by Oakes, Tara
“Don’t let her fool you, Dana. This little girl can raise some serious hell when she’s cranky.”
I’ll bet. Charlie’s only told me stories of both Lil’s and Jay. I’m guessing their daughter has inherited the best from both parents.
“Charlie’s not home,” I apologize, knowing Lil’s has made the trip in vain. “She went to the hospital to check on Sable. Have you heard anything?”
Lil’s adjusts the heavy baby in her arms and shakes her head. “No. Jay says she’s being monitored carefully, waiting to see what, if any, damage she’s left with.”
I breathe slowly. I’ve never met the woman we’re talking about, but I hope by the word “damage” they don’t mean anything too serious.
“Besides,” Lil’s adds, “I didn’t come here to see Charlie. I came to see you, if that’s Okay?”
I’m taken back. Sure it’s Okay. It’s more than Okay.
“Can I get you anything?” I offer.
She holds up her palm. “No, no. I’m fine. Really. Maybe I’ll just put her down for a bit while we talk, though.”
Lil’s walks over to the sofa and sets baby Charlize down on the soft cushions, propped in place by one of the decorative pillows before taking off her purse and sitting down next to her child.
“So, what brings you here then, Lil’s?” I take a seat in the nearby armchair, facing my guest.
I’ve had only a little interaction with Lil’s so far. First, in the hospital when I brought Charlie against her will to see her sister-in-law and friend, recovering after the baby was born and Charlie’s secret had come out.
Then, when Lil’s and the rest of her family stopped by to try to see Charlie, only to have me regretfully turn them away at my stubborn sister’s request. And finally, when I had had enough of Charlie’s pigheadedness and devised a surprise ambush plan to get them all in the same room so they could start to straighten out all of their shit.
All three of those times I had really gotten along pretty well with Lil’s. I may not know her very well yet, but I feel like I do just from all of the stories I’ve heard either from Charlie, and even from T.J.
This world that they live in is very different from the one I come from, but, judging from what I’ve learned so far, Lil’s is at the very heart of it.
“I came to talk to you about your bakery.”
I nearly choke. “My what? How do you know about that?”
I’m not angry. Just confused. No one knows except the realtor, the landlord, T.J-- ahhh. I figure out my answer soon enough.
“I heard T.J. talking to Jay about it,” she sees the hesitation in my eyes, I’m sure. “You see, we all look out for each other, Dana. You’re Charlie’s sister. Not only is she Vince’s daughter, but she’s Jay’s sister, my sister-in-law, Jean’s step-daughter, and Clink’s Ol’ lady. She’s one of us. And… you’re her baby sister. So, you’re one of us, too.”
I tilt my head back in surprise.
“T.J. did the right thing by telling Jay. They’re working out the arrangements to overhaul the place and get it ready for business. I don’t know you very well, but you don’t seem like the type to just let them do that for you. Not yet, anyway.”
She’s right about that. Charlie may be in with all these people, but I’m not. The last thing I would want to do is get myself in deep with a group that I’d owe a debt to.
“So, I’ve got an offer for you.”
I’m intrigued.
The baby coos, and Lil’s immediately reaches in her bag of tricks for a little animal-shaped binky, pressing it to the baby girl’s lips. It does its job and Charlize is quiet once more.
“You don’t know much about me,” she starts, “but I went to college. I actually just graduated a couple of months ago. I took tons of business courses, and got pretty good grades in all of them. I, don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. I love taking care of my man and my baby girl… but I’m not exactly the type to sit on a couch and watch soaps while eating bon-bons all day. I need something to do. Something that gives me a little bit of independence and security away from the club.”
My eyebrows raise high at that last bit. Away from the club?
“Is everything Okay?” I’m quick to ask.
Lil’s sees that I may have misinterpreted her words so she’s fast in correcting herself.
