He goes to walk off when Cas calls him back.
“He left a while ago.”
“He did?”
The pain radiates from him and I know it’s because of me, no matter what Mason tells me, I’m coming between them and I hate it.
With one last look my way, he jogs back up to his room and I focus on Cas.
“I’m going to need something to take back to my father, he wants me here as a spy and I have nothing.”
He thinks for a moment and then says, “Tell him you heard me say I’m shutting down the Mercy chapter.”
“Are you?”
I could kick myself for asking, I already know his answer so it’s no surprise when he retorts, “Not your business.”
Mason reappears fully dressed and ready to leave. He comes over and takes my hand in his. We head out as Cas watches us leave and it’s freezing out this morning.
Mason walks me back down to my car and kisses me hungrily.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“I hope Victoria is doing better.”
“So do I.”
The way he agrees makes me believe more violence is yet to come if she isn’t. Driving away from him is starting to feel like a goodbye each and every time.
I replay our night together as I drive back to my father’s house, no longer home to me, and I can’t stop smiling. No matter what goes on around us, I still have last night’s memories to keep to myself. A night with just the two of us that only we shared.
Parking up in front of the house, I walk inside, and father is sitting in the kitchen reading the local newspaper over coffee and French toast.
“I was expecting you home hours ago, I said to cosy up to one of them, not spend the night with them.”
I pull out a chair beside him and bite down on my tongue.
“I didn’t share the night with any of them,” I lie. “There was an accident at their clubhouse and things got crazy.” I embellish the truth a little and he puts his paper down.
“And?”
“And I heard Cas say he’s going to shut down the Mercy chapter.”
His face lights up and he sits forward. “Anything else?”
I shake my head and disappointment rains over him.
“Very well, it’s enough for now and if he shuts the chapter down, that means they’ll be leaving and we can get back to business as normal.”
My stomach turns at the thought but I plant a smile on my face for his satisfaction.
“Speaking of business, freshen up and get changed. You’re coming with me today. It’s about time you meet my associate.”
This is the last thing I want to do but it’ll be information I can take back to Cas, the untrusting fucker.
* * *
My father’s driver opens the door for me and very ladylike, I climb out the car and feel numerous eyes pin to me. The ground on the edge of town is dusty and ruining my heels. The warehouses are abandoned and derelict, the area screams of dodgy deals and lives being ruined and I want to shower it off me as soon as I can.
Looking around without making it obvious, I count four men standing around while the main guy waits by the hood of his car and smiles my way before settling his attention on my father. He isn’t a tall man and his hair is so thin, he’ll be bald within a couple of years.
“How kind of you to bring me a present, Jacob. It’s been a while,” the guy says, and father stiffens beside me.
It doesn’t last long but I noticed it. Is my father more human than I’ve come to believe?
I dash the thought quickly and lift my chin, showing no weakness. I’m no one’s present, well, maybe Mason’s but I shouldn’t be thinking about him right now.
“I’d like to introduce my partner, Aspen, my daughter. Sweetheart, this is Leonard Cooper, our herion distributer.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Aspen,” Mr. Cooper says, holding his hand out for me to shake.
“Likewise, I’m sure,” I say, placing my hand in his.
Instead of shaking it, he flips it over and kisses my knuckles.
I swallow the bile threatening to erupt from me and sigh with complete relief when he releases me.
“Business with you, Jacob, just got a lot more interesting.”
The meet doesn’t last for long, but it feels like a lifetime with his eyes constantly landing on me.
It doesn’t feel the same as when Mason watches me, this guy disturbs me in the same way my father does. Slimy and creepy, dark and fucked in the head. At least I have one name for Cas. It has to count for something.
Myles
Victoria lies sleeping in the hospital bed and I haven’t taken my eyes off her since I arrived early this morning. Dad has taken mom out for some fresh air, and so he can have a smoke, and Mase went for coffee.
The top half of her head is wrapped in gauze and traces of blood seep through the stark white bandaging. I should have killed the guy last night, if it wasn’t for Zach and JJ dragging me away, I would have. If she never gets her hearing back, I’ll always regret letting them continue breathing. Word has it Gabe got them both out of town before we could get to them again.
The door opens and Luca sticks his head in. His gaze falls on my sister and he pales like he’s looking at a dead body.
“Decided to show your face,” I grunt.
“I would have come last night, but I was busy dealing with the assholes who did this to her.”
“Me and Mase took care of them since you were nowhere to be seen. Actually, where were you? You two, as bad as you are keeping shit on the down low, are always together these days.”
His mouth closes and his lips purse together tightly. It’s so fucking obvious something happened between them, hence why she ran out the clubhouse crying without him.
I won’t push him for answers at her bedside out of respect for my sister, but once we’re away from here, all bets are off.
“How is she?”
“The doc reckons she could permanently lose her hearing. A part from that, she’ll be fine.”
“She’s deaf?”
“That’s what I said.”
He steps farther into the room and it’s like she can sense him in her sleep. She comes around and it’s him she sees when she first opens her eyes.
