by E. C. Land
“Because he’s a cop.” Of course, he was a cop. It would make sense as to why the police wouldn’t help her. They all look out for their own around here. You rarely find one that will do the right thing.
One of them being Bishop but he’s not on the force anymore. Not since he quit and joined SoCo Security Investigations, but he might be able to help in this case.
“Fairy girl, what if we can get someone we trust to come talk to you?” I ask as I glance over at Tanner and nod my head. He’ll know who I’m talking about.
Pulling out his phone, Tanner goes into the other room while I focus back on Bethany.
“I don’t know,” she murmurs, catching her breath.
“Just trust us and we’ll make sure no one harms you again,” I say as I gently cup the side of her face and brush the tears from her eyes.
Holding my gaze, Bethany nods her head.
When Tanner steps back into the room he gives me a chin lift letting me know that he got ahold of Bishop. “He’ll be here soon,” Tanner says as he rounds the couch.
“Good,” I say before turning my attention back to Bethany. “Let’s get these cuts cleaned up while we wait for Bishop.”
“Detective Bishop?” she asks furrowing her brow.
“You know him?” I inquire.
I notice her fiddling with her nails as she nods her head. “H–he was Jacob’s partner before he left the force,” she says.
Oh shit.
“Are you talking about Detective Davis?” Lex asks.
Another nod in confirmation.
Fuck, that motherfucker is an asshole and I’ve wanted to beat his ass for years. Even more so since he fucked with some good friends of the band.
Chapter 5
Bethany
If there was a rock large enough for me to crawl under right now I would. My embarrassment has hit an all-time high as I sit in my living room surrounded by all the guys from the shop and our three newcomers. Well, two of them are new, the other I’ve known for years.
Bishop.
He was Jacob’s partner before he left the force. I never knew why he left but I’m sure it’s for the same reason I don’t trust any of the officers in this area. Majority of them are corrupt, only looking out for themselves. Bishop, however, was different— he did his job and Jacob constantly complained about how he could never do as he pleased around his partner.
Clearing my head, I took in the other two men who were standing to the side of the room speaking in low tones with Hunter who had shown up right before Bishop. As they came in the room, the guys nodded at them.
The one named Thorn wore a cut with patches all over it. Yep, I know what bikers wear. See, my uncle is in a motorcycle club. I may not have seen him much over the years because of my parents then due to Jacob. It’s never stopped him from checking on me.
With my uncle living in Texas, it helps me keep a lot of things hidden from him. They don’t call him Tombstone for no reason. As the Enforcer of the Satan’s Keepers, you gotta be a hard ass and mean as hell. That’s what he told me once.
The other guy standing with them, they introduced as Levi. Talk about a sex god on a stick with his shaggy blond hair and black shirt stretched across his chest. Tattoos on both arms and I won’t even go into detail about the rest because damn if he wasn’t one of the hottest men I’d ever met. Well other than Chaz.
When Bishop showed up with these two, the smiles they all had on their faces died the moment they walked in and saw me. Jaws were set and Bishop muttered ‘Davis’ as if he knew exactly what had happened to me.
Now sitting here with Tanner and Lex having stationed themselves right behind me, I try to look anywhere but at the man who sits in front of me.
Chaz.
The man has barely spoken to me, let alone looked in my direction since I started working at Music Lullabies. Now, he hasn’t taken his eyes off me from the moment he entered my house. Not even when Molly put her face to his. He simply patted her head and gently pushed her to the side.
Why all of a sudden am I the center of his attention? I don’t know but it honestly scares me seeing the intensity in his gaze.
“Bethany, darlin’, can you tell me what happened?” Bishop asks, drawing me from my trance.
Glancing in his direction, I quickly drop my gaze in shame at the knowing look he’s giving me.
“I–I c–can’t,” I murmur as I shake my head.
