Facing The Pain

by Vera Quinn

  “The radio doesn’t pick up very many stations but besides that, I have no complaints,” Teresa tells me, looking bored.

  “Can I drive it up the road? I want to be sure of the brakes and I want to listen to the motor,” I ask Stella.

  “You can test drive it, but Teresa goes with you,” Stella tells me. I nod my head yes and go to the driver’s side and get in.

  “Grandma, watch for Todd,” Teresa tells the woman. The keys are in the ignition and I wait for Teresa to get in and buckle her seat belt as I do mine. Teresa looks at me. “Grandma wouldn’t rip you off. The reason why she wants to sell the car in the first place is because she says it’s lonely sitting in the garage all the time.” I look at the woman momentarily and then back at the road. “She’s not crazy, just eccentric. She thinks everything has feelings, and she doesn’t want any of her things feeling hurt or neglected. We’ve had no trouble out of the car or she would have had it fixed first. She also believes in Karma and wants no bad Karma.” I don’t say anything to the woman. I think about what she says and how Stella acted, and I think she is telling the truth.

  “Thank you for telling me that.” I start to leave it at that, but I go on, “Cherish your grandmother while you have her. Eccentric or not, you won’t get another one.” Right now, I wish I had any family with me. I turn the car around in the next parking area and head back to the motel. I’ve decided to buy the car and I do. A few more hours and I will find my new home.

  Chapter Fourteen

  CHARLIE

  Never Say Never

  I bought a map at the gas station where I picked up some snacks after all the paperwork was done on the car. I am now a proud owner of a silver nineteen ninety-eight Toyota. Never thought I would be so proud to buy a car that is twenty-two years old. The trip has gone smoothly except when I took a wrong turn and went forty miles out of the way. When I figured out my mistake, it was easy to backtrack.

  I am finally back on the right track and I see a sign that says Bristol Cove 10 Miles. I feel excited. I trying to get something on the radio. Teresa wasn’t kidding when she said it didn’t pick up very much. I see the STOP sign at the four-way stop and I brake. I put my foot on the gas to drive on through it and that’s when everything just goes black.

  Chapter Fifteen

  DEACON

  What The Hell Have I Done

  I only need to get a couple of more miles and then my brothers will meet me and these assholes behind me will be history. No one shoots at a Sons of Wrath MC member in our territory. It rubs against my grain to be running from them but there were around ten of them on my tail before the suburban joined them. Whoever is driving the suburban has tried running me off the road. My bike has been faster so far.

  You ask why they are chasing me in my own territory? I have proof that their club is the one running drugs through our territory and they are the ones that shot our VP’s house up and shot two of his boys. One of our snitches in their club got me a flash drive with the proof on it and I just need to get it back to Garner, the president of the Sons of Wrath MC. This information is all it will take to bring Hell’s Guardians MC to an end. I glance back to see how close the suburban is to me and everything happens in slow motion. I see the stop sign, but I can’t stop. I hear my brother’s motorcycles, but I don’t see them yet. I don’t see the car at the intersection until it’s too late. I have no choice but to swerve into the ditch, and as I do, I feel the front tire give out with a pop. It’s the sound behind me that will be with me until my death. The screech of tires, the crunch of metal, and the undeniable hit the small car took from the suburban. I want to glance back but I know if I do that it might be the last thing I see. I try to control the bike beneath me. I feel as I go down and the way the ground tears at my clothes as well as the heat on my leg from the burn of the pipe on my leg. I try to concentrate but I feel the darkness trying to take me under. My body feels raw and I know it’s the adrenaline coursing through my body. The last thing I can hear is motorcycles, a lot of motorcycles.

  Chapter Sixteen

  DEACON

  Shit Hits The Fan

  My mouth is dry, and I want to open my eyes to find something to drink but then pain shoots through my head, and I rethink that idea. My leg feels like it’s on fire and I reach for it and open my eyes at the same time. I see I am in a hospital room but the pain I feel is nothing compared to the bleak faces looking down at me. Garner and Horn are standing close to my bed and they both look pissed off and like someone just died.

  “Who died?” I croak out. “I need water.”

  Garner picks up the glass on the table by my bed and fills it with water. He puts the straw to my mouth, and I go to raise my head, but I feel dizzy and lay it back down. Garner leans the straw over so I can get a drink.

  “We have the flash drive, and you remember nothing. That’s all that is important right now. Leave the rest to us,” Garner tells me in a muffled voice. I try to nod my head but that’s not happening.

  “What all is wrong with me? My head feels like it was punted fifty yards,” I ask them.

  “You’re lucky you had your helmet on. Your head bounced off the ground. Luckily, you were off the asphalt. You have a burn on your right leg from your exhaust when your bike went down. Burned right through your leathers. You have a concussion, and your side is all torn up from the ground, but nothing broken. They want to keep you for observation for a couple of days to get all the tests back to make sure there are no internal injuries.”

  “There was a car at the intersection. I heard a crash behind me, what happened?” Horn and Garner look at each other.

  “The suburban hit the car. The car was hit mostly in the back, but the woman can’t remember a damn thing. That works out better for us. The damn thing about it is the woman is pregnant. They are keeping people away from her. We can’t get close enough to make sure that memory stays gone.” I look at Horn. It’s my fault that woman was hit.

