* * *
Pup
Prez slammed down the gavel to start the meeting.
“Let’s get this done quickly so we can get back to our families,” he stated, glancing at me. Why did I have a feeling this wasn’t a good thing. “Pup, we’ve had the rest of the information about Stef’s brother come back. Specs has been working hard to get us all of the details. It’s not good.” He shook his head.
“What is it?” He slid the folder to me so I could read it first before he announced it to everyone. “Shit,” I swore looking up at Prez. “Is there any chance this can be wrong?”
“I know how to do my job,” Specs shouted.
“Enough,” Prez bellowed. “Specs found out that Stef’s brother, Rave the President of the Devil Angels is married to…”
“Tanya,” I added. “The woman who left a little baby alone in his cot screaming. The heartless cow who told me she was going to abort Cooper.”
“What does this mean, Prez?” Solar asked.
“It means that the Devil Angels and us may be enemies after all. If Tanya decides she wants…”
Loud pounding came on the church room door.
“What?” Prez roared.
Steve popped his head inside.
“Sorry, Prez we have a situation out here. There is a Devil Angels member here, demanding to see Stef. Jono has him at the gate.”
“Shit,” I shouted as I shot to my feet and flew out the door. I could hear the scraping of chairs as the rest of my brothers climbed to their feet. I glanced around the bar for Stef and couldn’t see her anywhere.
“Outside,” Prez said and we all headed that way. “Specs and Alan, you stay here with the families.”
I ran full force ahead when I saw Stef standing outside the gate, the pounding of boots let me know that my brothers were behind me for support.
“Stef,” I boomed. Her head shot around to see me and she had tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she cried. I pulled her in close to me and finally looked up to the gates when I heard Tanya say my name.
“Tanya? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Let us in,” Rave demanded. I looked at Prez and he nodded his head at Jono to open the gate. It was just Rave and Tanya, if things went south we’d have the upper hand.
I pulled Stef in close to my side and took a step back, I wanted her out of harm’s way and I didn’t know her brother, I didn’t know if he was capable of hurting her.
“Did you do it?” he asked her. She shook her head.
“Do what?” I asked, glancing between Stef and Rave.
“I told you no!” she screamed at him. “Even after you threatened me and hurt my back. I told you I wouldn’t do it.”
“So that’s how much dad means to you, is it?”
“Don’t. Don’t say that. Don’t do that. It’s not fair,” she sobbed. What the hell was going on? What did he want her to do?
“I’ve come for my son.” Tanya demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
“You what?” I was shocked by the words coming out of her mouth. “You don’t have a son.” I sneered.
“Bring me Cooper. He’s my son. I carried him for nine months…”
“And abandoned him too.” Solar added. “Left him all alone, screaming. That’s not a mother.”
“If you had just done what you were supposed to, we wouldn’t be going through all of this.” Rave said to Stef.
“What was she supposed to do?” Holes asked.
“Bring me my son.” Tanya added, smiling at me.
I pushed Stef back from me so I could look at her.
“Is this what this whole thing has been about? Did you know about Cooper when we met? Have you been in my bed and in our life so you could steal my son?”
“No!” Stef shouted. “How could you even think that? I love you and Cooper. I told Evan no. I said I wouldn’t do it.” She grasped the sides of my jacket as her eyes pleaded with me to believe her.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Prez asked.
“I was scared,” she whispered. “I was scared of losing you and Cooper,” she said looking at me. Tears were streaming down her face and I wanted to wipe them away and comfort her but I didn’t know what to believe.
“You didn’t do what I asked Stef, so you know what that means?”
“No, please Evan. Don’t do this,” she begged letting go of me and turning to face her brother.
“What is he talking about?” Toes asked.
“Dad’s garage.” Stef took a deep breath. “Dad left the garage to him, he said if I didn’t hand over Cooper then he would take that away from me.”
“You can’t do that,” I barked.
