No Way Out

by Lila Rose

  “We’ll do whatever is needed. She’s one of ours. She’d been married to a member, but you know that.”

  “Yeah, but I also know that fourteen years ago Malinda went to the hospital for two broken ribs, a fractured cheekbone, bruises and cuts.”

  “Was she in an accident? Why are you telling us this?” Violet asked a question we all wanted to.

  “She said she fell down the stairs at home.” He waited and looked around to all of us. With an eye roll, he added, “Do you see any stairs here?”

  “Fuck,” I uttered. Rage filled me.

  Both Griz and Talon’s jaws clenched.

  “How can we not know this?” I growled. “How in the fuck can we not know a brother was married and dealing in shit.”

  “It’s not like we live in each other’s pockets, brother,” Griz said.

  “Tank was always at the compound. Always the one to party hard with the clubs whores. Fucking hell!” Talon cursed. He was taking it badly. Christ, it wasn’t only him. Tank had been a brother and none of us knew shit about him. None of us knew what the fucker had done, to not only his life, but his family.

  If we had of known, any of it, we would have stopped it. We would have stopped him.

  Fucking hell had been right.

  How in the fuck could he lay down with a whore when he had that at home?

  “I’d heard their marriage hadn’t been the same since,” Lan said

  Talon snorted. “You can say that again. I doubt he was hardly here.”

  “She’ll be reserved against all bikers.”

  Nodding, I said, “We’ve already seen it.”

  “Goddamn lucky we have Julian, because Malinda was even standoffish with the women.”

  “Julian could get a wild animal to like him.” Violet smiled.

  “So you’re agreeing to watch out for Malinda?” Lan asked.

  “It was going to happen whether you asked, or liked it…or not,” I said.

  Lan sighed. “Okay, cousin.” He turned his attention to Violet. “I’m going to need to check the gun you used to shoot Oscar with, just to make sure, of course, that it was your weapon and no one else’s. Seems you are the only one who has a bloody permit to carry a gun.”

  “Of course, you’ll find it on the coffee table.”

  He looked from Violet to the table. He studied the gun there for a moment. He knew it wasn’t Violet who shot it. We could see it from the amused expression he held. Still, he wiped that clean and turned back to us. “Glad you arrived in time, Violet.”

  “So am I,” she said.

  “Right,” Talon started, “we need to move to make things safe for Malinda. Keep us in the loop, detective, and we’ll do the same.”

  Lan sent him a chin lift, bagged the gun and walked from the house. Turning to Talon, I asked, “What’s the plan?”

  “We need a safe place for Malinda and her kids. We need to find fuckin’ Oscar before the cops get him, and we’ll need to have a meet with Anthony.”

  “She’ll want to stay here with the kids,” Violet said, and I had that same feeling.

  “Fuck, it’d probably be the best bet. We can get Warden in to rig up a security system. We can have men here around the clock. We need to keep things relative normal for her kids as well. They’ve been through enough shit as is,” Griz said.

  “I think that’s a good idea.” I nodded. “We’ll need at least four brothers on roster and they change every eight hours and then two at the kid’s school.”

  “Let’s get this shit done then. Stoke, go and get Malinda and her kids. I’ll make some phone calls while Griz and Vi clean this shit up. We’ll get a window guy here tomorrow. I’ll get Pick, Dodge, Bull and Limp here for the first shift.”

  “I’m crashing on the couch until the fuckin’ window’s fixed,” I announced. Talon shared a look with Griz; their fuckin’ lips twitched. “Don’t even fuckin’ start,” I growled.

  ****

  I walked to Malinda’s next-door neighbour’s two-story house. Killer was waiting out the front. I told him what the plan was and then he fuckin’ smirked. “Blue’s out back. I’ll go let him know. We’ll wait out here until our brother’s show. You get them home. They’re all tired on their feet.”

  Sending him a chin lift. I opened the front door as Killer called and added, “Good luck in there. If you think Nancy’s bad, she’s nothing compared to Mrs Cliff.” He chuckled as I stumbled over the threshold.

