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Chapter Twenty-Four

The Left Breast Blues

M uffin placed a plate in front of Mara.

“Warm apple pie over vanilla ice cream and cinnamon on top,” he said with a wink. “Might not be as good as a shot of whiskey, but damn close.”

“This looks like heaven,” Mara said. “How am I supposed to eat this when my best friend is in another room getting looked at by a doctor?”

Muffin leaned down and offered a somber grin.

“Look, at the end of the day, there are those who breathe and those who don’t. Those who eat and those who can’t. Those who are alive and those who are dead. You starving yourself… what will that prove? You’ve got a little life inside you.”

Mara nodded. “Wise words, big man.”

“I’ve got plenty more for you too,” Muffin said. “You better be ready. I’m going to feed you endlessly for the next nine months, and beyond.”

“I look forward to it. I hate to cook. I’m not good at it and I generally refuse to do it. Makes you wonder why anyone would want me, right?”

“You’re beautiful,” Muffin said. “Now eat up before Cyrus gets wind of that pie.”

Cyrus did get wind of the apple pie. He was good and drunk again, sitting at the bar, gently swaying. This was long after Mara finished her apple pie and ice cream.

She stared at the hallway, waiting for someone to emerge to tell her what was going on with Macy. The club called in the female doctor she had seen a few times before. Mara didn’t really know much about her, other than the fact that when she was around, Cyrus turned into a schoolboy with a crush.

“This fucking pie is better than eating cunt!” Cyrus howled with a drunken, evil laugh.

He looked at Mara and the President of SOFRAW had gooey apple and melted vanilla ice cream all over his lips and chin. She forced herself to smile at Cyrus. The pain the guy felt though…

Darrow and Linc came walking from the back of the clubhouse and Mara no longer cared about Cyrus.

“How is she?” Mara asked Darrow.

“They’re still in the room. Don’t worry, Dr. Hazel knows her stuff,” Darrow said.

“Yes, she does,” Cyrus called out. “She’s a fucking legend around here, you got that? She’s royalty. Her mother, Ginger? She was something else. And then JC himself! Raise a glass to him!”

“ Prez , easy there,” Linc said. “You’re going too far again tonight.”

Cyrus waved his hands and shook his head.

“Don’t worry about him either,” Darrow whispered to Mara.

“I’m worried about Macy,” Mara said.

“Me too, babe. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about this.”

“I should be the one sorry, Darrow. I’m…”

“No, babe. You’re not involved. You didn’t cause it. Believe me, there will be hell to pay. All around.”

Mara opened her mouth but then saw Dr. Hazel. She basically threw Darrow out of the way.

“How is she?” Mara asked, grabbing at Dr. Hazel.

“Can we talk privately?”

“For what, Jess?” Cyrus slurred. “We’re all in the mess together. I want to know what Fitz did to her. So I can plan things accordingly.”

“This fucking life,” Dr. Hazel— Jess —said.

“Dr. Hazel,” Mara whispered.

“Oh, please, call me Jess. Dr. Hazel … not right now. I’m an outlaw right now. No better than the rest of these drunk degenerates.”

“Just say everything,” Mara said. “Is Macy going to survive?”

“She’ll survive,” Jess said. “Wounds heal. Cuts scab over and scar. Up here though…” Jess touched the side of her head. “She’ll need someone to help her through this. He kidnapped her and hurt her. Wrists and ankles are bruised. Right ankle has a minor sprain. I wish that was all.”

“He did stuff to her,” Mara said, feeling sick. “Like… stuff …”

Jess frowned and nodded. “There were marks. Bruises. Tearing. Um… other places too.”

“Fucking hell,” Cyrus said, slamming his hand on the bar.

“She’s also extremely dehydrated,” Jess said. “I have her on an IV to help with that. She’s sedated to get some much needed rest. She’s going to wake up and be very confused. Make sure there’s not a crowd near her. Don’t want her to get scared and lash out and do something stupid. Or there’s a chance she wakes up and pretends everything is fine. That’s the one you have to worry about. Holding this stuff in. And since you’re not handling this the proper way…”

“What does that mean?” Mara asked.

“She needs medical care,” Jess said. “It’s one thing to stitch up a cut or pull a bullet from some biker’s shoulder. This is different. Fitz hurt her. He wants you to know he did this. Please tell me you’re all not that blind.”

“Leave the outlaw stuff to us, Doc ,” Darrow said.

Cyrus almost launched himself from the bar, trying to get to Darrow.

“Don’t ever talk to her like that ever again!” Cyrus roared.

