“Ugh, you’re nothing but a bunch of cavemen!”
“Yeah, we’ve heard that before. Quit stalling,” Smokey replies.
“So, since you’ve done research on my family, you know my brother’s in a gang, right?”
“Yep. Keep going.”
“Well, what you don’t know is he’s the reason that my mom and I do what we do. He found out Mom was addicted to pain pills and threatened to turn her in if she didn’t whore herself out.”
“What about you?”
“It was either me or Hannah. I couldn’t let him do that to her, so I told him I would as long as he stayed away from Hannah.”
“So what’s with her being sold?” I ask.
“I… wait, what? No one has sold anyone!” she states.
“Uh, yeah…your fuckwad of a brother has apparently either tried to sell or has sold Hannah.”
“Fuck!” she mutters, almost to herself. “That explains a lot then.”
“What does it explain?” Chief asks. His voice is soft but no less…threatening…than ours.
“He got pissed when Hannah moved away and said we had to find her, fast. I didn’t know why but thought it was because she gave him money from each of her paychecks. His gang has been hurting or something, I don’t really know.”
Dammit, that’s some bullshit right there, they can’t handle their own business, so they want my woman to take care of them, financially.
“So that’s why he wants her back?” I ask.
“No… maybe? I don’t really know but if you’re saying that he’s sold her, then that may be why. He’s got his feelers out everywhere. I came to warn her to stay low.”
“How did you find her?”
“She had always mentioned wanting to go to Texas, so I headed in this direction and then once I got here, I uh…I did a computer search on her. Found out she was working at some truck stop so I stopped there but she wasn’t at work, then I took a chance that the people who owned it…you guys…might know who she was. I saw her car parked in your driveway,” she says, pointing at Smokey.
“Which is out in the middle of bum fuck Egypt. What’s your game?”
“I haven’t been able to protect her much while we were younger, but that doesn’t mean I can’t now. I was hoping we could run together and help keep each other safe. Watch each other’s backs, because if either of us are alone and on the run, we’re vulnerable on our own. I took a chance to come and find her, but now, I’ve probably dug my own grave with my decision,” she says on a sob. I was really ready to hate her on Hannah’s behalf, but now I want to protect her just like I do my woman. Our woman.
Smokey
If what she is saying is the truth, we need to not only keep Hannah safe but Bridget as well. I can’t in good conscience send her out there with her life in possible danger. I can see from the looks on my brothers’ faces that they’re thinking the same thing. Dammit. Bandit needs to check out what she’s said so we know how to proceed from here. I nod at him and he moves closer to where I’m standing. “You need to check this out,” I lean in and whisper. I don’t fully trust Bridget even though I’m feeling protective, but I won’t allow Hannah to be in danger, either.
“Yeah, thinking the same thing. Be right back,” he says, heading into the office he uses for his IT shit.
I hate that this has busted up his alone time with Hannah. Then again, right now, I’d rather her be with the both of us if danger is swirling around her pretty little head. I can still give them some alone time, but it will be torturous to hear their moans coming from the other room and not be part of it.
“Yo, Smoke,” he calls out from his office door. I head in that direction, wondering what has his panties in a twist.
“What’s up?” I ask, going in and closing the door.
“Y’know how we’ve always said we’d never need a lockdown except for maybe because of weather?”
“Yeah. We’re legit so having one would be useless otherwise.”
“Thinking we need an emergency church called. Now. Tell Axe we need the prospects this time, too.”
Fuck. Wondering what it is he managed to dig up in such a short amount of time has me worried. I go back out into the main room and motion for Axe to come closer. Once he’s nearby and out of earshot of Bridget, I quickly tell him what Bandit said. His eyes grow wide before they harden because no one fucks with his family. Pulling his phone out, he sends a mass text, advising the prospects to go by and pick up all the women and kids first, then to come into church once they’ve arrived. Oh boy, looks like something’s coming our way that we’ve never had happen before. Fuck.
Once all the women and kids are here and accounted for, we put Bridget in a locked room and all adjourn for the meeting. “What did you find?” Axe asks Bandit.
