Bleed for Me

by Dawn White

I looked at the clock on the wall and realized I’d have to call Gavin after I get my Doctor’s appointments over with. I rushed out my door, patted Laurie on the back and smiled at her as I rushed down the hall. Looking at my cell phone, I only had two minutes to get to the next building.

  Rushing past Agent Mia’s door she yelled my name, I turned and said, “I can’t stop I have to meet my Doctor’s in two minutes.” She smiled and responded, “Call me, we need to get together for drinks this weekend.” I nodded and turned the corner to the elevators. Pressed the button and rushed in before the doors could fully open. Of course, my journey to the clinic couldn’t be uneventful, Slate had to be in the elevator going to the clinic also. I faced the door and tried to ignore his very existence in the same elevator. Until I heard him clear his throat.

  “Are you really just going to pretend I don’t exist? Look what you did to my pretty face!” He said with a chuckle.

  I laughed, looked at him and replied. “I think it’s an improvement.”

  Slate chuckled and said. “Ha, Ha Rebecca. I’m sorry I called you a biker whore. I was still sore from our breakup, and you know Marshall hasn’t trusted me on assignment since the Birmingham incident.”

  I smiled the nicest smile I could muster towards him, as I said. “That’s not an excuse for being an Asshat. As far as I’m concerned we’re just co-workers. Other than the occasional Hi in passing, there is no need for us to talk, or take trips down memory lane. And as far as Birmingham– that’s what happens when you get innocent people caught in the crossfire.”

  He nodded his head and replied. “Okay, co-workers it is. But we were all really worried about you when you were in the hospital. I’m glad you’re ok, and hope you get to unwind a little before Marshall throws you out there again.”

  I turned back to face the door as our floor was coming up. But before the doors could open I answered him. “I’ll be ok, and as far as Marshall is concerned, I have a meeting with him after my appointment. So that whole unwinding might not happen.”

  The elevator jolted to a stop, and the doors pinged open. I walked through first, and quickly stepped through the glass double doors to the cat walk. I looked at my cell before I put it back in my pocket and realized I was late! I picked up my pace and rushed through the clinic door.

  The perky nurse stood up from behind the counter and welcomed me.

  “Good afternoon Agent Quinn, you’re healing great! The Doctor will be with you in room three if you want to just take a seat.”

  She pointed to the room, then went back to pulling her long dirty blonde hair up into a messy bun. I smiled and thanked her as I walked into the exam room. The rooms always smelled like antiseptic, and medical tape. I looked down at my cast and couldn’t be happier to be rid of it. I reached my good hand up to my eye socket and felt the stitches, and hoped I didn’t look as bad as it felt. The pain meds kept my pain at bay, when I took them. But I hated the icky feeling I get when I take the prescribed four a day.

  Just as I winced the Doctor walked in, and said. “Now you know better than to play with it Agent Quinn. If it gets infected you’ll wish you didn’t touch it.”

  He said as I got caught red handed. He pulled his latex gloves on and moved towards me on the exam table.

  “Please call me Rebecca. You saved my life; I think that puts us on a first name basis.” I said with a smirk.

  Doctor. Winston smiled as he responded. “You can call me Harry Agent Qui….Rebecca.”

  I laughed and said. “I think I can get used to being called Agent Rebecca.”

  Harry busied himself carefully applying the antiseptic to the new bandages. After walking the last two steps to the exam table he slowly removed my bloody bandage.

  “If you’ve been following my instructions, this shouldn’t hurt at all.” He said as he pulled the bandage from my stitches.

  I flinched, when the bandage stuck to the last stitch. Harry made a tsk, tsk, tsk sound as he looked at the wound. He made a quick whistling sound as he said.

  “Your stitches aren’t ready yet. And I don’t like the look of the swelling against the titanium plate. I’m going to prescribe you a new antibiotic, and more pain medicine. You haven’t been taking your pain meds have you?”

  I cleared my throat and responded. “They make me feel icky, and I can’t concentrate to do my job.”

