Primal Fury (Primal Howlers MC Book 5)

by Piper Davenport

  “On it,” Rocky said, and he and Wrath led our captives away.

  I opened the front door and was surprised and annoyed to find Scrappy still hadn’t pulled the van around yet. I reached for my phone, dropping it when I saw Scrappy lying on the ground motionless in a pool of blood. He was near the side of the house where we’d left him to stand guard earlier. He had a deep cut in his neck and was completely drained of color.

  “Oh, shit! No! Scrappy.” I ran to his side, but it was too late. He was dead. His throat had been cut. Probably minutes after we went inside. Probably by whoever the fifth man was. Which meant this was my fault.

  Wrath, having heard my cries, came racing around the corner of the house to find me covered in blood and Scrappy, lying butchered on the ground.

  “He’s dead, Wrath. You and Rocky have to get the girls out of here. More Kings are gonna show up looking for them. I’ll take care of Scrappy.”

  Wrath said nothing.

  “Wrath? Did you fucking hear me? You need to go get the van and get the girls out of here, now.”

  Wrath turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward the back of the house.

  I left Scrappy, grabbing my phone and following Wrath, hoping I wasn’t too late to stop him from doing something impulsive and stupid. By the time I reached the mud room, Wrath already had his gun pointed directly at Dagger’s head. By the time I opened my mouth to speak, he’d pulled the trigger.

  Indigo

  The pain shooting through my leg pulled me out of my slumber and I whimpered as I came awake.

  “Sorry, Indy,” Brianna whispered as she slid off the bed.

  “It’s okay, honey.” I pressed my pain pump. “Are you alright?”

  “I have to pee,” she said.

  “Where are Bellamy and my dad?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, stepping into my bathroom. Once she was done, she sat in the chair beside my bed just as Bellamy walked into the room.

  “They found Leo,” she said, and Brianna jumped up.

  “Can I see him?” she asked.

  “Not yet. The doctor’s checking him out.”

  “Why? Was he hurt?” I asked.

  “Little bit,” Bellamy said, evasively.

  “Is he okay?” Brianna asked.

  “He’s totally fine. The doctor just wants to be thorough.”

  I frowned. I knew there was more to the story, but with Brianna there, I wasn’t going to get any real answers, so I was just going to have to wait for more.

  * * *

  Two hours later, I couldn’t bear the suspense anymore and asked Brianna to go hang in the hall with my dad.

  “Can I come back?” she begged.

  “Yeah, baby. I just need to talk to Bellamy in private.”

  “Come with móraí, baby,” my dad said, holding his hand out. “We’ll get ice cream.”

  “What does mooree mean?” Bellamy asked, once they’d left.

  “Granddad.” I chuckled. “Wishful thinking on his part.”

  She grinned, sitting in the chair Brianna had vacated. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

  “Everything. Start from the beginning.”

  “Jessa and I had just gotten the girls settled, Bryan was arguing with Leo, shocker, because Leo wanted to come back here. Just as Jessa and I walked into the great room, we heard glass shattering and then yelling. Honestly, it all happened so fast, I couldn’t really process it until I saw the security feed,” she said. “Jessa and I rushed back to the girls’ side and locked everyone in, but the boys apparently decided to defend the Alamo.”

  “Jesus,” I hissed.

  “Yeah. It didn’t take Leo long to figure out they were after him, so he hid. That was when he called Jekyll.”

  “He called Jekyll?” I asked. “Not 9-1-1?”

  “Nope. I tried to call 9-1-1, but Jekyll and his buddies got there faster. Not quite fast enough for Leo, but they tried.” She bit her lip. “They were so sexy, walking in all bikery and sexy. God, if they weren’t degenerate gang members, I’d be all over at least one of them. Maybe two.”

  “Okay, Bell, put your clit back in your pants.”

  She grinned. “Killjoy.”

  “If they hurt Leo, I’m going to go postal.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Okay, well, this is why I didn’t really want to tell you all this. You’re supposed to be resting so you can heal.”

  “I’ll heal better when I know Leo’s okay.”

  “I hope these guys know what they’re doing,” Bellamy said. “Because if they go blasting in somewhere and make things worse—”

  “Stop!” I hissed. “Don’t say it.”

  She nodded with a grimace. “Sorry.”

  I bit back tears. “He just has to be okay.”

  She squeezed my hand. “He will be.”

  Before I could ask any more questions, Dad walked back in with Brianna. “We found a straggler,” he said, and stepped aside, revealing Leo. He was bandaged and bruised, but standing, and I couldn’t stop a cry as I burst into tears.

  He rushed to my bedside. “Don’t cry, Indy, I’m okay.”

  “You little shit, you scared the crap out of me,” I growled, laying my hand gently on his cheek. “What did they do to you?”

  “Nothing,” he lied.

  “Leo,” I warned.

  “No, Indy, I’m not going there with you. Not right now.”

  “Did Jekyll find you?”

  “Yeah. And he rescued a bunch of girls, too.”

  “What?” I breathed out.

  Leon filled me in on everything that happened, at least, everything that happened with the little girls that had been held by these monsters. The more he talked, the more I realized there were so many layers to one Hyde ‘Jekyll’ Roberts, I hadn’t even peeled back the first layer.