“There’s a price out on not only Hannah, but her sister as well. Seems they’ve both been sold on the black market. The seller is listed as the Devil’s Demons.” The room erupts in angered words.
“You have got to be shitting me!” Hatch roars in anguish. I can hear the anger roaring through the room, but my thoughts are on Hannah. Our Hannah. Sweet, sassy, independent.
“There’s no fucking way they’re getting their hands on our woman or her sister!” Bandit states.
“I’ll protect her sister,” Capone states. When all eyes go to him in astonishment, he responds, saying, “What? Don’t give a shit what her past is, sounds like it was something she was forced into. How can I hold that against her? Not to mention, sounds like a lot of it was to protect her younger sister, you telling me you wouldn’t do the same for yours?”
Well, he’s got a point, that’s for sure. Then again, she’s like a prickly pear cactus so if he’s up for that challenge, more power to him. I personally only want my focus on our woman, so it’s a weight lifted off my shoulders to know one of my brothers will be stepping up to protect her sister.
“Guessing we need to get Hannah and Bridget in one room and let them hash this shit out,” Chief states. I moan out and put my hands in my hair, because I was thinking the same exact thing.
“First, I think Smoke and I need to lay it out for her so she’s not blindsided.”
“Do we need to call in backup from one of our support clubs?” Twisted ask Axe.
“I want to hold off on making that decision at this time, we may need to revisit that later,” Axe replies to Twisted’s question.
“Who are our support clubs?” I ask, because this is the first time this topic has ever come up.
“I went to Sturgis a few years ago, and I made a point of contact with the DreamCatchers MC. He is their president, his name is Gunner and I did him a solid so he owes me.”
“Do we even want to know what you did for him?”
“That’s not up for discussion.”
“Don’t forget about Reese and his crew, The Black Tuxedos MC,” Twisted states.
“They are more your source than mine, when we went that year it was to make contacts in case anything ever arose where we needed help,” Axe tells us, but I still want to know more, because I’ve never met anyone from either club and we’re talking about my woman’s safety here.
“Need more info, man,” I growl out. “It’s my…our woman you’re talking about,” I continue, pointing at Bandit.
“Remember who you’re talking to, brother,” Axe states. I swear, if he were one of those supernatural beings, and if I believed in that shit, the power in his voice would have me bending my neck in submission.
“Sorry, man, but wouldn’t you feel the same if the positions were reversed and Cara was in this spot?”
“Yeah, so I’ll give you a little more and so will Twisted. But your leeway only goes so far, I don’t like being questioned about my authority.” I’d flip him off but he’d probably kick my ass, so I just nod.
“Reese’s club is on the up-and-up like ours is, but they’re all military trained and experienced, so could provide manpower if nothing else. Plus, they
’re all pretty big fuckers like us,” Twisted says.
“Gunner’s club is more of a one-percent club, but if we need that, we need that,” Axe states.
“I didn’t hear shit,” Chief responds.
“In here, you’re not a cop,” Axe reminds him.
“Bottom line, we’ll do what it takes to keep Hannah and her sister safe. We’ve all got the background and training, so we should be okay. If…and I stress this strongly…. we need to call in anyone, we’ll make that decision when the time comes.”
“I agree,” Hatch states.
“Now, I’m thinking you two need to round your woman up and give her the details about what we’ve learned today.”
Yeah, this is one conversation I think we’re both dreading.
Hannah
I’ve been sitting with the other old ladies while the men have their meeting, wondering what the hell is going on when DJ says, “So… have you yet?”
“Have I what?”
“Broken down and jumped your two men.” My face blushes beet red and she starts to laugh.
“Oh you so did! Well, without being too graphic, how was it?”
“Really, DJ? Can’t she have that memory to herself?” Cara asks. “I didn’t give you the deets on me and Braxton and our first time!”
“No, but that’s just because you forgot, you wench,” she states.
