by Erin Osborne
Chapter Twenty-One
Gwen
TWO WEEKS HAS gone by. I’ve finally been cleared to go back to work as long as I remain sitting down and don’t get stressed out. However, I can only work a few hours a day. So, Stryker has decided I’m going to be working in the morning so I can make sure the schedules are set, put the supply order in the computer, and answer the phones. I also check in the clients and take their payments after they’re done. Honestly, I’m surprised Killer is letting me go to work. He must realize how stir crazy I’ve been going at the clubhouse.
Plus, when I get out of work today, Killer is taking me back to our house. He wants us to be in our home. It’s not as safe as the clubhouse, but we need our own space too. There’s too much shit at the clubhouse and I refuse to be out in the common room when the house bunnies come out in force to find the brother they want to fuck for the night. Including Killer and any of the other men who have wives or women. Killer’s had to stop me from getting off the couch more than once. So, I made the decision to remain out of there when the skanks come out to play.
I’m excited to be heading home. I want my own space and time away from the clubhouse. It’s still hard for me to be there sometimes with all the house bunnies. They can be pushy and I’m still shy in most aspects. Yeah, I’ve been opening up with Killer and the ol’ ladies, that’s completely different than dealing with the women who are desperate in their attempts to land the coveted role of an ol’ lady to the men of Phantom Bastards. None of those men will claim a single one of them, however that doesn’t stop them from trying. Especially with the officers of the club.
Rich is still my shadow no matter where I go. Even at the house, he’s with us. Killer never knows when he’ll have to jump up and leave on club business, so it’s easier for Rich to stay with us. Killer doesn’t like how close we are, but he accepts it. I view Rich as a brother and nothing more. We annoy one another and roast each other like there’s no tomorrow. We talk about things and he helps me around the house when Killer isn’t home. Honestly, Killer doesn’t trust anyone else to watch over me when he can’t. Unless it’s a full patch member. The Prospects haven’t proven themselves enough for him to trust them with me.
Killer is overprotective of me even more so now than before. I can’t lift anything, including a damn glass of water and carry it from the kitchen to the living room. If I bend over, he’s up my ass making sure I don’t fall over or pull anything. Forget about letting me take a shower by myself. Even if he wakes me up so I can shower with him in the morning, I’m up earlier than I want to. The only good thing about getting up early is seeing Killer naked. He won’t touch me right yet, but I still admire the view for as long as I can. We’re both becoming frustrated, but I’m not fully cleared for everything just yet.
Today I’m sitting in Phantom Ink. Rich has gone to get lunch and everyone in the shop is busy with clients. I’m playing around on my phone while alternately looking out the window in front of me. My lunch won’t be coming from the diner just down from the shop either. From now on an ol’ lady will be making my lunch and Rich will pick it up. No one is taking any chances with my food being tampered with again.
Everyone else orders their food from other diners for the time being as well. We don’t know who’s the one to mess with my food or how they got in the diner to make sure it was done. No one’s claiming to know any information at this point. Since most of the businesses around here understand the club tries to help out the community as much as they can, they’d be talking if they knew anything. Well, everyone except for the women who waitress at the diner. They don’t give a fuck about anyone other than themselves. It’s proven on a daily basis with the way they ignore their female customers and only concern themselves with the men. It’s not attractive at all.
Suddenly, the front door of the shop opens and one of the women from my group comes in. The smile on her face indicates how nervous she is along with her eyes darting all over the place. Kendra isn’t normally a nervous person so I’m instantly on alert.
“Kendra, are you okay?” I ask, wanting to get up and go to her, but I know I can’t.
“Yeah. I just found out some news and it’s about you. I’ve been seeing this guy and I overheard a conversation he was having a little while ago. Apparently, the guy you were talking about at the meeting, Neil, is out of prison. He’s got plans to get you back. There are a total of three men who are going to make the grab; including Neil,” Kendra tells me. “I knew I had to get to you and let you know.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her, needing to know she’s positive about what she heard.
“Yeah. The packages you’ve been getting, Neil’s behind them. He had one of the guys go and pack up different things that were left at the house and is taunting you with them. The food that made you sick, was all because of Neil. He’s been working everything from inside the prison until he got out. No one knows he’s out of prison yet. You should have been alerted to it, but I know he’s got pull and can ensure no one knows anything he doesn’t want them to. The only reason I know is because I found his phone when he got in the shower. There were messages about packages being delivered to you and everything else.”
“Okay,” I tell her, my voice trembling. “What are you gonna do now?”
“I’m getting out of here. If I’d known he had anything to do with coming after you or harming you, I’d have been here sooner,” Kendra says, tears streaking down her face. “I’m so sorry.”
Before I can utter another word to her, Kendra turns on her heel and rushes from the shop. She almost knocks Rich over as he’s about to enter. He looks from her to me and must see something on my face because in an instant, he’s got his phone out and is by my side. I can barely hear him talking as Stryker and the rest of the crew rush to my side. My heart is racing, I can barely get a full breath in, and there’s a roaring in my ears.