A wrangled noise comes from her, and her hands go up to her ears. A tear slips from her eye and I jump up to my feet. There might be a bed between us but I’ll still get to him if causes her any more tears.
Victoria latches onto my hoodie and pulls me down, closer to her mouth.
“Get him to leave, I don’t want him here.”
I guess she thinks she’s whispering, but it’s fucking loud in my ear.
“You heard her, Luc. You need to get your ass out of here.”
He ignores me and creeps closer toward her. He tries reaching for her hand but she shuffles closer to me.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Tor,” he tells her.
“She can’t fucking hear you, asshole. And why are you sorry, what did you do to her?”
He cuts his eyes to mine and I see something, I don’t know what, but he went too far with her in some capacity and I will find out, but not now. She needs him gone now.
“I swear to God, Jackson, if you don’t leave you’ll be needing your own room in this hospital.”
“Fuck you, Myles. I’m not leaving until I talk to her.”
“It’s not like she’s going to hear you!”
Victoria breaks down into sobs and I’ve had enough.
“Get out or I’ll throw you out,” I warn him for the last time.
“You heard my brother, Jackson. Leave.”
Mason stands in the doorway holding two takeaway cups of coffee and darkens at the sight of Luca making our sister cry, yet again.
Victoria buries her head in my hoodie and Luca finally gets the hint. He storms out, threatening he’ll be back, and Mason closes the door after him.
Pushing Tori away, I cup her cheek and mouth clearly,
“He’s gone.”
A nurse came in earlier and left a notepad and a pen. I grab it from the cart and write down, “What happened?”
I hand it to her, and she shoves it straight back and closes her eyes. Mason hands me my coffee and we both sit, in silence, waiting for something, anything to happen.
“What do you think happened?” he asks, and I shrug in answer. “We’ll find out when go back to the clubhouse,” he says, quietly.
“Only if you can spare the time, I mean, Aspen might need something and you’ll go running off to her.”
He sighs heavily and turns in his seat to face me.
“She doesn’t come before Tor and you know it.”
“Do I know it? I know you’re different around her and I know you’re putting yourself before the club for her.”
“Fuck you, Myles. It’s not like that.”
“Did you fuck her?”
He looks away before muttering, “Yes.”
“You really like her that much?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Pushing up from the chair, I have to get out of here. I thought I could bring him back but he’s sinking further towards her and he’s not backing down.
“She’s changing you and you can’t even trust her!”
The door opens and I barely register mom, dad, and Grumps walking in.
Mason rises to his feet and steps toward me. “Are you saying she’s taking me for a ride?”
“Oh, she’s riding you in all senses concerned.”
“What the fuck is going on now?”
Grumps voice fills the room and mom slaps him on the arm to quieten down, making her way over to Victoria’s side.
“Nothing’s going on, absolutely fuck all,” Mason gripes.
“Well, take your nothing outside. Your sister needs her rest,” Dad cuts in.
“It’s not like she can hear, look, she’s sleeping through.”
The room grows cold as dad steps towards Mason and points his finger at him.
“Get the fuck out, son. Do not make me tell you twice.”
“I’m out.”
I follow him into the corridor with Grumps at our backs.
“I hope she’s worth it, Mase,” I yell after him as I come to a stop and he carries on walking away.
He flashes me the middle finger over his shoulder and shoves through the door.
“Talk to me, boy,” Grumps demands coming to a stop beside me.
“He’s choosing her,” I say and leave it at that.
“I suppose it was going to happen one day?”
“What was?”
“When one of you fell in love and the other didn’t.”
Love? The old man has no idea but then it hits me, fuck, Mason’s falling in love with this bitch.
“It’s just a shame I won’t allow it, the girl can’t be trusted and I’m watching very fucking closely.”
At least I’m not alone and it partly feels better. She might be getting between me and my brother, but Hell will freeze over before Mason goes against our grandfather. He has far too much respect for him.
“I’m out of here too, call me if anything changes with Tori.”
“Be careful and stay away from Mase for a while. Whatever this girl has planned, we’re going to let it play out and see how far she uses him.”
Words are easy to order, following them are harder when they go against everything you want to do.
Mason’s bike is nowhere to be seen when I hit the parking lot. Man, he didn’t waste any time leaving.
The drive from the hospital to the mountain isn’t so bad, it passes the time scoping out new surroundings.
Until I ride onto main street and flashing lights blink in my mirrors. Sirens flare up and I sigh, pulling over.
The cops pull in behind me and I remain on my bike until they’re standing either side of me.
Cas wants us making scenes but I don’t think he meant with the cops and with my family at the hospital worrying about Victoria, they don’t need the added stress of me getting arrested so I decide to play along.
“What can I help you with Sheriff?”
“You realise you were doing thirty-five in a twenty zone?”
I wasn’t but fuck him.
“I’m ever so sorry, I do apologise.”
It’s hard to keep the sarcasm from my tone, but I fight it and stay calm. Pulling out his nightstick, he circles my bike and smashes it into my taillight. What the fuck? Jumping off my bike, I brace myself for anything to come and flex my fists. The sheriff catches my movements and smirks.
