by M. Merin
“Need to talk, Emma.” I look over at her. “Adam is going to be signing your divorce papers, today or tomorrow. Ok if Jessop files them on Monday?”
“What? When did you hear? I left a voicemail with him yesterday and never heard back?” She’s suddenly serious again.
“Yeah, I ran into Jessop in town and said I’d pass that onto you.” I look at her quickly and see the appraising look on her face.
“Adam’s gonna sign them, just like that, Jasper? Take nothing and go?” She asks and I shrug my shoulders. “Turn the car around.”
“What?” I feel a sudden weight in the pit of my stomach.
“You know what I’ve been through and you’re going to sit there and lie to me?” She whispers and I see her face has flushed red.
“Darlin’…”
“Don’t. Just don’t. Let me out.” She seethes, reaching her hand up to the door handle.
“I can’t stop here.” I try to take her hand but she strikes out at me. “Darlin’, he became club business the second you became mine. The papers are ready, just let it go.”
“Did you…”
“I didn’t lay a hand on him. I swear to you.” Technically telling her the truth.
“But you ordered it.” She whispers.
“Of course.” Fuck, I hate being questioned. I did the right thing. She sits beside me, unwilling to speak, tears streaming down her cheeks; her carefree mood destroyed.
Hours later, I pull up to the Sheraton and wave away the valet. Looking at her, I reach for her hand again. She lets me hold it this time but doesn’t move a muscle.
“What…” I begin.
“Is that how you see our relationship going? That you’ll just lie to me to try to keep me happy? That I’m not smart enough to figure things out?” She cuts me off. Anger is radiating from her body.
“I think you are incredibly intelligent, Emma. But can YOU lie?” I turn to her. “Will you protect my Brothers when there’s an investigation into Adam’s disappearance? I swore I’d keep you safe and that’s what I’m doing.”
“When they find him…”
“They won’t, they won’t ever find him. Just know that the divorce papers were served, then they were turned into Jessop’s temporary assistant and Jessop found them in his inbox when he got back from the meeting we were at; us and seven other everyday businessmen.” I pause. “The only qualm I have about what took place is how you’re looking at me right now.”
“You can’t go around killing…”
“I’m not a goddamn saint!” I say louder than planned as I reach for her chin. “In my world, when things need doing, I have to…”
My words are lost as glass explodes all around us, her eyes widen in terror as blood sprays across her face. I lean across to cover her, to find her wound, when I belatedly realize that I’m the one who was hit. Emma screaming my name is the last thing I register before everything goes dark.
Chapter 17
Emma
No. No. No. I go from furious to terrified in moments. I can’t lose Jasper, especially not when we’re fighting. Not ever. Holding him, holding my hand to his head where a flap of skin is dangling I see at least three men on motorcycles racing away.
My door opens and I scream again. The petrified valet screams back, startled. “Miss, an ambulance is on its way, is he???”
“He has a pulse, but his head is bleeding, please, I need something.” I cry and he runs off, a moment later a different man comes up behind me.
“I’m a nurse, I was just checking in and…” He looks so scared but his words are calm. “Let me lean around you to see what we have here.”
“Go around the other side, I’m scared to move my hand.” I reply and he quickly follows my instruction.
“Are you hurt?” He asks me as he leans in to move Jasper’s seat back. “Wow. It passed right along his head. Can you keep your hand where it is? I can hear the ambulances now.”
I just nod and hold Jasper tighter to me, telling him over and over again that I love him, that I won’t leave him. When the paramedics come, I reach down for his phone and wallet and see a gun he has hidden next to the console. I quickly grab that and slip it into my purse before hopping out to get in the ambulance with him.
At the hospital, I ignore the frown the nurse gives me when she sees my Property cut and tell her I’m Jasper’s wife; she hands me a clipboard and waves at some seats. I take a breath and pull out Jasper’s phone.
“What?” Flint answers on the first ring.
“Flint, its Emma,” My voice hitches. “Jas was shot. We’re in Boise.”
