by Annie Buff
“You can’t die dude, Peyton likes you.” Slinger joked with him as the motor coach drove down the highway. Renegade didn’t want to die today. Some days maybe, but for whatever reason, today he really wanted to live.
“Yeah man I know. The Queen would be pretty pissed off at me wouldn’t she?” He joked back. The jokes were taking his mind off the fire in his belly and shoulder. He closed his eyes, fighting the burn and silently wishing he hadn’t given up all those chemicals he used to partake in.
“Damn what I wouldn’t give for a line right now. Fuck Ink man this shit sucks.” That he knew, he had a straight through and through high up in his thigh. It missed his hip by inches, had it hit the bone he would have had a shattered pelvis, and that wouldn’t do for the ladies.
“Yeah I know man; I think Moody might have something. Want me to ask?” Renegade did want him to ask but he wasn’t going tell him that. He’d been clean from coke, heroin, and meth for a year and there was no way he would go back. He’d fought those demons and all of them were a bitch to conquer. So now he just had to suck it up and deal with the real.
“Nah man, just find me some gin or anything alcoholic and I’m good. Can’t have the Queen pissed off. I was there and that little girl is terrifying.” Both men laughed at just how scary the tiny five foot tall Peyton could be. It hurt like a mother to laugh, but laughing meant pain. Pain meant he was still alive.
“I feel kinda wet Ink man, can you check the tampon?” Slinger nodded thinking just how wrong that sounded. As he lifted Renegades shirt he saw it coming through. It needed to be pulled out and a new one inserted. This was the shitty part, when it went in the adrenaline was pumping so you really didn’t feel it. Hours later it was going to sting like hellfire being pulled out. Most of them would take something but Renegade was clean and wanted to stay that way.
The scream rattled the windows as Slinger pulled the string. He knew his brother was doing his best to hold it in but that shit hurt. He had first-hand knowledge, taking one in the belly a few years prior. Knuckles held Renegade as the new plug went in. Thankfully they were almost home and Bones would finish the job.
Bones received a text from Knuckles detailing the situation in his normal cryptic messages. Funny how after all the years of being with them he understood their language. He had to find Smoke and talk to him. It was almost time to start dinner and Peyton had made a habit of cooking for everyone so he knew exactly where he’d find his Prez.
Peyton saw Bones walking the path and waved as she started the BBQ. “Zeke! I missed your face today! Where were you hiding?” He never went far, but he’d been called to town for a patient and then after receiving the text from Knuckles he had set up his room in the clubhouse for surgery.
“Where’s Prez? And how are you with blood? I’m gonna need help.” Her eyes flew open wide, someone was hurt. One of the brothers, one of her family.
“Who?” She managed to choke out, not really sure she could handle the answer.
“Slinger and Renegade were both shot. Rennie is the worst and I need your help, but I need Smoke. Got a sneaking suspicion he’s about to flip his shit.”
She nodded, making a run for the back door yelling as loud as she could. Smoke came flying down the stairs thinking Peyton was in trouble.
“Sweetness, what’s wrong baby? Are you hurt?” He looked her over not seeing any blood but lots of fear in her eyes. “Who?”
“Slinger and Renegade. Bones needs you and I’m supposed to help him fix Rennie. Oh God Smoke, I love that idiot and if anything happens...” She didn’t finish and it wasn’t needed. Smoke gathered her in his arms, holding tight. Rennie was just as hard to kill as Smoke. But Peyton wasn’t around during most of their injuries. Smoke had covered a good amount of scars in ink; Renegade had just as many scars. It was looking like he’d have more.
“Ok sweetness, where’s Bones? And can you do it? It’s bloody as fuck when you’re digging out lead.” She guessed that and Peyton wasn’t a fan of blood but for them she could manage. She really did love them all like family and damn he and Slinger for getting themselves shot!
Smoke met Bones on the path as he walked towards the clubhouse. He had already taken care of sterilization but needed to show Peyton what he needed from her and had to explain to Smoke the debacle in Alamogordo.
