by Erin Trejo
“Hey Bella, come here.” I watch as she climbs out of her seat and heads towards me.
“Hey baby girl. I need a favor.” Her eyes light up. I don’t usually ask a lot from her but it’s clear she likes when I do.
“What?”
“I need you to keep an eye on Cher. I gotta take this run. A good friend of mine’s sick.” She nods her head before she looks over at Cher. I don’t want to tell Bella that it’s Griff. She has enough shit in her life to worry about that too.
“She seems ok now. Is she?” I look over at where Cher sits talking to Jada with a smile on her face.
“She is but just in case.” Bella nods before she skips off back over to the other ladies.
“You haven’t told her yet?” I shake my head before facing him.
“Cher wants to talk to her about Thomas. I think it’ll be good for them. She wants to tell her about the baby too.” Saying it just sends shivers throughout my body.
“I think that’s good brother. Gives them somethin’ in common as shitty as it is. She can relate to her.” I nod thinking the exact same thing.
“Let me go tell her bye.” Nodding to Cher I walk away from Creed and straight to her.
“Come with me a minute.” Cher smiles up at me before she stands and wraps her arms around my waist.
“You told him didn’t you?” Looking down at her, I’m confused until I follow her gaze over to Creed. The dumb fuck stands there smiling at us like a fool.
“I couldn’t help it.” Kissing her neck, I pull her against me.
“You can’t shut up about it can you?” I lead her towards the back before I stop pushing her against the wall.
“I fuckin’ love you and I love this baby.” With my hand on her stomach, I lean in and kiss her roughly.
“I love you.”
“I need to go on a run. Shouldn’t take but a few days. I think it will be good for you to talk to Bella.” Cher’s eyes shoot to mine and I can tell how nervous she is. She doesn’t it like it but I need to go see him.
“I know what you’re thinkin’. Creed and Torch are ridin’ too. We got this place locked down. No one will get in here.” A tear slides down her cheek before I drag her into the room.
“Look Cher. My friends dyin’. He has cancer and shits lookin’ bad. I need to go see him. I don’t like leavin’ you right now but this might be my last chance.” A new understanding sparks in her eyes.
“Then you go see him.” Leaning up she brushes her lips over mine reminding me again of how much I love her.
Chapter 42
We left the women in Piper’s hands and I hope he can handle them. The ride out to Griff’s doesn’t feel right. My chest wants to explode with all the dread I feel inside.Pulling into Griff’s I can feel myself tense up. I don’t do well with death when it’s someone in my family.
“You ok brother?” I nod at Creed before I make my way towards the door. Stepping inside I don’t really know what I feel. My mind darts all over the place and my chest is tight.
“Why didn’t you call me Zane?” I see that little fucker sitting off to the side with a beer in his hand. Poor kid looks like hell.
“Thought they did. I’m sorry brother.” He stands and makes his way towards me before I pull him into a hug. Griff was well known to a lot of guys. Different clubs and different ways of life, but we all seemed to congregate to Griff.
“He looks bad man.” Zane pulls back looking up at me. I can see the pain in his eyes.
“I know. Where is he?” Zane nods towards the hallway before I start that way.
Chills race up and down my spine just knowing why I’m here. I hate it, I hate it a lot. I hear Creed and Zane talking as I make my way towards the back. I hate this feeling I have racing through me. I stop at the last door when one of the other guys from the club steps out.
“Hey. Doc said not much longer. He’s asked about you Tank.” My throat feels so damn dry. It feels like it’s squeezing closed. I’m suffocating.
“Thanks brother.” I step into the room and close the door behind me. My stomach bottoms out when I see his pale limp body lying on the bed.
“Fuck!” Whispering to myself, I see Griff’s head turn to see me standing there.
“Don’t you go gettin’ all fuckin’ girly on me brother.” The slight chuckle that leaves his throat makes me smile.
“I won’t do that Griff.” Walking over I sit down on the edge of the bed. He looks so fragile.
