Grizzly

by KJ Dahlen

  “My pride was shattered with the sound of a bullet this morning.” She glared at him. “Did you forget that?”

  “Was that before or while you closed your eyes when you took that shot?” He glared back at her.

  There was a gasp at the table but she didn’t look to see who was so outraged at his announcement. “No dammit, that was when I kissed everything I learned as a kid and grew up to believe in goodbye. I closed my eyes and fell into the deep black hole when I took that shot. I opened my eyes to see you on the ground and I prayed whoever shot back would find his mark. My pain would have been, should have been over then... but your man missed his mark and only wounded me. Now, I have to live with my failure the rest of my days. I have to live with the shame of what I did, what that bastard Levi was forcing me to do and I may never know what he did to my father.” She lifted her arms and started beating against his chest more or less, taking her hurt and shame out on his chest. “You are a real bastard, you know that?”

  Grizzly wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight as she sobbed into his chest. “Yeah sweetheart, that’s been well established.” He looked over at Gunner and finally asked, “What did you find at the house?”

  “We found her mother,” Gunner told him. “She had been beaten pretty badly but she was awake and coherent, so they are bringing her here, rather than take her to a hospital. We want to keep our eyes on her, while we look for Levi and her dad. The guys should be back any time now.”

  Teddy gasped loudly then turned around to glare at him. “I can’t be here when she gets here. I never want to see that bitch again.”

  Gunner thought about her request for a moment then nodded. “I think that’s a great idea. We can use her for information and we can let her think you got your mark. Maybe that will bring Levi to us, rather than us having to hunt him down. We need to find out if he’ll come here himself.”

  Teddy snorted. “Was he the one who hit her?”

  “Why do you ask?” Boone wanted to know.

  “Because he hated her almost as much as I did,” she informed them.

  “Why? I thought she was sweet on him.” Boone frowned. “Why would she spend so much time with him if he hated her?”

  “Because it pisses him off. All she could talk about was Darren and how much he loved her all these years. She used to tell my dad how much he’d been looking forward to presenting his daughter to Darren when he got out of prison. Reva would taunt him about how big a role I would play with Darren when they got him out of prison. She was pushing him out of the picture and he knew it. That was one thing my mother enjoyed and felt she did well at, playing one man against another. I used to watch her do it to my dad, every day they were together. When she got bored with manipulating him, she would begin on me. Dad would never let her do it when he was around but then, he was gone a lot back then.”

  Gunner’s cell vibrated on the table, he picked it up and read the message coming in. He looked up at them both. “You’d better go back to Grizzly’s room. The guys are almost at the front gate. Your mom is driving them fucking crazy with her demands.”

  “Yeah she’s good at that.” Teddy nodded. “Oh, and beware of hidden weapons, my mother is always armed, at least with a small knife. Her father taught her to never let herself be caught and be a victim. She comes across as a helpless female, but she’s anything but. So do not be fooled by her act.”

  Gunner paused for a moment then nodded at her.

  Grizzly led her back to his room, as they all heard the gate opening.

  They watched as three men carried a screaming, spitting, fighting Reva Alexander into the clubhouse.

  Chapter Six

  Gunner and the others watched as Grizzly and Teddy left the room.

  Just as they did‒ three of the other brothers, Jett, Gypsy, and Monster‒ were carrying a screaming, spitting, fighting Reva Alexander into the clubhouse‒ rather than escorting her inside.

  They dumped her on her feet and she almost fell to the floor.

  Reva managed to stay on her feet and glared at the men seated there.

  They could all see she sported a black eye and a bruise on her jaw but as soon as she was on her own, she stopped snarling at the men who brought her into the building.

  “Who the hell is in charge here?” Reva demanded, struggling against the cuffs on her wrists. “Release me, you fucking monsters! I’m the one who is in need of medical attention you bastards. I’m the victim.”

  Gunner winced at the high pitch sound of her voice. He looked over at Boone and shook his head.

