by Quinn, Vera
I have an uneasy feeling about tonight, and I know it’s not going to go as smoothly as the meeting did with Cassius.
We’re meeting at the edge of Sunshine, but something tells me not to trust Blade to be a man of his word, so we called in some help from the militia group that we do security runs for. Half of our men are going to the meet with half of the militia group and the other half of our men are staying here to make sure the clubhouse is secure while we are gone. The other members of the militia will be in the woods surrounding the clubhouse for support. The militia members that are accompanying us will be in the background in case Blade or Nutz has called in help that we aren’t aware of.
We have Bethany and Maudi in the safe room with Cage. The club girls have been sent away for the night.
We don’t know for sure that Rico has left the area yet and we don’t know where Jen stands in any of this. I have never liked the unknown or unaccounted for.
We arrive before Blade’s club, but we see their lights from their motorcycles coming from the opposite direction than where we came from. We park our bikes and the militia are already in the woods around this area.
Blade’s group is only about ten men on bikes. In the dusk light, I see Blade and Nutz in the front. I recognize the bikes before I can see the men plainly. They stop their bikes about twenty feet from ours. They dismount their bikes and we do the same. We walk and meet in the middle. His men stretch out in a line and we do the same. I stand across from Blade. We all know that the Spirit of Arms MC has no intention of leaving this meeting without someone bleeding. We have fifteen men to their ten and I would bet that this is all the men that Blade could get to back him.
“You have something owed to me and I want her back. We can do this the uncomplicated way, or you can die tonight,” Blade says with a calm voice.
“Bethany is my wife and she is going nowhere, so make your play.” Blade laughs.
“You don’t want to try to bargain with me or offer me anything?” Blade asks. That’s when I hear gunfire in the woods around us and I pull my gun out and then everything happens at once. I see my first shot hit its target and Blade is on the ground, his shirt covered in blood from where I aimed for his heart. I feel a burn in my leg and I know I’ve been hit, but I keep firing my gun while trying to find some cover. The gunfire stops as fast as it started, and I look around. I see three other bodies lying on the ground, but I don’t see Nutz anywhere. I hear gunfire in the woods. Whistler and Raven run to me.
“Are you going to make it? Gunny took a bullet to the head and he didn’t make it. Sanity has a through-and-through to the side, but I think he’ll be alright. Brass is calling for a truck to come pick him up. Blade and Skin are both dead on their side. The rest of their men are in the woods and the militia are picking them off. Let me see that leg.” Whistler tries getting me to sit back.
“The bullet went through the side of my left calf. I think it’s more of a graze and I’ll be fine. It just burns a lot and it knocked me off my feet at first. I got to cover behind this fallen tree,” I explain. “I have a towel in my saddlebag, if you get it, I will tie it around my leg, and we can help find the rest of the Spirit of Arms.”
Ten members of the Spirit of Arms MC came here tonight and two got away. Horse was one of them and Nutz was the other. Horse is inconsequential but Nutz needs to be found as does Rico and Jen. That will be for another day. Tonight, I want to get back to the clubhouse and check on my family and then plan for our next move.
Chapter Twenty
Bethany
Last night wasn’t the first time I have worried about someone so much my stomach rolled, but it is the first time that the person I was worried about wasn’t Cage. Cage and I were safe, and I knew even though we were put in a safe room with Maudi that the Troubled Fathoms MC would protect us even to the death of each one of them if they needed to.
Last night, my worry was with Krill. It was like I couldn’t breathe, and I tried to hide that worry from Cage but I’m not sure I covered it all. Cage didn’t want to go to sleep while we waited, and he stayed close to me. There wasn’t that much space in the small room, but it seemed like he had to be touching me or me touching him. He hasn’t done that since he was younger.. I was relieved when Scout came and let us go back to our rooms, but even then, Cage didn’t want me to leave him, so I sat with him while he slept in his room.
