by River Savage
“Sorry, darlin’. I gotta head out.” He drops his phone to the nightstand, presses his knee to the bed, and leans over to kiss me. I want to ask him why, but I know it’s for someone in need.
“Okay,” is all I say, before returning his kiss. He doesn’t take it deep, just peppers three more along the corner of my mouth then pulls back.
“You wanna stay at the clubhouse tonight, or I can see if one of the guys can keep an eye on the house?” He moves toward his dresser and takes out a pair of boxers, stepping into them.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll be fine here. And don’t bother anyone.” I know Beau has been having some of the guys come and sit out the front whenever he’s away. Something I feel guilty about.
“Not gonna leave you all night. Gotta go out to Henderson, and back. Won’t be home till early morning. It’s either clubhouse or one of the guys will come around.” The last thing I want to do is head into the clubhouse. I just want sleep.
“I’m sure I can handle one night on my own.” I shake my head at his concern. Beau has the whole place set up with a security system. I’m as safe here as I am there; besides, there’s no threat to me here. Surely by now he realizes it.
“I’ll call Hunter.” He ignores me and tugs on a pair of jeans, this pair almost black.
“No, don’t. I’ll be okay. I’ll have a bath, find something to eat and then head back to my own room,” I add, not sure what the etiquette is. We live together in the roommate capacity. Does that mean we still sleep in our own beds?
“You’re not sleeping in here?” He looks over at me, still half-dressed.
“I mean it’s your bed. I have my own bed next door.” I shrug, not really sure what to say. Does he want me to stay in his bed when he isn’t here? Do I only come in here when we have sex?
Why does sex make you stupid?
“Want you in my bed, darlin’, but if you’re more comfortable in your room, I’ll climb in there.” He sits on the end of the bed and pulls his boots on.
“You don’t think it’s weird me being here while you’re gone?” I press on, voicing my unease.
“Fuck no. The only thing wrong with the idea is I’ll be thinking about it all night. Probably have a semi half the night. Jesse will probably give me shit.”
I laugh at the image. Yeah, Jesse will so give him shit. “I’ll see how it goes,” I finally say, watching him stand and put on his cut.
“Okay, but so you know, coming home to you in my bed would be a fucking dream.” He leans down and kisses me one last time. “Be thinking of ya, darlin’.” He stands to full height, and without a backward glance, he leaves me naked in his bed.
It’s not until later when I see Hunter’s truck parked across the road I realize he didn’t listen.
It makes me fall a little more for him.
Past
Mackenzie
“I don’t know what you’re fucking thinking here.” A voice pulls me out of my groggy sleep and back to reality.
The past twenty-four hours come flooding back and then I realize I’m in a hospital.
“Don’t start your shit right now, Sy,” Beau’s voice answers and I keep still, wondering what they’re talking about.
“She’s fucking dangerous. Look who she’s connected to. This is bad shit, Beau.”
Me. They’re talking about me.
“What the fuck is your problem, Sy? You think I’m gonna walk away from her? I’m following this through. If you want to leave, fine. Fuck off. But we’re all this woman has right now. I’m gonna take her out of town away from that abusive-ass husband, with or without your help.” I hold my breath, then slowly let it out as I realize this man is truly going to save me.
“I’m not saying to leave her here. I’m saying call Tiny in. Have someone else do this. I’m worried about you. I haven’t seen you like this before.”
The room falls silent, the insistent beeping of the machine grows louder the longer no one talks.
Like what?
After what feels like ten minutes I decide to give up my façade and release a soft whisper, like I’m just stirring from sleep.
“Mackenzie?” My voice is called and I slowly open my eyes. Beau is sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed, Sy standing by the door.
“How did it go?” I take stock of my body, but can barely lift my head. The drugs are doing their job. Even my face is numb.
“Everything ran smoothly. They were able to reset your arm.”
I don’t answer, but nod as I try to move myself up to a sitting position. “When can we go?” I look toward Sy and see him quietly assessing me.
Oh, God. He scares me.
“Tomorrow. They want you to stay the night here, and then once you receive the all clear, we’ll be on the road.” Beau stands and passes me the remote to control the bed.
“I’m gonna go check in with Nix. Be back.” Sy turns and leaves us alone.
“I don’t think he’s too happy,” I murmur, more to myself than Beau.
“He has his head up his ass over his woman. Just ignore him. I do.” He rests back in his chair and stretches his feet out in front of him. Faded jeans, scuffed boots. I don’t say anything for a few minutes, until I can’t help but want to engage with him.
“Beau, why do you do this? Help women.” He regards me for a long while, and I wonder if I’ve overstepped some line I didn’t know was drawn.
“Ten years ago, someone close to me lost their life because she didn’t leave.” His face darkens, his brow dipping low, and then he shakes his head clear. Like he can’t believe he just shared a little of himself.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Beau.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Now get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow.” He shuts down any more chances for me to talk. Deciding sleep sounds appealing, I rest my head back and let my eyes fall shut. He’s not leaving. I’m safe.
“Beau,” I call one last time, hoping he answers.
“Yeah?”
“I bet your special someone would be proud you do this.” I hope to offer him some kind of peace.