“Darlin’, I know he did this to you,” Bishop says sitting next to me. I notice Chaz stiffening at the comment, but he doesn’t say anything. “We can’t stop him unless we know what we’re working with here.”
“Joe, I’d love more than anything to see him stopped but I can’t, not with so many people in here,” I say, glancing up from him to swing my head to see everyone has their attention on me.
Great. I feel like a circus attraction right now.
“Bethany,” Thorn calls my name as he slowly approaches me to crouch down on the other side of Chaz. I notice the wedding band that shines on his finger and I can’t help but think that whoever the woman is, she is very lucky. His eyes hold tenderness behind the rough exterior. “You might not know us from Tom Dickerson, but I promise you whatever you say will go no further than the ones who are in this room. You’re safe. I’ve texted one of my brothers' ol’ lady, she’s a doctor and is coming to check on you.”
“I’m fine really,” I say immediately out of habit.
“That might be, but I’m guessing from the way you don’t want to talk about it, more happened to you than just a beating. Connors will make sure you're okay. As for what happened to you, all we want to do is see the motherfucker put in the ground,” Thorn says gently though the last words are more of a growl.
“Fairy girl, you gotta tell us so we know how to help you,” Chaz says, leaning forward and gaining my attention. Holding his gaze, I feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Please don’t make me say it out loud,” I cry.
Chaz immediately gathers me into his arms and cradles me to him as he begins to walk out of the room. “Give me a minute with Bethany,” he calls out over his shoulder.
“I’ll send Connors in when she gets here,” Thorn states just as Chaz turns into the first guest room rather than going further down the hall to my room.
I could kiss him for not taking me back in there. I honestly don’t want to ever go in there again. I think I might put this house up for sale.
Sitting me down on the edge of the bed, Chaz kneels in front of me. “I don’t know the pain you gotta be experiencing but I do know fucked up thoughts are swirling around in that head of yours,” Chaz whispers.
“You don’t know what’s going on in my head,” I murmur, turning my gaze away from him.
“Fairy girl, look at me,” Chaz commands.
“Why are you calling me that?” I ask as I slowly turn to meet his gaze again.
“Because your voice when you sang yesterday was sweet, soft, and spoke to me,” he grins.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I mutter.
“It doesn’t have to make sense to you babe, but that’s my name for you. Now back on track, I can know what’s going on in that head of yours. Because growing up I experienced my fair share of beatings along with the ones I watched my mom get from my old man,” he says surprising me.
So that’s why I never saw his mother Daria, Rick beat her. I know, weird that I know his parents' names and I bet he doesn’t remember me.
“Rick beat your mom?” I ask to see if he does or not.
Furrowing his brow, Chaz sits back on his haunches. “How do you know my old man?” he asks.
“You really don’t remember me,” I murmur more to myself than anything.
“What does that mean?” he demands.
“We grew up as neighbors,” I respond.
His eyes widen in surprise before furrowing again as if he were thinking. “You’re the girl from across the street. The one who only came outside to go to
school,” he states in astonishment.
“That’s me,” I mutter. Not wanting to think about the strict life I used to live.
“Damn, I loved hearing the music you’d play in the afternoons when I’d dread going into my house. I used to sit outside just to hear you play. It was the one thing I knew I could look forward to about going home,” Chaz admits.
“Really?” I ask skeptically.
“Really,” he grins before his expression turns serious again. “Fairy girl, I know I’ve already asked this, and I promise you it will be the last time. I’m not asking for details. I just need verbal confirmation, did this motherfucker rape you?” I know Chaz isn’t trying to hurt me by asking but it does. It only just happened to me yesterday.
“Yes,” I murmur as I turn my head away from him just as a knock sounds on the door to the room.
Saved by the bell.
At least for the moment.
Chapter 6
Chaz
Fury I haven’t felt in a long ass time consumes me. That asshole is a dead man when I get my hands on him.
