Spartan (Forsaken Sons MC Book 1)

by Jessica Joy

  I’m in for some serious damage control. Fuck.

  As I jog across the street to her house, I pull up short when I reach porch steps. The screen door is hanging ajar, the new hydraulic broken in half.

  “What the fuck?” I ask aloud as I take the three steps in one giant stride. “TESS!” I yell when I see the front door is also hanging open. Without another thought, I shoulder it open and barrel inside. The living room curtains are drawn, casting deep shadows around the room but as I search, I don’t see any obvious signs of a struggle or burglary.

  Fuck, did I leave it open? No, I know I latched it.

  Stepping into the kitchen I see one of the table chairs knocked over on its side. With a curse under my breath I tear up the stairs, “TESS!” I scream, taking them three at a time, pulling up short as I get to the first landing.

  Tess.

  She’s face down on the carpet, a purple bruise slashed across her temple. I rush up to her, gently turning her over.

  “Tessa, Tess, look at me Babydoll,” I urge as I roll her onto her back. My emotions roiling between fear and fury. My fingers search for a pulse and I nearly let out a sob of relief when I feel it, steady, even.

  Thank god, ok, she’s fine. Wait, why is it so quiet in here? Shit! Evan!

  I rush into the nursery to find the crib empty, the diaper bag gone, and the dresser sacked. “FUCK!” I scream, frantically searching for something that I know I won’t find. “No, come-on buddy, where are you?” I look everywhere, stupidly thinking he’s playing a game. I find his turtle Lovie cast aside near the closet and tears break free. “No. No. No. No. No.”

  He’s gone, and someone took him. No way he went without this. I slide down the wall facing the crib, our little toy plane is snapped in half and laying under the crib.

  “FUCK!” The scream rips out of me uncontrolled, my hands pulling at my hair.

  “Hnmh…”

  “Tess! Tess, Baby are you there?” I turn, seeing her stir in the hall. I rush to her side as her eyes flutter open. I pull her into my arms.

  “Tess, honey. I’m here, I’m right here. I’m sorry,” tears streaking down my face as she looks at me.

  “Sawyer?” she blinks, her eyes coming into focus. “Sawyer, what happened? What time is it?” she starts to look around and winces as her eyes catch the light coming through the nursery window. “Sawyer, where’s Evan? Did Betha come get him for the day already? Ugh, I have the worst headache, did we overdo it?”

  “Shh, it’s okay Tess. It’s ok,” I choke out, unwilling to admit to her that I’ve not only failed her but her son as well.

  “Sawyer, where’s Evan?” she asks again. Her eyes focusing and her body tenses as she sits up.

  “He’s not here Tess,” I look away, I can’t watch this. I can’t see the pain I know is coming. She bolts up to her feet, swaying against the door frame and takes in the scene in the nursery. I can only sit there, wallowing in my guilt for my failures.

  “Evan? EVAN!?” she frantically starts searching the room, snatching up his Lovie and holding it to her chest. “EVAN! Sawyer where is he, what’s happened!? Tell me what the fuck…” she breaks off as she turns to the side and vomits.

  Shit, concussion. God I’m an idiot. I have to get some help.

  I stand up and rush to her, grabbing her before she can fall to the floor. “Tess, come on, let’s get you to lay down before you make it worse,” I gently guide her to the bedroom, away from the chaos of the nursery.

  “Sawyer… they took him, they hit me, and then they fucking took my baby,” she cries between dry heaves.

  “I know, babe, I know,” concern for her replacing my guilt.

  I can deal with myself later. I need to take care of her first.

  I take her to the bedroom and lay her down on the bed, propping her up a bit and grabbing a glass of water for her from the bathroom.

  “Stay here, I’ll be right back. I will not leave you again. I promise,” I make my way back to the hall and look around, seeing some of the tell-tale signs that I missed at first: dirty boot prints in the carpet, scuffs on the walls, and a dent in the nursery door. I make my way downstairs, fury bubbling back up.

  Whoever the fuck did this to my woman and boy will pay in ways they never imagined.

