Get Away

by Jade Chandler

  “That’s true.” Hearing my best friend’s voice made me feel better. “I miss you.”

  “Well, you’ll be seeing me soon. And Rock says we got a few guys in the area, so he’ll have someone there by morning.”

  “Thanks. I hate to bring my problems—”

  “Don’t even say stupid shit. We always got each other’s back. Who beat up Joanie Sampson for me?”

  “We were eight then, it’s not the same thing.”

  “And who kicked Greg Landon in the nuts for saying that shit in high school.”

  I laughed. “We both did.”

  “Right, and we’ll both take care of these people too.” Avery was barely five foot, but she was full of grit and passion.

  “Right. I’m going to get off here. Talk to ya soon.” I pushed End on Laura’s phone.

  The door opened.

  “You have good tim—” The words died when I saw two beefy guys walk in dressed in the mob uniform. Cotton short-sleeved shirts untucked with dress pants. They both smirked at me. “Glory, Angel DeLuca sends his best.” The stepped toward me and the door opened again.

  Laura walked in. “Hope you’re done, girl.” She stopped and stared at the two goons between her and me. “I don’t believe I know you, and I know all Glory’s friends.”

  “We work with her.” The goon on the left gave her a fake smile. “Who are you?”

  “A friend.” She gave a fake smile right back. “And the nurse said the doctor is on her way in. She should be here anytime.”

  “Great. You heard my friend, I need to talk with my doctor. If you’ll excuse us.” Fear made my skin clammy but I held my ground.

  “Make sure that’s the only person you talk to,” the second goon muttered as they turned to go. “We’ll be seeing you, Glory.”

  Once they’d left, I let out a breath. “Oh my God! That was not good.”

  “No, not at all.” Laura agreed. “What did you get yourself into?”

  “I really am out of my depth.” My hands shook and I was so very scared. I just wanted to hide under the covers and hope this mess went away. But even I wasn’t that stupid. Laura closed her hand over my still shaking one.

  She gave me a nod and squeezed my hand. The simple gesture soothed me. I let the fear go and focused on my next chore. I needed to call Mama. My injuries would hit the Barden grapevine all too soon—it was just the nature of a small town—and I didn’t want her to hear about my stupidity secondhand.

  “I still need to call my mama, but please stay.” I pleaded with my angel and now friend.

  She nodded and sat in the blue vinyl chair by my bed.

  I dialed in the number to the house phone my mama had owned as long as I could remember, and waited for her to pick up, while hoping I could put off this task.

  “Hello.” Mama’s voice sounded chipper and full.

  “Hello, Mama. How are you?”

  “Did you get another phone number, Glory Ann?”

  “I am using a friend’s phone. I lost mine.” I pushed on before Mama could scold me. “I’m in the hospital in Las Vegas. I was attacked.”

  “Oh dear! Are you hurt you? Did you damage your beautiful face?”

  I thought about the bruising and surgery on my face. “I am banged up and in the hospital, but it’s not a big deal.”

  “You come right home and let me take care of you. That City of Sin is no good for an angel like you.” Mama had asked me to come home a thousand times over the years. Even though she’d had a great time in her visits here, she wasn’t a fan of my new home. Honestly, I wasn’t so sure I was a fan any longer.

  “Should I fly out and get you home?”

  “No, Mama. Avery and her friends are coming out. I will come home with them if I need to.”

  “Oh that’s perfect. Her husband is a peach, so very polite, and all those muscles.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “Our Avery sure can pick the good ones.”

  I could remember a time not that long ago when Avery’s choice of boyfriend had scandalized Mama. Now she’d married them off even though they weren’t married.

  “You sure you don’t need me?”

  “I always need you, Mama, but I’m fine for now. I’ll come home if I need your TLC.”

  Mama chuckled. “I always could get you feeling and looking like a million bucks. Do you remember that competition in Austin when you were throwing up and I—”

  “I gotta go, Mama. I will call you when I know what I’ll be doing next.” I hated that Austin story. I had only been six and with the worst stomach flu ever, but the show must go on, so Mama had doctored me until I could stand up and smile and do my tap dance. Hell, I’d even won second place.

