He watched the video twice before telling me, “I know you’re RTMC and I’m surprised you let him get away with taking the first swing. Still, this is clear cut self-defense because you let him swing twice before you defended yourself.” He looked to the woman. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
She nodded and I told the officer her knee was hurt but she’d said she didn’t need an ambulance.
“We can have the paramedic take a look when he comes to take care of your assailant.”
He started asking her questions about how she knew the assailant, and I asked if it’d be okay if I returned to sit with my family until he needed to ask me questions.
He nodded, and I walked back to the table.
Connie looked less than pleased, but the twins were so excited they couldn’t contain themselves.
“Wow Daddy! You hit him and knocked him out with ONE PUNCH! Can you teach me to do that?” I was certain the entire restaurant heard her, but I ignored their looks and smiles.
“Remember what I said about hitting people? If there’s a teacher or police officer close so you can yell and get their attention, it isn’t okay to hit someone. You have to let the teacher or police officer take care of the problem. The only time you can hit someone is if there’s no one else around to help, and you have to save either yourself or someone else.”
“Did you kill him?” Declan asked, his voice quiet.
I shook my head. “No. He’ll be okay but he’s going to have a really bad headache when he wakes up.” I pulled him into my lap and told him, “I just needed to make sure he didn’t hurt anyone while we were waiting for the police.” I nodded to the man, who was now sitting up on the floor, obviously dazed. “The paramedics will check him out and decide if he needs to go to the hospital. He hit his head on the floor when he fell, so it’s possible a doctor will need to make sure he stays still and doesn’t get hit again, and he won’t be able to do that in jail so they might take him away in the ambulance. He’ll be handcuffed to his hospital bed if he goes though, because he’s under arrest. He’ll go to jail to be fingerprinted when he gets out of the hospital, and he might have to stay a little while if he doesn’t have money to bail himself out.”
When the ambulance finally arrived the officer came to our table. “You have a nice family, Mr. Wells. I assume you’re okay, but I need to ask so I can note it in my report.”
“I’m fine. I understand the victim had a restraining order and the assailant broke it? Is she doing okay?”
“She is, and I don’t approve of vigilantism but it’s good you interceded.” He’d asked for my driver’s license earlier, and he handed it back to me now. “I don’t have any further questions for you at this time, but it’s likely you’ll be called if this goes to trial.”
I set Declan in my chair as I stood and offered my hand. “Thanks, Officer Stark. I appreciate your professionalism. If you need me to press charges against him to keep him away from her longer I will, but I have a feeling you have enough without my doing so.”
He shook my hand and told me to enjoy the rest of my evening with my family, and left.
I lifted Declan and set him back on my leg as I took my seat again. “Always show respect to police officers. They’re the good guys and they have a hard job.”
“Are you a good guy, Daddy?” Chloe asked. “You saved that woman, right?”
“I think I was a good guy today, because I let a certain little girl change her mind a million times about which bed she wanted,” I said with a huge grin.
Chloe giggled and grinned back, and Connie changed the subject. “If we’re all through eating perhaps we can go home?”
I hadn’t finished, but I could box it up and eat it later. I took care of the bill and got a box, and we all piled back into my car, as we’d picked Connie up at home instead of her meeting us at the restaurant.
“Did it hurt your hand when you hit him, Daddy?” Declan asked from the back seat.
“Yes, because you have to hit someone really hard if you want to knock them out, and I didn’t want him to get up and try to hit me again until the police arrived. I’m sure his face hurts a whole lot more than my hand, though.”
I felt more of Connie’s distress with every question, so I once again reminded them it isn’t okay to hit someone at school or daycare, because you only have to tell a teacher when there’s a problem so the teacher can take care of it.
We started the bedtime routine shortly after arriving back at Connie’s, and I read six books before carrying Declan to his bed and making sure they were both tucked in with plenty of hugs and kisses.
Connie and I sat in silence on the top step, and when I heard them both drop off into sleep I went to the den and she followed.
“You’re pissed at me. Why?”
She crossed her arms. “I’m upset with the situation. The kids didn’t need to see that kind of violence, and while I wish you hadn’t gotten involved, I realize I’m selfish for wanting you to have stayed out of it because it’s clearly a good thing you stepped in.” She dropped her arms, sighed, and crossed them again. “I once told you I saw you as a guardian under the rough biker exterior. I knew who you were when I came to you with that picture. I have no right to be pissed you got involved, and yet… I kind of am.”
“Did I do okay explaining it to the twins?”
She nodded. “Yes. The last thing I need is to get a call from the principal because Chloe decks a boy who picks on her friend.”
I chuckled because I could easily see Chloe doing just that, and then claiming it was okay because I hit the guy in the restaurant who wasn’t being nice to the woman. I pulled Connie into my arms and held her a few seconds before saying, “Thanks for letting me have the day with the twins. I’ll go before I wear out my welcome.”
“No, you can stay. I invited you to stay until we leave for church in the morning, and the offer still stands.”
She needed to work through her feelings, but if she wanted me around then perhaps I could help sway her towards me, instead of away from me.
