by Harley Wylde
I studied him and could see the tension lines bracketing his mouth. His body was strung tight, and even though he was saying and doing all the right things, I could tell that something was off with him. I just didn’t know what.
“Why are you staring at me?” he asked.
“Because I feel like you aren’t telling me something.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I just wish I was out there hunting Whitby. I’m not used to sitting on the sidelines when trouble comes knocking. For fifteen years, I’ve been the one kicking in the door on the bad guy, and it’s hard to set all that aside and just… wait.”
“Are you staying here because of me and Janessa, or because you were ordered to?” I asked.
“You see far too much,” he murmured, then smiled faintly. “A little of both. I don’t like the idea of leaving either of you, but yeah, I was ordered to stay put. After what Whitby did to you, and the way he ran Hillview, I want to be the one to put him in the ground. If he hadn’t been so crooked, Janessa never would have been held in that place, and you wouldn’t have been put in a position where you felt the need to protect her.”
“I love Janessa, and I’d do it all again if I had to,” I said. “I don’t regret keeping her safe, no matter what they did to me. And I don’t blame her or you for what happened. Whitby is an evil man, and so were the people who worked for him. No one is responsible for his actions except him.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Only you would see through all that and realize I feel guilty as hell that she ended up in that place. But I’m glad that by finding her there, I was able to get you out of that place, too.”
“I was scared when I saw all of you come into the room. You’re all so big I knew I wouldn’t be able to defend myself against you. But then I saw the way you looked at your daughter, and the way you spoke to her told me that you weren’t a bad man. I wasn’t so sure about the others, though.”
“Yeah, I guess we can be an intimidating lot.” He rubbed a hand along his jaw. “But every one of my brothers would lay down his life for you or Janessa. You’re family. You know that right? The first time Torch showed up at the house he asked to see my girls. He knew even then both of you were mine.”
I pressed my cheek to his chest and held on tight. “I like being yours.”
“That’s good, sweetheart, because I’m never letting you go.”
His words warmed me, and despite the fact a deranged doctor was out there lurking, I couldn’t have been happier than I was in that moment. We just stood there for a while, his arms around me, as the sun began to rise and fill the kitchen with its warm, golden rays. I still battled my demons, but I was getting better. With every day that passed, I healed a little more. Maybe one day I’d be as close to normal as anyone could ever get. Tex insisted there was no such thing as normal, but for me, being normal meant I wouldn’t jump at shadows, I wouldn’t relive the moments from Hillview on a nightly basis, and I wouldn’t distrust every man on sight because of what a handful of men had done to me. While every staff member at Hillview was a monster, I could count on one hand the men who had ever physically hurt me.
I sat at the table and sipped on some juice while Tex made breakfast. I watched him, wondering how hard it would be to do something so mundane as make breakfast. Even though I’d been free for a month now, I’d never attempted to cook anything. With my luck, I’d burn down the house and half the compound along with it. But some day I wanted to try. I wanted to get up one morning and cook breakfast for my family. It sounded simple enough, but the stove scared me a little.
Janessa still hadn’t joined us by the time Tex had finished making the eggs, bacon, and biscuits. He joined me at the table after setting two full plates down. My stomach rumbled, but before I could take a bite, Tex was doctoring my eggs with salt and pepper.
“You only get a little bit of salt since you’re pregnant, but I promise it will make the eggs taste better,” he said, giving me a wink.
“One day, when all of this is officially over, will you teach me to cook a few things?” I asked. “There’s so much I don’t know how to do.”
He nodded. “I’ll teach you whatever you want. Once we’re back home, you can even ask the other old ladies. I’ve heard quite a few of my brothers have settled down and started families.”
“I think I’m ready to meet everyone,” I said. “I know I was skittish before. I didn’t really trust people.”
Tex reached over and ran his fingers down my cheek. “One day at a time, sweetheart. No one is going to push you into doing something you’re not ready for. Least of all me.”
“I want to make some friends,” I said.