“Fuck. Tell me where, we’ll get to you.”
“Flint, we were outside the Sheraton. I was mad at him,” I start after telling him the hospital name, trying not to sob into the phone. “His head, the paramedic said he was lucky but he wasn’t conscious. I don’t know…”
“Take a breath, kitten.” Flint says calmly. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I don’t know. There were men on bikes, at least three, I don’t know. I don’t even remember hearing any gunshots. They were looking back at us. Someone else died there, Flint.” I start to hiccup, trying and failing to stay calm. The family sitting closest to me moves away, shaking their heads.
“We’re leaving now, you stay in that hospital. I have a friend in Boise, his name’s Mack. I’m going to call him next and have his stay with you until we can get there.” Flint calmly describes his friend to me. “Did you talk to the police yet?”
“What? No.” I whisper, looking around.
“Ok, don’t go anywhere with them and just start crying if they question you. Can you do that for me?” He pauses. “Jas is a strong man, Emma; just hold it together for us, okay?”
“Yes,” I don’t care about that, just that Jas will wake up. Flint disconnects and I’m left sitting there again. I get up to ask for an update and get the same canned response that a doctor will speak to me when he can and they ask for the paperwork again.
I’m struggling to fill that out, my eyes keep tearing up and my hand is shaking. Frustrated with my lack of progress, I look up to see an older man walking towards me, he smiles and nods reassuringly.
“Flint sent me, Emma.” He says, sitting beside me and wrapping his arm around me like I’m about to shatter.
“Hi.” I say as he takes the clipboard away from me. “Oh! They want that…”
“Never you mind that now. Which one of those battle axes have you been talking to and why has no one offered you a wash cloth?” He asks.
I point and he heads off, leaning over the counter and never raising his voice; the nurses all look at him with wide eyes before they collectively look over to me. He slams the clipboard down before heading back to me. Three of the nurses have scattered.
“They’ll get you all taken care of, Emma.” He says confidently, and almost immediately I see one of the nurses approaching me with a wet cloth and a water bottle.
“Mrs. Anders?” She starts timidly, sitting beside me. “Let me help you get cleaned up a bit?” I nod, reaching eagerly for the water, not realizing how thirsty I was until that moment. She tilts my chin towards her and starts to wipe away Jasper’s blood. My tears start all over as I see the stains on the white cloth.
“Oh, I’ll need some bandages and disinfectant. I didn’t realize you had these cuts.” She flashes me a remorseful look.
“Hush now, Emma,” Mack whispers. “He’s in good hands, someone will update you soon.” He adds with a stern look at the nurse.
“Of course, any minute now,” She eagerly agrees before rushing off for more supplies.
Indeed, just as she’s walking away, the doors to operating rooms swing open and an older woman in stained scrubs is pointed our way by an anxious looking nurse.
“Mrs. Anders?” She confirms upon arrival. “Your husband was extremely lucky. The bullet furrowed along his skull. We’ve scanned to make sure no chips were released inside his cranium and there was noth
ing visible. As you can imagine, there will be considerable swelling in the area so the Doctor has decided to keep him in a medically induced coma for the next thirty-six hours. This will help with the healing process. The tip of his ear couldn’t be saved, but I’m sure you’ll agree that is insignificant right now.”
“But he’ll be alright?” I ask; my knees weaken as I try to process what I’m hearing.
“Head injuries are tricky, we won’t really know until he wakes up.” She replies.
“I can stay with him though?” As her mouth draws into a straight line, Mack brings himself up to full height beside me.
“Of course you can, Emma. Hospitals nowadays have couches for spouses, right in the room.” He assures me and she reluctantly nods, her eyes darting down to my naked ring finger.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to return to the operating room.” She leaves as determinedly as she had arrived.
“Mrs. Anders?” Comes a low voice behind us. I’m not even married to him and half the population seemingly knows me by Jasper’s name. I exhale as I turn around.