  I pull my cell from my pocket and call the compound, “Hey, it’s Sawyer,” I say when Kiki answers. “Get me King. Now. I don’t care what he’s doing, get him on the phone,” I growl, my voice seething with anger.

  “The fuck Sawyer?” King says, clearly annoyed when he takes the phone a few moments later.

  “Prez, get to Tessa’s. Fucking now. Bring one of the SUVs and tell Bones I have incoming. Tell Tink to get his fuckin’ laptop,” I bark, knowing there’s a smack down headed my way for taking that tone with him, but I really couldn’t care less right now. I need my Brothers here. Now.

  “On it. Trouble?” King says the sound of slamming doors and running echoing in the background. King knows me, knows I would never call like this unless shit hit the fan.

  “There will be,” I bite out before cutting off the call. I don’t have time to sit and chat. Knowing King will be here within five minutes since we are only three minutes from the compound, I force myself to take a breath. Reinforcements are coming, they are on their way. In the meantime, I need to check on Tess.

  I grab an ice pack and a few towels from the kitchen and make my way back upstairs. Tess is still awake, thank God, but is sobbing into her hands.

  Damn it, how do I fix this?

  She is hurting because I wasn’t here. The beautiful boy who only had smiles for everyone is gone because I wasn’t. Fucking. Here. Again. History fucking repeating itself. This is why I disappeared in the first place, this is why I kept to myself, kept everyone at arm's length. Everything I touch eventually turns to dust. I should have fucking been here, I should have stayed last night instead of taking the chicken shit way out and running. I failed her, failed him; God damnit, I am going to make this right.

  I start by wrapping up the ice pack and placing it behind Tessa’s head. She provides no resistance; all strength seems to have left her and it almost breaks me.

  “Here Tess, let’s get that bump to calm down,” I hold the damp cloth to her temple. She curls into my arms, sobs wracking her small body. “I know, I know,” I soothe; nothing else comes to mind that will mean a goddamn thing to fight this pain.

  I hear the slam of car doors out front and the pound of boots on the porch steps. Leaning her back on the pillows I tell her, “The Brothers are here, I’ll just be downstairs.” getting to my feet, I ready myself to face King and whichever of the Brothers he brought with him; I meet him in the kitchen. He races into the small kitchen with Tinker, Gage, and Tully hot on his heels.

  “What happened?” King barks, eyes searching the room, looking for any reason to be called here this way. Raising my hands in a placating gesture I quickly explain.

  “Tess is upstairs, she needs Bones,” I say, watching King’s face go from pissed to thunderhead.

  “What the fuck happened,” he insists, edging close to me, anger radiating off him in waves.

  “I’m not sure. I left around 2 this morning and everything was fine. I got a call from Alice about half an hour ago saying Tessa was late for work, so I came over to check on her,” I stop, my throat catching. “Prez… Evan, he’s gone. Someone fucking came and stole the baby,” I say, my anger rising with each word. “They god damn knocked her out and stole the fucking baby!”

  “Fuck,” King growls. “Tink, get on the security, find out why the fuck none of the alarms tripped. Tully, Gage- search the house. Every fucking inch. Go next door and search Betha’s place too, don’t forget the alley. Sawyer, grab your woman and get her to the car. Put her in the back and I’ll get you both to Bones.” King clips out. His detached demeanor leaves zero room for argument or questions, exactly why he’s the Prez. As he heads for the front door, he throws over his shoulder, “and Tinker; I want
to know everything by tonight. No stops, use the network.”

  I head back upstairs and as carefully as possible I gather Tessa up in my arms, cradling her whimpering form to my chest and bring her out to the car. The last time I tried to pick her up she threw an unholy shit fit and made me swear never to pick her up again, I wish she was okay with this for a different reason.

  When we reach King’s SUV I slide into the back seat, settling her across the bench next to me. King climbs in and guns it down the street before he is even fully settled in the driver’s seat. Tessa groans and tries to curl into herself as King takes a sharp corner, the sudden motion clearly upsetting her. The need to comfort her in any way I can has me mumbling reassurances to her as I stroke the hair away from her forehead. Not exactly sure what I’m saying, I just need her to know it will all be okay.

