“She’ll be fine. She lost a lot of blood. Give her time, let her body heal.” A voice says.
Are they talking about me? What happened? Did I get hurt? How? I have so many questions.
“Doc, ah, please tell me that she’s going to wake up right?” A male voice says. I know that voice—from somewhere, somehow. He sounds so scared. I feel the need to comfort it. I try and reach for him. It’s so hard to move. I try to talk but nothing comes out. I take deep breaths, I am a nurse. This has got to be normal, right?
I can hear beeping from somewhere in the room. I know I’m in a hospital. I recognize the smell as I do every time. They all smell the same to me. After focusing on my breathing, I try again with my eyes. They open, my hands are a little shaky but I can lift them.
I try to speak but it comes out horse. My mouth is so dry all I can get out is “Water.” Someone hands me a cup. I almost drop it because I’m shaking so badly. They help me gulp down as much water as I can. My vision is blurry, but it’s coming into focus slowly.
“Hey.” the fragile male voice says to me.
“Hey, what happen?” I ask the blurry figure. I blink some, and it becomes clearer.
I know him, it’s... What is it? I know him!
JACK!
Ford, the bar, his big truck, falling, looking for Avery, finding her and Caleb, sex with Ford. Oh my God. Then it all comes rushing back, Avery, Caleb. Blood, lots and lots of blood. Screams. Oh no! Lissa’s screams!
“L-Lissa?” I asks as tears blur my vision again. My breathing becomes rapid. I can’t breathe, it’s too hard to breathe in here. Oh, no. She was screaming so loud. Over and over.
“She’s alive.” Jack tells me.
Oh, thank God for that. What does he means just alive? Is she not okay, why would he say alive and not okay? My mind is racing and I can barely speak unless it’s a faint whisper. My throat hurts so much.
“Caleb?” I’m almost afraid to ask, but I have to know. Did I fail protecting him? I can’t bear the thought. It seems it takes a lifetime for him to answer me.
“He’s okay, he’s with Ford.” My heart drops. I almost lost him to those monsters.
“Avery?” I ask again, but this time, he has a look in his eyes that I know he isn’t going to say what I want to hear. I burst into tears. I failed her. I failed her a second time. I couldn’t protect my baby girl.
“Hey... Hey, we’re going to get her back. Do you hear me?”
Jack tries to reassure me. I just feel failure. I can’t even bring myself to look at him. They all must hate me. What does Ford think? He probably hates me as well. I couldn’t protect the one thing that I needed to protect. Family. I’m sobbing into my hands.
Jack removes my hands and lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. I don’t see hate. I see... concern.
“Look at me, Sexy Name, We. Will. Get. Her. Back. Do you understand me?”
I nod. That’s all I can do at this point. Just hope and pray that she is okay and Ford will right my wrong at failure to protect.
I hear a cough next to me. I wipe my eyes and slow my breathing, looking over I see Tech in a bed next to me. Oh, Tech. He did so well protecting all of us.
“Not gonna ask about me, eh?” He gives me ‘the look’ or tries to. Like, the heart broken mixed with annoyance look.
“I...” He cuts me off holding up his hand and sticking his nose in the air. Ha, cute little hissy fit from a grown bad ass man.
“Nope, don’t want to hear it. I’m not precious enough to be asked about. I’m hurt Harley. You hurt my heart.”
“Yep, smartass is okay.” I say to Jack. He gives me a faint smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. I know he’s worried for Lissa. I want to know everything but, I’m scared to ask him. I’ll ask someone else. I don’t want to wipe what smile he does have right now off his face. He needs that weak smile—even if it’s fake—for the slightest second to pretend our worlds are not crashing around us.
“Really, babe, my heart is shattered. Come kiss it all better.” Tech winks at me. Yea, he is definitely going to be okay. Jack is shaking his head and I just giggle. I know he is making the situation lighter with laughter and I’m grateful.
At some point, I fall back to sleep and wake up to Jester and Coin talking. Where is Jack? Maybe I can ask about Lissa now. I stir, causing them to both look at me—clearly, interrupting their conversation.
“Hey, pretty lady.” Jester—I know that cocky, rough voice.
“Hey there, lady killer.” I say back and throw on my smile even though I feel like crying.