  Boone just looked back as if to ask, ‘this is Teddy’s mother?’

  Gunner got to his feet and faced the unreasonable woman. “I’m in charge here.”

  Reva turned and glared at him with disdain. “Well, it's about damn time. Do you have any idea who I am?”

  “Oh, we know exactly who you are,” Gunner assured her.

  “Then why on earth am I in cuffs?” Reva screeched. “I’m the one who was beaten and left behind. I certainly didn’t beat up my own damn self. Are you and your men stupid?”

  “We just didn’t want you to hurt yourself when you came around again,” Jett told her and the group, “There was a lot of blood on the scene.”

  Reva swayed but not one of the men moved forward to catch her. She frowned when she realized these men hadn’t fallen for her ploy. “What the hell is wrong with you men? I need medical attention and I don’t need to still be in these damn handcuffs.” She growled.

  “Lady, settle yourself down,” Gunner snapped as he leaned over the table, putting his hands down on the surface as he continued to glare at her. “You’re in our house now, and here... you have no power.”

  “Well, I never!” Reva snapped. “I am Mrs. Ethan Alexander and I will not be treated this way.”

  “Lady, we already told you, we know who you are,” Gunner all but shouted at her.

  “Then get these damn cuffs off me, immediately!” Reva shouted back. “And get me a doctor. I think that little bastard broke one of my ribs.”

  “What little bastard would that be?” Gunner wanted to know.

  “Levi Nixon.” Reva raised her head and she actually had tears in her eyes.

  Now, Gunner saw the banked rage in her eyes, not the fear that should have been there. He knew the tears weren’t real and hardened his heart.

  She went on as if she were and actress on a theater stage, “He took us hostage three days ago. He beat Ethan in front of me and our daughter Teddy. Then he sent Teddy away but he kept Ethan and me.” She let a tear roll down her face. “I have no idea where my daughter even is.” Looking around the clubhouse she asked, “Where is this place and why am I here?”

  Gunner snorted. “I think you know exactly where you are. The brothers said you were awake most of the trip back here.”

  “Did Teddy come here? Is that how you found me? Did she tell you where I was?” Reva wanted to know. “Is she okay and still here? I’m so worried about her.”

  Gunner ignored her questions and looked over at Patriot. Nodding he suggested, “Patriot is our medic, and he’ll have a look at you. Have a seat.”

  Reva glared at him for a moment then suggested, “Do you have a private room we can go to?”

  “Right here, will do,” Gunner told her smoothly.

  Reva glared at him and moved over to the farthest table she could. She pulled out a chair with both hands together under the cuffs and sat down. “Can you at least release me from these damn cuffs?”

  “No.” Gunner growled.

  Reva glared at him and waited for this medical aid to come to her.

  Patriot got up slowly and walked over to where she was sitting. He checked her eyes, using a small flashlight to check for pinpoints and then felt along her jaw to make sure her bones weren’t broken. Next, his hands went to her ribs.

  Reva snarled at him. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “You said it felt like Levi broke a rib, I’m checking
your ribs,” Patriot informed her in a steady tone. He lifted her shirt and she cried with unjust outrage. “Lady, no one can see your female parts and belly from here except me. Just checking for bruises which I’m not finding any. You’re fine.”

  “Before you step away from her, check her bra for a knife,” Gunner drawled.

  Reva snapped her head around to glare at him like he was nuts. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Not bloody likely woman,” Gunner assured her. “I told you we know exactly who you are. Some of us even know your daddy and he would teach his daughter to be armed at all times.” He looked over at Patriot and nodded. “Check her for weapons.”

  “Don’t you dare touch me!” Reva hissed. “I’ll hand it over to you but you don’t get to search me.” With that, she reached inside her shirt and brought out a small switchblade then handed it to Patriot.

  Patriot looked down at the small blade in his hand, then turned and left her sitting there with her mouth wide open. He dropped the knife onto the table, in front of Gunner.