“Tyler, please. I love you and Coop. You know me, you know that I would never do anything to hurt either of you. If that meant losing dad’s garage, then I’d give that up to keep you and Cooper with me.”
“I know,” I muttered as I placed my forehead on hers.
“Get out!” Prez shouted.
“Not without her son.” Rave said. I let go of Stef’s hand and stepped forward.
“You will never get your hands on him. You are a disgraceful human being for leaving him like that. You are selfish and not fit to be a mother.” I sneered at her. She gasped as her hand covered her tummy. “You’re pregnant again, aren’t you?” She nodded. “Well look out Rave, she’ll up and leave you next with a baby to look after on your own.”
“Enough!” Rave bellowed as he drew his gun. “I will not have a member of my family on this earth that I cannot trust.” He aimed his gun at Stef and everything blurred into slow motion. Shots were fired, people screamed and shouted. There was a flurry of activity and I finally snapped out of it when someone screamed.
“Get the doc here, now!”
There were three bodies on the floor, one was Rave and Tanya and my body froze when I was about to turn around. I didn’t know how I would cope if Stef wasn’t ok.
“Please, help him,” she screamed. I shot around and dove to the floor where she was sitting. On the floor in front of her was Toes with a bullet wound on the left side of his stomach. Stef had pulled her thin hoodie off and was putting pressure on the area where blood was pouring out.
“I’m sorry,” she cried looking at me. “He pushed me out of the way.”
“Let’s get him up off the floor,” Solar yelled. “Stef, can you still keep pressure on it as we move him?” She nodded her head frantically.
Iron and I grabbed a leg each as Solar and Holes grabbed an arm and we ran up the driveway and into the clubhouse.
“Get him to the docs room.” Prez ordered. “Ashlyn, we’re going to need you too.”
“Of course, Prez.” She handed Lacey to Cammie and rushed over to us. We got him on the table in the docs room. “Is he conscious?” she asked.
“No, darlin’.” Iron answered. “Should you be doing this? What about the baby?”
“Drake, if there is any way I can help save him, then I’m going to do it. I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Ashlyn grabbed a pair of latex gloves and a pair of scissors and began to cut Toes t-shirt.
“Stef, you can let go now,” she said.
“No.” She shook her head. “There’s too much blood.”
“I need to see how bad it is,” she shook her head again.
I walked up behind Stef and placed my hands on the top of her arms.
“Come on, babe. Let’s get you cleaned up.” She shook her head again.
“I… I can’t leave him. He saved me. He can’t die,” she sobbed.
“Right, there are too many bodies in here. Everyone out.” The doc yelled. I pulled Stef away from Toes’s body and Ashlyn took over holding a large piece of gauze against the wound.
“I’m sorry,” Stef cried over and over again.
“We need to get the bodies cleaned up,” Prez announced. “Steve…”
“On it, Prez.”
“Carla.” Prez shouted and then nodd
ed his head at Stef. “Get her cleaned up. I’m calling a lockdown.” He shouted the last bit.
“I… I should go.” Stef muttered.
“You’re not going anywhere. We’re going to get you cleaned up.” Carla told her.
“Bring her to church once she’s clean.”
“I’ll keep an eye on Cooper.” Cammie offered.
“Thanks Cam.” I smiled at her. “Babe, go with Carla and get cleaned up.”
“Toes? How is he?” she asked.
“What’s that about my brother? What’s he been up to?” Specs asked as he waltzed around the corner with his arm slung over a man’s shoulder.
“We need to talk,” Prez said.
“It’s cool. Ray was just leaving.” He turned towards Ray and kissed him briefly on the lips. “It was fun.”
“He’s not going anywhere for the minute,” Holes said.
“Go and have a seat.” Prez told him. “Everyone else, church.”
“Why can’t I just go?” Ray asked Specs.
“Not sure. Just chill out, have a drink or two and I’ll be back.” Ray ambled over to the bar where Alan the newest prospect was serving drinks.
Pup
“Specs,” Prez said. He looked up from his laptop at him.
