Jaxson 4_Blood Covenant

by K. J. Dahlen

  I stilled. Every word was true. I got a lump in my throat. “Thanks, Reaper.”

  He nodded and stepped back.

  “So can you step off shadow duty?” I asked already knowing the answer.

  “Hell no! Damn… Prez. You mean a lot to this club. To all the brothers.”

  I nodded. Yeah, I figured he wouldn’t. Then we went out to the hall.

  Spider stood there. He had this look in his eyes.

  “What?” I asked him.

  He shrugged. “Nothin’ just worried about Thunder.”

  I nodded. Somehow, I didn’t think that was it. But I had no time to think about it. I rushed down the hall. Fuck, I hoped it wasn’t bad news. I had fallen apart literally at the seams when I’d found Dino like that. Brains and blood all over him, my world had shifted to a hell I hadn’t been prepared for.

  I opened the door and went in.

  Behind me, Spider and Reaper stationed themselves outside.

  Thunder was sitting up, glaring at me.

  My steps halted. The last thing I expected to see was him, awake, let alone sitting up.

  “Where the fuck are the girls?” he growled at me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Dino

  I fought to come awake. Voices came in and out. I refused to be laid down. I’d wanted to die before. Not anymore. I needed to get up and get out. The walls from the kill house were still in my head, dancing around like that fucking lightbulb above me had for hours and hours.

  I struggled to control my feet and I managed to move them. Then I flexed my fingers. Fuck, everything hurt. Like a mother fucker. Good. Pain means I’m alive. I fought some more and willed my eyelids to open.

  I sat up with a gasp.

  “Oh!” a woman shouted.

  “Bella?” I tried to focus on where the voice had come from. I squinted and kept swinging my gaze around. There! I spotted her. She was standing next to the bed. Red hair and…I couldn’t see her face clearly. Reaching out, I grabbed her up and smothered her mouth with mine.

  “Mmmm…” She struggled a bit but not for long.

  I kissed her hard and hot. Dammit, she was here. They’d found her.

  “Hey!” a man’s voice called out.

  I ignored it but then sensations I thought I would feel did not come. The woman in my arms didn’t feel right. She didn’t taste right. I pulled my mouth from hers.

  Her head was titled back as she sighed.

  “You need to let go of the nurse, Dino.”

  I swung my gaze over to see the doc. Mason, as Bruno called him. He was staring at me like I was a ghost or some freak. I dropped her.

  She fell flat on her ass on the floor with an OOMPH. “Oh!” she screeched out in surprise.

  Mason rushed forward and grabbed her up, steadying her on her feet.

  She turned to look at me. Well, not look, but ogle. “Wow…”

  “Okay, Nurse Philips. Go and ask one of the guys for…more towels and—”

  “Just leave.” I growled.

  Mason narrowed his eyes at me.

  I didn’t care. I was just pissed it wasn’t Bella. Fuck, where was she and Chloe? “I need to talk to Jaxson.”

  He stared at me. “How the hell are you even speaking?”

  I let out a breath and winced a little as I stared down at my arm. “It was bandaged. “What’s this?”

  “Oh, I don’t know…A drill hole in your flesh?” He scoffed.

  I turned my head to gaze at him. “Yeah, there was a drill.” I remembered passing out to the whir of it and blood spraying everywhere.

  He kept shaking his head, then stepped closer as he reached for my face.

  “Hey!” I ducked my head back, then I grabbed it with both hands. White exploded in front of my eyes.

  “I need to check you.”

  “How long have I been here?” I asked as my head pounded and I lowered my hands.

  “Several hours.”

  “Well, you’ve had plenty of time to check me then. Get me Jaxson.”

  “Fucking bikers,” he grumbled as he went to the door and opened it. “Hey! Go get Jaxson!” He shut the door, turned and walked over to the bed.

  “You can go now.” I glared at him.

  He laughed. “You were severely dehydrated, you lost at least 3 pints of blood. You have a couple of cracked ribs.”