  Gunner took it and tossed it to Boone.

  Boone cuaght it and they all knew this was the last they would see of this little knife.

  Reva got to her feet and returned to the table. Leaning down on her hands, she glared at Gunner. “Just what the hell is going on here? Why am I being treated as the bad guy? I’m the one who was taken and held for three days and then I was beaten and left to die.”

  “Where is your husband? Where is Levi?” Gunner asked her while entirely ignoring her little rant.

  “How the hell should I know where they are?” she practically screamed the words out.

  Boone growled and others at the long table put their hands to their ears.

  Gunner looked over at Boone. “Yeah, I’ve had enough of her mouth too. Monster, escort her to a cell.”

  “What?” Reva growled. “You’re putting me in a cell? Why? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m the victim here. You lousy bastards.”

  Monster rose to his full height and towered over the older woman by a good two feet.

  She slowly looked up along his huge form then up to his hard face. Gasping, Reva had the good sense to back away from him slowly, as she began to look a little lost. But the foul woman bounced back quick enough. As just when Monster was about to escort her out, Reva glared at Gunner and asked, “I need to stop in the little girls room before you lock me away. And I would appreciate the use of my hands if you don’t mind.”

  Gunner glanced at Monster and nodded. “Leave the cuffs on. I don’t trust her any further than I can throw her.”

  Monster nodded and led her away.

  She bitched and whined the whole way. Swear words coming out of her mouth by the damn second.

  Boone sat back in his chair and slowly shook his head. “Wow, just wow. I can’t believe that bitch is Teddy’s mother.”

  “Tell me about it.” Gunner snorted.

  “Do you think she knows where Levi took Ethan?” Jett wanted to know.

  Gunner narrowed his eyes as he glared in her wake. “Yeah, I think she knows exactly where Levi took her husband.”

  Teddy was pacing in the room with Grizzly. At the moment, she wished she could be a fly on the wall of the main room. She would love to see the look on her mother’s face when she confronted Gunner and his men.

  Grizzly shook his head as he walked over to the door and opened it.

  Now, at least they could hear the conversation.

  Teddy moved closer to the door and listened to her mother rant and rave at Gunner. She shook her head. Her mother really was laying it on thick but Teddy had to chuckle at Gunner’s responses to her unreasonable demands.

  Grizzly just growled like the bear he was when they heard Reva ask to use the little girl’s room. He looked over at Teddy and noticed she was shaking her head.

  “She really is a conniving woman,” Teddy grumbled.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  Teddy went over to the bed and flopped down. “She knows exactly where my dad is. Levi left her behind to slow up finding them.” She looked so depressed for a moment then she snapped up her head and looked at Grizzly. “Oh my god, you have to warn them to check the bathroom! Have them check for a tracker or something like that. She only needs to use the bathroom in order to plant the tracker. Levi warned me they would be able to tell where I was going. I didn’t know what he was talking about until I checked my gear. I found one in my stuff before I got here. I destroyed it before I got too far from Beaumont. That could be one reason they had to leave her behind. So they would know where to find you guys. They knew you would come after my dad.”

  Grizzly snarled but didn’t say anything. Instead, he sent a text to Gunner.

  Gunner waited until Monster led Reva out of the room before he looked at the text then swore as he got to his feet and went to the bathroom himself. He began searching the obvious areas where a tracker could be hidden. When he found it, he snarled and took it out to the main room. Setting the device on the table, he reached for the weapon at his side. Smashing down on the electronic bug with the butt of his gun, he crushed it. He glanced at Boone and the rest of the men. “Get Teddy out here now.”

  Jett walked down the hall and returned a few minutes later with Grizzly and Teddy. Gunner motioned toward the crushed disc. “How did you know?”

  “Three days ago when they released me to come find Grizzly, I found one in my things. It was just after I left Beaumont and I destroyed it, so they wouldn’t follow me.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure but Levi must not know where you guys are.”

  “How did you know where we were?” Boone asked.

