Badger's Claim (Devils Riot MC Book 7)

by E. C. Land

  Dragon, Gadget, and Dean will simply have to stand in line. Jordan’s my woman and I’ll do what I have to, to make sure she’s safe from now on.

  Chapter Seven

  Badger

  By the time the doctor came out to inform us how Jordan was doing, the waiting room is packed with members of both our club and the Emerald Isle MC. Jordan’s mother and aunt are here as well. I’d tensed when she hugged me after we told her about finding her.

  I might have finally decided to claim Jordan, but that doesn't mean I want another woman touching me.

  When the Emerald Isle MC members got here, I was ready to fight if need be. But after a tense hour or so, they finally chilled the hell out. Well, all but the one named Timber. He looks ready to beat the hell out of anyone who comes near him. Shit, the man tried taking a swing at me when they all got here.

  From what Jordan’s mother and aunt said, he’s under quite a bit of stress over his own woman. I get it, he doesn’t want to be here but is doing it for her since she can’t be here. I don’t know what’s happened to her, and they haven’t shared the information other than she’s unable to be with them right now.

  “Family of Jordan Brooks,” the doctor asks the moment he steps into the waiting room.

  Jordan’s mother steps forward as the rest of us move in behind her. “I’m Jordan’s mother. Is she okay?” she asks, her lip quivering as she waits for an answer.

  “Maybe we should speak in another room,” the doctor suggests, eyeing all of us.

  “Not happening. I’m her fiancé and I’d like to know what the hell is going on.” I can’t believe I just said that, but fuck it. If it gets me the answers I want, I’ll go with it.

  Jordan’s mom whips her head around, eyes widening as she looks me dead-on. She must see what she’s looking for because she gives me a smile like she approves. Reaching out, she grabs my hand and turns back to the doctor.

  “That won’t be necessary. Please, tell us how my daughter is,” she tells the doctor in a voice that is all mama bear.

  “Your daughter sustained several broken ribs and a broken wrist along with her ankle. However, the most severe damage was the blows she took to her head. Due to the swelling around her brain, we had to put her in a medically induced coma. We have to get the swelling down before we can begin to reduce the medicine to wake her.” The doctor goes on to tell us more about what will be done for the time being.

  “Was she raped?” Timber asks, interrupting the doctor.

  “From the tests done, it appears she wasn’t, though we won’t know for sure without her being able to answer.” Shaking his head, the doctor looks toward me, then back to Timber. “I’m not sure what all that girl has been through, but her body has been through the wringer. I’m surprised she’s still alive at this point.”

  “What do you mean?” Dragon asks.

  “Meaning she has several scars along her entire body. Though they’re thin and barely visible to someone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for. But a doctor or someone looking for it will notice she’s been beaten on more than one occasion,” the doctor states.

  “Fuck, so you’re telling me my sister has been abused throughout her life,” Gadget says more than asks.

  “That looks to be the case,” the doctor says softly before letting us all know it would be a little bit longer until we can see her.

  “I’m gonna kill the motherfucker,” Timber growls.

  “Not before I do,” I state.

  “Both of you knock it off,” Jordan’s mother says, wiping the tears from her eyes. “If anyone will be killing him, it will be me. I should have known something was going on. I should never have . . . ” Her words become choked up on her sobs.

  “Cara, this isn’t on you,” Timber says. “She hid it well when visiting. If any of us had noticed her acting differently, we’d have questioned it.”

  “He’s right, Cara, Jordan’s been working for me since she was eighteen and I didn’t even know about the scars. I did suspect and tried to get her to talk about my uncle. Though she never would, I always saw the hint of fear in her eyes,” Dean informs her softly.

  “Look, we can’t go blaming each other. We do that and nothing will get done,” I state calmly, even if I feel anything but calm. I’m ready to tear into the assholes who hurt the woman who hides herself from the world. The only time I’ve ever seen her show a spark of life was when she was dancing tonight on that stage.

