by Sam Crescent
She wasn’t going to take some drug to keep herself high.
The doctor patted her arm and turned to him. Bear and Red came in close as they were there.
“I’ve numbed the area, but she’s moving too much. I need to get that bullet. I’m going to have to knock her out or you’re going to need to hold her down while I do this,” the doctor said.
Stepping forward, he put his hands on Jasmine’s thighs. She still wore the pajamas she’d come downstairs in.
“Jasmine, you can’t go to the hospital.”
“They have doctors and hospital beds and people who can do this without causing me pain.”
“Baby, I hate to say this, but this guy here is a damn good doctor. He’s stitched all of us up. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
In the distance they heard Bethany screaming.
“I’ve got to go and help her,” Jasmine said.
“She’s fine. What you need to do is get fixed right now.”
“I want to go to the hospital.”
“If you’re wanting to get knocked out, I can give you a little something and it’ll take the pain right away,” Bear said.
“No. I don’t want that.”
“The pain isn’t going to go away until you let me take care of it,” the doctor said.
Jasmine was strong.
He, Bear, and Red were stronger.
“How long?” he asked.
“A few minutes and then I can stitch her up.”
He nodded his head. There was no way she was going to the hospital. All gunshot wounds had to be reported, which meant cops. They’d been riding their ass trying to get into the club for fucking years. He wasn’t about to have a cop in his place, nor was he going to let the motherfucker who did this get away with it.
Staring into Jasmine’s eyes, he gave the signal for Bear and Red. They all knew what to do. They’ve done it before.
“Jasmine, do you trust me not to let anything happen to you?” he asked.
“Yes, why?” He’d moved away to the top of the makeshift bed that they had in the basement.
“Good.” He grabbed her shoulders, making sure not to touch her wound, and drawing her back on the bed.
“What are you doing?”
Bear took her waist, and Red took her feet.
The doctor approached.
“No. Please. I want to go to the hospital. No. No. No.” She screamed as the doctor got to work. It was a matter of moments because he was so damn good, but her screams seemed to go on forever. Her strength was no match for him, Bear, and Red. They held her in place without so much as a wriggle as the doctor pulled out the bullet. Still holding her down, the doctor stitched her up and then gave her the injection that put her to sleep.
Her screams ceased, and slowly, she slumped into sleep.
He hoped she wasn’t in any kind of pain.
“Why the fuck didn’t you give her that?” Bear asked, looking a little shaken.
“I couldn’t. I needed to make sure she wasn’t going into shock while I pulled the bullet. She had no signs of shock as I withdrew it or when I stitched her up. I don’t have any monitors to make sure she’s stable. Someone will need to stay with her while she’s under. I figure you’d prefer her like this than awake after that,” the doctor said. “My fee is the same. Please offer my apologies to her.”
The doctor left, and Hawk didn’t wait a single moment. He picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the basement.
Red and Bear followed behind him.
No one said a word as she carried her upstairs to his room.
They all knew what had happened. This woman. This brave, stupid woman had protected his little girl.
He took her straight to his bedroom. No one made a sound as he did so. Placing her on his bed, he pushed some of her hair off her brow. Her blonde hair fanned out across his pillow, and he wanted her. His cock ached to be inside her, to claim her, to make her belong to him.
The past month had been sheer torture, but he could have lost her today. Both Jasmine and Bethany.
“I want this entire place on lockdown. No one leaves without my say-so. The wives have to come here as well.”
“With the sweet-butts in residence?” Bear asked.
“Everyone. I want to know who put the hit on my house, and then I want to hurt the people that thought they could get away with shit like that.” He craved blood and vengeance.
“There’s going to be drama. A few cat fights. You know how Rave loves to fuck all the new chicks and his wife is never happy about finding out about it,” Red said.
“I don’t give a fuck. I’ve given you an instruction. Lock down immediately. I want info as soon as we have it.”
“Boss, your girl is not happy. She’s screaming. You’re going to need to come down,” Bear said. “She’s out for the count.”
Hawk stroked her cheek, knowing he was going to have his balls fucking handed to him the moment she woke up. She was going to be in pain, but there wasn’t a lot he could do about that.
“I’ll take care of her,” he said. “Rest and don’t hate me too much.”
It didn’t matter anymore. He wasn’t about to let her escape from him now. Leaving his bedroom, he slid the door closed and went straight to the main room where he saw Bethany being passed from one person to another. Going straight up to one of the bitches that were holding her, he took his girl into his arms.
Bethany continued to cry and then slowly, calm. He knew Jasmine used his spare leather cuts to keep around her to try to show his little girl that she was safe with his scent around her.
Whatever worked.
She calmed down and rested her head against his chest.
He loved this little girl.
“You all heard what happened. Until I say otherwise, we’re all on lockdown. I don’t know who put that hit, and I didn’t see any cuts or colors to say who the fuck it was. The license plate was a bust. It had been reported stolen three days before the hit. Either way, I will strike back.” He just wouldn’t be stupid enough to hit out at the first person he wanted to.