  “All right, my beauty. You rest up and let me know when you’re coming home.”

  “Bye, Mama.” I hung up and blew out a breath. My mama was a force of nature.

  I handed Laura back her phone.

  “That was light on details.”

  “Believe me, a Southern mama trying to rain hell on the mob would only get her in a bed beside me.” I grimaced at the thought of her hurt. “So light on the details is best for her right now. I will tell her more when I think it’s safe.”

  “When will that be?”

  I closed my eyes and wondered the same thing. Would I ever be safe again?

  A few minutes later the door opened and the doctor buzzed in again followed by an older man who was her exact opposite. Calm. Focused. In no hurry at all.

  “Miss Atkins, this is my good friend Jason Langdon, a therapist on staff here.” The doctor looked to me. “A licensed counselor is part of our treatment path for cases that involve violence and trauma. Please speak honestly with him. It will help us treat you best.”

  Laura and the doctor left, leaving me with this strange man.

  “I am not telling you what happened. You’d be in danger.”

  He grinned at me. “You shouldn’t tell me then. How does it make you feel being in danger like that?”

  “Anxious. Worried. But my friends will help.”

  “Good friends to help you if the situation is so dangerous.” He leaned back in the chair. “You are a lucky woman.”

  I was in the hospital with a dented cheek and bruises everywhere. I didn’t feel lucky. But I could be dead. I could not have a way home. I could be in a lot worse shape.

  With a slow nod, I agreed. “You’re absolutely right.”

  “Are you threatened by my presence?”

  “Nope. Should I be?” He was the nicest man ever. He kind of soothed me.

  Again the soft chuckle of a laugh. “Not necessarily. Some victims of violence find men or anyone very threatening after an attack. Even if you don’t feel that way now, it’s a normal reaction.”

  “I fear people who need to be feared.” Except I’d walked into that nightmare situation so confident. “Okay, so I might be a bit jumpy and I really don’t trust my judgment at the moment. I made bad decisions that put me in the situation.”

  “Are you to blame for being here?”

  “No that creep Fr...who did this to me is to blame, but I am more cautious, more nervous now.” That was a good thing. I needed to learn some caution.

  “What worries you most?”

  “Nothing—well I did worry I was raped, but I wasn’t. And I worried about how to get out of Vegas but my friends are helping me, so I’m not as worried now.” I know the drugs were playing a role in my answers because I was never this chatty. Yet, it felt good to say it out loud.

  “Does the idea of sexual intimacy again concern you?”

  Well, my lady parts were seriously damaged, but beyond that, not so much. “I don’t think so, but how would I know?”

  “Think of the last person you were intimate with. Provided you were physically capable, would you wish to be sexually i
ntimate with him again?”

  “Yeah, totally.” I giggled. “Okay so the meds are making me a bit too honest, but really, it doesn’t make me panic or anything to imagine it.”

  He gave me a grin. “I’m sure he will be happy to hear that.”

  Jason stayed for about an hour talking, and I kept answering. Maybe because of the stranger thing—it’s easier to talk to complete strangers—maybe because I was medicated or because I just needed to talk.

  Chapter 8: Delta

  My phone buzzed and I ignored it while I watched my target buy lunch at a truck. I hoped to find a less public place to grab Aaron Lloyd, a runner on an armed robbery charge in Houston. Lloyd walked down the street. I kept an eye on him, but I didn’t start the SUV, yet. I wasn’t sure why he was in the business district in Reno. What was his play?

  The phone stopped ringing only to start again. “Fuck.” I reached for my phone while keeping my eyes on the prize—it had taken me days to track the bastard down.

  “I’m busy,” I barked into the phone.

  “Brother, I need a favor.” Rock’s Hispanic accent was heavy.

  I focused on my phone—it was Lloyd’s lucky day. He just got to breathe free air another few days.

