Severed Ties That Bind

by Vera Quinn

  “What’s up Krill? I have shit that needs to be taken care of.” Dra looks deep in thought and distracted.

  ‘Well brother, since you have been gone for over a week and busy with your own personal business, I thought I would catch you up on club business and then we have church.” Dra doesn’t seem interested.

  “We’ve had three overdoses over at the high school and the sheriff has asked us to find out where the drugs are coming from. They are overdosing on home cooked methamphetamines. Sound familiar?” This brings Dra’s eyes to me.

  “You have any leads yet? Do you think it could be Hempcan again? They have been quiet for a while,” Dra asks.

  “Don’t know yet. The sheriff just called last night. I am taking it to the table today. There have also been two suicides of students. We haven’t had one suicide in this town in over twenty years and now two in as many weeks.” Dra is sitting up straight in his chair and he signals for Angus, one of the prospects, to bring him a beer.

  “Was it a boyfriend and girlfriend thing or were they friends?” Dra asks.

  “Two males, both seniors. No connections but both with enough methamphetamines in them that the sheriff isn’t sure if it is suicide or homicide. Intentional or accident. Doesn’t matter, we do not let anyone deal drugs at the school or anywhere in our territory. It stops. Bandy is trying to run down some leads.” I am watching Dra and he is all business.

  “Have you talked to the principal and the rest of the faculty yet? We need to get extra security cameras set up all over the campus.” I laugh at that and Dra looks closely at me.

  “There’s my brother that is all about business. You make it sound like there is a lot of area to cover. The whole damn campus is four buildings. The school houses pre-k through twelfth grade. The lunch room is used for lunch consumption and any meetings they may have during the day. Then they have the small Agriculture building and the gym. How many cameras do you think that will take? We need to cover the parking lots also, there are two,” I ask Dra. This is what Dra is good at, surveillance and security.

  “I need to get a look at it. I know they have a few cameras but not sure how they are located and what they cover. I will ride over after school is out today. Anything else?” Dra is all business now.

  “I rode by your house and talked with Maddie earlier.” Angus brings Dra his beer. Dra nods at him and then brings his eyes back to me.

  “Just say whatever it is you are going to say Krill. I am not going to try and guess what it is you are getting at.” Dra sits backs and waits for what I have to say.

  “I know you still have Sunshine in a condo. You know the rules Dra. You knew this before you put a ring on Maddie’s finger. She’s your wife now so it needs to be taken care of before it is brought to church. You know Miner will not let it go and neither will I.” Dra takes a long drink from his beer and then sits it down. Every club has different rules concerning ol’ ladies and wives. In the Troubled Fathoms MC, ol’ ladies and wives are treated with a respect that girlfriends and club girls are not. You can have an ol’ lady without her being your wife. She gets the same respect. She wears your patch and your ink, and she is your property until you take that patch back. With wives, the rules are stricter. If you have a wife then she better be wearing your patch, your ink, and your ring. Dad, Miner, and Time made this rule and it was voted on. They were all married when they founded the Troubled Fathoms MC and they were all committed to not only the club but their families too. In some clubs, you can have a wife, an ol’ lady and whoever else comes along but not in our club. The founding members felt it was disrespectful to their wives for them not to be their ol’ lady also. They wanted the women in this club to be as dedicated to the club life as their men. This guaranteed it and each woman is explained that if she runs off from the marriage and divorces that she is still bound to the club member whose ink is on her body and whose patch they have. We also do not allow blatant cheating on your wife at the clubhouse. What you do away from the clubhouse is on you but not at the clubhouse where any family can see it. There are also no wives or ol’ ladies allowed at open parties. Open parties are when we have other clubs here and they can get rowdy.

  “I was just taking care of Sunshine before I got your text. I am cutting her loose. I already took my patch back and I am controlling the situation. Sunshine will not be a problem for me or the club,” Dra tells me. I laugh.

  “You think that bitch is just going to let you cut her loose and let you walk away? She came into this clubhouse looking for an officer to put her claws in and you fell for it hook line and sinker. Do not underestimate that woman.” I don’t hide my dislike for the bitch.

