Unbroken (Forgotten Rebels MC #1)

by Beth D. Carter

  She shooed them away with a wave of her hand. Trix looked uncertain, but Jane sat that jar of mayo she held in her hands down with a sharp click and marched away. Trix followed without another word, looking like a sheep, and Piper hurried to wash her hands before taking over cooking duties.

  For the next half hour, men came and went as they picked up sandwiches and chips. One of the prospects had taken over bar duty so at least she didn’t have to worry about that, and the routine of preparing food kept her mind occupied. She didn’t have to think of Kix or the bombshell he had dropped. This was familiar to her. Safe. And she was all about keeping things, and herself, safe.

  Sometime later, Wick walked into the kitchen with a thundercloud hanging over his head. Piper knew that look, although he’d rarely used it on her. The last time had been when she’d begged him not to avenge their family.

  “I brought in some girls to do the food so you could take a break,” Wick snapped.

  “Did you check to make sure Trix doesn’t have hepatitis?” she asked calmly.

  Wick threw up his hands. “Don’t start, Sis. I wanted you to enjoy yourself.”

  “Why? Because Kix wants me to go with him back to his club? Or because Tyler Stafford is dead?”

  Wick blinked at her. His arms dropped and he just stared at her for a full minute as he processed what she’d said. A myriad of emotions flittered over his face and turned away, hiding himself from her searching gaze.

  “You didn’t know,” she said softly. “I thought Kix would’ve told you.”

  “No,” he said. “I ah…no.”

  She wiped her hands on a rag then walked over to hug him from behind. Over the past eight years, they had grown close, but this was the first time she ever initiated contact. Immediately, he turned and pulled her in tight to bury his face in her neck. Wetness stained her skin, and she realized he was crying. Piper wrapped her arms tightly around him and together they shared the moment.

  When the storm subsided, they still held each other but somehow the pain she’d kept in her heart had disappeared. Her soul felt…lighter. Perhaps there was such a thing as forgiveness. Perhaps she could find a path in life and start living. She’d given up plans for a future when she’d asked Wick to take her in, so she hadn't given any thought to what a future might hold without the Forgotten Rebels.

  Kix popped into her mind.

  Did she want to trade one club for another? She’d spent her entire adult years being part of a motorcycle club. Truthfully, it was the only life she knew. But was it the only life she wanted? That question she couldn’t answer just yet.

  Wick pulled back and surreptitiously wiped his eyes. Piper looked away, giving him a moment. Finally he glanced at her and smiled. He wasn’t crying but his eyes were red-rimmed.

  “I am glad,” he said, and she knew exactly what he meant.

  “Me too.”

  He took a deep breath. “What happens now? With you.”

  She didn’t even pretend that she didn’t know what he was talking about. “I don’t know. Kix asked me to go with him.”

  “Yeah. He told me his plans. I told him that it’s up to you but if you change your mind, you’re always welcome to come back here.”

  Piper smiled. “Thank you. I just don't know if this is the life I want to stay in.”

  “You may not have been biologically my sister, but you are the sister of my heart.”

  Those words meant more to her than anything. She felt a stare settle into her back so she turned a little and looked behind her. Her gaze clashed with the new girl, Jane, who glared at her. She couldn’t be more than eighteen or nineteen. The venomous look caused a chill to snake down Piper’s back. Hatred blazed in the blue depths, and Piper had a sense of déjà vu. But from where, she didn’t know.

  ****

  Once the men had been fed, Piper put the extra chips and pretzels in bowls and sat them around the clubhouse. It was something she’d done a hundred times before over the course of several years as the Forgotten Rebels held parties. Of course, they hadn’t been quite as boisterous or as long as the one going on with The White Death.

  She grabbed a can of peanuts to fill the dishes on the bar counter, and felt it almost empty. Tossing the can in the cash, she wiped her hand and headed toward the staircase that led to the basement. Actually, calling it a basement wasn’t exactly right. It was little more than an oversized closet so Piper used it as a pantry. Feeding the Brothers took a lot of food, so she made sure the men bought in bulk.