“Where’s my brother? He busy with a hottie?” He smiled.
“There’s been a situation here this afternoon. To be honest I don’t know how you didn’t hear it. Toes was shot.”
“What?” Specs stood up so fast that his chair fell back onto the floor. “Where is he? Is he ok? How bad is it?”
“It’s not looking good, brother. The doc and Ashlyn are with him now.”
“Ashlyn? Why is Ashlyn with him?”
“She’s had nurse training. She’s the best one to help the doc,” Iron answered.
“I need to see him.”
“Of course.” Prez nodded. Specs shot out of the room and through the open door I could see Ashlyn. “Ashlyn?” Prez bellowed.
“Prez?” She asked in the doorway.
“Come on in.” She hesitated.
“It’s ok, darlin’.” Iron told her. She stepped in and looked around the room, everyone had their eyes trained on her.
“How is he?” Prez asked. She shook her head as her chin trembled.
“Shit,” I swore.
“Oh darlin’.” Iron climbed to his feet and engulfed her in his arms as she balled against his chest.
“What? What is it? Is he ok?” Stef asked as she came barrelling in the room. Her hair was wet from a shower and she had on a pair of black leggings and one of my crusader hoodies.
“Everyone out for a minute.” Prez barked. All the guys quietly left the room with their heads bowed down. I stayed put and pulled Stef onto my lap. “I’m sorry, but he didn’t make it.” Prez quietly told her.
“No!” she cried. “No. It’s all my fault. He saved me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“The club is on lockdown. Do you know what that means?” Prez asked her.
“Yeah. I’ll just grab my bag and go.” She climbed to her feet and headed for the door.
“Lockdown includes you Stef. We don’t know who else may be out there after you.”
“It’s not your problem.”
“It is when you’re Pups.”
“I’m not his. He won’t want me anymore after this.” She was talking like I wasn’t even in the room.
“I can’t just fall out of love in a matter of minutes. You’re mine and I intend to keep you that way.”
“Go and grab yourself a stiff drink while we continue church.” Prez told her. She nodded her head but before she left he added. “This wasn’t your fault. It was his decision to dive in front of you. He chose to save you. We’re all saddened that we’ve lost a great brother.” More tears ran down her face before she pulled open the door and headed to the bar.
We all gathered around the large oak table and waited for Prez to re start the meeting.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you all this, but Toes…”
“Dale.” Specs interrupted. “His name is Dale.”
“But Dale didn’t make it. There was too much blood loss.” The room stayed quiet as we all bowed our heads and gave silence for our fallen brother.
“What are we going to do about it?” Specs asked. “What’s our revenge strategy?”
“We’ve had our revenge. He killed Toes, we’ve killed him and his wife.” Prez looked at me. “I’m sorry Pup, I know you loved that woman once.”
“As far as I’m concerned she never existed. Stef is Cooper’s mum and always will be.”
“I think we still need to go and talk to the Devil Angels.” Holes stated. “Make sure there won’t be any retaliation from them.”
“I agree.” Prez nodded at him. “Specs, do you want us to sort out the funeral?”
“I need to talk to mum and dad and see what they want us to do.”
“Let us know when you’re ready.” Prez turned to look at the rest of us. “Holes, Iron, Solar, Pup and me will head over to the Devil Angels. Specs, Tat and the prospects can keep an eye on everything here.” Prez looked at Tat. “Get Eden here, she’s been associated with this club, I don’t want her at risk too.”
“Yes, Prez. I’ll go and get her.” Tat answered pulling his phone from his pocket.
“We ride in ten minutes.” Just before Prez was about to slam the gavel down Specs interrupted him.
“I want to go to the Devil Angels,” he stated.
“I’m sorry brother. I don’t think that is a good idea. You are to stay here.”
“Is that an order?” he asked.
“It is.” Prez didn’t say anymore as he slammed the gavel down and one by one the room emptied.