  “You got it. How can I help?” I started the SUV and backed out of the parking spot.

  “My old lady said you met Glory in Vegas.”

  My blood ran cold. Based on Rock’s tone, I was going to hate what he said next.

  “Yeah,” I grunted, holding back the questions that bombarded my brain.

  “She’s hurt pretty bad and in the hospital in Vegas.”

  “I will kill that motherfucker.” Frankie was a dead man. I backed out of my parking spot and squealed my tires taking off. I needed to be in Vegas yesterday. “Tell me.”

  “She was beaten up when she refused to do porn for DeLuca.” The anger in Rock’s voice surprised me.

  I’d never heard him angry before.

  “Where is she?”

  “University Medical in Vegas. We just talked to her about an hour ago.” He blew out a breath. “My old lady is determined to get on a plane and kick ass. I may have to tie her down.”

  “I will take care of Glory and those who hurt her—you have my promise.” I tamped down the need to punch something. I’d take out my rage on Frankie and those who helped him.

  “I never doubted it, brother,” Rock said. “I will be sending out Sharpie and Zero—they are already packing up and riding out. Glory is family for them.”

  “Thanks. I will get Thorn back down here, along with whoever he has close by.” Plans already ran through my head. “Am I bringing her home?”

  “That’s what my old lady wants, but I’ll leave that to you and her.” Rock spoke to someone else.

  “Delta.” Pixie spoke into the phone. “You get my girl and you get the bastards who hurt her.”

  “I will make them pay in blood and pain.”

  “Finally someone who understands me.” Pixie sighed. “Bring her home to me.”

  “If she’ll let me.” I already had my doubts that she’d want to come home, at least not to stay. “Talk to you soon.” I hung up and hit the gas, heading toward Las Vegas. I considered stopping to switch from the rental to my bike, but my bike would be safe here, and the SUV would make more sense for now. As I hit US 95, I called Thorn. We needed to make plans.

  I crossed into Las Vegas city limits in five hours, a personal record for me. Protecting Glory was a physical need pulling me toward the hospital. I wasn’t used to feeling impotent, but that feeling had dogged me mile after mile until I wanted to scream or kill something.

  Now that I was here, I had no idea what I should do. The proud woman who’d shared her body with me wasn’t a victim. The need to crush those who’d hurt her surfaced, and I pushed it down again, but I didn’t know how long that’d last. At least, she’d gone down fighting. It was the only halfway good thing Rock had told me. I grinned, thinking of her going on the attack—even against crazy odds—she hadn’t backed down. I admired that kind of stupidity. She had my kind of moxie.

  I pulled into University Medical in minutes. I didn’t bother with information since I had all the vital details. Glory Atkins, room 317. I rode the elevator up to three and strode down the hallway. People stopped to look twice, even the nurses, but no one got in my way. I had that effect on people. They tended to steer clear of me.

  I stopped outside the door and braced myself for what might come next. How was she handling the injuries? And I reminded myself that my rage wasn’t an ally here. She needed comfort, support, and maybe even a shoulder to cry on. Fuck, there were lots of brothers better suited for this job.

  I sucked at sympathy, and my primary emotion was rage, unless horny counted as an emotion. But those fuckers had hurt her in her most personal areas. Rock had told me every gory detail Glory had confessed in her call to them. Anger boiled out again. How dare they damage her like that? Someone or several idiots needed their junk cut off for that move. Surprisingly, the thought calmed me down. I catalogued the ways I’d make those bastards pay and I found the first bit of calm in hours.

  I pulled open the door and slipped inside. Holy fucking shit—my Queenie was broken and bandaged. Bruises colored her face and arms. I’d fucking tear apart every one of them. When I found the bastards who’d marked her, then they were going to wish they were dead.

  I ran a finger lightly down her jaw and she stirred. “Wake up, Queenie.” I spoke low. My fucking chest clenched, but I remembered the cold she wore as armor. She wouldn’t want my sympathy.

  She blinked her eyes open, soft and out of focus. “Delta, how did you find me?” Her soft smile slid right past my defenses and lodged itself in my cold heart.