  “You’re right, Badger,” Cara says, looking at me, “Or should I say, son-in-law?”

  “Whatever works for you,” I tell her, shrugging my shoulders.

  “Wait a fuckin’ minute. Jordan is family to the Emerald Isle MC . . . ” Timber starts to say.

  “She’s also our family. We might not have known her for long, but Jordan is our sister,” Gadget growls.

  “Alright now, all of you stop it right this minute. If you don’t, I’ll make sure to slap you all upside the head,” Cara yells. “None of this is doing any good. You can all get along. Yes, Jordan is family to the club, Timber, she always will be. But her brothers are also members of the Devil’s Riot MC. And before you ask, I know exactly who you two are. I’ve always known my daughter had brothers, though I didn’t know your names. I knew you’d find each other one day,” she says, glancing between all the men in the room, though she directs her last statement toward Gadget and Dragon.

  Taking a breath, Cara looks directly at me. “I don’t know what the story is with you, but I can see the pain in your eyes. You are hurting for my daughter. I can feel it. Now, I give you my blessing to continue being with my daughter, long as you promise to never hurt her. She deserves nothing but happiness.”

  “I won’t let anything happen to her,” I say, nodding my head in agreement.

  “Good, then let’s end this tension and move on. You all can handle killing things another day,” Cara says just as Timber’s phone goes off. Glancing in his direction, I notice his eyes widen as he stares at the screen.

  “We gotta go, Cara. I’m sorry. Call us if you need anything. Faylinn just texted, telling me to get home now.”

  “Go, I’m good here. Give Caelan a kiss for me,” Cara says before telling her sister to go with them just in case.

  “Call if you need anything,” Jordan’s aunt says as she turns to leave with the rest of the Emerald Isle MC members.

  “Now, how about we go see my daughter?” Cara suggests.

  What is it about this woman that makes me want to smile? Her daughter is the same way. Maybe all women aren’t that bad.

  They don’t all want to hurt their children the way my own did to me.

  “Yeah, Cara, let’s go see my fiancée,” I say, giving her a grin.

  “Brother, don’t even go there,” Gadget grumbles.

  “You still gotta go through us,” Dragon states.

  “Brothers, love you like you’re blood, but don’t try that shit with me. You both know me,” I say, looking directly at Gadget. I know for a fact he’s seen the records of what I’ve been through. “I won’t let you stand between Jordan and me. She was mine before I even realized it and she’ll be mine until I take my last breath. Got it?”

  Gadget stares into my eyes long and hard before nodding his head. “Yeah, brother, just don’t hurt her,” he rasps.

  “Won’t happen,” I say firmly. Turning away, I leave them and Cara behind to go in search of Jordan. I need to set my eyes on her.

  Shaking my head, I can’t help but think how the hell did I let this all happen so quickly? I swore I’d never claim a woman. Let alone let one in my heart. But it seems like Jordan has been worming her way in without even trying to.

  Chapter Eight

  Jordan

  Drifting through the darkness, nothing surrounds me but my own thoughts. I want nothing more than to be in the light, but of course even in death, I have to be in the dark.

  Why can’t I be at peace?

  “You gotta come back to me, Honey.
I need you to wake up.” That voice continues to fill my head. I remember him screaming at me, telling me not to leave him. But who is that? It can’t be anyone I know.

  Granted, there’s not many people who know me and even then, those around me don’t know the hell I’ve lived in.

  “Come on, little sister, it’s time to wake up. I swear, we never meant to hurt you by not speaking to you. We just didn’t know how. You always seemed so scared of us. We didn’t want you to run. Please just wake up. You have nephews and a niece who love you,” Dragon whispers in his raspy voice. I’d know his voice anywhere.

  I wish I could wake up and tell him I’m not scared of him or Gadget. But the darkness keeps pulling me deeper.

  “Hey, sweetheart. I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you.” My mom’s voice sounds so sad. Why is she here? She’s supposed to be with my aunt, not here where he can get to her.