  “It is handled but I agree with you. She may try to cause some problems. She played the pregnant card when I told we were done. I knew there was no way. I took her to get the shot myself.” I see Dra wasn’t wearing blinders as I thought he was.

  “I think we need to ban her to make sure she knows her place,” I tell Dra. I had rather be safe than sorry.

  “Why do you hate Sunshine so damn much? I told you I have it handled. There is no reason to ban her until she steps out of line.” I laugh.

  “She stepped out of line the night she tried to climb in my bed without an invitation when she was a hang around and worked at the bar. She stepped out of line when she warned all the other club girls away from both you and me and she had no claim on us. She stepped out of line when she tried to trick you with a fake pregnancy. How many times do we ignore it before she does something that can’t be fixed so easily? Three strikes and you are put out. I don’t like the bitch, she serves her purpose, but she needs to know her place and where we draw the line, just like all the other club girls.” I know it is only a matter of time until Sunshine steps over the line and I know she has her own agenda. I don’t know what it is, but I’d bet my last dollar she is scheming.

  “I will handle Sunshine. I just feel bad how this situation all came down bad on her. I will keep her in line,” Dra tells me, but he is headed for disaster and he is blind to it.

  “And if it costs you Maddie and B in the process? Have you thought of that? Maddie is going to take kid gloves in her handling. She is innocent and even though she has been around the biker lifestyle she knows nothing about it, but she is curious. She was asking me questions and what happens when she asks the wrong question to the wrong person? Does Maddie know that you have Sunshine set up in a nice little condo and you have been paying her bills for months or that you bought her a new ride?” I ask Dra and wait for his reaction.

  “Not Maddie’s business what I did when she wasn’t here. I will keep them apart.” That makes me laugh again.

  “Dra, you can’t keep Maddie and B locked up in your house. That house looks like a tribute to the time you spent with Callie. How do you think that makes Maddie feel? You still have those damn pictures up that you had made with Callie before Kellan was born. Are you trying to run her off?” I can see that Dra didn’t even think about the pictures.

  “When I got the call that Maddie and Betsy had been located I didn’t even think of cleaning the house out. I haven’t been in it very often since Callie left.” I knew that. I think it hurt too much for Dra to be there and see what he had lost. “I am not going to let Maddie and Betsy slip away from me. I will do right by both, but I need time.”

  “Alright Bro. Just remember you have family at your back and reach out if you need help. I am proud of you for swallowing that damn pride of yours and doing the right thing when it comes to Maddie. It could have been one shitty situation, but you are trying to make it right without too much difficulty. It takes a strong man to do that,” I tell Dra and I am proud of him. “That little B already has me wrapped around her little finger she’s so damn cute.”

  “She is but damn she scares the hell out of me. I am going to need a big shotgun when she goes to school to keep the damn boys away from her. The funny thing is that she may have all my looks, but she is sweet just like her mom. That
is a dangerous combination,” Dra says shaking his head.

  “Well it could be worse.” Dra looks at me. “She could have her mom’s looks and your ‘don’t give a shit attitude’ which would attract all the bad boys. Don’t you worry about it. B will have a whole clubhouse full of uncles that will keep them damn boys away besides that, if I know you, she’ll have plenty of little brothers to help her.” That makes Dra smile.

  “That’s the plan, brother.” I wipe that smile off his face.

  “Of course, they could all be girls.” I laugh as Dra’s face falls at the thought. “Let’s get to church before everyone else gets there.” Dra finishes his beer off and we both get up and walk down the hall, so we can wait for all the brothers to arrive for church.

  Chapter 16

  Maddie

  I finally got B to go to sleep. She is so excited about having so much space to run and play in. We spent the day playing and getting acquainted with our new home. It doesn’t seem much like our home but more like Dra’s home where we are staying. Now that B is asleep I don’t know what to do with myself. I cleaned up everything that needed it. Washing the few dirty clothes that needed it and then putting them away. I disposed of everything in the refrigerator that was spoiled. I sacked all the trash up and put it out in the garage. I haven’t heard from Dra all day. In fact, it has been quiet since Krill left this morning. I made out a list of things I am going to need to go into town for. I need to purchase a phone. That way I can call Micah and Aunt Deb. I know they are going out of their minds with worry. I have never not been in contact with them at least every other day. I haven’t seen the disposable phone I had since the men kidnapped us. I was given my purse back when we left the farmhouse with Dra, but my phone wasn’t in it.