It was in the early hours of the morning when Krill stuck his head in Cage’s door. I slipped away from Cage and went out in the hall with Krill and watched while he was pacing the hall. I noticed the way he limped as he did so. I know something happened to his leg tonight, but I wouldn’t ask. If he wanted to share, he would.
“I know this is a marriage on paper only, and I have no reason to ask something of you since you have already given me so much. I think that we started a relationship yesterday and I want you to sleep in my room tonight just so I can hold you. That’s it, I promise. I just need this, but if you say no, I won’t push.” Krill needs me and that gives me a warm feeling inside.
“That’s not too much to ask and I would like that. I need to be close to you as much as you need to be close to me. I was so scared for you tonight, and I know that you were hurt because you’re limping,” I tell Krill, being honest with him.
“How was Cage tonight?” Krill asks. I know all my fears of Krill not being a good father or not loving Cage were just fears of the unknown. Krill has been nothing but loving toward Cage and he has taken to fatherhood as a fish to water. He’s everything that Cage needs—another person to love him unconditionally. Don’t we all need that? I know I crave it. I love to see it between Cage and Krill.
“He was scared even though I tried to put his fears at ease. I tried to hide how anxious I was, but I have never been very good at hiding my feelings. He might be a bit clingy tomorrow. He feels the tension in the clubhouse, and he has always been so smart. He picks up on the smallest signs of me being upset.” Krill steps closer to me as I move closer to him. Then I am in his arms and he is holding me close to his chest. I can breathe again.
“Then I guess it’s my job to put all your fears to rest. I am fine. I had a bullet graze my calf. The Doc cleaned it up. We lost a brother tonight and the club is going to feel that down to its core. Gunny was a good brother and he’s just gone. Sanity was shot but Doc said he would make a full recovery.” Krill looks up and down the hall. “Let’s take this back to my room and I will fill you in on the rest.” Krill steps back and I start to step away, but he takes my hand and we step across the hall together. He never lets go of my hand. He needs the connection to me as much as I need it with him.
As soon as his bedroom door is closed, he has me back in his arms and I feel his need for me. I have the same need for him. I want to be the person he comes to when he needs to feel more. He takes my mouth with a passionate kiss that leaves me breathless and he moves us toward the bed. I want him closer. I have a need for him to be closer.
“Lie with me on my bed. I want to lie next to you and hold you. I promise when you say stop that I will. You never have to worry about me not hearing you say to slow down.” Krill is speaking close to my ear and the closeness makes me want more. I want to tell Krill this, but I think he needs to feel in charge right now.
“I know,” I tell Krill and I do. I sit on the side of the bed and then scoot in the middle and I watch as Krill toes his boots off. He reaches for my left foot and slips my shoe off and then does the same for my right foot. He crawls to the middle of the bed with me. I lie back and Krill is right beside me pulling me into his arms, and I go without reservations. I know this is where I am meant to be. I have fallen in love with Krill. “Krill, I don’t know how or when, and I know it might not be the right time, but I have fallen in love with you. I don’t expect for you to have the same feelings for me. I know it’s too soon, but I just had to tell you. I have always had a crush on you but since I have been here my feelings have deepened and changed to an adult love. You poss
ess the ability to break my heart, so if you don’t think you can ever return my feelings then can you just let me know now. I know I’m messing this up, but the only way I can be is honest. I want things with you that I don’t even understand.” I know I may have just screwed up the best thing that has ever happened in my life but when I’m around Krill, I feel like I can tell him everything, so I do.
“My name is River to you, and I will never hurt you intentionally. That’s not who I am. I have very strong feelings for you, Bethany, but I don’t go around using the word love very often. When I say it, then I mean it. What I am feeling could be the beginning feelings of love, but I won’t say I love you until I am positive that’s what I am feeling. I wouldn’t do that to you. It cheapens the meaning of the word and the feelings that go with it if the emotion isn’t there and true.” I know River is being honest with me and I can understand what he’s saying but that doesn’t stop me from loving him. “Just know that every thought I have of my future, you are in it with me at my side and I won’t rush what is between us to ruin that.” This man is too good to be true. “That’s the reason that our clothes are staying on. I want and need to hold you close, but I am a man, and my control only goes so far. Baby, don’t think that being this close to you isn’t testing just how much control I have.” River hugs me tighter. “You smell so damn good and that ass of yours drives me crazy.” I laugh.