  Oh no. Please . . . please . . . let me wake up. Warn her to leave before he gets her. Don’t let what I did be in vain. I did it for her. I didn’t want him to kill my momma.

  “Honey, you gotta wake up. I need you.” There’s that voice again. “You know the two of us have a lot in common, though I’m sure our stories are completely different. I understand all the pain you feel. All the nightmares you’ve probably had. I get it because I have my own demons. Where it was your father you feared, it was my mother who I feared.” His voice becomes bitter on that last part.

  Hmm, who is this?

  “Wanna know why I call you Honey? Because you’re the first woman I’ve wanted to make my own. And badgers love honey, so I figured it was fitting to call you something that I love. Because babe, I’ve loved you since the first time you bumped into me. I just didn’t know it then.” Oh God, the voice belongs to the man who I’ve wanted this whole time, yet I can’t really have.

  He wouldn’t want the real me. The damaged, no good trash that I am. If only he knew.

  “I know you can hear me, Honey. I swear, when you finally open them eyes, I will be right here. Keeping the monsters away. They won’t hurt you ever again. I’ll even check all the closets and under the bed for you if need be,” Badger whispers.

  Spinning around, I make myself dizzy looking for a way to him. I want to believe him when he says he’ll protect me, but will he really be able to?

  “Jordan, I wish you would have told me all this was going on. We could have put a stop to him hurting you a long time ago.” Dean’s voice filters through my head.

  “Watch it,” Badger growls.

  “Cool your jets.” I hear Dean chuckle, then I feel a hand brush against my face. “You were always a stubborn one growing up. I know you don’t remember coming to our home when you were little, but I do. You were this bright little spirit with strawberry blond curls and green eyes just like our grandmother. I swore then I’d have to protect you, but I failed. Even when I thought I was protecting you by letting you work at the club. I figured when you were ready, you’d come to me.” He sighs.

  His words continue to drift through my head, but I slowly fall back into myself. I can’t believe what he’s saying. Dad told me I had no one in my corner. No one would want me. That if I told anyone about the beatings, he’d put a hit on my mom. Or he’d kill her in front of me after letting his buddies rape her.

  How was I supposed to know I could voice what was happening to me?

  “Brother, come on. You need to get out of this room,” Gadget says, but who is he talking to?

  “I’m not leaving her. I’ll leave this room when she does. 'Til then, I ain’t budging,” Badger growls. Why hasn’t he left my room? Memories of his words filter through my head. He knows what it’s like. He understands. How?

  My heart starts to pound in my chest. For the first time, I can see light ahead of me.

  “Babe?” Badger says. His voice sounds so close.

  Come on, eyes, open. Let me see him. Ever so slowly, my eyes begin to open only to flutter closed. The brightness of the room is too much.

  “Gadget, flick the light switch,” Badger says. “Come on, Honey, open those eyes for me.” He’s cupping one side of my face. I can’t help but lean into his touch. It’s soothing.

  Finally, I open my eyes and I’m met with the most gorgeous hazel eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re the same eyes I’ve thought about since the first time I walked right into him.

  “Hey, Honey,” I croak due to my mouth being so dry.

  “Here, drink some water,” he says, turning toward the table behind him to grab the cup sitting there waiting for me.

  I take a few sips, knowing better than to suck it down like I want to. I don’t need to embarrass myself further by puking in front of this man.

  “Thank you,” I say quietly when he pulls the cup away and puts it back on the table.

  “Nothing to thank me for, Honey,” Badger murmurs.

  “I’m gonna go let them know you're awake. I’m glad you’re awake, deirfiúr,” Gadget says, leaning over me to kiss my forehead.

  A growl coming from the other side of me causes me to jump. “Brother, you can quit that shit with me. She’s my fuckin’ sister.” Gadget laughs as he shakes his head at Badger.

  As my brother leaves the room, leaving me alone with Badger, I’m not sure what to say. Glancing at him, I don’t get a chance before he has his lips against mine.

