Crusher

by Carson Mackenzie

  I looked up at him, his expression the same as before until he smiled at me, “I see now why Sami can’t so no to you.”

  Speed’s expression changed to a smirk, “You’ll get used to it. We’re family, doesn’t matter how we got to be, we just are. You’ll figure out soon enough that if I want it, I usually get it, little sis,” he said with not an ounce of shame in his voice.

  “Really, little sis? I just find out we are related and you decide to start our relationship out but insulting my size?” I cocked my eyebrow at him.

  “Did we not just cover that I get my way?” he said and his grin grew bigger.

  “You do know we are going to be screwed in a few years, right?” I watched his eyebrows draw together at my words.

  “What makes you think that?” he asked.

  “Ally already shares your looks, if she gains your attitude—no one will be safe.” I couldn’t help it, I laughed.

  “Fuck, when were we safe before?” Reed said and the silence of the moment was broken. Well, until Crusher moved in behind me.

  “Taking off by yourself was an asinine move. With the shit that went on at Haven, your ass should have known better.” I could physically feel his eyes burning into my back. I hung the pump back in its slot and capped my tank before I turned to face him. When I did, I damn near smacked right into his chest, he was so close. A do-rag covered his head with a small amount of his brown hair curled up over the edge and his eyes were hidden by the sunglasses he wore. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at me. I made several decisions while at Haven and him acting like a dick was making me reevaluate one.

  What the hell, every time this man opened his mouth it brought the worst out of me, whether he was right or not. This time was no different so, as if I had no control over myself, I jabbed my finger in his chest, “Do you think because I have blond hair that I’m clueless. That I don’t know what went on at Haven? Are you assuming that I can’t take care of myself? I missed the memo where you get to tell me what the fuck to do. So why don’t you go fuc...” Before I could finish I was shoved to the ground, then popping sounds filled the air, tires squealed, and I felt a white hot burning in my thigh. The commotion around me picked up, bikes were started and the smell of burning rubber laced the air and I could only listen, though I had words in my mind, I couldn’t push them out my mouth, the pain was excruciating. I could literally feel my blood pumping through my body.

  “Carly! And get away from the fucking gas pumps,” was screamed from several and then a pair of arms grabbed me up and I felt as the person ran while whispering to me, “Hang on, baby, I got you. I got you.” Then more loudly, “Devil, need you here, brother!” Crusher, it was Crusher who held me, whispered to me as I shivered, my last thought before blackness took me was when had it turned cold.

  Crusher

  “What the fuck is taking so long?” I asked the nurse behind the desk. I wished we would have been at home at our hospital but there’d been no time. Carly had been transported to the closest hospital from the gas station we were at.

  I’d never been so scared in my life. Not when I was in the desert and bullets flew by me and my unit. Not when I was alone and laid on a roof surrounded by the enemy while I waited for my target to step out from their cover so I could take the kill shot. I’d done and seen a lot in my time in the military, but watching the blood pump out of Carly’s thigh at an alarming rate, had made every other incident I was involved in seem insignificant.

  One minute we had been standing there as a group, talking, joking, and then the pickup moving a little too slow on the road caught our attention and when the window went down on the passenger side, I knew it wasn’t just someone wanting to feel the wind blowing in. Everything happened in seconds, the first bullet fired from the gun sticking out of the window hit the pole separating the pumps. I knocked Carly to the ground but heard two more pops, then someone yelled about getting away from the pumps. I grabbed her up and started to move before the sound of return fire entered the mix, shortly followed by the squealing of tires. When I raised up, I had made it to our bikes that had been parked to the side and I looked around to see Speed, Coast, Reed, and the man they called Moose had weapons out. Then I looked down at the woman I held and Carly’s eyes were closed and as I ran my eyes over her body, they stopped on her right thigh and the blood that was soaking through her jeans at an alarming rate. I yelled for Devil and he raised from his squatted position and headed my way.

