After informing the nurse at the desk, we stepped outside with Flirt and Crank and found a sitting area off to the side. When we reached it, I noticed Devil first and he looked up from where he was sitting and quickly ended his call to walk over and join us.
“Where are they at?” Wild Bill was the first to speak.
“Keg called Hawk, he is sending Shock and Freak to pick them up, Prez,” Crank answered. I wouldn’t have known who Crank was referring to if Reed hadn’t introduced himself by his club name. Sami and Carly never called him by it.
“Why are your boys coming down to get them? Black Hawk might want to deal with them. Don’t forget, we were there too.” I looked at Wild Bill.
“The important reason, they shot Carly. You want more, if Keg called back for transportation, they’re from Haven, which means I got a couple more of Stone’s little following hanging around, buying their time, spying for that weasel. Crank, who the fuck was it?”
“Tater and his brother, Spud.” This was not the time or place but fuck, I had to ask.
“Are those serious names?” Wild Bill shook his head.
“They got the names because they have to have potatoes at every meal, doesn’t matter: breakfast, lunch, supper, they eat them. Spud was stripped of his patch right before I took over after my dad’s death. Dad nailed him for siphoning off the top on runs. Spud paid back what Pops calculated he took, that and the fact Tater was Stone’s buddy and Stone vouched for Tater, they didn’t kill the fucker. Stone had moved up quickly in the club, his first leadership position in Haven was as an Enforcer. When the VP died, Stone was voted in.
“I stripped Tater of his patch after Stone went on the run. So they are going back to Haven because I need some info from them. After that, if there is anything left, be glad to give you a call.”
“Where do they have them at? Going to be a couple hours before your boys get here?” I looked at Flirt.
“Abandoned farmhouse, edge of town, you can’t see it from road. The only reason we knew that is where they went was the dust cloud from the dirt road they were flying on. We parked our bikes where they couldn’t be seen from the road and walked through the field to get to the house. They weren’t staying there, we checked. Plus, Coast got them to admit they had seen the road and just took it to get off the main one. They didn’t know the house was there either till they pulled up.” If Haven left the guys with Coast a little longer, I had no doubt the man could get the info out of them. When he left Delta Force, the CIA had recruited him heavily for SOG, Special Operations Group. But Emery Cortez had been ready to come home like the rest of us.
“They coming here after Haven picks those two up, Flirt?” While I waited for Flirt to answer, I noticed Devil had Wild Bill off to the side talking with him. I knew Devil was on to something and when he was ready he would let us know. My phone rang and I pulled it out, when I looked down at the screen, private caller was there again. Fuck, I had forgot with everything going on that Coast was supposed to track that shit today. I wasn’t in the mood to worry about that shit, Carly was my priority now. I was ready to admit that the day I met her she became my priority. Crazy? Fuck yeah. However, I’d been all over the world with the military, slept with every type of woman, but none radiated or showed the kind of strength Carly had.
My phone rang again as did Speed’s. What the fuck was going on today? Saying shit seemed to hit the fan was an understatement. Devil was still standing by Wild Bill who was currently on the phone, Flirt stood with Crank and Moose talking, and Jag was standing between Speed and I as we answered our phones.
As I listened to Stroker talk to me, Speed’s ‘goddammit’ alerted me to the fact he was talking to Sami and it was said loud enough to draw the other men’s attention too.
“Yeah. Everyone’s okay though? Good. Yeah, we got it all handled on this end. Sure thing, Prez, I’ll let them know.” I hung up just as Speed was finishing his call.
“You first, Speed,” I said.
“It was probably the same info you were getting from the Prez, except mine was laced with being scared but moving toward pissed off woman.” Speed took a deep breath and I knew he was trying to calm his own self down.
“Don’t tell me that son-of-a-bitch made a play for my daughter and granddaughter? I will peel that asshole’s skin off his body one layer at a time when I get him. He should have stayed gone, now that I know he is back, I will lift every rock till I find him.” Wild Bill’s face made me fear he was going to be headed for the bed beside Carly.