“Thanks, darlin’. I hope so.” His reply is soft, gentle and if you could breathe hope from my words alone, you’d swear he was trying.
“I know so,” I whisper just before sleep takes me.
Twenty
Beau
Hunter: Just got here. All good.
Me: Thanks
I reply back to Hunter’s text, feeling a little lighter knowing I can stay focused now there are eyes on her.
“Was that Mackenzie?” Jesse leans over the cab of the van trying to check my phone like a fucking nosey old woman.
“Will you just watch the damn road?” I pocket my phone, close my eyes and rest back into the chair.
“Well, aren’t you in a chirpy mood tonight.” He scoffs when I don’t play along.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I keep my eyes closed and don’t fall for his bullshit. He’s right. I’m far from fucking chirpy. I had plans tonight. Plans that included my cock in Mackenzie’s pussy, maybe try to work her up a little more, have her coming on my face again. After her first orgasm last night that revealed a little something extra, I wasn’t able to get her back there. Instead, I’m stuck on a fucking run with Jesse.
“So how is everything with Mackenzie?” I tense, wondering if he knows, but relax when I realize there would be no way.
“Off limits.” He laughs at my reply, still not getting a clue. There’s no fucking way I would ever talk to this asshole about Mackenzie.
“So fucking whipped.”
“You really wanna go there, Jesse?” I counter, ready to pull every fucking thing he has done the last seven months since Bell’s been on the scene.
“I have no problem going there, Beau. Unlike you, I own it. Yes, I’m pussy whipped. I don’t give a fuck who knows it.” I ignore the smartass and start counting down the hours I have left with the fucker.
“The girls are havi
ng a night out next weekend,” he says after a few minutes.
“Why would I care?”
“Oh, didn’t Mackenzie tell you? She’ll be there too.”
“Shut the fuck up, Jesse, you’re starting to piss me off.” I don’t bite like he wants me to, but I store the info in the back of my mind to bring up later. I don’t give a fuck if Mackenzie goes out, but the club will have eyes on her. I still don’t trust her asshole ex. Even if it’s been over two months and there has not been one sighting of him. I’m just waiting for something to happen.
“Maybe she’ll pick up someone. I know a few of the guys around the club are keen on her.” Before he can add in another word, my left hand reaches out, grabbing him by the back of the neck.
“Seriously fucker, I’m about to kick you out and you can take your sorry ass home on your own.”
“I’m gonna fucking crash, asshole.” He laughs louder, rarely taking anything serious. I squeeze tighter, keeping my grip firm.
“Okay, I’ll quit it,” he relents. I give his neck one last squeeze before releasing him. I’m not fucking kidding. If he doesn’t quit it, he’s out.
He manages to keep quiet for another forty minutes before breaking the silence. Again.
“So, I’m thinking of asking Bell to marry me.” I let a few minutes pass to take in what he just said before commenting.
“You sure you’re ready?” It’s not like I want to question his reasons, but Bell and Jesse just dealt with some major shit. The last thing they need to be doing is rushing into marriage.
“She’s the one. There’s no one else for me.” He sounds so sure and I don’t want to be an asshole, but I ask anyway.
“How do you know?” It hasn’t even been a year. They’ve only lived together for a short time. Hell, Mackenzie and I’ve almost been living together for the same amount of time.
“Fuck you’re such a cynic. Of course you don’t believe in love, Beau.”
“Didn’t say I don’t believe in love. I just think giving yourself over to it is dangerous.” I shrug, not shy in sharing my thoughts.
“Dangerous? How so?”
“It hooks you with ties stronger than death, Jesse. You of all people can understand that.” I give it to him straight. The man just lost his father this year. He should fucking get it.
“Jesus, Beau. Bit fucking deep, even for you.”
“It’s the fucking truth. I’m not saying you don’t love Bell. But are you ready to hand it all over, knowing if anything ever happened, it would hurt more than anything?”
“Hey, maybe it’s flawed and complex to you, Beau. But it’s not just one layer. It’s multiple fucking layers. Not giving yourself over to it because later it might hurt makes no sense. Death can’t cancel it out because it’s fucking pure. It cancels everything else out.” I don’t respond right away, my mind still trying to catch up that I’m having this conversation with Jesse.
It takes me a while to respond, my head still trying to process it from a different point of view. “The fuck you come up with this shit, Jesse?”
“I’m in love, brother. When you know, you know.” His deep laugh resonates from within him and fills the van.
“If you say so.” I shake my head and rest back in my chair. The next time he asks me a question, I pretend to be asleep. He’s already schooled me enough tonight. I don’t need him to know I was already affected by it.
* * *
We pull into the clubhouse early the next morning. After picking up the woman in Henderson, we drove her back to Rushford and set her up in one of the safe houses we have here. She will stay there for a week before we move her again with a new identity.
“The gate’s open,” I say aloud, but more to myself than anything.
“Maybe Nix is in.” Jesse sits up a little straighter. Both of us on alert. I know Nix said he would lock up after we left, so the gate being open puts me on edge.
“At five in the morning?” I pull out my cell and bring Nix’s name up. Jesse opens his door and walks toward the gate, pushing it fully open so I can drive through.