  When we talked about making this trip, I had first thought that not everyone needed to come, however, Devil being there, had been the one thing the paramedics said that had kept Carly from bleeding out there in the parking lot. Lance Cummings, Devil, had spent his army career as a 68W, his training as a medic had saved countless lives, and today he could add one more to his tally. He’d acted swiftly and proficiently in tying off Carly’s thigh with a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

  Coast, Flirt, Reed, and Crank pulled out of the parking lot after the fuckers while Speed and I were torn between Carly and wanting to go on the hunt but only for a minute. The others would find them if we were lucky, and family meant more at the time than vengeance. That could always be done later.

  “Sir, like the last time you asked. They will come out and inform the family after they evaluate Ms. Monroe. Are you related to the victim?” She looked up from her computer screen at me.

  “I’m her brother,” Speed said as he walked up beside me. “She was unconscious when they brought her in, can you at least tell me if she woke up for them?”

  “No, sir. They are evaluating her in the back, they will let you know when they are done. I’m sorry.” The nurse turned back to her computer as if to dismiss us.

  “This is bullshit.” I paced back to the seating area where Wild Bill, Jag, Moose, and Devil sat, dealing with the local cops.

  “Mr. Borelli, our town here is relatively quiet, though you have been more than cooperative, I have my doubts about this being a random drive-by.” The officer said to Wild Bill, then looked at each of us then continued, “By the vest you gentlemen—”

  “Cuts, they’re called cuts, Officer Comer. And though we appreciate your dedication to your job, your assumptions we can do without. We told you what happened. You got to ask your questions and we answered those. We even supplied you with concealed pistol licenses for our weapons. We went as far to explain we met at the gas station so Ms. Monroe didn’t have to ride the roads alone from visiting her hometown. Which considering she was randomly attacked at one of your so called quiet town gas stations, we are glad her brother asked us to come on the trip. So unless you have more questions, I think you have all you need. Maybe you and your partner could hunt down the shooters since they are running loose, while we are here and will continue to be here until Ms. Monroe is released.” Damn, I’d never seen Jag in attorney mode, it was fucking impressive. Officer Comer was determined to get in the last word.

  “You didn’t explain where the other four of your ga...crew went? Why are they not here?” Yeah, we all caught that he wanted to call us a gang and his sneer just made him a bigger dick than I thought before.

  “They went to pick up some clothing for these two,” he pointed to me and Devil who wore Carly’s blood on our clothing, “members, Officer Comer. Just members, not gang-members, nor part of a crew. We are members of an MC. It stands for Motorcycle Club, officer, in case you don’t understand the term.” Wild Bill was even impressed with Jag if the smirk on his face was an indication.

  “It took four to purchase clothing?” the officer asked.

  “Considering we were shot at a gas station in this town, a couple more of us should have went with them.” Later I would recall this and laugh at the look on the officer’s face, but now I just wanted answers on Carly.

  “Hope Ms. Monroe recovers quickly. We’ll leave you men for now. And I will be sure to call the sheriff station in each of your counties to check on those licenses you showed.” The o
fficer stood and his partner stood.

  “Go ahead and give the sheriffs a call, they’ve both been notified that you would be calling. They have your name, shouldn’t be too hard to get a hold of them. Oh, did we not inform you that Ms. Monroe was one of our sheriff’s deputies. That must have slip my mind. Have a good day, officers.”

  We all watched as Officer Comer and his partner stopped at the nurse’s desk and said something before walking out.

  “Goddamn, son, we could use you at Haven. Nothing like pissing off the cops and being correct in doing it,” Wild Bill said and shook his head.

  “I’ll stick with Black Hawk, I like my relaxation time and I don’t think I would get much at Haven.”

  Wild Bill slapped Jag on the back, “You are probably right.”

  The doors swung open from the back and a man in a white coat walked toward us. “Who is Ms. Monroe’s family?” The doctor clarified more when we all answered that we were. “Her immediate family?”

