The Ties That Bind Us

by Annie Buff

  “You go too. You knew her better than anyone and she needs that. I’ll handle Ajax.” Isadora walked away with a smirk, she was being treated like the men and that meant something. She also needed to change into leathers and grab her gun. Not knowing what they’d run into on the road she had been taught to always be ready. The one time she had questioned her father about being ready, she asked him ready for what. He gave her the only answer he could and that was; ready for anything.

  He watched his daughter walk away. Ajax was none too happy about her going out, dealing with the dead was his job but Smoke called an audible. The thought of arguing crossed his mind but the cleaner let it go. Saving grace was Renegade, he would keep an eye on her.

  The three hit the road heading towards the bakery. Ren took lead, Krispy brought up the rear. They had boxed Izzy in, shielding her from any harm they might come across. Krispy was fairly certain they wouldn’t find Cheyenne’s body but knowing his woman and the fact she needed some peace they would go looking. Isadora rode like she was born on a bike, and before long each one had relaxed enough to play tag as they were riding. They had just made city limits when the tail was spotted. Renegade throttled back to let Isadora lead. With the threat coming from behind she was safer out front.

  “Take the fire road home!” Renegade yelled loud enough for her to hear him clearly but being as stubborn as her old man, she ignored him and reached for her weapon. He saw the movement and shook his head, she was definitely as hard headed as his queen. Renegade slowed enough to be side by side with his brother.

  “ We need to cut them off, put some distance between Izzy and them. Damn girl of yours ain’t gonna listen.” Krispy was well aware, she had no intention of backing down and just going back to the compound. The gun in her hand said as much. He gave Ren a nod, looking over his shoulder to see how much company they had; six coming. Those odds weren’t ones he’d bet on but keeping Isadora in one piece was all he had on his mind so he reached over his shoulder and let his Colt do the talking.

  Isadora heard the shots being fired, knowing her gun only held five shots she gunned the throttle and took for the fire road. She was within spitting distance of the dirt turn off when she heard the boom. It didn’t take long for the fire in her arm to ignite. She glanced back and saw a lone rider, he was wearing colors but she wasn’t close enough to see the affiliation. Izzy did her best to keep the bike on two wheels but the burn was more than she could handle and as she made the left onto the dirt road it happened; Isadora went down hard.

  The Sportster slammed into a mesquite tree while Izzy tumbled through the brush barely missing an overgrown Cholla cactus. The boulder she crashed into stopped her slide of she would have wound up some thirty odd feet down the hill.

  Gravel stuck to her arms and neck and she felt the dripping if blood down her back and side. Isadora knew just how bad this was, still hearing the echo of shots through the canyon. The lone bike had slowed enough to know whoever this was, he was after her and she had two choices; run or hide. The choice was simple, Isadora had to run. Thankfully the adrenaline was rushing through her or she’d have never made it to her feet.

  Desperately needing backup she reached into her back pocket for her phone, the screen was obliterated, rendering the phone completely useless. It took her just seconds to get her bearings and start running. He was behind her, she could hear the crunch of twigs getting louder and his voice as he taunted her. “Hey little girl, I’m gonna get you! Stop running and come play with me. We got a bunch of guys dying to have a little taste of the cleaners daughter.”

  The shiver that went down her spine made her physically shake. She knew with out any doubts if he caught her killing wasn’t on his mind, it was something much worse. With him closing in Izzy wasn’t going to be able to outrun him, especially bleeding like she was so she had to find a place to hide.

  The best cover was still a mile in and with him so close, making it that far was doubtful. She glanced over her shoulder to see if he was in sight as she fled, when she turned back around she caught a low branch smack in the middle of her forehead successfully knocking to the dirt. That’s all the time her pursuer needed to catch her.

  “Oh what fun this is gonna be.” He spoke though rotten teeth as he took a fistful of her hair and began to drag her through the brush towards the road.