  “I don’t need a fucking grocery list!” I winced as I now noted the tape around my torso. “You gave me blood right?”

  He nodded.

  I looked down at the IV in my arm. “How long has this been in?”

  “Maybe six hours?”

  I nodded…then yanked it out. It stung but all the other pain obliterated any feeling from it.”

  “Hey!” he exclaimed.

  I felt the room spin and waited a minute until it righted itself.

  “And we don’t know about internal—”

  “Fuck!” I yelled.

  He stared at me with wide eyes.

  I looked at his shocked face and then started to laugh. I grabbed my ribs as I did so. Fucking hurt! I shook my head. “I lived! That fucker had his brain handed to him, but I lived! I told him he would die for every…”

  The doc was now gaping at me.

  My laughter slowed as pain did hit me hard. “Just give me some fucking aspirin and I’ll call you in the morning.”

  He shut his gaping mouth. “You have some meds over there. You will need more than—”

  “I don’t take narcotics doctor.” I slid off the bed and gripped the side table. “You’d better not have shot me up with any either!”

  He shook his head. “No, because I thought you would remain unconscious for at least three days!”

  I breathed slowly and tried to steady myself. “Well, you are a miracle worker. So thanks, and get out.”

  He shrugged. “I will go tell Bruno—“

  “I don’t care what you tell him. Just get out and really…” I softened my tone. “Thanks for all the help. I won’t forget it.”

  He kept shaking his head then went out the door.

  I huffed for air a bit and got a little dizzy, so I sat back up on the bed. I would have to pace myself a little.

  After ten minutes or so, I propped myself up on the pillows.

  The door opened.

  Jaxson walked in and stopped, his mouth fell open.

  “Where the fuck, are girls?” I asked him.

  He didn’t speak for a full minute.

  “Jax!” Yelling hurt my head so I winced hard.

  He sort of wandered over. You couldn’t call it walking, as he looked dazed or something. “How in the fuck…”

  “Never mind that, what is going on?”

  He looked tired and fucked over. Like he’d been dragged through a hell storm. Black rings under his eyes. I’d seen him worse off but there was still that lost look in his eyes. I knew then the girls were still gone. He wouldn’t have that look if Chloe were here. I bet I looked worse though. I knew I had bruises on my face. Hell, I had bruises all over. I knew I did. I just did not give a holy fuck.

  He finally answered me, “Marco and Bruno had them being watched.”

  “Had?” I asked.

  “Yeah, they were—”

  “—downtown right?”

  He sucked in a breath. “How did you know that?”

  “A hunch. It was where I was headed when they jumped me.”

  He sighed. “God, Dino. I-I thought you were dead.”

  I stared at him. I sort of remembered that part but not much of it. “So, what happened with them being watched?”

  He told me the girls jumped a mob guy and trussed him up. Then they somehow made their escape right under the mob, Bruno’s men and everyone’s radar.

  “Fucking Bella.” I almost smiled, but not quite.

  He nodded, as he did not smile either. “Resourceful, Marco said.”

  “So at least the Bianchis don’t have them.”

  He shook his head. “We
don’t know.” He clenched his fists.

  “Why aren’t you out, look—?”

  He slammed his hand on the table. “Fucking Bruno is having me shadowed.”

  I let out a breath and closed my eyes as a wave of pain rolled over me.

  “Listen Thunder…Maybe you should rest and—”

  “Fuck that!”

  He stared at me. “I will get a group and go looking.”

  The door opened.

  Great! I rolled my eyes… it was Bruno and Marco.

  “We found them!” Marco announced then he halted and stared at me.

  Bruno ran into him, or ran him over actually. “Fuck, Marco…” He pushed the smaller man away as he swung his eyes up at me. “What the…?”

  I laughed and flinched at the pull on my ribs. “Okay everybody, just get the fuck over it. I lived. I’m fine. It hurts like a bitch, but I’m fine. So where are they?”

  Marco just kept staring.

  “Marco,” I called to him then grabbed my head. Fuck, I needed to tone it down. “Finish it,” I gritted through my teeth. I ran my tongue over them to check if any were missing and found a loose one or two.”