  Fuck.

  “Holy shit, you’re bigger than the other two. Are you on steroids?” a scratchy voice barked.

  Motherfucker! The word ran through my head as I closed the door behind me and turned back around.

  “What’s your name? The other two had funny names. Who in their right mind would call their child Blue or Killer? What in the hell is that? So, what’s yours and what are you all gonna do for my sweet Malinda?” She stood in the doorway of her living room, which would lead to other parts of her house, her hands on her round hips, a robe covering them. To complete the picture of the woman before me, her green hair was in rollers and a smoke was hanging out of her mouth. She looked every bit the no-bullshit old woman.

  “I’m Stoke and we have everything under control. I’ve come to take Malinda and her kids home.”

  “Jesus, Stoke, really?” She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I guess I have to believe you, but if you and the other guys don’t do a good job, I’m gonna have to bring in my boys.”

  I seriously had to wonder who her boys were.

  “Glad to see Malinda has a good neighbour,” I offered.

  “Don’t you try and sweet talk me. You’re damn fine, but I won’t have you wooing me with your charm.”

  A smirk filled my lips. Yes, she was worse than Nancy, Wildcat’s mum.

  “Can I grab Malinda and the kids, or are you gonna stand there and question me more?”

  “I think I like you. You’ve got spunk. The other two soon cleared out of the house. I reckon they’re scared of me, but you’re willing to stand there in your sex-god form and have a chat.” She studied me. “You want a coffee?”

  Christ. “I’ll have to take a rain check. I’m sure Malinda and her kids are dog tired and need some rest.”

  “Yep, you’ll do.” She grinned, her smoke nearly falling from her mouth.

  “I’ll do for what?” I questioned, not sure I should have.

  “My sweet Malinda.” She took a couple of steps forward and uttered, “You need to give her a bit of hanky-panky.” She winked. “You know what I mean. She could go a few rounds in the sheets with you.”

  “Mrs Cliff,” Nary called. She came around the corner and saw I was standing there. She blushed and looked to the ground. “Um, my mum has had all of her drinks. Does she need more?”

  “No, sweet child,” Mrs Cliff answered. Turning back to me, she continued, “I gave her my special concoction. Should fix her throat up real good, and be fine in the morning.” She looked to Nary and added, “Go get your momma, child. Tell her that her man’s here to take you all home.”

  “I’m not—”

  “I’ll go get her,” Nary said with a smile before she left.

  Mrs Cliff rolled her eyes and scoffed. “I’m sure you wish.”

  Chapter Six

  Malinda

  I woke in the middle of the night gasping for breath. Fright bombarded my mind, until I reassured myself I was safe. Instead, I was left feeling frustrated. Flinging the sheets off, I moved to sit on the edge of the mattress and held my neck. Stupid bloody Oscar. How dare he invade my precious sleep. Great, I was going to be cranky for the rest of the day. I always was if I didn’t get my usual eight hours of sleep.

  My mind drifted over the horror.

  I had never been scared like that before in my life, not even when Tank took his hand to me. However, it was more of the fact I wasn’t scared for myself; I was petrified for my children. Thankfully, Nary had been smart enough to stay quiet as soon as she heard the commotion. She quickly a
nd quietly shuffled Josh out the back door and told him to get to Mrs Cliff’s. Nary told me everything as soon as I showed up next door. Josh hadn’t wanted to leave at first, until Nary threatened him that she’d show her video of him dancing around our house in his boxers to his friends at school. Nary reassured him she would call the police. She had of course, but first, she called Mattie, and thank goodness she did or the police would have been too late and I could have lost my daughter, as well as my life.

  That thought alone churned my stomach and brought tears to my eyes.

  Once I showed up to Mrs Cliff’s and she opened the door to not only me but also Killer and Blue, she took them in, smiled, introduced herself and threatened them to keep me and my children safe. This was while she took me into her arms for a hug. After that, she made fun of their names and told them they were too pretty for names that foolish. It was lucky Nary and Josh came running from the back of the house to defuse the situation. When Killer and Blue quickly fled the house to guard the front and back outside, she took me and my children, who were attached to me as tightly as I was to them¸ into the kitchen.

