by Olivia Rigal
"Could you please tell him Bunny came by?" I ask. "I would appreciate it if he could call me."
"Uh uh."
I turn and close the door behind me. I hold myself together until I reach my car. I drive away as sedately as possible so nobody watching can see how upset I am and then I stop on a dirt road. Only there do I let my rage explode.
As if the frustration from work were not enough, I had to run into that arrogant bitch. I bang my fist against the steering wheel and scream out my anger.
I'm not sure whom I'm angriest at.
Everything and everyone.
I'm angry at myself first for getting caught. I was so sure we had never been careless, but I should have known better. Even in the heat of the moment, the woman needs to check that protection is used.
I'm angry at Doc for making me believe he cared and would come back for me. I wasn't asking for promises. He shouldn’t have given me hope if it was to snatch it away so quickly.
And finally, I'm so, so mad at Everest for making me look for Doc.
The last thing I needed was the humiliation of facing his new girl. Because she has to be his new girl. Who else but a girlfriend would be in his room, lying on his bed while he's out?
At the end of the day, I know it's all my fault.
With each kiss, I felt love.
With each caress, I heard a promise.
I was so sure I wasn't dreaming, but I should have known better. Why do I hear more than what is being said. I need to listen better.
No words were ever used to plan for tomorrows. It was all in my head.
8
Doc
All I want is a shower and my bed. It’s been a hell of a day, most of it spent patching up the results of yet another drunk driver. At least he hit a bus, and not a minivan. Still we spent the day patching up kids.
No one protested my choice of anesthetic—none. The head nurse’s normal frown lifted a bit, just enough to be called a smile. That smile made my day.
When I step through the door of my room Raven’s there. Of course she is, reading a book on my bed. Damn it.
"Hey, Doc," she asks looking up from one of the romance novels she loves. "How was your day? How are you?"
“What are you doing here?” Yeah, what the fuck gives her the right to try and claim my space, my time… especially after a shift like that?
Oblivious to the bite of my tone she purrs, "Oh, poor baby." She gets on her knees and closes her book. "What if gave you a back rub?"
I roll my eyes at her and point to the door.
"Goodnight, Raven." I'm in no mood to deal with her nonsense.
"Why are you so mean to me?" she asks with a pitiful tone.
She looks so miserable and unhappy that I soften my tone to tell her, "I'm not. You don't listen."
"Yes, I do listen. You said rest and calm. Can I stay if I promise to be real quiet?" she pleads, dropping her book on my nightstand and walking toward me.
I point to the door again.
"Nope! Right now, I need to be alone." The girl is trying my patience.
She pouts and relents. "Fine, I'll go."
As soon as the door slams behind her I strip and get the shower running. It takes at least a full minute before the hot water kicks in. I step back into my room to grab a towel and laugh. She's left her book on my nightstand. I shake my head and curse under my breath. The girl is impossible.
While under the shower, I wonder what to do about her. The options are limited. The only way I can shake her loose is behaving like an ass with her. I told her I wasn't interested, but she doesn't get it. Why do women have to be so complicated? Not just her, most women.
The scalding water conjures memories of showers taken with Bunny in her tiny studio by the university. One thing I loved about Bunny was that she was not complicated. Everything about her was easy.
When I close my eyes, I see her radiant smile and magnificent curves. The swell of her belly and the gentle wiggling of her breast when I entered her with slow strokes.
Shit, I’ve gotten myself all worked up and there's no one to finish the job. Well, no one I want ... cause right now, Raven is standing by the bathroom door carrying a six pack of my favorite beer and two frosted glasses.
Without taking a towel, I storm out of the shower.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
My bark doesn't appear to scare her one bit. It's like she doesn't hear it. Her eyes are riveted to my erection. She's looking at it like a mongoose stares at a snake and I feel the absurd urge to cover myself.
When I do, she looks up to my face with a malicious smile.
"I forgot my book," she says. "And I thought maybe you'd want to share one of these..."
Okay, this is it. One jerk coming right up.
I snatch one beer from her, open it and take a big gulp. I get closer and belch in her face. She winces and takes a step back. I follow her and grab her book from the table.
"What part of I wanna be alone did you not understand?"
"I thought ... I thought..." she almost stutters unable to finish her sentence.
"I didn't ask you to think," I snarl back. "I asked you to get the fuck out of my room."
"But ..."
“Read my lips, Raven. I. Want. You. Out. Now!”
This is the last straw for her. Her expression changes. The beaten puppy turns into a rabid dog, almost foaming at the mouth, she yells at me.
"You're just like the rest of them. Nothing but a bastard. You took advantage of me so I would show you around when no one else would talk to you and now, now you're throwing me out like yesterday's trash! I hate you!"
I catch her arm and attempt to pull her to the door but she resists. She's surprisingly strong for such a light weight. She twists her arm to escape my grip and bends towards the table to grab a piece of paper that must have fallen from her book. As soon as she has it, she raises her arms as if surrendering.
"Don't you dare touch me," she yells walking backward in direction of the door. "I hate you. I hope you rot in hell forever. I hope your dick freezes and falls off..."