I begin taking a few deep breaths to calm the panic and fear rushing through my veins. This is not the news I wanted to hear today. When I’ve got myself back under control enough to look around, I see Rich has dropped our food all over the floor and Rich has bloody hands. What the hell happened to him?
“What happened, Gwen?” Stryker asks me, as he crouches down in front of me and hands me an unopened bottle of water.
“Kendra, a girl from my domestic violence group just came in. She’s apparently been seeing a guy. Today she overheard him on the phone talking about me. Neil’s out of prison for some reason now. He’s been behind everything. The packages, the drugs in my food, everything has been him. He’s not gonna stop until he gets me back,” I inform him, never taking my eyes off Rich’s bloody hands. “Rich, what happened to you?”
“It’s not important. I’m okay. My only concern is you,” he replies, looking at Stryker as they have that whole silent communication thing going on.
I hear the rumble of bikes coming toward the shop. A peace settles over me as I know my man will be here within seconds. Killer is the only one I want right now. I want to be wrapped up in his arms until this is all over with. He won’t let anything happen to me; that’s a guarantee. Killer will protect me with his life. The babies I carry and me matter more to him than his own life. The same way I feel about him.
Killer is in the door and pushing everyone away from me in seconds. His eyes rake over me, trying to make sure I’m not physically hurt. As his eyes slide back up my body to meet my own, his hand rests upon my belly.
“Sparrow, what happened?” he asks, his voice low and soft.
“Neil’s out. He’s been behind everything,” I answer him, pushing myself forward and into his chest.
He wraps his arms around me, holding me close. I can feel his body vibrating with anger as he holds me. I’m blocking the voices out as I simply breathe and let his presence sink in me. I’m not sure how much time has passed as I’m lifted into his arms. Killer begins moving and I look up to see him carrying me from Phantom Ink. After placing me in the passenger
side of my car, he runs around the front and climbs behind the driver’s seat.
“Are you okay, Sparrow?” he asks, looking over at me.
“I just want this to be over with,” I tell him, my voice still trembling as I answer him.
“I know. We all do. We’ll get him. I love you, Sparrow,” he responds.
“I love you too. Where are we going?”
“To the clubhouse. Knowin’ he’s out, I can’t take you back to the house now. We’ll have to wait to go back,” he answers, quickly looking at me as the men surround my car and take us back to the clubhouse. “Not sure I want you workin’ right now either. Even with Rich and Stryker there, it’s not safe. Rich beat the fuck outta some asshole who was lurking outside the shop. He kept starin’ in the window at you.”
“What?” I screech out.
“Yeah. The guy is bein’ brought to the clubhouse so we can ask him questions. I’ve got the girls comin’ to keep you company for a while,” he states, knowing I’ll need something to go on right now.
“Be careful,” I tell him, knowing the asshole won’t get a chance to lay hands on any of the men, but still needing him to be safe.
“Always, Sparrow. I’ve got so much to live for and I don’t plan on missin’ out on a moment of it,” he says, lacing our fingers together and bringing my hand up to kiss the back.
This is the soft side of Killer only I get. No one else gets to see this side of him and I wouldn’t want it any other way. My man is a killer without a doubt. However, when it comes to me, he puts that part of himself on the back burner so I get his soft and sweet. He’s not shy about voicing his love for me or showing it in the small touches and gestures. That’s why I fall even more in love with him every single day.
Pulling into the clubhouse parking lot, the men park their bikes in the assigned spots while Killer parks my car right next to the door. I don’t bother moving as I know Killer will get upset. He likes to open my door for me and if he can get away with it, he’ll carry me to wherever we’re heading. Today is one of those days I need him to do that for me.
Once I’m out of the car, Slim steps up and places a soft kiss against my temple. He looks at me with something akin to admiration in his eyes. These guys weren’t there to see the panic flooding my body and rendering me almost paralyzed as I calmed myself down. I offer him a soft smile before turning my face into Killer’s neck.
“Get your woman settled and then we’ll meet in church,” Slim tells Killer.
We’re back on the move as Killer heads inside and I feel him carry me up the stairs. Without dropping me or shifting me very much, Killer pulls his keys from his pocket and unlocks our door. After walking through and closing it behind us, he carries me over to the bed. I’m laid down before he takes off my shoes and helps me get settled in bed. Instead of leaving me alone, he takes off his cut, shirt, and boots before joining me. I’m wrapped up in his arms. Sleep claims me slowly as I let my eyes drift close while his body heat soaks into me. It never fails to put me to sleep quickly.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Killer
GWEN FELL ASLEEP faster than I thought she would. Between the pregnancy and everything going on, I’m not surprised it was almost instantaneous. I don’t like the way she sleeps so much lately and the stress all of this is putting on her. I know my woman good enough to know she trusts me to take care of her. However, Neil is a dangerous man, and he won’t get close to her. Not if I can help it.
I slide out of bed and make sure Gwen is covered up so she’s warm, Arranging the pillows around her, I want her to feel as if I’m still in bed with her. To have my scent surround her and realize I’m still close by if she needs me. After putting on my shirt, I make my way out of the room we share. Today I’ll make our work quick as I can so I can get back up to her. I’m tired of playing games with these assholes. They seem to be coming out of the woodwork and gunning for my ol’ lady.