“Everything’s great. Right now. But, I know this life Dana. Things can change real quick. My dad’s been behind bars a good deal of my childhood, leaving my mom with no support while raising me and Tiny. The club helped out, did what he couldn’t. I love Jay. I know he’s a good provider. I know he’ll never do anything to intentionally fuck things up, but I also know that sometimes shit just happens.”
I swallow hard listening to her.
“I need to make sure I’m in a position to take care of her,” Lil’s eyes dart down to her baby, “if anything were to happen where Jay couldn’t.”
I breathe deep. Wow. It’s kind of sobering listening to someone admit those kinds of deeply personal things to me.
I nod. “And you think working, having something of your own can do that?”
She smiles. Bingo.
“I have money, Dana. Money of my own, clean money that has nothing to do with the club. If anything were to ever go down, the Bakery could never be touched. There would be nothing connecting the two. I can handle some of the business side, leave you to the baking and the catering. It’ll give me somewhere to go, something to do when I’m about ready to lose my mind at home. It’ll give you the help so you don’t have to handle everything yourself. It’s a win-win.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, contemplating the merits of her offer. It’s true that I could use the help running everything. I may be a whiz at whipping up a crème brulee, but put me in front of a spreadsheet and I’m an idiot. There’s also the matter of supervision. While I’m out at catering assignments, who’s left to watch over the shop?
Mom always had me to watch over the storefront while she was out in the field. I’d have to hire a manager and that would really put a dent into my bottom line every month.
I save the most important factor for last, though. The cash. I don’t have it. She does. That alone is enough to make the decision for me.
“Are you sure about this, Lil’s? I mean, are you ready to do this? Do you need to talk it over with Jay first?”
She laughs. “Oh, sweetheart. Just wait till you get to know me a little better. I don’t need to talk to Jay. I have my ways. It won’t take long before he suggests the idea to me, thinking he came up with it all on his own.”
Wow. I see the stories must be true.
“Okay. So… let’s say I’m on board with this. What kind of time are we talking about to get rolling?” I know the realtor is just waiting to get his grubby little hands on my deposit check.
Lil’s looks satisfied. “Bank closes at three. Is that fast enough?”
I exhale. Yup, that’s fast enough alright.
I hold out my hand to shake on it, formalizing our agreement when the alerts on both my cell and Lil’s ring out simultaneously. It interrupts not only the end of our first business meeting, but also the baby’s nap as she begins to stir and whine.
It’s from Charlie.
She’s in trouble!
~*~
CLINK
“What the hell do you mean she’s not answering?” Vince bellows out to the room of people anxiously trying their cells.
I’ve called her four times. FOUR. FUCKING. TIMES.
I’ve texted her a half dozen more with the same outcome. No response. I’m not sure what the fuck is going on, but I made sure we did as she asked. I had Leo call in an anonymous bomb threat from one of the throwaway lines. It’s already made the news that they’re evacuating the hospital.
What the fuck has she gotten herself into?
Vince and Jay are busy calling all the brothers in, while still trying to get ahold of my woman. I’m not waiting anymore.
&
nbsp; Jay sees me grab my keys and head out, weaving between all the people heading in.
“Bro! Hold up!” he calls to me, but I don’t stop.
He’s caught Vince’s attention, and he slaps his pop’s chest. “We’ll go check it out. You man everything here.”
I’m on my bike, kicking the start, bringing it to life before he even clears the building. I don’t ride out before him. Ever. But these are special circumstances. I’m not about to let some stupid shit like club hierarchy keep me from getting to that hospital a second before I should.
I peel out of the lot, nearly causing an accident as a beat-up grey Toyota slams to a stop to avoid me, screeching its breaks and fish-tailing across the lanes.
I’m racing to the hospital at full speed when the sound of a matching Harley pulls up along side, flanking me. Jay’s caught up and keeps pace, turn for turn until we’ve gotten to the blockade set up by the cops.
