“Yeah, but we’re going to put a stop to it. You okay, man?” Hunter was peering into my eyes, in all probability; trying to figure out what had suddenly made me so talkative. All those words were pouring out of me in a gush, because I wanted to do everything I could to stop thinking about Brooklyn, and her brother.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I snapped at him, and emptied the beer down my throat. The others were silent as they watched me get up and go to the bar again. My heavy-duty Military grade boots crunched on the floor as I walked up and ordered three more bottles of beer. I had every intention of emptying those three down my throat as quickly as possible. I was hoping that if I was drunk enough, then I wouldn’t be thinking about what I was trying so hard to forget.
I came back to the table and realized that the topic had changed.
“You need to get some new tats, man,” Sniper said in a joyful mood now. I knew what he was talking about. Every member of Bad Disciples got their mark; one the life side of their chest, a tattoo of a skull with a crown. My dad had it and so did Bryce and so did every patched member around me.
“Let’s do it tonight,” I said and Glock laughed, like I was joking.
“Wait, you serious? It’s going to take a couple of sittings and we’re going to war tomorrow,” he added, his smile dropping when he saw me glaring at him. The word “war” reminded me of Jenson again, and the land mine I wasn’t able to save him from; and I shifted in my seat.
“Yeah, whatever, fine,” I mumbled under my breath angrily and chugged down half a bottle of beer while the others watched me.
“What’s up with you, man?” Tank asked, creasing his brows as he looked at me intently.
“Nothing,” I said and banged the bottle down on the table. “Nothing’s wrong with me, I just want to get this thing over with,” I said, and Brooklyn’s face floated up in front of my eyes.
If I was going to stop these thoughts in my head, I would have to do a lot more than drink a few beers.
***
I woke up the next morning, in what seemed to be someone else’s apartment. It took a few minutes for the fogginess in my eyes to clear and for me to recognize that it was Glock’s place.
The room was lit brightly and I could see that it was early morning. Lying on my belly, I squinted my eyes against the light and tried to think about the events of the previous night, but that was a failed mission.
I couldn’t remember how I got there or what happened after the first three bottles of beer that I drank. I was on Glock’s couch and I moved and felt my brain rattle in my head. With a groan, I crashed back down on the couch and tried to sit up again. My limbs ached, my bones seemed to crack and there was a massive continuous throb in my head. I had tortured myself the previous night, knowing fully well the degree of the hangover I would have to go through the next morning. But I would have done anything to numb the pain. I’d smoked at least two packs of cigarettes, or at least that’s how my lungs felt that morning.
My mouth felt dry as well and when I cleared my throat, my vocal cords squeaked and rubbed painfully against each other. I knew my throat was going to feel hoarse all day. I flipped myself around on my back and stared up at the ceiling.
The previous night had been one of the worst drinking sessions I’d put myself through in a very long time. And I might have been able to forget Jenson and Brooklyn for the time being, but this morning, they were back fresh and with a vengeance in my mind and I felt like I was going to explode.
I couldn’t help but think about how peaceful I’d felt that morning when I woke up with her in my arms. How she’d smiled at me when she got up and revealed her bare body to me. I missed having her ass in my hands! How was she the first thought in my head these mornings? Why couldn’t I think of anything or anyone else but her?
I knew it had been a bad idea to drink that much, especially since today was going to be an important day. I knew we were all going to regret this and I wondered what Axel would have to say to us when he saw our condition.
“Yo,” Glock had walked into the room and I heard his voice before I saw him. Even turning my head hurt and I groaned again.
“Wow. You were on a roll last night,” he said and somehow, I managed to sit myself up on the couch. It was then that I noticed that Sniper was sleeping on the floor beside the couch while Hunter was sprawled on the carpet in the corner of the room.
“Did we all sleep here?” I asked Glock groggily, while he turned on the coffee machine. Sniper and Hunter moved when they heard our voices. Sniper was moaning as well.
Glock smirked as he prepared mugs for us.
“Yeah, looks like it. I have no idea how we got here,” he said.
Hunter was looking out of the window.
“All our bikes are here,” he said and pressed his temples with his thumbs. Sniper groaned and fell back down on the carpet.
“Today’s the big day!” Tank had walked into the room now, looking as fresh as someone who had just returned from the gym. He was showered and shaved and his ponytail looked shampooed too. How the hell had he managed to do that?
He clapped his hands together, rubbed them and walked over to help Glock with the coffee.
“Did you drink at all last night?” Sniper mumbled sleepily from his position on the floor and Tank looked at him, like he had been asked a silly question.
“Of course. I’m so fucking hungover!” he said and Glock looked at me with a knowing smile. We were all jealous of Tank’s ability to soldier through a hangover.
“We have to go back to the Pelican now,” Glock said, when he brought the mug of coffee to me. I took it from him, grateful for something to drink and gulped down the coffee even though it was burning my tongue.
“Yeah, I just got a call from Axel. We’re going to start putting things in motion now,” Tank informed us and Sniper started attempting to get off the floor again.
“I’m going to have to meet up with you guys later,” I said, finishing the coffee in a hurry.