“Then I’ll make sure that happens. Everyone is going to love you, so don’t worry about it. The Dixie Reapers are one big family. We accept each other, flaws and all. You’re not the only one who’s had to overcome something.”
I was mid-bite when the front door was flung open so hard I thought it might have dented the wall. Three men wearing Dixie Reapers cuts stormed into the kitchen, then visibly relaxed when they saw us.
“What’s going on?” Tex asked, his grip on his fork tightened until his knuckles turned white.
“Someone managed to get their hands on the information Wire and Shade sent the police. It’s all over the Internet and TV, all Whitby’s experiments, the abuse of the patients.” Their gazes cut to me. “And everyone knows your wife is Whitby’s daughter. They know everything about her.”
Tex rose, his chair falling to the ground. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It means they know everything that happened and was documented at Hillview. It’s out there, for anyone to read on the Internet, and several news stations are broadcasting it. Hillview is the number one story nationwide right now,” one of the men said.
“What does all that mean?” I asked.
“It means people are outraged, and the shit has hit the fan,” one guy said. “I’m Ivan by the way. This is Gabe and Johnny,” he said pointing to the other two.
“Anyone seen Whitby?” Tex asked.
“There have been reports of sightings, but they’re all over the place. His picture is splashed all over the news and social media. It’s a nationwide manhunt at this point, so there’s not many places he can hide. Unless he’s managed to leave the country already,” Gabe said.
“It’s good that people know, right?” I asked.
Tex placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s good and bad. I don’t like that your information is out there. There are a lot of people who will be sympathetic for all you suffered, but there are those who will look at you differently. And not in a good way.”
“Torch is already reaching out to clubs across the nation. And Casper VanHorne is getting the word out through his channels. Your family is to be protected at all costs, and Whitby brought to justice,” Johnny said.
“Legal justice or our justice?” Tex asked.
“Torch wants to keep things legal this time,” Ivan said. “He said it’s such a high profile case it would bring too much heat down on us if we were to get our hands dirty. We’re only allowed to hurt him if he makes an attempt on your family. And since no one knows where you are right now I don’t think you have to worry too much. Wire and Shade made sure there wasn’t a paper trail leading here.”
“If we aren’t getting our hands dirty, why is Torch rallying the clubs?” Tex asked.
“More eyes watching for Whitby. The average person might be looking, but they won’t be able to check the underground places. Between the clubs and Casper, there won’t be anywhere Whitby can hide. But until he’s apprehended, we’re your shadows,” Ivan said.
“I’ll watch the front,” Gabe offered.
“And I’ll take the back,” said Ivan.
“You really think he’ll get into the compound?” I asked. “It would be suicidal to come in a place surrounded by armed bikers.”
Johnny shrugged. “We
’re not taking any chances. I’ll stay inside with the three of you, just in case something does go down.”
“Where is your daughter anyway?” Ivan asked.
“Sleeping,” Tex said.
“Do you want some breakfast? Or something to drink?” I asked the men.
“We grabbed some food on the way here,” Ivan said. “It’s out in my saddlebags, but if you have some coffee, that would be great.”
“I already drank most of it,” Tex said. “But you can have what’s left and we can make some more. There’s enough food here to last a short time, but with more of us here, it’s not going to stretch as far.”
“We’ll arrange a grocery run,” Johnny said. “If there’s anything in particular you want, just let us know and we’ll make sure you get it.”
“Chocolate milk?” I asked. “And maybe some Oreos?”
Tex arched a brow and looked at me, amusement sparking in his eyes. “I think the pregnancy cravings really are starting already.”
The three Prospects grinned.
“Congratulations,” Johnny said.
“Thank you,” I said. “And thank you for letting us know what’s going on. I’m sorry I dragged all of you into this mess. If I’d just stayed at Hillview, or turned myself in that first week, all of this could have been avoided.”
Ivan’s face darkened and his eyes turned stormy. “There is no way in hell we would have ever let you go back to that place. I’m glad Tex pulled you out of there, and even more so that he claimed you. You’re one of us now, and we protect our women.”