“So that fucker double crossed me and tried to kill my brothers? He is so dead!” Smoke bellowed. His face was beet red, if it was possible to literally smolder he was doing that now. Bones had a premonition that as soon as Skinny was dealt with, they were going after Jefē. He couldn’t blame him. Bones wanted blood but handled things differently. That’s why he wasn’t the Prez.
Bones walked Peyton through what would happen when they arrived home. “Rennie is worse so we take care of him first. You’re gonna have to hang on to him. He won’t let me give him anything for pain. He got clean a year ago and I know he would see pain meds as a relapse.”
Maybe Peyton could talk him into something that was a nonnarcotic so it wouldn’t be quite so bad. Or maybe she would just bash him in the head for getting shot. That would take care of the pain. She was worried, but more than that she was mad and he was going to hear about it. Slinger too, both of them were going to get a serious ass chewing once she knew they were ok.
“Can you give him a local like they do with stitches?” Bones had already planned on the local, but it would only do so much for his belly. And he had no idea how bad it was. A gut shot could be a surface impact, or it could have gone deep and done damage. He wouldn’t know until he got him on the table.
“They’re about thirty minutes out so now we wait. Renegade will need to have a bed here for a few days. Can we put him upstairs in the spare room?”
Smoke nodded and asked Peyton to make sure it was presentable. She already knew it was. She had made it up, expecting Rennie to stay with them while he was helping Smoke.
“Already done Nero, I made the assumption he would stay here and fixed it for him.” Of course she had, Smoke just shook his head laughing. She took care of the brotherhood the same way she took care of him. She was definitely Queen of the Devil’s.
With that done he and Bones paced and chain smoked. This was the longest damn thirty minutes in the history of time. Smoke was just about to lose it when he heard the motorhome coming down the dirt drive.
Busting through the door before they’d even cut the engine came Knuckles. He knew Smoke wanted a play by play and Bones had two patients to attend to.
“Prez that bastard got us good. We brought back what was salvageable but it wasn’t much. We did get his cash though. Rennie cut off that greasy bastards arm to get it.” Smoke wanted the details but the injured brothers took priority over money.
Peyton sat next to Renegade as he lay on the makeshift surgery table. “Damn you Rennie! I told you to be careful and you come home shot! What the Hell Renegade?”
He knew she was mad; she had that same look the other night when Smoke had stepped in it. Now it was his turn to get an ass chewing from his Queen.
“Yeah Queen I know but if it makes you feel any better this shit really fucking hurts.” Funny how that made her grin. Maybe next time he wouldn’t go all cowboy and try to be a hero.
“Not as much as you’d think. I wish you’d take something Rennie, this will be so much better if you let Bones give you a shot of something.” He knew that, but he’d fought too hard to stay off the dope and wasn’t going to chance a relapse.
“Can’t Queen, no dope anymore. Don’t wanna have to fight that one again.” He really wasn’t looking forward to the pain he knew was coming, but it was minor compared to detoxing. Letting that poison work its way out was the most excruciating thing he had ever gone through and there was no way in Hell he would go through that again.
Bones had him stripped down and ready for surgery. Peyton sat next to him holding his hand as Knuckles held him down around his torso. Bones started digging out the bullet as Rennie did his best not t
o cry out but the pain was more than he could bear. He let out a blood curdling scream as Bones dug. Peyton held tight to his hand and did as she was instructed, wiping the excess blood away so Bones could see what he was doing. The bullet had gone in several inches but thankfully it hadn’t damaged any vital organs. Just the fact it was in that deep made it a bitch to get out. Once that one had finally been removed they started on the shoulder. That came easier but there was still screaming and Peyton had tears streaming down her face knowing how much pain he was in.
Between both bullets it took almost three hours to deal with Rennie’s injuries. Knuckles carried him upstairs while Bones toted the IV pole that was connected to Rennie’s arm. It was pumping him full of antibiotics and saline solution so he didn’t get any lead poisoning or any other infection and was fully hydrated. Once he was settled they went back down and started on Slinger. His was a through and through so all that was needed was wound cleaning and antibiotics. Peyton still sat with him like she had done for Rennie.