  And I’d judged him.

  Harshly.

  God, I didn’t want to be wrong about him, but I was quickly realizing I was.

  Or might be.

  Goddammit.

  I was.

  “And then he carried Mina out of the building. His friend was killed, but he made the girls close their eyes so they wouldn’t see.”

  “His friend was killed?” Bellamy, Dad, and I asked, in stereo.

  “Crap,” he whispered as Brianna whimpered, taking his hand. He smiled down at her. “Everyone’s okay.”

  She nodded, leaning her head against his arm.

  “I think Leo should come home with me,” Dad said. “No one knows who I am, and they won’t be able to find him if they come looking for him.”

  “Are you sure?” I challenged.

  “Yeah.” He turned to Leo. “You okay with that?”

  Leo knew my dad, but not well, so I wasn’t sure if he’d feel ‘okay with that.’

  “How about we put a pin in that for a minute,” I suggested. “We’ll talk more about it when you’re not on the spot, okay?”

  Leo nodded, and I could tell he was relieved that he had some time to think. He was a processor. He rarely showed his emotions and he tended to lose his mind if he was forced to make an emotional decision quickly.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked him.

  “Starving.”

  “Let’s go get some burgers,” Bellamy said, focusing on Brianna. “I know you just had ice cream, but do you want some real food?”

  She grinned. “Totally.”

  “We’ll all go,” Dad said. “Let Indigo rest for a bit.”

  “Thanks, Daddy,” I whispered, and they walked out of my room.

  * * *

  Jekyll

  I was currently sitting on an ER bed with Mina practically in my lap because she refused to let me leave her side.

  Fuck my life.

  Kids had never really been my thing.

  Don’t get me wrong, I never wanted to see one hurt, but I’d had such a shitty childhood, I had no intention of having any of my own and didn’t interact with kids if I could avoid it. However, with th
e growth of the female population in the club, kids were getting harder to avoid.

  But it would seem this kid had a different idea and it meant I was here until she said I could leave her.

  A male doctor walked in, and Mina scooted closer to me, wrapping her arms around mine with a whimper.

  “Sorry, Doc, you’re gonna need to find a lady to look her over,” I said.

  “Are you her father?” he asked, but his tone was douchey and it pissed me off.

  “No.”

  “Where are her parents?”

  “Irrelevant.” I slid off the bed and crossed my arms. “Get a woman in here. You’re scarin’ her.”

  “It could take a while—”

  “No, you’re gonna get a woman doctor in here in less than five minutes or you and I are gonna have a conversation in private, and you won’t like that.”

  The doctor’s face mottled red as he turned and slunk out of the room. I turned and faced Mina and she smiled wide. “Fanks, Ekyll.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.” I raised an eyebrow. “I’m gonna have to leave you when the doc gets here. I have shi—stuff to do.”

  “Will you come back?”

  “Where are your parents?”

  She dropped her head.

  “Mina, where are your parents?”

  Tears slipped down her face as she rasped, “I don’t know.”

  “Do you know your phone number or address?”

  She shook her head.

  “Fuck!” I hissed out.

  “Perhaps using that kind of language might be better whilst in a bar, rather than a hospital,” a very firm, very feminine, and very British voice said.

  Mina pressed her lips together, obviously holding back a smile, and I turned to face the voice. This woman was beautiful, and far too young to be a doctor.

  “How old are you?” I demanded.

  Her mouth lifted in a half smile, and shook her head. “Old enough. And I believe you know my uncle. He goes by Needles.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You’re Needles’ niece?”

  I knew he had a sister in England, but last I heard, they weren’t really speaking.

  “I am,” she confirmed. “I happen to have done my pediatric residency here, so he gave me a ring and asked me to take special care with the girls.” She stepped around me and smiled at Mina. “Now, darling girl, let’s have a look at you. Do you feel comfortable with that?”

  “Yes,” Mina said quietly.

  Feeling a hell of a lot better about Mina’s care, I let the tension roll out of my shoulders. “I have to head out, baby girl, but the woman from CPS said she’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

  “But you coming back, right?” Mina asked.

  “I can’t, Mina.”

  She tried to scoot off the table. “Don’t go.”

  “I have to go, Mina,” I said, trying to sound firm.

  She started to howl, sobbing until she could barely breathe.

  “How about I look you over and he can come back in twenty minutes to check on you?” the doctor suggested.

  Jesus, fuck, just kill me now.

  I dragged my hands down my face. “I will stop back in half an hour and touch base with your case worker, okay?”

  Mina smiled wide through wet eyes and nodded. “Okay.”

  I turned on my heel and walked out of the room before she could stop me, then I headed up to Indigo’s floor, needing to see her.

  So much so, my heart was racing.

  As though my soul was calling out for her.

  “Jekyll!”

  I had just stepped out of the elevator when I heard Leon calling my name. I made my way to him and gave him the once-over. “Hey, champ. You feelin’ okay?”

  “Yeah. Nothing’s broke, so just gotta ice and take ibuprofen. Those guys hit like bitches.”

