Page 7

As one of the single ones, I’d often partaken of their generous offers of sex.

They were all women who, for one reason or another, enjoyed sex and wanted to sleep with bikers.

They were told that it was a no-commitment deal.

We didn’t want anyone to get any ideas. In the past, it has happened more than a few times with club bunnies.

Cara’s mom, Chiandra, had been one of the women who slept with almost everyone at the club.

For years, we didn’t know who Cara’s real dad was, although Chiandra claimed it was Dare, the one who hadn’t slept with her.

Finally, after Dare almost lost Joli over it, we’d all been tested, and it was determined that Knight was Cara’s dad, and she was immediately removed from her mom’s care.

There was a lot of regret that we hadn’t done it as soon as Cara was born.

Others had also caused issues, even in Mace’s relationship with Jessamy.

That caused the club to make a drastic change a few months later.

We’d sat down and talked it out, and the consensus was that bunnies were too much trouble.

Sure, they provided sex on demand, but we pretty much had the same thing from the hang-arounds and without the added problem of providing for them like we did bunnies.

When we spoke to a couple of other clubs we were friends with and found they’d eliminated them, we made the change.

That hadn’t been a good conversation to have with any of them.

Toni, Natalie, and Jenny had thrown a fit and begged us not to do it.

When it didn’t work, they told us we’d come begging them to come back.

We hadn’t done it. Occasionally, I’d see one around town.

They glared and huffed off. None of us had experienced trouble finding women to sleep with.

We headed straight to church and took our seats. The room slowly filled up. When the fifteen minutes were up, the room was packed. No one, no matter how engaged or drunk, would be late. They knew Agony would have a good reason for putting their fun on hold.

“Thanks for coming. I know this is supposed to be a weekend of partying, drinking, and eating, and that hasn’t changed.

However, we want to make everyone aware of our situation so we can all be alert.

And before you ask, no, I don’t believe we’ll be fighting anyone.

It’s not that kind of situation,” was Agony’s introduction.

It was an attention-getter. When he saw he had their undivided attention, he continued.

“Not long ago, a woman wandered onto the compound. Dimitri found her, and then she was handed off to Bones. He and Eliana examined the woman. She’s resting in the treatment room with Medicine Woman as we speak.

She’s why we banned guests from leaving the compound for a short while.

However, she said they weren’t responsible, so we lifted it. ”

When he paused, Wire said, “So that’s what that was about.”

“Yes, I asked Dare, Pyro, and Hulk to do it.”

“Who is she? What happened?” Knight asked.

“Hang on, give me a minute. First, let me say she’s been through hell, and she needs help desperately. This is what she told us,” Agony said before he recounted the story.

Hearing it again didn’t make it any less impactful or easier to swallow for me.

And based on how Dare and Agony looked, it wasn’t better for them either.

As he explained, there was muttering, swearing under their breath, and angry expressions from our other brothers.

By the time Pres got to the end of it, they couldn’t contain their anger, and there was loud cussing and pledges to break every bone in the man’s body.

Agony let them vent a few minutes before calling them back to attention with our three-two whistle burst combination.

“I know this is shit we battle in some form or another frequently. I’m sick and tired of women and kids being abused.

However, this particular situation is a first for us.

I’ve never run into a guy intentionally replacing birth control and shit to get someone pregnant on purpose. Have any of you?” Pres asked.

Everyone shook their heads. I nodded and raised my hand. Agony pointed to me. “You have, Bones?”

“Not personally, but I’ve heard of it. There are actual terms for what he did to her.

It happens more than you think. Pretending to be interested in having a relationship when he isn’t is called breadcrumbing.

The part where he poked the holes in the condom, which can also take the form of removing the condom without the woman’s knowledge during sex, is called stealthing.

And the last one, birth control tampering, is a form of reproductive coercion.

All of them are forms of sexual assault and are against the law if you can prove it. ”

“Jesus Christ, if this is what dating looks like, fucking forget it,” Nitro mumbled. Others murmured their agreement as they nodded.

“What I don’t get is why this guy wants a baby so badly. Why not treat her well and ask if she’ll have a baby with him?” Pope asked.

“That’s the more significant question, and I don’t believe Blythe knows. She ran in a panic. She has no one to go to. She was fleeing for the ocean, she said. However, despite that, Blythe doesn’t want us to get involved and hurt. She kept apologizing for being trouble,” Dare told them.

“Did you explain we live for taking out trash like this guy? What’s the bastard’s name?” Twisted asked.

“We didn’t go into details, but let her know we’re not afraid and she’s safe here. They lived in Nantahala, and his name is Deon Morton. Here’s his birthdate, Wire,” Agony said, pushing a slip of paper toward him.