“Damn Bones, can I get a hit of morphine or something?” He winced as the hole in his leg was cleaned and bandaged.
“Not bad enough for that Ink Man, but I’ll give you a perc for tonight. Otherwise just do a couple shots of Cuervo and that should work.” Slinger laughed knowing Bones caught him. He really didn’t need the morphine but the high was fun. And he rarely took the dope, but once in a while it was enjoyable.
The sun had been down for several hours by time Bones had finished with his patients. Rennie had finally succumbed to sleep and Slinger was back to his normal smartass self so Bones wandered out to sit by the fire pit and have a much deserved beer. He needed to wind down after the day. He found Smoke and Peyton sitting by the fire and she was toasting marshmallows for s’mores. She smiled up at him with a mouthful of chocolate and gooey marshmallow between her lips. Bones couldn’t help himself, he laughed out loud. One of those hearty belly laughs and she knew it was at her.
“Thanks Queen, I needed that after today.” He told her taking a seat next to his Prez and stealing a swallow from the bourbon bottle Smoke had been holding.
“How’s Rennie?” Smoke asked him. “I saw the Ink man already. He was headed into town to get some pussy. He’ll never change.”
Bones thought he might one day, all he needed was a woman like Peyton and Slinger wouldn’t look at another lady. They all needed one like her. Bones wanted one so bad some nights he’d pace the floors trying clear his head of the visions of a beautiful redhead with big green eyes. He’d always had a weakness for redheaded women and for whatever reason he dreamt of one, always the same face. Maybe it meant something, a sign from the universe that she was out there waiting. If that was the case, he wished she would hurry the hell up.
“Rennie is ok, he’s resting. I gave him a shot of Tramadol. He fought me on it until I told him it wasn’t a narco. That one sucked ass Prez, bullet was in deep and thank you Queen for being in there. You were a huge help just keeping him distracted and helping Knuckles hold him.”
Peyton smiled big, she was proud of herself for not puking on Bone’s boots. Blood was not her thing but she handled it like a pro. Peyton had a sinking feeling there was going to be more blood before all this was over.
“I’m glad I helped. You boys talk, I’m going to check on Rennie. Take him some gin. That’s his drink right?” She kissed Smoke and trotted into the house.
“So Bones, anything you know that I haven’t been told? I’m fucking livid but I gotta keep my ass in check. Peyton doesn’t need me flipping out. This is way too much to put on her.” It was a heavy load for her to carry but Queen Peyton did it with grace. Queen was a perfect title for her. She impressed them all.
“Other than Rennie sawing off that wrist, no Prez I’m pretty sure you’ve heard it all.” Smoke had gotten the grizzly details of Renegade cutting the wrist off. Slinger told him all about the sadistic grin Rennie had during the process. He was a crazy son of a bitch. Funny thing was Rennie was a completely different man around Peyton. He respected her immensely, just like the rest of his brothers did.
“Once Rennie is up and moving I'm gonna patch him as a Devil’s Apostle, we don’t need the whole ceremony thing. He knows the laws of the club, the rules are almost the same in the RC and we can have a party after. Bring in some girls for you single guys. Maybe get him laid, he could use some ass after all this.”
Bones agreed on the ceremony. The formalities weren’t needed, just a patch and a party. After Rennie’s old lady left him he had begun to take unnecessary chances, doing stupid things on his bike and walking into a fire fight without thinking twice. The one thing he wasn’t doing was spending time with the ladies. Not that he didn’t have the opportunity, he just wasn’t interested.
Peyton found gin in the liquor cabinet and tip toed up the stairs to check on her friend. She found him in the same position that Bones left him in, quietly snoring. After seeing him in such excruciating pain today this was a godsend. He looked so peaceful that she chose to let him sleep. As she turned to leave the room he stopped her by speaking.
“Don’t leave Queen, company would be kinda nice.” He said with that grin that only Renegade had.