  Turning on the hallway light, she opened the door and headed down the stairs. The storeroom was dark and Piper reached up to grab the string to turn on the light, only she couldn’t find the string. She squinted in the dim light, searching, when a shuffle came from behind her.

  She began to turn, to see who was behind her, when a sudden pain erupted through her body. It emanated from her side, and shot down her leg, crippling her immediately. Piper led out an agonized moan as she fell sideways. At the edge of her peripheral vision, she saw a glint in the low hallway light and realized her assailant had some type of metal blade. She shrieked and dove out of the way just as the weapon arced downward. The point struck the wall with a dull thud. Piper slapped a hand over the slicing pain in her back and felt something wet. Blood.

  She kicked out with her booted foot and hit the person. A grunt filled the room and the knife clattered to the floor. Without waiting around for another attack, Piper pushed to her feet and ran out of the room. Down the hallway and up the stairs, she burst into the clubhouse and promptly tripped. She went sprawling and as she lay there catching her breath, the throbbing in her back had her crying out.

  “Help!”

  “Jesus fucking hell!” someone yelled, although she didn’t know who it was. She was starting to slip into shock.

  “Piper!”

  She thought that might be Kix. Her body began to shake. The world titled at an odd angle. For a moment she had the feeling of being airborne and voices yelling around her, but she was too disoriented. The world crashed around her and then faded to black.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The music abruptly ceased, leaving the room eerily silent. Kix looked down at the pale woman in his arms and beat down the fear rising sharply in his heart.

  “What the hell happened?” Wick demanded.

  “I don’t know!” Kix yelled. He lifted Piper in his arms, not liking how limp she lay, as if death had already claimed her. He shook off the dark thought and tried to assess her but all he knew for certain was that she was bleeding. The warm serum stained her clothes and filled his palm. “Oh shit.”

  “Is that blood?” Wick demanded.

  “Yeah. Someone get me a towel!” Kit called out and almost instantly one was presented to him. He pressed it against the wound in her back. “I’ve got to get her to a hospital. I need a fucking car.”

  “Come on!” Heart called out. “I’ve got a car.”

  Kix stood, holding Piper tightly in his arms. The crowd parted as Kix all but ran from the room, cradling Piper close to him. Wick stayed on his tail and when Heart raced around the side of the building, Kix saw an old black Buick sitting forlornly by itself. Although rust was trying to claim it, much to his surprise, it started right up. Wick opened the back door for him and he carefully maneuvered himself inside the car while taking care of Piper. Then Wick jumped into the passenger seat. Men were already moving their bikes out of the way and the gate rolled back. Seconds later, Heart was speeding down the street.

  “What the fuck happened?” Wick asked. “Did she hurt herself or was she stabbed?”

  “I don’t know,” Heart said. “I was playing pool.”

  Kix brushed a piece of hair off her cheek. “I saw her going down a set of stairs. A few minutes later people were scrambling to help her.”

  “The pantry,” Wick muttered. “However she got hurt, it happened down there.”

  “What’s down there that could stab her?” Kix demanded.

&n
bsp; “That’s just it,” Wick said, shaking his head. “It’s just a small pantry down there. It takes a lot of food to feed the men so that’s where we keep all the non-perishables.”

  Kix didn’t want to voice it aloud but he had to. “Then someone stabbed her. We would’ve heard a gun.”

  “Unless a suppressor was used,” Wick replied grimly.

  “Who the fuck would do this?” Kix said. “None of my men would dare touch her.”

  “And no Rebel Brother would hurt our sister,” Heart shot back.

  Wick frowned and glanced out the window. “I brought in some new girls to help out and entertain the men,” he said thoughtfully.

  “You think one of the women did this?” Kix asked.

  Wick turned in his seat to look down at Piper. “I’ve never allowed outsiders inside the walls. Do you think it’s simple coincidence that the only time strangers come into our midst, Piper is hurt?”

