Forever Came Calling

by B. C. Falls

“What’s up, Royce?” Barbie asks. “You seem down in the dumps.”

  “I just have a lot to talk to Dane about and I’m not sure how he’s going to take all of it.”

  She laughs making me look at her confused. “Dane is head over heels for you. I’m sure whatever you talk to him about won’t make him walk away.”

  “Thanks,” I smile a little. “How’s everything with you?”

  “Pretty good. My hubby is away again. Not sure what’s happening with him and the club, but Dallas has him on some road mission again. He was back for like a week before Dallas sent him again.”

  “Another one?”

  “Teddy said he didn’t volunteer this time. He’s been gone for a couple months.”

  “I haven’t heard you talk about him much.”

  “Who, Teddy?” I nod. “Well it ain’t a picnic. Sometimes it feels like we rushed into things, but then we keep coming back to happy. I love him, I do, but at the same time it just feels like a different kind of love than the one I’m looking for.”

  “When I was with Jeff I thought he was everything I’d ever want. It was really great for a long ass time but eventually I found out there was more than meets the eye. When I ended things, he didn’t accept it. He still doesn’t really accept it.”

  “I don’t worry about him straying or lying to me. I don’t think I have to, but at the same time he just feels a million miles away.” I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Thank you. For asking me about him. Everyone kind of keeps away from the subject.”

  I smile a little “If you ever need to talk about him I’ll be here. Anything you need Barbie.”

  “Thanks, Royce. You are a pretty amazing friend. I’m glad you moved here,” she takes a sip of her coffee. “Speaking of moves, why did you move back? I mean, I know the whole family is here, but you seem like you enjoyed your life back in Kentucky.”

  I lean back in my seat. “Life was good I guess. After Jeff and I broke up I wanted something new and stable for Kady.”

  “I admire you so much for that.”

  “For adopting Kady?” She nods. “When I met her she was living in a house with her parents. They left her there one day and I found her alone after a week. It was either let her go into foster care or do what I had been doing for a year. So I adopted her. I feel like anyone in my position would’ve done what I did.”

  “No, that’s where you are wrong. Not a lot of people in your position would’ve done what you did. Humanity is not something you can really count on these days.”

  “Kady’s a huge part of my life and I don’t think I would be who I am right now if I hadn’t met her.” Barbie smiles. “You gonna have kids?”

  She shakes her head. “I can’t. It’s why Teddy and I don’t have any already. Lord knows he wants them.”

  “I’m sorry,” this time I squeeze her hand.

  “I think we’ll adopt one day when we have money saved up.”

  “Well if you need a good adoption lawyer, I know one who travels,” I take a long sip of my water. “Should we go to that salon?”

  “Yeah, let’s do it,” she smiles warmly at me before grabbing her things. I follow suit and we make our way out to the parking lot only to want to immediately go back inside. “What are they doing here?” Barbie asks looking over the line of bikers currently in front of us.

  “I don’t know,” I whisper back. I watch as Dallas gets off his bike feeling a bit nervous about it all. My stomach does summersaults as he slowly walks up to us. “Dad?” I ask my voice sounding timed and weak.

  He doesn’t look at me at all. “Barbie,” he reaches his hand out to her and she lifts hers palm up. “He called,” he says as he drops something into her hand. I just watch as she stares at it. “And sent this along with paper,” slowly she lifts up a ring.

  “Oh no!” I reach over and wrap my arm around her waist.

  “He wants a divorce?” Barbie asks Dallas.

  “He’s a coward. A weak man we should have never let him join us,” Dallas responds.

  A slow smile plays on her lips. “He’s asking for a divorce?” she asks.

  “Why are you smiling?” Dallas asks.

  “I’ve wanted one for over a year but he kept fighting me on it!” Barbie says. “He kept saying we’d make it work out then he left to go on a run for you and I was so happy that I’d get to find myself again,” Barbie looks over at me. “He finally gave it to me,” she smiles. “We never told anyone. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone ‘cause he kept saying he’d try.”

  “It doesn’t hurt?” I ask looking at her confused.

