by E. C. Land
I nod my head in response.
“Well I’m glad to see I was right,” Victoria says, breaking the moment between Chains and myself.
“Wanna tell me what you all are doing here?” Chains asks, his gaze moving from each person who had come in with his sister.
“I called Mom about something and she told me you guys might need some help,” Raven says, a broom already in her hand.
“We’re family, Chains. I’m not about to let you do anything without backup,” Victoria says.
“Exactly what your sister said. Besides, we all missed munchkin here,” Stoney says, glancing between Chains and I, causing me to grin when he notices the cut I’m wearing. “Good to finally see you happy, Tiny.”
“Thank you, Stoney. Hey everyone. I’d offer you something to drink but it seems I’ve broken all of the glasses out here,” I state jokingly trying to lighten the mood.
Chuckles fill the room, but Chains doesn’t find it amusing.
“I promise no more climbing,” I murmur to him.
Stepping closer to me, Chains leans forward. “You better not or I’ll make sure you don’t sit for a week,” he whispers before kissing me.
“Excuse me, can we have some time with our girl here please?” I giggle at the voice because the guys don’t know what they’re in for with her being here. I’m honestly shocked she’d come.
“Kenny,” I say excitedly, sliding off the bar top with Chains help and moving to hug the woman. I’d become friends with her before I’d met Rachel and they both became two of my best friends.
“Tiny, look at you. Finally opening that shell and I can see why. Nice,” she says winking at me.
“Watch it, woman,” Horse mutters behind her.
“I will watch it. Maybe me and Tiny here can compare notes,” she says.
“Make sure I’m not there for that talk,” Victoria mutters.
“Same here. I’m sorry but I’m married to Horse’s dad, I don’t want or need the visual of what he’s packing because I’m pretty sure I already know,” Rachel groans.
“That’s because he looks just like him,” Kenny states, moving her hands between the two men.
“Jesus Christ, is it always like this?” Breaker asks, looking horrified.
“Yep,” Tracker groans. “Just wait it gets worse. Though Tiny’s never partaken, these women when they drink are nuts.”
“Hey, you like it when I’m drunk,” Victoria smirks.
“Alright, that’s enough of that shit. I do not want to hear anything about my sister’s sex life,” Chains mutters.
“Where are all the kids?” I ask.
“They’re back home. The only reason I left Jamie was because of the feeling I’d had when Raven told me about her mom’s vision.” At the mention of Ela, I smile. She is one of the nicest women I’ve ever met, and I sometimes wish I had a mom like her.
She hadn’t been around much recently due to her sister being sick. but Ela texts me often with inspirational quotes.
Right before I was about to respond, Shock and Crank came in the front door, both looking grim.
“Everything go okay?” Chains asks them and they both nodded as they looked around the room.
“Yeah, got it handled; however, we couldn’t find her,” Shock says.
“Shit,” Chains says.
“Got what handled?” Victoria asks at the same time.
“Club business Vi,” Chains mutters. “Look it’s cool you all came down and we’ll be more than happy to have you all here to help but, Victoria, You and Raven are out of this. I don’t need the stress of it.”
“Not happening, Chains,” Vi says sarcastically as she folds her arms over her chest.
“Victoria, you finally have everything you deserve, don't go down this road again. You’re retired from the bullshit,” Ryder proclaims as he moves to stand next to Chains.
“Uncle Ryder,” Vi says, enthusiastically.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Ryder murmurs to his niece.
“Look, Vi, why don’t you do me a solid and hang out with the women while the clubs discuss the situation.”
Before anything else can be said an explosion rocks the building and the lights go out leaving us in complete darkness. It might be daylight outside but in here without light it’s a blackout.
“Chains,” I yell, trying to find him in the dark.
Through the commotion I can hear him calling out for me as well as directing orders to his brothers.
A cloth covers my mouth and nose as an arm wraps around my waist. “Easy, bitch,” I would’ve cringed at the voice if I didn't faint in their hold.
Chapter Nineteen
Chains
I’m gonna kill the motherfucker who threw an explosive at the clubhouse. But I already know.
“Fuckin’ Deanna,” I snarl as everyone stands outside. Well almost everyone.
Somehow Tiny was taken within the short period of time it took us to get everyone out of the clubhouse.
“Don’t worry brother we’ll get her back,” Tyres says.
“You’re fuckin’ right I will. Deanna fucked up.” I sneer, and head for my bike. My brothers behind me. We don’t need to go over the plan anymore. The plan has changed.
“Chains,” Vi yells. Turning my head, I see her approaching me with a look of determination.
“Don’t have time, Vi,” I mutter.
“Let me help. I know you don’t want me to, but you also know I can get in and out of somewhere without being detected,” she argues.
“Not this time, Vi. You want to help, can you handle getting this stuff organized for me. See what all the damage is and a list of what needs to be fixed,” I state.
“Fine,” she huffs. “But at least let Tracker’s club help you.”
“Alright,” I grumble, knowing having them with us would be helpful.
“Thank you, stay safe and bring my sister in-law home,” Vi grins.