Speed looked at Wild Bill, “Only if you get that bastard first. He has upset my woman and my daughter, his days are numbered. He should have kept his ass away from Black Hawk, now he is stuck in the middle of two clubs, his only option is death because even the choice of how he dies is taken away. It will be slow, it will be painful, and then his life will be over.
“Sami sounded more pissed than scared. Seems Stone didn’t come himself, ID on the one Brax nailed was Toby Sams. Sami let Sheriff Lance know he went by the club name Creeper. Sheriff Lance came out, asked some questions, talked with Brax. The coroner already came and picked up the body. No charges on Brax. They had to have been watching because when Brax stopped the guy at the gate, he told Brax he was sent out to get some last minute measures on the garage extension. Brax stepped in the shack and texted Stroker because he noticed the biker boots the guy had on when he went to the window of the truck. Sami said since he never got the clubhouse, Ally had no clue what was going down, the dads had been playing games with her when Brax had texted. The dads told Sami they would be back that they needed to check on something. Sami understood they were trying to evade saying anything in front of Ally. They wouldn’t let her even go down to the gate after it was over.” Speed shook his head then finished, “I think that is why she is mad. You know from Prez what went down at the gate, so what was it?”
“They got on their bikes and rode down the drive as if they were heading out for a ride. He figures they have been slithering around the area because the guy made them when they got closer to the gate and Prez pulled his gun out when the guy turned to aim his at Brax in the shack, he wasn’t there so he turned the other way and Brax stepped up to the window and shot Creeper through the eye. Blew off the back of his skull, that’s why they wouldn’t let her physically ID him, they only showed her his license.
“They called Sheriff Lance then. When he left he told Stroker that he would have his deputies go around to any abandon places they knew of and check them out. He figures they have to be staying somewhere out of the way so they wouldn’t draw attention. Stroker said to tell everyone nice job and to stay safe. He wants updates on Carly as soon as we get any info.” As if someone was listening, the nurse stepped out of the doors and was looking around. Jag spotted her and pointed. Speed hurried over to her as the rest of us followed.
“Mr. Weston, your sister is out of surgery and in recovery. The doctor said he would be down in just a few minutes to speak with you.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” The nurse turned and went back through the doors. We all stood there for minute, letting everything that had happened this day sink in. Carly was in recovery, Sami and Ally were safe. I took one more deep breath and walked back into the hospital.
No sooner than we entered the family waiting area the doctor came in and walked over to Speed as I stood beside him. “Your sister did great. I had to go deep into her thigh to get to the bullet. You know of course it had nicked her femoral artery, I repaired it, but since it is the main artery in the thigh, she will have to take it easy for several weeks. This is essential since the artery is weakened, we don’t want to put any additional strain on it. The bullet was lodged in the muscle, it took a little time to get out, I didn’t want to do more damage to the muscle than was already done. So what all this boils down to is she will be in some extreme pain while the muscle and the surrounding area heal. Her outer sutures will have to be removed in two weeks but that can be done at your local hospital. I’m going to recommend therapy to strengthen the muscle back after it heals. That too can be done in her hometown. But that will be after the artery heals too. I’m going to keep her at least three days, if she does well, I will possibly release her, if she isn’t doing well, then she is looking to be with us at a minimum of a week. I’ll know more after she wakes. Do you have any questions, Mr. Weston?” I didn’t give Speed the chance to ask.
“When can we see her?”
“After she comes out of recovery. I will let the nurses know to inform you when she is moved to a room. Have someone page me if you need me to answer any more questions you might think of later.” The doctor shook our hands and left.
“Thank fuck.” Speed ran his hand down his face. The day had been hard but for him maybe a little more than the rest of us. “I thought five years ago that the loss of my dad was hard. If today would have went another way, I don’t think I would have been able to come back from the loss. I can’t even fathom what it would be like, brother.”
“You don’t need to. Everyone is safe. Carly is banged up a little but she will bounce back. We help Haven nail down the fuckwad and it is clear sailing.”