“This piece of shit isn’t road safe, all these misdemeanours are starting to count up.”
I bite down on my tongue and remain quiet.
He smashes the nightstick into my mirror and it snaps off and falls to the ground.
“What’s that? I didn’t quite catch what you said.”
“I didn’t say a word.”
“I thought I heard you threaten a police officer.”
“I heard him clearly, he threatened to hit you,” office dumbo next to me adds in.
“Cuff him,” the sheriff instructs and I lose it.
“Bullshit, I’m not going anywhere.”
I go to pull my phone out my pocket, if only to put a call into Cas so he knows I need help, but officer dumbo smacks it from my hand and it crashes to the ground.
It’s a tossup between fighting this or going easy and I choose to go easy, even if it goes against everything I want to do.
The cuffs snap into place when officer dumbo shoves me around and restrains my wrists.
I listen to him tell me my rights, all fabricated and refuse to give them the satisfaction of fighting it.
I’m hauled into the back of their car and officer dumbo slams the door shut on me.
They both climb in the front and I scan over my bike as we pass. They’re going to pay for hurting my baby. Someone will pass through and see it, see the state it’s in and me not around. I just hope they see it soon.
“Cas should have listened to us and gone home. We warned him and now we have to show him we mean what we say.”
“Funny, because you’re about to learn how Cas deals when he’s threatened. Not to mention the rest of my club when they find out you’ve got me on bullshit charges.”
They both laugh, completely believing they hold the power over us. It’s quite sad really but I’m curious to see how this plays out and if I find out this has anything to do with Aspen, I’ll kill her myself.
I don’t hear anymore shit on the drive to the station and when we pull up outside, officer dumbo drags me out and shoves me toward the door.
“I’m more of a take-out-on-a-date-before-I-let-anyone-touch-me kinda guy, darling,” I throw at him with a smirk that irritates the shit out of him.
“Shut up.”
I laugh to myself and come to a stop by the desk. I should know this isn’t legit when the sheriff digs his nightstick into my back and urges me to carrying on walking.
He prods the fucking thing in my back every time he wants me to turn a corner and I swear I’m going to shove the thing up his ass when I get the chance.
With one last shove I stumble into a holding cell, the two either side are empty and I twist around to see what’s coming my way.
“You’re so going to die, Sheriff Asshole,” I spit at him and he only laughs.
He unclips his radio and the static fills the silence surrounding us.
“All available officers, we’ve got a detainee in holding and we need back up.”
Within seconds five other officers come running and the sheriff points his stick my way. They storm the cell and I’m barged to the ground. Fighting is one of my favourite past times but while I’m cuffed and five guys are using their fists, boots and knees, I can’t retaliate. For a brief moment they relent and I roll onto my side, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the dirty floor.
“That’s all you got,” I groan, but laugh too.
/>
The sheriff walks in and kneels at my side, digging the fucking stick into my cheek.
“Oh, you think it’s over. Until you all leave town, it’s never going to end,” he warns and rises to his feet.
“Funny, we’re not going to leave until you’re dead.”
“Is that right? Somehow, I don’t think you’re in any position to run your mouth, boy.”
He’s right. My eye is swelling shut, I’m winded, and my ribs are screaming in protest from being kicked with their heavy boots. However, I’ll die before I show these fuckers weakness. I’m a Lost Soul and they won’t feel an ounce of satisfaction from watching me beg for them to stop.
“You heard him, fellas. He threatened to kill me.”
The sheriff steps back, making room for the assholes to come at me again. I catch flashes of officer dumbo retreating, looking sick, but the cunt doesn’t try to stop them. It’s hard to distinguish who’s kicking me, and after a beat, it’s hard to feel them as one. Their boots continue to rain down on me and eventually I struggle to breathe. Four of them step away, their ragged breaths filling the cell. The fifth cop sits his fat ass on me and smiles down at me as he throws a punch to my jaw. The fucker packs a mean right hook and I’m pretty sure my jaw is shot to pieces.
My mouth fills with blood and I try to cough it up but it’s no use. I have zero energy to do anything. The cop becomes a blur and the last thing I piece together is if I don’t make it out of this alive, I know my family, my club will take all these fuckers down avenging me, and then there’s nothing but darkness.
Aspen
Walking into the clubhouse doesn’t intimidate me like it did when I first came here with the twins. It’s not like anyone is friendly with me, or asks me how I’m doing, but their glares and sly digs are lessoning and that’s a start.
I’m looking for Cas when a hand clamps around my upper arm and yanks me to the corner, near the bar. I’m about to give whoever it is a piece of my mind when Gabe glares down at me, easily over a foot taller than me and I shrink back.
“I met with your father last night, you need to get out of town. Playing both sides is gonna get you hurt.”
I don’t know what I was expecting, not that I was expecting Gabe to pull me aside like he has, but I don’t expect him to be looking out for me. But then he just pisses me off.
Their Fractured Souls: Sons Of Lost Soul MC Book Six Page 9
