks, Nando,” I said with a nod.
With Lucas behind him, Nando offered a chin lift back and headed into the clubhouse. I immediately disliked their appearance. Lean and ready for action, their whole demeanour was different. Losing Justin Goldberg had done a number on them. Both men appeared willing to kill a Venomous Fang without hesitation. It was a hard change from their previous law- abiding attitude. Now it was ‘fuck the law.’ Nando rarely smiled anymore, and I knew Dylan was worried about his cousin.
Lucas had shocked us all the other month when he put a bullet in someone’s skull and walked away without a backward glance. Even Ramirez had a darker aspect now.
“What the hell happened?” Grace murmured.
I looked down and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I’m not sure. Nancy showed me an article in the newspaper about us, and that’s all I know.”
“It was that asshole Parsons, he recognised Grace. And after he was fired, he spilt the beans to the newspapers. Guess Parsons thinks he got revenge. Phoe’s gunning for him, and she’s got Nigel on board. By the time Phoe and Nigel are done, Parsons won’t have anything left,” Drake explained, approaching. He eyed Nancy. “Has she left her knitting behind?”
“Fuck knows,” I admitted.
“Axel and Ellen are spoiling the girls. Do you have your house keys? I’m going to get Harley and Tye to fetch your shit from your house. Then you’re coming home with us. Dana has already contacted the SUV squad, so a distraction is being planned,” Ace said.
“Hawthorne in on that?” I asked.
“Yeah. He thinks that shit is funny,” Ace replied.
“I don’t understand,” Grace said.
“All the old ladies, the Hawthorne females, some of Delta Force, Juno Group, and Hawthorne’s drive Ford SUVs. They must fuckin’ fund Ford, I’m telling ya. When Dana needed to hide out, they flooded the streets with SUVs, and Dana and Ezra escaped in the chaos. Dana’s planning to do similar so we can hide at Reading Hall in peace. But even so, nobody will get past Liz and her team,” I explained.
“That’s like that scene in Fast and Furious but with black SUVs.”
“Exactly. The Hawthorne women have their names on theirs, but yeah, it’s funny shit,” I said.
“Everything was going so well.” Grace sighed.
“It still is. This is a blip, babe. Don’t let them pull you down,” I murmured as I rubbed her back. “I know it is mid-morning, but what’s the betting you’ve not eaten yet?”
“A good bet,” Grace replied.
“Then I need to get my girl fed. I’ll call down to Penny; bacon and pancakes on their way.”
Grace
I managed to get hold of a copy of the newspaper and nearly fainted at the gossipy report they’d printed. Speculation surrounded my relationship with Savage and its outcome. We were being painted as two damaged souls who might implode, and there were questions about us being able to live normally. I was angry, but not as much as Phoe, who’d called a reporter and released a statement.
I was watching the news as the girls played when Phoe appeared outside HQ.
“Be kind to one another. Isn’t that a movement you all pay lip service to? But nobody follows it because it’s fun to tear someone down. Nobody knows what really happened to Grace or Savage, but you all print rumours and lies and make up gossip. What’s wrong with two people in love? Nothing, except all you trolls out there can’t stand that. You hate people being happy because your own lives are sad and miserable. You can’t witness two people in love because you’ll never know it. You’re simply bitter and twisted. Shame on you.
“Savage and Grace are my family and are very much loved. Please rethink your ability to tear them down. You’ve got a hell of a lot of people to go through before you get close. So make up your false reports, tell your lies, spin your tales, we don’t care. Those who love them understand the truth. You will not hound these two into a tragic ending; we nor they will allow it. So, I suggest all you vultures, looking to derail their happiness and pick over their dead carcasses, pack up your stuff and leave. Because you’re the ones who should be ashamed, not them.
“There’s no misery here for you. Just joy. And to those trolls who I’m sure are waiting to fill their mouths with the next tasty morsel of gossip, choke on it. Yeah, Grace and Savage are together, and they’ll live many years together, secure in their love. You trolls will never understand that. And we at Rage pity you. Goodnight.”
“Wow, Phoe actually gave a statement,” Lindsey said.
“Phoe never goes on TV or speaks to reporters; it’s usually Sally who does that,” Ace added.
I understood what they were telling me. Phoe had put herself on the line; it should mean something. And it did.
I relaxed in Savage’s arms. Finally, we both experienced what a family should be.
Savage
The uproar didn’t die immediately, although it did slack off after Phoe’s statement shaming everyone. We could go home a week later, but hell did I enjoy myself at Reading Hall. At one point, I thought Phoe might end up with two more kids, as Isla and Harper fell totally in love with it.