  “What do you mean by that?’ I ask Horn with a raised voice. Horn and Garner look at each other again.

  “Brother, I know you hit your head, but you know we don’t hurt civilians. Horn meant that we haven’t given her any incentive not to remember. We also heard that no one has come looking for the woman—no family, no man, no one. It’s only been twenty-four hours but if my woman was missing and she was carrying my child, I would be looking for her.” This woman could have lost her child because I decided to hit the ditch instead of taking the hit. My head is killing me and maybe when it clears a little, I will get past this, but I feel guilt. I feel responsible. What if she would have lost her child? I try to not think the worse. She didn’t or hasn’t yet. No, she can’t.

  “I need to make this right.” Garner smiles and Horn takes a twenty out of his wallet and hands it to Garner.

  “Told you,” Garner says with a smirk.

  “Asshole,” Horn says.

  “What the hell?” I ask.

  “Son, you are predictable but thanks for making me an easy twenty,” Garner tells me. “Do you remember the dog that broke his leg when he got ran over? The clubhouse now has a guard dog that would only lick a robber to death,” Garner tells me.

  “Or the cat that had no home and all of a sudden, the clubhouse needs a rat killer, but the cat only eats tuna fish, and the clubhouse has no rats,” Horn goes on. I get it. I have a habit of taking in things and taking care of them. Shoot me. I’m a biker with a heart. Give me a man who has done our club wrong and I will come up with creative ways to make him bleed but give me a woman who needs help and I turn into a man on a mission. No, not this time. I just think if she was hurt because of the club then we should help her find her way. Horn is shaking his head.

  “Don’t worry, Deacon, we’ll make it right. Horn is going to find out anything that the cops have on the woman. Who knows, by tomorrow she may remember who she is, or her family may come forward,” Garner tells me. “Your doc should make rounds later today and I know the cops will be i
n too. We need to get back to the clubhouse. There’s a prospect outside the door and Ties is trying to sweet-talk a nurse to get information on the woman but he is here if there are any problems. I will be back in a couple of hours after church.” I know that the club will be making a move on the Hell Hounds MC. They won’t be making that move without their sergeant-at-arms so I need to make a speedy recovery.

  Chapter Seventeen

  EVE

  Total Blank

  I wake up and my body feels like I went ten rounds with someone. I know I’m in the hospital, but I don’t know why. I can’t even remember my name. I don’t even remember I am pregnant or who the father is. I know what you’re thinking—she’s dazed. Nope, fully awake and still nothing. I don’t even know how to explain it. The more I try to make myself remember something, the fuzzier it becomes and the more frustrated I become. The nurses have tried to be understanding and the doctors keep saying it could be temporary. I have a concussion and as I heal from it, my memories may come back. It all just seems surreal. Shouldn’t I remember I am carrying a child?

  I have talked to the authorities, and they brought my purse to me or a purse they say was in a vehicle I was in when someone ran into me. That brought on more questions. The vehicle I was in wasn’t in my name. I had the title and it was signed over to me, but I hadn’t changed the title over yet and I had no insurance on the vehicle. Fortunately, the woman I bought it from still had insurance on it. What was I thinking? I thought about this long and hard. Why would I do such a thing when I know it’s illegal to drive without insurance? Surely, I know that, or did I? It leaves too many questions in my head, too many things swimming around in my head. The cops are supposed to talk with the woman I bought the car from tomorrow again and get more information. Maybe I told her something or maybe she knows more about me. I hear a soft knock on my hospital room door.

  “Come in,” I say, feeling annoyed, it’s probably another nurse to check something. A man walks in instead. I recognize the jacket thing he has on. It looks similar to another man that came in yesterday—the same but different.

  “Can I help you?” I ask the man.

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I look at the man. I’m sure I have never met him before. He doesn’t seem familiar but what do I know? I don’t even know myself.

  “Do I know you?” I ask him. He’s a handsome man. The closer I look at him, the more I can see that he is more than handsome, the man is hot, and he knows it. Call it a hunch.

  “No, we’ve never met. I was on one of the bikes in the same wreck as you. I thought I would check on you before I’m released.” That’s nice of him but for some reason I don’t completely believe him. I just shake my head yes at him. “Do you mind if I come in and we talk for a few minutes?”

  “I guess that’s alright,” I answer.

  “I’m Deacon. How are you feeling? Are you getting out of here soon? I don’t think I could take another day of hospital food.” The man is joking but I think he is fishing for information. The questions run through my head again and they seem harmless enough but it’s his eyes. They don’t look like he is joking around or just being friendly. They look serious and dangerous.

  “The food isn’t all that bad, or what I have had anyway,” I tell him honestly.

  “Is there anything that you need? Is your family on their way? I bet your husband is worried about you.” Yes, he’s fishing.

  “Deacon, I am going to be honest with you, I don’t know if I need anything. I mean, the hospital is taking care of me, but I don’t have any memories. I don’t know about my family or if they are worried. I don’t even remember that I’m pregnant or who the father is. The doctors say my memory may come back tomorrow, the next day, or never. I am a big mess and if I were you, I would walk right back out that door and keep walking.” I would cry if it would help but then I would be just a blubbering mess.