“Ladies, we’ve got kids running around, remember?” Trinity adds. She’s right, the younger kids are running around while the older ones are in the movie room. “Wait, if the prospects are in with the men this time, who’s with the older ones?” The look on her face has me wondering what’s going on. She’s got an adorable toddler and a preteen, but DJ has a teenager. Hmmm…there’s a story there, I’m sure.
“Um…things are progressing,” I say, my body heating up at how well they’ve progressed. Plus, that damn plug I’m wearing and the dancing Bandit and I did earlier has me wet and wanting.
“Thinking we need some margaritas,” DJ states before going over behind the bar and making two pitchers. Fuck. Tequila tongue, I’m making you my bitch tonight!
She pours us all a healthy glass then says, “Drink up, bitches! And, Trin, Nan is with the kids so don’t worry about Talon and Claree. He’s under penalty of death if he does anything we haven’t approved.”
“So… you were out with Bandit alone tonight?” Trinity asks.
“Yeah, they both feel like they need to have individual dates with me from time to time,” I reply, sucking on the margarita like it’s a lifeline. These women and their questions! Seems like nothing is off-topic for them at all.
“That’s probably not a bad thing, actually,” DJ muses. “I mean, they’re two different people even if they’re twins, so you should have unique relationships with each of them.”
“So, where were you earlier?” Cara asks. “Were you out with Bandit or Smokey tonight?”
“Bandit. He took me to some place called the Barn House. We had just started dancing when he got the text and the next thing I knew, we were here.”
“Their food is fantastic,” DJ states. “We need to do a huge group thing there soon.”
We’ve gone through the first two pitchers already and are on the third when Bandit and Smokey approach our table.
“Doll?” Smokey asks.
“Yeah?” Okay, that wasn’t so smooth, but…tequila tongue, remember? She’s made me her bitch, apparently.
“We…ah…we need to talk to you,” Bandit says, eyeing the other women. I think it’s safe to say we’re all past tipsy and bordering on drunk.
“So talk.” Yeah, my conversational skills suck right now, but I’m horny as hell, probably a little bit drunk, and pissed off that ‘club businesses fucked with my night.
“Doll, I think you’ll want to do this in private,” Smokey says, and I give him the stink eye. These women know everything about me at this point, we have no secrets amongst us.
“Go on, we’ll have the pitchers ready,” DJ says, waving her hand like she’s a queen or something. Then again, I do wanna be like her when I grow up. Maybe she’ll take me under her wing and show me the way.
“Repeat that,” I say, pointing at Smokey. I think I’m drunker than I suspected because I’m not sure I understand what he’s trying to tell me. My sister’s here? Our brother has sold us on some black market? That’s the shit that happens in books, not in real life, right?
This time, Bandit tells me and now all I wanna do is cry. All my efforts to disappear were for nothing apparently. What really has my mind boggled is that my sister, for all of these years has been taking care of me and protecting me in the only way she knew how. I wish she’d come to me, we could’ve figured a way out of this…together. Now all the mean and hateful things I’ve said to her and about her are weighing heavily on my chest. I need to see her and talk to her and see if there’s any way we can salvage what’s left of our relationship. I’ve had a sister who cared about me all of these years and I didn’t even know it! God! I’ve been so blinded by hate and disgust, that I never took the opportunity to open my eyes and see what she was sacrificing to keep me safe and not sold to the highest bidder. I really hate my brother! I hope he rots in hell.
“Khaleesi, don’t cry,” Bandit says, wiping my face. I didn’t even realize I had started to cry until he said something. I’m between the two of them on our bed at the clubhouse, sobbing my eyes out as they both try to calm me down.
“I need to see my sister please,” I manage to get out between sobs.
Chapter Nine
Hannah
I walk to the room where the guys showed me she’s being detained. I take in a deep breath and move past the prospect that’s guarding her. He uses his key and unlocks the door, and what I see has me rushing to my sister’s side. She’s curled in on herself, her shoulders are shaking and she’s crying uncontrollably.
“Bridget.” I call out her name so I don’t startle her.
