Delayed Love

by Sandra Richmond

  “Who?” Coin asks.

  “Colt and Mikey.” He says low. Coin stares off at nothing as a tear comes from his eye. He walks to the door. Prez stops him in his tracks.

  “Hey, Avery is out there with him. Don’t do a damn thing to make her cry harder.” Coin gives a hard stare and Prez returns it, harder. Coin nods and walks out. What the fuck was that? I hear Poodle howl in pain as Jester tightens his ropes on his shot leg. I smile at the sound his pain. Prez sees me.

  “Seems that I’m not the only fucked up motherfucker in this club.” He says with a smirk. I don’t get it... Well, fuck, I guess we all have a little evil in us when it comes to people important to you and they are the ones that cause the pain. So yea, I guess I am a little twisted just as my brothers are.

  Prez, Banshee, Jester, Jinx, Ruckus and the other Yellowcreek members, and I stand in a circle around the two who has scarred all our lives for life. We all shoot daggers at them as Prez smiles.

  “Why the fuck are you smiling?” Poodle asks my president. He walks over to Poodle and his smile grows.

  “Because, I’m going to make you both pay. For Avery, for Harley, for Little Hero, for Melissa, and now, for Colt and Mikey. I can promise one thing, it won’t be quick. It will be painful—so painful. You will wish for death, but death…will…never…come.”

  We all share our president’s smile now.

  He turns to us and tells Jester to get the rest of the brothers here.

  “Don’t tell them anything more than we have Poodle, I’ll inform them of Mikey and Colt. Get Cole and Tech here as well. Get Scamp to keep Caleb. Get Harley here for Avery.”

  He barks and Jester walks off with his cell in hand.

  He comes back minutes later. “They’re coming.”

  “Good.”

  “One other thing, Prez.” Jester says with a faint smile.

  “Yea?”

  “Melissa is awake.” Jester says with relief. We can’t lose any more family. Melissa, the whole club has already claimed her as family as soon as she took her punishment from these dick lickers. We all whistle and holler in happiness for her pull through. Her strength is amazing. I now understand why Harley was always seeking comfort from her.

  Twenty minutes later, all the brothers are in a circle outside.

  “Brothers, I have something to tell you.” They all nod.

  “We lost.” he coughs...

  “We lost Colt and Mikey.” I hear growls and grunts and cries. I see Cole out of the corner of my eye. He’s not moving. No yelling or growling—nothing. He walks to the van and opens the back door. He stops dead in his tracks as he takes Avery in. She is still holding Colt’s head close to her as tears steadily fall. His face softens as soon as he sees her. He climbs in and closes the door. Okay, then. I know he would need to be with Mikey. Being the president of a club is never easy; you feel the biggest part of the guilt. Supposed to protect all of us—the club as a whole. Us, as individuals. Our families. All the way down to Bronx. Harley runs into my arms as soon as she is off of Tech’s bike. They were the last to get here, not speeding with Harley riding with him as the others did to get here.

  I catch Harley as she jumps into my arms. I hold her tight to my chest, kissing the top of her head. She brings her eyes to mine.

  “Ford.” she says in a whisper.

  “Avery is fine. But.” I want to tell her, I’m nervous. I don’t want to see any more crying.

  “What?” she breaks through my thoughts.

  “Colt...he’s...gone.” I whisper. She goes weak in my arms, crying into my chest. The harder I squeeze her, the more she cries. I let my own tear slip down my cheek.

  It’s all over, I tell her over and over. She nods but continues to cry. I know she witnessed the bond between him and Avery. I know she’s crying for Avery and for Colt.

  She calms herself and looks to me. “Avery?” She knows that she is taking this hard.

  “In the van, with Colt. She refuses to leave his side.” She nods and wiggles out of my hold.

  “Wait.” I say to her, grabbing her hand. She turns to me with her tear streaked face.

  “Cole is in there with one of his guys. Wait for him to exit first, then check on her. She’s not alone in there. She is okay, just wait.” She nods. She walks to a boulder that is by the door to the warehouse. Sitting down on it, she pulls her knees to her chest and silently cries.

