“I don’t want to show you. I look awful.” I dipped my head as my tears began to fall again.
“Come with me.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bathroom. “Do you want me to help you remove your clothes?”
I shook my head. I turned my back to him and made sure I could see him in the mirror. I carefully pulled the t-shirt over my head that Anna had leant me. My ribs protested at the movement and I had to hold onto the sink to stop myself from falling to the floor in agony.
Riz growled behind me, I glanced in the mirror to see that his eyes were on the finger shaped bruises that covered my hips.
“He held you down?” I nodded. “How many times did he…” He shook his head and closed his eyes.
“Several.” I whispered, ashamed that I have to go through this. I turned around to face him and cried out in pain. I clutched hold of my tummy and cried.
“Shit. You’re bleeding.” He muttered as I felt the blood seeping down my leg. He swung me up in his arms as I screamed out in pain and shot out of the room.
“I need the doc!” He roared as he ran.
“Get her to my room, now.” The doctor shouted. Riz took off running down the hallway as I cried into his shoulder.
Riz
I WAS STANDING outside of the docs room, leaning against the wall by the door. He had ordered me out when I just kept shouting at him to help Beauty.
“Any news?” Prez asked as he ambled down the hall with his daughter Teagan on his hip. Just as I was about to answer the door opened up and Heather, the Prez’s Old Lady came out crying.
“What’s wrong? Is she ok?”
“She…” Heather had to stop talking to compose herself. Prez pulled her into his side and kissed her on the cheek. “She’s had a miscarriage.”
“She was pregnant?” Heather nodded. “Did she know?”
“No. She’s very upset and lost lots of blood. Doc has her stable. She’s asking for you.” I nodded, stood up straight, took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
“Come in.” Doc shouted. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Beauty was laying in a bed with the sheet covering her. Her eyes were closed.
“Is she awake?” As soon as she heard my voice, her eyes popped open and she burst into tears. I rushed over to her, climbed onto the bed and held her tight.
“I’m so sorry.” She sobbed.
“Sssshhhh, sweetness.” I rubbed her back gently. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know you were pregnant.”
“Maybe I should have tried fighting him off harder. He was so strong. I couldn’t get away and now he’s taken our baby from us.”
“Our baby?” My voice wobbled as her words sunk in.
She nodded as she looked up to me.
“You’re the only person I’ve slept with in the last year. I’m so sorry, Riz.”
“Ryder.”
“What?” She looked at me confused.
“That’s my name, sweetness. When we’re alone you can call me Ryder.”
“She really needs to rest now.” Doc said as he approached the bed with a needle. He started pushing something into the cannula on her hand and her eyes started to drift close. I rose my eyebrows at the doc. “Pain medication, It’ll help her sleep.”
I kissed her gently on the lips before climbing off the bed and storming into the clubhouse bar. Once I spotted Prez I rushed over to him.
“I’m going to find him. He’s going to pay for this, big time.”
“Now, let’s just wait a couple of days, he’ll have come out of hiding by then.”
“I can’t wait, Prez.”
“But…” Prez started.
“NO!” I knew I shouldn’t raise my voice to the Pez. “He killed my baby!”
“Let’s ride.” Prez shouted, squeezing my shoulder. Showing me that he supported me.
Riz
ICE HAD GOTTEN information that Parker owned a club in Cornwall called ‘Nudes’. It was only an hour away. As soon as Prez shouted ‘let’s ride’ in the clubhouse all my brothers filed out after me. We all mounted our bikes and took off in formation after the Prez.
My body was shaking with adrenaline and rage. In my head all I could see were the bruises he caused and the devastation on Beauty’s face as she told me she lost our baby. We weren’t in love, hell, we weren’t even a couple. I had asked her for months to come to the club with me. To be honest, all I was looking for was another club bunny. But something about Beauty was different. After that first time that we had slept together I needed more, I craved her but she always fought with me on the subject. Now I was glad, the thought of any of my brothers touching her made me see red. I wanted her for myself.
Prez and Ice slowed down their bikes as we drove into a large car park. I was surprised at how many cars were about. We all parked our bikes by the side of the building. I threw my helmet off and was about to storm to the front door when Prez stopped me.
“Now, you need to calm down.” He warned.
“Like hell I do.” I shrugged past him and headed for the front door.
“Devon Destroyers, what are you doing in these parts?” The large bouncer asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and blocked the entrance of the club with his bulking frame.
“Where’s Parker?” I growled.
“He’s not in today.” He stated.
“I wanna see for myself.” I went to push past him and he fought back. He went to punch me, but I managed to dodge just in time, causing him to lose his balance. I punched him in the stomach and then kneed him in the face before Buzz grabbed him and yanked him out of the way.
I glanced around the club to get my bearings. There was a bar at the back of the room, three stages for the girls to dance on that were surrounded by chairs. A long corridor was to the left of the main door and there wasn’t a bouncer in sight. I headed down that way and came to three doors.
“I’ll take this one.” Itch nodded.
“I’ve got this one.” Ice added and I stood in front of the last door. I hoped to god that I had Parker’s office and that he was inside.