  “You’re a tough kid, but don’t let Indigo hear you talking like that.”

  Leo smiled and nodded.

  “Speaking of Indigo. Have you seen her yet?”

  He nodded. “She’s super pissed.”

  I frowned. “At you?”

  “No. At whoever did this.”

  “Did you tell her anything?”

  “I told her everything,” he said. “Are you kidding me? She’d maim me if I didn’t.”

  Before I could comment or ask any more questions, Bellamy stepped out of Indigo’s room and raised an eyebrow. “You’re here.”

  I smirked. “I am. But not for long.”

  She raised a finger. “Don’t move.”

  She stepped back into Indigo’s room, and Leo looked at me and shrugged.

  “Indy would like to see you,” Bellamy said, walking out again.

  “I was just leavin’,” I lied.

  “Don’t be a dick,” she demanded. “Go talk to her.”

  “You always this bossy?”

  She settled her hands on her hips. “Yep.”

  “Good to know,” I retorted, and walked into Indigo’s room, knocking on the door as I pushed it open. She was alone.

  “Hi,” she whispered.

  “Hey.” I let the door close behind me but stayed close to it. Jesus, she was pretty.

  Even beat to hell, she made my heart flutter.

  “You can come closer, Hyde.”

  I shook my head. “I’m good here.”

  She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. “Thank you for finding Leo.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Meeting my eyes again, she reached her hand out to me. “Will you please come closer?”

  “Nope, I’m good here.”

  “You’re angry with me.”

  I crossed my arms. “Why would you think that?”

  “Hyde, will you please come closer so I can see you better?”

  I relaxed my arms and made my way to her bed, still trying to keep my distance, but she grabbed my hand and tugged me closer. “I’m really sorry.”

  “Baby, you don’t got anything to be sorry for.”

  “You have been really sweet—”

  “Fuck me, don’t say that,” I growled, and she smiled.

  “I rushed to judgement, instead of getting to know you, and I’m really sorry.”

  “Baby, you didn’t rush to judgement. I’m everything you think.”

  “But you’re also someone who rescued my Leo and refused to leave vulnerable little girls to the mercy of animals.”

  “Well, yeah. That too.” I squeezed her hand. “People are never just one thing, GoGo.”

  “Maybe so. I just don’t really know people who have such polar opposite sides of their personality.”

  “I think you’d be surprised.”

  “No.” She sighed. “No more surprises. I’m really sorry about your friend.”

  I forced the pain in my chest deep down. “Thanks.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No.”

  “If that changes, I hope you know you can talk to me. About anything,” she whispered.

  “Thanks, baby.” I stepped closer to the bed and leaned over her. “I’m gonna kiss you now.”

  Before she could protest, I settled my mouth on hers gently and cupped her cheek. She opened her lips just enough for me to slide my tongue against hers but when she whimpered, I pulled back with a frown. “Did I hurt you?”

  She gripped my cut. “No, but you’re making me horny.”

  I grinned, leaning down again. “Sorry, not sorry.”

  I kissed her again, this time quickly, but still thoroughly enough to know I wanted more.

  A lot more.

  * * *

  Indigo

  Lord on high, the man could kiss.

  “You doin’ better?” He kept hold of my hand as he sat in the chair beside my bed,

  “Yeah. If I can move on my own tomorrow, they might release me into my dad’s care.”

  “Move on your own, how?” Jekyll asked with a frown.

  “If I can get up off the bed and us
e a walker or crutches without too much help, then they said I can do my physical therapy at home.”

  “Seems a little soon.”

  I cocked my head. “I’ve been in this room for almost a week.”

  “Yeah, well, you have several issues, including a bad break that affects your ability to walk.”

  “Nothing that won’t heal on their own.”

  “Your leg needed surgery.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “It wasn’t a bad surgery.”

  “Baby, don’t minimize it.”

  “I want out,” I snapped.

  “I still think it’s too soon.”

  “Well, lucky for me, you don’t have a say in the matter.”

  “You should come back to the cabin,” he said.

  “The what?”

  “Our club. You’d have help—”

  “No,” I interrupted, then frowned. “Don’t you dare look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re plotting some kind of hospital break where I’m ‘rescued’ from myself.”

  He dropped his head back and laughed. “You got all that from a look?”

  “Your face is very expressive.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Look, you kissed me. I liked it,” I conceded. “A lot. But please don’t go getting all alpha on me. We’re not a thing.”

  “Direct hit, GoGo.”

  “Don’t say that. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings,” I said with a sigh. “I just want to take things slow. I’m overwhelmed with everything and considering the fact I’m in a great deal of pain, I have no intention of making any decisions about anything except my health right now.”

  “Fair enough.”

  I squeezed his hand. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, baby. I get it. It’s all good.”

  “Are we friends?”

  “No. We’re more than friends,” he said. “But we can start slow.”

  “Why do I feel like your idea of going slow, is different than mine?” I mused.

  He smiled. “You just get your hip back into shape, baby, ’cause you’re gonna need it.”

  I swallowed. “Oh my god, stop.”

  He stood and leaned over me again. “Gonna kiss you.”

  “You don’t have to announce that every time, Hyde. You have my consent.”