  Walking into the warehouse, I kiss her as I walk past and head on into the building. The rest of the brothers went in already. I can feel the tension in here. Every person here wants a piece of these mutts. We all gather into a circle and mumble tortures. I feel someone behind me, I turn and see Cole walk in. He nods to me and walks over to Poodle and lifts his head and slices his throat. We all stare in disbelief.

  “What the fuck?!” Prez roars at him. Cole stares at him hard. He nods to Poodle who is still breathing. He then turns to him and jerks him by his hair to face him. I think I see his mouth move, but hear nothing. Fuck.

  Cole brings up the knife to his forehead and gives him an identical cut to Caleb’s. Prez nods at him knowing now, he will survive his slit throat. Cole nods back with a smirk as he slams the blade into his leg and twists it—all while smiling. Poodle howls in pain as the blade twists in his leg.

  The door opens and Harley comes running in.

  “Is everything okay...” she says panting—until she sees Poodle and Rufus. She stares and slowly walks to them. I move to stop her, but Prez grabs me.

  “Watch.” He whispers to me. Fuck. I don’t want her in this shit. This kind of shit will haunt your soul forever; dragging it down to hell with the demon that hides in you for your wrong doings, pushing the evil out of you. Shit. I watch her closely. She walks to Poodle first as Cole steps aside and nods to me, telling me he will handle it if need be.

  The knife is still in Poodles leg as she eyes it. She smiles, fucking smiles! This whole club is fucking seriously disturbed.

  She yanks the blade from his body as blood pours out.

  “You crazy bitch.” He snarls.

  “Hold still, this might hurt, but don’t worry. I’m a nurse.” She says with a large smirk.

  She stabs Poodles hand into the arm of the chair. He wails in pain as he stares at his hand. She twists it, causing a girly scream to leave his lips.

  “Pussy.” Prez and Jinx say in unison. I turn back to Cole and her. He’s smiling at her. There go the angels singing again.

  Her smile leaves her face as she stares at him with anger. She speaks with venom on her lips.

  “That was for Caleb.” she growls to him while he scowls at her.

  “This…” she says, as she runs the blade down his arm in a horizontal way, slicing a layer of skin off his arm, from his elbow down to his wrist. Seeing his bone, Prez smiles at her like she is his shining student and he is the proud teacher. I watch closely. Poodle howls in pain, searing my ears.

  “…is for Avery!” She spits more venom towards him.

  “And this….” as she brings her hand up, she stops. “Cole, could you help me?” She turns and asks sweetly. He nods with a shit eating grin on his face, clearly enjoying this too.

  “Hold his head still, please, sweetie.” She says. Cole does as she asks. She then grabs the end of his nose, pinching the end of it between her fingers. She brings up the knife and slowly, painfully cuts through the front of his nose, to his bone. He wails in pain as she makes the last few slices to completely take it off.

  “What was I saying? Oh, yea, that was for Colt.” She leans in and looks him dead in the eyes, saying. “Don’t worry, I’m a nurse. I can fix these up, ship shape.” She turns and says with a wink to Prez. He smiles big and winks back. Fucking room full of crazies! Bunch of fucking loonies!

  What can I say, I’m barely hanging onto my own sanity just thinking of Colt, Caleb and Avery. That’s it. Rage is back. Fuck logic and humanity. I want in on this shit.

  “Babe, that’s enough. Avery needs you.” I
say. She nods to me with an innocent smile and heads outside.

  “Prez.” I turn to him. He’s standing there, staring at Harley’s work.

  “A woman after my own heart.” He answers me. A low growl escapes my lips and he puts his hands up in ‘I’m done’ gesture. All the brothers chuckle under their breaths.

  “Who’s next?” Prez throws through the room, looking around. Cole is still standing by Poodle and Rufus.

  “Me.” Eli chimes in. I knew his revenge would come out for his father, my uncle. He walks to the table of Prez’s toys for play time. Prez has a bat with long nails sticking out all through the end.

  Eli let’s hand guide over the bat and glides to the blow torch. He places his hand over it, thinking. A moment passes before he picks it up. He takes the striker to the fumes and the torch catches flame from the spark. He walks over to Rufus. He eyes him for a long time, probably thinking of the best place to set fire. He then, steps forward and turns the flame higher and sets the blow torch on the ground in front of Rufus’s leg. Rufus screams in pain as it burns through his pants and then his skin. Soon, it burns to his tibia causing his bone to burn to a crisp. Rufus passed out after the flame started to burn his bone. We stand there watching. As the flame goes out, Prez turns to Eli.

