“Fuck, Mad Dog, check this shit out.” Timber thrusts a pile of photos at me. He's been prowling around since we got here, trying to work out what the fuck has gone down tonight. One glance at the photos and I know they are the ones taken tonight with Sherri.
Obviously the stupid fuck tormented Lainey with them. I'm going to have some explaining to do when she wakes up.
“I think you need to check her over again, see why she's not waking up. Maybe we should take her to the hospital?” Timber suggests to me as I'm looking at the pictures.
Shaking my head in disagreement at his suggestion, I struggle to my feet and carry her into our living room so I can lay her on the couch. I can't expose her to the authorities until I know what happened here. No fucking way am I letting her be arrested for killing that piece of shit. She doesn't deserve to be prosecuted for his death, not after the shit he's put her through.
"Not gonna happen if I can avoid it. She needs our protection, not to be handed over to the pigs!”
I shoot him a black look for daring to suggest it and he meets it with a look that lets me know exactly what he thinks about my obstinance. He's worried she's badly hurt. I am too but I need to keep her as safe for as long as I can. I might have epically fucked up tonight but I can at least stop the fallout from coming down on her head.
"I'm gonna try them all again. Why are they not answering? Where the fuck is everyone? We need some fucking answers,” he continues tersely.
He walks away from me as I unwrap Lainey from the blanket I covered her with when we arrived. He comes back into the room briefly to throw a warm wet cloth at me, his phone jammed against his ear as he tries to find someone who'll answer.
Checking her head again, I can't find any nasty bumps. Her face is swollen down one side and bruising is setting in. I grind my teeth in fury as I catalogue her facial bruises and well as the handprints around her slim neck. I wipe her down as I check her over. There is a shit load of blood splattered on her but I don't think any of it’s hers so far.
Three nasty looking bite marks are easy to see on her shoulder and left breast, and her stomach is red and painful looking. The fucker has beaten the shit out of her again. I move both her arms to make sure they aren't broken and they work as they should. Everything is good so far.
Moving down her body, I lift one of her legs up to see if it works properly and find blood and finger sized bruises on the inside of her thighs. My heart drops into my boots and I fall to my knees next to the couch.
“Fuck, Mo Ghrá. Not again,” I whisper against her hair as I gather into my arms. Lifting her as delicately as I can onto my lap, I pull her against me as tears start to fall from my eyes. “I'm so fucking sorry. I'm fucking useless at keeping you safe.”
“Mik?”
Her quiet voice shocks the shit out of me before she wriggles in my lap so she can look at me.
“Yeah, Angel. It's me. Are you okay?”
Ducking my head, I wipe my tears away before forcing myself to look into her eyes. The sadness and pain that shines back at me breaks my fucking heart.
“Not really. Every part of me aches.” She smiles at me and then drops my eyes as if she isn't sure if she's in trouble or not. “I shot him and then passed out like a little pussy. Dad’s going to burst a blood vessel when I tell him.”
I can't help the burst of laughter that leaves me at her words. Crazy, beautiful woman of mine always manages to surprise me.
“How do you want this handled? We haven't called the cops, nobody knows yet but me and Timber.”
Since she seems to be alright at the moment, I'm not asking if my suspicions that he raped her again are correct. And I definitely don't have the heart to tell her that we haven't heard from the rest of her family yet or that Murray is dead, his body lying in our kitchen where Timber dragged him so he wasn't outside for someone to find.
“I don't want anyone but the Club involved…”
Horror floods her face and she struggles to pull herself upright in my lap. “Oh my God, Mik. Connor is the rat you're looking for. Where's Murray? Brendan said he's dead!”
The words tumble from her mouth so quickly, I find it hard to keep up. She covers her mouth with her hand before throwing herself from my lap.
“He showed me pictures of you and Sherri. He told me what he made you do. How could you fuck her? How could you do that to me, after everything?”