  “You think this has to do with her past,” Kix stated. He shook his head. “But Tyler is dead!”

  “Tyler Stafford is dead?” Heart whistled. “Then one of those fucking women must be avenging him.”

  “Who were the women?” Kix asked.

  “There were three of them,” Wick said. “Bird knew the one named Trix, and Trix found the other two.”

  “Fucking stupid,” Kix muttered.

  Wick stiffened. “Yeah, got that part. Thanks. Let’s just fucking focus on my sister.”

  Heart pulled up to the ER and Wick jumped out of the passenger side to open the back door. He helped Kix with Piper, then all three men rushed into the hospital, where they were met by several nurses. In seconds, Piper was on a gurney being rushed to the back, leaving Kix strangely bereft. As he stared at his blood stained hands all he could think about was how hollow he now felt.

  Kix turned away from Wick and Heart as they talked with the woman in Admitting and headed toward the bathroom. He hated hospitals. The sterile stench of antiseptic combined with the cleaning chemicals made him want to vomit. The last time he’d been in a hospital, he had to say good-bye to his mother. Hospitals meant death, plain and simple, and the red streaming down the sink drain only emphasized that fact in stark Technicolor. The sight of Piper’s blood had the bile churning in his gut.

  He replayed the past twenty minutes over in his head, and tried like hell to visualize the three women Wick had brought into their midst. He had been too enamored with Piper to even notice anyone else. As he left the restroom, he saw Heart pacing the waiting room––but Wick wasn’t anywhere around. He headed outside, digging his cell phone out of his pocket. He quickly placed his call and waited.

  “Now what?” his brother greeted.

  “Piper was attacked tonight,” he said. “I need to know all about that Tyler fuck-twat.”

  “I’m not at work, Chris.”

  “I don’t give a shit, Jeff. My girl is bleeding. You’re a cop, now make up some shit to find out the information.”

  “It doesn’t work like that,” Jeff said.

  A noise came from behind him and Kix turned quickly. His gaze clashed with Wick’s hostile one.

  “I’ve got to go, Jeff,” he said abruptly and hung up. He stood there staring at Wick.

  “What the fuck did I just hear?” Wick demanded.

  “Nothing.”

  Wick snorted. “Are you a fucking cop?”

  “No,” Kix replied. He ran a hand through his hair. “But my brother is. It’s not a fact I’ve advertised.”

  Wick grabbed his cut and yanked him close. “You fucking ratting us out?”

  “No.” Kix broke Wick’s grip and took a step back. “I only use Jeff when I need information, like finding out Tyler Stafford was dead. Otherwise we lead separate lives.”

  One second he was standing, the next he was on the ground, rubbing his jaw. Wick stood over him, his hand still curled into a fist.

  “Get up,” he ordered coldly.

  “I’m not going to fight with you,” Kix said. He shook his head and then regretted the action as pain sliced through the side of his face. “My life is the club. My loyalty is to my club Brothers.”

  “Get out of here,” Wick snarled. “Leave my sister alone.”

  “Not going to happen,” Kix said as he tried to rise. The next second Wick’s booted foot rested on his chest.

  “I’m not fucking scared of you, Kix. You fucking lied to us and I’m wondering if your club will be so forgiving.”

  Kix took a deep breath. He didn’t want to leave Piper but the cold hatred in her brother’s eyes had him retreating. The last thing he wanted to do was have a beatdown with her last remaining family member while she was in the ER.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow,” he told Wick. “When you’ve had time to calm down.”

  “Don’t bother,” Wick sneered.

  “Tell Piper I will see her tomorrow.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Consciousness rushed back all too quickly. Piper winced as pressure covered the wound on her side, and she cracked her eyes open to see a nurse leaning over her.

  “So glad to see you alert and awake, dear,” the nurse said, smiling kindly. “The doctor is headed out of triage to talk to your family.”

  The events rushed back to Piper with startling clarity. “I was stabbed!”