After making sure Bethany would be okay alone with Connors, I leave the room. Making my way back to the living room I pump my fist wishing I had something to punch. I may not be a woman beater, but I am my father’s son and have a temper. But instead of taking it out on others, I do it in the ring.
“She okay?” Hunter asks the moment I step into the room. He’d shown up when Tanner had texted him to let him know Bethany had been hurt.
All the guys seem to have a soft spot for Bethany, myself included. I just haven’t wanted to admit it. But seeing her the way she is now, it brought out something in me I only ever felt for one other person.
Jamie.
After she died, I swore I’d never feel that way about anyone again. Yet here I am coming to the realization Bethany is supposed to be mine and I need to protect her. I’ve always been a firm believer in everything happening for a reason and the moment she walked into the shop I knew my world was about to change.
“Chaz,” Tanner calls my name, drawing my attention back to the now.
“No,” I say as I shake my head. “That asshole is dead.”
“I take it he did what we all suspect,” Thorn states.
“Yeah,” I respond before looking at Bishop. “What do you know about Bethany and dipshit's marriage?”
“Davis constantly spoke about how good he had it at home with a woman who listened to him. I went over for dinner several times. I knew something was off, but I never got to figure it out. I quit the force after him and I had been partners for about a year,” Bishop says, his hands braced on his hips as he shakes his head and blows out a breath.
“Gadget texted and said there are reports of domestic violence with the hospital, but no charges were placed against Davis,” Dragon rasps. I hadn’t even seen him in here. He must have come over with Connors. Not surprising, he and Gadget rarely leave her alone unless they have to.
“Doesn’t surprise me. The entire police force here is as crooked as a limp dick,” Bishop sneers.
“Interesting comparison,” Tanner chuckles.
“So, what are we gonna do? We can’t let her stay here,” Lex states.
“She’s gonna stay at the house with us,” I declare. Since the four of us all live in a large as fuck house together it’s not like we don’t have the room. And it would be easier for all of us to keep an eye on her.
Also, we have a high-tech security system installed thanks to Levi and Jackson. They’d offered to put it in for us back when we started getting a bigger fan base. Meaning stalker bitches wanting to get close to us.
We’d known the guys since we first started playing at Outlaw Racks. In all honesty, we’ve all known each other since the beginning basically. Kenny’s bar was the glue that got us all together and we’ve all become good friends. Pretty much family. Even the club is a part of it as well.
The band might not be a part of the Devil’s Riot MC, but I’ll do anything for them and vice versa. At one time I wanted to prospect for them, but Twister told me to seriously think about it before I did it. The fact I didn’t join doesn’t change the way any of us are around each other.
“You sure? We can always put her up at the clubhouse, it might be safer for her there,” Thorn suggests.
“That would probably be for the best,” Dragon states. Glancing in his direction I notice the stern look on his face. “We’d have a war on our hands if we didn’t take care of her,” he announces.
“What the fuck? Why?” Thorn demands.
“Gadget sent me some information and informed me that Twister is making calls right now,” Dragon says.
“Wanna enlighten us some time today on this tidbit?” Hunter asks.
Leaning against the wall across from Dragon, I wait for him to answer.
“According to Gadget Bethany is the daughter of another club’s enforcer,” Dragon declares as he looks in my direction then to Thorn.
“Which club?” Thorn asks, stiffening.
“The Satan’s Keepers,” Dragon rasps as he puts his phone back in his pocket.
“Fuck, you mean to tell me she’s Tombstone’s daughter,” Thorn grumbles. “That motherfucker is gonna be pissed. His club was here not too long ago with Reaper and Hellhound. He’d told us his daughter lived in the area.” Running his fingers through his hair, Thorn lets out a frustrated breath.
“Yep, Tombstone will go on a rampage,” Dragon mutters. “If we don’t handle this properly, Franklin will be swimming in blood.”