“I plan on it.” Straddling my bike, I watch my sister run over to Tracker. Nodding he and the rest of the Devil’s Riot move to their own bikes.
When I get Tiny back, I’m investing in a monitor for the front gate. One that lets the club know when someone comes through. Better yet a sensor for anytime the gate opens. This shit won’t be happening again.
Starting my bike, I glance in my brothers’ direction getting nods from each of them letting me know they’re ready.
Pulling out of the parking lot of the clubhouse, I turn in the direction of the one place I’m willing to bet Deanna would take my woman. The one place where everything started with us a long time ago.
Pushing my girl to the limit, I head to the shack near the house I grew up in. The place where I found Deanna one day when we were just kids. She’d been lost in the woods and found the shack I’d claimed as my Fort.
By the time I make it to the tree line, my rage is at its limit.
“Prez, you sure this is where they’d have brought her?” Brake asks.
“Oh, I’m sure and I’m willing to bet she did this without Delano,” I sneer.
“What can we do to help?” Stoney asks.
“Watch your step and follow me. If you see any men in suits, shoot ‘em. Anyone who didn’t come into these woods with us and Tiny is fair game. This is private property and no one should be on this land besides the club,” I declare and Stoney grins.
“My kinda fun here, alright let’s go have some target practice,” the man says nodding his head.
Fuckin’ hell you find allies in the strangest ways. Having my sister become his VP’s ol’ lady worked out in both our favors. Doesn’t mean I didn’t look into them when I found out about her being with the dude.
Shaking my head, I focus on one thing. Getting my ol’ lady back from the psycho-bitch from hell. With each step I take I force the memories of this place out of my head. No longer will they ever hold any meaning to me but hatred because of Deanna. She ruined everything when it came to this place. It used to be mine and then I
met her. I thought she was everything the way she’d smile so bright.
I barely register the shot that hits me. Reaching up to my shoulder, I pull my hand back to find some fucker has shot me.
Not letting it stop me, I keep walking toward the shack that’s now in my sight.
More shots are taken as people start to yell around me; however, I keep my focus solely on making my way toward my woman.
“I knew you’d know where to find me, sweetheart,” Deanna giggles from the entrance.
“You crossed a line, Dea. This time you’ve gone too far going after my ol’ lady,” I sneer.
“Gone too far? I highly doubt that,” she laughs, stepping closer to me.
“Where’s Tiny?” I demand.
“Don’t worry about that little girl. I told you I wasn’t giving you up and I meant it. I’ve lived in hell and I won’t do it alone,” she says.
“Dea, quit this shit now.” My fingers itch to grab my gun and pull the trigger that would end her. I don’t normally condone harming women, but Deanna is far from being classified as a woman in my book.
“I don’t think so, you see the day I saw you two in the French Quarter, I knew she was different. The way you looked at her told me everything I needed to know. She was special and going to take my place in your heart,” she rambles on, her eyes filling with tears.
“You were never in my heart the way she is,” I growl.
“That’s a lie and you know it,” she screams. “But that’s okay because now I won’t have to worry about it anymore.” The smirk that crosses her face is one that could be called demonic when she raises a gun and pulls the trigger before I can react.
“No.” I hear Tiny scream as I stagger backwards into a tree and slide down.
My vision blurs and I swear I start to hallucinate when I hear more gunshots. Deanna’s body drops.
“Chains, please stay with me,” Tiny cries as she looks down at me. Her hands press against my chest.
“I love you,” I cough out.
“I love you too, Darren. Stay with me. I can’t lose you. Please. Please. Just hold on,” she sobs.
“You can’t lose what will always be with you.”
Shouts come from all directions as Tiny screams for help.
“Promise me, Bitsy, that you’ll go on living for me,” I murmur, reaching up to touch her.
“I can’t, Darren. I can’t do that. I need you.” My head becomes lighter and I have a hard time keeping my eyes open.
“We’re losing him,” Pipe yells and my body is being hoisted.
The last thing I hear are my woman’s screams of agony.
Epilogue
Tiny
The day Deanna took me I swear it was one of the worst days of my life. I never expected things to end this way.
After Deanna shot Chains, I’d ended her by using the very same gun to kill her. Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m not able to handle my own. I know a thing or two. And given the fact I was facing losing the love of my life, I wanted Deanna’s blood.
Taking her by surprise I’d tackled her to the ground and snatched the gun from her hands. Directly after, I’d shot her square between the eyes before dropping the gun to the ground.
My heart was ripped out of my chest.
If not for Raven and Victoria showing up when they did with an SUV, you might as well have put a bullet in my chest as well.
By the time we arrived at the hospital, they were waiting at the entrance with a gurney to take Chains to the back. I don’t know how they knew and didn’t care. From what the doctors said he coded on the table several times while they tried to save him.
It took all my strength to keep moving through the days. The guys from the club have been supportive. Even the guys from the Devil’s Riot MC. But they had to get back to their club house; however, they did ask if the club would look out for someone who was planning to move out this way for them. Victoria had been apprehensive about leaving yet she couldn’t be away from her son any longer. I didn’t blame her. I’d be the same way.