  Isadora was starting to go into a full fledged panic attack. If he got her to the highway she was done for. Even the kicking she had started didn’t deter him. This man had every intention of taking her back to wherever they stayed and doing things to her she only imagined in nightmares. Just as she was totally about to lose it she remembered her gun tucked securely in the back of her jeans. She reached up and started swinging, catching him in the crotch. As the creep doubled over from the pain of being punched in the balls she made her move, grabbing her gun and in a quick aim and fire he went down. She discharged the other four bullets into his midsection, it was a reflex out of fear. She saw the body, bloody and still. The grey shirt he had on was slowly turning red and that’s when it hit her; she had just taken a life.

  Renegade and Krispy heard the echo, knowing it came from the old fire road. Krispy took care of the last foe, gunning the throttle. Renegade was right behind him, both men knew Izzy was in trouble. As they got to the fire road they saw the skid marks. Krispy had begun to panic, thinking the worst. Ren kept his head as he looked at the scene. Her bike was a mangled mess and there was some drops of blood.

  “Kid stay calm, look around here.” Renegade spoke to him and pointed. “No body is a good thing. She wrecked and ran so we go down the road slow like and look. Keep your shit together and reload, just in case.” Krispy knew he was right but Isadora was his life and if something bad happened he would never forgive himself. They went at a crawl until they saw the old Hog parked by a tree. Ren stopped close enough to feel the engine. It was barely warm, meaning it had been here for a bit. She was still out there somewhere. No man would leave his bike out in the middle of nowhere, that was biker rule 19. No bike gets left behind. Seeing footprints in the dirt they both dismounted and took out on foot. Krispy saw the disturbance in the brush and immediately knew which way to go.

  They found Isadora sitting and rocking back and forth. Then they saw the body of the Bastard that came for her. There was no way he wasn’t dead. Krispy went to her and knelt beside her.

  “Izzy baby are you OK? Ah kiss my dick, you’re shot! Baby look at me!” She looked up and he could see it, the blank stare. She was in shock and he wasn’t sure if it was blood loss or killing another human but either way he had to get her home.

  “Joshua, I think I’m gonna be in trouble.” The words were softly spoken. She was worried about the cops but he knew cops weren’t coming, it would be Smoke that came. He’d heard Renegade on the phone with the president telling him they needed transport and Bones.

  “Baby don’t worry, Smoke is coming. We’ll fix everything and if shit goes south Jace will handle it. Can you walk? We gotta meet Smoke on the road.” She nodded and he helped her to her feet, keeping his arm around her. Izzy was unsteady and Krispy assumed both the injury and the killing were to blame. He couldn’t fault her, remembering his first kill. It took a couple days to sink in but it was kill or be killed and he was barely nineteen then.

  They made it just steps before the wobbling started. She had to stop and sit, so Smoke would just have to find them. Krispy reached for his phone but Renegade had beaten him to the punch. Smoke knew where they were so he just knelt down beside her and started talking about random things to keep her focused.

  “Wanna go to dinner? It’s Two For One night at Handlebars, I know how you love wings. What do say baby? You wanna go?” Izzy looked at him but didn’t speak, she had that damn blank stare again. It looked very much like the one Peyton had after shooting Skinny and that pissed him off. Isadora was pure and kind, she wasn’t a killer but their enemy turned her into one. He wasn’t sure if she would ever be the same after
this.

  RECOVERY Smoke and Bones went as far as they could before parking Bones truck and heading out on foot. Bones had his medical bag in one hand and a Glock in the other, Smoke had both 1911’s locked and loaded. Renegade had cleared the area but both men aired on the side of caution just in case one of those assholes came back.

  Smoke was just happy the cleaner wasn’t on property when he got the call, Ajax was going to freak out as it was. He didn’t need him getting in the way while Bones took a look at Izzy. They had walked about fifteen minutes when the president spotted his vice. He could see Krispy knelt down next to his girl. She was covered in dirt and blood.

  “Kid, you OK? How bad is she?” Smoke asked as Bones stepped in to tend to his patient. “Dunno Prez, she’s in shock. Definitely been shot but I don’t know what else. I don’t think he had time to do anything to her, fuck I hope he didn’t touch her!” Looking at her Smoke was fairly sure she wasn’t violated but he had to know for certain.

