“Fuck you, bitch.”
The explosion from the gun echoed loudly through the stairwell, and I waited to feel the pain that a gunshot would cause, but instead, I watched Battle’s body jerk forward before he began falling. His head banged off the concrete wall beside me as he fell, and then he immediately dropped to the ground.
With wide eyes, I looked behind him and watched the person who’d saved our lives walk the rest of the way up the stairs.
CHAPTER FORTY
BEAR
I pushed through the emergency room doors with Gunner by my side and headed straight to the nurse at the front desk, but I never made it that far.
Luke planted himself right in front of us and put a hand to each one of our chests. “They’re fine.”
I gritted my teeth. “What the fuck happened?”
He glanced back and forth between us. “They were attacked.”
“Fuck.” Gunner ran his hand through his hair. “Shoulda stayed with her. I thought she was safe in the damn school.”
“If they’re fine, why the fuck are they in the hospital?” I interrupted.
Luke took a deep breath. “They both suffered concussions, so they have to be watched for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Who got to them?” Venom dripped from my words when I spoke. “Snap?”
Luke shook his head. “No. My officers picked up Snap about two hours ago, hiding in the basement of the Widows’ new clubhouse.”
“Why would he hide there?” Gunner asked.
“My guess, he was waiting for his partner to bring the girls, but Snap’s not talking yet.” When neither of us responded, he continued, “From what I gathered from Josie, they were approached outside her office. Apparently, Maggie kicked his ass and was able to get the gun from him.” Luke grinned. “Josie said she stayed calm and cool while she did it.”
“Good girl,” Gunner muttered, but I could see the pride on his face. I knew he’d been teaching her self-defense, but neither of us ever wanted her to have to use the skills.
“They made it to the stairwell, but he overpowered them, hit them both repeatedly while he had them trapped, and then aimed the gun in their direction.” Luke glanced back and forth between us. “The gun went off, but then the attacker fell across Josie’s legs.”
I dragged my hand through my hair roughly. “Did they recognize him?”
“Josie said it was the same man who beat her up in the parking lot of your clubhouse, and Maggie referred to him as Battle. Maggie told him she recognized him, and he definitely knew her.”
With my eyebrows drawn, I looked over at Gunner, but he looked just as confused as I was. Who the hell was Battle? I searched my mind for that road name, but nothing came to me.
Shaking that off for now, I focused on Luke. “Who the fuck shot Battle?”
Luke shoved his hands into his pockets and studied us closely before he finally answered. “Skinner.”
“Skinner?” My eyebrows shot up. “Where is he now?”
“He’s being checked out.” Luke gestured toward the closed doors beside the nurses’ desk. “He called the station and was brought in with the girls by ambulance.”
“He hurt?”
“No,” Luke clarified. “But it’s procedure to have him checked out too.”
“Battle?” Gunner asked.
“Alive,” Luke reported. “Skinner shot him below his right shoulder, and it pierced his lung. He’s in surgery now.”
“Fuck.” I put my hands on my hips.
“If Skinner hadn’t been there, your girls would be dead right now,” Luke continued, but he didn’t need to tell either of us what we already knew.
“What happens now?”
“I’ll take Skinner in for questioning, but after what Josie told me, there won’t be any charges filed.”
“Snap and Battle?” He knew what I was asking and why. I wanted them for myself, wanted to destroy the fuckers who dared to touch my woman, and I knew Gunner wanted the same, but there was no way we would get that chance with the police involved.
“You’ll know as soon as they’re charged,” he promised. “And I promise you, they won’t see freedom for a long time.”
Nodding, I let it go and focused on the girls. “How do we get in?”
“Already set it up, but they’re moving them to rooms now. The nurse will tell us when they’re settled.” Luke gestured toward the seats. “Now, we wait.”
We sat down, and I leaned my elbows on my knees. I could’ve lost her. I’d just gotten her and had been convincing her that she was safe with me and we were back where we’d started. I had no idea if she would be able to get past this. In a little more than a year, she was in the hospital twice and all because of me and my club. How could I expect her to trust me after this? How could I expect her to believe any of the shit I was telling her about our club and who we were when this happened again?
“Brother.” Gunner moved from his seat and stood.
I immediately lifted my head and stood when I saw Skinner turn from the nurses’ station after signing something. His eyes landed on us, but then he jerked up his chin and headed toward Luke, who had stood and walked out in front of the chairs.
“Skinner,” I called out.
He stopped and turned, shoving his hands into his pockets. I started across the small space separating us with Gunner right beside me. We stopped in front of him.
“Why were you there?”
He looked back and forth between Gunner and me. “Been keeping an eye on Snap. A few days ago, I saw him with Battle and didn’t like the feeling I got, so I watched them. Saw Battle sneak into the school, and I followed him.”
“Why?” Gunner asked.
“Figured Snap would make his move sooner or later. Once Colson went down, word on the street was he planned to use Maggie as his pawn to get out of town. Seemed like Battle had different plans, but I didn’t know for sure, so I kept close.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Who the fuck is Battle?”