  “Brother, just…uh…fuck yea!” He yells, slapping Eli on the back. Cole has a sideways smirk on his face. Poodle is still awake. Surprisingly.

  Prez says, again. “Next?”

  Jack steps forward without a word and stalks over to the table. He eyes everything carefully, not wanting to overlook something that could catch his interest. A brick. He picks up a simple, small brick. Really? We all look to each other with confusion on our faces. Surely, he can do better than this. Prez shrugs as do most of the brothers. We watch and wonder as to what he is going to do with it. Jack steps to Poodle and asks one simple question.

  “Which one raped, stabbed and cut her?” Rufus stirs, hissing in pain. Poodle’s eyes go wide and he stutters his words.

  “A-Abe did. We didn’t do it.” Jack brings the brick up and slams it into the side of Poodle’s face. We all hear his jaw crunch under the blow. Poodle is out cold.

  “WHO!?” Jack asks again. Rufus is awake, barely.

  “I did, you worthless fuck, and she was so tight, a real screamer too.” He laughed, mouth wide open laugh. Jack shoves the brick into Rufus’s mouth and Rufus looks confused.

  Jack brings up his boot, kicking his chin with all his strength. Causing Rufus’s teeth to shatter and crack under the brick. Blood is pouring out of his mouth. Rufus whimpers in pain as he drifts back out. The brick falls to his lap as Jack walks back to the group—still with a pissed off look on his face.

  “Fuck, Brother. That was nicely done.” Prez sings to Jack. Jack just nods with his pissed off look.

  “Jinx, wake ‘em up. They don’t get a break from this shit.” Prez barks.

  Jinx goes to the table and grabs the smelling salts and brings it under each of their faces.

  They stir awake.

  “Next?” Prez shouts. I guess that’s me.

  Walking over to the table, I think of all the pain these two fucks have caused my family, about the people we have lost because of them. Soon my rage builds to a rampage. Peering under the table, I see red fire ants. Nice Prez, I think to myself. I pick up the jar filled with ants and grab the bat with the nails sticking out of the end. This is gonna be fun.

  “Hey, Fuckers. We’re going to play a game. For each sound you make from my little friends here. I’m going to make a home run on your knee caps.” I smile. Smiling, fucking smiling! I guess I am one of the crazies too. And that is fine with me. I’m not the one in a chair getting tortured, praying for death, am I?

  I pour the ants onto their bodies. I watch them crawl around and start attacking. It didn’t help that I shook the jar first, did it? I’m a cheater. I always sucked at games.

  Poodle makes a hiss first as they bite into his open arm, thanks to my baby.

  “Home Run!” I say, swinging with all my fucking strength, bringing the bat to one of his knees. I had to jerk on the bat a little, to get it unstuck from his knee. He cried out in pain. I jerked harder, bringing the bat back to my side. I see the ants are making its way to Rufus’s burnt leg, eating at his burnt flesh. He growls in pain.

  “Batter up!” I say, bringing the bat down to his knee. He makes a blood curdling scream. What do you know? The nails get caught in his knee as well. Pull and push, pull and push. That is how I get it out of Rufus. Prez is laughing from behind me, I turn to him.

  “Anyone know the score?” I smirk. They all laugh now. I join in.

  “Brother, this is genius. I have to step up my game.” Prez tells me. I lay the bat down on the table and make my way outside for a cigarette. I see Avery and Harley sitting with the van door open, Avery still holding onto Colt. Harley sits beside her, cradling her. I think it’s best I stay over her for now, giving them their moment. Prez walks out to me and lights up his own cigarette. I turn to look at him.

  “Jinx and the others are discussing torture tactics.” He says, shaking his head with a side smile.

  “Hey, I’m going to take the girls home, Colt and Mikey too.” I say with a sigh.

  “Your right, get them out of here. They don’t need to hear or see any more than they have.”

  “Meet back at the motel?” I ask.