That last bit has me laughing out loud. That infuriates her. Like a raving lunatic, she yells as she retreats into the hallway were a few doors have opened. Some of the brothers who live in the building step out of their rooms to find out what all the ruckus is about.
Dragon stands in the doorway directly across from mine—naked and grinning ear to ear. Fuck me sideways—his dick is tattoed—just thinking of how painful that must have been, I wince. His favorite Sweet butt, dressed in her birthday suit slides her head between his arm and the door frame to have a look at the show.
Raven continues to curse and I have to admit, she has a very extensive vocabulary for a girl her age. Her images are vividly disturbing and I feel sorry for the man who will fall in love with her. He'll need nerves of steel and a welder’s mask to watch her blow. For his sake, I hope she's as passionate in the sack.
But right now, Raven is out of control. She doesn't seem to care that she's acting like a mad woman, putting on a show for the benefit of way too many MC members. The club lives on gossip. The story will be reported and amplified for a few days until another juicy piece of information makes it yesterday's news.
When she finally exits the building, Dragon winks at me and says, "If I were you, I'd lock my door tonight. She's mad enough to come back in the middle of the night armed and dangerous."
I nod and realize it's probably very wise advice. Good thing the key is on the door. While I'm at it, I close the metal window shutters, as well. No need to tempt fate by letting things get out of control.
After finishing my beer, put the rest of the forgotten pack in the mini-fridge and brush my teeth.
I hit the sack, shut down the light.
Three seconds later, I'm dead to the world.
9
Bunny
I'm so, so, so tired. I hate the evening shift. Driving home, I remember I have nothing but healthy fo
od in the house. Who cares? I don’t want healthy food right now, I need sugar, grease, downright sinful indulgence.
Instead of driving home and rolling into bed, I stop for groceries.
Nothing like ice cream and blueberries to paste the cracks of a shattered heart. My plan is to sit in front of the television and eat myself into a stupor. If ice cream doesn't do the trick, I'll turn to chocolate.
As soon as I turn the corner to my street, I realize my plans are going to have to wait. There's one truck and two bikes in my driveway. One is my father's Harley.
The second I’m parked, Earplugs rushes out of my house with a gun in his hand. I feel like an iron fist closing around my heart. This can't be good news. Despite the large smile he pastes on his face when he recognizes me, I'm filled with dread.
Earplugs tucks his gun away in the back of his belt and takes my grocery bags. He's a sweet guy who should get his patch soon enough. For more than a year, he's been my father's trainee, so to speak. His favorite prospect.
Before Baby Jack was born a few months ago, Daniel, Earplugs's real name, was the son Dad always dreamed of having. My sisters and I were ambivalent about him. On one hand we were jealous. On the other, we were happy Dad had someone devoted to him. It never hurts to have a true friend looking out for you when you're in his line of business.
"Brains?" I ask using my father's nickname in the MC. Earplugs nods and follows me as I rush into my house.
"How bad?"
"We're not sure," he says looking into the grocery bags "Why don't you go see him. I'll put this away."
I throw my handbag on the table as I run past toward the bedroom. Toward Dad. Lobster and Waxer are standing by the bed tending, to my father. He's flat on his back, white as my sheets. On the floor by the bed, most of my towels have been thrown in a pile, soaked in blood.
Lobster catches me watching the towels and tries to reassure me. "Most of the blood's not his," he says. "The guy he was fighting fell on him and he was bleeding like a pig."
I take a step closer to the bed and notice that someone had the good idea to rip out my shower curtain to protect the bed. Sending a silent thanks to whomever was so thoughtful, I examine my father's body.
Other than the wound beneath the blood soaked towel, Waxer’s presses tightly, he looks fine. Or fine as can be, anyway. There are a few cuts but nothing significant.
"Why did you bring him here?"
The two men turn their eyes away and remain silent. Their cowardliness infuriates me. Nothing in my tone implied I was questioning their decision. I'm asking a simple question. What I want to know is why they didn't drive him to the clubhouse where they have a serious first aid kit, or better yet, to the hospital.
"It's a bullet wound," Earplugs explains.
So much for taking him to the hospital. The doctors would need to report it, and the club probably doesn't need to wave any red flag at the authorities.
There's only so much Everest can sweep under the rug.
Lobster's face is redder than usual, almost crimson. Staring at the point of his boots, he mumbles, "We figured that since the bullet went through, as soon as he would stop bleeding, he would be fine."
"But the most important thing is that no one will come looking for him in this house," Earplugs says. "Before he passed out, Brains told me the deed was still in your grandma's name. So if anyone comes to investigate, they may go next door." He points at my mother's house through the window. "But they won't come here."
"Unless you leave your bikes and the truck in front of my door," I retort.
Waxer curses under his breath, "Oh fuck, you're right. I never thought about that."
It doesn't surprise me. These two guys are not the sharpest knives in the MC's drawers. Yet they’re loyal as fuck to my dad. Enough that he clearly trusts them with his life.
"Is there a chance someone will come looking for him?" I ask to no one in particular. My eyes are on my father whose breathing seems labored suddenly. My heart is in my throat. I don’t want to go against his orders, but if it’s comes to a choice between him dead and him alive and in jail, I’ll take the second option.