  In there, as Nary told me her side, Mrs Cliff made me drink. It was something that tasted like old unwashed socks. Josh had moved his chair close to my side and took my hand in his, and as Nary spoke, she had her hand on my knee. They were both worried about me, not only because I could hardly speak, but because of the whole fucked-up situation.

  Damn Oscar to hell.

  When Stoke had turned up, I was grateful. Not only was I physically tired, but emotionally as well.

  Without words spoken, I followed him back to my house to see Talon, Griz and Vi still there. They had cleaned the house and fixed the window for the night, informing me a glazer was coming the next day to repair it properly. They also told me, after I saw the children to bed, that they organised someone to come by, who would install a security system in the house.

  My shoulders slumped in relief when I realised we were able to stay in our house. I didn’t want to have to move the children. I didn’t want to worry them more than they already were.

  Before Talon and his men left, after they mentioned Stoke was sleeping on the couch and I had a quiet panic attack, I tried to thank them. Until Talon came forward and laid one finger on my lips. What he said brought tears to my eyes. “Even if you weren’t Tank’s, we’d do this. My woman has taken a liking to you, and if I didn’t do this, she’d kick my arse. You’re Hawks, Malinda. You just need to get used to it.”

  When they left, I turned to Stoke as he ordered, “Try and get some sleep.” I gestured to the couch. “I’ll find the shit for it. Just get to bed, woman.”

  I studied him and watched him some more because my eyes really didn’t want to look away. Then I nodded and quickly retreated to my room where I had a shower so I could cry in peace. After the water turned cold, I climbed out and dressed into panties and a nightie. I crawled into bed and fell asleep right away.

  I looked to the clock on my bedside table. It read one am. I’d been asleep for only two hours.

  My mind was playing funny buggers. It wanted to relive the event over and over.

  Relive the hand around my throat.

  Relive the fright in my daughter’s eyes.

  Oh, God, she had been so brave.

  Wiping my eyes, I stood and made my way down the hall into the living room, and then into the kitchen. I grabbed a glass of water to cool my throat. After drinking it, I walked back into the living room and stopped.

  For a moment, just a moment, I had forgotten Stoke was there.

  However, the sight before me was now burned into my mind. There was a dim light from the street lamppost shining in through the large bay window. I could easily make out a shirtless Stoke laying on the couch with a blanket around his waist, his arms were up over his head. His muscled body was bulging. Unfortunately, his face was turned toward the couch and in shadow; I couldn’t see it.

  So I jumped when his voice rumbled, “Can’t sleep?”

  “B-bad dream,” I uttered. Relief washed through me as my throat didn’t hurt when I talked.

  He turned his head; his steel-coloured eyes pinned me to my spot. “Come here, Malinda.”

  My eyes widened. My pulse picked up and I shook my head.

  “Malinda,” he growled low. “Come here.”

  Maybe he wanted to talk without waking the children, so I took the couple of steps forward and stopped just beside the couch.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  He didn’t answer. He just looked up at me, and then in the next second, he reached out a hand, wrapped one around my wrist and I was pulled forward. He quickly shifted and I landed with my bottom in the crook of his hip. I scrabbled up, well, tried to, but his vice-grip on my wrist tightened. He moved again and tugged me down so I was laying in front of him on the couch. My heart was going crazy behind my ribs, wondering what Stoke wanted.

  I attempted to sit up, since he no longer held my wrist, but his arm quickly surrounded my waist and he snapped, “Rest.”

  “But—”

  “Malinda, just go to sleep.”

  “B-but—”

  “I’m tired. You’re tired. All we’re gonna to do is sleep.”

  “The children, if they see me here in the morning…” They’d get ideas.

  “I’ll wake before they do and get you to your room.”

  “But—”

  “Just sleep, woman.”

