by L. Wilder
“Absolutely, but Gus would want us to handle things here first,” Moose answered.
“Telling me what the fuck happened would be a good start,” I snapped.
“That’s just it, Bone,” Moose answered. “We got no fucking clue.”
“Well, you gotta know something,” I pushed.
Moose turned to Blaze, waiting for him to tell us what he knew. “All I know is Gus left the clubhouse to come by here and grab dinner for him and Samantha. Next thing I know, Cyrus calls to tell me that Gus is down.”
“Fuck. So, we got no idea who fucking did it?”
“Not yet, but we will.” Shadow turned his attention to Riggs. “We’re gonna need you to get the camera footage and see what you can find out, then we’ll go from there.”
“If something’s there, I’ll find it,” Riggs assured him.
“Good, ’cause it’s only gonna be a matter of time before the cops start asking to see it, and I want us to have dibs on it first.”
“I’ll do what I can to buy us some time with them as well.”
“Do whatever you gotta do.” Moose glanced over and noticed the cops questioning Cyrus while another questioned a couple of the diner’s customers. “’Cause this shit is gonna get messy with them involved.”
“I’ll head over to the clubhouse now and get started.”
“Thanks, brother.”
When he turned to leave, I asked, “What about Samantha?”
Samantha was Gus’s ol’ lady, and I knew the second her name left my mouth that neither of them had thought of her. “I’ll go by their place and bring her to the hospital with me.”
“Sounds good. Y’all head on over to the hospital. I’ll stick around here and make sure we don’t have any trouble with the cops,” Shadow replied. “Keep me posted on Gus.”
“You know we will.”
Dread washed over me as I hopped on my bike and started towards Gus’s place. I could still remember the first time I met Samantha. We’d just started getting the Memphis chapter up and running when Gus helped her out of a precarious situation. I knew from the first moment he introduced me to Sam that he was crazy about her, but I didn’t know just how much he really loved her until the day she walked out on him. The man was all fucked up over it, and I couldn’t blame him. He’d never cared about anyone else like he did her. After she’d disappeared on Gus, he was left wondering what the hell happened. It wasn’t until twenty-five years later when August—the daughter he never knew he had—came knocking at our clubhouse door looking for help finding her own daughter. That had been how Gus found out Samantha’s folks weren’t happy about the two of them being together—so much so, they blackmailed her using some video they had of Gus killing a man. While Samantha knew there were extenuating circumstances, and he was just protecting his brothers, her parents didn’t see it that way and used the information to force them apart.
Once everything was out in the open, the two quickly reunited, proving that theirs was the kind of love that could withstand all obstacles. Since then, they’d spent the last year making up for lost time. As I pulled up to the house, I took a deep breath, but it did little to ease the tightness in my chest. I got off my bike and climbed up to the front porch steps. I hadn’t had a chance to knock before the door swung open. Before I could say anything, a panicked expression crossed her face. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Gus, Samantha. He was shot.”
“What!” she cried, tears quickly filling her eyes. “When? How?”
“He was at the diner. Don’t know much more than that.” The blood drained from her face, and it gutted me to see her so upset. We all cared for Samantha—she was one of our own—and I wanted to help ease her worry, but I only seemed to make matters worse. “They’re taking him to the hospital now and—”
Not giving me a chance to finish, she gasped, “The hospital? Oh god. Oh god. It’s gotta be bad if they’re taking him to the hospital, right?”
“We don’t know much yet.”
“Oh god.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, “I can’t lose him, Bone. I just can’t!”
I stepped towards her, took her in my arms, and hugged her. She clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. “Hey, it’s Gus we’re talking about here. You know as well as I do, he’s not going out without a hell of a fight. We just gotta have faith that he’ll pull through this.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“You can’t think like that, Samantha. He’s gonna be okay. You’ll see.”
“Okay.” She looked up at me with tears streaming down her face. “When can I go see him?”
“Won’t know that until we get to the hospital. Grab your stuff and I’ll run you over there now.”
She nodded, then turned and went into the house. Seconds later, she returned with her purse and keys. As we started towards my bike, she suddenly stopped. “August ... I need to—”
“Gunner’s with her now, and if I know him, I’m sure they’re already on their way to the hospital.”
“She has to be so upset.”
“No more than the rest of us.” Eager to get the hospital, I motioned her towards my bike. “We better get going.”
I might’ve offered to drive her car, but I knew we’d get there faster on my Harley. Besides, she ridden with Gus many times, so I knew she’d be good with it. I grabbed the extra helmet from my saddlebag, and after she put it on, she climbed on behind me. As soon as she was settled, I started the engine, and we were on our way. Gus and Samantha lived in Midtown, so it took some time to get to the hospital. By the time we finally arrived, most of the guys had gathered in the ER’s waiting room. Samantha followed as I walked over to Blaze and asked, “Any word?”
“Got him stabilized, and he’s on his way up to surgery.”
Samantha looked like she was barely holding it together. “Any idea on how long it will take?”
“No, but if I had to guess, it’s gonna be awhile.” Blaze placed his hand on her shoulder. “He’s in good hands, Samantha.”