“Now.” Prez ordered and we all kicked in the doors at once.
“Got him.” I shouted and Prez and Bear followed me in.
I was standing in front of him as he folded his hands together and laid them on the desk in front of him. His office was large with a dark wooden desk, leather chairs and a leather sofa to the side with a coffee table in front of it.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen?” He asked coolly.
“Are you kidding me?” I roared. “You touched what wasn’t yours and now you’re going to pay.”
I flew across the room and over his desk until my hands were gripped firmly around his neck.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He croaked as I was cutting of his air supply.
“Beauty.”
“Ah.” He smiled. “That one was good. Tight.”
I released him from my grip, reared back and punched him in the face.
“What makes you think you can do that?” I screamed. “You came onto our patch and raped my girl.”
“Yours?” He looked at me confused.
“Yes. Mine.” I’d had enough of talking to him. I punched him in the stomach and in the face once again until he was on the floor gagging for breath.
“What are we going to do with him?” Buzz, the VP asked.
“I’m going to kill him.” I gritted out as I pulled Parker back to his feet. I was about to drag him from the room when the door burst open and in flooded the police.
“Everybody freeze!” One guy yelled as he held his gun pointed at me. “Let him go.”
“No way.” I argued.
“Riz.” Prez warned.
“Fine.” I let Parker go and he fell into his office chair, clutching onto his stomach.
“Arrest them all.” The guy in charge ordered.
Shit, I knew that Prez, Bear and Itch all had previous arrests, this could land them in ja
il, not to mention we were all carrying guns.
“I’m the one to blame here. I came to kill that scumbag.” I confessed.
One of the policemen turned me around and cuffed me.
“Sir, are you pressing charges on them all?” The guy in charge asked Parker.
“No. Just this one.” He said pointing to me as he climbed to his feet. As my brothers were all cleared from the room Parker got closer to me. “Just so you know I have it all recorded.” He nodded to his security camera. “So if you make one little peep about Beauty, I’ll have everyone arrested and your precious Prez will go to jail leaving his little family all alone.” He smirked at me and I wanted to wipe that off his face.
A strong hand grabbed my arm and I pulled back against it.
“Now, don’t try and resist arrest else things will get alot more difficult for you.” The policeman advised me.
I walked along with him until he was pushing me into the back seat of the white police car.
“I’ll send Brief over.” Prez told me before they slammed the door in my face. Brief was the club’s lawyer. I already had some offences on my record, just small things, so I hoped he’d be able to get me off without going to jail. I couldn’t leave Beauty now, not when she needed me the most.
Beauty
AS SOON AS the doctor told me I could leave his room I ran to the room I had been given here at the club and stayed curled up in the bed. The sun was shining in through the window and I buried my head under the duvet as I didn’t have the energy to get up and close the curtains.
Knock. Knock.
“Beauty?” Someone called out from the other side of the door.
“Yeah.” I answered as I pushed the duvet back from my face.
The door opened slowly and Heather, the Prez’s Old Lady stuck her head around it.
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” I whispered as I sat up in bed and tried not to cry.
“Do you want to come and get something to eat?”
“Is Riz back?” She shook her head. “Ummm, maybe I’ll wait for him.” Riz always made me feel protected and I secretly loved the fact that he paid me so much attention. I could never be in a relationship with him. I didn’t want to be an Old Lady and I didn’t want to live in a clubhouse. I wanted my freedom and do as I pleased.
“You’ll be safe. I promise. It’s just club brothers and their families. There’s a lockdown in place.”
“What’s a lockdown?” Heather walked further into the room and sat on the edge of my bed. Her long brown hair was tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing light blue denim jeans, a hoodie and a leather jacket.
“The Prez called a lockdown after what happened to you. It’s just a way to protect you and our club.”
“Oh my god. Am I putting you all in danger?” I threw the duvet back and jumped out of bed. “I need to leave.”
“You can’t leave.” Heather said as she blocked the door. “It may not be safe.”
“Do - Do you think he’ll come for me again?” I wrapped my arms around my body as I started to shake, I was freezing cold all of a sudden.
“I really don’t know. I don’t know how the mind of these sick men work.”
I nodded so she knew I was listening to her. The thought of going out there alone terrified me, but I couldn’t be here either. Not if I was causing other people to be in danger, if something happened to anyone of them I’d be mortified.
“Are you going to come and have something to eat? Or a cuppa tea?”
“Tea sounds good.” I gave her a slight smile. “I’ll just freshen up first.”
“Don’t be too long.” As Heather opened my bedroom door back up a scream sounded followed by sobs.
“Mummy!” A little girl with dark brown curls cried as she ran into the room.
“Kelsey? What’s wrong?” Heather knelt onto the floor as her daughter threw her arms around her neck.
“Daddy said I couldn’t have ice cream.” She sobbed.
“Oh my god. I thought something was seriously wrong.” Heather laughed.
“Mummy, it is swerious.” She placed her hands on her hips as she tried looking stern. She was cute, especially when she couldn’t pronounce her words correctly.