  He sat down, looked at me and said. “I prescribed the meds to you, because it helps with the swelling, and I know this is very painful. In fact I told Agent Marshal that you had to go on con-leave for at least a month. You ALMOST Died! But I guess he doesn’t listen to a lowly Bureau Doctor.”

  I looked away guiltily for a minute before I said. “Actually I wanted to come back. Agent Marshal told me to take some time off, but I had to finish my mission, and hopefully get another one soon. But I’ll make sure to take my meds as prescribed. How long until you clear me for more field work?”

  He looked at me, nodded his head, removed his gloves and said. “I’ll clear you after I take out the stitches in three days. But you need to stay on your medicine until you run out of both pain killers and your antibiotic. You’re lucky I like you, or I would send you straight home for bed rest.”

  I smiled, and said. “Thank you Harry!”

  He nodded, stood back up and pressed the clean bandage against my stitches.

  “I’ll see you on Friday Rebecca, stay out of trouble. And make sure you take your medicine!” He said as he was walking out of the exam room.

  I felt my phone vibrating my pocket. Reaching into my pocket I smiled when I noticed it was Gavin calling.

  I answered– “Hey babe, sorry I was in the Doctor’s office, didn’t get a chance to call or answer until just now.”

  I heard him exhale loudly before he said. “You had me worried. It feels like an eternity since I’ve seen you. I just wanted to let you know, I won’t be around until next week, the club has to take care of something. But as soon as I finish up, I’ll come up and spend a week with you.”

  I smiled, and said. “I had to come back to clear your name. I couldn’t have you on the radar when it wasn’t you.

  No worries, get your work done. I have a meeting in Agent Marshal’s office anyway, I think he’s sending me on another mission, so we might have to postpone our week up in Blairsville until after. I’m running late for my meeting so I’ll have to call you back. Love you.”

  Gavin quickly said. “Wait! You can’t take another mission yet. But if you do make sure to text me the details so that I don’t worry. I love you! Stay safe my love! I don’t know what I would do without you Darling. If you need me, leave me a voicemail, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.” He said as he hung up.

  The moment the phone clicked off, I got a text message from Gavin that said, Love you, be careful my Darling!

  I rushed to the elevator and pressed the down button. I quickly texted Gavin back as I waited for the elevator doors to open.

  I love you, take care babes!

  The door popped open and I rushed in as I shoved my phone down into my pocket. Not paying attention to who was in the elevator with me I finally looked up when I heard a man clear his throat. My eyes grew wide when I saw the man was Agent Marshal.

  I quickly said. “Agent Marshal, I was rushing off to our meeting right now. My exam with Doctor. Winston went longer than expected.”

  Agent Marshal was looking at me like I had two heads, when he finally said.

  “I was just coming to see Doctor. Winston, about when you would be cleared for field work. Meet me in my office. Grab a cup of coffee, I’ll be there as soon as I talk to him.”

  I nodded and got off when the door opened. Looking back I hoped Agent Marshal didn’t see how excited I was about our meeting and hopefully a new mission.

  I ran into my office quickly, checked my messages, grabbed a cup of coffee, and sent Laurie on her break.

  I rushed down the corridor towards Agent Marshal’s office and sat in the chair ne
xt to his double doors. I pulled out my cell and busied myself playing a word game while I waited.

  I only looked up when a pair of men’s dress shoes came into view. I looked up and saw Agent Marshal was back. He opened his door and walked in as he said. “Come on in Agent Quinn.”

  I put my phone away and walked through the open door. He closed the door behind me, walked to his desk, and sat down. Nodding at the chair in front of his desk I quickly looked and sat where he asked.

  He put his hands on his desk, cleared his throat and said. “I just talked to the Doctor, and he said he would release you from limitations on Friday. Now that being said, I think you did an amazing job in Savannah. You not only found out the information we needed but you also found out he had an accomplice, and it had nothing to do with Gavin. But now we have something that’s very pressing, and it’s an Interdepartmental mission between the ATF and DEA. The reason we’re helping them is it’s not just weapons. It’s weapons, drugs, and more underage sex trafficking. And we think we found the source. But I have to make sure you’re up to it. This time you won’t be alone. Take a look at the board, and I’ll explain everything.”

