“I’m okay, but...but Sam, Sam is not okay and Scar and Dizzy and Dollar are hurt really badly. And the guys on their bikes, no one will tell me if they’re okay. And it’s my fault. It’s all my fault. I should never have come here. They would all be okay if they never met me.”
She started sobbing and Beast bent over her, getting right in her face. “Baby, get this through your head. Even if those men knew exactly what was going to happen they would do it all over again. This is who we are. We live our lives close to the edge. We know death is riding on our back wheels. We don’t care. We are who we are. We protect our family with our lives and you are family. Now get this shit out of your head and rest. I’m going to find out when we can take you home. Their security is fucking shit.”
Beast had to get out of the room before he lost it. But he stayed until his woman relaxed and slipped into sleep. Then he walked out and right outside her door he slid down the wall and sat with his head between his knees, breathing deep and regular to control the rage he felt burning in his gut.
There would be retribution for the attack on his woman and his brothers.
The Iron Dogz MC was owed a blood debt for the death of Petey and the injuries suffered by the rest.
He would ensure that those who had planned and orchestrated the attack paid, and paid heavily with their blood.
But first he had to get his old lady out of the fucking hospital and back to the compound where she would be safe.
And then he had to tell her about Petey and the others.
It wasn’t going to be easy, not for him and definitely not for her.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Hawk
Friday Morning
Looking around the brothers sitting quietly at the table and against the walls Hawk clenched his jaw at the empty chairs and started church.
“We lost a brother on Wednesday. A brother who gave his life to protect one of our old ladies. He will be buried next week Friday with full honours and his kutte will go up on our Heroes Wall to join the others who gave their lives for the club.” Hawk looked around at the brothers nodding in agreement.
“Our brother was a quiet man. He didn’t like the limelight but he was always there when needed. He transferred from PE to our chapter three years ago after he lost his old lady to cancer. His twin sons are about to start prospecting and have asked to serve their time here, with us, at the club where their father served.”
There were nods of agreement around the table until Beast tapped on the table, everyone turned to him with questions in their eyes.
“I’ll sponsor them, Boss.” Beast said very quietly but flames boiled in his dark eyes.
“Show of hands, all those who agree to them joining our chapter as prospects.”
Every single hand went up and Hawk nodded in satisfaction. His brothers never disappointed.
“Good. They are coming up with the PE chapter for Petey’s funeral and will stay on after. I’ve discussed it with Greyhound and he isn’t happy but he concedes that it’s up to the boys. With Beast taking responsibility for them he will keep an eye on them and oversee their training. They will serve their time until we’re convinced they are ready to take the patch, as do all our prospects.”
Everyone nodded as Hawk continued to give them an update on their injured brothers.
“Jagger called this morning, there’s no change in Sam’s condition but the specialists assured him their tests show no bleeding on the brain. There’s significant swelling but they are monitoring him and will step in with surgery if necessary.”
Mumbles and nods greeted the news. They were all hoping for good news. But it was about to get worse.
“Now, on to our other brothers. Dizzy, Dollar, NikNak, and Bullet will be discharged today. DC, Chris and Aunt Beryl are at the hospital with the Road Warriors as protection to transport them home. The news regarding Scar and Army isn’t good. Army hasn’t regained consciousness and has catastrophic damage to his brain and spine. His helmet shattered on impact and, fuck, he’s not responding to anything. He’s on life support. His family is with him and will let me know if there’s any change in his condition.” Horror sped through the brothers as Hawk spoke.
“Our brother Scar has a gunshot wound to the side of his head, but it’s not too bad. What is bad is the damage to his back. His specialist assured me that he has some feeling in his legs but he has swelling and bruising around his spinal cord that has to subside before they can give us anything more. Scar is mentally fucked up because of this and he needs our support. He has no family but us, so sign up with Ziggy to be put on his visitor’s list.”
Agreement resounded around the table and Beast again tapped and immediate silence fell.
“My old lady asked to be put in charge of his recovery. She has been where he is now and she insists that she’s the best person to help him walk again. Fuck, she said if she could do it then so can he. She wants to move him into our house when he’s released from hospital.”
Spider tapped the table and Hawk watched as Beast’s intense eyes swung to their brother. “I agree with Beast. I knew about the back injury she sustained in the tour bus accident and how it took months before she could walk and now that woman is dancing again. I say we let her take over Scar’s care. Between her and DC the poor bastard won’t have any other option but to walk again.”
There was some laughter but it was half-hearted at most. Hawk was worried when Beast didn’t look away from Spider but then he nodded, sat back in his chair and glanced at Hawk. He would have to do something about the darkness rolling through his Enforcer’s eyes and he will have to do it soon. The man was about to fucking explode. He’ll have to talk to his old lady about it.
Hawk gave a heavy internal sigh and continued with the meeting.
“Spider and Kahn, you are in charge of arrangements for Petey’s funeral. Talk to Aunt Beryl about accommodation for the visiting brothers and their women.”
