Daunting Turns: Book 2 of Colson Brothers Series

by Reese Madison

  “Three broken ribs and a mild fracture to his fibula, although that’s been there for six months.”

  “The fracture? How did he get it?”

  “I wasn’t there Miss. Would you like me to drive?”

  “YES!! Thank you!”

  “Resuming control now. I have enough power for a good seventeen hours.”

  I stood up looking back once to make sure we’re still between the yellow and white lines on the road. “I think you and I are going to get along just fine Daisy.”

  “I hope so, he’s an ass.” She hit the gas and I laughed. I think Daisy is mad at Turner. I’ll have to sake her later exactly why. Not that she doesn’t have plenty of reasons, but I’m curious what could make a computer mad at him.

  Turner is on his back looking like hamburger. I started with his boots very gently.

  He groaned, “Leave me.”

  “Never. You took the beating, you can take the pampering.” I told him going for the second boot.

  “My cut.” He mumbled.

  “On my back at the moment. You’re still a member baby.”

  He groaned, “I know that. Fuck.” He complained trying to move.

  “Sit still. Turner, stop, please.” I begged as he tried to sit up.

  “We have to get out of here.”

  “We are getting out of here. Daisy is driving, please lay back baby.”

  “Fuck.” He fell back. “That was the best ass kicking I’ve ever had.”

  I laughed, “Are you kidding me?? You liked that?”

  “Oh God yes. Only Joe and Goat can deliver. Finally.” He whispered and passed out cold.

  I sat up and started crying uncontrollably. What in the world could make this man enjoy such a beating? Does he really hate himself that much? Yeah. He does.

  I watched him for a minute. Poor baby. He almost looks sweet when he sleeps. Don’t be fooled, one flinch and he’d have me under him with dark blue eyes and a mission. I doubt three broken ribs could stop him from taking me if he really wanted.

  I quietly got up and closed the door to find the panel under the table. “Daisy?”

  “Yes Miss?” She dutifully replied.

  “Is he okay? Or should I take him to the hospital?”

  “He’ll be fine Miss, let him sleep it off. Where would you like to go?”

  “Let’s go home. I think he needs a time out where he feels safe.”

  “What about your father?” She asked softly.

  “You listen in?”

  “Yes Miss.”

  “I’ll call him now. Turner needs to go home.”

  “Agreed. Setting course now. You should get some rest too.”

  I looked down at my jacket and felt my ass hit the floor. “He took that beating for me.”

  “There’s wine behind you Miss, I’d pour if I could.”

  I buried my face in my palms. “I can’t keep up with this kind of love.”

  “There’s an incoming call Miss.”

  I sniffled and looked up, “Who is it?”

  “It’s Salina baby girl. You okay?” She sounded like she was hiding.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Turner is a little worse off, but he’s okay.” I felt like I was scrambling.

  “Good. Listen, Gunner is the only one taking this harder than he should. Do me a favor and lay low for a while. Slider said he was proud of you.” She added lovingly.

  “I’m taking him home to Colorado for a while. I can’t think beyond that at the moment.”

  “I know sweetheart. Just breathe, right now, let me hear it.” She encouraged making me smile.

  I inhaled and let it out slow, “Okay. I can do this.”

  She laughed, “Of course you can. You won the heart of a Colson, if you think this is all you’re in for, you’re sadly mistaken. Take care of him. From what Slider said Turner pretty much told them to kill him.”

  “What??”

  “Yeah. I guess Slider told him to let you go. Turner said over his dead body. Joe suggested the ring. Pain for pain.” She informed me.

  “Oh shit.”

  “Yeah, so keep your man up in the woods for a while. We’ll call you if we need you.”

  “Thank you Salina, and

  “Don’t.” She interrupted. “You’re a sister now. Call me or Red if you need anything. You okay?”

  I sighed feeling better, “I got my man back, I’ll be fine.”

