by Erin Trejo
“Which case would that be?” He’s going to make me say it.
“A case against you guys.”
“You need to leave. Don’t come back here, Fabiola. You won’t like what happens if you do.”
“I just need to talk to him, Gauge. Let me have the chance to explain this!” I nearly beg him. I have to tell him, warn him…something.
“He isn’t here,” he tells me, his voice changing, softening. I look around him, seeing Dez curled into Temple’s arms. She’s crying.
“What’s happening?” Dragging my gaze back to Gauge, I see something is off.
“It doesn’t concern you.”
“Is he okay?”
“I said it doesn’t concern you,” Gauge says, his voice hardening once more. I can see it in his eyes, whatever is happening, it isn’t good. I nod my head slowly before taking a step back while he watches me the whole time.
“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Do you think I care about that right now? You were workin’ with the cops to bring this club down and for what?”
“For my brother! Everything I did was for him.”
“Do you wanna know somethin’ about your brother?” he snarls as he steps out the door and closer to me. “Your brother was one hell of a man.”
“You knew him?” I’m confused. Gauge nods.
“Not as personally as Sly did but yeah. We all knew him.”
“How? How did you know him? He was a cop,” I say as confusion washes over me.
“Not my story to tell.”
“Gauge? Come on! Let me talk to Sly. Sly!” I yell his name, but Gauge reaches behind him, pulling the door closed.
“I said he isn’t here, and you shouldn’t be either! You’ve done enough damage. Now we gotta clean up your goddamn mess! Get the hell out of here before you regret steppin’ foot on this property.”
Chapter Eighteen
My head is pounding. I can’t feel my legs. I ache everywhere. I hate feeling like this. I pry my eyes open and thank God for the darkness that still blankets my room.
“Fuckin’ hell,” I grumble when I hear a chuckle. I try to look toward it, but I figure it’s just the goddamn devil mocking me again.
“Hell might not be so bad.”
“Wolf?”
“The one and only. Did you miss me while you were nappin’?” he asks, and if I could roll my eyes I would, but it all hurts too much.
“The fuck you doin’ here?”
“It’s visitin’ hours, brother, and guess who got put on Sly watch today?” What the hell is he talking about?
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“You’re in the hospital. Did you forget?” I blink to clear the fog from my eyes and glance around. I am indeed still in the hospital. Huh, figured I’d wake up in a pile of ash.
“This ain’t hell?” I grumble under my breath.
“Nope. You’re still in the land of the livin’, brother.”
“What the hell happened?” I ask, before trying to shift. The groan that escapes me has Wolf moving to his feet. In seconds, he’s by my side, passing me a button.
“Doc said when you woke up, you could use this for pain. I been pushin’ it for the hell of it though,” he adds with a smirk. I take the button and give it a good push.
“The fuck happened, Wolf?”
“Some shithead was in the bank with a gun. He was about to rob it himself, or so I hear, when we stormed in. What a damn coincidence, huh?”
You have got to be kidding me. Of all the shit.
“You’re jokin’?” I ask finally looking up at him.
“Not a chance in hell, brother. I heard he got arrested too.”
“How are they not showin’ up here?” Wolf smirks.
“Because Walter Sanford ran in front of a drunken asshole that was shootin’ at targets. He got himself shot four times.”
“Who the hell is Walter?” God, this man is making my head hurt worse.
“You are for now.”
“You kiddin’ me?” He chuckles.
“No. There ain’t no cops lookin’ for Walter. At least that’s the story we gave the doc. Mike took care of the rest.” Mike is one of the docs we have on payroll. We pay him good money to ignore the bad shit we bring his way.
“Damn. I got hit four times?”
“Yeah. Not good, brother. Not good. You got a brain bleed too. That’s why they are keepin’ you here.”
“Like fuck they are!” I start to shove myself up when the vomit stings the back of my throat. I lean to the side and let it go as Wolf laughs.