“This is it huh?” Griff nods slightly before I blow out a breath.
“Look brother. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I’ve known you all these years. My life was rough for a long time and you played a big role in me gettin’ better. I needed to come tell you that to your face. You kept my secrets about Bella brother and it meant the world to me.” Griff smiles slightly as he looks up at me.
“You didn’t need to come all the way here man but I appreciate that. You’ve been a good friend Tank. I always thought of you as a son. I know all my secrets are safe with you.” And that was the truth. I knew things that would blow a lot of people out of the water but I respect Griff far too much to let it out.
“I did need to come. I got some news I thought you might like. My old lady Cher is pregnant.” Griff’s face glows with happiness. Griff was always a sucker for kids. He loved everyone’s like they were his own.
“God damn brother. I always wanted you to find a good woman. I’m glad you finally did. Bella deserves to have a good family.” His eyes droop and he seems out of breath.
“I love you brother. I just need you to know that. You are a solid rock in my life. You always made me want to be better. I can’t tell you what that means to me.” A tear slides from Griff’s eye. I’ve never in all the years I’ve known him seen him cry.
“I love you brother. You go on now. Make me proud of you. Raise that family right.” As much as I don’t want to do it, I stand and walk towards the door. I stop and turn around to say goodbye to someone that has meant the world to me for so many years.
“I’ll see you again brother.” I know he didn’t hear me and that wasn’t the point. I know in my heart that I will see him again one day. I take a step outside when I see his daughter Ally, walking towards us. I don’t want to get in the middle of her family so I step aside with only a nod. Walking back out into the main room, I see Creed over at the bar with Torch. I make my way over with a heavy heart.
“You good brother?” I shake my head as I sit down and drop my head. A beer slides in front of me but I don’t grab it.
“I need to get Thomas Creed. If that’s the last fuckin’ thing I do in my life. I need to make that motherfucker pay for what he did to my girls.” Creed’s hand lands on my shoulder before I look over with tears in my eyes.
“You will brother. I will make sure of it.”
Chapter 43
As much as I wanted to stick around for Griff’s funeral I knew there was something bigger at hand. Thomas sent people to my house. My safe haven. He hurt the two most important women in my life and I will for damn sure make sure that he pays for what he did. Standing outside his clubhouse one last time Ally walks over to me.
“He loved you. He talked about you a lot.” With a slight smile, I nod my head.
“Loved you too darlin’. Your daddy was a good man with a heart of gold. You touched a lot of people. He wanted to make sure you go this.” Pulling the paper he gave me a while ago out of my pocket I pass it to her.
“I don’t understand.” Ally shakes her head before I grab head in mine.
“He kept most of his earnings away from the club. He wanted you taken care of. I put my number on the back of that. You ever need anything you call me.” Ally breaks into tears as I pull her into me. It breaks my heart for her that she has to learn to live without her father.
“Get in there with your family sweetheart.” Ally pulls back wiping her eyes as she nods.
“Be safe.” With a nod, I watch her head inside while I s
tart my bike. It’s time to close this chapter of my life. Riding down the lonely highway, my thoughts wander. I hated saying goodbye to Griff. I hate that he will no longer be there when I need him. He was like a father figure for so long. I’m so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the bikes that are now rolling up close behind us.
“SHIT!” Creed and Torch noticed them and both sped up. I’m pretty sure I know who the fuck it is but with that many, I’m not taking the chance. I hear the shots before I feel it sting my skin. Another sting and I lose control of my bike. I try desperately to keep it under control but my breathing is irregular and I’m light headed. I feel the bike tip but that’s all I feel. I know I hit the ground and I know I hear Creed but that’s all I know at this point. Everything else seems to slowly fade away. The pains gone, my breathing doesn’t even seem real anymore. I don’t know if I’m alive or dead. I don’t think that I really care right now either.