“I couldn’t care less if the town swims in blood, that fucker shouldn’t have done what he did,” I seethe, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms over my chest. “As for where Bethany is staying, that's with us. I’m not about to let her out of my sight if I don’t need to.”
“If she stays with you all, I can guarantee you’ll be having company real soon. When Tombstone hears this shit there will be no keeping him away from her,” Dragon stated.
“Then we’ll deal with him when he shows. I’m not about to keep her family from her but she’s staying with me and the band,” I say pushing myself away from the wall.
“Agreed, Bethany is family and we take care of our family,” Tanner states.
“Alright, then that’s settled. We’ll just deal with her uncle when he gets here,” Lex grumbles.
Throughout the entire exchange, Levi and Bishop have stayed quiet, letting all of us figure things out. However, I’ve known them both for a long time and I’m betting they’re calculating what the next move will most likely be for them.
“Look, how about we get these dogs packed up and moved over to the house. Fuck, Melody’s going to have a field day with all these damn dogs,” I mutter. Sure, I like animals, but I’ve never wanted to own one, not even my daughter has been able to talk me into owning one. Guess she’s about to get her wish, and have not one but four dogs.
“Lex and I’ll take the dogs,” Tanner says as he turns to head toward the kitchen.
“Hunter, are you able to help me gather things for Bethany?” I ask.
“Yep, let’s get this done and get out of here,” he mutters and goes to follow Tanner and Lex to help pack up the dogs.
“We’ll get out of here and let you get shit done. I gotta get home. Lyns just had the new babies a couple of weeks back. I still can’t believe we ended up with another set of twins. This time two boys. If you need anything let me know,” Thorn says holding his fist out to bump with mine.
“Thanks, Thorn,” I nod.
“No problem. We take care of our own and you’re one of us,” he grins before heading to the door.
“Levi and I’ll be by your place in the morning. We’re gonna upgrade your system to the latest one we have thanks to Gadget’s help,” Bishop states.
“Alright, see you then. Maybe Bethany will want to talk a little bit more then,” I say.
“We’ll see. Bethany is one of a kind,” Bishop says nodding his head
toward the hallway. “If Davis shows up, call us and don’t be surprised if he tries some bullshit with you all.”
“You got it. Just know he’s a dead man walking,” I growl.
“That he is, Chaz,” Bishop nods before following Thorn and Levi out of the house.
With Tanner, Lex, and Hunter getting the dogs situated, I nod at Dragon and make my way past the room Bethany is in with Connors. Stepping into her bedroom, my anger becomes harder to contain as I take in the broken glass. The restraints hanging from the headboard. Dresser drawers slung around the room.
This asshole didn’t just violate Bethany, he destroyed what she tried to make a home.
Shaking my head, I walk over to the closet hoping to find something to put her clothes in and anything else she might need. After finding a duffel bag, I start picking clothes off the floor to shove them into the thing.
Moving from the bedroom to her bathroom, I just take my arm and swipe her stuff right into the bag.
I need to get out of here. The longer I’m in this room, the more pissed I’m becoming, and I’m ready to blow.
No woman should be hurt the way my Fairy girl has, and I intend to make that motherfucker pay for what he’s done.
Chapter 7
Bethany
How is it I can never seem to get anything to go my way? The universe seems to be against me. If it’s not one thing it’s another.
First, everything Jacob did to me. Then, Chaz took matters into his own hands and moved me into his house. A house, I might add, is more than just that. It's a flipping mansion. And I mean the whole shebang. I knew the guys all lived together but I didn’t realize they all had their own corridor type thing place.
The room Chaz put me in is directly next to his and on top of that, there’s a door that connects the two rooms he leaves open at night. ‘In case you need me, I’ll hear you.’ His reasoning sucks.
For the past twenty-four hours, I thought my life couldn’t get any worse. I’d ended up spilling my guts to Doctor Connors about everything that happened to me. Even the stuff from the past and instead of looking down on me or treating me like a victim, she told me her own story.