  I checked all the bedrooms out. The master bedroom is roomy, but all the colors are dark, and Dra has thick drapes in there that give it a gloomy aura. I know rooms don’t have auras, but I believe if you don’t brighten rooms and other things up with pretty colors it makes for a depressing area. Who wants a depressing room to sleep in? I like bright colors or at the least warm neutral colors. I don’t know why I even worry about it. Dra hasn’t said I will be sleeping in his room. That man has me so confused.

  Two of the guest rooms have a Jack and Jill bathroom between them. They are set up almost identical to the rooms that Micah and I grew up in. They have beige carpet and beige walls. I put B in one of the rooms. There is another room, but that room still has baby items in it that I am guessing that Dra and Callie bought for Kellan. There’s a baby bed still in the box, some unopen boxes, and the linens for the bed. There’s also a mobile and a rocking chair. I didn’t want to intrude in that room. Apparently, Dra hasn’t dealt with it yet and I have no idea what he would want done with it. I wanted that room to be B’s since it is closest to the master bedroom, but it will have to be another topic that Dra and I need to add to that ever-growing list of things to talk about. We can’t talk if he doesn’t come home. I feel like he is avoiding me.

  I walk back in and check on B and she is sleeping soundly. There is no way I am going to leave my girl in a room by herself in a house that she is not familiar with yet. I walk back into the living room and make sure everything is locked up. I go to Dra’s room and get one of the t-shirts and a pair of boxers I washed earlier and go into his shower and take a long hot shower. His clothes will be big on me, but they will have to do until I get some more of my own or buy some. When I get out I feel like I could sleep for days. I think I am more exhausted from worry than anything. I look through all the drawers in the bathroom and find an extra toothbrush and a hair brush to get through my long thick hair. This is as good as it is going to get tonight. I rush through blow drying my hair and make my way back into the room where B is and climb in the bed and snuggle with my baby girl. The last thing I remember thinking is this is home. Snuggling with B and smelling the sweet smell of my baby. I let sleep take me under and forget about all the worries that have plagued me for so long. I feel like I have only slept for a short-time when I feel myself being lifted from the bed. I try to open my eyes, but I feel so drowsy. It’s then I realize that I am not back on the ranch and it is my job to protect B. I try to jump out of whoever is carrying me, but I inhale, and I know it is Dra that is carrying me.

  “B won’t know where she is if she wakes up. I don’t want her scared if she wakes up.” Dra stops for a second, but my eyes haven’t adjusted yet, so I can’t see his expression.

  “I’ll put you in our bed and then fix it. I think there are some monitors in the extra room with the baby stuff in it.” I guess I should have gone through the baby things. I am too tired to put up a physical fight.

  “Leave a light on so she can see. B’s not afraid of the dark but she’s always had me close,” I tell Dra and he starts walking down the hall again. He opens his bedroom door and takes me straight to the bed. He sits me on my feet and then turns and pulls the comforter back.

  “You made the bed and cleaned up. You didn’t need to.” I can smell the hint of beer on Dra’s breath, but it is not so overpowering that I can’t smell the aroma of leather and Dra’s own musky scent. I think I could crawl inside Dra if I could have that smell next to me every day. “Get in bed. I will be back as soon as I get everything squared away for B.” Dra starts to walk off but then turns back to me. “Your place is next to me every night in this bed. You don’t sleep anywhere else. Do you understand me, Maddie?”

  “Yes, Dra, I understand. I just didn’t know since you left us here and haven’t been back all day. We haven’t slept in the same bed since we were married so I didn’t know what was expected of me.” I still can’t make Dra’s face out in this dark room, but I hear the intake of his breath.