The HAZMAT team, the bomb squad and several ambulances are scattered, parked wherever they can between police cruisers. I hear the chopper blades from the news helicopter above. It’s chaos, utter chaos.
Sirens, lights, everywhere I turn there’s something.
“Sir, you need to evacuate the area. We have a suspicious device in the building.” A uniformed officer approaches.
I get off my bike. He notices the height difference immediately and I see his trigger finger twitch, inching closer to his piece in his holster.
“Stop right there, I said you need to evacuate. Don’t come any closer!”
Come on!
“Dude, my Ol’ lady’s in there. She works here.”
He sees my patches, sees my tats. He doesn’t believe a word I’ve said.
“The hospital’s been evacuated. All patients and staff have either been transported or are waiting in the far parking lot to be cleared to re-enter the building. You can go look through the crowd for her, but you’ve got to get the hell away from here. You’ve got two minutes before I book you for trespass.”
Stupid little fucker.
He doesn’t leave me much choice, though. I suck on my lip in anger, not risking firing off my mouth to him. He’s clearly itching to get his rocks off by cuffing a Kingsmen. Give him something to brag about in that sorry little break room of theirs.
I spit on the ground, backing up. “Yeah, I’m leaving, man. Thanks for all the help.”
I rev my engine extra load before passing dangerously close to where he stands, causing him to jump back. The far parking lot, or long-term parking is a few minutes away, and I can see the prick of a cop was right. There are hospital-gown clad patients in wheelchairs, on gurneys, even roaming around if they’re healthy and able enough. Nurses and doctors are darting around tending to them.
I know Charlie’s not scheduled to actually be working this morning so I scan through the scrubs and paper gowns to find her. No sign. I do, however find Blue standing guard next to Sable as she’s propped up in a wheelchair.
Jay’s found him, too, pointing. I nod and we approach.
“What the fuck, man? I get here just in time to be let in for visiting and cops storm the place!” He explains.
Sable looks like she’s at death’s door right now, not a stitch of her usual thick makeup on. Her teased out hair is flat and stringy, but the bitch is breathing. That’s all that really matters right now.
The experience must really be affecting her, though, cause she looks scared. Terrified.
“How you doin’, darling?” I ask her.
She blinks. “Been better. Been worse.”
I try to crack a smile.
“Listen, Clink… I want to thank you, thank Charlie for what you two did. She here?”
I turn and lock eyes with Jay, who looks equally as worried.
“She came here to see you. You tellin’ me she never showed?”
Sable shakes her head. “Haven’t seen her.” She closes her eyes, “shit” is mumbled under her breath.
“What? You know something?” Blue asks her.
She looks to Blue, and shakes her head. “Nah. I just hope she didn’t get caught up in all this shit.”
Her eyes dart down the hill to the hospital that’s now become a crime scene.
Shit! So now I know Charlie never even made it to see Sable this morning. I pull out my phone and check my messages. Nothing. I add one more to the growing collection of unanswered texts to my girl.
I SWEAR TO GOD YOU BETTER ANSWER ME SOON SUGAR.
Jay searched my eyes in question. I shake my head, “Nothing.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose wondering what the hell to do next. I have no idea where she is, I have no idea what’s wrong. I just know she’s in trouble.
The pinging alert from my phone causes all four of us to jump.
I’M FINE. COULDN’T TEXT. I’M IN THE HOSPITAL, BROOM CLOSET THIRD FLOOR BY THE CHAPEL.
“Got her!” I shout. A couple of bystanders look over in surprise. I lower my voice.
“She’s in the building.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Sorry, sir. No visitors are allowed in the building at this time. Patients and staff only. Visiting hours will resume as normal tonight,” the hospital security guard speaks to Jay, Blue, and myself as we wheel Sable through the crowd back toward the recently threat-cleared building.
It’s been nearly an hour of waiting, nearly an hour of coming dangerously close to lashing out and now I’m this close and I’m going to be turned away. No fucking way.
