The slam of a screen door had me twisting around, my body awkwardly guarding Maisy. “What the fuck are you doing with my dog, bitch?” A man screamed at me, a potbelly hanging over his drooping jeans, as a scraggly beard dotted his face, with greasy hair tucked behind his ears.
“I’m taking her,” I informed him, my hand tugging at the chain wrapped too tightly around her neck.
“Like hell you are,” he roared, his hand going to the waist of his pants as he pulled a gun. I scooted back, falling on my butt as Maisy leapt to her feet, growling, hackles raised as she stood next to me. “Get off my property, bitch, before I kill you.”
Maisy growled deeper, snarling, as the man stomped closer and he waved the gun at her, shouting, “Shut up, you stupid dog, before I shoot you.”
“No,” I cried, scrambling to my knees, as I wrapped my arms around her protectively. He swung the gun back at me as I panted, anger overriding my fear.
“You’re a horrible man,” I screamed at him. “Chaining up a dog and starving it. You should be shot.”
“I warned you to get off my property,” he threatened, cocking the gun. “You should have listened, girlie.”
“Drop the gun before I blow your brains out,” Creed warned, coming up the side of the house, a gun steadied on the man. “You don’t threaten her.”
The man laughed, barely glancing at Creed, as he continued to point the gun at me. “And who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? You’re trespassing and I have the right to shoot you.”
“Not if you’re dead,” Creed answered, standing motionless, the gun trained on the man’s head as I kneeled in the dirt next to Maisy.
“You ain’t killing me,” the man boasted, “Not before I drop your girl –” his words cut off abruptly as a single shot rang out and I watched him crumple to the ground.
“Jailbait,” Creed called out and I made a noise, still staring at the man who’d just threatened me and now lay dead on the ground. “You a’ight?” A whimper escaped me and Maisy nuzzled my neck. “Jailbait, talk to me,” Creed ordered, bypassing the dead man as he came to me and crouched down. He tucked the gun into the back of his jeans, holding his hands out in front of him loosely as Maisy growled protectively. “Shhh, it’s alright, girl. We’re on the same team. You protect my girl and you’re good in my book.” His voice took on a smooth, rolling cadence that immediately eased the hackles raised on Maisy’s back and I could feel it having a similar effect on me as I sucked in a breath. “Jailbait, I’m sorry you had to see that, but I wasn’t going to let him get a shot off. Not willing to risk you getting hurt.”
I nodded, my mind replaying the last few minutes as I hugged Maisy. “It’s okay,” I whispered, “I’m fine.”
“I don’t think you’re fine,” Creed disagreed, his hand hovering by my cheek and when I didn’t flinch away, he brushed his fingers along my jaw. “But I do think you will be fine after a bit. You’re strong and brave, Jailbait, no denying that.”
The compliment warmed me, making me realize that I was cold. “He almost killed me,” I whimpered, sinking down as the thought crashed over me. “You killed him to save me.”
“Yup,” Creed answered simply. “If it makes you feel better, I probably would have killed him anyway for fighting dogs.”
“Creed,” Deacon called as he strode toward us, slowing when he saw the dead man. “Shit, I was hoping that was a shot to scare him,” he muttered, shaking his head. He shot Creed a troubled glance, “I got the locks open, but I don’t think most of them can be saved.”
I glanced between them, trying to figure out what they were talking about. “I’ll go take a look, do what needs to be done,” Creed answered, standing in one fluid motion as his expression smoothed into a hardened mask. “Get this chain off her and watch it, she’s protective of Jailbait.” He left without another word, not even glancing at the dead guy as he went around the side of the house. I stared after him worriedly as Deacon approached and Maisy started growling a warning.
“Can you call off your other guard dog?” Deacon asked, nodding to the growling Maisy and I jerked my attention back to them. I stroked her head, whispering softly until she calmed.
“She’s not mine,” I replied, biting my lip as I said it. I wanted her to be mine, but it had started to dawn on me that I had nowhere to take her. Somehow, I didn’t think Johnny would allow me to keep her at the club.