“Don’t know him. Sounded to me like he was from another chapter of the Widows.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Hawk can get you what you need.”
I’d already thought of that but was hoping I could get what I needed without having to make that call. “You never left town.”
He shook his head. “Like it here, and I fucking hated Colorado. Got nowhere else to be, so I’ve been working on the Gaines’ farm just outside of town.”
He stayed in town for himself, but he didn’t have to spend his time watching Snap for us. He didn’t have to continue to hunt a man who had nothing to do with him or his life. “Why’d you do this?”
“Always pay what I owe.” He repeated what he’d said to me a long time ago, and it was clear he thought he owed us because of his deceit.
I nodded and put my hands on my hips. He jerked up his chin and turned toward the doors, but when I called out his name, he turned back. “Expect to see you at church tomorrow morning at eight.”
“Don’t deserve that.”
“Your loyalty says otherwise.” I watched him closely while I finished. “I need more men like you in the club. Be proud to have you back.”
He dropped his head before turning toward the door and heading outside with Luke by his side. This time I didn’t call him back. I didn’t need to. He was looking for a place to belong, and he’d found it. He just hadn’t gone about it in the right way. But he’d proven his loyalty today and over the last nine months while he hunted and watched our enemies. That loyalty was hard to find, and I wasn’t willing to throw it away. Not again.
Gunner put his hands on his hips. “Think he’ll show?”
“He’ll be there,” I replied confidently.
When the nurse called our names, we both turned and walked toward her desk. After receiving their room numbers, we both got on the elevator and headed to the fourth floor.
“Called Dom. He’s gonna pick up the girls at the school after the field trip.�
�
Nodding, I glanced his way. “You tell him what happened?”
“Yeah,” Gunner replied.
When the doors opened, we walked out of the elevator and paused, both needing to head in different directions. I slapped my hand against his chest. “She’s okay, brother.”
He nodded. “The girls aren’t gonna handle this well. They’re close to her.”
“Josie will help.”
He studied me closely. “You think this’ll change shit for you two?”
He was voicing my biggest fear, and I had to acknowledge it. “No idea.” I dropped my hand. “I’ll text Tank to call the brothers for church tomorrow.”
“See you in the morning.”
He headed down the hallway in one direction while I turned and faced the direction I needed to head. With a strong sense of déjà vu, I walked down the long corridor toward her room and only paused for a moment before I pushed open the door.
Unlike last time, Josie’s eyes were on me the minute I walked through the door. She didn’t smile, but she did watch me as I grabbed the chair and slid it close to the side of the bed. Reaching out, I took her hand in mine and looked at her closely. Closing my eyes, I dropped my head and swallowed back the anger threatening to overwhelm me. I didn’t want her to see that side of me. Instead, I wanted her to see the man I was trying to become, but the idea that I could’ve lost her was suffocating me.
When she shifted slightly, I lifted my head, and tried not to focus on the bruising under her left eye and small finger bruises along the ivory skin of her neck, but it was difficult when I saw the pain marring her beautiful features.
“Shoulda been there,” I muttered, my voice hoarse.
She took a deep breath and exhaled heavily before she muttered the words that had the power to break me. “It’s over.”
Dropping my head, I squeezed her hand before lifting it and studying her closely. “Josie.”
“It’s over, right?”
My eyebrows drew together. “Honey, I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Luke said he caught them. We don’t have to worry about the Widows anymore, right?”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding since I walked into this room. Standing, I leaned over and kissed her softly. “We’ll always have to be aware of the Widows, but yeah, Luke got the bastard who attacked you.”
She smiled sleepily. “Good.” She slid her body to the left. “Will you stay with me?”
Closing my eyes, I grinned slowly and shook my head. She wasn’t giving up on us. I opened my eyes and bent down, unlacing my boots before I kicked them off and slid onto the narrow bed beside her. “We don’t fit, baby.”
She giggled, but her eyes were already closed. Rolling, she curled up against me, and I slid my arm under her neck, tucking her in close and smiling when she sighed.
“You should’ve seen Maggie. She was amazing.” She tilted her head back and opened her eyes. “Can you teach me that?”
I stared down into her blue eyes. “Self-defense?”
“Yeah.”
“I can teach you.”
“Good.” She smiled, but her eyes were growing heavy.
She snuggled in tighter against me, and I knew I was a lucky bastard. She was giving me another chance to make shit right. She shouldn’t after what she just went through, and I hoped like hell this had nothing to do with the mild concussion.
After a minute of silence, I admitted what I’d feared. “Thought you might toss me.”
“Can’t,” she whispered.
I rested my chin on top of her head. “Can’t?”
“No.” She wrapped her arm around my waist.
“Don’t know what you mean, honey.”
“The last time, I was miserable. I don’t want to feel that way again.”
Grinning, I laid my lips against her silky hair and nodded. “Me neither.”
She rubbed her cheek against my chest, and warmth flooded me. “I love you, Bear. When he pointed the gun at me, my only regret was I’d never told you how I feel.”