I watched as Specs stormed for the bar, sat on the stool and demanded a drink. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. I gazed around the room to see the group of Old Ladies sitting on the sofas in front of the big screen TV, but there was no Stef. I turned on my heel and was about to head for our room when Tat waltzed in through the clubhouse doors and I caught a glimpse of Stef standing outside. I marched towards her, I feared for her safety. It wasn’t safe for her to be outside.
“Babe?” I called out. She was standing in the spot where Toes had been shot.
“There’s no blood. It’s all clean,” she muttered.
“Babe, the prospects have been out here cleaning it up. Come inside it’s not safe out here for you.” I ran my hand from her shoulder to her hand and clasped it tightly.
“I caused all of this,” she sobbed. “Your club is down a brother because of me. Cooper has lost his mum because of me and I lost my last living relative.”
“Stef.” I said her name sternly and turned her body towards mine. “This was not your fault. You didn’t know what your brother was going to do. He threatened to kill you. If Toes hadn’t jumped in the way, I would have.”
“No.” She sobbed as her hands fisted my t-shirt and her head fell against my chest.
“It all happened so fast. I don’t even know whose bullets killed Rave and Tanya. Plus Cooper didn’t lose his mum, she’s just a little broken at the minute.”
“Me?” she asked confused, her blue eyes shone brighter with the tears covering them.
“Who has he been calling mamama for the last couple of weeks?”
“I love him and you so much.” Her arms wound around my waist as her head laid against my beating heart. “I’m sorry about Toes. He was such a great guy.”
“He was.” My voice caught in my throat and I had to cough to clear it. “Let’s get you inside. When you’re on lockdown you don’t leave the clubhouse at all. Ok?” She nodded before kissing my chest.
We walked inside to find my brothers saying goodbye to their Old Ladies.
“What is she still doing here?” Specs shouted. He grabbed his glass that was half full of some brown liquid and staggered towards us. “Why is she here?” he slurred. “She caused this, it’s all her
fault.” Stef’s fingers dug into my side where she had her arm around my waist.
“She’s here for lockdown.” I stated.
“Why? She isn’t an Old Lady.”
“As good as.” I didn’t want to get in a fight with him on the day he lost his brother, but he couldn’t stand there and disrespect her like that.
“She’s not got on the leather. These are the Old Ladies.” He waved his arm out to where Jasmine, Ashlyn, Cammie and Carla stood in there leather properties.
Everyone stopped when a baby started crying.
“That’s Cooper.” Stef said looking at me.
“I’ll go and get him.” I ran down the hallway as my sons screams got louder. I pushed the door open to find him standing in his cot and holding onto the railings.
“Hey bud.” I picked him up and held him in my arms until his sobbing had stopped.
“Da da da da da da.”
“That’s right little man. Let’s go and see mummy.” I grabbed my jacket out of the wardrobe and strolled back down the hallway to find everyone was still standing in the same positions, only Ashlyn now had her arms wrapped around Stef.
“Ma ma ma ma ma ma.” Cooper started chanting as we got closer. Ashlyn stepped back from her as Cooper flung himself out of my arms and Stef quickly grabbed him and held him close to her. He wrapped his chubby little arms around her neck and she kissed him on the top of his head. Her eyes found mine as she felt the jacket I slipped over her shoulders.
“Pup?” she asked.
“You’re my Old Lady. This property is yours to wear.”
“Welcome to the family.” Prez smiled. “Let’s ride.”
“Look after him, I’m hoping we won’t be long. You gonna be ok?”
“Yeah, please be careful,” she whispered. I wound my arms around her and Cooper and kissed her hard on the lips.
“I’m always careful. I’ll be coming home to both of you. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I watched as Carla ushered Stef and Cooper into the room to sit with the other Old Ladies. She was where she belonged I thought to myself before heading outside to mount my bike. We all stopped for a moment as Toes’s bike sat there untouched, one by one we revved our bikes and nodded at the bike that Toes loved so much. He would be missed from this family.
Conflicted Love Page 15