At the time when they asked, I didn’t care. Hell, I still don’t, but they’re supposed to be arriving any day now.
It’s been two weeks since that dreadful day and I’ve barely slept or eaten. Breaker, Brake, and Tyres have constantly taken turns sitting with me.
“Tiny, I’m gonna go get a coffee, you want something,” Breaker asks as he stands stretching from being in the stiff chair for so long.
Shaking my head, I don’t say anything as I continue to stare into the blackhole that seems to be taking over my life.
Sighing, Breaker kneels in front of me. “It’s gonna be okay, I promise you,” he murmurs.
Nodding, I do my best to keep the tears at bay. It’s hard to do when the only comfort you have is the steady beating coming from a monitor.
“I’ll be right back,” he says as he stands back up.
The door closes quietly behind him leaving me alone in the sterile room with the man who holds my heart.
Over the past two weeks it’s been a waiting game. At first after they stopped the bleeding, pulled the bullet out and fixed the artery that had been nicked no one thought he’d make it. Chains spent the last two weeks in an induced coma. The doctor said with each day that he makes it through is a good sign.
Yesterday they’d started to reduce his medication that keeps him in the coma.
“Come on, Darren. I need you to wake up,” I murmur.
“Bitsy.” I jump at the sound of his voice. My gaze shoots to his and I swear my heart nearly comes out of my chest.
“Oh God, Darren. I thought I’d lost you,” I cry, kissing his hand that I’d been holding this entire time.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he croaks, and I release his hand to press the nurse’s button at the same time grabbing the small cup of water sitting on the table next to me.
Opening a straw that was sitting next to it, I place the thing in the water and lift it up for Chains to sip from.
When he’s done, I put it back on the table and take his hand back in mine. “God, you had me scared out of my mind,” I whisper.
“There’s no way I could leave you, Bitsy,” he murmurs. “Told you, you hold my heart. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You better not. I don’t want to live without you.” I say, tears falling down my cheeks.
“Good, because when I get out of here, I’m puttin’ my ring on your finger. You’re stuck with me, Bitsy,” he declares before letting his eyelashes flutter back down and drifts off back to sleep. At least this time when he closes his eyes, I know he’ll be okay.
Standing up, I lean over him and press my lips to his. “Rest for now. Know that I’m here and nothing will happen to you. Trust me, Chains, the way I do in you. And yes, I’ll marry you even if that was a crappy proposal,” I murmur, knowing I’m the only one who can hear.
I only hope when he gets out of here that we can have a little bit of peace for a while.
The End For Now
Haven’t read the Devil’s Riot MC yet and want to know how their connected to the Inferno’s Clutch MC? Check out Owning Victoria.
Prologue
Victoria
Two years ago
Running from the only home I’ve ever known is a scary thing, especially considering I grew up a spoiled little rich girl, as most people would say. Then again, nobody really knows what kind of life I’ve lived.
It’s not always easy being the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the state. Nor is it best to deal with a mother who forces you to act perfect. Between the two of them, they created the person I am— a prim and proper lady who knows her place.
Or so they think.
On the outside, I gave them what they wanted to see while inside my head I was dying with each day that has gone by since the moment I turned fourteen. That was a little over four years ago, and the time is almost up. Tomorrow, I’m supposed to agree to a marriage I want nothi
ng to do with in front of hundreds of people. All thanks to an arranged marriage my father and his made.
I’ve met the man I’m to vow my entire life to. I don’t think my parents care that the man I’m supposed to marry will end up killing me. He’s vile and would prefer a slave who will lay on her back rather than a wife to devote love to.
Every time I’ve raised my thoughts and concerns about this, I ended up spending the night in the cellar. Worse than that, my mother has been determined I am to be a size zero instead of the nine that I am. So, unless it’s a handful of kale and spinach, I’ve barely eaten in a month.
I needed to get away.
That’s why I’d packed a bag with the bare minimum items. I didn’t need anything really but a few changes of clothes, a stash of money I kept hidden away and the little box my grandmother gave me. It contained pictures of her and I along with the pearls she’d given me before she passed.
Tonight, I made my move. I waited for my parents to go to bed. By the time the clock struck three a.m., I decided to say screw it and take my chances.
Slinking out the door to my room with my backpack on, I stuck to the shadows of the hallway and quietly made my way to my exit. The closer I got, I heard moans and groans.
Gross.
I might be a virgin, but I’m not naïve. I know what those sounds are. I shudder at the thought of my parents having sex. How two people who are as poisonous as them could have sex with each other is beyond me. My grandmother told me when I become intimate with someone, it should be with love and nothing else.
I made it to the door just as my mother’s screams met my ears. I stilled as she called my soon-to-be-husband’s name instead of my fathers’. Two different grunts can be heard as she goes silent.
Oh God, nausea churns my stomach. This is the life my parents want for me— one filled with deceit and despair.
Yeah, no, I’m good.