“Ha…Hannah?” she asks, lifting her head up. “Thank God you’re alright.” she says, grabbing me into the fold of her arms.
“I’m good, I promise.” This is a funny feeling for me, she’s never needed or offered comfort in any way. She’s always been nasty to me and held me at arm’s length. Of course, now I know why, and it kills me that I took all those years of shitty treatment to heart like I did. Hopefully, we can start fresh and try to put all the hard feelings to the side and try to start over. I personally would love to have a family member that I can count on and have in my life. I’ve always wanted the love of one of them, and now that seems like it could become a real possibility.
“I’ve been so worried about you,” Bridget tells me.
“I didn’t know, Bridget. I thought you hated me and could never figure out why.”
“I did, to an extent. I blamed you for the decisions I made to save you. It was foolish of me, but I was so angry…angry at the world and unfortunately, you were on the receiving end of it all. I’m sorry for that by the way,” she says, never once letting me go from her arms.
“I can’t say that it’s okay, because your words and actions have colored every single decision I have made, Bridget. All I can say is that we can move forward while trying to establish some sort of relationship, if you’re willing.”
“I’d like nothing more than that,” she says, wiping the tears from her eyes. She lets me go while doing this, so I take a second to sit back and take her in.
“Have you been eating? Sleeping?” I ask her, worriedly.
“Some, when I can. I’ve been running myself for the last week and I’ve lost some weight,” she replies. Some! She looks like a skeleton that hangs in the doctor’s office.
“Well, we need to make sure everything’s okay with you because you’re much too thin,” I tell her. Already my mind’s racing, I mean we went to the clinic but that was just for the drug testing, although they do other kinds of test too. I haven’t needed a real doctor yet, so I have no clue wher
e we should take her. She looks as if she’s fixing to pass out which has me terrified for her.
“Everything okay, doll?” Smokey asks, coming into the room.
“No, it’s not. She needs a doctor, Smokey!” I cry out.
“We’ll get her to one, baby, please don’t cry,” Bandit says. Dammit, we were having such a great night too and now, all I can think about is what she’s been through these past few years. Has she even shared everything? I doubt it because she’s a lot like me and there are certain things you hold back, even from those you love. Whether it’s to protect them, or salvage your pride, either way I know there’s still things the guys want me to share, I’m just not ready for them to know all…yet.
Smokey
“Okay, here’s what’s gonna happen, at least for tonight. Bandit and you’ll take our room, I’ll stay in one of the other ones, and Bridget is going home with Nan,” I tell the two women. “Not that we discuss club business, but Axe doesn’t think we need to go into a lockdown situation at this time.” Axe feels we aren’t in imminent danger, but we’re still keeping a lookout on the brother and his ‘gang’ of punks. Little boys pretending to be men, when will they ever learn what being a man truly means? It’s not going after women and children, it’s about taking care of your own and learning responsibility. I wouldn’t mind jumping in on teaching them a lesson or two personally.
“C’mon, khaleesi, say good night to your sister, Nan is waiting,” Bandit says. “Oh and Smoke? No need to go to another room when there’s plenty of room in ours.” Wait, what? It was his and her night, not our night. I shoot him a look and he nods before mouthing, ‘she needs both of us tonight’…good thing I know him well enough because reading lips is hard as fuck.
“Goodnight, Bridget,” Hannah says to her giving her a hug.
“Night, baby sister, have fun!” Bridget says, wiggling her eyebrows at her causing that laugh of hers that we both have come to enjoy and love.
Everyone’s gone back home, leaving the single prospects in their rooms and us. As I walk toward our room, her hands enclosed in each of ours, I’m wondering what his play is tonight. Once we walk through the door, he closes and locks it before saying, “C’mon, khaleesi, we worked up a sweat dancing, let’s take a shower.” As he leads her toward the bathroom, he looks over his shoulder and jerks his head as if to say follow us. Hell if I’m gonna say no to that invitation! I have no problems with us getting our woman clean just so we can get down and dirty, none at all.
Smokey & Bandit: Rebel Guardians MC Page 12