“Come on.” Heather stood up and held her hand out for Kelsey. “We’ll see you out there.” Heather began to steer Kelsey out of the room when she pulled on Heather’s hand.
“Who’s she?” She asked pointing at me.
“Hi, I’m Beauty.” I smiled to her.
“Like with the beast?” Her eyes lit up and I nodded. “Mummy, there is a priwcess here. I want my hair straight like Beauty’s.”
“One day, sweetheart. Come on.”
I strolled into the en-suite bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I had bruises and cuts on my face and neck. My hair was greasy and needed a good brushing. I glanced around and all that was here was a toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel and shampoo. I gathered my hair up and tied it into a loose knot to keep it in place. I really needed to get to my apartment and get some things if I had to stay here.
I took a deep breath before leaving the comfort of my bedroom. I was shaking with fear, but I needed to be brave and move on. Hopefully Riz and the club would have sorted out Parker by now.
As I rounded the corner I bumped into someone.
“Oh, sorry.” I said before looking up. “What… What are you doing here?” My voice shook as I spoke. I started backing away from him.
“Beauty, I’m sorry.” He started.
“No.” I whispered, shaking my head. I didn’t want to hear it. He was meant to be there at the club to protect us, not to make more money.
“Anton?” A woman called out. He looked behind him and nodded his head. Standing there was a woman with long blonde hair and a smaller version of herself. Was this his family? What was he doing here? I couldn’t bare to be in the same room as him. I shot past him and out of the main door. I needed to get away.
“Beauty?” Heather shouted after me.
Riz
A LOUD ROAR of cheer erupted as I ambled in through the club house doors.
“We weren’t sure if we were going to see you again, brother.” Prez slapped me on the shoulder.
“I got off on a caution and Parker has a restraining order against me and the club members. If I break it, I’ll be thrown in jail.” I shook my head in annoyance.
“Beauty?” Heather shouted. I looked around to see where it was coming from. Heather was standing at the front door. I hurried over to her.
“What’s going on?”
“I just saw Beauty come from that direction.” She pointed behind her. “And run out of the door.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see that Anton was where Heather had just pointed to.
“What did you do?” I shouted as I stormed closer towards him.
“Nothing.” He rose his hands in defence. “I just wanted to apologise to her.”
“Riz?” Buzz asked. “Everything okay?”
“No. I hadn’t had a chance to tell Beauty that Anton and his family were here on lockdown. She’s meant to be on lockdown and she’s run off.”
I hurried over to the main doors and dashed outside. She couldn’t have gotten far as the prospects wouldn’t have let her out of the gate.
“Beauty?” I yelled. No answer. I started hunting around the grounds. We had a lot of garden space with this hotel we called home.
A glimpse of black caught my eye and I looked again to see that Beauty was sitting on the step to the summer house. Prez had it built for the kids to play in when the weather was too hot for them to play in the direct sun.
I strolled closer towards her, making sure she could hear my footsteps. I didn’t want to scare her.
“Hey, what you doing out here?” I asked as I sat on the step next to her and placed my arm over her shoulders.
“I want to go home.” She shrugged my arm off and climbed to her feet. “I don’t want
to be here.”
“You need to be here, so we can protect you.”
“I’ll be fine. I need to be on my own.”
“No. You need to be here, with me.” I climbed to my feet and stood in front of her. She was twirling her hands together and looking at the floor. I grabbed her hands and held them in mine.
“No. I don’t. I need to get back to work, or leave the country or something.” She pulled her hands away and folded her arms over her chest.
“Leave the country?” I asked in surprise.
“Yeah. I haven’t decided what to do.”
“What about us?” I frowned.
“There is no us.” She looked at me and said it with no emotion on her face whatsoever.
“We made a baby together. Doesn’t that mean something?”
“We made a baby by you taking me to the backroom of the strip club I work at. It wasn’t made with love or feelings. Besides, it’s gone now.” I hated that she was talking to me like this, I always thought we had a connection. She made a point of telling me that she never went to the backroom with anyone else and we never exchanged money either. She said me paying her would make her feel cheap. She wanted to enjoy what we had together.
“Beauty, you’re not leaving.” I told her, now folding my arms across my chest and staring at her.
“So, you’re going to keep me here? Against my will?”
“If I have to, yes.” Why was she being stubborn? Did she think she’d have to work here? “Beauty, you’re mine. No one here will touch you. You’re not a club bunny. You’re here so we can protect you.”
“Why is Anton here?” Her chin started trembling and I took a step closer to her. I wanted to comfort her. “No, Riz. I’ll stay, if I have to. But there is no you and me. What we did was a mistake.”
“Our baby was not a mistake.”
“There is no baby.” She screamed as tears fell down her cheeks. I managed to grab hold of her before her legs gave way. I picked her up, bridal style and headed back into the clubhouse.
“Is she ok, brother?” Buzz asked as he saw me carrying her. “Do you need the doc?”
“Na. We’ll be ok. Don’t disturb us unless it’s an emergency.” He nodded his head, before heading to the bar to order a drink.
South Coast Brothers Part 1 Page 66