“Lainey, I never fucked her. You're the only woman I've wanted to fuck for five years.”
I grab the blanket from the sofa to wrap around her naked body but she backs away from me as I approach. Her fucking injuries are hurting her, if her wobbly stance is any indication. I need to get her to sit down before she collapses again so I continue towards her, distracting her from my approach with the answers she is looking for.
“Murray is dead. We don't know if Connor killed him but you’re right he is one of the rats. He gone though. Angel, there’s a heap of shit you don't know about tonight.”
Watching her face crumble as my words sink in, kicks my own grief up a notch. I have no idea how many other brothers I lost along with Murray tonight. I close the last bit of distance between us when tears start to stream down her face. She's close to collapsing.
Wrapping the blanket around her, I pick her up and cradle her like a bride against me. Lainey struggles futilely in my hold, her wilting energy rendering her powerless.
“Mo Ghrá, I swear on my mother's grave that I haven't fucked anyone other than you. She danced for me, that's it and I tried not to puke the whole fucking time.”
“I fucked her, Princess.” Timber’s deep voice scares both of us when he interrupts. “One of us had to or our cover was going to blow, so I fucked her. I knew Mad Dog wouldn't be able to.”
“Oh Timber, I'm so sorry.” My beautiful woman seems to know straight away how big of a deal Timber fucking Sherri is. After being single for years, Timber is finally putting his fucked up past behind him and chasing after Joel’s surgeon. Obviously he's kept in better contact with Lainey during the previous fortnight than I have since she already knows this.
“It's all good. I'm not gonna sweat it even though that bitch was the last thing I wanted to stick my dick in. Juliette doesn't need to know since I don't even know if we're serious yet. She doesn't know if she wants to be seen with an outlaw biker.”
He grimaces as he spits out the last two words. I know Timber and he's not going to give up the Club for a woman so if she can't get on board with it, they're over before they start. He's a lifer like me.
“Enough of my shit. I've spoken to Beast finally…” He trails off as Lainey looks between us questions shooting from her eyes. I ignore her silent questions for the moment. I don't have time fill her in with everything yet.
“And?” I prod, trying to tamp down on the dread that's trying to fucking drown me.
“He's about half an hour away. The Mavericks tried to attack the Emerald Clubhouse but nobody was there, except a couple hang-abouts. Beast decided at the last minute to continue through to the farm.” He looks at Lainey when he mentions the farm where she grew up after he mother died. The farm she refuses to return to because of what happened with Brendan.
“He took everyone with him, families, Emerald brothers and all. Said he had a gut feeling that he needed to go home.”
All three of us share a laugh. Beast’s gut feelings are legendary. Normally they’re just fucking annoying but this one probably saved lives.
“Anyway, the fucking Mavericks were smart enough not to draw too much attention to themselves when they realised nobody was there. One of hang-abouts who's about to be asked to prospect phoned Smiley and told him that the Mavericks had been and gone. So they left Wendy and the boys at home with protection and headed back here to deal with them.”
"Why didn't they call us?”
“Beast said he called you but you didn't answer. I know I had two missed calls from him but we were busy dealing with Shadow. They stopped just befo
re to try and contact us again and I was calling Beast so he answered me.”
Juggling Lainey so I can pull my phone from my pocket, I can see that I do have missed calls. In my panic to get to Lainey, I didn't even think to check.
“So what's the go now? You filled him in on what's happening here?”
“Of course I did. He's sending a clean-up here and another one to the compound. He's making arrangements for Murray. We're to meet him at the compound for Church if Princess is up to it…”
Timber pauses and runs his eyes over Lainey. She's a mess but I know what her answer will be before he asks the question, “He doesn't want cops involved unless you need to go the hospital. Do you want to be taken there?”
It's obvious from his tone that he isn't in agreement with Beast and I. He strides over to us and ignores my annoyed growl as he lifts Lainey's chin so he can examine her face.