“I brought refreshments.” She told him, holding up the bottle of Beefeaters gin. He smiled as she poured a couple fingers worth in his water glass. When the liquid crossed his lips he gave her that same grin again.
“Thank the Gods for gin. That shot of whatever Bones gave me wore off a while ago. What I wouldn’t give for just a little Coke right now. Man Queen, my belly is still on fire. Looks like I’m in need of some new ink to cover up another scar. How’s it looking? Is it bad?”
It wasn’t as ugly as she expected a gunshot wound to be, the bruising was probably the worst part. The impact of the bullet had caused a good amount of bruising and Bones had to dig to get that bullet out and he said it would leave even more incidentally. He wasn’t lying; most of Rennie’s belly was purple. He had amassed an upper body full of tattoos, but you could definitely see all the traumatic bruising.
“It’s not bad, I'm sure you’ve had worse right!” Peyton giggled as she told him. He had some fairly nasty knife wounds, a few broken bones, his fair share of stitches but this was the worst one. This one looked like somebody was holding a blowtorch to his belly.
“Got any of that pie left? I’m starving.” She had two slices she’d put aside for her and Smoke but she’d be more than happy to give Rennie hers if he was allowed to eat. Peyton sent Bones a quick text.
“Let me ask Zeke if I can feed you, and yes there’s pie left.” He gave her a funny look then realized she was talking about Bones. Peyton had taken to calling them all by their given names. He’d just never bothered to ask names. To Rennie the club name was your name. But he figured she was going to ask eventually so he would tell her beforehand.
“Wyatt, my name’s Wyatt. It’s just I’ve been Renegade so long saying that out loud is really fucking weird.” He told her trying his best not to laugh. It hurt way too much to laugh.
“Well Wyatt, it seems you can have anything you want to eat, so just pie? I’ve got some leftover potato salad and some slaw.” That sounded so good, almost blissful.
“All of it! Everything including ice cream on the pie. I haven’t eaten since like seven this morning and it’s got to be after ten right?” It was close to midnight but Peyton didn’t feel it, her adrenaline was still pumping from the day. She knew once she put her head down that would be it for her. The fact she was going be curled up in Smoke’s arms didn’t hurt a thing.
Smoke and Bones sat by the fire doing their very best to kill the bottle of bourbon that Smoke had started. The discussion was still Jefē. Smoke was still seeing red; that bastard had tried to kill his brothers. They had made a deal but obviously Jefē didn’t think it extended to Smoke’s brotherhood. Well Smoke had had enough of that greasy fuck, the deal was off.
“Bones we need a scout, one that can cross the border undetected an
d get me everything he can on that son of a bitch. We won’t move on him until Skinny is handled but I want to know everything, including when he wipes his ass. He brought this upon himself.”
That was true, Bones had made many deliveries to Jefē and nothing like the debacle in Alamogordo had ever happened. He wanted to say he was surprised but he wasn’t. Jefē was never trustworthy, this just proved it.
Peyton sat with Rennie while he devoured every spec of food on his plates. She laughed at how uncivilized they all ate.
“What?” Rennie asked with a mouthful of peach pie. She just shook her head smiling, no matter how uncivilized they were, she still loved them all. In just a few days Renegade had become family.
“You’re a caveman.” She told him wiping crumbs and ice cream from his face. He gave her that million dollar smile and nodded. He knew how bad they all were, years of spending most of your waking time around men causes one to forget things like manners. Rennie hadn’t learned any growing up, his mother was a crack whore who barely put food in the house. His father could have been anyone. He never knew him and after years of yearning for a dad, he just stopped. He taught himself what he thought he should know and learned the rest as he went along.
“I know, never much mattered before but I guess it does now. I’ll try and you can help me. But now my pretty Queen I think I need to sleep.”
She smiled and kissed his forehead as she turned out the light, leaving Rennie to rest. Peyton needed to be wherever Smoke was. She craved the comfort and security only he could provide.
Bones saw Peyton open the door, heading back out to the fire. He figured she wanted time with Smoke and he knew it was time to say goodnight and head for home.