by Jamie Begley
“Mmm… delicious.”
Razer released her. Beth smiled at him as he went to the stove to fix a huge plate of food. Loading two of the huge cinnamon rolls on his plate.
“You’re going to get fat the way you eat,” Beth teased.
Razer’s teeth picked up a crisp piece of bacon. “I plan to work off the calories after breakfast,” he said with a wink.
“Nope, I have work to do. I am determined to finally get Mrs. Langley’s boxes organized today. When you get done eating, could you get them for me?”
“Yes, I’ll do it before going running,” Razer said, biting into a cinnamon roll and giving her a sloppy kiss before leaving the room.
Evie came in looking like hell, Memphis and Crash following behind her didn’t look much better.
“Cinnamon rolls are great, Evie.”
“Fixed them before I went to bed.” When Evie would take a mood to cook something, she did it regardless of the time. No one would know when the mood would strike, but they all benefited when it did.
Beth got up, snagging another one before they all disappeared, pouring herself another cup of coffee.
“Going upstairs to get busy. I want to organize Mrs. Langley’s papers and give them back tomorrow when one of us does her house. I will be back later when you’re awake and we’ll divide the schedule,” Beth teased Evie.
“Take your time.” Evie said, smacking Memphis’s hand before he could take three cinnamon rolls. “Damn people, there should have been enough to have some left over until tomorrow.”
Smiling, Beth left the kitchen with the others amicably arguing. Precariously opening the door to Razer’s room, she was careful not to spill the coffee. Setting it on the nightstand, she went to the boxes and set them on the middle of the floor. First opening one box, she worked steadily, going through years of financial records that had been stored. She was surprised that Mrs. Langley’s son-in-law had not shredded them. She did not see anything of any importance. She put everything back and marked on the box to shred. She would check with Mrs. Langley before she took care of that task.
Taking a break, she finished her now cold coffee and cinnamon roll, debating about taking a break, but she was determined to finish the task. She used the restroom and sat back down cross-legged on the floor once again. Beth pulled the second box towards her, opening the box. Beth stared at the papers, not sure what she was looking at, then with a sick feeling, she emptied the box, meticulously organizing the papers until she could understand what she had found. Afterwards, she carefully returned the papers back into the box, closing the contents inside.
Going to Razer’s nightstand, she took the sheaf of papers she had not returned to the box and hid them inside a magazine in the drawer. She had just closed the drawer, picking up her cell phone to call the Sheriff when she heard the door open. Beth thinking it was Razer, was not surprised to see Sam standing with a gun pointed directly at her.
“I see you’re not surprised to see me.”
“I’m not.” Beth clutched the phone in her hand.
“Put it down, Beth.”
Beth could tell by the cold look in the young woman’s eyes she would kill her. She laid down the phone on the nightstand.
“Sam don’t do this. You’re not involved.”
“Shut up. Pick up the box and let’s go.” Beth didn’t argue figuring her chances were better outside the room than enclosed within with her. Beth picked up the box and went out the door with Sam following close behind her.
“Everyone is in the backyard going over the work schedule. If you make a sound, I will shoot you.”
Beth went down the steps, tempted to throw the box at her. “Don’t do it Beth, I will shoot you then take off before anyone comes. If not, then I will shoot whoever comes.”
Beth went through the door to the outside, truly frightened, not knowing what to do. Sam directed her to a low-slung white sports car, ordering her to get inside. Keeping the gun pointed at her, she walked around to the other side of the car getting in behind the door. Sam started the powerful car, driving out of the lot, headed to town.
“Samantha, your father is not worth you going to prison for the rest of your life. The club will figure it out. They aren’t stupid, they will know someone from the house took me.”
“Already got that covered. No one will know it’s me; and no, they won’t figure out shit. They still don’t know who killed Viper’s brother it took a stupid bitch like you to figure out my dad was responsible.”
“Why were the papers in that box?”
“Stupid fucker hid them there. He had gone to my grandmother’s to destroy them, but got interrupted, so he stashed them. He was going to destroy them, but figured they were safe where they were, not expecting that dumbass worker of yours to actually take the boxes. If my dad hadn’t been such an arrogant bastard, he would have destroyed the papers. Lazy fuck.”
Sam drove through town without stopping, heading toward the county line. Beth didn’t recognize the house they pulled into as they travelled down a long unpaved driveway. Sam drove around the back and parked the car beside an expensive BMW already parked.
“Stay here until I come around.”
Beth followed her order, terror beginning to fill her. She was out in the middle of nowhere with no one even aware she was missing.
“Get the box.”
“Sam…”
“Move bitch, don’t make me tell you again.”
Beth got out the car door that Sam had opened, walking towards the house. Sam was still holding the gun to her back while following her. She slowly went up the short flight of steps, opening the door while juggling the box.
Samantha’s father was waiting inside the small kitchen, sitting at the table with a gun lying on the table before him.
“It’s about time,” he snapped at Sam as soon as she walked through the doorway.
“I had to wait until it was clear,” Sam explained
He got up from the table and took the box from Beth’s hands. Setting it on the table, he opened the box taking out the papers on top. The deeper down he went, not finding what he wanted, he started throwing the papers haphazardly. When the box was empty, he angrily threw the empty box at Beth.