“Jen and Rico always called me a fat ass,” I tell River.
“Babe, there’s nothing fat about your ass. It’s luscious, and it makes men drool, trust me. Every time that thing sways in front of me I go rock hard and I want to grab two handfuls. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way my brothers have checked you out. I have wanted to go all caveman on you, but I was afraid I would scare you off.” That makes me laugh harder.
“The only brother of yours that has even talked to me is Scout, and that man is more like a father than anything.” River is mistaken on his brothers paying me any attention.
“I have caught both Whistler and Raven checking your ass out. The brothers in the Troubled Fathoms MC respect relationships. They are showing me respect by not approaching you without me there. We have also been very busy since you’ve been here and once they warm up to you and get to know you better, then you’ll wish they still weren’t talking to you,” River assures me.
“If I am going to be here, then I just want them to like me. I know that Rico isn’t anyone’s favorite person and I don’t want them thinking that since he is my brother that I am anything like him.” River looks down at me.
“Is that what has kept you from talking to everyone here? You know they have just been following your lead and keeping the distance between you. They don’t think that you are anything like Rico. You couldn’t be like him and show my son the love you have. They already love Cage. They know you’re the reason that he has been raised to be the fine young man he is.” River puts some of my insecurities to rest. I don’t think I have ever felt so at peace and wanted. Something that is more important is I feel safe. If I had only known in just a few hours that safety would be shattered.
Chapter Twenty-One
Krill
The somber feeling in the clubhouse is one that won’t be going away for a while. Gunny prospected here right after I had received my patch. He had his issues with the bottle at times, but he was a good brother. He was one of the first brothers to always step up and he will be missed for years to come.
He lost his mom a few years ago in a wreck on an icy road. He was devastated from the loss of his mom but in losing her, he also lost his dad. Gunny was the only thing that the man had left, and he grabbed a hold with both hands. He wanted Gunny out of the club and back on the farm with him. Instead of accepting Gunny as he was, all he wanted to do was change him. Gunny resisted and it drove a wedge between the two of them. Scout has been the only one that Dale, Gunny’s dad, would accept a phone call from. He denied our request to pay for the funeral or to even be present for the funeral. He also had Gunny’s cut sent back to us this morning by the county sheriff. We’ll respect Dale’s wishes, but we are having a memorial for Gunny after his funeral. Dale wouldn’t even let Maudi or Scout attend. That’s his choice but I know one day the man will regret it. The way he’s regretting not embracing Gunny’s life as he wanted to live it.
I had an unexpected call from Cinch, one of the Spirit of Arms MC members and he and Zip will be arriving anytime now for a sit-down. I have to say they have balls to come to our clubhouse after what went down last night. The brothers have been in turmoil over the idea of the Spirit of Arms MC’s clubhouse still standing. We need to be smart about this, but our thoughts are clouded by the loss of Gunny.
I walk out to the bar area and I see the brothers are all around so everyone can hear what the men have to say. I would not guarantee that they will be walking out of our clubhouse. I have warned everyone to use their heads. We can’t turn into the kind of people that we fight against every day.
Maudi, Bethany, and Cage are in a safe area of the clubhouse with plenty of brothers guarding them.
I pull my phone out when it vibrates, and I see a few of the other brothers doing the same thing. It’s showtime. The Spirit of Arms MC has arrived, and they are on their way up from the gate. I nod my head at Whistler and Raven. I walk closer to the bar when the front door opens and Rictor walks in with two men behind him and Gus behind them. Rictor walks the men over and I nod to him and he goes back over by the front door and the other prospect, Gus, goes with him.