  Then the sleep faded and her gaze hardened. “Of course it had to be you.”

  “You got a problem with me?” Shit I sounded like an asshole.

  “I gave in for a night, and then I was never supposed to see you again.” She squeezed her eyes tight and turned her head away. “I don’t want anyone, let alone you, to see me like this. But my luck sucks, right now.” Her words were slightly slurred. She must be on some great drugs.

  The door opened and a young dark-haired nurse stepped inside and frowned at me. “She needs rest, so I’m going to have to ask you—”

  “Don’t bother, Laura.” Glory gave an exaggerated wave of her hand. “He’s the one who’s going to save me.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Oh thank God! I was worried you were another threat to my girl.” The nurse gave me a huge smile, and it made her glow.

  Threat caught my attention. “What kind of threat? Who’s been here?”

  “Guys from her work.”

  “They were DeLuca’s muscle, trying to make sure I didn’t say anything to the cops. As if they could help me.” She flung her covers back and tried to sit up. “Double damn, that hurts.” She held herself up with an unsteady hand.

  Laura, the nurse, hurried over and helped her lay down.

  “I gotta get out of here...not safe.” Her eyes closed.

  She was right, we needed to leave soon.

  “When will she be released?”

  “Two days.” Laura looked from me to Glory. “You called a biker to rescue you from the mob.” She stepped forward and her chin quivered just a bit. “Will she be safe with you?”

  “What’s it to you?” I didn’t know why she cared, and the last thing I needed was an interfering nurse to hinder me or report back to the mob.

  “I care about her, and I want her to be safe, not end up in more trouble.” She fisted hands on hips and met my stare without blinking. She meant what she said.

  “Stop, you two—you’re on the same side.” Glory frowned up at me from swollen eyes. “Be nice to her.” She gave an exhausted sigh. “Thanks for coming.”

 
“No one should be alone when they’re hurt.” I had been hurt and alone too many times and it sucked. “I’m glad you called for help—I’ll make this all right for you.”

  She peered up at me as if reading the truth of my words, then gave a slight nod before wincing.

  “Can you sit up?”

  She started moving before I’d finished the question. I caught her upper arm and helped her. Muttering a curse, she pushed herself to standing and I think she’d have collapsed to the ground if I wasn’t supporting her. “Easy there, one step at a time.”

  “This is the goal, right?” She studied me. “You want me to leave with you?”

  “You need meds and stuff to leave—you can’t just disappear.” Laura gently pushed her back to the bed.

  “We will have to leave as soon as she can.” I had to get her safe, and if that meant tying up this busybody nurse to do it, then I would.

  “Tomorrow.” Laura glanced between us. “You can trust the doctor—she’s top rate—and she can keep a secret. Trust her,” the nurse implored Glory. The nurse believed what she said, but I wished I knew if she was a good judge of character.

  “The doctor does rounds in the morning and if you wait until evening, I will be here to help you leave.” Laura touched my shoulder. “You can wait until then?”

  Glory could use the time to recover. We’d wait for the doctor, but I didn’t plan to let Laura help. I was eighty percent sure she was on our side, but I wouldn’t even take a one percent chance with Glory. My brothers were always reliable, so they could help us, but Laura’s help was over.

  “What can I bring you?” I glanced at my queen. The stitched cheek pissed me off most. They’d broken that bone and she’d had surgery to fix it. A cold settled deep inside me—every single one of them would pay.

  “Uh, clothes, makeup, everything. My place isn’t safe... I guess I have nothing, not even a freaking phone.”

  “Right. I’ll see you in a bit and you’ll have everything you need. Got me?”

  She gave me a quick smile with her cut and swollen bottom lip. “Thanks.”

  I had shit to do. So I turned and left without another word. Her thanks was the last thing I needed. It was my fault she was in this mess. I’d stuck my nose in her business but hadn’t fixed anything. Hell, I’d made it a thousand times worse. I had a whole lot to make up to my queen.