  King tears through the front gate of the compound, only slowing long enough for the two Probies on duty to haul the thing open. The SUV barrels through and screeches to a halt near the front door. King is out the door and inside, barking orders as he goes without even turning off the car. I gather Tessa back in my arms as carefully as I can manage and hurry inside, heading straight for the infirmary.

  “Sawyer, where are we?” she murmurs against my chest.

  “We’re at the compound Babydoll, going to get you some help.”

  She mumbles something again and passes out.

  Shit, she needs to stay awake.

  As part of the renovations to the old roundhouse, there was a large infirmary put in with a surgery, exam room, and 6 hospital beds. Everything is fully stocked and operational, looking more like something out of a well-run clinic instead of the back room of a biker compound.

  I shoulder my way through the swinging double doors into the exam room and carefully lay Tessa on the table. King is already pacing in the corner as Bones hurries over to us and starts looking her over with cool efficiency.

  “King said she was awake. Why didn’t you keep her awake?” Bones clips focused on his patient.

  “I tried, she just passed out as we walked in.” I say numbly, as I pace, holding myself back from the table.

  Bones was a corpsman in the Marines for years, and though he never talks about it, you can see in his eyes he’s seen some shit while on tour.

  “Got this Brother? Need to go get some of the men together and find out what the fuck happened,” King asks Bones in an even voice as I settle next to him against the wall.

  “Two blunt force traumas to the skull, no fractures, likely just a concussion,” Bones says, gently probing her skull, “she should be okay in a few days.”

  “What about you Sawyer, you comin’ with?” King asks.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I say, not taking my eyes from Bones and Tess. Saying nothing more, King claps me on the shoulder and stalks out of the infirmary. I can hear him shouting orders down the hall before the door swings closed. A part of me screams to go running out the door right behind him. I’m ready to visit some righteous vengeance on these assholes. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing to go on and Tink will need time to find something worthwhile; he’s a god damn magician but he isn’t omniscient.

  I offer Bones a tight nod and lean back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest to keep myself from twitching and pacing as I wait for him to finish his ministrations. Once he’s done patching Tessa up, I scoop her into my arms and carry her over to one of the beds along the far wall. I get her settled and drape the blanket over her scrub clad body, courtesy of Bones since she was just in her PJ’s when I found her. Bones gave her a shot of something to help her sleep and offered me a nod before exiting the infirmary and leaving me with her.

  Pulling a chair up to the bed, I reach for her hand, taking it in both of mine and watch her sleep. “I’ll find him Babydoll, I promise you. I will find Evan and bring him home to you, to us. I’ll find those fucking assholes and rip them limb from limb; I will make them beg for the end. They will pay. They will suffer,” I whisper, resting my forehead on the back of her delicate hand.

  Chapter 19

  Tessa

  God… hangover from hell.

  My first conscious thought as I start to wake from a deep restless sleep is why the hell I have such an awful headache. There is an odd heaviness in my limbs, and my eyes slam shut in protest to the bright light that stabs a spear of pain through me when I attempt to open them. I go to bring my hand up to my head and it gets caught on something, sending a jab of pain into my arm. I give it a tug to get it free, still not awake enough to register what’s going on, when I hear a sound to my right and try to focus through the sleepy fog to make out what it is.

  Sawyer.

  He is saying my name over and over, almost like a prayer. His sleep laden voice sounds even rougher than usual, like a cinder block being dragged on concrete. I turn my head toward his voice and try to once again open my eyes. I get my right eye open and am greeted by his strong, handsome face. Those bourbon eyes clouded with concern, his brows drawn together, creating a crinkle between them above his nose. Absently, I think about smoothing that crinkle with my thumb, it looks too out of place on his striking features.

  “Sawyer,” I croak, my voice rough. My throat is dry and feels like I gargled glass.

  “Shh, Babydoll,” he shushes me. Squeezing my hand as he sits forward, leaning his elbows on the bed next to me. “You’re safe, I’ve got you.”