  I nodded, got up and walked to the board. There were a lot of different pictures with yarn connecting them to each other. I looked around and noticed the top of the board said, ‘The Roadsters’.

  Agent Marshal stepped up next to me, gave me a second to take in all of the pictures and started to explain what was expected of me.

  “Agent Quinn these mug shots are of the MC club The Roadsters, they’re a Russian motorcycle gang that has ties to the Russian Mafia, and the black market. They run a tight ship, and have a very bloody history. They have ties to the sex trafficking of minors, drugs, weapons and more specifically a dangerous drug called Krokodil. But we’re putting together a task force with the DEA. Your job is to infiltrate the gang and find out whatever you can. This isn’t the same as before, you don’t have to go deep under cover in this one. You just have to get a bug inside the club president’s house. Andrei Victorovich’s wife, Alisa Victorovich, and her little sister Galina are wanting to work with us. Their little sister was been kidnapped in Moscow, by the Moscow Roadsters, they believe she is to be sold into the sex trade on the Black market. We’re going to help shut it down and maybe even find their sister. The good news is you won’t go this alone. But it can get dirty, and after how you have already proven your abilities in Savannah, I don’t see why you’re not the perfect one for this mission. Agent Mia Meritt would be going with you also.”

  I nodded, and asked a few questions. “So I’ll be meeting with Alisa, or Galina and they’ll help me get a bug in his home? What if we can’t find her sister? I understand everything about the sex trafficking, weapons, and the drugs. But what’s so important about this particular drug Krokodil? I would love to have case files to bring home with me, so that I can prepare.”

  He nodded and said, “Yes, they are your contact, and will help you get a bug wherever possible. They are aware of the possibility of never seeing her again. And the reason the drug is so important, is it’s a synthetic version of morphine, but it’s made with dangerous compounds that cause necrosis or rotting of the skin, which leads to amputation and in most cases death. If there is an outbreak of this drug, the consequences would be horrific.”

  He finished talking, and walked to his desk, grabbed a stack of manila folders and handed them to me.

  I thanked him, he nodded and said. “You and Agent Mia Meritt need to get together and go over these. I only have one stack. But your contact in the DEA will be Agent Davis. His number is here. Come back on Friday after you get your stitches out, we’ll have our debriefing before y’all leave for New Orleans.” He said pointing to a sticky note on the top of the folders.

  I nodded, stood, and said. “I’ll see you Friday, I’ll get with Mia as soon as possible.”

  I tucked the folder under my arms and walked out of his office. I was so excited about my new mission that I went straight to Mia’s office, knocked and didn’t bother for an answer before I opened the door. Mia was laying down on her leather couch, but sat up when I entered.

  “Hey Rebecca, what’s up? You taking me up on my offer for drinks?” She said as she looked at her watch.

  I smiled and said. “I just came from Agent Marshal’s office. He’s putting you and I on a mission together. And I would love to grab a drink, let’s take these and hit up happy hour, before it’s too late.”

  Chapter 12

  *Gavin*

  I looked at Blade, Lucas, and Papa at the table and sat my beer down. I thought for a second before I broke the news to the rest of them.

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re at war. Hammer’s brother Gabe is in a Russian MC called The Roadsters. He wants revenge, and I can’t let Rebecca get in the middle of this. She has already been hurt by one of our own, and I won’t let her be collateral damage again. Stacy is making our hotel arrangements for New Orleans now. Go home, kiss your families, and pack your bags. We head out tonight. Blade, get our inventory together, Lucas will be driving the van with our weapons. We’ll be stopping outside of Atlanta, to grab our other Outlaw King brothers. We’re not in it alone.”

  Blade nodded, everyone looked excited. In unison they all stood and said as they left the meeting room. “Aye, aye Prez.”

  Everyone filed out of the room one by one, and out the front door. I walked straight to Stacy to see if our travel arrangements were done.

  “Hey hun, have you made the reservations?”