“Tank! Come on motherfucker! Don’t you dare fuckin’ do this now!” I hear his voice and as much as I want to respond, I have an overwhelming sense of peace. I think I like it. I think this is the most peaceful I have ever felt in my life. With visions of Bella and Cher floating through my head, their smiling faces. I let it take me away. I go with it.
Chapter 44
“Wake up motherfucker. Paybacks a bitch.” I hear the voice but I can’t make out who it is.I try to force my eyes to open but they feel so damn heavy I can’t stand it.
“Where the fuck am I?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own. It’s rough and hoarse.
“Think about that one. You remember that time I told you not to bring me to the hospital?” Holy shit its Creed. God, I don’t know that I have ever been so happy to hear that son of a bitch’s voice.
“Yeah, when you had that tube in your dick.” I hear his laugh and it hits me. Son of a bitch!
“Creed if I look down and there’s a tube stickin’ out my dick I’ll kill you motherfucker.” I can hear his laughter that asshole.
“There’s a tube in your dick brother!” Hysterical laughter fills the room and I want to kick his ass.
“You son of a bitch.” Finally forcing my eyes to open I look over at him.
“Where’s the fucker?” I watch his face as it turns into an evil grin. He didn’t take him out, he saved him I can see it.
“You better not have taken my shot.” His head shakes slightly before he opens his mouth.
“I saved that son of a bitch for you. Somethin’ I need to tell you though.” His face falls and I know this isn’t good. It never is when he has that look.
“What is it?” He runs his hand through his hair.
“Someone fired off shots at the clubhouse. Everyone’s good but Joey got hit.” FUCK! I knew I shouldn’t have left the girls alone.
“How bad?” Creed shakes his head before he sits up straighter.
“He’ll be ok. He uh…. He took that bullet for Bella. Cher was up in the office with Jada. Bella was in the main room. Shots went off and he threw himself over her.” A small part of me rejoices that he was there. He protected my baby when I wasn’t there to do it.
“He’s gettin’ patched.” Creed nods not needing to say another word. He saved her life and that’s the end of that.
“Soemthin’ else.” Holy shit what is it with him today? Is he the good news fairy?
“What the fuck else?” He chuckles slightly before leaning with his elbows on his knees.
“When the guys went after the shooters, they got most of them but they also got Candy. I got her held with her little boyfriend.” Something inside of me sparks. I will kill them all.
“Get somebody to get this shit out of me.” I don’t need to tell him twice. Creed’s out the door before I start yanking wires off of me.
“You two again? I never thought I would see the two of you together again.” The little nurse walks into the room with a huge grin on her face when I notice she’s the same nurse that Creed had. If I wasn’t in such a pissed off mood this would be a little funny.
“Get this shit off me.” Growling, I sit up a little when she shakes her head.
“Well I guess that he made it I assume you will too.” She walks over and starts taking the IV’s out as I lay my head back. I will kill these motherfuckers. Once they have all the tubes and wires out of me, I pull my bloodied clothes back on and follow Creed out of the hospital.
“I ain’t ridin’ bitch.” Out of breath and hurting Creed laughs. I’m not playing, I am not riding on the back of his bike. Fuck that shit.
“Hell no! I sent Torch back for the truck.” Torch pulls up as he says that and we all climb in.
“They know?” I look over at Creed but he just shakes his head. Thank fuck for that. I didn’t need Bella and Cher having a fit while I take care of this shit. We ride in silence as we make our way to the old abandoned warehouse that we use for storage. I climb out holding my ribs. That shit stings like it never has before!
“You sure you want to do this?” Creed looks at me breathing heavily as I nod my head. No way in hell is anyone getting to take him out but me.
Chapter 45
I walk in and instantly see Candy tied to a chair next to her little boyfriend. Fire floods my body as I look him over. That’s the piece of shit that held my girl against her will, that hurt my daughter.