“Okay, how about we watch some TV? More Sons of Anarchy, or would you prefer something less violent this evening?”
“I don’t… yeah, sure.”
“Was there something else you wanted to do?”
She opened her mouth, closed it, looked at the floor, the ceiling, the television, and finally met my gaze. “I want to talk. I want to know where we are. I want to kiss some more and maybe… but I’m scared to find out where we are because I don’t think you’re as interested in me as I am in you.”
I’m used to shutting women down when they start wanting anything from me beyond a random fuck. If I’m honest, I’d have shut Connie down before she got the second sentence out if I didn’t need to keep a good relationship with her because of the twins. She’s important to them and I wasn’t going to fuck this up.
“I gave you your first orgasm, Connie. That’s all this is. You’re high society and I’m a biker. It can never work out between us.”
“That isn’t true. Once I got to know you and saw beneath your rough exterior, I’ve liked you from that day forward.”
“You think I’m crude.”
“At times, but I also appreciate your blunt honesty, even if you’re sometimes more vulgar about it than I’d prefer.”
I sat on the sofa and stretched my legs out in front of me. “The truth is, I’ve shown you my good side. If there hadn’t been witnesses tonight I’d have beat the bloody hell out of the human long before he had a chance to throw a punch, and then I’d have asked the woman if I could take her to a friend’s house.”
“So, all of that talk about respecting the police because they’re the good guys? That was a lie?”
“No, most of them are the good guys, and I respect the ones who are. Even when they’re arresting me I try to show respect to the ones who deserve it.”
She finally sat, but did so in one of the chairs instead of beside me on the sofa.
“I thought you didn’t
have a record?”
“I’ve never been found guilty in court but I’ve been arrested a few times. Most of the time charges are dropped before we ever make it to court, but it’s gone that far a few times. We keep the best local lawyers money can buy on retainer.”
“Have you been guilty any of the times you were arrested?”
Well I walked right into that. Instead of answering, I asked a question. “Why do you have so much security? You have the most expensive home security money can buy — I’m pretty sure there’s a saferoom between your room and the twins’ bedroom, you have a panic button on your keychain I’d be willing to bet dings the control room of Drake Security, and I just heard something when you took your shoes off. I’ve heard it before and assumed it was the home alarm system, but now I’m thinking there’s a tracker in your shoes that checks in every time it gains or loses your body heat, and perhaps sporadically while you have them on, as well. If there’s one in every pair of shoes you own, that’s some serious money.”
“Being one of the top scientists for a pharmaceutical company puts me at high risk for being abducted. I’m not supposed to tell anyone about the many security precautions in place, and I’d appreciate it if you kept what you’ve figured out quiet.”
“Do the twins have trackers?”
“I’m not supposed to say.”
“Likely in their shoes as well, and I can’t imagine you wouldn’t insist on them being as protected as you. Is that the real reason you were so against my buying the three of you new boots?” When she didn’t answer I shook my head and continued. “My guess is if they kidnapped you and tried to get answers they’d be out of luck, but if they had the twins you’d spill all your secrets to keep them from hurting the kids.”
“I’ve never heard the shoes checking in. You can really hear even when electronics are communicating with each other?”
“It’s part of the background noise unless I focus in on it. It’s quiet in here tonight so it was easy for me to realize it happened about a second after your foot came out of your shoe, just enough time for it to pick up the difference in temperature.” I sighed. “I have a right to know the security precautions in place for my kids. If you don’t tell me, I’ll just experiment around with their shoes until I know how often and when they check in.”
“They check in when the shoe goes on or comes off, and at random intervals in between when they’re on. No one watches my activity, but the computer will notify someone if I or the kids go off our usual schedule during the week, or if our weekend activities seem off. Should I turn up missing and they can’t find me through my phone or shoes, they can access the logs to see when the trackers last checked in.”
“Do you have plans in place so the kids won’t go to the state if you’re abducted?”
“Legal papers are in place so they’ll go to my dad. That obviously has to be changed now, and I’ll get my attorney started on it Monday so they’ll go to you.”
“I don’t like a lot of people who aren’t part of my inner circle. I mean, it isn’t just that I don’t like them, it’s that I can’t stand to be around them. When I first met you I worried you’d be like most everyone else who’s a regular part of society, but you don’t annoy me just by walking into the room. I enjoy our conversations, and I love how much you love the kids.” I shook my head and tried to figure out how to say what I needed to. “I don’t want things to be weird between us, but I worry we’ve already crossed the Rubicon on that one. I don’t regret giving you your first orgasm, but I’m not sure we should take it any farther.”
“I feel like you’ve woken something up in me, and now I want to explore it. Our offices are on the top two floors of a building, and the lower floors are leased to other companies. There’s a café on the second floor and a gentleman has asked me to dinner a few times and I’ve turned him down. I intend to talk to him and let him know I’d like to go if the offer’s still open. If we plan something for next weekend, can you take the kids?”
How can someone feel relief and dismay at the same time? I was relieved this took me off the hook for having to decide whether I wanted a relationship with her, and dismayed that now the decision was made for me and there wouldn’t be one.