“Yeah, kinda like Creed isn’t yours,” Deacon muttered under his breath, his hands slow and steady as he worked to unravel the chain around Maisy. “You are a definitely a match,” he continued, his words puzzling me as I watched him remove the heavy chain. “I thought I told you to stay in the truck,” he reminded me and I ducked my head. “Yeah, yeah, let me guess, you saw the dog and that was all she wrote.”
“Yeah,” I whispered softly since that was exactly what happened. A gunshot caused me to jump and I glanced fearfully at the house, crying out as another gunshot rang out.
“It’s okay,” Deacon stopped me as I pushed to my feet, headed toward the back where Creed had gone and the gunshots came from. “It’s Creed.”
I glanced down at Deacon as he got the last links off Maisy’s neck, my attention caught by the red, oozing wounds where it had been chafing her skin. “Oh, baby girl,” I cried, gently examining the skin. “I’m not sorry at all that Creed killed that man.”
More gunshots rang out, diverting my attention once again and I stared wide eyed at the house. “What is he doing?” I whispered, not sure I wanted to know.
“Putting them out of their misery,” Deacon answered shortly, tossing the chain aside in disgust. “He,” he nodded to the dead guy, “Was a dog fighter. Raised bait dogs and fighters, kept them caged in the back. That’s why Creed stopped.”
“How did he know?”
Deacon pointed to a symbol spray painted on one of the rusted out cars. “They use that symbol for bets in the dog fights. Creed figured he might have dogs.”
Another shot caused me to jump and Maisy leaned her head on my legs. “What’s he doing?” I asked again, knowing now that I really didn’t want to know.
Deacon glanced at me sympathetically. “He’s putting them down,” he answered as silence followed the last gunshot. “Most were too far gone to be saved.” My hand went to Maisy in concern and Deacon shook his head. “He wouldn’t touch her. She’s strong…like you.” Deacon stepped back, patting his pockets, before pulling out a pack of cigarettes. “Stay here,” he ordered, pointing at me. “I mean it this time, Jailbait, you don’t want to see that,” his head jerked to the back as I shook my head frantically. I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to think about it. I sank to the ground, curling my fingers into Maisy’s buff colored fur and waited.
Several minutes later, a cop car pulled up to the house and Creed came around. The cop who stepped out of the car seemed to know Creed as they exchanged a complicated handshake. Creed gestured for me to come over and I brushed my jeans off as I walked over, Maisy following on my heels.
“Jailbait, this is Noah. He’s a friend of the club.”
“He means honorary member,” Noah corrected, studying me. His gaze was matter of fact, not a hint of creepiness, and he snorted when he saw Maisy. “She’s definitely a match for you,” he said cryptically as he turned back to Creed. “You had to kill him?”
“He pointed a gun at Jailbait,” Creed replied flatly. “He got off easy.” I shivered at the violence in Creed’s voice as Noah let out a sigh, nodding. “What do you need from me?”
“Get out of here,” Noah answered, jerking his head to the truck still idling in the middle of the road. “Take her and go. I’ll clean this up and come by the club when I’m finished.” They exchanged a glance loaded with meaning I didn’t understand and Creed nodded as he reached for me, pausing when Maisy growled.
“She was mine first,” he grumbled, lowering his hand so she could sniff it, his finger delicately brushing over her muzzle. “We’re on the same team,�
� he told her and she lowered her head, the motion so regal she could have been a queen giving a peasant a pardon. He glanced at Noah as he took my arm. “There are a couple of dogs in the back I plan to come back for,” he warned him. “They’re going to need time and attention but they can be rehabilitated. Deacon is getting them settled now.”
Noah lifted his chin in acknowledgement, his gaze following me curiously for a second before he yanked on a pair of latex gloves and headed over to the dead guy. “You get a name before you shot him?” He called over his shoulder and Creed shook his head. “Great,” I heard Noah mutter as he crouched down and started digging into the guy’s pocket.
“Come on,” Creed tugged my arm encouragingly. “Let’s get out of here.”