"Yeah, one of the guys from the other crew got away and he's probably figured out who we are," Lobster confesses.
"Then you'd better move the truck and the bikes quickly."
"I think I should stay," Earplugs states gravely.
"Yeah, yeah, sure." The truth is I'm grateful for his offer and I'll be more comfortable with him around than I would be with the two other brutes.
Earplugs takes Waxer's place by my father’s side, pressing on the towel while I go out with the other men to open the garage door. They push Dad's ride in and leave with the second bike and the truck.
"You're gonna be okay with the kid?" Waxer asks.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll call if I need help."
Happy to see them gone, I return to my room and pull a chair to the side of the bed so Daniel can sit. We both observe my father's heavy breathing in silence. I find a place on the other side of the bed and proceed to wipe away all traces of blood from my father's face and torso. I want to finish undressing him to make sure there's nothing wrong with his legs, but I'm afraid to move him.
I dig up a clean sheet and a comforter from the other room and cover him. It seems absurd to keep him warm. After all, this is Florida. It's not that cold. Yet, I know it’s the right thing to do.
Once he's bundled up, I stay idle at the foot of the bed, wondering what to do next.
I'm lost and grateful for the prospect's presence even though the concern on his face mirrors my own anxiety.
The young man looks at me and sighs.
"He's gonna be fine," I say tentatively. I'm not certain whom I'm trying to convince.
"Of course," he answers. "I’d feel a heck of a lot better if we could show him to a doctor."
I shake my head and then a lights turn on finally.
"Ah doctor, of course."
Earplugs looks at me as if I've gone suddenly crazy.
"Daniel," I ask. "Do you know the way to the Knight's place?"
"Yeah, of course. They've taken over the big abandoned farm house on the outskirt of Defiance."
"Good." I take a deep breath. "I want you to go there and ask for Doc."
"Doc?" He frowns at me.
"Yeah, he's one of their new members," I explain. "You take Dad's bike, go there and find him. When you do, bring him back here."
"What if he doesn't wanna come?"
"He will," I claim with more conviction than I really have. "You tell him Bunny desperately needs a favor."
I move to the other side of the bed and replace Earplugs. Soon enough, I hear him kick Dad's ride alive and roll away.
"It's just me and you, Dad," I tell him. He doesn’t react to the sound of my voice. I wish he could open his eyes and say something. All alone with him now, I resist the temptation to lift the towel and check the bleeding has really stopped. But then the towel would be soaked if it hadn’t. Anyway, I'm too scared about what would happen if I looked, so I don’t.
The only thing I can do now is pray.
Pray that even if my child's dad has moved on, he still likes me enough to come when I call for his help.
10
Doc
Jolted awake by powerful knocks on the door, my first thought is I'm going to strangle Raven. The girl never quits. I pull my pillow over my head. If I ignore her long enough, she'll go away. She doesn't. I think a spanking is in order.
As I get out of bed, the knocks grow louder.
Fuck. She can't be the one at the door.
"Doc! Open the damned door. It's an emergency," Prince’s voice is loud. He's probably startled everyone awake by now.
I unlock the door. And yeah, most of the other doors of the hallway are open. Again!
Dragon's Sweet butt is standing by the door with a just-fucked hairdo. She's giggling.
"Wow, this is better than the afternoon soaps!"
&
nbsp; I motion for Prince to come in. He does and looks at my empty bed. "What's with the locked door?"
"Because Raven's crazy."
Dragon’s girl follows him to my door.
"Raven?" Prince asks puzzled.
"Don't ask!" I answer.
From the other side of the hallway Dragon calls out. "Get your ass back in bed or else ..." He leaves his sentence unfinished, but it's clear it's not a real threat. The tone of his voice belies the content of the words. If anything, he sounds like he's making a promise.
"Sorry guys, got to go," she says as she retreats into Dragon's crib and shuts the door behind her. A few seconds later, we hear her laugh and him growl.
The sound show ends as Prince pulls in another guy and closes my door behind them.
"This is Earplugs. He's a Tornado prospect," Prince explains as if I didn't recognize the logo. "He says Bunny sent him for you."
I give the man a look over and notice that part of his tee shirt is covered with brownish spots.
My blood runs cold. Fuck, I sure hope it's not hers!
"Bunny? Is she okay?" Despite the fact I bark my question out, the prospect stands his ground.
"Yeah, yeah, she's fine. It's Brains," he answers.
"That's her dad," Prince explains. "He's the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Tornadoes."
"What's with her father?" Clearly the man's injured and needs a doctor to patch him up. What I want is more specifics about the wound.
Earplugs gets it. He points to his waist and says, "One bullet, in and out." The young man's expression tells me he sincerely cares for the man. "It looks clean, but he's lost a lot of blood."
"How long ago?" I ask jumping into the jeans I abandoned by the door of the bathroom earlier.
"About a couple of hours now. Is that bad?"
I shrug. It all depends. There's no way I can answer his question without knowing more, which I will after I look at the wound.
"Do you want me to come along?" Prince asks.
Pulling out my emergency kit from the closet, I turn to Earplugs. "Is he in a safe place?"