“Told you. Now I gotta get that cute nurse back in here,” he adds. I watch him leave the room only to come back with Temple of all people.
“Oh, just kill me now,” I grumble under my breath.
“Now what fun would that be?”
“I thought you didn’t work here anymore.”
“Some people like me, Sly. The doc is one of them. Besides, Shaft made it clear that no one else was supposed to be giving you medicine but me. He doesn’t trust the other nurses,” she says as she pulls the vomit covered blanket off me. She tosses it into a can before leaving and coming back with a clean one. Once she has me covered and taken care of, she sits on the bed next to me.
“You scared us all. Gauge is… He’s shaken up pretty good. Dez is a mess.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I know. They will be happy you’re awake and talking though,” she adds with a smile.
“Heard that. You go on and let them know, would you? I need to talk to Wolf.” Temple leans in and presses a kiss to my head before turning and walking out. I don’t think I’ve had that kind of interaction with her before.
“If I tell Shaft about that, he is gonna beat your ass,” Wolf adds.
“Do it, asshole, and I’m tellin’ Krista you fucked a nurse while you were here.” Wolf chuckles and moves to sit back in his chair.
“What do you wanna talk about? How they stripped you naked and your balls were hangin’ out for the world to see?”
“You were lookin’ too.”
“I know. I have never seen somethin’ so wrinkled up in my life,” he laughs. I lift my hand and flip him off as the medicine slowly begins to work its way through me.
“I fucked up, Wolf,” I tell him as my eyes grow heavy. “I fucked up big time.”
Chapter Nineteen
I just left the craft store after grabbing a few new supplies that I needed, and I can’t shake the feeling of someone being behind me. I keep looking over my shoulder but no one’s there. I still feel it though. Regardless, I climb in the car and start it up before pulling out of the parking lot and out onto the street. Reaching over, I turn the radio on and try to get myself out of this funk that I feel. The last week has been hell on me. If I’m being honest, I miss Sly. I miss his smile, his laugh. The way he used to look at me even when he thought I didn’t notice. I did notice and I want it back.
With a heavy sigh, I pull out onto the road. I keep checking my rearview mirror when I notice a dark car behind me. I don’t pay much attention as I drive. That is until it hits the back of my car. I’m about to pull over and get out when it slams into me again. I press the gas trying to get up enough speed to get away from them, but when I’m hit once more, the sound of metal crunching sends a chill down my spine as the world slowly flips. Cries rip from my throat as my body is tossed around the car. Glass shatters, metal crunches. I can hear the sound of car tires squealing away. That is before I hear the sound of motorcycles. Tears burn my eyes, my chest in pain. Something warm trickles down my face as I hang upside down. Thank God for my seatbelt.
“Shit! Someone’s in there!” Is that Shaft? I try to turn my head but my neck screams in pain. Instead, I open my mouth and yell.
“Help me!” My voice is harsh, barely coming out as the tears mix with blood turning my vision red.
“Fab? Fuck!” Noises sound around me but my vision is bl
urred. “I’m gonna get you out! Prospect!” My chest tightens as I feel the pain slowly seeping into my pores. The pain shoots through me when I see Shaft on his back scooting through the broken window.
“Shaft,” I whisper quietly.
“I’m right here, darlin’. I’m gonna get you out okay? I need to cut your seatbelt.”
“It was a cop,” I say forcing the words from my throat.
“Did you see it was a cop?” he asks but doesn’t stop scooting toward me. I’m sure the broken glass and metal is cutting into his skin too.
“No but it was a dark car.”
“I’m gonna cut this seatbelt but I’m gonna be under you okay? You’re gonna fall on me not the metal.” His words ring in my head as the knife slices through the seatbelt. My body drops like a rock, but like he said, he was there to catch my broken body. He begins to scoot us toward the window when he shifts me.
“Can you move? Test your body, Fab. See if you can move.”
I do as I’m told. It hurts but I can move.
“Yeah, I can move.”