“Say what you have to say and then get out of the Troubled Fathoms’ clubhouse. We lost a good brother last night because your club can’t handle its business. First you let Rico spread his craziness and then Blade declares war. We were forced to clean up the chaos that you have let get out of hand,” I tell the two men.
“Rico is in the wind and Jen killed herself when Blade had her locked in her room yesterday. Bethany needs to be told because Jen is at the morgue and her body is going to need to be claimed or the town will have her cremated.” It takes me a second to comprehend what Cinch is telling me. Jen is dead. The woman that gave birth to Cage is dead. I see the man isn’t lying about it. He looks like he’s actually sad about it. “All the brothers knew we couldn’t trust Rico anymore, but we all liked Jen. She was a club whore, but she had a sweetness about her. We all knew that Rico had forced the life she was leading on her, and we didn’t know that Cage was your boy. That was a secret we just found out about in the last week. Rico, Jen, Blade, and Nutz seemed to be the only ones outside of Bethany that knew it. Bethany and Cage were very seldom at the clubhouse. Rico kept them away from us. I guess that was to keep us from asking too many questions,” Cinch finishes.
“There was no vote on the matter. There also was no vote on Blade taking over as president. Blade and Nutz made that story up to run Rico off and it worked. Rico left Jen high and dry. Blade said Cassius wanted Jen as payment of what Rico owed him and he had her locked in her room. We wouldn’t have let Blade and Nutz hurt her. We thought she was fine in her own room. One of the other girls found her when they took her a tray of food. She overdosed on a bottle of pills. I guess she made the final decision in her life,” Zip says with remorse in his voice. Too little, too late.
“What kind of men are there in the Spirit of Arms MC that take advantage of a woman forced to spread her legs by her brother? Are all of you so hard up that you will take from a woman that’s forced to give? It’s time the Spirit of Arms MC is disbanded. There’s not a one of you that is fit to walk this earth. You can either do it or the Troubled Fathoms MC will take care of the issue.” I know my brothers will have my back on this.
“That’s why we’re here. The remaining brothers took a vote and the club is burning the cuts tonight. The clubhouse will be going up too. We came to make sure that this thing that was between you and Rico, Blade, and Cassius is not going to follow the rest of us around. We don’t want to be looking over our shoulders every day an
d night. We could have been there last night but the rest of us refused. That wasn’t our fight. It wasn’t club business; it was personal business between you and Blade,” Cinch finishes.
“We lost a brother last night, a damn good brother,” Raven speaks up.
“We lost people too,” Zip adds. “More than you did.”
“That’s the thing, one Troubled Fathoms’ brother is worth twenty of yours,” Whistler says with venom in his voice.
“Did the Spirit of Arms MC take a vote on drugging Dra?” Brass asks. Cinch and Zip look at each other.
“The vote was taken to send Banger into the Troubled Fathoms’ clubhouse and get him to prospect for you and try to get information. We weren’t kept in the loop of what was going on. Rico said that he was hearing rumors that you were going to try to expand into our territory and he wanted a warning of when you were going to strike. It was Blade’s idea to send Kim as Banger’s backup,” Cinch answers. I motion for Gus to come over by us.
“Escort this trash out of our clubhouse,” I tell the prospect and then I look at the two men. “If the club sees a Spirit of Arms cut then whoever is wearing it is fair game, and they will be going down. The clubhouse better be gone by dawn or we’ll do it. We’ll let you know how the vote goes because unlike the club you have been in, we take care of business the right way.” I start to turn away but remember another question. “Where are Nutz and Horse? They were both there last night and they both disappeared. We want them both.”
“Horse’s mom identified his body this morning at the hospital. He was gut shot and died. Nutz, we haven’t heard anything about,” Zip answers. I nod to Rictor and he and Gus escort the men out. They know it means out of the gate. I know the thing I do next is going to hard, but Bethany needs to know about her sister, and I need to be the one to tell her.