“I wish that made me feel better.” She shook her head as she tried to fight her tears. “I should’ve known something was wrong. It was getting so late, and he was just going by the diner to pick us up a bite to eat. I was really starting to worry when Bone showed up at our door. I just don’t understand how this happened.”
I wanted to tell her that we were looking into who had shot him and that we’d make them pay for what they’d done, but it wasn’t the time nor the place. At that moment, the focus needed to be on Gus and him making it through surgery. With that in mind, I said, “None of us do, but we’ll figure it out. For now, let’s try to keep a level head and wait for him to get out of surgery.”
“That’s easier said than done, but I’ll try.” Samantha took a quick glance around the room, and when she spotted August in the corner talking to Gunner and Gauge, she said, “I’ll be right back.”
Once she’d walked away, I turned back to Blaze and asked, “Heard anything from Riggs?”
“Not yet, but he’s at the clubhouse now going over the camera feed. He’ll call as soon as he knows something.”
“When we find out who’s responsible, they’re as good as dead.”
“Agreed, but for now, we’re stuck here waiting.”
I’d never been a patient man, especially when it came to the club, but at this point, I had no choice. I had to find a way to keep it together until we knew more. I gave him a nod, then went to find a place to sit. I needed a minute to clear my head, so I made my way to the back of the room and sat down. I looked around at all my brothers and their ol’ ladies, and my chest tightened as I thought back to the days when Gus first started building our Memphis chapter. He’d chosen every man sitting in that room. Even when no one else could see it, he saw the good in each and every one of us and brought us together as one solid unit. Studying each of them, I realized that there was no clear line between my brothers and the family I was born into. Like the blood in our veins, our f
eelings of brotherhood ran through us like a river, deep and wide, to our very core. That thought gave me a small ounce of solace. I knew with my brothers at my side we could get through anything—even this.
After several long, torturous hours of waiting, Kenadee appeared in the waiting room. She was the lead nurse on duty, so I knew she’d be the one with information on Gus’s condition. I followed Samantha and Moose as they rushed over to speak with her. Samantha was the first to say, “Please tell me he’s okay?”
“He made it through surgery,” Kenadee answered calmly, “and he’s holding his own right now.”
“But?” Samantha pushed.
We all listened silently as she admitted, “His wounds were extensive. He lost a lot of blood. The bullet that went through his abdomen grazed his liver and spleen. The doctor removed his spleen and stopped the internal bleeding. His head wound is a different matter. It will be days, maybe even weeks before we know the true extent of the damage the bullet caused.”
“I need you to be honest with me, Kenadee.” I could hear the anguish in Samantha’s voice as she asked, “Does he really have a chance of coming through this?”
“I know it’s hard to believe that a person could survive a gunshot wound to the head, and rightly so. The survival rate is very low because there’s no room for the brain to move and the shock waves from the bullet often cause irreversible damage. But for some people, the bullet velocity is high and there is no side-to-side movement or wobble. In these cases, the bullet is able to pass through non-critical parts of the brain and less damage occurs, making survival possible. The doctors believe this is the case with Gus.”
“Why do they think that?”
“Since there was an exit wound, they’re hoping that the bullet only damaged a small portion of his brain,” Kenadee replied. “And if they’re right, Gus is a very lucky man.”
“And it will be awhile before we know for certain?”
“Yes,” Kenadee replied. “The next twenty-four hours are critical. If his stats remain the way they are now, his chances will be much better. But Samantha, I need you to understand … if Gus pulls through, it’ll be just the beginning. He’ll have a long road ahead of him. We all love him, you know we do, but the man is strong-willed and stubborn. He’s going to need you to stay strong and help see him through this.”
“I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”
“We all will,” I added. “Whatever he needs, we’ll see that he has it.”
“I know you will.” Kenadee glanced over to Blaze as she said, “I better get back. I’m sure they’re wondering where I am.”
“Thank you, Kenadee.” Samantha reached over and hugged her. “It means so much to me that you’re looking out for him.”
“Of course.” Kenadee hugged her back, then turned and started down the hall. “The doctor should have some more information soon. I’ll be back to fill you in when he does.”
As soon as she left, the others came over to see what all was said. After she gave them the run down, Samantha said, “I really appreciate you all being here and I’m sure Gus would, too, but it’s late. You should all go home and get some rest. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“I’m not leaving until we’re certain he’s going to pull through,” August argued.
“Honey, I know you’re worried. We all are,” Samantha glanced over to Harper who was sound asleep in Gunner’s arms, “but you need to get Harper home and in her own bed. You can come back first thing tomorrow. That goes for all of you. I know you all have families of your own, and that you’re exhausted. Please, go get some rest.”
“And what about you?” August fussed. “We’re just supposed to leave you here alone?”
“I’ll stay with her,” I volunteered. “You go on home like she said, and we’ll call if anything changes.”
“Okay, but please call the second you hear anything. I don’t care what time it is.”
“We will, sweetheart. I promise.”