  “You aren’t going to believe it.” He shook his head then grinned.

  I grinned back, despite the pain. “With Bella…I will believe it.” I was glad they were alive. “They are okay, right?”

  He nodded. “My men have eyes on them. This time, they wore disguises. Seems your Bella can spot them.”

  My Bella? Yeah. Mine and she would know it when we got her back. I looked over at Jaxson. “Come on help a brother up.”

  He stared at me as if I had two heads or something.

  Bruno stepped forward. “Now, Dino…”

  I glared at him. “I didn’t suffer through that shit to then sit here like a fucking pussy. I also want to warn you right now Bruno.”

  His eyes rounded at my tone.

  Yeah, no one warned him about shit. Not Bruno DeLuca. They would live to regret it or dying knowing regret.

  “I am claiming Bella Rose Bianchi as my woman. I will have her with me.”

  Marco laughed outright.

  Bruno glared at him then at me. “Okay,” he replied simply.

  Marco’s laughter halted and he stared over at Bruno.

  Jaxson actually gasped.

  Now it was my turn to gape. Okay? That was it…Just OK?

  “Hey. Any man that could go through what you have and then tell me to fuck off just hours later?” He shrugged. Then his eyes narrowed at me. “But all of you better stop disrespecting me. Or there’s gonna be some fucking beat downs. Got it?” He looked at me his eyes blazing then he swung those same burning eyes at Jaxson.

  We both silently nodded.

  I looked over at a stunned Jaxson.

  He seemed to snap out of it and turned to help me.

  Bruno went to the door and called out, “Get the VC some clothes, get a driver for the SUV, and a 12 man detail! A.S-Fucking-P!

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Chloe

  It was wild! We headed out of the bathroom. Bella told me to just keep quiet and let her lead. Like I was going to argue. I mean we weren’t going to get away with this. Yeah, those bikers had acted funny, like they thought we might be guys, but we weren’t going to fool these Queens. No way!

  Bella led to me the stage then we waited.

  Finally a tall woman-man came up to us and looked us over.” Mmph!” he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “We want a job,” Bella stated in a low tone.

  He raised an artificially made brow at us. “Doing what?”

  She shrugged. “Back up singers or—”

  “Dina!” someone called from across the other side of the stage.

  We all turned to see the most beautiful woman.

  She glided rather than walked. Tall, like a model. Beautiful eyes, skin and a body to kill for. “You two for real?” she asked when she stopped in front of us.

  I looked over at Bella.

  She raised her chin. “We just need—“

  “—help,” the tall woman cut her off.

  I stared at her. She had kind eyes, not like the Dina person. I stepped forward. “Yeah, some guys are after us.”

  “Sally!” Bella exclaimed.

  I ignored her. “We would do like back up, be stage dressing, just allow us to earn a little money to get out of town?”

  The tall woman leaned over and grasped my chin. She turned it right, then left. “Mmm, good bone structure.’

  I remained still, despite the odd searching.

  She stepped over to Bella. “Brunette? No. I don’t think so.” She ripped Bella’s wig off. “Yeah, damn! There it is!”

  Bella grasped the wig then seemed to give up as she sighed. Her red hair flowed down over her shoulders.

  “Yeah beautiful and real too. But you two aren’t real…I’m Geneva. I run the show. You would never make it as queens.” She raised a brow. “Not here anyways. Not that you aren’t beauties. Just… you are too female.”

  I sighed and lowered my head.

  “But…”

  I raised my head.

  Geneva Smiled. “You can be made to look more the part.”

  I smiled now too, and looked over at Bella.

  Bella stared at the woman. “You’re just going to help us? Just like that?” She looked doubtful.

  I let out a breath. Dammit, she was going to blow this for us. She was so distrustful.

  She raised a perfect brow at Bella. “We gotta stick together you know? Men can be bastards. Women can be deadly though. And those outfits don’t fool me. You two have never walked a street in your sweet lives.”