He smiles at my playfulness. I hear Tech snoring in the bed next to mine. Why are we in the same room? I plead silently for him to wake up so he’ll stop that awful noise.
The sudden urge to pee hit me all of a sudden. I try and hurry out of bed. Inching my legs over the side slowly and standing to my feet, as soon as I stand I feel my leg give out.
Thankfully, Jester was there to catch me.
“Hey, take it easy.”
“Sorry, I just really have to go to the bathroom.”
“Come on, if you wanted to touch my body, there are better ways than throwing yourself at me.” Then he winks and puts on a genuine smile. I laugh.
“Even though I enjoy ladies throwing themselves at me.” I slap him on his hard chest. Wow. It’s like, rock hard. Solid. Are all these guys built like modern day Adonis’?
“Well lady killer, help me to the bathroom before I pee all over your leg.” He laughs, a full belly laugh, causing me to shake in his hold.
“I don’t mind you marking your territory.” He might not, but Ford would—that I’m sure of.
“Come on, are you gonna help me or do I got to crawl to the toilet.” He hoists me up and carries me to the bathroom. I brace myself against the wall as he shuts the door. It’s hard trying to maneuver in here with little use of your body, plus each movement hurts like hell.
I make it back to the bed on my own, slow and steady. I finally ask the question I have been dying to know.
“How is Lissa?”
“She will make a full recovery.” Coin answers me.
“What happened?”
“Ah, you should rest little ninja.” Jester says. I saw the look they exchanged. They don’t want to tell me. I feel disappointment in myself.
Fine. But I will find out what happened. All that matters is that she is going to be okay; that is truly what matters at this point. I lose what little comfort I had with Lissa’s news as my mind floats to Avery.
“Avery?” I ask nervously.
“Rest, little ninja. We’ll talk more later. Do you need a nurse? Food? Anything?” Jester uses a stern, but soft voice. With him avoiding my answer only means that they haven't found her yet. God, what if they are too late to her rescue? I’m sure luck won’t be on their side a second time. Pushing those horrible thoughts from my mind, I try telling myself that they will find her and she will be okay. That is all I repeat to myself over and over in my head.
“Nurse? Yes. Coffee? Yes.” I say. He goes to fetch the nurse and coffee. I hear Tech laughing.
“What’s so funny, tough guy?” I ask, amused.
“Nothing.” he says, shaking his head. I wonder about this guy. Little inside jokes to himself isn’t healthy or fun. I hate being left out.
A few minutes go by and a nurse comes in. Young, petite, pretty. Too much make-up and fake hair. But still pretty.
She checks my vitals and as she is taking my blood pressure, I see Tech out of the corner of my eye, wiggling his eye brows and points to the nurse and then moves his hand up and down over his crotch. I send daggers with my eyes straight at him. He winks and I burst out laughing. He chuckles from the bed next to me. The nurse looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m going to kill him. I just wave her and him off. I’m stuck with a bunch of loonies—A bunch of horny, crazed loonies. God help me.
“Can you rate your pain for me?” She asks, with an annoying hint in her voice. Looks like I
’m not the only one that don’t like being left out of the loop.
“Eight.”
“I’ll get you something for the pain. Is there anything else I can do for you?” She asks.
“No, thank you.” I say, trying to hold in my laugh. I don’t know if it’s the little joke Tech and I shared or the annoyance in her voice that makes me giggle more.
She leaves the room. I notice Coin shaking his head and quietly laughing.
I look at Tech. “What is wrong with you?”
“What? She’s hot. I would let her pee on my leg.” He winks at me. Clearly, making fun of me from earlier. Ha. Very funny. After I get my meds and coffee, we all wait for news from the guys. Please God, watch over my family, I pray. Also, asking for forgiveness for failing at my duty as a mother, a grandmother, a friend to Tech and Lissa.
I know Ford would be out searching for Avery. I’m glad he’s not here. I would have torn him a new one if he was. I wouldn’t let him sit here with me while our daughter is out there, God knows where—going through God knows what. Please God, bring her back to me.
I pray to Him over and over for the next few hours. Note; Waiting sucks.