  Smoke sat down next to her so he could get some answers. “Hey,” he spoke fairly softly. “He didn’t…” Isadora shook her head, letting him know the bastard didn’t have his way with her. A gunshot he could handle, rape was a completely different story.

  Krispy stood just to the side of his girl, letting the doc take a good look at her. Bones glanced up at him. “Carry her to the truck, walking will cause more bleeding and I’m not sure if the bullet fragmented.” He nodded and scooped up Isadora and gently situated her so he could make the two mile hike back to the truck.

  Smoke stood back, giving Renegade orders on what to do with the body and the lone riders bike. The corpse would be dismembered and scattered in the canyon while his bike would be disassembled and used for parts.

  As Smoke caught up with Bones and Krispy he was on the phone with Falcon. Someone needed to retrieve Krispy’s bike and he needed the ramps to load up Izzy’s Sporty. Leaving it was like a trail of breadcrumbs and nobody needed to know what had happened here.

  The drive back wasn’t long but Bones drove gingerly so he didn’t jar his patient. Krispy hadn’t let her go, cradling her to his chest and trying to keep her warm. It’s wasn’t cold out but shock had set in. He figured it was more from shooting someone than being shot herself.

  Isadora closed her eyes, trying to rid herself of the fear she felt being dragged through the desert. She just knew if he got her away from there awful things were going to happen. “Joshua,” she finally spoke. “I want wings.”

  “I’ll give you anything you want baby. How bad are you hurtin’?” It was funny how she wasn’t feeling much of anything at the moment. Krispy knew when the shock wore off the fire would start again.

  They made it back to the clubhouse before Ajax got wind and Bones had her in his office in the nick of time. The cleaner’s hog rumbles down the dirt road that led to the property. Smoke didn’t have any choice here, her father had to know what happened.

  It was a quick conversation before Ajax busted through Bones office door. “What the fuck went on out there! You were supposed to keep her safe!” He barked at both Renegade and Krispy trying to get to Izzy who had just been given some pain medication.

  “Get him out of here!” Bones screamed staying in between his patient and her father. Krispy stood up and told Ajax exactly where to go and how to get there, that’s when the first punch flew. Krispy returned one of his own before both Smoke and Red threw them, literally threw them out of the clubhouse and down to the dirt.

  “You stupid moth er fucker! We got between her and the assholes so she wouldbe safe. How the fuck could we know there was one waiting up the road! Wanna another go round? I am so game cleaner!” Krispy bellowed. The kid was furious and everyone understood why. Before the fight could continue Old Red took a hold of Ajax shirt collar and gave him a look. Every man standing within eye shot knew what that meant. If your president has to physically hold you, well you’re over the line and the best thing to do is just get a hold of yourself no matter how pissed you are.

  “Walk it off Ajax, no need to fight amongst ourselves. Save it for the Bastards, I got a feeling we’re gonna need it.” Ajax didn’t go far. Just a few yards away and leaned up against a tree, glaring at Krispy. He knew the kid could see him, hoping to scare the shit out of him.

  Smoke stood on the steps so his brothers could see and hear him clearly. “We need to figure out how they knew where we were.” Yes they did, what bugged Krispy was they were on property when the plan was discussed.

  “ Prez, I think I know. One of them fucks walked that box to my trailer right? How easy would it have been to plant a bug or some kind of listening device. We wasn’t paying attention. I was getting my ass chewed for my shit yesterday which I deserved by the way. Can Jace get one of them things that finds stuff like that?” Smoke nodded, he had a sneaking suspicion the kid nailed it.

  “First thing we check is that box, look around brothers. If it doesn’t look right then yell. Jace will get the equipment needed to find whatever we’re looking for. Falcon I need you to secure the perimeter. I don’t care how you do it, trip wires, mines, whatever you gotta do. And kid, go check on your woman. She needs you.”

  Krispy nodded and sent Ajax a fuck you smile. He knew he was pushing his limits with his future father-inlaw but he didn’t have a fuck to give as far as that went. Isadora needed him.

  The men dispersed as Smoke and Red went to have a word or two with Ajax. He was still glaring, more at the presidents than at Krispy at this point. Red just chuckled, he knew the horse collar he gave wasn’t going to be appreciated but the old man really couldn’t care less. He ran the show in his club and that included reigning in his cleaner.