  “No it hurts like hell, but fuck it’s finally happening!” she takes a deep breath as the tears start to fall. “God, he’s such a pussy!” she throws the ring as far as she can then reaches for the one of her finger and pulls it off. “Change of plans, Royce. We’re going to a pawn shop!” as she starts to laugh so do I.

  “Woman are so weird,” Dallas mumbles. “Well, just so you know Barbie, we’re sending two guys after him to kick his ass.”

  She starts to laugh harder. “Why are you doing that?” I ask him.

  “No one messes with our family. Not even the members in this club,” he folds his arms over his chest.

  Barbie takes a deep breath wipes her face and stares down at her ring. “He deserves a good ass kicking,” she looks up at Dallas. “Thank you.”

  “You’ll always be a part of this club, Barbie. No matter who you are with. We’ll take care of you,” he reaches out and grabs her hand. “Always.”

  “Thank you,” she leans up to kiss his cheek. “Now come on, Royce. We have some serious shopping to do,” she grabs my arm and pulls me towards my car.

  Dane

  “Hey did you hear about Teddy and Barbie?” Kayden asks. I look over at him and literally want to die when I recognize the similarities between him and Royce. I hate that I work with him all day long. Well, don’t hate it but it makes me nervous.

  What if I start talking about how great Royce was in bed last night? Or mention that her tits tasted like strawberry cause of her lotion. What if I mention how fucked I am with her? I’m so in love with the woman and it’s not even been a year.

  “What happened?” I ask shifting over in my seat to look at him better. We’re in a smaller cruiser today. Something about mine being out of date on oil changes or some shit. I’ve been sore all day cause this thing barely lets me have neck room, let alone leg room. My back hurts like hell.

  “Dallas got a letter with his wedding ring. Apparently Barbie had been asking for a divorce for a while and when he left on that trip for the club, he met someone. It’s why he hasn’t been back when Dallas told him to come home. So he sent her papers and the ring. Dallas delivered it.”

  “No shit?” I pull my eyebrows together. “That’s kind of fucked up.”

  “It is. Dallas has asked everyone if they would be willing to go kick his ass.”

  “Well we’re out,” I tell Kayden. Shit like this doesn’t happen all the time, but once in a while the boys have to crack skulls. “Who’s volunteered?”

  “Looks like Grayson volunteered,” Grayson is on the Swat team. The man has to drop everything when his little pager beeps. “Todd and Luke.”

  “Luke?” I ask.

  “Yeah he said he’s taking a leave from the department for a couple weeks. Going down to find Teddy with those two and kick his ass.”

  “Grayson and him are cops. They can’t do that.”

  “I don’t know, man. But they’re going.” I run my hand over through my beard.

  “I’ll talk to him after we’re done on shift.”

  “They already left.” I reach for my phone the instant he says that. “They got on the road first thing after delivering the news to Barbie.”

  “Fuck, that sucks!” I reach for my phone, but stop myself. He’s a big guy and can take care of himself. “Hey, did you know Royce want’s six kids?” I ask.

  “Six,” he breathes out deep
ly. “Fuck man that’s a lot of responsibility.”

  “No shit. I had no idea but I mean I’m on board with her just like it’s kind of crazy to think.”

  “Wait, you guys are talking about kids?”

  “Well, she has one already and I love Kady like my own already. So it was easy to ask.”

  “Wow man, I didn’t know you guys were that serious.”

  “We’re dead serious. Heading straight for the church, man,” he smiles over at me. “What?”

  “Just never thought I’d see the day a girl tied you down, let alone Royce finally getting over Jeff.”

  “What’s the story there?” I put my hand up to stop him. “Never mind, I should just ask her.”

  “You should.” I reach for my phone again, but don’t get a chance to do anything with it.

  “Patrol 22 needs back up to 5th Avenue West. Armed robbery. All available units respond.”

  “Patrol 43, responding.”

  “Finally,” Kayden says. I roll my eyes. The kid is way too excited. “Let’s do this!”

  “Calm, Kayden,” I scold. He doesn’t say anything.