His eyes were suddenly bright and sober, ready to kill Darrow.

“It’s okay, Cyrus,” Jess said. “I just know how this game works. That poor woman in there didn’t deserve what was done to her.” Jess swallowed hard. “Not sure what you all saw yet or not, but he tattooed her also. Her left breast.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?” Linc asked.

“What tattoo?” Mara asked.

“His name,” Jess said. “Usually you guys just do initials. He tattooed his name on her chest.”

Mara took a shaky breath. “I have to go see her.”

Mara hurried around Jess and covered her mouth with one hand and touched her stomach with the other.

First, she would vomit, then she would check on Macy.

“I’ve not heard the word out loud, but we all can imply what Fitz did to her, right?” Darrow asked Jess.

“Yes. Several times. And not just with… himself. There were objects involved. It’s fucked up, okay? It’s really fucked up. And I don’t want to be here anymore, so I’m leaving. If she has any other issues, she needs to go straight to a hospital. No fucking around. I’m serious. Got it?”

Jess could easily command a room full of outlaws. Maybe it was her beauty. Maybe it was the aura of being a doctor. Maybe it was her blood—the fact that her father started SOFRAW . She didn’t demand respect but she sure as hell got it.

“Want a drink before you leave?” Maggie asked.

“Of course,” Jess said. “One shot of whiskey.”

Cyrus grabbed the shot glass after Maggie poured the drink.

“I’ll walk you out,” Cyrus offered.

Hearts almost fluttering in his drunk eyes. Jess shook her head but Cyrus walked with her anyway. She downed the shot of whiskey to calm her nerves. Outside she felt Cyrus grab for her left hand. She pulled away, turned and grabbed at his shirt.

“And what the fuck are you doing, Cyrus? Huh? Getting drunk like this? You have a charter to lead. And it’s more than just a charter. The entire thing revolves around SOFRAW . You know that better than anyone else. I’m sorry for what happened to Priest. I know he’s your right-hand man. I’ve seen the effects of members getting attacked. Members dying.”

“Priest is not dead,” Cyrus growled.

“Jesus Christ, Cyrus, wake the fuck up. He’s been in a coma for how long? Do you want me to spit some stats about comas and head trauma and all that? How long was he on the ground out cold before someone found him? No response? The guy was legally dead. For how many minutes?”

“If you’re suggesting I go up to that fucking hospital and pull the plug on my best guy… my best goddamn friend…”

“I’m the only one who can say it to you, Cyrus,” Jess said. “You want to stare at me with those puppy dog eyes, go for it. I’m the one telling you that the President of Sins of Fire Real Anarchy West does not act like this.”

Jess slapped Cyrus across the face for good measure before leaving. Cyrus rubbed his cheek, in awe. Jess was right about one thing—she was definitely the only person who could talk like that to Cyrus. Cyrus caught himself starting to smile.

And—of course—he felt his cock getting stiff.

Mara opened the door to the very last bedroom in the clubhouse. A light was turned on from the opposite nightstand, illuminating plenty on Macy, but not too much. She was asleep on her right side. She looked better than she did at Darrow’s door. Now she looked a little more like the Macy Mara remembered. Mara walked up to her best friend and touched her hair.

“Oh, Macy, I’m so sorry. Fuck. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Mara leaned down and kissed Macy’s cheek. She then carefully touched Macy’s T-shirt, which was completely oversized. A SOFRAW shirt, making it very easy for Mara to slide it down Mara’s shoulder, exposing her best friend’s left breast. Mara covered her mouth with her other hand.

Fitz tattooed his name down Macy’s entire breast. The F at the top of her chest and the Z ending at the areola. The letters weren’t the same size or shape. It looked painful, as though Fitz dug the tattoo needle as hard as he could.

Mara couldn’t believe this. Macy made a living from her body. From her breasts. She would have to cover up the tattoo each night. Possibly between each dance. Or what would happen when Macy wanted to take a man home and enjoy herself?

Mara fixed Macy’s shirt, kissed her cheek once more, and then wandered out of the bedroom. She felt cold, empty, and tired. Yet in reality she was warm, pregnant… and exhausted.

She heard the voices from the main part of the clubhouse but she couldn’t do it anymore. Not for the rest of the night. She touched her stomach and walked down the mostly dark hallway. Something about knowing for sure that Fitz was still in the area made her so uneasy. The fact that he could hide so well. That he could attack Macy with such ease and such horror. One thing Mara knew for sure.

She couldn’t wait for Darrow and the rest of the outlaws to get their hands on Fitz and tear him limb from limb and make him suffer and die.