*******************************************
Ford
We make it in record time, a six hour drive normally, which we made it in four. We scout out every abandoned place around Lennywill. We finally find one a little east of town. Only because these dumb asses didn’t hide their bikes very well. We pull back from eyeing the place to make a plan.
“Alright Hound’s, who is ready to finish off this hunting season right?” Prez says, eyeing all of us. I’ve been ready. We all nod in agreement. It’s time to end this. It’s been a long time coming.
“Plan, Prez, or we just bum rushing and shooting?” Jinx asks.
“No, knucklehead. Avery is in there somewhere.” Prez bites back.
“True, and I’ll kill anyone who hurts her, accidental or not.” Colt says with a breath. He’s itching to get in there. Same as all of us. It wasn’t just me or Harley that lost Avery. It was Colt and the rest of the guys. Even though she rarely came out of that infirmary, they all would go in and check on her and talk—getting to know her as they did little man.
“Let’s surround the place, it’s just those idiots. Who we haven't killed, ran off.” Eli makes a point.
“If you have a clear shot, take it.” Colt stutters.
“Okay, wait for a mass text from me to light this place up like the fourth of July. Let’s find Avery first. If we locate her, easier to know she is out of the line of fire.” Prez says sternly.
“Roll out.” He barks at us all.
We all surround the house. All the brothers are at windows and the doors. We wait for a text from Prez. But nothing comes. A mass text from Colt has me nervous.
Colt: Empty.
Jinx: Same here.
Eli: Same.
Every one with a view of inside the house says the same thing. How is it empty? There are two bikes hidden by the trees. Blood on their seats. I know it is from them. Tech shot them.
Prez: change of plan, bust through the doors. Search every room. Shoot first, ask later.
A few seconds go by, we all bust through the doors, piling in this little run down house. We hurry, guns already drawn, we search each room. Even the basement—empty. A dead end. Did Abe really lie to us about this location? No, the bikes. It’s not a set up.
I know they were here. I know Avery was here. I search each room again and again. There is nothing here. A mattress lies on the floor in one room, another in another room. One has blood all over it. I don’t see how someone could lose so much blood and be alive.
Then it hits me. Oh, God. What if it’s... if... No. They wouldn’t have made it a fast job. They thrive on the pain and suffering of others. She’s not gone. She’s alive. I feel it in my bones.
“Now what, Boss?” Jinx asks, holstering his 9mm.
“Let me think. FUCK!” He roars to the empty house. I need some air. I can’t be in this house, with this blood so close to me, just in the next room. I can’t. I just can’t. My mind is racing with thoughts of her gone.
Stepping outside, I light a cigarette. I quickly run through my head of everything we know about these motherfuckers. Nothing jumps out to me. Not a damn thing. And for that, I need to trash something now, or kill someone. And my blood lust for these fucks are high. No one will just do. It would be like feeding Methadone to a heroin addict. It’s not the same. Hold you over, sure. Take the pain and ache away. Yea, but it still isn’t the same. I decided to check their saddle bags on their bikes, if they left in a hurry, maybe they left something behind. Tossing my cigarette, I start my search of Poodle’s wheels. Not shit. I just kick it and push it over the hill. I continue to check Rufus’s ride. Food, water, bandages. Clearly, they stopped and got some kind of medical or at least got first aid for caring for a gunshot wound.
I hope he catches gangrene, the dumb fuck. There is a gun, a 9mm. I stick it in the waist of my jeans and continue. A little cash and pain meds. Coke, damn crack heads. I knew it.
Stepping to the other side of the bike, checking the saddle bag over there, I hit the jackpot.
A paper, a name and an address. My stomach drops, and I fall to my knees—screaming out my inner pain. It’s begging to be released from my body and mind. I scream until my lungs and throat hurt. I’m a fucking man, a Hell Hound for that matter. Doesn’t mean I’m not human. I feel this pain. I feel as I could die right here and now. My worst fear is now true. She’s... She’s... gone. I hear all my brothers’ heavy foot steps behind me, fast and loud.
“Brother, Brother, what is it!” Colt comes to kneel beside me. I don’t say or move. I just let the few seldom tears slide down my face. Even as the tears hit my cheeks and slide against them, it hurts. Still clutching the paper in my hand, Colt slowly reaches for it and takes it from me.