I understood regret better than anyone. I’d allowed it to control my life for a long time. I’d also allowed the fear of losing another person I loved to become a barrier I’d carefully put in place to protect them and myself. But with Josie wrapped in my arms and the words I needed to hear echoing through my mind, I finally let go of all the regret, guilt, and fear I’d been holding on to.
Things that had been holding me back for years.
Squeezing her tighter against me, I whispered the words I’d never given to another woman. “I love you too.”
She sighed loudly. “That makes me really happy.”
Chuckling, I closed my eyes. “Me too, baby.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
BEAR
Pulling open the door to my office, I walked out and down the hallway before heading across the bar area. Church was about to start, and I didn’t want to be late. I knew every member would be present today, and we had a lot to discuss. Rubbing the side of my neck with the kink in it, I grinned. Only a couple of hours ago, I’d rolled out of the small-ass bed I’d slept in with Josie all night, and even though my neck hurt like a bitch, I hadn’t wanted to be anywhere else.
I pushed open the door to the room where we always held church and grinned when I saw the room was much more crowded than it had been a year ago, even more so since I had Tank invite every member and officer this morning. We’d picked up a lot of prospects this past year and made a lot of the prospects into members, so our small club was growing. We were in the position now to defend, even against some larger clubs, if and when the time came, which made me breathe a little easier.
I slapped Pop on the back of his shoulder when I passed, and he smirked. He knew as well as I did that the news I was about to share would make all our sacrifices worth it. I called Pop this morning, first thing, and right after that call, I made one to Hawk. He deserved to know what happened, and when I gave him Battle’s name, he promised to find out who the fuck he was to the Widows. Hawk was back in New Hope and promised he’d stop by the clubhouse when he had information to share.
A Widow on my property with an invitation.
Never guessed it could happen, but shit had changed drastically over the past year.
I called the meeting to order and listened while every person quieted down. Looking to my right, I noticed Gunner’s seat was empty and frowned. He hadn’t texted me that he wasn’t coming, which was odd. I knew Dominic had stayed with the girls last night and would be this morning while Gunner came to church, but that was all I knew.
Shaking it off, I faced the men around the table and around the room. I’d find Gunner later and get his shit sorted. “Had some shit go down yesterday.”
Bull’s expression hardened. “Tank told us Maggie and Josie are in the hospital.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “Maggie and Josie were attacked at the school yesterday. Both are fine but in the hospital with concussions. They’ll be released today.”
“Who got to them?” Ritz asked. “And how?”
A knock on the door caused all heads to snap in that direction while I stood. I had a feeling I knew who was knocking, and he had perfect timing. “Come in.”
Skinner pushed the door open, and Bull immediately stood, followed by Tank. “Sit down, brothers.”
Tank and Bull glanced in my direction but must’ve seen by my expression that I was serious because they slowly sat back down. I motioned for Skinner to come in. “Take the seat next to Pop, Skinner.”
He closed the door and sat down while I continued. “Yesterday, Skinner showed his loyalty to this club by following and shooting the fucker who attacked the girls. I’ve asked him to join our club again.”
Bull grunted. “You trust him?”
“Made a lot of mistakes in my life.” I shifted my attention to Bull. “Like to think I’m judged by the shit I did right over the shit I did wrong.” I gestured toward Skinner. �
�He was loyal to his brother from the Air Force. Had no reason to be loyal to us, but he was, even after we threw him the fuck out. That tells me everything I need to know.”
“Agree with that,” Tank said, followed by murmurs.
It would take some time, but they would learn to trust him again, and I’d be here to make sure it happened.
I decided to move on. “Before Skinner came, we were talking about who got to the girls. Don’t know who the fuck he is other than he’s working with Snap, and they’re somehow involved in the drug organization Luke Dimarco has been dismantling. Maggie knew him and called him Battle, but that’s still all we know. Got a call in to Hawk, who’s looking into it for us.”
“We trust him to give us what he’s got?”
“He hasn’t done us wrong yet.” I reminded them. “But we’ll follow up with Maggie when she’s able to share what she knows.”
“What about Manny?” Ritz asked.
“Gone.” I focused on the officers around the table. “Luke said he disappeared right around the time Dom moved here. Figure he knows shit, or he’s involved somehow, but we’re not gonna get that information. Luke got the two major players threatening us and did us a favor by keeping us in the loop. Now we’re out. Far as I know, this will remain an open case for the department.”
The door opened just as I finished, and Gunner came in, but his face was full of fury. I stood again and faced my VP. “What’s goin’ on?”
He moved to stand behind his chair. “Maggie finally woke up and told me she recognized Battle from a few times she was at a different club somewhere in Montana.”
“In a Widows club?” I clarified.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “They were celebrating or some shit, and Snake dragged Maggie along.”
“We already knew he was a Widow,” I reminded him.
Gunner put his hands on his hips. “He’s got a woman.”
I narrowed my eyes, a weight settling in my stomach. “Who?” I growled.
Gunner shook his head. “Candy.”
End Game (Sinners MC Book 2) Page 31