  “Slider will be able to sleep knowing you said that. You’re a good woman Georgia, even if you’re a few cards short of a full deck.”

  “I love you too.” I hit the End button realizing for the first time what love really is. It’s big. Really big. And there’s different levels. So many layers. I think I get it now.

  I tucked the RV away in a remote campground later that night. It’s not easy to park in the dark, but I was on autopilot. Daisy assured me Turner was still asleep, but I have this need to get to him, comfort him.

  I flipped on the light and inhaled, “You need a bath.”

  “I need you, come.” He woke up easily and reached for me.

  I took his hand, “Later. You need to eat so you can heal, and I need to check some of these wounds.”

  He groaned, “Nag.”

  “Tonight, yes. You did good baby, but I wish I hadn’t seen that.”

  He let me help him upright. “I told you to go inside. Then you put your fucking head down on the stage. That was worse then getting the shit kicked out of me.”

  “I thought you liked the beating.” I argued helping him out of his shirt.

  “Don’t be funny.” He scolded reaching for me, “I want you.”

  I swatted him away, “Not now. I’m still a little freaked out here.”

  “Now.” He rolled and bit his lip as he took me under him, “I need you right now.” He ripped my jeans with one of his super-strong hands and slammed into me so hard I gasped an arched.

  “Easy!!” I laughed because I can feel his desperation.

  He stopped and propped his body weight up on his hands. His eyes waited for me. “Sorry.”

  I cupped his beautiful bearded face, “I’m just glad you’re home.”

  “Just so you know, you’re stuck with me now. I’m your charge.”

  My eyebrows shot up, “What??”

  “You own me wife. One word from you and Joe will end my life, for you. This is what I’ve brought you. This is what it means to love me.”

  I blinked and tried to breathe, “I don’t own you, it doesn’t work that way. I can’t have a member as a charge, that doesn’t work.”

  “It does if Slider says it does.” He corrected me.

  “I don’t want to be in charge of you.”

  “Want to hear something really fucked up?” He has a hint of humor behind the pain. I can tell he’s hurting, but it’s not enough to stop him from what he has to say.

  “Always.”

  “A part of me wants to know if you have the guts to dominate a man like me.”

  “Oh really??” This took me by surprise.

  “Not tonight. I’ve been dominated enough for one day. I need my wife now.” He lowered and kissed me as he made sweet tender love to me.

  14

  The next morning he rolled right into me. “My peaches.”

  I laughed as my goodies welcomed him, “You’re not right, you know that?”

  He moaned as he moved more gently than I’m used to from him. His breath is desperate in my ear. “You submitted to me in front of the entire club. You saved my life.”

  I welcomed him even though taking his full length so quickly still hurts. When he plunges in he has to have the control to stop about halfway. He can go all the way, but I need a minute to adjust.

  He came so hard I felt it inside me. “My peach.”

  I hugged him close and hard, “Yes, always yours.”

  He lifted up suddenly, “So yes?”

  I’m confused, “What?”

  “Yes?” He’s being cryptic on purpose, and I
knew immediately what my sneaky man was going for.

  I rolled my eyes, “Yes, yes I’ll marry you.”

  He jumped up and ran for that steering wheel stark naked. “Fuck, I need a beer.”

  I laughed grabbing a blanket to take with me as he all but ran everyone over leaving the park. “Turner!! Slow down!”

  “Food woman, I need food. And a beer. A beer would really be good.” He seemed more relaxed now than I’ve seen before.

  I tossed a blanket over his lap and handed him a beer in a cup that a police officer wouldn’t pull him over for drinking from. I don’t believe in drinking and driving, but one beer for a 350 pound man is not going to make him a bad driver.

  “What do you want to eat?”

  “Like that ever mattered. Just hurry up so I can get your naked ass back on my lap.” He’s grouchy again.

  “You be nice. I went through hell listening to you getting your ass kicked.”

  “And I’m the one who got his ass kicked. Feed me baby, so I can stand up straight at the alter.”