There are two men studying me, another two people who don’t seem impressed by the cut I’m wearing. I look down to their extended hands to see badges.
“We’d like to ask you a few questions.” The shorter of the two starts.
“Did you catch who did this?” I ask. My voice coming out higher pitched than normal.
“We were hoping you could shed some light on this.” The tall Hispanic man at his side responds.
“We came to do some shopping…” I start before I explode into tears again, turning into Mack’s chest, I let him hold me.
I didn’t even have to fake cry like Flint had coached me. Remembering how mad I was in the hours before the shooting is a dagger to my heart, one that I know won’t be soothed until Jasper wakes.
Flint
Connal, Jake, The Russian, and I pull up to the hospital hours after Emma’s call. For now, Vice can run things back in Rowansville and Gunner can plot out protection details and targets. There’s little doubt in any of our minds this was the Spiders.
We walk in to find Mack sitting in the waiting room alone.
“Brother,” I call out.
“Flint,” He rises to meet me. “They just let her back to see him. Bullet put a crease in his skull and they’re keeping him asleep for the next couple days while they watch the swelling. Got to watch out for blood clots but they won’t know much more until he wakes up.”
“Tough son of a bitch,” Russian grunts, nodding to himself.
“Cops were by,” Mack continues, shrugging his shoulders. “They didn’t get very far with Emma. Nursing staff was kinda shitty to her until I read them the riot act. They’ve stepped up since then. I’m going to take off, let me know if you need a place to crash.”
“We appreciate it.” I say, knowing how much he hates hospitals after his accident and months of rehabilitation.
We take a seat, waiting for Emma. When she does come out she crosses quickly to us, walking right into my arms. “Thank you, Flint.” She whispers, looking around. “I didn’t get to thank Mack.”
“He knows.” I assure her. “Can you tell us everything that happened?”
Judging the area around us, she quickly leads us to an empty corner and starts to fill us in. As the four of us will be taking shifts at the hospital with her, Connal and Jake head out to the secure the room Emma and Jas were supposed to have at the Sheraton.
Then there’s nothing to do but watch and wait.
Chapter 18
Jasper
I slowly start to wake, feeling more tired than I can ever remember feeling. A hand is curled inside of mine, and I try hard to focus on the words around me. Just then the memory of blood spraying across Emma’s face darts to mind and I lurch up.
Fuck! That hurts.
“Jasper!” Emma calls out. “Jake, get the Doctor back here.”
“Sweetheart? Look at me,” She whispers.
“Are you alright?” I ask.
“Me? Dammit Jasper, you were shot in the head!” She replies, tears streaking down her face. “I’m so sorry, Jasper. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Darlin’. You’re really alright?” I ask, getting a nod in return. “Please don’t cry.”
“I’ve never been so scared. They were keeping you asleep but lightened up the drugs hours ago and you weren’t waking up.” She says, stroking my face.
“How long…” I start as Jake walks in the room.
“Doctor’s coming. So is Flint.” He says. “You good, Pres?”
“It’s been two days.” Emma chimes in. “We’ll talk more after the Doctor, ok?”
“Gimme some sugar to make me feel better?” I ask her, hoping for a smile. She delivers both. Then gets me some ice chips to ease the dryness in my mouth.
The Doctor comes in and boots Jake from the room before asking a bunch of questions and ordering further tests. I start to drift off at some point.
The next time I wake up, I immediately see Emma sleeping on the couch before hearing Flint’s voice.
“Want some water?” He grunts.
“Yeah.” I say, and he almost immediately sticks a straw in my mouth. “She alright?”
“She’s strong enough. Doctor thinks you’ll be alright also. They want to keep you a few more days, but whenever you’re ready, we’ll get you both home. Mack’s picking up your truck today and will replace the windows.” He starts. “Best we can figure is that a few Spiders spotted you and decided to take matters into their own hands. Our guy on the inside had no prior knowledge of a hit.”