  Patrol 22 is usually Trent, but he’s not here so Mitch is there, and he’s a real good cop. We make it there in a couple minutes and Mitch is waiting just outside his car when we pull up, his gun is drawn towards the doors of the warehouse.

  “What we got?” I ask Mitch.

  “They fired a couple shots,” he says, never taking his eyes off the warehouse.

  “Let’s go in," Kayden says. It’s not that Kayden is young. He’s not, he’s as old as both of us but he’s new and way too eager to get in there.

  “Look man we get it you want action, but this job is more than that. It’s about safety. Keeping yourself safe and other police officers safe is the number one rule,” Mitch tells him but Kayden just shakes his head. “We wait for another car.”

  “Dude, we should just go. We’ve all been trained to do this.”

  “There is no need to go in immediately.”

  “Fine,” he gets behind the car pulling his gun out and aiming it at the warehouse doors. “What if he has hostages?”

  “Then better we wait for back up. We don’t want someone to get killed,” I tell him. I reach for my radio but don’t get to make a call. The doors fly open and two women come running out, and one is limping. I run over to them with Mitch who takes the younger woman in his arms bringing her back to the car. I grab the older lady lifting her up. “I got you,” I run her back to the car. “What happened?” I ask. She’s got a bullet in her calf.

  “These two guys came running in with guns. They were trying to get one of the cars we’ve got here.”

  “Cars?” Kayden asks.

  “We’re part of the auto club that’s in town. We’ve got vintage cars here. They are trying to steal them. My boss, Oscar, has them both upstairs locked in a room.”

  “We’re going in,” Kayden says and when I turn around I spot him running into the warehouse.

  “Fuck,” I look back at the woman. “You good?”

  “Go, it’s fine,” she puts her hand on her wound.

  I reach for my radio “Ambulance requested at our location. We need back up too.”

  “Copy, Patrol 43.”

  “Mitch, lets go!” I yell over to him. He draws his gun and meets me at the door.

  Training kicks in immediately. We search the first floor then head to the stairs. I go first, checking the door to my left at the top then hanging a right down the hall. We hear yelling and pick up our pace.

  “No stop!” I hear Kayden yell just as I get to the door. It fly’s open. A big man comes out, and before I can brace myself for his weight coming at me at full speed, he rams me.

  I go flying over the railing and down to the first floor.

  The pain is instant. My back took the full force. I landed on some pallets, but it did nothing to stop me from being injured. I roll to my side, but it does nothing to alleviate the ache that has now centered on the same injury I got when I was overseas.

  Someone’s yelling, but I can’t tell who. The ringing in my ears is too strong.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder and resist the urge to punch the hand away. “Dane,” I barely hear the voice.

  “I’m okay,” I groan.

  “You aren’t,” the voice says again. “Officer down. Need EMS.” I open my eyes finding Mitch standing over me. The ringing in my ears has calmed.

  “Why’d you do that?” I hate that he did that. “Fuck man, my back.” I lay back down, trying to calm my breathing but the vest I have on is putting so much pressure on my chest and isn’t helping with all the pain running through my body.

  “It’s gonna be okay,” Mitch says.

  “Kayden?” I ask, he pushes on my shoulder when I try to get up.

  I groan at being pushed back down. “Stop moving,” he tells me. “He’s good. We got the guys. Backup got here just in time.”

  “Fuck man, Royce is gonna kill me.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  “No you don’t get it. I—” I hesitate. “I might have left her hanging this morning,” Mitch starts to laugh and though I don’t know him well I don’t mind saying that. Royce wouldn’t give a fuck. “Fuck you, man. I thought I would make it home to her.”

  “Shut the fuck up. You will make it home to her. Don’t even say you won’t,” he punches me in the shoulder.

  “Ow! Shit man, don’t do that.”

  “Who’s down?” Chief yells out. “Shit! Dane?” I turn my head looking over at him. Two paramedics come in with him.

  “I’m good, Chief.” When he reaches me, he grabs my hand. “Just fell a little.”

  Mitch points above us. “You fell from there?” Chief asks.