  “That would be me. Kane Weston.” At the doctor’s questioning look, Speed elaborated, “I’m her half-brother, same mother, different dad.” The doctor nodded okay.

  “Well, do you know your blood type, Mr. Weston? Ms. Monroe has lost a lot. She is currently being prepped for surgery to repair the artery and with her blood type we only have a few pints in our bank, it may not be necessary but we could use a little extra in case she needs it. She’s type A-.”

  “Not a problem, doc. I have the same blood type, A-. Where do you need me?” A nurse walked out from the back while the doctor was talking to us.

  “Just follow the nurse here, she’ll take you back to donate.”

  “Doc, how is she doing? She going to be okay?” I needed validation on her being okay and thank God Speed waited to follow the nurse because I didn’t think they would talk with me otherwise.

  “We aren’t expecting any issues to occur, but since we can’t know what will happen when someone is put under, we take all precautions. Barring nothing going wrong, she should come through just fine. Depending on her progress after surgery, that will dictate how long she has to stay in the hospital. We will let Mr. Weston know how everything goes after the surgery. Now I need to get up there, they probably have her prepped. Mr. Weston, if you will follow the nurse, we will be set. Gentlemen.” The doctor turned and went back through the swinging doors with Speed and the nurse following.

  Devil stood and pulled his cell out and was walking toward the doors to outside. “Something wrong, brother?” I asked.

  “Going to call my dad. Need him to check something for me. I’ll let you know, it might not be anything, I’m just curious.” He walked out before I could question him further.

  I sat down by Wild Bill and he looked over at me, “What’s up with you and Carly?”

  Jag coughed, stood, and walked to the vending machine while I looked at Wild Bill. Moose stood and looked at Wild Bill, “Prez, if before the gunfire was anything to go by, I’d be more apt to ask when is the wedding and if you needed to bring a shotgun for it.” Moose walked to the vend machine to join Jag.

  “Who needs a shotgun?” Speed asked as he sat down, pulling off the cotton ball from his arm and looking at it. Must not have seen anything because he got up, threw it in the trash, and came back to his seat.”

  “Maybe me? I asked your friend here what’s between him and Carly? You, I’ll get to in a minute, get ready to answer some questions about when you are marrying my daughter.”

  The saying ‘saved by the bell’ came to mind as Crank and Flirt walked into the waiting area. When my eyes met Flirt’s he nodded and it answered why Coast and Reed hadn’t followed them in. They’d caught up with occupants of the truck.

  Chapter Seven

  Crusher

  After informing the nurse at the desk, we stepped outside with Flirt and Crank and found a sitting area off to the side. When we reached it, I noticed Devil first and he looked up from where he was sitting and quickly ended his call to walk over and join us.

  “Where are they at?” Wild Bill was the first to speak.

  “Keg called Hawk, he is sending Shock and Freak to pick them up, Prez,” Crank answered. I wouldn’t have known who Crank was referring to if Reed hadn’t introduced himself by his club name. Sami and Carly never called him by it.

  “Why are your boys coming down to get them? Black Hawk might want to deal with them. Don’t forget, we were there too.” I looked at Wild Bill.

  “The important reason, they shot Carly. You want more, if Keg called back for transportation, they’re from Haven, which means I got a couple more of Stone’s little following hanging around, buying their time, spying for that weasel. Crank, who the fuck was it?”

  “Tater and his brother, Spud.” This was not the time or place but fuck, I had to ask.

  “Are those serious names?” Wild Bill shook his head.

  “They got the names because they have to have potatoes at every meal, doesn’t matter: breakfast, lunch, supper, they eat them. Spud was stripped of his patch right before I took over after my dad’s death. Dad nailed him for siphoning off the top on runs. Spud paid back what Pops calculated he took, that and the fact Tater was Stone’s buddy and Stone vouched for Tater, they didn’t kill the fucker. Stone had moved up quickly in the club, his first leadership position in Haven was as an Enforcer. When the VP died, Stone was voted in.