“We have a guy, they must have a guy.” I say looking at him. “Have Gunner…”
“He is, Jasper. Vice has been contacting other Chapters and Gunner’s been on top of this since we got Emma’s call. The Spiders went into lockdown immediately after the shooting. The Russian and I paid a visit to the local Iron Savages and they are pissed over the heat they’re taking for it. Witnesses kept telling the cops it was three guys on bikes but no one was able to describe the insignias.
“The Savages have let the Spiders know the roads in their territory are no longer open to them.” Flint pauses. “A valet at the hotel was killed, he was twenty and putting himself through school. They keep showing his crying mother on TV and the Maddocks’ are eating this shit up; standing next to the Governor at all the news conferences.”
“You’re here with the Russian and Jake, everyone else on alert back home?”
“Connal’s here too.” Flint shrugs. “Everyone else has their assignments. I’ve been through shit like this before, son.”
“I get that Flint, I’m not criticizing you. I’m catching up and the fucking painkillers are messing with my head.” I assure him. “I could have lost her, Flint. I just found her and I could have…”
“Jasper,” Emma rises from the couch. “How do you feel?”
“I owe you a ring, Darlin’.” I smile at her as Flint quietly excuses himself.
“Damn right you do.” She lowers the arm on the side of the bed and crawls in with me. “Whole hospital staff thinks I’m your wife, don’t make a liar out of me now.”
Then she dissolves into tears, quickly soaking through the thin hospital gown. I know nothing I can say will calm her as much as letting her cry, so I do; I just rub her back and wait for her to be ready to speak.
Emma
Jasper holds me until I finally stop crying. Then we talk, and Jasper neither lies nor holds anything back from me. Although he leaves me wishing he had.
Tensions have been escalating with another MC; territory, suppliers, and saving face are all on the line. The shots fired at him are the final straw; that they did it in another MC’s territory brings a strong ally in on the Grizzlies’ side.
When Jasper is released, we’ll head home and live at the clubhouse for the immediate future. I’m somewhat relieved knowing that Roy will be there to keep an eye on Jasper but frustrated that
we’ll essentially be cooped up there. I’ve already had to let the school know I couldn’t start working for a couple weeks, now with this looming over us; well, I could never bring this type of danger around innocent teenagers.
“It won’t always be like this, Emma.” Jasper whispers a while after we fall silent. “We didn’t go looking for this trouble. Flint cut out prostitutes, even the one strip club we have left is run as clean as can be, Darlin’. The Spiders started stepping up their flesh trade when he cut it. They saw it as a weakness. Most of us, we have our own investments in town; and with tourism, we do what we can to keep it all clean.”
“I know you aren’t choir boys,” I cut in. “I can’t say I love the whole Honey Hole part of the package either; but that other MC? They shot into a crowd of innocent people, Jasper. I can’t see Roy doing that. Gunner is really, really big and scary but I’ve seen Wrench’s son hold onto Gunner’s leg and go for a ride, giggling.
“The men who have been here with me the past few days?” I continue. “I can see the hardness in them, like you have in you; but there were families in front of the hotel. I can’t see anyone of the Grizzlies I’ve met just shoot into the crowd like that. I don’t need you to justify everything your MC does; I just need your word that innocent people will be not be an afterthought.
“I’ve already made up my mind that the good out ways the bad in the Grizzlies; but so help me God, Jasper, I’ll destroy you all if that isn’t true.” I vow fervently.
Jasper presses his forehead to mine and gives me his word. “If innocents are hurt by one of ours, we handle it pretty fucking quick, Emma. Just give me a chance before you go dialing the Maddocks, ok?” He grins at me.
“What is their deal anyway?” I ask. “They’ve been all over TV for days.”
“Ann Maddock is from Rowansville. They still have land and her mother owns slightly more town property than the MC. You’ll hear talk of Mrs. Riley, her mother, if you haven’t already. Really, the Maddocks are just power hungry, so they spend their time in Boise. They got the Governor elected and hold positions on his staff.” He starts.