  “Move please,” Chief let’s go of my hand and moves. One of the paramedics comes over to me. “Where are you hurt, officer?” her voice is definitely Australian.

  That’s hot. Fuck, I shouldn’t think that. Shit. My head is not right. Royce. Royce. Fuck… no, no hard on. Shit. Fuck. Stop thinking.

  “Officer,” Australian says again getting my attention. I know her.

  I groan, “Names Dane.”

  “Well Dane, where are you hurt?” she smiles at me.

  “My back, Cody,” she smiles at me. “I got injured when I was in the Army. I just have minor pain in my back.”

  “Scale of 1-10?” the other paramedic asks.

  “Oh you know… a nine.” They both scowl at me.

  “Well buddy, we’re putting a neck brace on you.” I groan but let them do their thing. “Back board,” Cody says and I groan again. “Mind helping us?” Cody asks. Again, I groan. “Hey, you need to calm down. Your breathing is way too hard and your pulse is racing. You don’t need to go into a panic attack on us.”

  “Fuck! Fine,” I try to take a couple deep breaths, but it doesn’t happen. The pain is too much. “I can’t.”

  “Let’s get him on the board.” Trent helps them get me on it and minutes later I’m rolling into the ambulance. “Here you go, Dane.” Cody puts an oxygen mask over my mouth and nose and the breathing gets a bit better. “You probably have a couple broken ribs.”

  “I had a good fall,” I mumble over the mask, but she didn’t understand what I said, so I just lay back and wait.

  We get to the hospital in minutes and by the time I’m wheeled into the emergency room the pain has gotten worse. “Stupid big brother, always getting hurt,” I try to lift my head to see Maddie but I can’t. I’m strapped to the board.

  “Hey Mads,” and I hear her laugh kind of under her breath, but still looks pissed. “When did you start working at the hospital?”

  “A couple days ago. They needed an on call doc. Of course I said yes,” she comes into my view. “When did you start falling from buildings?”

  “I didn’t fall from a building. I was pushed over a railing onto a stack of pallets.”

  “Stupid big brother always—” I grab her wrist before s
he can turn around. My hands not tied down.

  “Hey, I’m okay Maddie,” she reaches over and touches my hand. “Just a little banged up.”

  “I know. I’m the doctor here,” she smiles at me. The same smile as our mom and I. “Did you tell Royce you’re here?”

  I groan.

  About an hour later, I’m sitting in a room getting my x-rays, still strapped to a board and not able to run away from Royce who is in the other room on a speaker yelling at me. “What do you think you can just fucking go over a railing and be some type of super hero and fucking fly?”

  “Royce,” I groan. My heads starting to pound even more.

  “What? You want to apologize for being hurt or for not being able to take care of this fucking rage that’s between my legs?” I go to sit up and scowl at her, but I can’t move. “No one’s in here,” she says softly, “Don’t be a fucking dick and injure yourself more.”

  “Baby look, I’m sorry okay? The guy just ran out of the room and I got knocked over the railing.”

  “Yeah, they told me.”

  “So maybe you can not be mad at me right now?”

  “They gave you something for the pain,” she laughs out clearly okay with being mad at me. “How bad is it?” I hear her ask but I know she isn’t asking me.

  “How bad is what?”

  “Hey bro,” Mads says, “So, looks like nothing is broken. We’ll get you off that thing but you’ll need to take a couple weeks off. You’ve got some badly bruised ribs that were affecting your breathing, but we’ll get you some pain killers. Hey, what are you doing?”

  I pull on the tape holding me down and start to get off the board that’s only been making my back worse. Stupid fuckers left half of my shirt tucked under my back after they got through everything. Half my vest is under me causing the pain to worsen over the last twenty minutes.

  “God dammit, Dane.” I look up as I take the collar off to find Royce standing next to Maddie. Both of them don’t look happy at all. “Why can’t you just wait?”

  “Cause I’m fine,” I go to stand but the pain shooting down my legs is too much. Royce comes over and wraps her arm around my waist holding me up. “It’s just my back,” I tell her.