  “I asked dispatch. I have a friend in Beaumont and she knows where every MC is located. She told me where you guys were and she also told me they’ve used your services before as bounty hunters.”

  “So you knew who we were before you got here,” Gunner stated. “If you knew that then you knew we would have defended anyone shooting one of us, right?”

  “Yeah, I knew,” Teddy admitted softly. Her voice was little more than a whisper. “I was hoping that if my shot was good, your shot would be better.”

  Gunner just glared at her at her admission. “Do you realize when Grizzly went down, I would be aiming to kill?”

  Teddy nodded. “At that point, I really didn’t care. I knew my dad wouldn’t survive and I was throwing my common core values into the toilet. At that moment, I just didn’t give a fuck. When my finger tightened on the trigger, I knew then that Levi and my mom had won the battle.” She snorted. “They never would have let me live anyway. I have a target on my back even now.”

  Gunner looked up at Grizzly and saw he realized she was right. If Levi ever found her he would try to kill her. He motioned for them to sit down. When they did, Gunner sat forward and asked, “We need to find this joker before he finds us. What do you know about Levi Nixon?”

  “I know his dad, Darren Nixon is on death row for murder. That’s what this is all about,” Teddy stated. “They’re trying to muddy the waters around his conviction.”

  “Did you ever meet Darren?” Gunner wanted to know.

  Teddy shook her head. “No, I never have. Reva couldn’t be sure I wouldn’t tell my father or grandfather if she ever brought us together when I was a kid.” Shrugging she admitted, “I’ve always been closer to my dad than I ever was to the woman they call my mother. I’m sure having met the witch, you can understand why.”

  Boone and several of the others snorted at this with nods of their heads as well.

  “Do you have any idea where Levi would take your dad? Any idea at all?” Gunner wanted to know.

  “Maybe if we knew why Darren killed my grandfather, we might have a clue,” Teddy replied. “I’m sure whoever paid that bill is being blackmailed by Levi in order to keep that secret.”

  “What makes you say that?” Grizzly asked.

  “Something he said before they turned me loose.” Teddy tucked a strand o
f hair behind her ear. “Levi said he would take my dad to the man who paid him for his silence all these years. Then he could shove my dad into a hole and just dump some dirt over him and no one would ever find his body. Then Levi asked why my mom hadn’t done that before. My mom told him my dad had his uses. He’s paid all the bills since Darren went to prison.”

  Gunner shook his head. “Did she even care who killed Theo?”

  Teddy felt the tears roll down her cheeks. “She might not have but my dad did.”

  Grizzly frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “He has been digging into the shooting. I think he was close to finding the truth.”

  “Did he know Darren is trying to get himself free on a technicality?” Grizzly snarled.

  “Yeah, he knew and I think he had the proof of exactly what happened that night.” Shaking her head she added, “I didn’t know it at the time but my dad has been looking for a motive for the last fifteen years. I think he finally got what he needed, and then this happened.”

  Grizzly froze and stared at her. “The fuck? Do you know where this information is?”

  Teddy nodded. “He gave it to me just before Levi took us hostage. Nobody knows where it is, except for me. I didn’t think it mattered now. I was so caught up in how all of this was over. My dad dead, me practically dead.”

  Grizzly grabbed her by the shoulders. “Where is it?”

  “It's in my pack.” She narrowed her eyes at the look on his face. “Does it even matter now?”

  Grizzly shook his head at her and released a frustrated growl. “Teddy...you cannot just give up like this.” He then dropped his hands from her shoulders.

  Teddy looked saddened. “Everything in my world crashed down. It was all done and said by the time they even made me turn...” She paused. “...into a killer. So, I never thought about the evidence anymore.”

  Turning, Grizzly looked at Gunner. “This is what we missed fifteen years ago. This is the motive we’ve been looking for all these years. It could finally give us the man behind the scenes.” He turned to Teddy. “Sweetheart, I need whatever your dad found and I need it now.”