Walking to the common room, no one’s around. I take a chance and make my way to the basement. As I get closer to the first room where the man is most likely being held, I open the door to find the men surrounding him. He’s already beaten, bloody, and covered in bruises beginning to form all over his body. I haven’t even been gone all that long. Rich must have done a real number on him. That makes me proud as fuck.
“What have you gotten out of him so far?” I question as I lean against the wall with Slim and Playboy, the smell of piss and shit filling my nostrils.
I’ve been down here so much, the sickening smell almost doesn’t phase me anymore. Almost. The main thing it tells me is this man is weak, a pathetic excuse of a man who has no problem taunting and torturing a woman. This piece of shit is among those we have no problem ridding the world of because he’s a monster and will do anything he’s told for whatever is being held over his head. Usually it’s drugs or the promise of riches he’d never dream of having on his own.
“Not much. Stryker is just takin’ out some aggression until you got down here,” Slim answers.
“I see. Stryker, it’s my turn,” I state, cracking my knuckles and stepping forward.
The man pisses himself once more as I get closer to him. I stop dead in my tracks, so it doesn’t get on my boots or the bottom of my jeans. Looking at him, I can see the fear in his eyes; he reeks of fear and wanting to get out of this alive. There’s no way in fuck he will; but we can play the game for a few minutes.
“Why were you outside Phantom Ink today?” I question him, taking the pliers in one hand and knife in the other from Stryker.
Like I said, I’m not gonna play for very long today. We still need to have church so we can discuss things and come up with a plan. I want to be with Gwen to make sure nothing happens to her or the babies as much as I possibly can.
“I was told to wait out there for the bitch to grab lunch. So, that’s what I was doing,” he responds, fear still filling his body and facial features.
“Why?” I question him, letting the rage flooding me out through my voice.
“Neil wants her. Bad. He’s going to keep coming after her until she’s his. Where she belongs. What’s it to you?” he asks me, faking a bravado he’s clearly not feeling based on his trembling body.
“She’s my ol’ lady. That’s my woman and has never belonged to Neil. He raped her, beat her, and stood by as her father had her beaten on an almost daily basis. So, again, why does Neil want her?” I ask, using the knife to slice his shirt off.
When the fuck doesn’t say a word, I take the pliers and pull one of his nipples. See, we like to keep our pliers sharp. Well, certain sets of them. Douche canoe’s nipple comes off between the pliers as his screams fill the room. I swear, each man we have down here gets louder and sounds more like a woman screaming than all of our ol’ ladies combined.
After each of his nipples are ripped from his body, I move the pliers up and begin to yank out each and every tooth in his mouth. His screams are muffled with my hand in the way as Stryker holds his jaw open. Eventually he’ll lose his life too. I just want to get more information out of him first. When I’m finally done with his teeth and they’re in a pile on the floor in front of him, I begin asking questions once more.
“Where’s Neil stayin’?” I ask, watching the blood slide down the assholes body.
“I don’t know. He only contacts us by phone. No one’s seen him. There’s me and maybe two other guys working for him,” he spews, spraying blood out.
“How do you know he’s out of prison then?” I question him, holding the blade at his stomach with just the point of the blade touching his skin.
“He let us know. Was bragging about paying someone off and evidence disappeared so his lawyer filed an appeal or something like that. I’m not sure of all the details,” he informs us.
“Why wasn’t Gwen or anyone else contacted about this appeal? She should’ve been notified,” I state, more to my brothers than the douche in front of me.
“Neil made sure everything stayed quie
t. No one except his lawyer, a cop, and the judge knew about it. It pays when you have money,” he says.
“Got anythin’ else to say?” I ask, wanting to be upstairs in church so we can figure this shit out between us.
He shakes his head back and forth. Even though I believe they don’t know where Neil is staying for now, that doesn’t mean anything to me. This fucker was still willing to harm a woman, my woman, in order to ensure Neil got what he wants. That doesn’t settle well with any of us. We hate men who take out their anger and aggression on women simply because they see them as weaker. Put them up against a man and they back down like the cowards they are.
Taking out my gun, I look at Slim. He nods his head to give me the okay to kill the fucker. None of us believe we’ll get much more out of him then what he’s already said. Neil isn’t going to give these fuckers much information to go on because he’s smart. He knows they’ll squeal the first chance they get because unlike the Phantom Bastards, there is no loyalty. Guys like this are a dime a dozen; they’re only out for the money and what they can gain from a situation.
Pulling the trigger, I watch on in satisfaction as he slumps forward. Because of the chains holding him up, he simply hangs from the rafters as blood coats the plastic sheet we keep on the floor for easier clean up. We don’t want too much of a mess left behind for the Prospects to clean up. What they have to do is more than enough. At least for now.
We all file out of the basement and make our way to the common room. I’ll grab a quick shower before we have church. Walking in the room I share with Gwen, I see she’s awake. This is not what I wanted to see because I’d rather keep this side of me away from her. It’s too late now though.
“You okay?” she asks me, sitting up further in our bed.
