Page 63

CHAPTER

SEVEN

Jingles

“Let me see if I can get Angel out here, Brother,” Brick says when I convey the condition that Moira is in. “Because we don’t know where these motherfuckers are, and the last thing any of us want is to have her in the hospital, and then have them find her because you know abuse this severe has to be reported to the authorities. The last thing we need is for them to be on our asses. It seems like something they’d do, y’know? Track them through the medical or legal system.”

“Yeah, Pres. We’re going to do what we can for all of the ones we found and recovered, we’re preparing to transport them to the clubhouse,” I reply.

While I talk to Brick, I watch how docile and attentive Kracken is with Moira. He’s keeping up a steady stream of chatter, too low for me to really hear him or make out his words, but despite that, she doesn’t utter a word. It’s as if the lights are on but nobody’s home. I hiss in a breath of sympathy when I watch him gently cleaning what appears to be a deep wound, that’s likely infected judging from the pus that’s steadily oozing from it, but she doesn’t even flinch or acknowledge anything he’s doing. I briefly wonder if my brother is interested in the brunette, then worry that if he is, he might be setting himself up for a world of hurt since it’s obvious she’s been horrifically used and abused by these bastards. If she’s experienced what I think she has, she’ll be a tough nut to crack.

We may be labeled as Royal Bastards, but we have standards and morals and would never treat a woman as terribly as Moira was, nor would we expect a woman we got involved with to be pure as the driven snow. So, if my brother decides that Moira is the one for him, I’ll do whatever I can to help him help her heal. It’s what family does for one another.

Stepping away, I say, “We may want to see if the guy from Cedar Creek, the one who can dream walk, can come too, Pres.”

“Why?” he asks.

“Because I just watched Kracken clean up a nasty, obviously infected, gash on Moira’s arm and she didn’t so much as physically flinch or verbally respond. She’s so far gone in her head, it’s going to take something extra to bring her back, Pres.”

“Gotcha. I’ll reach out to Dragon. I think what Wrecker does doesn’t require him to be physically here, but I’m not totally sure. However, from the little Dragon’s shared about himself, if Wrecker can’t get himself here, Dragon can. All he’s gotta do is see them to know their aura waves or some shit, maybe we can teleconference his ass. I’ve got Banshee, Hawg, Scythe, and Phantom on the way to y’all with several vehicles in tow. Hawg’s going to look around, see if there’s anything there he can grab like laptops or hard drives on desktops, while everyone else will help get the victims taken care of and ready to bring back here. Then Phantom will do his thing so it’s one less place for them to circle back to,” Brick advises.

“Appreciate it, Pres.”

“These fuckers are definitely heading for a reckoning. Maybe I need to reach out to Grim, see if any of his guys want in on this once we find these fuckers.” If anyone deserves to be reaped, it’s these asinine fuckers.

I chuckle as I think of how Grim’s Reapers are whenever they get the chance to ‘work’. “Thinking Rael will have no problem coming and playing with some souls, Pres.”

Brick’s sigh is long-suffering, and it makes me laugh harder. “I get why he and his ol’ lady feel so attached to Ryleigh, I really do, but his penchant for popping in whenever is a bit startling at times.”

“It’s because he loves shocking everyone with the makeup he wears that emphasizes the fact he’s different,” I reply, chuckling.

Having seen the Reapers when their other side shows up, I can honestly say their visages are the stuff nightmares are made of, but that being said, the people they’re there to deal with are the lowest of the low, and deserve to have the shit or life scared out of them. Rael chooses to be a bit more ‘in your face’ than some of the other brothers, but he and his wife love Ryleigh, so Brick puts up with his shenanigans whenever they get to Roanoke. Plus, they’ve stepped up several times and helped our chapter without question.

“This is true. Fine, I’ll give them a call as well,” Brick says, sighing. “Although, knowing him and his penchant to just ‘know’ when he’s needed, he’s probably already on his way. Just once, I’d like to head into the holiday season without shit hanging over our head, y’know?”

I roll my eyes thinking that’s something we can tackle another day, I remind him, “Well, it’s barely September, Pres, so I think we’ve got a few more months before it’s that time of year.”

“Ryleigh’s already planning out how she and Rory can decorate the clubhouse, Brother,” he says, chuckling. “She’s pulled my dad into it this year as well, so I’m sure from Halloween until New Year’s, it’s going to be unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, I can’t help but burst into laughter because I can already see how things are going to go down, especially with RiffRaff getting involved in the schematics and the women’s malarky. When he was president, he was hard as nails but fair, then he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and stepped back, handing the gavel over to Brick. For years, he was around, then he had to go into an assisted living facility because he started wandering off. But when Brick realized he was failing, he brought him back ‘home’ to the clubhouse, where at least he was in a familiar space and was comfortable. When we had the incident at the clubhouse, and RiffRaff got hit, Angel, one of our brothers from Ankeny, healed him and managed to mend his mind as well. It was miraculous, and a few of us men might have had some dust in our eyes, but he’s cured, and seeing as RiffRaff was a father figure to a bunch of us guys, our family feels like it’s recouping from his once anticipated loss.

Now, he’s like he was when he was younger, only when Brick asked if he wanted the gavel back, he declined, saying he wanted to be a ‘regular ol’ member’ so that’s what he is, although he does help a lot with our two new prospects.