  “I really don’t like you right now.” Ajax spat at both Red and Smoke. “You throw me out when my daughter is hurt then you stop the ass whooping that kid had coming, what the fuck!” Smoke just shook his head.

  “Seems to me you needed a little adjustment. Just be glad I didn’t let Peyton have at you. That woman shoots first and then asks questions, so be thankful you don’t have any new holes.” Smoke chuffed a laugh and it was true. Peyton didn’t take any crap from anyone including her husband.

  Ajax knew he fucked up but making the admission was going to hurt. It would wait until he got word on how Isadora was, then he’d apologize to the presidents and the clubs. “Can we check on her? I gotta know how bad it is.” Smoke nodded and gestured for him to lead his way back to the clubhouse door.

  Isadora sat on Bones exam table, still bleeding but she had started to clot. The doctor was setting up the instruments he would need to care for his patient. “Ok here’s what’s gonna happen, first is bullet’s gotta come out but I’m gonna need to take your shirt and whatnot off. You alright with that?” He asked her but it was more directed at Krispy than Izzy. She nodded and Bones continued his questions. “Want something to cover with?” Again the posed question was meant for the kid more than her but she shook her head.

  “No, it’s fine. They’re just boobs and if you haven’t seen boobs yet we got a problem.” Isadora snorted a laugh the immediately winced from jarring herself.

  “You sure baby? You’re alright without being covered?” “Yeah it’s just us. I mean I don’t want an audience but Bones is a doctor and you’ve seen them up close and personal so yeah, let’s just do it.” Bones cut her shirt and bra off her and got to work, going as easy as he could. Krispy helped as much as he could but when he heard the clubhouse door open he took off his cut to cover her. Nobody else needed to see his girl.

  Bones had the bullet out by the time the three entered his office, he was in the middle of irrigating the road rash on Izzy’s arms and neck. She nodded at her dad when he appeared in the doorway. Krispy however didn’t move from her side. He didn’t care if the Pope was there, she was his priority.

  Ajax was less than thrilled at his daughter having no shirt on and only being covered by Krispy’s Devils cut but he kept quiet. He already started a shit show in Bones office,
no need to make the situation worse.

  Bones gave Smoke a quick rundown on her injuries, none were life threatening but she would be bruised and very sore for a few days. “I’m giving her some amoxicillin as a preventative measure and Vicodin for the pain. Kid knows how much and when. I welcomed her to the club since she got her first scar in the line of duty.” She smiled for the first time in hours.

  “Dad relax, I’m ok just a little shaken up. And I got the bastard so one down and a dozen more to go right.” She did do that and Ajax had a proud parent moment. The apple didn’t fall far. He was certain he shouldn’t be proud of her killing but she did it and did it with style. She was still fighting the shock and that he could see.

  Bones had her cleaned up and bandaged what need to be bandaged, leaving her to put on an old flannel shirt he kept hanging in the corner of his office; stepping outside to give her some privacy.

  “She needs to take it easy, no bike for a week. I told her all this so she’s aware. And kid, no sex for the same. Anything like that could pull her stitches and if you tear them I won’t redo them, got it?” Krispy got the message loud and clear. It would suck but he would handle it.

  Smoke sent Krispy after Isadora, there were things he still needed to know. He sat with her on the steps while she answered his president.

  “Can you tell me exactly where you were when you first saw the asshole who shot you?” “ Yeah, mile marker 338. I had just passed it when I saw him. The burn started like five seconds before. I think he had to be right there. I’m guessing but it makes sense right.” It made perfect sense, any further away and the chances of missing his target increased.

  “Do you remember hearing the shot?” She didn’t, not for sure. Shots were being fired but Izzy just figured it was Renegade and Krispy. Then all of a sudden she looked up at her father.

  “Holy shit dad, when did you grow hair?” Ajax had to laugh, the shock was obviously wearing off and she had started to joke with him. “And a freaking beard? It’s like super red dad.” Yes it was and he had a sneaking suspicion his baby daughter would receive those red genes too. Morgan had the beginning of peach fuzz on her tiny head.