"Princess, I think you need to go and get checked out. We don't know how long you were unconscious for. And this is the second time you've been beaten this month.”
My guilt peaks at Timber’s reminder that this is the second time I've failed to keep Lainey safe in less than four weeks, let alone all the times I've failed her in the last five years. I know he doesn't mean it the way I'm taking it but it hits home hard. Fuck, I've failed the precious woman in my arms too many times to count. It's becoming clear that I'm no fucking good for her, whether we love each other or not.
“I'm fine, Timber. Sore and bruised, that's all. Mik will check me over and we can get Doc to come fix anything he can't.”
Lainey lifts her battered face to me, seeking my approval and I have to suck in a steadying breath before I can answer her. The damage that I’ve let happen to her is all over her face.
“I can do that. But I think we need to get Doc to look after you with me, just in case.” I nuzzle her neck and Timber grunts his begrudging acceptance of our plan. He stomps off, muttering about stubborn mules and the idiots who support them.
"We need Dr. Louise as well, don't we?” I inquire quietly about the therapist who helped her deal with her previous rapes. Now I know everyone else is okay, it's time to tell her that I know. Her whole body stiffens in my arms before sobbing wracks her frame.
“Why would you think that?” she questions me in a wobbly, strained voice.
I pull her tighter to me and make my way back to our couch. Once I'm seated I run my hand between her legs, from her knees to her pussy. She flinches away from my touch. Point proven.
“Angel, you have blood and bruises all over your thighs.”
She sighs sadly, no longer trying to deny the truth.
“Are we going to be okay? Can you get over him touching me again?”
“Lainey, it's not me you should be worried about. We need to get you through it and then I need to…”
“Do you two need anything from here before we leave?” Timber bellows as he comes back inside, interrupting us. “I've moved the dead cunts car and put Murray’s bike away for the boys. Are you okay to go on Mad Dog’s bike or do I need to get your car out?”
He stands there glaring at us with his hands on his hips, obviously pissed off that we aren't ready to go. I’m selfishly glad he interrupted us because it gives me more time with Lainey. More time to soak in her essence before I have to put an end to this. I wipe away Lainey's tears with my thumbs, raising my eyebrow to silently ask her what she needs to take with us.
“Just my phone and handbag. I need some clothes to wear as well. Everything's in our room.”
She starts to cry again.
“I can't go in there, Mik. I need you to get them for me.”
Placing her on the sofa, I shush her before heading into our room.
Before I start gathering her things, I stare at the fucker who has caused all of our problems. His blood is all over our bed, soaking into our mattress and ruining the one place that has been mine and Lainey's. Even though he's dead, there's still rage flowing through me towards him. I don't know what to do with it. I'd love nothing fucking better than to bring him back to life so I can torture him and fucking kill him over and over.
Pulling my shit together, I grab everything I think Lainey will need. I close the door to our bedroom behind me, wishing I could close the door on this fucking nightmare as easily.
“Bike or car?” I ask as I approach the pair of them, interrupting the quiet conversation she is having with Timber. They're huddled together on the sofa, his arm securely around her shoulder. Timber turns to me, sympathy written all over his face. I’m guessing Lainey has filled him in on what went down here tonight.
“I think I can handle the bike.” Lainey answers from his embrace.
Winking at me, she shrugs his arm off of her shoulders before she lays her hand on Timber’s cheek, my devil woman smiles at him and tries to bat her lashes. Her swollen eye makes it awkward but she still looks like an angel.
“Can you carry my bag on your bike for me? I don't think I can manage tonight.”
Her actions surprise him and he bursts out laughing. His booming voice reverberates around my house, hurting my fucking pounding head.
“Yeah, I can do that for you, Princess.”
Thumping him a bit harder than necessary on the back, I jerk my head to the door.
“We'll meet you outside once Lainey’s dressed.” I pass him her bag as he rises from the couch.