“What’s going to happen?” I questioned, resisting him as I glanced back at Noah, who was snapping pictures of the scene. I couldn’t believe we were just walking away from a crime scene when we were the reason for it.
“Noah will take care of it. It was necessary,” Creed rumbled, guiding me to the truck. “He understands, but it’s better if your name isn’t on any reports, okay?”
“Okay,” I said uncertainly. “Deacon?”
“Will be right behind us. He’s just securing the dogs for transport,” Creed assured me as he helped me into the truck. He lifted Maisy onto the floorboard and she rested her head against me with sigh. “She’s definitely yours,” he murmured, a look of pride marking his expression as he shut the door. He hustled around the truck, hopping into the still open door, and shifting into drive as he slammed it shut. “We’ll get her settled back at the club,” he informed me and I stared at him hopefully.
“I can keep her?” I couldn’t hide my incredulity and he shot me a surprised glance.
“You’d let me take her away?” He questioned, a smile playing over his lips.
“No,” I answered instantly and his grin became full blown.
“That’s what I thought,” he replied, head bobbing. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.” His fingers strummed restlessly against the steering wheel as he drove us away. “I can’t have you sleeping on the street with just a mutt to keep you safe.” Maisy let out a soft woof and he flashed her a grin. “Not that you wouldn’t do a stand up job, old girl.”
“Johnny will let me keep her there?” I asked doubtfully and Creed got a cagey look on his face. “No,” I answered for him and he shot me an imploring glance. “Creed, you already said I don’t need to get on his bad side.”
“You don’t and you won’t,” he responded instantly.
“I’m not giving her up,” I said stoutly.
“And you won’t have too,” he promised. “We’re taking her to my house.”
“You have a house,” I stated and he shrugged.
“Technically, me, Crew, and Cord have a house,” he answered.
“The one with the electric bill,” I replied as understanding dawned.
“Yes, Crew and his mom live there now since Cord is in the military and I usually stay at the clubhouse,” he explained. “Dad left the house to us boys when he died.”
“It’s nice of you to let Crew and his mom live there,” I mentioned, not sure what I was supposed to say. He shrugged.
“Strippers don’t make that much. At least not old ones,” he replied nonchalantly. “At least this way I know Crew has roof over his head and I can keep an eye on him.”
“And a place to bring strays,” I added, not just talking about Maisy anymore. He shoot me a sidelong glance but didn’t deny my words. “They won’t mind having a dog hanging around?”
“Nah, Crew is used to me bringing dogs there to rehab. I’ve got kennels and runs set up in the back yard. He’s good about feeding them and giving them attention when I’m not around.”
“What about his mom? Nina, you said?”
“She won’t say anything,” Creed declared confidently. “She knows better.” I settled back in the seat with those words, my hands careful to avoid the open wounds on Maisy as I petted her. Creed saw me and said, “We’ll get her bandaged up. She’ll be good as new in a few weeks.”
“Will I be able to see her?”
“Yeah, of course.” He reached over, petting Maisy, and bumping my arm. “You can see her as often as you want. The house is only a couple of blocks from the club. You can walk over anytime.”
“Why don’t you live with Nina and Crew, if they’re so close?”
Creed grew quiet, his face inscrutable. “It’s better this way,” he finally answered, flashing me a glance. “Crew doesn’t appreciate me acting like an older brother.”
“You are his older brother,” I stated, confused.
“Yeah, but,” he hesitated for a moment, “I’m not Cord.”
“Cord is the oldest?” I questioned, remembering the picture I’d seen in Creed’s room, and the unsmiling guy who’d stood next to Creed.
“Yeah, he’s a year older than me,” Creed sighed. “Him and Crew always got along, and when he left, it was hard on Crew. It was like losing Dad all over again.”
“Why did Cord leave?” I asked, puzzled. “You said he’s in the military?”
He nodded, staying silent so long I wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “He joined the Navy. He had his reasons, but Crew was still young when he left and didn’t really understand. I tried to step in, but he just saw it as me trying to take Cord’s place.”
“He didn’t appreciate it.”