Wire snapped it up. I knew he’d be on his computer typing away before the night was through. Whether that was after he got laid, I didn’t know. Unless Agony said it was urgent, he had time to relax.

“You don’t need to get started on him until tomorrow,” Pres added.

“I’ll likely do it sooner, but thanks,” Wire responded.

“You all know what this means. We have to keep our eyes open. I don’t know if he can track her, but we first need to locate her car and move it inside the walls.

After that, it’s keeping her where he can’t find her.

When Wire has everything he can find on this shithead, we’ll visit him and make sure he never comes near her again and that he’ll think twice before he pulls this on someone else. ” Agony snarled the last part.

“The car has already been taken care of, Pres. While you and Dare were in with her, Dimitri and Soren searched for it. They found it two miles up the road. She had left the keys in it. All it took was a little gas, which they had in the crash truck, and it started right up. I had them park it off to the side of the far outbuilding,” Hulk informed us.

“Excellent. I’ll keep everyone updated as we find out more. Try to put her at ease when you meet her. Well, until tomorrow or whenever. You’re dismissed. Have fun. Stay out of trouble,” Pres warned, which had some chuckling.

As the brothers filed out, the officers, Wire, and I stayed behind. Agony raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” he asked.

“Should some of us go pay this fucker a preemptive visit and then one later?” Hulk asked. He cracked his knuckles. He hadn’t had a good fight lately. Knight and Twisted nodded. Knight was the club’s secretary, and Twisted was our treasurer.

“I’ve been thinking about it, but—” Agony was cut off by Spartan running into the room.

“Eliana needs you, Bones. There’s something wrong with the woman.”

I took off running. I heard booted feet pounding behind me. As I ran, we caught more attention from the guys in the common room. They hadn’t gone outside after leaving church. Shouts asked what was wrong. I didn’t bother to reply.

As I got closer to my treatment room, I heard crying and moaning. Whipping into the room, I discovered Blythe curled up in the fetal position. She was holding her middle, sobbing. Eliana was next to her. She gave me a concerned look.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“She started having abdominal pains. I can’t say it’s the baby, but I can’t rule it out. She’s spotting blood.” Eliana whispered the last part.

“My baby, I don’t want to lose my baby,” Blythe pleaded.

She was staring up at me. The fear in her eyes told me she wanted this baby, and if she lost it, she’d have a hard time getting over it. For her, it didn’t matter how she got pregnant or that its father was an unethical bastard. She loved and wanted it.

I turned to find the entire club crammed in the hallway and doorway. They were concerned.

“Get a vehicle and meet me out front in five minutes. I need her where I can run more tests. I’ll need a sober driver to take us to the ER,” I ordered the crowd. I didn’t care who did it.

“I’ll get a prospect. None of them have been drinking yet,” Nitro offered up before leaving.

“I need this room cleared. We have to get her ready to go,” I demanded.

No one argued. They knew that they’d better do as I said when I was in doctor mode. Moments later, the room was clear, and the door was shut.

“Blythe, I need you to listen to me, Lovely. We’re taking you to the hospital here in Cherokee.

I don’t want you to worry. I’ll be with you the entire time.

I work there sometimes and have privileges.

They’ll let me be your doctor. I’m just going to wrap you in the sheet.

Eliana, grab a blanket in case we need it.

And a chux pad to put underneath her bottom. ”

“I already put one under her, so she’s good to go. I’ll grab the blanket.”

Thinking momentarily, I remembered to ask, “Where’s your wallet? We need your ID and insurance card if you have one.”

“It’s in my pants pocket, and so is my phone. Please bring it. I have a picture of my insurance card on it,” Blythe whispered.

“How is the pain?”

“It comes and goes. God, please, save my baby.” Her tears started again.

“I’ll do everything possible to save your baby. Let’s go. Eliana, you have her stuff?”

“I’ve got it.”

I quickly wrapped the sheet to ensure Blythe was covered, then lifted her in my arms. Again, this feeling of awareness hit me.

I cradled her close. Eliana got the door, and we were off.

As we passed through the common room, it was almost empty.

When we got outside, Thoryn was in the club’s SUV with the engine running. Our brothers were gathered around it.

“A few of us are safe to drive. We’ll meet you there. Eliana, I’ll make sure the kids are handled. You go with them,” Pres told his old lady.

She gave him a quick peck on the lips and hopped into the front seat. Hulk had opened a back door so I could get in with Blythe. He offered to hold her until I got settled, but I shook my head. I could do it. The seatbelt would have to stay off. The door slammed, and Thoryn took off.

I held Blythe close and whispered comforting words to her.

She whimpered from time to time. Despite the dirt and sweat, I caught this underlying scent that reminded me of summer nights filled with the smell of grass and flowers.

It made me think of running around in the dark, chasing fireflies.

It was one of my favorite childhood memories.