  “Then you better turn around, because the only way I’m marrying you is having my father walk me down the aisle.”

  He slammed on the brakes tossing me to the floor and making me laugh. “Turner!!” I yelled at him.

  He was on me like flies and helping me up, “You okay?”

  I dusted myself off. “Yes!! But dammit!! What was that??”

  He lifted my chin, “You want a real wedding, white dress and all that shit?” He’s dead serious, and completely petrified.

  I put my hands on my hips and hopped up on my toes, “Yes. And you’re going to wear your cut in front of God and everybody and declare your love for me.”

  “I can do that, but you’re going to wear a dress?”

  “What’s the big deal?”

  “A big white dress, like an angel?” He’s baffled and so adorable.

  “Yes, are you okay?”

  “No. Not since the minute you walked in the fucking door.” He set me on the couch. “Fuck.” He complained sitting back down in the driver’s seat.

  “You should be resting.” I scolded him getting back up. “And now I have bruises from Daisy. Can you please try not to hurt me for five minutes?” I teased.

  “I should be committed for what I’m about to do.”

  I went to sit in the passenger seat as he started the truck. “What exactly are you planning?”

  “You’re going to meet my mother.”

  “I am??”

  “She’s going to shit bricks.” He laughed and shook his head.

  “Why? I mean, I figured we’d meet eventually, but you being a hermit and all…

  He looked at me so I stopped.

  “What??” I’m so lost.

  “I’m not a hermit. Hermits are crabs that live in a shell. I live outside when I’m not at the cabin.” He corrected looking almost insulted.

  “Okay, fair enough. When was the last time you saw your parents.”

  “I haven’t seen my father since I was fourteen. Mom I see each other every couple years or less.”

  “You and Bull don’t get along?” This didn’t surprise me.

  “Not exactly. Let’s just say I was the biggest disappointment.”

  “How? You have money, you wear his patch. What more does he want?”

  “Me to take Slider’s place.”

  “Whoa. Really?”

  “I’m the next in line, at least that he saw. There is another brother who qualifies, but he’s not interested either. That’s why Joe is trying to secure the club with his kid. He might be a half brother, but he’s trying to keep it in the family the only way he knows how.” He explained.

  “Does Red know that?”

  “Red owns Joe’s controlling shares of the club. Actually, he gave her the property and owns the controlling share of the business. I’m not sure who has more money, him or Cord.” He complained.

  “You.” I corrected.

  He laughed, “No baby, most of my money is tied up in here or the cabin. I have an income that supports the two, but nothing substantial beyond that. Bret is actually the real money man.”

  “Oh yeah, I’ve heard what he did to Red.”

  “He did that to Joe, if he was doing it to her she’d be dead.”

  “Huh?”

  “Bret didn’t want to hurt Carly, he wanted to fuck with Joe. As kids they had to be separated and watched closely. Bret never liked that Joe got to prospect at fifteen and he got sent away.”

  “Why did Bret get sent away?” I asked going for some water.

  “He wanted to use the club to run hard drugs. We don’t mule drugs, especially the hard shit. A little pot now and then is not a big deal, and that’s grown in the states and mostly for in-house sale. We don’t fancy ourselves drug dealers, especially when it comes to crossing the Mexican border. You don’t want to get mixed up with those guys.” He scolded me.

  “I knew that, I guess. Maybe it’s just nice to hear it out loud. I can remember thinking it was nice not to see many drug charges cross my father’s desk, but I never gave it much thought beyond that.”

  He looked up in the mirror, “Are you bringing enough for two?”

  “Yes Dear.” I handed him a bottle and sat back down. “Is that how Bret got so rich? Running drugs?”

  “Surprisingly no. He fell into a few land deals and the rest is history. Now he spends his days fucking with people.”

  “Has he ever messed with you?”

  He laughed like that would be ridiculous, “No. We had one run-in, that was enough.”

  “Is he big and mean too?”