  “Where am I?” I ask, looking around the unfamiliar space. It looks like a clinic or hospital room, but I don’t see anyone else and it’s silent; none of the buzzing and beeping you expect to hear in those settings.

  “At the compound. In the infirmary,” he says, brushing his knuckles down my cheek.

  “Why, why am I here? What happened?” I ask, panic tightening in my chest.

  “Someone attacked you last night Babydoll,” he says quietly, not making eye contact. “They came in after I left, knocked you out in the hall. Just outside of Evan’s room,” he almost chokes on the words at the end, barely pushing them past his lips.

  What isn’t he telling me? Wait, outside Evan’s room. That’s right, I went to check on him then…

  “Sawyer, what happened?” I ask, insistent. “Sawyer look at me,” I say, raising his chin so I can see his eyes. I see tears welling in them as he answers.

  “I don’t know Babydoll; I wasn’t there… I should have been there,” he trails off, trying to pull his head away.

  “Sawyer McGrath, you tell me what is going on right now,” I state, grabbing his chin and not letting go, I need to see his eyes.

  “Tess…” he tries to pull but I pull him back to me.

  “Sawyer, where’s Evan?” I ask, my stomach falling to the floor. Memories of a black boot coming back in a haze.

  “Someone took him Tess. They took him from us,” he whimpers, tears breaking free and rolling onto my fingers.

  “No… no…” I whisper, I want to scream but I can’t find the voice to do so as tears stream down my face. I go to sit up, but my vision swims and I have to lay back down. He moves and drops the arm on the hospital bed, gently settling himself next to me. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me as close to him as possible and presses soft kisses into my hair.

  “I’ll find him Babydoll. I’ll find him, and I’ll get him safe,” he says, sounding long practiced in the cadence of this mantra. “I will find the fuckers that took him and make them regret setting foot in my town.”

  Silent sobs start to build, memories filling in, little moments. A bright flash of pain at the back of my skull, the feel of the carpet against my cheek, a second smash of pain, the sounds of Evan crying, the feeling that I couldn’t move, the smash of the back door.

  It’s him, I know it. I didn’t move fast enough, I got complacent.

  Sawyer holds me as I cry in my shame, in my fear, in my pain. He keeps muttering promises vacillating between vengeance and safety; I barely hear any of them.

  My baby, I failed
. I couldn’t keep you safe, God I’m so sorry.

  I don’t know how much time passes as I sit there curled up in Sawyer’s arms, but eventually the tears stop. As my breathing slows from the hiccupping gasps back into a normal rhythm, I settle further into him, no longer holding onto him like a lifeline, but instead snuggling up into him, enjoying his warmth and support. He continues to run his hand up and down my arm in a comforting motion but he’s quiet now, simply resting his chin on the top of my head.

  My mind is a mess of tangled living nightmares. There is no doubt in my mind about who has Evan, but I don’t understand how he possibly could have found us. Have I really let my guard down that far? Where did I slip up? How could I have failed my baby so completely?

  I fight back the panic I feel rising in my chest again and try to settle, knowing that losing my shit again won’t help anyone. I need to focus, to keep a handle on my racing thoughts until he is safe in my arms again; nothing else matters until then. Once I have my boy back, we can go where no one will ever find us again and we both will be safe. Then, only then, can I let everything go. With a renewed resolve I focus on my breathing and consciously relaxing each muscle in my body, working from my toes all the way up.

  When he notices me calming, Sawyer pulls back just enough to gently grasp my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilt my tear stained face up to look at him. “I promise you Babydoll. We will get him.” he leans in and presses a chaste kiss to my lips. “But right now, I need you to do something for me. We need you to tell us anything you think could help us find him. Tinker is working on leads right now, but anything you can tell us will speed up the search and help us get to him faster.”

  I tense at his words. Am I ready to tell my story? Do I trust him enough to give him all of that? I’m surprised by how quickly the answer comes to me and how little it truly scares me. “Anything; anything for Evan.” I say, my voice surprising even myself with the surety in it, offering him a weak smile.