“Okay good. I’m gonna have you climb off me, okay? I’m gonna get out and then pull you out, got me?”
“Yes,” I say shakily. Shaft moves, doing just what he said. He climbs out of the car and reaches back in for me. Pulling me out, we both drop back onto the concrete when a prospect comes rushing over.
“Cops are on the way. Want me to head them off?”
“No but make sure they know we’re takin’ charge of this shit. Call Gauge and go get a fuckin’ cage,” he rambles as my head spins and my chest tightens. Who did this? It was a dark car just like the cops drive. Just like the asshole that came to my house drove.
“Oh God,” I whisper as reality hits.
“What? What is it?”
“I told Gauge the FBI was looking for Mack,” I tell him.
“I don’t know if the FBI would have done this over him. Let’s not talk here. We’ll get back to the clubhouse where you’re safe.”
“No! I can’t go back there,” I try to protest as I hear commotion around me. Sirens come closer; engines roar louder. I close my eyes as my temples throb.
“Too bad, babe. You’re goin’ either way. Obviously, you aren’t safe out here. Sly would kick my ass if I left you to this shit.”
“He doesn’t care about me.”
Shaft laughs, his chest rumbling through my back.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” Shaft moves, lifting me in his arms as I wince in pain. “Sorry,” he whispers as he carries me toward the van. He climbs in with me still in his arms.
“Get my bike! Call the doc and have him at the clubhouse now,” he calls out.
“Already on his way!” The prospect’s voice sounds so distant as I rest my head against Shaft’s chest. The van starts up and begins moving but I fall limp into his arms, nearly oblivious to all but the pain.
“It’s okay, Fab. We’ll get you fixed up, darlin’.”
“What if it was a cop?” I whisper as my eyes slowly fall closed.
“Then we will kill the motherfucker.”
I was afraid he would say that but that is who they are. I keep my eyes closed as the sound of my own blood whooshes in my ears. My head is killing me but so are my arm and ribs. It doesn’t take us long to get to the clubhouse. Shaft climbs out and carries me inside.
“She okay?” I hear Dezzy first. In seconds, she’s at my side, grabbing my hand in hers. I pry my eyes open to look at her.
“I’m sorry, Dez. I never meant to hurt him,” I say as tears pool in my eyes.
“Not right now, Fab. I know you didn’t. Let’s just get you better, okay?”
“The doc here?” Shaft asks.
“Yeah, take her to dad’s room,” Dez tells him. Shaft walks through the clubhouse and into Sly’s room. The familiar scent of him still lingers in here. As I glance around, it doesn’t look like he’s stayed here in a while. Maybe he’s been staying at home. Shaft moves to lay me on the bed gently, but when he pulls back, his eyes darken. He looks me up and down before a growl escapes his throat, and he turns to leave the room.
“Shit, Fab,” Dez says coming closer. “Are you good with the doc coming in to check you out?” I nod my head when the door opens, and the doc comes in.
“That arm is broken,” he states nodding toward me.
“You haven’t even checked it,” Dez says lazily.
“Look at it. I don’t need an x-ray to know that shit is broke.”
With a sigh, I try to keep calm, but this is really going to fuck up my work for me.
Chapter Twenty
“Why the fuck am I still here?” I ask looking over at Wolf. He smirks, flips me off, and goes back to whatever he’s looking at on his phone. I’m getting aggravated. I’ve been here long enough. “I’m ready to go.”
“Doc said no. The brain bleed isn’t healed up.”
“I don’t give two shits!” I grab the button and start pressing it for the nurse to come in. Of course it’s her. Temple smiles as she strolls into the room.
“What do you need?”
“Out of this damn room. You kept me cooped up long enough. Not that I don’t like lookin’ at you but if Shaft found out I was eyein’ his old lady for the last four days he wouldn’t be happy,” I tell her trying to get her on my side. I raise my arm and motion for her to take the IV out.
“If I take that out of your arm, I will get fired.”