My eyes misted with tears and I nodded. I was going to blame my pregnancy on the number of times I’d wanted to cry lately, but I knew I was overly emotional. It was a little strange, having so many people care what happened to me, willing to risk their lives to protect me. I honestly didn’t feel worthy.
“I bet we’re heading home in the next day or two,” Gabe said. “Whitby can’t hide for long, not considering the types of people watching for him. Wire and Shade are going to keep us updated. I’m not sure you want to see the news. It’s not pretty.”
“I can handle it,” I assured them.
Tex curled his arm around my waist. “I know you can, sweetheart, but it doesn’t mean you should have to.”
“I’ll get any alerts on my phone if they report anything new,” Johnny said. “I promise I’ll let you know the second Whitby has been apprehended.”
Janessa stumbled into the kitchen rubbing her eyes, and froze mid-step when she saw the three men standing near the table. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“We’ll talk about it while you eat,” Tex said.
While he fixed her plate and got her caught up on everything, I slipped out of the kitchen and went to shower and change. As respectable as my pajamas were, I didn’t think Tex wanted me hanging out around the other men without some actual clothes on. I had noticed all of them kept their gazes on my eyes when they looked my way. I didn’t know if it was out of respect for Tex, or for me, or maybe both of us. But it was something I could easily get used to.
When I got out of the shower, I pulled on a pair of gray leggings and a plain blue tee. My hair was still wet, but I ran a brush through it and left it down. I could hear Janessa and Tex talking in the kitchen, and I decided to let them have some father-daughter time. Johnny was in the living room, staring out the front window.
He glanced my way as I entered the room, gave me a slight smile, then went back to looking out the window.
“Will it bother you if I turn on the TV?” I asked.
“Just pretend I’m not even here,” he said.
I flipped through some channels and picked a movie, but I found myself studying Johnny. “Are you the youngest of the Dixie Reapers?”
He turned to face me. “For the moment. Ivan is only a few years older than me, but most of the guys are late-twenties to mid-fifties.”
“So you’re close to my age, then?” I asked.
He nodded. “A year younger. Don’t let my age fool you. I’ve been prospecting for the Dixie Reapers for a few years now. I’ll keep you safe.”
“If you’ve been with them for so long, why are you still a Prospect?” I asked. “Or is that a rude thing to ask?”
“It’s fine. I think Torch has been giving me time to grow up a bit. I know he trusts me, because I’m his first choice when it comes to protecting his wife and daughter. I don’t mind being a Prospect. I know my time will come.” He smiled. “It’s actually not uncommon for guys to Prospect for a few years before they’re either voted in or asked to leave. Some are lucky and get in within a year, but I think it depends on the club.”
“Why did you want to join them?” I asked. Tex and I hadn’t really talked about the Dixie Reapers before. I didn’t really understand the MC world, or why people joined.
“My home life wasn’t the best,” Johnny said. “We live in a small town, and I’d grown up knowing who the Dixie Reapers were. When I was old enough, I asked if I could prospect for them. I haven’t regretted it. Even my sister is part of the Dixie Reapers family.”
“Because she’s related to you?” I asked.
He grinned. “No, because Preacher claimed her. Actually, he knocked her up, then he claimed her. Best thing that could have ever happened to both of them. I guess you could say they saved each other.”
“How so?”
“There’s a pimp who pretty much controls my old neighborhood. He was after my sister, so she wasn’t safe living there anymore. I tried to send her away, but it didn’t work out. She fell in love with a patched member, Preacher, and he seems just as crazy about her,” Johnny said. “One day I’ll have what they have. But I don’t think I’m ready just yet.”
“Then I should probably warn you that Janessa, it seems, is going to be a little boy crazy. I think that’s the term? I heard it on TV. Anyway, she may try flirting with you.”