"Don't take too long. Beast won't be far from the compound.” He narrows his eyes at me as he leaves. He knows I'm not happy about him snuggling with my naked woman, no matter how much comfort she was getting from it.
“Hop up, Angel. Let's get you sorted.”
I help her dress, leaving her to zip up her boots and jacket so I can grab her helmet from the hall stand.
“You ready to go, Angel?”
"Yep, let's get out of here.”
Lainey takes one last look around our house as I lead her through the front door. I'd give my right arm to know what's going through her head right now.
Does she feel that everything's coming to a fucking screeching end, like I do?
EPILOGUE
Lainey
Six Months Later
“Oh my God! You told him didn't you?” I berate Timber loudly as I slam the front door to the house I share with him behind me. I hang my handbag and then pull my heels off and throw them at him, aiming for where he’s sitting on the couch looking smug.
He catches the first one but the second hits him in the chest. I giggle when he yelps in pain.
“Fuck, Princess. That hurt. You don't need to be a bitch to me just because your night was fucked up. I’ve told you what side I'm on.” I roll my eyes in anticipation of his next sentence. “I'm on the side of true love, even though you two are the two biggest idiots I know.”
He chuckles at my exasperation before continuing, “I didn't tell him but I didn't deny it when he stormed in here and demanded to know if it was true. If it was a secret, you should have told Beast not to talk about it at the Clubhouse. What did he do this time?”
I throw myself down on the couch next to him. I'm exhausted from the drama and I can tell from the way Timber’s previous laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes that he is as well. My move into his house after my breakup has caused issues in his budding relationship with Joel’s surgeon. Together we make for a cautionary tale in the perils of dating. The objects of our affections have both proved difficult to pin down.
The last six months have been the best and the worst of my life. I've finally graduated with my degree, securing a full time job at the law firm that represents the MC. My therapy has worked well and even though Mik broke my heart when he walked away from our relationship two days after I shot Brendan dead—something I was always afraid would happen—I’m enjoying life with my family and friends. The only dark spots aside from the end of my relationship, have been the never-ending shadows thrown by my ineffective efforts to support Joel as he completes his rehab and the losing battle we’r
e all fighting as Benji continues his spiral into addiction.
After trying to rekindle my relationship with Mik for five months, I finally decided that I was giving up on him and moving on. Finding the courage to put myself out here and date again wasn’t easy, it damn near ripped my heart out. Realizing that I was serious about moving on is what finally enticed him into budging on his decision to stay away from me. He keeps scaring away every man who agrees to go on a date with me in an effort to win me back.
“He was waiting for us at the restaurant,” I tell Timber. “Flynn, the guy I met when I went to that party with Lacey, got there before me. Mik cornered him and threatened to cut off his cock and feed it to him if he didn't call me and cancel.”
Timber falls onto his back, holding his stomach as he bellows with laughter. I punch him in the thigh repeatedly until he stops.
“Ow, don't hit so hard,” he groans.
“Well stop laughing. It's not funny! That's the third guy he's done this to.”
I pull the clip out of my hair and run my fingers through the long strands. I'm on the verge of tears.
“I waited for fifteen minutes before I thought to check my phone. I must have looked like an idiot. Flynn left me a voicemail and he was stammering when he cancelled our date. He was freaking out and I could hear Mik in the background telling him what to say.”
I blink away the tears that are threatening.
“I'm so mad at him, Timber. He didn't want me until I decided to move on. I chased him for months, trying to change his mind and now that I've decided to move on he pulls this crap. It's not fair.” I whine loudly as I let my emotions rise to the surface. “We both know it's not like he's staying celibate so what's his problem?”
“Princess, you’re barking up the wrong tree there. Mad Dog hasn't even looked at another woman. He's too busy sulking like a fucking pussy around the Clubhouse and workshop.”
Timber chuckles hard, proving just how much of a sadist he is. When he’s not trying to get us back together, he's finding immense pleasure in my predicament.
Seizing Control Page 31