  Bella stared at her then she finally smiled.

  “We would be so grateful,” I added.

  “Okay, come on backstage, but don’t gawk at the dicks.”

  Bella spluttered with laughter.

  I gasped.

  Geneva laughed with her.

  Dina walked with us and she wasn’t smiling. “No, she’s serious. Do not stare if you see one. They get so upset!”

  Oh, wow. What was this going to be like?

  I hadn’t needed to worry. These men- women were so nice and chatty. Their jokes were hilarious. They treated us like daughters or something.

  They ooohed and ahhed over Bella’s hair. Then whistled at me when they changed my clothes. Talking about my curves and my creamy skin. Yes, they dressed us like dolls. We never felt like they were hitting on us, at least I hadn’t and Bella just kept laughing and talking with them like they were long lost friends. It was like they were true females, no sexual undertones, only they didn’t act catty or jealous.

  I don’t think I ever felt so accepted. They knew we were females. We never fooled a one of them. But yet, they didn’t care. Once Geneva made the speech about helping us out, they all fell in with it.

  I never saw such makeup or clothes like they had here.

  At one point, Bella had leaned in close to me and whispered, “I keep wondering when Cher is gonna call and ask for her fucking wardrobe back.”

  I laughed loudly as I stood up in my sequin dress. “Well, she will have to fight me for it!”

  They fed us all kinds of food during the afternoon and it tasted like ambrosia, as we hadn’t eaten all day.

  Then there was rehearsal. I could dance but not like this. I hoped I could at least keep up. Then I was fearful that they might ask me to sing.

  One of them patted me on the shoulder like he knew I was worried. “It’s all lip-sync, baby.”

  I then hoped I could at least get that right.

  Then we found all we had to do was hold these large feather fans and fan them to the beat.

  Bella winked at me when they took us toward the stage. “Told ya you’d like it!”

  I laughed. Yeah, it had gotten my mind of Jaxson for a whole hour at least. Dammit. I needed to call him and wondered if Bella would hate the idea. I bet he was worried sick. I felt badly
about it and I would close my eyes and picture him, wondering if I would ever see him again. Yes, it had only been a day or two, but I ached for him.

  It was time to get up on stage. I felt so nervous. We were hiding from the mobs, the MC and Bruno. Yet, we were going to step up on stage. Bella had said earlier, hide in plain sight. I wasn’t so convinced. But we were made up with headdresses like the Las Vegas chicks had and makeup. I did have to wear heels again but at least they were wedges and not stilettos.

  The music started and we waited for Geneva to give us our cue.

  Finally, we were up and I shook like a leaf. I never would have believed I would be here with drag queens. I wondered what Jax would think if he saw me like this. Not happy probably, but really, just my one leg was showing in the dress. I had been showing more skin in my hooker outfit of before. Now that would have set him off.

  “Chloe!” Bella called.

  I jumped and followed her to the stage.

  The song was a Lady Gaga one and we just used the fans like we’d practiced. The lights were heavy and I couldn’t really see beyond the stage.

  I kept up with the fanning and the singing went on as the other four women led the stage. I felt so giddy. I never looked this way or that, just did my bit. Then it was done and the crowd roared.

  We got off the stage and pulled our head dressing off and two stage hands took them.

  Bella grabbed my arm. “We gotta leave.”

  I gasped and turned to her.

  She was staring off past the steps toward the tables.

  There stood Jaxson and Thunder.

  I sucked in a deep breath. Thunder had a huge bruise on his face and it looked like he was leaning on Jaxson.

  They made their way to us.

  I stayed put. I wasn’t going to run from Jax. I never have. I wouldn’t now.

  Bella didn’t move either, despite her warning of before.

  They got to the steps.

  My heart was hammering in my chest. God, my mental images of Jax never held up to the real thing. He looked tired but still hot as fuck.

  “Babe, come on,” Jax spoke.

  My feet moved as if I was under a spell. Of course, they did. This man owned my heart. I rushed to him and jumped right up on him.