“You idiot, didn’t you check to see if the documents were there?”
“I didn’t have time. The box was closed when I went in the room. How was I supposed to know she was smart enough to take the papers out?”
“You check!” Vincent Bedford screamed at his daughter.
“I can go back and get the papers.” Sam turned to Beth and smacked her across the face. “What did you do with them?”
Beth’s hand touched her stinging cheek, refusing to answer.
“I will shoot your kneecap. I can look if I have to, but it will be quicker and less painful for you if you tell me where they are.”
“I put them in the closet.” Beth lied, hoping Razer would find her going through his closet and become suspicious.
“She’s lying.”
“No shit.” Sam snapped back at her father. Furiously, she hit Beth again this time with the gun in her hand. Pain burst through Beth’s jaw, falling, she barely managed to catch herself by grasping the end of the table. Her hand cupped her cheek, this time Beth felt wetness against her fingers.
“Now where are the fucking papers? This is the last time I am going to ask before I leave. If I search your room and someone comes in I will shoot. Do you want to be responsible for someone being hurt?”
Beth tried to think what her best option was, but she was drawing a blank. She didn’t want anyone hurt, but Sam was determined to find the papers, she obviously had no compunction in hurting someone. Beth didn’t want to endanger Razer, but Viper deserved to know what happened to his brother, as well as the other club members. A rough hand in her hair jerked her to Vincent Bedford.
“Tell me where you put the papers. I will put a bullet through your brain if you don’t.” Beth felt the cold metal o
f the gun he was holding press against her temple.
“I put them in a brown shoe box in the closet,” Beth lied again. It was the only choice she had. They were going to kill her anyway; Bedford would not release her and let her identify him and Sam for kidnapping.
This time it was Vincent Bedford who slammed the gun into her head. Beth momentarily blacked out as he threw her to the dirty kitchen floor. Her vision was blurry as she fought for consciousness. The crashing and screaming she heard pounded through her head, but she couldn’t focus enough to understand what was going on. Darkness was growing, but with a last ditch effort she managed to turn her head and see Cash restraining Samantha, who was fighting like a wildcat trying to get away from him.
Loker James and Beford were fighting, if it could even be called that. He had two knives, one in each hand. He was cutting Bedford to shreds. The older man was covered in blood and was vainly trying to defend himself without success. Beth felt Razer’s touch as he moved her tumbled hair from her face. She had never seen that look on Razer’s face. He had always been easy going or humorous. This man before her was a cold-blooded killer, furious that she had been hurt. She managed to see that Loker was now playing with Bedford, making him think he was going to get out the back door when he turned to flee. Loker kicked him in the back, forcing him to fall forward onto the floor. The man attempted to crawl to get away from the assaulter, but Loker stepped on his hand, stopping his forward momentum. The scream of agony had her wincing in sympathy, even though the man had threatened to kill her.
“Loker, stop,” Beth said weakly.
He ignored her, bringing his boot back and Beth knew he was about to plant it in the wailing man’s face.
“Please, Loker stop. I have all the proof you need to convict him back at clubhouse.”
This time he stopped and looked at her.
“Cover him,” Razer spoke to someone she couldn’t see.
Razer brushed his thumb against her cheek. “You are all right sweetheart, the ambulance is on the way.”
“How did you find me?”
“Loker was watching Bedford and when he saw Sam come in with you, he called us.”
“I had to, he threatened to kill my baby. He gave me no choice.” Sam hung pitifully in Cash’s arms, all the fight drained out of her. “He paid someone to take my baby. I don’t even know if my baby was a boy or girl, he took the baby while I was unconscious after the delivery. He won’t tell me where my child is or with whom.” The whole room went quiet, listening to Sam’s heart wrenching cries. “It was Gavin’s child.”
“You lying bitch,” Loker yelled.
The sounds of the siren approaching made Beth’s head ache. She tried to move her head and the movement had stars bursting through her skull. The last thing she remembered was Loker’s hand around Sam’s throat.
“Razer,” she whispered as darkness overwhelmed the pain.
Chapter 15
The beeping of a machine woke her. Turning her head she saw a nurse punching buttons on a machine.
“Awake at last. We were starting to get worried about you. I will call the doctor and he will be in to talk to you.” Giving her hand an impersonal pat, the uniformed nurse left.
Beth looked around the small room. Hoping no one had called Lily; she did not want to worry her. The door opened and a tall man with bright red hair came in.
His friendly eyes soothed Beth’s frayed nerves. “I am glad to see that you have regained consciousness. How are you feeling?”
“Confused.”
“That’s normal. Do you remember what happened?”
Beth started to nod, but the sharp pain rushing through her skull stopped the motion.
“I remember Sam kidnapped me and her father threatened to kill me.”
“They almost succeeded, you have a severe concussion. You have been unconscious for 12 hours.”
“Did anyone notify my sister?”
“No, the Sheriff accepted responsibility. If you had stayed unconscious much longer, then he would have. The Sheriff said you wouldn’t want to worry her.”