“Where do you have to go?” Glock asked and I stood up from the couch, slightly unsteadily.
“I have something to do first. I’ll meet up with you guys there in a few hours,” I said and Tank followed me around the kitchen as I emptied the dregs of the coffee in the sink.
“You can’t keep disappearing on us like this, man. This is really important.” Tank started lecturing me and I clenched my jaw.
“I said I’ll be there. I just need to get something done first,” I said, glaring back at him.
“Guys, guys! Relax. Tank, he said he’ll be there and Gunner, just hurry up. Axel doesn’t appreciate delays,” Glock intervened and Tank threw me a threatening look before turning away from me.
I said nothing more to them, as I picked up my helmet from the floor near the front door and then walked out of Glock’s apartment. I could feel the energy returning slowly to my veins. The coffee had worked wonders. Either way, I didn’t have the time or the liberty to lick my wounds this morning. There were more important things to worry about than a fucking hangover.
I had to get Brooklyn out of that place no matter the cost.
17
Brooklyn
I woke up with a gasp when I heard slamming on my front door. I realized that I was still wearing the corset and the black pants from the previous night. Events from the previous night hurled through my brain and I remembered why and how I was so afraid. The slamming on my front door returned. Whoever was doing it was in a hurry and was angry. The only person it could be was Viper or someone from the Dragon Knights.
With a shiver running down my spine, I hesitantly got out of bed. The banging on the front door hadn’t stopped and now it sounded like they were going to break down my door any minute. In the mirror in my bedroom, I caught a glimpse of myself. My curls were a mess, my makeup was smudged and there were dark circles around my eyes where my eyeliner had run and pooled. I looked like a complete hungover mess and I wrapped my arms around myself in fear.
&nb
sp; Something was about to happen. I could sense it in my bones. It had to be Viper. He was here to teach me a lesson on respect. No woman ever raised their hand to a member of the Dragon Knights. I had done something unthinkable and I would have to pay the price for it.
My feet trembled on the cold floor as I came closer and closer to the door. The banging grew louder and it looked like it was going to break apart any minute. There was no escaping this. Eventually, they would find me…Viper would find me and I would have to face the consequences. It didn’t matter whose sister I was, or whose daughter. The fact that I had slapped one of them put me in a position where I deserved punishment.
I tried to strengthen myself and I jutted my chin up in the air. There was no point being afraid of him. I had done it to defend myself, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. If Luke had taught me one thing, it was to never regret anything.
My hands were trembling as I unlocked the door and gently, I pried it open. The person on the other side pushed against the door wildly, flinging it open and I gasped in fright. But it wasn’t Viper, in fact it wasn’t anyone from the Dragon Knights. Gunner was standing in front of me, with his shoulders heaving and his body towering over me as I craned my neck to look up at his face.
“Brooklyn!” he said my name like he wasn’t expecting to see me. I parted my lips, but no words came out because I couldn’t believe how relieved I was to see him. I’d assumed I would never see him again. After our argument the previous night, I didn’t think he would have no reason to seek me out.
But, Gunner just kept showing up.
He was studying me closely, looking me up from my face, down to my disheveled clothes and then back to the mess of my hair. His blue eyes were stormy, his chiseled jaws were clenched.
“I was hoping you would be here,” he said, in a less panic-stricken voice and I gulped. Then he looked past me, into my apartment and I saw the creasing of his brows. He stared at my lipstick that was smeared around my mouth and looked back at the apartment again. That’s when it struck me. I knew what he was thinking.
“Is there someone in there with you?” he asked and then brushed past me as he stormed into the apartment. I closed the door and followed him in, as he looked around the living room. When he turned to me again, I softened my gaze at him. I didn’t blame him for assuming that I’d brought someone home with me. Not after how I’d behaved with him, or how stubborn I was being and the state he found me in this morning.
“There’s nobody here, Gunner. I’m by myself,” I said to him and dropped my gaze to my feet in embarrassment. I was glad to see him, and I wanted to apologize. After the way Viper had behaved with me, the way the other guys had looked at me when he was talking to them about me…my memory of their conversation in the diner…I knew there was some truth to what Gunner had told me. Besides, there were butterflies in my stomach from my relief of seeing Gunner again. I felt safe in his presence.
“Brooklyn…” he said my name gently and I stepped towards him in a rush.
“Gunner, I want to apologize for last night,” I interrupted him and stopped in my tracks as I saw his watching me closely. There was silence between us for a few moments, before he spoke again.
“And I’m sorry for the way I left last night. I should have stayed there and made sure you were back home safe,” he said and I pursed my lips together, to suppress a cry that I knew was coming.
He saw the look on my face and came closer to me, although he was still being careful not to touch me. I didn’t blame him. I had tried my best to make it clear to him that what we had was in no way a growing relationship.
“It’s okay. I came home safely,” I said and met his eyes again. Gunner looked like he hadn’t slept well. There was a shadow of a beard on his cheeks and his eyes looked tired. Whatever he had been up to the previous night…he was still here the first thing in the morning and that was all that mattered. I wanted to be in his arms again.
