Chapter Eleven #2
“Damned lucky those fuckers didn’t take your fuckin’ head off with that crowbar,” Pain muttered, his expression a mixture of exasperation and understanding.
“Let me check him out properly before you squeeze those ribs any tighter,” he said, not unkindly.
“He’s probably got at least one or two cracked. ”
I immediately loosened my grip, though I couldn’t bring myself to move away completely. Tiny kept his arm around me as Pain quickly examined the gash on his head, shining a small penlight into his eyes to check his pupils.
“Concussion for sure, but nothing that won’t heal,” Pain announced after a moment. He gently pressed along Tiny’s ribs, noting where Tiny flinched. “Two, maybe three cracked ribs. You’re one lucky son of a bitch, Tiny.”
Tiny’s lips quirked in a half-smile despite the blood still matting his beard. “Told you those assholes couldn’t fight worth shit.”
“Let’s get you back to the Bronco,” Pain said, helping Tiny unsteadily to his feet then slid a shoulder under Tiny’s arm to support him. “We’ll clean you up at the compound.”
I turned to look for the girls, needing to make sure they were still safe.
They had emerged from the trees with Caleb.
Riot joined them, talking quietly with his stepson and the girls.
They hung back, watching the chaos with wide eyes.
Knight had Andy and two of his men on their knees, hands behind their heads.
Griffin stood guard over the others, his face a study in controlled violence as he watched them.
Tiny followed my gaze, his body tensing at the sight of the girls. “They really OK?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.
“They’re fine,” I assured him, squeezing his hand. “We were all so scared for you.”
“They shouldn’t see this,” he muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the blood on his face. “Don’t want to scare them more.”
The protectiveness in his voice, even now when he was the one bleeding and injured, made my heart swell. “Hate to break it to you, big guy, but they’re already running this way.”
Zelda reached us first, Kira half a step behind her. They both threw themselves at him and Tiny, bless his heart, caught them each in one arm and held them close. Zelda’s expression hardened into a mask of fury that reminded me so much of my own I almost laughed despite everything.
“Did you at least hit him back?” she demanded, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Did you break his stupid face?”
Tiny’s laugh rumbled through his chest, though it cut off sharply as the movement jostled his injured ribs. “Yeah, Zelda. I got him good.”
“You can call me Z,” she said, lifting her chin. “Blame Knight. Heard him call me that when he talked to Mom.”
Kira’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at the blood on Tiny’s face. “Are you gonna be OK?” she whispered.
Tiny’s expression softened as he looked down at her. “I’m gonna be just fine, darlin’. Nothing a little rest won’t fix.” He winked at her, the gesture so incongruous with his battered face that a watery giggle escaped her.
Knight approached us, his tattooed face set in grim lines. “Cops are on their way,” he said without preamble. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
“What about him?” I jerked my chin toward Andy, who was still kneeling on the ground, blood running from his nose and split lip. The hatred in his eyes as he glared at me made my skin crawl.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Knight assured me.
“Got some anonymous tips headed to the right people about his dealings. Couple files might have found their way to the feds too.” He shrugged, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Andy Harlow’s about to have a very, very bad day, and it’s only going to get worse. ”
Relief washed through me, so intense I swayed slightly on my feet. Tiny’s arm tightened around my waist, steadying me.
“Let’s get you all back to the compound,” Knight said, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at the girls. “The girls and Caleb can ride with me, Riot, and Griffin. Penny, you ride in the Bronco with Tiny and Pain.”
“I want to stay with Mom,” Zelda protested immediately, her expression mulish.
Knight knelt down so he was eyelevel with her. “I need you to help me keep an eye on your sister,” he said quietly. “And Tiny needs your mom right now. Can you do that for him? After what he did for you today?”
Zelda’s eyes flicked to Tiny, who was still leaning heavily on Pain’s shoulder, then back to Knight. After a moment, she nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But I get to ride with Riot.”
Knight’s lips twitched. “Sure thing, Z.”
Kira hesitated, looking uncertain until Griffin approached her, his usually stern face softening into a gentle smile. “Want to see how fast my bike can go?” he asked, and Kira’s eyes widened with a mixture of fear and excitement.
“Is it scary?” she asked in a small voice.
Griffin shook his head solemnly. “Not when you’re with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
After a moment’s consideration, Kira nodded. “OK.”
As Knight led the girls toward the bikes, Pain guided Tiny toward the Bronco, which had somehow survived the entire ordeal with only a few new dents.
The tire tracks in the gravel where we’d been forced off the road were still visible, a reminder of how quickly our simple shopping trip had turned into a nightmare.