Beth gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, my sister would have been terrified, I am glad you took the Sheriff’s advice.”
The Doctor gave her reassurances that she would heal quickly and he would release her in forty-eight hours.
“We want to keep a strict eye on you to make sure you are all clear before we release you.”
“Thank you.” The doctor left, giving her instructions to let the nurse know if she experienced any changes in pain. Sleep beckoned, Beth dozed on and off throughout the day, only waking intermittedly with the arrival of the dinner tray.
Beth managed to eat a small amount. hoping it would help the sick feeling in her stomach. She was already back asleep when the nurse returned to retrieve the tray.
The next day Beth felt much clearer, she was stronger, getting out of bed with an aide’s help, even taking a shower and shampooing her hair. She had a clean gown on and was drying her hair with a towel while sitting in the chair by the window overlooking the parking lot. She had hoped Razer or Evie would have come to visit her, at least letting her know what had happened after she had passed out. But no one came and it was late afternoon before the Sheriff finally came to her room.
“Hello Sheriff,” Beth greeted him when he didn’t see her sitting in the bed.
His concerned frown disappeared and a relieved smile replaced it.
“So you’re up and about already?”
“At least as far as this chair, I am still a little dizzy if I move too fast, but it’s getting better.”
“Good.” The sheriff came to stand beside her looking out the window.
“Want to tell me what happened yesterday?” Beth told him about looking through the boxes and ended with where she had hidden the incriminating papers.
“Did Razer find the papers?”
“Yes. He found them when he went back to his room. Sam told him what you had found and what they were. She told everything she knew trying to cut a deal for herself. Bedford kept telling her to shut up.”
“He was going to kill me. Is he in jail?”
“No, he’s in the hospital also. Pretty bad shape, but he’ll live and stand trial for murder and your kidnapping.”
“So it’s true he took Sam’s baby?”
“Looks like it. We have to wait for the evidence to come back to know without a doubt.”
“Poor Samantha.”
The Sheriff looked at her in amazement. “Poor Samantha, she kidnapped you, pistol whipped you, and was going to let her father kill you and you feel sorry for her?”
“Yes, you protect family. Always.”
The sheriff shook his head at the woman sitting before him. He had never met another person like her. Her soul was filled with the concern for others more than herself. She had always been like that, even as a younger girl. There was no one, male or female, that he respected more than her.
“At least I don’t have to worry about someone trying to kill me now that mystery is solved.”
The sheriff hesitated, “Yes, it’s over. You can go back to your normal life.”
A thought struck her, which would explain why Razer hadn’t been to visit her. “Did Razer get in trouble for hurting Mr. Bedford? He was only trying to protect me… it was actually Loker James who beat him so badly.”
The Sheriff held up his hand, stopping her explanation. “I didn’t arrest him or James either. The way I wrote it down was self-defense. Cash backed his story up.”
“Oh… well that’s a relief.” Beth bit her lip.
“The doctor said you will be released tomorrow. My wife plans to come by and help you out until you feel better.”
“No, I will be fine…”
“You know Rachel won’t take no for an answer, so no use in arguing. I brought your car to you, it’s in the lot.” Taking the keys out of his pocket, he handed them to her. “Rachel said to tell you she’d give you a few hours peace b
efore she came.”
“Thanks Sheriff, I appreciate all your help.”
“Anytime Beth.” The sheriff stayed until the nurse came in to take her vitals, but Beth barely paid attention to the nurse’s questions. She had been stunned when the Sheriff had handed her the keys to her car. It had been parked at the clubhouse. Razer would have to have given him the keys. Yet, he had sent no messages, nor had Evie. Beth tried hard not to be hurt, but could not help feeling ignored by the people she had come to care about.
Chapter 16
Beth was released the next day after the doctor had given her a final exam. Feeling much better, Beth signed her release papers. Once outside, she had no trouble locating her car. Beth came to a decision as she drove home. She was going to find out why no one had come by the hospital to check on her or even call.
All the way there, Beth tried to talk herself out of her decision. A feeling of foreboding came over her, reminding her that she should go home, but for once she didn’t listen to the reasonable voice in her head saying to give it a couple of days. When she pulled up to the house, the yard and porch were filled with bikers none of them she recognized. As she walked to the front door, she was given many curious looks, but no one said anything to her. Walking into the house she saw Razer immediately, Bliss was sitting on his lap with a black pair of leather shorts and a black vest completely open baring her breasts. Razer was sitting and playing with her nipple.
Once upon a time Beth would have turned and ran away, unable to face the pain of jealousy seeing him with another woman would evoke. Evie who was sitting on Cash’s lap was the first to see her and her mouth dropped open, before a carefully closed expression came over her face.
Razer turned to see what had startled Evie and also saw Beth. He didn’t remove his hand, but the smile he had disappeared in a flash.
Beth felt her legs carrying her across the room to stand before him.
“Hi Razer, Evie. I thought I would stop by and see if everyone was alright. I had hoped you would come by the hospital and see me.” Beth’s voice was hesitant as she deliberately kept her eyes on Razer’s face as his hands stroked Bliss’s breasts.