“Kind of can’t wait to see what they come up with, Pres,” I admit. “I know we’re a motorcycle club, but with you and Banshee now having ol’ ladies, plus Aubree, things are changing for our blended family, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all.” I’m sure more ol’ ladies will be joining our ranks soon, expanding and enlightening our lives.

“She wants to make sure the baby has all the memories possible, even though I’ve tried to tell her that Aubree isn’t going to remember shit at her age,” he says, chuckling. “I’m sure it wasn’t hard to get my father onboard, he dotes on his granddaughter.”

“Yeah, he does. I mean, I felt bad for Jadyn and Hadyn when he had them putting that huge ass swing set thing together. She’s not going to be using that for at least another year or so, at least.”

“He did buy the special baby swing,” Brick retorts. “And he ‘helps’ her down the slide whenever he takes her out there.”

I shrug even though he can’t see me. My childhood memories aren’t all that great, so I have nothing to compare it to, but if my president and his ol’ lady want to go overboard for their little girl, I’ll gladly help them accomplish it. “I’m glad she’s got a grandpa like your dad, Pres,” I quietly say.

“Plus, a clubhouse full of uncles to help spoil her,” he reminds me. “Listen, I know you’ve got shit to do there. Let me get these calls made, look for the brothers to be there soon.”

“Thanks, Pres.”

Hours later, I follow behind the club’s vehicle since Kracken insisted on holding Moira, one of the other brothers is riding his bike back to the clubhouse. Now I know he’s attracted to her; he hasn’t let anyone else so much as touch her. While I’m glad we found one of the girls, I am dreading the call to Sleeper. Not only that, but since Kracken is adamant he won’t allow Moira to be left alone, I will either be going it alone or with another brother.

I made a promise to Sleeper, and I intend to honor it. I will not rest until Belle is found.

I just hope that Hawg is able to get some information off of the electronics he was busy boxing up when I left, so I know which direction to go in my search.

And that it’s not too late by the time I do eventually find her.

“Not giving up, Sleep,” I argue, my voice getting harder as he tries to argue over me. “Hawg grabbed some computer shit from the compound where we found Moira, it’s bound to have information to give us an idea of which direction to head in next, Brother. I told you I wouldn’t give up until Belle’s been found, and I mean it.”

“You’ve done plenty, Jingles,” he replies.

“Have I found your sister yet? No, no I haven’t. That means I haven’t done enough,” I insist. “Now, let me repack my shit so I’m ready to go when Hawg texts me with a direction or coordinates. I promise, Sleeper, I won’t give up.”

“I don’t understand why not, Jingles,” he says, his voice hardening.

“Because when I was at my lowest, you and your club were there for me. I’ve watched your sister grow up from a pain-in-the-ass preteen to a young woman. She deserves to live her life however she chooses, and I’m pretty sure it’s not in servitude to a bunch of pussies who subjugate women the way these independent fundamentalist fuckers do.”

“Just checking, Brother, seeing as she’s younger than you.”

Anger courses through me at what he’s implying right now. “Sleep, I’m going to say this one time, and it’s completely in deference to the fact we’ve known each other as long as we have. I’ve never once thought about your sister in an inappropriate manner. Not one fucking time. That being said, she’s now an adult and as such, should there be any kind of attraction on either side, it’ll be between us, plain and simple. You get me, Brother?” I ask, my own voice hard and unyielding.

A chuckle comes through the line until the fucker’s laughing so hard, I’m sure his face is red, and tears are forming. “Brother, trust me, I know you’ve never been inappropriate with regard to my baby Belle. Not only that, but if she ever decided she wants to get involved with a biker, I honestly wouldn’t have an issue if she chose you.”

“Wait, what? What the fuck, Brother?” I’m so fucking confused right now I can’t see straight, and I don’t know if it’s because I’m exhausted or worried.

“Jingles, much like you’ve watched her grow up, I’ve watched you do the same. I know the loyalty and commitment you apply to each and everything you do. Hell, you’ve been actively searching for my sister for a few months now, Brother, and you haven’t so much as complained one time about it, or asked for shit, even though I’m sure this has to have strapped you.”

“Actually, the brothers have taken care of us, Sleeper,” I admit, “so I’m not hurting, and neither is Kracken.”

“Yeah, but he’s an officer and you’re a patch,” Sleeper says. “So of course, he’s not hurting.”

“No, you don’t understand, Brother. Brick gave me a bigger share,” I reply.

“Still, what you’ve put into this search means more to me than you’ll ever know,” he argues.

“Glad to do this, Sleeper. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Have… were there any messages where y’all found Moira?” he asks, his voice cracking slightly.

“Yeah, Brother. Same as the ones before. We’ve got them on the run, my goal is to find them before Belle ends up in the shape that Moira’s in.”

“Fuck, that bad, huh?” His tone is painfilled when he asks me this question.

“She’s… I can’t think of the word, Sleep, but she won’t speak to anyone and her eyes? They’re blank.”

“Catatonic?”

I shrug because that’s one of those words I don’t recognize. “Maybe? I know Brick’s calling in Angel and also Wrecker so we can try to heal her mentally and physically.”

I hear his whistle at my words. “Yeah, I’ll be headed in that direction in the hopes that the next time I talk to you, it’s you telling me you’ve found my sister. Shiny side up, Brother.”

“Same to you, Sleeper.”