  “I stripped Tater of his patch after Stone went on the run. So they are going back to Haven because I need some info from them. After that, if there is anything left, be glad to give you a call.”

  “Where do they have them at? Going to be a couple hours before your boys get here?” I looked at Flirt.

  “Abandoned farmhouse, edge of town, you can’t see it from road. The only reason we knew that is where they went was the dust cloud from the dirt road they were flying on. We parked our bikes where they couldn’t be seen from the road and walked through the field to get to the house. They weren’t staying there, we checked. Plus, Coast got them to admit they had seen the road and just took it to get off the main one. They didn’t know the house was there either till they pulled up.” If Haven left the guys with Coast a little longer, I had no doubt the man could get the info out of them. When he left Delta Force, the CIA had recruited him heavily for SOG, Special Operations Group. But Emery Cortez had been ready to come home like the rest of us.

  “They coming here after Haven picks those two up, Flirt?” While I waited for Flirt to answer, I noticed Devil had Wild Bill off to the side talking with him. I knew Devil was on to something and when he was ready he would let us know. My phone rang and I pulled it out, when I looked down at the screen, private caller was there again. Fuck, I had forgot with everything going on that Coast was supposed to track that shit today. I wasn’t in the mood to worry about that shit, Carly was my priority now. I was ready to admit that the day I met her she became my priority. Crazy? Fuck yeah. However, I’d been all over the world with the military, slept with every type of woman, but none radiated or showed the kind of strength Carly had.

  My phone rang again as did Speed’s. What the fuck was going on today? Saying shit seemed to hit the fan was an understatement. Devil was still standing by Wild Bill who was currently on the phone, Flirt stood with Crank and Moose talking, and Jag was standing between Speed and I as we answered our phones.

  As I listened to Stroker talk to me, Speed’s ‘goddammit’ alerted me to the fact he was talking to Sami and it was said loud enough to draw the other men’s attention too.

  “Yeah. Everyone’s okay though? Good. Yeah, we got it all handled on this end. Sure thing, Prez, I’ll let them know.” I hung up just as Speed was finishing his call.

  “You first, Speed,” I said.

  “It was probably the same info you were getting from the Prez, except mine was laced with being scared but moving toward pissed off woman.” Speed took a deep breath and I knew he was trying to calm his own self down.

  “Don’t tell me that son-
of-a-bitch made a play for my daughter and granddaughter? I will peel that asshole’s skin off his body one layer at a time when I get him. He should have stayed gone, now that I know he is back, I will lift every rock till I find him.” Wild Bill’s face made me fear he was going to be headed for the bed beside Carly.

  Speed looked at Wild Bill, “Only if you get that bastard first. He has upset my woman and my daughter, his days are numbered. He should have kept his ass away from Black Hawk, now he is stuck in the middle of two clubs, his only option is death because even the choice of how he dies is taken away. It will be slow, it will be painful, and then his life will be over.

  “Sami sounded more pissed than scared. Seems Stone didn’t come himself, ID on the one Brax nailed was Toby Sams. Sami let Sheriff Lance know he went by the club name Creeper. Sheriff Lance came out, asked some questions, talked with Brax. The coroner already came and picked up the body. No charges on Brax. They had to have been watching because when Brax stopped the guy at the gate, he told Brax he was sent out to get some last minute measures on the garage extension. Brax stepped in the shack and texted Stroker because he noticed the biker boots the guy had on when he went to the window of the truck. Sami said since he never got the clubhouse, Ally had no clue what was going down, the dads had been playing games with her when Brax had texted. The dads told Sami they would be back that they needed to check on something. Sami understood they were trying to evade saying anything in front of Ally. They wouldn’t let her even go down to the gate after it was over.” Speed shook his head then finished, “I think that is why she is mad. You know from Prez what went down at the gate, so what was it?”