  “Hey, I just thought you might need a friend. I know we don’t know each other but if you would let me, I would like to try and help you.” I see that Deacon is sincere. I feel the tears sliding down my cheek. I don’t want to look weak, but I just can’t hold it all in anymore. “It’s alright, I’m not here to judge, let it all out.” Deacon has moved over by my bed and sits beside me. I hate crying in front of him, but I can’t seem to stop.

  Chapter Eighteen

  DEACON

  Not Liking This Plan

  I walk back into the clubhouse just as all the brothers are walking into church. I hurry before the doors close. I take my seat and I see everyone has grim looks on their faces. Garner takes his place at the head of the table.

  “Horn, bring us up to date on this chick in the hospital? Did you come up with anything in her past that might cause us any problems?” Horn stands up and looks at me.

  “I did a background check and came up with nothing, so I decided to dig a little deeper. No one can get through life without having something on their records even if it’s a parking ticket. I figured out what it was that was nagging me—Eve Copeland would have been too old to be the woman in the hospital. I checked birth records and found the woman was way too old and deceased. The story gets better. This Eve woman did have a daughter along with four sons with someone that has ties with someone in this club.” Horn’s eyes come to me.

  “I don’t know that woman or her ma,” I almost yell. Horn smirks.

  “Nope, I would say you don’t, but you do know her dad, Tracker. Josiah Sweets the president of the Rival Sins MC East Chapter in Texas. I would bet my left nut that is his daughter.” I do know Tracker but only through my dad. I left Dad’s club a long time ago. On the day I found out that my brother, Duke, was sleeping with my fiancée because the order came from dear old dad, Jules Lake.

  “Do you think she was sent here? The Rival Sins MC has nothing on me. I walked away and that was the end of it.” I am trying to make sense of what Horn is getting at.

  “The Rival Sins MC have no idea where Charlie is at. Duke was going to claim her, and she did a vanishing act. The word is that the mother chapter of the Sins wanted a union between Charlie and Duke. Who do you think that bun in her oven belongs to?” Horn asks.

  “That’s a lot of speculation, Horn. How do we prove any of it and how can we use the information? None of it means anything to us.” Garner is right. I hate the family I walked away from and I pity that baby if it belongs to Duke.

  “As far as I can tell, it doesn’t mean anything to us. There may be a finder fee if we turn the girl over to Duke or the Sins but they haven’t put any feelers out for the woman as far as I have heard. She can’t mean too much to them.” No, I can’t let that happen if she is trying to get away. I know the hell my family put me through. I can be ruthless at times—if it’s called for—but that family is full of nothing but scavengers.

  “We all know that when you came back here that you washed your hands of that club. You dropped the name of your father, or the man you thought was your father, and took your mother’s maiden name. You’re our blood. My only sister’s kid and you are a Sons of Wrath. You’re all we have left of her. Jules killed that woman one day at a time until she took her own life. You have proved your love and loyalty to this club. Don’t think we ever doubt that and that means when they shit on you, they shit on our family. No man should make one blood brother hate another.” Garner stares me down and lets me know how deep his feelings go on the subject. “This is now club business. Charlie is now club business. That means no one outside this room gets any information about her. Not the club girls, not old ladies, and not any man that doesn’t hold a Sons of Wrath MC patch. Is that clear? Not even her.” Garner looks at us all. Each brother nods their head.

  “We are going to help Charlie in any way she needs.” Repeat, our VP speaks up. “Make her want to stay. Make her feel at home and protected. If she doesn’t get her memory back, then she is going to need our help. What if the cops run her fingerprints? They’ll know who she is then.”

  “
I’ve already made a call to our inside guy at the PD. It’s covered. They will come back Eve Copeland,” Horn answers.

  “What’s the end game here? Why are we fucking with this woman’s life?” I ask.

  “If Tracker puts out feelers for his daughter, then we’ll make a call to him and let him know where she is. If he doesn’t, we just sit on the situation and let it play out. My guess is if this woman is on the run, it’s from Duke and your dad. We have no reason to help either one of them. The way I see it is we are helping Kitty’s grandchild stay safe. We may not want anything to do with Duke because he is Jules made over, but that child is innocent, and has our blood in it. We are protecting ours and if this kid isn’t Duke’s, then this is our power play over a blood debt that has been a long time in getting paid back. No harm will come to Charlie or Eve or whatever you want to call the woman. We will protect her. We’re just not giving her the entire story. This is on a need-to-know basis, as we do with all our family, if they don’t need to know, then we don’t tell them.” I hadn’t thought of it that way. That child is my niece or nephew, but it is hard to grasp. I mean, if the woman is on the run anyway, what can it hurt? We will just help her hide—better here than on the road by herself. It still seems wrong on some level. “If she had come to us, we would have helped her. Eve Copeland is now family and Deacon, you oversee her care and keeping tabs on Eve.” What the fuck?

  “Why me?” I ask. I’m not sure I can even look at this woman the same way after finding out she was once my brother’s woman.