  Oh my, I really have died and gone to heaven.

  Chapter Nine

  Badger

  The last month has been fuckin’ torture watching the woman who captured my heart without even meaning to lay in that bed.

  Honestly, thought I’d never see her open those eyes again. The doctor kept saying Jordan would wake up when she was ready. That her body had to heal.

  I refused to leave her the entire time, not wanting to chance her waking up and me not being here. The night I found her lying in a heap is still too fresh in my head. Every time I close my eyes, I see Jordan lying there ready to die. Then she technically did in the car on the way to the hospital, only I was able to breathe life back into her body so there was a chance the doctor could save her.

  Never again do I want to have to do that. Since the doctor came and informed all of us of everything, I’ve sat here talking to her when no one else was in the room. I shared secrets with her I’ve kept buried deep within me. Not even my dad or Bear know about those.

  I even told her how I finally was able to escape my mom’s hold when Bear let Momma B loose on her. From what my dad and everyone else told me, they knew something wasn’t right when one day Bear noticed the fear in my eyes at the mention of my mom. He’d gone to my dad, told him about it. My dad turned around and asked them to get me away from her. Which finally happened on my eleventh birthday.

  That was the worst yet best day of my life. Worst being my mom took it all too far, bringing others into what she was already doing. The best because the Devil’s Riot MC took me away from the life of fear, giving me a chance to start over.

  I’ve always had a hard time trusting the women around me, even Momma B for the longest time. Until Kenny, I kept women at a distance. Kenny refused to allow me to do so with her. She became one of my best friends, though I think she more or less liked to torture me by making me go shopping with them when they all went. But she never let me go into my head when she was around.

  Kenny even came down here to check on Jordan and I both. She sat with me for a long time, just sitting in silence, waiting for me to open up. That’s the thing about Kenny— she can go either way depending on her mood. If she wants to know something, she makes it happen. So, I told her about my feelings toward Jordan and my fears, though I left out all things about my mom. She doesn’t need to know any of that. No one needs to know besides the ones who already do.

  Today was no exception for sitting here waiting on Jordan to wake up. Though the difference was I kept noticing her fingers twitch or her head move the slightest amount. I didn’t say anything to the nurses because I was tired of their usual ans
wers.

  Then it happened— she finally opened her eyes. I couldn’t take it anymore, so when Gadget left the room, I kissed her.

  The jolts that sent waves of shock through my body were liberating. I should have known sparks would fly between us. I’ve heard stories of what it feels like to find your other half. Shit, I even witnessed it happen between my brothers and their ol’ ladies.

  Pulling away from Jordan’s lips, I leaned my forehead against hers. “You scared the shit out of me,” I whisper.

  “I’m sorry,” Jordan murmurs.

  “Don’t apologize, babe. Never apologize for something you didn’t do. None of this shit is on you,” I mutter a little harsher than I mean to.

  “But . . . ” I cut her protest off by taking her mouth once more. This is something I could get used to. I’ve never kissed a woman before. Not like this.

  Lifting my head from her lips once more, I hold her gaze as I say, “You and I are just beginning what I intend to be our forever. It took you dying in my arms for me to get my shit together, I’m not backing down on this. I want you to be my everything. And just so you know, I’ve already claimed you in front of not only my club but the Emerald Isle MC as well.”

  With each word, Jordan’s eyes widen to the point I thought they’d pop out. By the time I finish, her jaw just about drops.

  “Did you just say Emerald Isle MC? My cousin was here? Where is she? I thought she was . . . ” Her voice trails off as she shakes her head.

  “Thought she was what, Honey?” I ask, brushing the hair away from her face.

  “Nothing. She couldn’t have been here. Did Timber or anyone else come by here?” Her voice quivers.

  “Yeah, Timber was here, and I’ll say now that if I were a lesser man, I’d have run the other way in the face of that club. They rival our own, from the stories I’ve heard. It true the Prez’s ol’ lady was held captive by another club?” I ask, lifting a brow.