“No,” Creed shook his head. “Not at all.”
“But you seem to get along now.”
“We get along, but its better we don’t live together.”
“Ah, but it’s okay to visit the dogs you rehabilitate together?”
“Something like that,” Creed shot me a glance as I hummed. “Don’t make too much of it.”
“You know sometimes people don’t get along because they’re too much alike,” I mentioned, not glancing at him even when I felt his gaze boring into me. “It’s hard to admit we share traits with someone we argue with.”
“You might be right,” Creed said slowly. “But we also hurt the ones we love the most.”
My lower lip wobbled as I muttered, “Yeah,” as I remembered the fights I used to have with my mom.
“It gets better,” he said gruffly. “You remember the good stuff instead of the bad. You feel less guilty for all the stupid shit you said and did and remember the happy times.” He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. “It takes time, but I promise, it gets easier.”
I nodded wordlessly, my throat sealed, trapping anything I wanted to say behind a lump of tears I refused to shed. He didn’t seem to need an answer as he continued to run his thumb over my hand as he drove us home.
***
These time it was daylight and I was awake as we entered the town limits and I saw the sign announcing we were entering Friendly. The old buildings were a little worn, but still maintained as we drove through. People waved, seeming to recognize the old truck and the man driving it. I watched curiously as we passed the now familiar club and turned down a street, making the block before turning again this time in to the driveway of an older white house, the shutters painted a cheery blue. The yard was cut and an older car sat in the carport.
“Nina’s home,” Creed muttered, placing the truck in park. “Crew’s probably still helping Clutch with that transmission.” He seemed a little uneasy as he spoke, but nodded for me to get out. “We’ll go around back and get Maisy settled.”
I hopped out and Maisy gamely followed me. She seemed to have a little more pep, her tail wagging as she padded after us. The back yard was bigger than I pictured, with a large span of green grass and a huge covered kennel on one side.
“It’s heated and cooled,” Creed said, going to one side where a shed stood. He opened it to reveal dog food and supplies stacked inside. “We’ll get her a bowl of food and clean up those wounds.”
“Creed,” a voice cooed, in a tone I was starting to learn was a familiar one wher
e Creed was concerned. “What are you doing here? You should have come up to the house. You know I always look forward to seeing you.”
Creed tensed and discomfort crawled up my spine at the implication in her voice. I glanced over my shoulder hoping this wasn’t Crew’s mother. The woman who sashayed up had a great body, I admitted grudgingly, but time hadn’t been kind to her face. It looked like she had spent a little too much time in the sun or smoking. Or both, I added mentally, when I saw the cigarette dangling from her fingertips. She had on a pair of cutoffs that barely covered her ass and a halter top that did nothing to hide her boobs. The dye job on her head clearly wasn’t Ronnie’s work, the red leaning closer to brassy orange, something I knew Ronnie would never allow.
“Nina,” Creed spoke reluctantly, shooting me an apologetic look as he turned and greeted her. “I thought you’d be at work.”
“Oh, I haven’t been feeling well,” she simpered, walking right up to him and pressing her boobs against his chest as my eyebrows shot to the sky. I barely resisted the urge to shove her away from him, only controlling myself as Creed stepped back using a bowl as a shield.
“Crew mentioned you’d been sick,” he replied and she smiled in delight until he continued. “Said that was the reason you hadn’t paid the electric bill. You couldn’t work.” His gaze skimmed over her doubtfully. “Maybe I should put a call into Tony at the Crazy Horse.”
“No,” she exclaimed, the smile wiped from her face. “You don’t need to call him. I’m going in tonight.” She barely glanced at me as she started to back up. “In fact, I should be getting ready.” She gave a breathless little laugh that sounded forced to me. “You know your way around, Creed.” I rolled my eyes at her implication and Creed caught the movement and grinned. “You want anything, Creed, just give a holler.”
“No worries, Nina, I know exactly what I want,” Creed replied, never taking his eyes off me. “Glad you’re feeling better.” She didn’t miss the jab, huffing as she spun back toward the house.
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