“Oh thank god Tank!” Candy smiles like I’m here to save the day. Stupid bitch. I don’t even acknowledge her. No, my eyes are trained on that motherfucker. The one that has taken so much from my girls, instilled a fear in them.
“So you’re the one that messed with my family huh?” I walk closer to Thomas as I take in the man that has caused so much pain to the two women I love. Creed hands me his gun, which I point at Candy first. Yeah bitch didn’t see that coming.
“You stole my daughter from me. You took her away and let this piece of shit hurt her!” Pressing the gun into her temple, I want nothing more than to pull the trigger.
“Fuck you Candy. I hate you . You will never see your daughter again.” She tries to start talking but I wave Torch over to handle her. With her quiet, I turn to Thomas.
“As much as I’d like to torture the fuck out of you, I’m not in the best shape tonight. You hurt Cher, you hurt Bella. I think that qualifies for a bullet.” I wait for Thomas to say something, anything but he doesn’t. He sits there ready to meet his fate. I respect that. You know how bad you fucked up I don’t think now will be the time to talk.
I place the gun to his temple and pull the trigger. Candy tries to scream but it’s muffled by Torch’s hand.
“What are we doin’ with this bitch?” My eyes lock onto Candy’s and for a second I see the slight glimpse of the girl I used to know.
“Whatever you want. I don’t want her found.” Walking out of the warehouse I feel like this all ended too quickly.
“I should have drug that out.” Creed looks over at me shaking his head.
“You were just shot 3 times brother. I’d say you did what was needed.” Nodding my head, I guess he’s right. At least it’s finally over. Climbing back into the truck l lay my head back and close my eyes. It was all over so damn quickly. I wanted to drag it out and let him feel all the pain he caused my girls but in this condition Creed was right. There is no way in hell that I could torture the son of a bitch as much as I wanted to.
“It’s over brother.” Creed slaps his hand down on my knee before starting the truck.
“Yeah, it’s over. We lost some good people though.” Creed grunts as he starts driving.
“That we did but we gained too. You have Cher and a new baby. Bella will never have anything else to worry about in her life. I’d say it all played out the way it should have in the end.” Laying here I think about that. He’s right. I might have lost a father figure but what I gained in Cher and my new baby is a lot more than I ever thought I’d have.
“You’re right. She has nothin’ left to fear. I just hope she can overcome her past. She had a tough
life.” Looking out the window, I hate knowing just how tough.
“We got some of the toughest girls I have ever seen brother. I have no doubt in my mind that Bella is like Cher and Jada. Life kicked her ass but we are here to make it better. That’s our goal in life now. We need to make this shit work as the family we were supposed to be since the beginning. We got side tracked on that shit, not anymore.” I look over at Creed and smile. He’s right about that.
“I think that is the best shit I’ve heard in a long time brother.” Creed smiles and nods before looking straight again.
“It’s truth. I speak the fuckin’ truth. I don’t think Joey is goin’ to make a bad son in law either.” Creed starts to laugh and I want nothing more than to punch him but I hurt too much.
“You just wait you asshole. When you have kids you will get it.” Creed chuckles some more as I turn my head and look back out the window. The nights calm now and the moon sits high in the sky. My world feels like it’s finally falling into place. It feels like this is where I was meant to be in life. I lost Griff but I am gaining a new child. That’s the way the world works right? We live and we die. I’m just happy as hell that I got to know Griff as a man, as a person before he left this earth. He’s bound for greater things. I watch the trees as they blow in the wind as we make our way back to the clubhouse.
Pulling into the parking lot a sense of peace fills my heart. My soul is finally at peace within me. Whether or not it will stay this way all the time, it is right now and that’s what I’ve chosen to focus on.
Chapter 47
Nine Months Later
“Get the fuck over here!” Hollering at Bella as she wanders around with her little brother in her arms, Cher laughs.
“It ain’t funny. That little shit’s goin’ to get ideas if she keeps takin’ him over there.” Bella smiles as she walks back over and hands me my son.