I had been speaking to Rock and Apache about having the basement turned into an apartment for Earle, too. They came up with some plans, and I decided to have them do all the work simultaneously. Grace had been a little confused when I said I was moving our bedroom to the attic with a large bathroom for us. Plus, I was also adding walk-in closets and a seating area for Grace to relax in.
I was moving my office above the garage and turning the original office into a playroom for the girls and future children. And I was having a covered patio area built so we could grill outside no matter the weather. There were a few other plans, but I left them to Rock and Apache. I knew what I and Grace wanted, and she’d be happy no matter what.
Earle’s health was coming along well. I couldn’t get over how much my uncle had changed in the four weeks since his strokes. Earle spoke much clearer and in fuller structured sentences.
While Doc Gibbons said he’d never recover his genius status and promise, even diminished, Earle was amazing. He’d become interested in baseball, ice hockey, and Harleys. His intelligence was surprising, considering he’d been drugged all his life. Doc Gibbons said there would be times when Earle’s mind might go blank, but it was merely a reset because he was absorbing so much information now.
Earle was delighted to come and live with us. He could have lived alone, but like me, Earle understood the importance of family, and the girls adored him. Earle was a huge, hulking mountain man, but his hair was now neatly cut and beard trimmed. His eyes sparkled once again, where they’d been a watery blue before. He’d lost some weight due to the strokes but was still tall and broad. And so gentle. So very gentle. I could see the boy he’d once been and loved Earle even more.
Grace was adored by Earle. She was his darling angel and spoiled with attention. The moment Grace opened her mouth, Earle was spellbound and sat there listening happily. They spent ages together cooking in the kitchen or watching a series they might have got hooked on, and it would have been easy to be jealous. But there was no room for jealousy. My heart was full of love, thanks to one woman who saw past my fears and saw me.
As each day passed, my love for Grace grew in many different ways. Because she was secure in my love, she blossomed in happiness. And I grew too; I smiled and laughed a bit more frequently. Grace had done that. We’d agreed to rent her house out and were already trying for a baby. I didn’t want to be an old dad; I wanted to play ball and catch with them.
While Grace had been reluctant, holding a few orgasms back worked wonders, and she soon caved to my way of thinking.
We’d been together for four weeks. And it was shocking how we fit so well. I understood my brothers and how quickly they’d fallen and vowed to never mock them again, as I had become pussy whipped too. But there was still some secrets I withheld from Grace. Such as Sandie trying to contact me again.
Warden Gayle Rochester had called to tell me they’d intercepted a letter another inmate had sent on Sandie’s behalf. Gayle informed me that the first part of the letter mentioned Earle being ill and not expected to recover. Sandie mentioned the money that Earle had inherited, reminding me she was entitled to some as Earle’s sister. It made me sick that Sandie was only interested in money and not his health. Well, screw her, Earle was recovering, and Sandie could choke in that hell hole.
It had made me wonder if Sandie had somehow managed to harm Earle from behind bars, but I’d never know the answer. It could have bothered me for the rest of my life, giving Sandie power over me, but I managed to let it go. With effort.
The second part of the letter mentioned the newspaper articles, and Sandie asked how much her silence was worth. I asked Gayle to pass on a message. And that was Sandie could do as she wished, because she had no power over me. And it was a power play that Sandie was trying to pull. More fool her. I hadn’t heard anything since.
I was also a full brother now. We were down to three prospects, and when Tye and Carmine were playing, poor Harley copped everything. Drake was considering looking at more candidates, but Rage was large enough already, and he was reluctant to trust newcomers with everything that still happened in the background. But that was quickly resolved when Cody and Christian, Drake’s twenty-two- and twenty-year-old sons, applied as prospects.
Cody had been accepted as prospect three years ago, but Drake had put it on hold because Cody had stepped up to learn how to run the Trusts with Phoe. Christian had joined his older brother and was now ready to become a prospect. The two of them wanted to relieve some of the pressure off of Phoe. Eighteen-year-old Jared and seventeen-year-old Aaron had also shown interest, so Drake would have his prospects come hell or high water.
Grace got her demon dog husky, a bitch called Echo. And yeah, Echo had slept on the bed after the second night. Grace couldn’t stand her sad howls.
Life was good, as good as it should be. And I doubted it would get better.
But four weeks later, I knew it could when Grace got a positive pregnancy result. Yippee-ki-ay.