He looked at his uncle at the bottom of the table. “Bulldog, you will be the liaison between the clubs as we prepare for their visit. I want the names of those attending and names of anyone they want to bring along. Make it known to every single president that no club whores will be allowed at the funeral. This is a time of mourning and we’ll be hosting brothers, old ladies and family. I don’t want any fucking shit happening around them.”
Next was Ziggy. “Zig, do a deep dive on every single one of those names. Ask Mad Dog and Skel for help if you have to and put our new prospect to work, but get it done before everyone arrives.”
Turning to Beast he didn’t order, he asked. “Beast, we’re going to have a lot of our brothers descending on our club. Will you and Rider open your house to some of the presidents and their old ladies?”
Rider immediately looked at Beast. It was very obvious to everyone who ran their house. Beast nodded.
“As long as Rider and I have a say in who gets to move into our guestrooms. We have our women and children living in that house and I won’t tolerate any fucking funny business in our home. If they agree to my rules they are welcome to stay.”
Giving an internal thankful sigh Hawk nodded.
“Thanks brothers, I appreciate you opening your home to our visiting brothers. I will be doing the same at my house. DC and I will be moving to our house but my room here will not be available to anyone. Won’t have any of those bastards fucking in my bed.”
Laughter broke out and it broke the tension hanging around the room.
“Fuck, some of us are going to have to give up our rooms.” Ice snarled. “Don’t fucking like the thought of some bastard fucking his old lady or a club whore in the bed I share with my old lady. I’ll have to buy a new bed when this is done.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Hawk reassured them. “We have plenty of accommodation for guests in the dorms. They don’t like it they can fucking sleep on the grass outside.”
Again laughter rang around the room.
“Everyone will be expec
ting a party after the funeral as is traditional. And we will be expected to throw our gates open to allow all those who want to pay their respects entry. We have to be fucking careful here. We are under fire, our families are under fire. I won’t allow us to be fucking vulnerable.”
As expected the atmosphere changed once again.
“How are we going to have a party for Petey but at the same time limit those who come through the gate to brothers and family? It’s not going to work, Prez.” Ice said quietly.
Hawk nodded in agreement. “I know. I’ve already received a ton of calls and emails from clubs letting me know they want to ride the route with us. The way our brother was taken down has stirred up the one percenters and they are refusing to accept no for an answer. It means we are going to have some troublemakers inside our compound. Unless we can find a way to have them here but not inside our walls.”
Boots lifted a hand to get Hawk’s attention. “Boss, what if we have the grass cut down on the lot next door and put up a big ass marquee for the day? We truck in those mobile bathrooms and set them up at the back and we put gravel down at the front for a parking lot. Everyone will be here, but they won’t be inside our clubhouse. We set up security lights and patrols around the perimeter of the field so Beast and Rider’s place as well as the clubhouse are protected. And we restrict access to the road leading down to your homes.”
“What do you think, brothers?” Hawk asked as his brothers nodded.
“That’s a fucking good idea.” Bulldog said as he nodded. “It keeps our clubhouse out of bounds to anyone who’s not part of the Iron Dogz MC. I like it.”
“I agree with Bulldog.” Ice nodded his agreement.
“Anyone who thinks it’s not a good idea?” Hawk asked.
Not one hand was raised.
Hawk tapped the hammer on the table and looked around the room. “Then that’s what’s going to happen. As it’s your idea Boots you’re in charge of getting the space ready. Anything you need you ask Ice or Kid.”
Now it was time for the last piece of funeral business.
“We’ll be escorting our brother on his last ride from the funeral home to the church and from there to the cemetery. Afterwards we’ll lead the ride home. Sin, can you look over our options for the best routes?”
Sin nodded. “I’m on it, Boss. I’ll bring it to you once I’ve confirmed jurisdiction with both the JMPD and CTMPD.”
“Good. Any other business we need to discuss today?” Hawk was relieved when no hands showed and no one tapped on the table.
Smacking the hammer down sharply he ended church.
“Go, and be fucking careful out there. No one rides alone or unarmed. You see anything out of the ordinary you call it in.”
As they filed out of the chapel the front doors opened and DC came through pushing Dollar in a wheelchair. They were surrounded by helping hands before his woman could ask for help.
Hawk watched as their wounded brothers were helped to the couches and made comfortable. They all looked awful. Drawn with pain and white as fucking ghosts. They didn’t need to be sitting around the common room, they were supposed to be in fucking bed, recovering. Making a quick decision Hawk motioned Beast, Wolf, Boots and Spook over.
“Get our brothers settled in their rooms, they look fucking awful. They need to rest up because I want them in church on Monday morning. I need a report on exactly what went down during the attack.”
“On it, Boss.” Hawk watched as Beast did what he had asked. The heavy frown that had disappeared after he claimed his old lady was back in full force. Fuck.
When a small hand slipped into his he finally relaxed. His old lady was home safe.
Beast
At last fucking church was done and he could get home to his old lady. But just as he was about to leave DC came through the front door with their wounded brothers. He was planning to hang around long enough to shake their hands and then head out.
But his president had other plans for him.