“But you’re not safe yet, Brooklyn,” he said and I gulped, before nodding my head in agreement.
“I know, I believe you, Gunner,” I said and he ran a hand through his hair and took in a deep breath.
“There is something else we need to talk about,” he said.
“We don’t have to talk about it right now,” I told him. I wanted him to know how happy I was just to have him there. I didn’t care about the other things.
“No, we should talk about it now, Brooklyn,” Gunner insisted and from the look in his eyes; I could tell that he was going to make sure he got his way.
I sighed and shook my head.
“Okay, so you’re a member of the Bad Disciples and I’m associated with the Dragon Knights. It’s complicated, I know…but I’m sure we can work around it somehow,” I said and clasped my hands together in desperation. It was more than just a small complication, and I knew that better than anybody. But having Gunner in my life was more important.
He was staring at me, like I was speaking nonsense and then a glaze came over his eyes. He looked away from me.
“That is a problem, I recognize that…but there is a bigger issue that we need to address first,” he said and I knotted my brows in confusion.
“You mean the prostitution ring? I believe you, Gunner…I’ve just been in denial that they could be capable of something like that. But I know there is truth to what you’re saying,” I said and he finally looked at me again.
“Brooklyn…your brother. You said that he’s in the army,” Gunner said and my heart felt like it had been grabbed by icy cold hands. Why was he referring to Luke now? I could feel myself panicking.
“Yes…” I said but he interrupted me.
“He’s not in the army anymore, is he? He’s…” he said and my hands flew to my mouth. I had to stop myself just in time from crying.
“Don’t say it, please Gunner, don’t say it!” I cried and he lunged towards me and took me into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn…if I could, I’d do whatever it took to make this easier for you,” he said, breathing into my ear as he held me tightly to his chest.
“Why are you talking about my brother? Did you know him?” I asked, and pulled away from him. I was peering into his eyes now, looking for clues on his face and I could see that Gunner was avoiding looking at me.
“Gunner…please, just tell me what’s going on. Don’t bring up Luke and not tell me why,” I cried, growing rigid in his arms while he tried to formulate the words.
“Yeah, I knew him…I knew him as Jenson,” he said and I could see that he was struggling. I tried catching his gaze, to get him to look at me.
“How? Why did you know him as just Jenson?” I said and I felt the grip of his fingers tighten on my arms. He looked up at me finally, from under heavily hooded lids, his blue eyes had turned the shade of an angry cloud, just before it’s about to break into heavy rain.
“Because we were together in Afghanistan. I was the Captain of his team,” he said and I felt his fingers release me and I stepped away from him. My hands had flown to my mouth again and I could feel hot tears pricking the backs of my eyelids.
“You were in…” I couldn’t get the words out. Gunner’s face looked dark, I could see he was struggling with his own emotions.
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn…I was there that day. It happened in front of me. He stepped on a land mine and I knew I should have stopped him. I was responsible for my men. I knew it was dangerous. But he kept walking. I thought I had it under control…” Gunner was speaking too quickly for me to get all his words. He was mumbling and growling under his breath, running his hands over his hair repeatedly.
I rushed to him and placed my hands on his muscular strong arms, trying to calm him down but he wouldn’t look at me again.
“Gunner…please, Gunner, please just stop,” I said and watched as he suffered. I wasn’t an expert but I could tell that he was suffering from some degree of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and I wanted to help him. Talking about Luke hadn’t affec
ted me as badly as I would have expected it to. I just wanted to make Gunner feel better.
“Please, just listen to me, Gunner…” I cried in a louder voice and he stopped fidgeting and finally looked me in the eye again. His eyes were glassy, he was miles away from here.
“It wasn’t your fault. When Luke signed up for the military, he knew exactly what he was getting into. He told me if he died for his country, it would be the proudest death I could wish for him,” I said, my lips were quivering but I kept going on. “I miss him, Gunner…I miss him every day and I wish it never happened. But I know my brother, I know he would never blame you. He wouldn’t even have blamed the people who put the land mine there. He was doing what he wanted to do and he died doing it,” I said and held his gaze, as rigidly as I could. Gunner’s eyes watered, for a split second, and then it disappeared. His face was reddish but the color was returning.
“I didn’t know you were his sister, Brooklyn…and I had no idea he was a part of the Dragon Knights. Neither of us had a clue we had both grown up in Long beach,” he said and I forced a weak smile on my face.
“I know. I can’t imagine that you did…and he mentioned his captain on a phone call to me once. Alton, he said that he was glad he had you as a leader,” I told him, confessing the truth and I saw Gunner’s eyes light up.
“And he spoke about his sister, B, and how no one would be good enough for him because of how much he adored you,” he said and a laugh mixed with a cry rose up in my throat.
“That didn’t stop him from banging everything in a skirt,” I said and Gunner and I both laughed. I wiped the tears from my eyes and smiled at him.
“Bastard,” he said teasingly under his breath and then we fell into silence again.
“Brooklyn…I will never let anything happen to you. Jenson was like a brother to me, even though we knew each other for a very short time,” he said and I nodded my head.
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