“Step aside, sir. We’ll have one of the orderlies take it from here. You!” he calls over to the man about ten feet away.
I turn to follow the direction of his call and I thank Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I know the guy walking toward me. He knows me, too. Enrique I think is his name.
“Take this patient back to her room. Only the patient. And-” his attention gets diverted away by a gurney dangerously close to tipping over as it’s being pushed aside by eager patients scrambling to pass through the two main doors.
The guard steps aside to redirect traffic but keeps a clear side eye on us.
“I need to get in that building,” I whisper to the orderly that I’ve paid off a few weeks back after Sugar’s surgery. He’s been passing me information the entire time I was out of town. He’s also been paid handsomely for it.
His eyes dart around, unsure of what to do. “It’ll cost you a grand.”
Dumb fucker. This is no time to negotiate a pay hike.
“Fine. Get me in there.” I grit my teeth.
“Go around to the left of the building. There’s a door that says FLORAL on it. It’s the delivery entrance for the gift shop. I’ll unlock it from the inside. Give me five minutes.”
He takes the handles of the wheelchair and pushes forward, with Sable holding tight to Blue’s hand until they can no longer reach. We watch them enter the building and I finally notice the metal detectors and police patting down everyone.
Thank God we found another way to get in… all three of us are carrying and would be locked up on weapons possession. As soon as Sable’s wheelchair has passed far enough into the building we back up, slowly and as inconspicuously as possible, around to the side of the brick building just as we were told.
True to his word, a single painted entry door with stenciled letters becomes visible. I take advantage of the moment and text Sugar that I’m on my way. This time her response is almost immediate.
I HAD TO MOVE. THEY’LL COME BACK NOW. I’M IN SABLE’S ROOM. COME QUICK.
What the fuck is she talking about, they’ll come back?
I hear a clicking from the inside of the door and we take it as a sign that the orderly’s followed through on his end of the bargain. We file in, one at a time into the abandoned gift shop.
We’re alone, the orderly having split so as not to get caught. I don’t blame him. We’re on our own now. Static breaks through the silence as a walkie-talkie can be heard.
“East wing of the first floor is
clear,” some cop talks into his radio.
I back up and hide flush against the wall that conceals me, against the display of custom hospital gowns and robes. An expensive alternative to the cheap little paper ones they provide you.
I get an idea.
I take three of the larger size and hastily rip off the tags, tossing one to each of my sidekicks.
Jay slips into his and ties it closed, kicking off his boots and rolling up his jeans so nothing’s peeking out.
“Pink’s not really my color,” Blue holds up the disguise.
I stare him down, Jay having to intervene and hold me back.
“Put the fucking gown on now before I make it red from the blood spewing from your nose when I break it,” I ball up my fist.
“All right, all right. Damn. I’m just sayin’…” Jay got a white one. Blue replies while putting on the gown.
He kicks out of his shoes, mumbling his complaints. I grab a white gown and toss it at him hard enough to shut him up.
“Fuckin’ pansy ass.”
Once we’re all gowned up in new attire, we join the passing crowd to reach Sable’s room as unsuspecting hospital patients.
CHARLIE
I keep the bathroom door closed until I’m sure the attendant’s have settled Sable in and left.
“Hey! Clink’s looking for you!” Sable greets me as I make my escape from the restroom.
I press my finger up to my lips for her to quiet down.
“I know. He’s on his way up. Sable, I need to talk to you before they get here. What was that man doing in your room this morning? The dark one with the leather jacket?”
Her eyes open wide. “Shit! You saw that? Oh fuck, Charlie! You can’t tell anyone. You can’t say anything.”
“Who was he?” I ask again, knowing that our time is growing short.
She looks petrified, shaking. “I can’t-- he said he’ll kill me. He can do it, too.”
“Who is he,” I repeat. “You know the club can protect you, Sable.”
She shakes her head. “Not against these guys.”