He was on fucking babysitting duty. He knew what his boss wanted without him saying a word. Beast was supposed to see to it that the whores stayed away while the brothers recovered their strength. He was going to have to get creative. And creative meant guestrooms. They were down to four prospects, one of which was brand fucking new, with both Wrench and Sam on the injured list. At least that number would increase when the twins arrived.
Escorting the brothers upstairs to the guestrooms was the easy part; they were too weak to protest. Terror, Owen, Will and Kobus would take turns watching out for the brothers and they had strict orders regarding the whores. Hawk’s rule that none of them were allowed upstairs would be enforced with no exceptions what so ever.
Their care would be overseen by Aunt Beryl and there was no way she would allow the whores anywhere near her boys. With arrangements made Beast could at last head home where his old lady was recovering in bed. Thank fuck for Penny. She had jumped right in to take care of their girls while Tori was in hospital and Beast was fucking locked up.
As he walked through the common room Rider joined him and they walked outside to their bikes.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here and home to our women.” Beast growled as he threw his leg over his bike and sat down. He pulled his bandanna up over his nose and settled his beanie on his head before he slowly rode out.
When they rode past the open veldt between their house and the compound he slowed down and stopped. Rider stopped next to him and they both measured the size of the lot. If Beast had his way the marquee and all the other shit would be set up closer to the club than to their boundary wall. It was going to be fucking noisy and he didn’t want their babies disturbed by it.
“It’s going to be fucking noisy.” Rider echoed his thoughts. “And if Delene loses sleep it’s going to piss Penny off.”
Beast narrowed his eyes as he looked over the land. “I might have a plan. I’ll talk to Boots and see what he thinks. We need to angle the marquee and shit so that the noise is directed towards the compound and not our house.”
Rider nodded. “I see what you mean. Fuck, let’s get home and deliver the news and get this shit over with. Our women are not going to be happy about having strangers in our house.”
They rode the rest of the way down to their house, nodded at the brothers on guard at the gate and rode through, riding around the side of the house to the garages on the side and pulling inside. After what had been happening they had decided that vehicles would no longer be left on the drive in front of the house and as there was a door from the garage into the laundry room they would be using it from now on.
It meant they could move their families in safety to which ever vehicle they were using.
Beast walked through the house and up to their room and grinned when he saw his old lady and babies fast asleep in the wide bed. His woman was in the middle of the bed with a girl on either side of her.
Slipping his kutte off and hanging it on a hanger in the dressing room he slipped his boots off and set them on a shelf. Quietly walking back into the room he lifted the duvet and carried Jossy to her bed. He tucked her in, kissed her forehead then went back for his baby. He did the same with Ellie. He knew it was the wrong time of day for them to have a nap but fuck it. He wanted some time with his old lady right now.
“Sassy, guard.” She lay down between the beds, her muzzle on her paws and watched him leave.
A small smile curved his lips as walked back into his room and locked the door.
He felt her eyes on him as he undressed and slid into bed next to her.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Beast
Pulling her into his arms he settled her on his chest then dropped a kiss on her hair.
“Are you okay?” Her voice was soft and sleepy.
“No baby, I’m not. I can’t get it out of my fucking head that I almost lost you. Having you home and in my arms helps but it’s going to be a while before I’ll let you out of my sight.”
> “I’m okay, Max.” Her sad whisper and the use of his name almost shattered him.
“No baby, you’re not. I can hear it in your voice. You need to let it go, Ladybug. My brothers knew what could happen and accepted it, as do the rest of us. We live hard and we don’t die easy. It is the life we chose for ourselves.” Beast tried to explain.
“I’m sad because Petey didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“Baby, I bet if you could ask him he would tell you it was the best way to go out. He was on his bike doing what he loved. Riding.”
She sighed and Beast decided to try another way to get her mind to focus on something good. Sliding his hand into her sleep shorts and into her panties he cupped her bare ass cheek in his hand and squeezed.
“What are you doing? Her voice was still soft but now held a breathless note.
“Playing with my woman’s ass. I’ve missed having my hands on you, baby.” Beast slipped his other hand under her top and stroked over her belly then up to cover one of her small tits. Being able to engulf her entire breast in his hand totally turned him on. It felt as if he owned her when he did that. Weird, he knew that, but still fucking amazing.
“What about the girls?”
“They’re having a nap and Sassy’s looking after them. We have some time.” Beast said softly as he carefully turned her on to her back and balanced on his elbow to look down at her. His hand stroked over her belly. “I need to touch you, baby, I have this need to reassure myself that you’re really here, that you’re alive. Do you think your back can take me loving you?”
Lifting her hand she cupped his jaw and her thumb stroked back and forth over his cheek. “I missed you too. Kiss me, Max.” Her eyes never his as he dropped his head, only to flutter closed as their lips met.
Beast sank into her slightly open mouth, kissing her softly, sucking her top lip into his mouth and sliding his tongue over it before he let it go. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip and breathed her panting breath into his lungs. He tasted peppermint and Tori. Sucking on her bottom lip he drew on it softly then opened his mouth more and slipped his tongue inside where it met hers. Their tongues twined and slid against each other. The kiss was unlike any of the ones they had shared before. It owned both of them.
Black Heart And Red Redemption (Iron Dogz MC) Page 37