Johnny chuckled. “Sounds like my sister when she was that age. Janessa’s fourteen, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re going to have a rough few years if she’s anything like my baby sister. Don’t worry. We’ll all watch out for her, make sure she doesn’t bite off more than she can chew. And she can flirt all she wants. None of us would ever touch her.”
“Thanks, Johnny.”
He nodded and went back to watching the window.
After a while, Tex and Janessa joined me. We had a movie marathon, letting Janessa choose what we watched. We even convinced Johnny to sit with us for short period of time, when he wasn’t prowling through the house, waiting on the Boogie man to jump out.
Night had fallen and we’d finished dinner, convincing the three Prospects to sit down with us, when all the cell phones started going off at once. They each looked at their screens.
“We need to turn on the TV,” Ivan said.
We left the dishes on the table and headed into the living room. Ivan turned on the TV and found a news station. A sea of blue lights filled the screen, along with a few fire trucks and an ambulance. I didn’t understand what I was seeing at first, couldn’t make sense of the text scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
A blonde woman with a microphone came on screen, with all the action behind her. “The manhunt for Dr. Whitby of Hillview is currently at a standoff. The man who ran Hillview Asylum, responsible for countless acts of violence against patients, has been cornered in Miami, Florida, where he was trying to stowaway on a boat and flee the country.”
I gasped and stared at the screen, leaning a little closer.
“Dr. Whitby is armed and has taken a hostage. The crew of the ship Marionne discovered the doctor trying to sneak into the cargo hold. According to the manifest, the ship was carrying a load of textiles and was scheduled to make several stops outside the US. It’s believed Whitby was trying to reach a non-extradition country, in hopes of escaping justice for his crimes,” the reporter said.
Gunshots went off and the reporter dove for th
e ground. The camera jostled and bounced, finally zooming in on the reporter again.
“Shot have been fired,” the reporter said. “Dr. Whitby is shooting at the officers on scene, and now it sounds like we’re in the middle of a war zone. I can’t see the hostage, but all of this may be over soon.”
Everything went still and quiet, and the reporter slowly rose to her feet, the camera following her. They tried to get closer to the police line, but an officer was pushing everyone back. The crowd of officers parted and a bloody Dr. Whitby was pushed through, his hands cuffed behind his back.
The reporter rushed forward again, shoving the microphone in an officer’s face. “Can you tell us what happened? Is the hostage still alive?”
The office shoved the microphone. “No comment.”
The reporter jogged after Whitby, getting as close as she could, and the camera stayed on the man I hated more than anyone else on the planet. I couldn’t tell if the blood on him was his or someone else’s.
We watched the news a while longer, waiting to find out exactly what had happened, but just knowing he wasn’t out on the streets anymore filled me with a sense of peace. No one else would come to harm at Whitby’s hands.
My hand tightened on Tex’s and he lifted our clasped hands to kiss mine. “That’s it?” I asked. “It’s all over?”
“They’ll probably make a statement if we watch a few more minutes,” Ivan said.
Sure enough, a man approached the press and held up his hands to quiet everyone. “I’m Chief Jacobs. As you know, there has been a nationwide manhunt for Dr. Whitby, the man who ran Hillview Asylum in Alabama. Dr. Whitby has been apprehended, but not before he shot his hostage and three officers. The hostage didn’t survive, and the three wounded officers are undergoing medical care. Their names will not be released at this time as their families are still being notified.”
The reporters all yelled out questions to the police chief, but I tuned them out, waiting to see if he’d say anything else.
“Dr. Whitby will remain in custody until his trial. Considering his numerous and heinous crimes, it’s doubtful he’d be granted bail, but that will be a judge’s decision. That’s all the information we have at this time. I know that information was released on Whitby’s victims, and I would like to ask that you please leave them in peace. Most have been transferred to other facilities to undergo therapy and evaluation. Those determined to be of sound mind will be released. I know that you’re all aware of Whitby’s daughter, Kalani. Her whereabouts at this time are unknown, but a medical professional has reached out to assure the local law enforcement that Kalani Whitby isn’t a danger to anyone,” Chief Jacobs said.