  The nurse nodded. “You’re a lucky woman. The blade missed all your organs. We stitched you up and plan to admit you to––”

  “No,” Piper said adamantly. “I’m not staying here overnight.”

  The nurse frowned at her. “The blade missed your organs but you’ve lost a lot of blood.”

  Piper made an X on her chest with a finger. “I promise to take iron pills and not pop my stitches. Cross my heart.”

  “Well… I have to consult the doctor.” The nurse sniffed and walked out of the room.

  Piper didn’t waste any time. She stood up, glad the drugs they gave her had helped dull the pain, and wrapped the hospital gown tightly around her body. At least they’d left her pants on.

  Her brother waited with Heart in the waiting room and she looked behind him, expecting to see Kix––but he was alone. Unease slithered down her back.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Wick demanded when he saw her. “You should be in the hospital.”

  “I’m a sitting duck here,” she said.

  “You want to go back to the place where someone stabbed you?” Heart asked.

  Wick elbowed him in the gut. “Piper, I don’t know if it’s safe back there.”

  She looked around. “Where’s Kix?”

  “He’s not here,” he said tightly.

  Something about his tone caught her attention. “Where did he go?”

  Wick shook his head. “Not here. Let’s just figure out where to take you.”

  He took hold of her arm but she immediately pulled it away. “What did you do?”

  “Me?” he demanded. “I didn’t do jack shit. That mother fucker––!”

  He broke off and Piper cocked her head as she waited for him to continue. He shot a glance at Heart before taking her arm and leading her to a corner.

  “His brother is a cop,” he said in a low voice.

  She nodded. “Okay. So where is he?”

  Wick’s mouth dropped a little. “Did you not hear what I said?”

  “I did,” she said. “But what’s that got to do with us?”

  “His brother is a cop. He could be a rat.”

  Piper frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s been president of The White Death for ten years. I’m fairly certain if he was a rat he’d have gotten enough on us already to put the whole club in jail.”

  “Piper––”

  “Look, you don’t blame me for what happened to our family, do you?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Of course not. That was out of your control.”

  “Exactly,” she said. “I know what it’s like to lose everyone and everything. But at least I got to have you. I imagine Kix had
to turn his back on everything to be part of the MC. The Brothers became his life.”

  “Shit,” he muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. “You have a unique way of simplifying everything. Let’s get you home and then we’ll deal with Kix and everything else. Okay?”

  “Yeah,” she said.

  He put his arm around her shoulders and walked her back to Heart, who was placating the nurse who had been taking care of her. Only now instead of huffing and puffing, the nurse blushed under Heart’s flirtatious smile.

  “…So why don’t you come visit after your shift is over?” Heart asked. He brushed a finger down the nurse’s cheek. “I’ll show you my stethoscope.”

  Against the doctor’s wishes, Piper signed herself out of the hospital, took the prescriptions he wrote out, and headed out of the ER with Wick. Heart said good-bye to his nurse and hurried after them. The parking lot lights shone a sickly yellow color over everything and she looked around to see if Kix was waiting in the parking lot, but didn’t see him anywhere.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” Wick asked, once they settled into Heart’s car. “Did you see who stabbed you?”

  “No,” she said, wincing a little. Even with the pain medicine she still felt a twinge or two. “I think it was a woman, though.”

  “Yeah, figured it was one of the new chicks Wick brought in,” Heart said. He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

  “Shut up,” Wick ordered.

  “But I didn’t even know those girls,” she said. “Why would one of them attack me?”

  “The only thing we could think of was, maybe it was over Tyler.”

  A shiver coursed down her spine upon hearing his name. Why would anyone want to avenge him?

  Heart snorted. “Probably got one of those women who love prisoners writing to him and he poured out this sob story about you. I’ve seen it on television. Stupid fucking chicks.”

  “Maybe,” she murmured.

  Heart turned onto the country road that would take them back to the clubhouse when the car was hit from behind. The Buick fishtailed and Heart cursed as he compensated, jerking the wheel side to side in an effort to gain traction.