  “Darlin’, I want you to want to be here. I don’t want my wife to think it is a duty to sleep beside me. I want us to make this marriage work. I know there is going to be a period of adjustment, but I hope we become comfortable enough with each other that if we have a question we just call each other and talk or wait and see each other and talk it out.” That makes me smile. I relax a little but then it kind of confuses me.

  “Dra, I had no phone to call you. When you gave me my purse back my phone was gone. It was just a prepaid, but I need to replace it,” I tell Dra.

  “We’ll take care of that tomorrow. I’ll be right back and then we need to talk a few things over.” That makes me nervous. Dra has ordered me around and hasn’t wanted to talk since he picked us up at the farmhouse.

  “Alright.” Dra goes out the door. I have butterflies in my stomach. My heart is racing. Is this really happening or am I dreaming? I pinch myself. Darn that hurt. No, I am awake. I try to pull myself together, but my nerves are eating away at me. Dra is back in no time. I thought I would have longer to get my thoughts together. Dra turns the bedside lamp on and I close my eyes and then open them trying to get used to the light. I see that Dra has brought in a baby monitor and put it on the night stand. “Why is this room so dark?” Dra half laughs and half grunts. I can’t believe I just asked that. I sound like an idiot.

  “That’s what you really want to know?” Dra is smiling at least.

  “I’ve just never been in a room that keeps all the light out. Don’t you like the sunshine?” Dra lifts his t-shirt and takes it off. He throws it in the corner. No wonder the house was such a mess. Dra toes his boots off and then sits on the bed beside me.

  “I don’t have set hours to work. I manage all the business ends of our different investments. That includes the bar and the only nice restaurant in town. They stay open later than nine to five and then add on top of that any club business so sometimes I roll in way after midnight. Most days I need to be up and around by nine but when I get the chance I like to sleep in. Callie ordered some blackout curtains, that way the sun wouldn’t shine in and wake me up. I’m a light sleeper and if there is any light coming in then I am awake.” I look down at my hands. I don’t know why Dra mentioning Callie makes me anxiou
s. Dra lifts my chin with his fingers to make me look at him. “I need a shower and then we can talk about all this.” I nod my head yes and then Dra gets up and walks to his dresser and pulls out a pair of boxers and then goes into the bathroom and it isn’t long until I hear the shower start. I pick up the white monitor and make sure the volume is turned all the way up. I am tempted to get up and go into B’s room and check on her, but I don’t want to be that kind of mom. I need to trust Dra’s judgement. I know Dra would not have left her there unless he knew for sure we could hear her. It’s hard for me since I have been the only one taking care of B since she was born but I guess that is my fault. It’s not long until Dra is walking out of the bathroom in just his boxers. Darn that man is too damn sexy for his own good. His hair is still wet, and he has a grin on his face, like he knows what I am thinking. He knows what he does to me. Dra walks over to the side of the bed that I am on and I scoot over and open the covers, so he can get in beside me. “You don’t need to look so nervous Maddie. There’s nothing going to happen that you don’t want to. I like my women willing.” The way he says woman sets my anger on edge. That’s the problem.

  “Well there’s not women in your bed. Only one woman, and that is me. It’s not like I have a lot of experience with things like this, so I am nervous, and I never once thought you would force me to do anything in this bed that I don’t want to.” I know Dra can hear the hint of anger in my voice. Dra pulls me into his arms and then leans back against the headboard. I relax and fell like I am home for the first time in two years.

  “Relax woman. I’m not the enemy. Krill brought it to my attention that I should have cleaned out the house a little before I brought you and B home, and I should have. I was so excited about finally finding your ass that I didn’t think about it.” Dra kisses the top of my head and I think I forget to breathe for a second. I don’t know what has changed since he dropped B and I off this morning, but I think I like it. “Maddie, this conversation is not going to be comfortable for either one of us, but I want you to know that I want this to work. I am trying to get that pinched confused look off your face.” I push myself back from Dra. I know I need my wits about me for this conversation and I think I was getting drunk off everything that is Dra.