“So? You don’t need the damn job anyway.”
“Fine. Stubborn asshole,” she mumbles as she walks over and grabs some supplies before coming back to the side of the bed. “You men are annoying.”
“As opposed to you overly emotional women?” I raise an eyebrow. Temple makes it a point to pull the tape off a little harder than needed. I just chuckle at her.
“Fab didn’t whine this much,” she says under her breath. Wolf clears his throat as I look between the two of them.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Nothing. Get dressed, jackass.” Temple turns to leave the room as I let my gaze slide back to Wolf. He stares at the ceiling not saying a word.
“What the fuck did that mean?”
“Nothin’. Get your clothes on, brother.”
“Don’t give me that shit! What did she mean about Fab?”
Wolf huffs out a breath and stands from his chair. He walks around to the side of the bed and looks at me.
“It means she was in a car accident. She got banged up.”
“She hurt?” The fear in my chest worsens. I can’t deal with this shit if she’s hurt!
“She was banged up, I told you.” In seconds I’m out of the bed, cursing myself for moving, but I grab Wolf’s cut and jerking him closer to me.
“What the fuck happened to her?” I growl.
“Jesus, she broke her arm. Hit her head pretty good. She has cuts and bruises. Looks about like you,” he says with a smirk. I shake my head and release him, pulling the gown down my arms. “Nice ass. You crack nuts with those cheeks?” I flip the idiot off and grab the pile of clothes he must have brought in and pull them on.
“Where the fuck is my cut?”
“At the clubhouse. Dez was cleanin’ it up. Put a patch over the hole,” he adds. I nod my head and blow out a breath.
“Shit was close, yeah?”
“Too damn close, Prez. You almost didn’t make it.”
“I went to hell.”
“You what?”
“I went to hell, Wolf. Fuck, brother.” I can’t say any more about it. I don’t know what to tell him. It was dark and hot but felt like home, as eerie as that may be. I sit on the edge of the bed and shove my feet into my boots before standing and turning to face him.
“Get you some ink over them holes when they heal up,” he says nodding toward my chest and stomach. Four bullets hit me. Two to my chest, one in the arm and one that grazed my head. Lucky for me it didn’t hit anything but apparently when the fall happened, so did the b
rain bleed. Imagine that. I was fucked over by a fall. I’m lucky to be alive.
“I don’t know what to say here, Wolf.”
“Can’t help you there. Whatever you know about her, that’s on you. You never shared.”
“She’s Chris’s sister.” His eyebrows raise, his mouth falling open. He didn’t expect that either.
“No shit?”
“Yeah. She told me his name that night I made her leave. I couldn’t fuckin’ look at her knowin’ that I killed him. I gave the goddamn order and she lost her brother.”
“Not your fault, Sly. We’ve been over this.”
“Doesn’t matter now does it? He’s gone. She lost him.”
“So did you. She wasn’t the only one who lost a brother that night,” he reminds me before leaving the room. I start to follow when Temple comes back, her bag over her shoulder.
“What are you doin’?”
“Taking you home. At least there I can keep an eye on you,” she says with a smile. I see why Shaft loves this woman. I toss my arm around her shoulder and walk out of the room and down the hall when I decide to ask.
“You help with Fab?”
“Yeah. She was pretty messed up. She broke her arm. She’s more pissed that she can’t make her leather goods than anything. Gauge has forced her to stay at the clubhouse until they know who ran her off the road.” In that instant, my body tenses. She can feel it. “I’m guessing you didn’t know that part.”
“No. I didn’t know that. They got any leads?” I don’t know why I’m asking her. She looks up at me giving me a dumb look that makes me laugh.
“They didn’t tell you shit, huh?”
“Not a word.”
“Fab?”
“Said it was a black car like the one that came around looking for Mack.”
“The fuckin’ FBI prick?” Temple shrugs as she leads me out the front door and to her waiting car. I see Wolf not far behind on his bike. Fuck, I’m ready to be home.