  “I’m sending Cole with you for his guy. Call the morgue, under the table. Full patch burial.” I knew what he meant. Full patch means that all Hell Hounds from across the states come, special burials, partying in their honor, etc. I agree one hundred percent with his choice. I nod.

  “See you at the motel, bro.” He says as I walk away. I leave them to finish the job; I got my fix. I’d rather be with my family than taking out my revenge. Who knew, I was a big softy. Come say that to my face.

  Thank fuck, this is all over. Time to get my girls home to my boy. Time to make my family whole and my heart and soul complete.

  Epilogue

  Harley

  One Month Later...

  A couple days until Christmas

  Since Avery has been home, she has been doing much better than last time. She won’t take her freedom for granted again. Fear for the new world and the family she never knew, made her retreat inside of herself. I understand exactly what she means. I had done basically the same thing for years. She just needs time, I keep telling myself.

  Sitting at the picnic table out back, I watch Caleb with Bronx running around in the snow.

  My heart swells with love watching them. My whole world is back to normal. If someone would have said that this is how my life would turn out, I would have laughed in their faces. It’s crazy, just a couple of months ago I was alone, no love, no family. I kept to myself. I regret not cherishing all that time, but I neglected it.

  Ford comes out the back door of the new club and he sees me as I wave to him. He comes to sit with me.

  “Hey, baby.” He whispers into my hair as he kisses my head.

  “Hey.” We sit there in silence watching Caleb laughing and playing.

  Exe had the new club built and finished within two weeks. He says it’s all about how you present the bigger picture. I just think he paid more for fast work. Either or, it’s amazing. He built it bigger, stronger, better. To the left, he had an apartment attached for Avery and Caleb—two bedrooms, a kitchenette and a living room. A full bath, for Avery. Large claw bath tub, modified with jets. Double the normal size of claw tubs. Her own safe haven. The kitchen takes up most of the back of the club. A large fifteen person dining room table fits with plenty of room. He also built a playground and a tree house for little man on one side of the back yard. On the other side, he has picnic tables and a shelter for parties. He had all the brother’s rooms built larger and mostly on the second floor. A few are on the first; including ours, Exe’s, Jack’s, and Tech’s. Also a full game/play room for Caleb on the first floor, towards the back, nex
t to their apartment. Tech got his own office with all his gadgets on the bottom floor, attached to the new meeting room to the right of the club. The meeting room is amazing. They have a large table that has devil dogs or ‘Hell Hounds’ carved into all four corners of the table, the legs are big, thick paws. A huge Hell Hound is painted on the wall behind Exe’s seat. He even built a large separate room called ‘The Happy Place’ up front to the right for the ladies to keep the single Hounds company. The upstairs is all rooms with full baths for brothers. The third floor has more rooms and a movie room, again, for Avery and Caleb. The basement is the armory and ‘Gates to hell’ as Exe says. The infirmary is also up to date, it’s more...comfortable, Exe said.

  Having Ford here makes this a thousand times better. I never thought I would have him back in my life and my bed. Fate surprises you when you least expect it.

  Ford and I have picked up where we left off—seems as if no time has passed us by. Nothing has changed with us. Our feelings are just as strong as before, if not stronger.

  I sometimes still have the thought of taking my family and running away to Washington. I can’t bring myself to do it and I’m happy about that. We belong here with our entire family. This whole club is our family. Blood doesn’t make you family.

  Love, respect, and loyalty make you family. For these Hound’s, I’m thankful. They gave my family back to me. We lost some good members, and gained Avery and Caleb. I know Colt would be proud of her with how she has progressed with her life, facing it full force, no fear. She’s so adventurous and caring. She has started to learn how to cook for the guys and is coming out of her shell very well. We are all proud of her. Most of all, Caleb is happy she is home. They have such a deep bond.

  As the rest of the brothers come barreling out of the new club, all the guys make their way over to us, expect Boss Man. He approaches Caleb and scoops up a handful of snow and quickly makes a snow ball. Throwing it at Caleb, it hits his shoulder. They are having a snow ball fight now.

  “It’s on like Donkey Kong, now, Super-wimp.” Caleb yells to Exe. We all chuckle at their little snow ball battle.