We were passing the man who’d hit Tiny with the crowbar when Tiny suddenly stopped, pulling away from Pain’s support to stand on his own. Blood still streaked his face, but his eyes were clear and cold as he stared down at the man who’d knocked him to the ground.
“Next time,” Tiny said, his voice carrying easily in the sudden quiet, “make sure your fuckin’ swing counts. Any bitch-ass motherfucker who can’t kill a man with two blows to the head with a crowbar has got to be a fuckin’ pussy.”
The man glared up at him but flinched when Tiny took a step closer. One of Andy’s other men actually chuckled, earning himself a murderous look from his compatriot.
“He’s right though,” the man said with a shrug. “You hit a man in the head with a crowbar, he oughtta be dead.”
Pain stepped forward, placing a hand on Tiny’s shoulder. “Save it for later, brother. Need to get your girls.”
Tiny held the man’s gaze for a moment longer before nodding once, a gesture so full of contempt that the man looked away first. I couldn’t help but feel fierce pride at the sight of Tiny standing tall despite his injuries, unbroken and unbowed.
Pain helped Tiny into the passenger seat of the Bronco, then turned to me. “You OK to drive?” he asked, his shrewd eyes assessing me for any signs of shock or injury.
I nodded, surprised to find my hands steady as I took the keys he offered. “I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt at all.”
“I’ll follow behind,” Pain said, already moving back toward his bike. “We’ll have him patched up in no time.”
I climbed into the driver’s seat, stealing a glance at Tiny as I started the engine.
His head was tipped back against the headrest, eyes closed, the harsh winter sun highlighting every bruise and cut on his face.
The sight of him so battered made my throat tighten, but I swallowed hard against the emotion. He needed me steady right now.
“You sure you’re OK to drive?” Tiny asked without opening his eyes, his voice roughened by exhaustion.
“I promise,” I assured him, reaching across to squeeze his hand gently. “Just focus on breathing through the pain.”
He turned his head slightly, opening one eye to look at me, a small smile on his face. “Not in pain when you’re next to me.”
The simple statement, delivered in that deep, matter-of-fact rumble, unraveled something in my chest that I’d been holding tight since the moment Andy’s car had rammed us.
I managed to put the Bronco in gear and pull back onto the road, following Knight’s bike as he led the way back toward the compound.
The girls were secure, perched behind Riot and Griffin, their small arms wrapped tight around the bikers’ waists.
We’d only gone a mile when a sob escaped me, so suddenly I couldn’t hold it back. I quickly pulled onto the shoulder, putting the Bronco in park before I lost control completely. Tiny’s arm came around me immediately, pulling me across the console and onto his lap despite his injured ribs.
“Hey,” he murmured, his hand coming up to cradle my face. “It’s OK now. We’re all OK.”
“You almost weren’t,” I choked out, clinging to him as the tears I’d been fighting finally broke free. “You almost died protecting us, and I just left you there. I just ran --”
“You did exactly what you were supposed to do,” he interrupted firmly. “You got the girls to safety. We both had to keep them safe. They’re what mattered.”
“You mattered too,” I whispered fiercely, pulling back to look at him through my tears. “You matter to us. To me.” I took a shuddering breath, suddenly needing him to know, needing to say the words in case I ever lost the chance again. “I love you, Tiny. I love you so much it terrifies me.”
His thumb brushed away a tear from my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine. “I love you too, Penny,” he said softly. “You and those girls. Nothing on this earth could make me stop fighting to get back to you. Nothing.”
I pressed my forehead to his, careful of his wounds, breathing in the scent of him. Blood and sweat mingled with the faint hint of pine that always clung to his skin. My fingers traced the uninjured side of his face, memorizing the feel of him, solid and real beneath my touch.
“Take me home,” he murmured against my lips. “Then we’ll do some online Christmas shopping.”
It took me a second to realize what he’d said, then a snorted laugh broke free, prompting him to chuckle.
I nodded, pressing one more gentle kiss to his mouth before shifting back to the driver’s seat.
As I put the Bronco back in gear and pulled onto the road, I glanced in the rearview mirror at the line of bikes following us.
The one behind us had pulled over with us.
They hadn’t intruded or done anything other than wait patiently.
They had come for us. They had my daughters safe among them.
These were fierce, loyal men who’d come when we needed them most and I would be forever grateful to them.
The compound was waiting for us, and beyond that, a future I never thought I’d have. A future with a man who’d fight through hell itself to keep us safe. A future with an unexpected family, one I’d found when I needed them. My family. Perfect in all its dangerous, beautiful chaos.