  “I don’t know, but he’s not big or mean enough to take me down. We have an understanding.”

  “I don’t ever want to see you getting hurt like that again. I’ve never been so scared in my life.” I said sitting next to him in the passenger seat. He hasn’t pulled back onto the road yet.

  He looked at me, “You can take the jacket off now if you want.”

  I forgot it was still on, which is surprising since it weighs a ton. I touched the Men of Mayhem badge on the front. “No thanks. How did you get this?”

  “When you marry me I’ll tell you.” He teased.

  I looked up at him funny, “Seriously?”

  He smiled, “Take that leather off and come here.”

  “No, you have three broken ribs, and another broken bone??” I added the last part remembering what Daisy had told me.

  He shrugged, “I never bothered to splint it right. Only hurts when it rains.”

  I felt my face screw up, “You are the definition of mountain man aren’t you?”

  He shrugged and flinched, “I’m going to be stiff for a month. Fucking Joe has a nasty left hook.”

  “I can’t hear this.” I covered my ears.

  “Good thing you weren’t around when he was a kid. Talk about scrappy. That boy would fight just to fight.”

  “Maybe he was looking for a way to feel too.” I suggested not really thinking about it. The mental image of Turner taking punches from Joe was still too fresh.

  “What did you say?” He asked oddly.

  “Huh?” I forgot already.

  “Repeat what you just said.” He ordered.

  I blinked and had to think, “Oh, just that you couldn’t feel pain, maybe he couldn’t either. I don’t know, it slipped out.”

  “It might have slipped out, but I think you’re right. Red must have the same voodoo on him you have over me.” He rolled his eyes and held his hand out, “Get over here wife.”

  I got up knowing that tone and not wanting to challenge him at the moment. “It’s not voodoo, I just happen to like you.” I settled onto his lap and realized it was like going home. There’s no other place I want to be right now.

  “Still can’t admit you love me?” He tugged the collar of his leather jacket. “Thought I said take it off. Are you defying me again wife?”

  I put my head on his shoulder. “This is w
here I belong.”

  “Why aren’t you taking this off?” He asked.

  I slipped out of it and set it on the opposite chair. You don’t just toss them on the floor, unless there’s heated sex involved, then you might be forgiven. Otherwise your leather is treated with respect.

  “That’s better.” He slid his hand under my shirt. “I should take a shower, I think my hand just cracked.”

  I took it out and kissed his crusty knuckles, “Go on, I’ll drive. Where are we going anyway?”

  “Colorado Springs baby, just stay on this road. We’ll stay a couple nights in Albequerque, there’s somebody there I want you to meet.”

  “Besides your parents?” I stood up to let him out and take over driving.

  “Yes, he’s the reason I didn’t end up killing myself before I was twenty.”

  “I don’t see you as the suicidal type.” I argued settling into the seat.

  He started to bend over to kiss me and stopped short, “Damn, I hate broken ribs. I wasn’t suicidal, not like that.” He changed direction and went to the back.

  “Why did you run away so young?”

  “I didn’t run, I was sent away. Bull and I can’t be in the same room without wanting to kill each other. I hate him for what he did, how we all came about. I hate what it did to my mother growing up. I think he’s a sick bastard and I’m ashamed to call him my father. When he tried to break me like the others I almost killed him. He threw me a patch and told me to get lost until he needed me. I’ve lived chapter to chapter for almost thirty years.” He laid down on the couch.

  “I thought you were going to shower.”

  “Too stiff. I’m going to take a nap. Daisy, keep an eye on my wife.”

  “Yes sir, but you should know, I don’t have eyes.” She informed him.

  “You have cameras, close enough. Smart ass.” He flipped that internal switch and snored lightly ten seconds later.

  I laughed, “If only I could do that.”

  “What’s that miss?” Daisy asked softly through a speaker on my left so just I could hear.

  “Pass out like that. Do you know where we’re going?”

  “Yes. I’ll bring it up on the display for you.”