  She smiled and handed me a piece of paper. “You bet, it’s the first thing I did when I got into the office.”

  I smiled, and said. “Thanks a bunch hun.”

  Walked down the narrow hallway to my office and closed the door behind me. Note to self; redecorate office. Naked women on the walls might just piss Rebecca off a little. I sat in my leather high back chair and looked over the papers Stacy had given me. We always only had one rule when we were traveling. We must have outside doors, not an internal hotel. Safety is the biggest thing I look for. I flipped open my laptop, and googled the hotel. The pictures show a hotel that has outwards facing rooms, and I just hope Stacy chose the one’s over the parking lot.

  I kept trying to keep myself busy, so I wouldn’t pick up the phone and call Rebecca, it took everything I had. Not only would she worry, but I’m pretty sure she would want to be involved. Just as I was closing out google, I heard a soft knock on the door.

  “Come in.” I said, as I closed my laptop.

  Stacy walked in holding a large mug of coffee for me. She smiled when I thanked her and said. “You’re most welcome love. Oh and Blade called he said, he’s at the warehouse and ready for the inventory check when you are.”

  I nodded and thanked her again. Picked up my cell and texted Blade.

  “On my way now.”

  I smiled at Stacy as I took a sip of my coffee, and patted her on the shoulder as I walked past her in the doorway. I turned and said, “I’ll see you when we get back, button down the hatches and keep everyone safe.”

  She smiled and nodded as she said. “Of course, y’all be careful out there.”

  I turned and continued out of the clubhouse. My bike was always front and center in the line. I stepped on the back, put on my bucket helmet and headed out to help Blade figure out what to bring.

  ****

  Blade was pulling weapons out of crates when I pulled in. I cut the engine and pulled my helmet off as I stepped over the side.

  Blade started walking towards me, and said. “We have 20 MP5K’s, 10 Desert Eagles, and enough C4 to blow a hole in the ozone. Are you wanting me to pack them all?”

  I shook my head yes and responded. “Yeah, make sure there is enough ammo to go around. And make sure you pack the vests.”

  Blade did a mock salute and said. “Sure thing Prez. Already have all the weapons on a palate.”

  Stepping around the building I reached into my pocket and
pulled out a Marlboro red. Blade finished loading the weapons into their boxes and joined me. Blade pulled out a silver and black cigarette case, opened it and pulled out a joint. I laughed and grabbed it after he lit it. I took a long toke and handed it back to him.

  “You’re a bad influence on me, just sayin.” I said with a laugh.

  “Prez no one could influence you, unless you wanted them too. So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? Or, are we going to continue to ignore it? We have to talk about her, if you can’t do it with me, then I might not be your best VP. ” He said with a sarcastic jab at me.

  I sighed and answered him. “Rebecca, almost died for me a few times. Yes she is a federal agent, but there is something about her I can’t put my finger on. She would never hurt me or our club. After the attacks she cleared The Kings from any wrong doing and took the heat off for us. What’s the problem with having someone care about us that’s in the ATF? No matter what anyone thinks I love her, I will spend the rest of my life with her. There is no me any longer without her. Now, can we finish packing and get the fuck out of here?”

  Blade said nothing, just simply nodded and handed me the joint again, with a quiet understanding, I think he finally understands me. I smiled at him, patted him on the back, and walked to my bike. As I was putting my helmet on I said. “Let’s roll within the hour. I’m heading home to pack a small bag.”

  Blade gave me a thumbs up and went off to finish packing.

  The long road home gave me plenty of time to think, could I live without Rebecca? Why would I want too?

  I quickly pulled up in front of my house. Lucas was standing on the porch smoking a cigarette as I walked across the lawn.

  “Use the walkway, we’re not heathens here. Mom would roll in her grave if she saw you on the grass.” Lucas said with a laugh.

  I hastily flipped him the bird, as I was stepping up next to him. Punching him in the shoulder I quickly opened the door. I walked into my room and noticed my bag was already full on my bed. Hmmm, I guess Lucas packed my bag.