August gave Samantha a hug, then said her goodbyes. As she and Gunner left, several of the others followed suit. Moose, Blaze, Shadow, and Murphy stayed behind, but after Samantha’s insistence that they go home, they finally gave in and left, leaving the two of us alone in the waiting room. It wasn’t until then that Samantha finally broke down and started to cry. Hoping to give her some small comfort, I sat down next to her, but it did little to help. Even as she leaned her head against my shoulder, her tears continued to fall. I understood her pain. Hell, I was feeling it too. Gus wasn’t just my president, he was my brother. I’d spent the better part of my life at his side, and the thought of losing him was more than I could stand. I remained silent for almost an hour, giving Samantha the time she needed to collect herself. When I saw that she was still struggling to pull it together, I looked down at her and said, “He’s going to make it through this, Samantha.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“’Cause it’s Gus.” Her eyes met mine. “You know I love him ... respect the man more than anyone, but he’s the most bull-headed, stubborn sonofabitch I’ve ever met. No way in hell he’ll let some asshole with a .45 get the best of him. He’ll pull through this, if for no other reason than to prove that he can.”
She wiped the tears from her cheeks, then rested her head back on my shoulder. I knew I hadn’t eased all her doubts, hell, I had plenty of my own, but at least I’d given her a little hope to hold on to. She’d need it if she was going to make it through this thing with Gus—we all would.
10
Alyssa
I knew something was wrong. I could see it on Beckett’s face when he went rushing out of the house. I’d hoped that he would touch base the following night and tell me what had happened, but he never showed. That’s when I started to worry and tried calling Clay. When he didn’t answer, I tried calling Landry, but again, no answer. It was after ten. They both should’ve already been home. That, and the fact that Clay always answered when I called, made me even more concerned. I knew there was a possibility that they were just busy or might’ve been in bed, but after the way Beckett had left the night before, I couldn’t help but think something was really wrong. I was growing more concerned by the second, so I got in my car and drove over to Clay’s. Just as I was pulling up, I spotted Landry getting out of her car. When she noticed that I’d parked behind her, she started walking towards me. Even in the dark, I could tell from her expression and body language that she was exhausted. I rolled down my window. “Hey, Landry.”
“Hey, girl. What are you doing here so late?”
“I know I’m probably being crazy and all, but I tried calling y’all and when neither of you answered, I got worried. I thought I’d run by to make sure everything was okay.”
“I’m sorry.” Landry sighed. “I saw that I missed your call and I was meaning to call you back, but with everything that’s going on, I forgot.”
“So, there is something going on?”
“Yeah.” Landry’s expression grew somber as she said, “Gus was shot the other night, and we’ve been spending a lot of time at the hospital.”
“Oh, no. Is he okay?”
“Honestly, we aren’t sure.” I knew how much Gus meant to both Clay and Beckett. He was like a father figure to the entire club. All the brothers loved and respected him. I could only imagine how distraught they were over him being shot. “It’s pretty bad. They were afraid he wouldn’t pull through, but right now, he’s holding his own.”
“That’s awful.” I didn’t know much about the club life—just what I’d heard from my uncle, Viper. He was the president of the Ruthless Sinners in Nashville, and like Gus, he had a reputation for being hardcore. There weren’t many who were crazy enough to mess with him, and I had no doubt that the same held true for Gus, making me wonder who would’ve gone after him and why. “Do they have any idea who shot him?”
“If they do, they aren’t saying anything, but that’s no surprise.” Landry shook her head. “When it
comes to the club, they’re all tight-lipped. Never really know what’s going on. It’s just part of it.”
I’d noticed that neither Clay’s bike nor his truck were in the driveway, so I asked, “Is Clay at the hospital?”
“Yeah. Even though the doctors won’t let them see Gus, they still want to spend as much time as they can there.”
“I understand.” As much as I wanted to ask her how Beckett was doing, I knew I couldn’t. We’d both agreed to keep our “friendship,” or whatever one wanted to call it, under wraps, so I’d just have to wait and see for myself when he finally came to see me—if he came to see me. I knew Landry was tired, so I put my car in reverse and said, “I’ll let you get to bed. Be sure and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“I will, and I’ll be sure to have Clay give you a call tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Landry. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I pulled out of her driveway and headed back home. When I walked in, I couldn’t believe how empty and hollow the house felt without Beckett there. I missed him. I missed him even more as I got into bed and rested my head on the pillow. My heart ached as I reached over and ran my hand across the spot where he usually slept. It seemed strange that a man could have such an effect on me after such a short time; nonetheless, he had. I knew how much he cared for Gus, how worried he must’ve been, and it pained me to know that I wasn’t there for him. He’d been so sweet and supportive when I needed someone the most, and I wanted to be able to do the same for him. Sadly, I couldn’t do that unless he’d let me.
It was late and I had to work the following morning, so I tried to force the thoughts about Beckett from my mind in order to fall asleep. I was just starting to drift off when I heard a knock at my door. Hoping it might be him, I tossed the covers back and rushed into the living room. When I opened it, relief washed over me when I found Beckett standing on the porch. He was wearing the same clothes he had on when he left, and with the dark circles under his eyes and his day-old beard, he looked completely exhausted. “I’m sorry it’s so late.”