Stones’s crew was always vying for territory, and he knew there was a recent order of guns from them. Hawk didn’t see it being them, though. They had an agreement of sorts. They didn’t step on his land, and he didn’t fuck them up.
It was a simple agreement and one he’d stuck to. When you live this close to many different MCs and street gangs there had to be negotiations, as otherwise all-out war broke out and he wasn’t above killing someone.
He’d done his fair share of killing to get the Satan’s Rulers MC where it needed to be, and he’d be damned if anyone thought to take that from him or the woman that had entered his life.
Barking out his orders to his crew, he watched them all set off. First order of business, the old ladies needed to get here, and then their kids. Food had to be gathered, and once that was done, he made sure there was a present being organized for his woman.
Holding Bethany tight to him, he kissed the top of her head.
“Let’s go and check on Jasmine,” he said.
His nanny better be ready. He wasn’t going to let her go, not now, not ever. He didn’t know exactly what was going to happen between them, but he knew without a doubt she was destined to bounce on his cock.
For now, that was enough.
****
“You’re going to be in pain,” Hawk said.
Jasmine didn’t even want to hear him right now. Her shoulder hurt, and she recalled the force with which the three men held her down.
“I want to go home,” she said. “I quit.”
The bed dipped, and she turned to see him sitting on the edge near her. His hand was on her hip, his fingers rubbing in a circular motion. She wasn’t happy that her body liked that. Even with the dull pain in her shoulder, she responded to him. What the hell was wrong with her?
“You don’t quit.”
“At no point in the job description does
it say dodge bullets. That wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing. You put Bethany’s life at risk.”
“I’m going to find the people responsible and I’m going to deal with it.”
“By shooting more people?”
“By taking care of business. It’s what I do.”
She glanced around the room. “Where is Bethany?”
“She’s asleep in the nursery. When we’re on lockdown we have one set up for all the kids to sleep. Being around other kids relaxes them.”
She lifted her good arm and pressed a hand to her face.
The pain was starting to get worse. “Why didn’t he just knock me out to start with?”
“Because he needed to make sure you were fine and didn’t have any adverse reaction. He’s a good doctor,” Hawk said.
She noticed his voice was soft as he spoke. “That makes sense, I guess. I still should have gone to the hospital.”
“Regardless, you couldn’t go. I won’t have any cops sniffing around my club.”
She let out a breath, very much aware of his caressing touch.
This was bad. She liked his touch a little too much.
“You need to stop that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not appropriate. I’m your nanny.”
“While you’re here, you’re under my protection, Jasmine. That doesn’t make you my nanny.”
“What does it make me then?” she asked.
“It makes you mine. As far as the club is aware, they’re not allowed to touch you because I’ve staked a claim on you.”
“And if you hadn’t done that?”
“You’d be fair game.”
“I’m Bethany’s nanny.”
“To all of the guys here, you’re fair game.”
She didn’t want to deal with this right now. Too much was going on.
“I’m upset,” she said.
“I’ve got a present for you. I was going to give it to you in the morning, but I don’t see the reason to wait anymore.” He held something wrapped.
Lifting up in the bed until she sat up, she missed his touch on her hip but didn’t protest as he handed her the wrapped gift.
It looked like a book.
Turning it over, she saw a small slit that didn’t have tape on, and slid her fingers beneath the wrapping. Opening it up with one hand, she was careful as she moved the other. She still had a lot of pain.
With the wrapping off, she turned it over and saw it was a book for a food mixer. Turning it over, she couldn’t help but smile. “You bought me a food mixer?”
“It’s set up downstairs. We don’t know how long this lockdown’s going to take. Whatever you need, just let me know and you can start baking and cooking up a storm. I saw you admiring it the other day while we were out shopping,” he said.
“This is to stop me being pissed at you for holding me down?”
“It’s for a lot of things, but if it’ll make you not hate me, I’m all for it.”
She stared at the book before looking at him. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I didn’t want you to hate me.”
Jasmine had a feeling that he didn’t allow himself to be open with a woman like this. Not for the first time she wondered about Bethany’s mother. There were no pictures of her or any reminders of who she was.
Tucking some hair behind her ear, her stomach chose that moment to start to growl.
“Come on, there’s some leftover takeout waiting for us.”
“There is?” she asked. Her mouth watered.
Glancing down at her semi-nude state, she gave a wince. The pajamas she’d been wearing had a lot of blood all over them.
“Here, put these on.” He handed her a pair of shorts and a shirt.
“Whose room am I in?”
“Mine. You don’t think I’d just put you anywhere, did you?” he asked.
Biting her lip, she glanced back at the bed. There were bloodstains on his sheet. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll get one of the whores to clean that up.”
He took hold of her hand, and she had no choice but to go ahead and follow him.