I ignored my feelings though and told her, “I’d love to take the kids. Let me know as soon as you can so I can make sure I’m not scheduled to work.”
I stood and took a step toward her. “Give me a hug and then lock the door behind me.”
She gave me the same warm hug she’d been giving me, and seemed fine as she said goodbye at the door.
Chapter 22
Gonzo
Brain and I arrived at Randall’s house Sunday evening. I was slightly on edge because he’d requested we come in a vehicle instead of on our bikes, and this hinted that one of us might not be in any shape to drive home.
Still, I met him in his front yard with the cooler and sat it on the ground between us as I said, “I appreciate the relationship between Pack and MC. I fucked up and it was your job to deliver the consequences. We’re good.”
“I appreciate the words and the tribute. Does the rest of the MC feel the same?”
“Some apparently didn’t while I was recuperating, but I’ve set them straight.”
He nodded. “Anything else?”
“Yes, actually. The twins are four and have more wolf traits than I believe is normal at this age. We’ve been invited to Sunday dinner at Duke and Gen’s next week, and Brain and Harmony are coming as well. Duke said I should ask you if you’ll mind spending some time with them to give your input. If so, he’ll invite you and a date to dinner as well.”
“It’s my responsibility to investigate any reports of oddities in any wolf in my territory. I’ll come to dinner, but you have to know I might need to spend some time with them one-on-one if I pick up on anything.”
If he tried to take my kids I’d fight to the death — either mine or his — to stop him, but he didn’t need to know that unless it came down to it. I nodded and said, “I’ll ask to be present, even if I’m only sitting a distance away as an observer.”
“If it’s at all possible, I’ll honor your request.”
“Thank you. I need a door put between the two guest bedrooms in my house, can we work out a time for you to send someone to my house?”
He gave me a dollar figure, I agreed to it, and he said to expect a phone call later in the week to set up a time.
I offered my hand, and he shook it. Brain shook his hand as well and we turned to leave. We were halfway to the SUV when Randall said, “Gonzo!” I turned and he said, “Wednesday night, if you reach out to me for help, I’ll give it.”
I nodded, and Brain and I left.
We were on the road and several miles away before Brain asked, “Are you going to take him up on the offer and ask for help?”
“I don’t intend to. Did you know he’d give the offer if I brought tribute?”
“No, and I’m surprised he did, but I’ve been through it and it’s hell. There’s a good chance I’d have made a deal with the devil while I was going through the worst of it.”
“You’ve been through it? I keep forgetting you grew up in a Pack and then left it.”
“Stupid teenager attitude shit. Got too big for my position and the Alpha reminded me how much stronger he was. Let’s just say I went out of my way to show proper respect afterwards.”
“I’m scheduled to patrol the next three nights. I’m on a bit of a short fuse, so ya’ll need to either put me in an area where heads need to be beaten in at the first sign of trouble, or in an area where there isn’t likely to be any trouble. Keep me out of the places that need a diplomatic touch if you can, because I’m not sure I’m up for it.”
Brain laughed. “Not a problem. I’ll talk it over with Duke before we give assignments.” He was quiet a few moments before he added. “There’ll be no shame in reaching out to Randall for help, and he might even view it as a sign of respect if you do.”
My first few hours of patrol were uneventful, but I enjoyed being out in the night under the almost-full moon.
I was on the edge of our territory, where one side of the street belonged to us and the other side belonged to the Disciples when I saw Pit Bull on our side of the street selling drugs to what looked like some high school kids.
I interceded and put Pit Bull on the ground and my boot into the back of his neck. I told the kids they were standing on RTMC territory buying drugs. They threw their little baggies on the ground and ran. Smart kids.
Pit Bull shot Dawg a while back and nearly killed him. We’ve reached somewhat of a truce with the Disciples since then, but none of us have forgiven Pit Bull. If Dawg had been human he’d have been dead instantly because he took a point-blank shot to the heart. As it was, he didn’t have time to change and heal before his heart stopped working. Some of the MC put hands on him and changed him as he was dying. We shouldn’t have been able to do it — only an Alpha or sometimes his top people can do that sort of thing. We’d managed it, though, and Pit Bull had been unconscious from his own gunshot wounds by that time, so he didn’t see Dawg change into a wolf. We didn’t get a chance to kill Pit Bull that night, and then we’d reached a deal with the Disciples that let him live if he left town. Since he was already gone, it was the best deal we were likely to make. He’s back now, but Dawg always votes not to send someone to kill him when someone puts it to a vote during Church, so the bastard’s still alive.
So now — once the kids were out of sight — I put Pit Bull on his feet and proceeded to beat the living hell out of him. He’s a tough son of a bitch so he managed to get back up when I knocked him down. I knew I was close to killing him, but the bastard wouldn’t stay down so I kept punching.
Eventually, I heard Marlin and Bash telling me he’d had enough, but I still didn’t stop. “I’ll stop when the son of a bitch goes down and stays down.”
“You heard him, Pit. Hit the ground!” Marlin yelled.
Gonzo (Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club Book 7) Page 17