“Yeah,” Nix grumbles, coming out of sleep.
“You at the clubhouse?”
“No, why?” His voice becomes more alert at the mere question.
“Front gate is open.”
“I left after you took the van out. Locked that shit up tight ‘cause no one was in.”
“Nix?” Kadence’s whisper comes through the line.
“Shh, go back to sleep, babe.” I hear rustling and I know he’s moving through the house. “Check it out and call me back.” He hangs up as Jesse gets back in the van.
“Got your gun on you?” I ask, knowing he probably does.
“Yep.” He reaches for his gun as I pull up just short of the club parking lot.
“You carrying?” he asks, checking the chamber, the click and release ringing out between us.
“Yep. You take the front. I’ll take the back.” I put the van in park, both of us pushing our doors open and moving out.
I reach for my gun and watch Jesse head swiftly toward the front door. He clicks his tongue, pointing to the busted lock on the front door. I nod, bringing my gun up and walk around to the back of the clubhouse.
Instantly I’m alert, ready to act. The back door has been smashed in with a chair, shards of glass both inside and out. It cracks under my feet as I gently lift the chair out of my way and step over the debris and into the clubhouse. I walk through quietly. The rooms are dark with the sun not up, but I continue to clear each room as I go.
The place has been ransacked, both sofas are shredded, the top of the pool table sliced. The bar has been smashed up, every bottle cracked over the Oakwood countertop with shards of glass and liquid everywhere. It’s a complete fucking mess.
I catch movement to my left, and I clock Jesse clear the front hallway. He looks up, his gun still trained in front of him. I point to my right, signaling for him to go first toward the bedrooms.
He nods once and then steps forward. We search each room one by one. They show signs of being torn up. Beds slashed, mirrors smashed, furniture thrown across each room. The dirty fuckers even pissed on some of the beds. Fucking hell.
After we clear every room, we meet back out front in the main area.
“Jesus Christ. Cunts pissed on my bed.” Jesse kicks at one of the broken stools.
“What a fucking mess.” I look around. I wouldn’t even know where to start.
“How the fuck did they pass the alarm?” Jesse asks, moving to Nix’s office.
“I don’t fucking know. I’m gonna check the shed. Get Nix down here.” I head back through the clubhouse the same way I came in. As I clear the back door, I notice a figure to my right crouching down behind the shed. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I keep my pace smooth. The asshole can’t see me, but he can still turn at any time.
Making quick work, I clear half of the space between us, before he looks back and notices me. His hat is slung low, so I don’t get a good look at him before he stands, aims his gun and shoots off three rounds.
“Fucker.” I fall to the grass, taking cover and watching him bolt for the front gate.
“Jesse, out the front!” I find my feet and shout out, hoping he can cut him off. He’s too fast for me.
The guy takes the corner before I do, but I pick up speed, not willing to let him get away. He’s halfway to the gate by the time I take the corner. Jesse races out the front door, and takes the lead, before managing to spear him to the ground in a loud thud. I watch them struggle with a gun for a bit before Jesse manages to disarm him and pin him down, but not before a bullet leaves the chamber. The heat from it slices right pass me just as I reach them.
“Motherfucker.” Jesse presses his knee into his chest and knocks his hat back as I train my gun down at him.
It’s the dumb fuck who jumped me three weeks ago.
“You have to be fucking shitting me.” I look down at the piece of shit named Baz.
“Fuck you, fucker.” He continues to fight. Jesse’s fingers wrap around his throat forcing him down.
“You fucked up, man.” I squat down beside him.
“Fuck you, asshole.”
“You couldn’t have made it any easier for me.” I bring the butt of my gun down to the side of his head hard, knocking him out cold.
“I enjoyed that too much.” I let out a breath as Jesse comes to a stand.
“He got ya.” He points to my arm and the slight grazing about three inches long marks my skin. It’s nothing to be concerned with. Just a slight burning sensation, but I’m pissed he marked me.
“Help me pull him up.” We both grab him. Half carrying him and half dragging him we get him to the shed.
“Find some rope,” I instruct Jesse, pulling the asshole toward one of the metal shelving units. I bend down and bring him up against it. Baz stirs, almost coming to. I deliver a punch to his face again, knocking him back out. Jesse hands me some rope and I make quick work, tying his hands behind him and through the metal shelf.
After I’ve secured him, I search his body, making sure he’s clean.
“He have anything on him?” Jesse passes me a rag to tie around my arm.
“Nothing.” I stand and remove my cut, wrapping a knot around the graze.
“You get in touch with Nix?”
“Yeah, he just texted. He’s on his way.”
“Good, gives me some time to play with the fucker before he gets here.”
“What the fuck you going to do, Beau?” Jesse regards me carefully, probably thinking I don’t have it in me.
“This is the fucker who had a gun to my head three weeks ago outside of Fireside. Roughed him up a bit and warned him. Apparently, he didn’t learn. Coming into my fucking place and disrespecting our club.” I shake my head and move toward Baz. I should have fucking shot him when he threatened me the first time.
“Well, this will be interesting then,” Jesse declares as he pulls up a chair and gets comfortable.