  Sighing, I slumped back into his heat. “Okay,” I whispered to the room. His arm around my waist gave me a squeeze. I didn’t think I would be able to sleep, but I did. I think what helped was the warmth from Stoke’s amazing body and the fact I felt safe in his arms.

  ****

  I woke to find myself in my bed. How I got back there I didn’t know. All I remembered was falling to a dreamless sleep against Stoke. A smile tugged at my lips, but I fought it back. Even if one of the most handsome men I had ever seen held me while I slept, to comfort me from my bad dream…there was nothing to smile about. I had lost a husband. A husband whose bullshit and deception was leaking into the house, seeping into my life and the children’s. Touching my throat with my fingers, I gently cleared it with a small cough. It felt ninety percent better. Mrs Cliff’s disgusting concoction worked a miracle. She should go into business.

  Once out of bed, I washed up, before donning my bathrobe and went to look for my children.

  Finding them in the kitchen was normal on a school morning. However, I decided last night they weren’t going, so when I spotted them dressed and ready for school, I was surprised.

  What I was also surprised about was that Stoke was standing shirtless leaning against the wooden kitchen bench, sipping coffee while Josh told him all about last night as if he hadn’t been there.

  “Morning, Mum,” Nary said from the kitchen table as she scoffed down cereal.

  “Morning, honey.” I smiled.

  “Hey, Mum. Did you know Stoke stayed here last night to protect us and that we’ll have other biker guy’s keeping an eye out for us if our dick uncle comes back?” Josh beamed.

  From a wide-eyed stare at my son, I turned them to Stoke and narrowed them. “Josh, language,” I snapped, and then said to Stoke, “A word, please.” With that, I spun on my heels and started for the living room, only to turn back around and tell the children, “Guys, go get changed. You won’t be going to school today.”

  “Awesome,” Josh yelled. Nary leaned back in her chair and turned her gaze from me to Stoke, so I looked to Stoke.

  “They should go,” he stated.

  “No, they shouldn’t,” I snapped. “Were you the one to tell them to dress in school clothes?”

  “Yes.” He smiled. “I was also the one who woke them up and got them ready for school because they should go.”

  “They had a traumatic weekend, Declan Stoke. I think they need to stay home.” Why did his eyes suddenly flare my way?

  “They need to get back into the swin
g of things, Malinda. They need to learn that life goes on, even if trouble is brewing. They know you all have Hawks at your backs. Nothing will happen to them.”

  I had an urge to stamp my foot and yell at him. Instead, my body tensed, my hands clenched at my sides and I scowled.

  “It’s okay, Mum,” Josh said. “Stoke’s right. School will be good for us.”

  Shaking my head to clear it, I turned my shocked eyes to my son. A son who would pretend to be sick to get a day off school. I looked to Nary, who apparently found this whole scene amusing.

  What was wrong with my children?

  “Still, honey,” I started quietly, “something at school could upset you or you could relive last night at any moment. I want you home for that.”

  “Mum.” Josh snorted and rolled his eyes. “We’ll be fine. Stoke’s gonna have men at the school and all. Isn’t that freakin’ awesome?”

  Jesus Christ on crackers. He’d brainwashed my children.

  Through clenched teeth, I hissed, “Yeah, baby. Awesome.”

  “Kids, go brush your teeth and pack your bags. A brother will be here soon to take you both to school,” he ordered with a smug smile upon his sinful, sexy face. A face I had a sudden impulse to smack.

  “Unreal,” Josh breathed and ran from the room.

  Nary stood from the table, walked to the sink, where Stoke was standing, and placed her bowl in. Stoke turned to her and asked, “You cool with school, girl?”

  A grin filled her lips. “Yeah, Stoke,” she said and walked my way. “It’ll be fine, Mum,” she added, and then gave me a kiss on the cheek before she walked out.

  A minute ticked by as I stood there in my robe with my arms crossed over my chest. Glaring up at Stoke, who remained leaning his cute arse against the bench, as he sipped his fucking coffee while his lips twitched.