He sits on the ground, just staring at the paper. He starts to growl and it turns to a full blown, gut yell.
“GOD DAMN IT!” He screams.
Prez yanks the paper from Colt and reads it aloud.
“Juan Hernandez. 654 Little Horse, Mexico.” All my brothers fall silent as Prez lets out a roar. We all know this name all too fucking well—a cartel leader. There are many. Outsiders and even themselves, say they are specialists. One leader is a drug dealer, another in guns, and the other, the worst... human trafficking. That’s Juan’s specialty. Shit. This can’t get any worse. We are walking a thin line for a war already with the cartel from the double cross they did with the Jackals last year. They sold my baby into human trafficking and rolled out.
They did the worst thing they could do. She will suffer for far longer than a few days if they kept her. They did this as payback. Made us pay for taking her and little man. My blood starts to boil. No more feeling sorry or lost. I want blood, and I want it fucking now. I want their blood.
“Shit!” Jinx’s voice brings me back to life from my mental coma.
“Juan is in... well, human trafficking.” Jinx says. Well, thank you captain obvious. Want a cookie? Damn it. I bite back my tongue. It’s not their fault. Fuck, I’m just pissed at the world.
“Prez.” Eli looks to our leader for answers or orders. Something. He just looks around, stunned. I don’t know if he is shocked that these little dicks are actually smart and hit us where it truly hurts or if he is thinking of how difficult and bloody it will become hunting down Avery.
He doesn’t answer Eli, he just walks away. He lights a cigarette and kneels to the ground. Still looking at the now, wrinkled and torn paper that holds the only lead to my baby girl.
Minutes pass. I can’t sit here and wait. I’m going to get my baby, against the Prez’s orders or not. That is my daughter out there scared and in danger.
“Fuck this! I’m going to get my baby girl.” I stand and head to my bike.
“Wait.” Prez yells. I stand, and turn to him. No matter, he is still my president—it a
ll comes down to respect, even though my head is screaming to start my bike and high tail it to Mexico.
We all watch our fearless leader as he walks back to us. He takes a deep breath and looks right at me.
“Chevy, we are going to get her back. We are going to show Juan what it’s like to go up against a Hell Hound.” He takes another breath, obviously still thinking of a plan.
“Fuck, Prez! We’re not Liam fucking Neeson.” Jinx chokes out, stunned at the fact that he is even considering going up against a cartel leader.
“Jinx, if this was your daughter, old lady, sister, who-the-fuck-ever, would you want me to call off the hunt?” He waits for him to answer.
“Well, no... but…”
“Fuck, Jinx! Are you scared? It’s a simple yes or fucking no.” Prez spits at Jinx. He’s getting aggravated.
“No, Prez. I’ll follow you through the gates of hell, Boss. Side-by-side, Brother.” Jinx says staring Prez in the eye, silently re-pledging his loyalty. We all nod toward Prez as he stares us all down.
“Brothers, we are going to war. To a real life hell, here on earth. I will understand if you want out, but also know this, I expect your cut and for you to get the fuck out of my club before my return, or I’ll play. I think we all know I don’t play well with others.” Prez is dead serious. Be gone, or he’ll gut you. No one breaks loyalty to a club, much less this ruthless leader’s. I nod in agreement. I would follow any of my brother’s into the fiery pits of the unknown and I expect the same from them.
“Good, now moving the fuck on now that all you figured out you got dicks and not pussies. Eli, call Jester, see when Tech can get out. We need to call Church as soon as we step foot in Branchwood.”
Eli hangs up his phone and nods towards Prez.
“Roll the fuck out.” With that, we all ride back to Branchwood.
Four hours later, we arrive at the club, record time again. But, hell my kid’s life is on the line. Fuck a few speeding tickets.
Sitting in Church, Tech is here. Jester basically bailed him out against doc’s orders. But fuck it, we need every man. We put our last prospect, Scamp on guard detail at the hospital for the girls. Can’t be too careful with these mutts still running around, even though I’m pretty sure they’re in Mexico now. Still, precaution is best. Mouse still hasn’t been found or heard from. We all say he’s in a shallow grave and leave it at that.
Delayed Love Page 14