“Do you really have to call them that?” she asked.
“That’s what they are. Club whores. They service the club. Any member for whatever their need is.”
“Yeah, but does it have to be so crude?” She wrinkled her nose, not liking the way he was talking about women.
He chuckled. “You’ve got a lot to learn about club life.”
They passed the busy main room. Several of the men were being serviced by who she could imagine were the club whores. The women didn’t seem to mind though. They looked totally happy to do their duty to their club.
One of the women was spread open with a cock in her mouth and another in her pussy. The scene before her was so shocking, and Jasmine was surprised by how aroused she became from just that glimpse of it.
Quickly averting her gaze and hating her confusion, she focused on the man in front of her who’d entered the kitchen.
He released her hand and then put his hands on the pink food mixer he’d purchased for it.
It looked so feminine within the dark, masculine kitchen.
“What do you think?” he asked.
She walked up to the mixer and smiled. “I can’t believe you bought it for me.” She put a hand on the body and felt the cool metal. She loved it. As she stood there admiring it, she couldn’t help but think of all the yummy cakes and cookies she intended to make. “It’s awesome.”
“So I’m forgiven?”
She pushed some more hair off her face. She was trying not to use her other hand as it had started to ache. “There’s nothing to forgive. You did what you had to do, and besides, this is a pretty awesome gift.”
“Good. Now, take a seat. I’ll serve you.”
She sat down at the table and couldn’t help but admire his ass as he grabbed whatever he wanted out of the fridge.
In his domain, he was like a king, and in a way that was totally what he was, a king.
“What do they call you here? You’re their leader.”
“I’m their President. You’ll hear them calling me ‘Prez’ or something like that.”
“And that’s a sign of respect?” she asked.
“Are you curious about the MC life, Jasmine?”
“No, not really. Maybe a little. I don’t know. I just don’t understand it. I would hate to be called a whore or to have to do that kind of thing.”
“That’s because you’re not a club whore, babe. Far from it.” He put several cartons on the table. “What would you like?”
“Anything.”
She watched as he fixed her a plate. He handed her some chopsticks, and she waited as he served himself.
“You didn’t have to wait.”
“I wanted to.” She offered him a smile, which he returned.
This was sort of surreal to her. She couldn’t believe she was eating with her boss and not only that, she’d been shot.
“I’m a badass.”
“What?”
“I’ve got a war wound. Look at me. I’m totally a badass.” She couldn’t help but smile, and he laughed right along with her.
Maybe this lockdown wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Chapter Five
The following day Hawk was not impressed to see Jasmine outside playing with Bethany. His little girl was on the ground with a few toys and Jasmine sat on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk for some shade.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re basking in the sun rather than being cooped up in there. Other women and children are out.” She pointed toward the parking lot where several of the old ladies stood. When he and Jasmine had gone to bed last night, there had been a fight between an old lady and a club whore.
The club whore had come out worse off with a broken nose. The old lady currently wasn’t speaking to her old man. It was a bit of a disaster, but he was used to it. Mix
ing the two women never went well at all. There would always be some fallout. Especially if a club whore thought for a second she had a chance with one of the men at the club. There was always that rivalry that came into play.
His problem was the fact he didn’t give a fuck about the other women. His only concern was for his two right here.
“I want you inside. It’s not safe.”
“Hawk, I’ve seen the guys all around the property. You’ve got three men at the front of the gate at all times, not to mention Prospects walking around the entire clubhouse. We’re fine.”
“Yeah, and at my place you had me. I’m as good as it’s going to get for protection.”
“Excellent, sit with us,” she said. “That way we get the protection you want us to have and we also get to sit in the sun and bask in the heat. It’s too hot inside.”
“Fine.” It was actually really safe. He was just being cautious.
They were closer to finding out who’d ordered the hit. He’d reached out to Stones’s crew, and they had told him it wasn’t them. That the order they had for guns was for a transaction with someone else. As soon as he had all the details about the order of guns, as well as the information that two of his club boys had done during their recon, he’d figure out the best way to deal with the club involved. It was another MC; he knew that for a fact. He wouldn’t even think of their name because by the time he was done with them, they weren’t going to exist. No one would remember them.
Taking a seat on the grass, he stared at his little girl, who was shaking a rattle. Every now and again, she’d go to crawl and he’d hear Jasmine’s soft laughter. Considering she was shot yesterday she was doing okay.
They’d gotten to talk last night, and he enjoyed it. It was weird for him to admit something like that, but he actually enjoyed just sitting with her, talking. No woman in his life had ever made him say that.
He often found them annoying, tedious, and only good for one thing.
Jasmine wasn’t like that.
She moved, and he saw her wince.
“How’s the shoulder?” he asked.
“It’s fine. A little sore. My body is fine though. I guess I can’t complain really. I had three men holding me down. Not many women could say that.”
He burst out laughing.