“You’re right, Crusher. Just needed to get it out of my system. We might as well sit down and wait for Carly to wake.” Everyone took seats to wait. Wait for Carly to wake up, wait for Haven’s men to get there for the pickup. I should thank the military for my patience, though they were running thin, I at least wasn’t jumping out of my skin. I’d forgotten about Devil and what he had been checking on until he spoke.
“This has been a shit day but I’m going to add to it. If I’m wrong, I will own it, however, I don’t think I am.” He paused and all eyes went to him.
“You went out to call your dad after Speed was asked to give blood. Whatever you got working in your head, share it.” Devil nodded to me, then focused on Speed.
“When the doctor said Carly’s blood type was A- and you had the same, Speed, it hit me as odd because A- is kinda rare, only like six percent of world has it.”
“That means what, Devil? You are losing me,” Speed frowned and I had to admit I was not following either. The only one who seemed to know where Devil was headed was Wild Bill.
“To have any negative Rh factor in your blood, it takes both parents to carry the negative Rh, because if either carries the positive Rh, it most always overrides the negative. The A type blood is common, except for if both parents are O type, the children will only be O, no other type will come through.” Devil spoke as if we all had medical training.
“Christ, Devil, who cares. What the hell are you saying?” My brain was on overload.
“In a nutshell. Carly isn’t Speed’s half-sister, she is his full-blooded sister, literally.” I turned to Speed when Devil finished and he still wore the frown but his eyes could’ve frozen an open flame.
“That damn bitch left Black Hawk pregnant? Fuck me, she just keeps lifting out the grave to spread her shit. Are you sure, Devil?” Speed asked.
“I’m not going to say I’m one hundred percent, but a swab of your and Carly’s mouths is all that is needed. When I called Dad, I had him check the records for your dad’s type, he was A- too. Wild Bill got Stone’s and Clarice’s blood types. Stone was O+, Clarice O-, we know she gave birth to Carly but no way Stone is her dad. Not saying I’m right about Cutter, Speed, but fuck, man. That is one big coincidence if he’s not.”
My friend turned and punched the wall. “Think I should know for sure before we tell Carly? Damn it, I’m pissed,” he slapped the wall.
“Are you mad at Carly, Speed? Do you think seeing it on paper is going to change the results?” Wild Bill asked, standing.
Speed turned around and looked at him, “Fuck no. I have no doubt she is my sister. I’m pissed about all we missed. My dad was a hard man and he never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself, but he expected when he asked for something that it be done to the best of your ability, because that is how he lived life. From the military, to being a part of Black Hawk, to being a dad, and to know he missed out where Carly is concerned pisses me off for him, while it has me sorry for the loss that Carly wasn’t afforded the same opportunity I was. Cutter would have done the same for her, they both missed out because one selfish fucking woman didn’t get her way.” Speed shook his head, his face carrying the look of disgust.
“The test takes a few days, Speed. You sure you want to wait for the results before you talk to Carly?” Wild Bill held us his hand to stop my brother from talking before he finished, “Carly has always been strong her entire life, son. That girl never let the way Stone and Clarice acted to keep her down or mold her in any way. I think their behavior only made her work harder not to be seen as weak as they were. Stone was and is a drunk and Clarice, well, she stayed tweaked. Carly isn’t going to take kindly to being kept in the dark until you see fit to share. Because, Speed, there may not be a physical resemblance to you two, but goddamn if you both don’t have the same ‘go after what you want’ personality.” Wild Bill chuckled.
“No shit! That answers a lot, doesn’t it, Prez?” Keg’s voice had us all turning around. He and Coast had entered the room and evidently unnoticed for a bit if they heard what was just discussed. Coast walked over with a bag and handed it to me.
“We stopped on our way here. Heard you and Devil could use a change of clothes.” I slapped Coast on the shoulder in a thank you gesture.
“Taking everything went smooth on the transfer?” I asked.
“Done.” Only word he said and then he went over to Flirt and Jag and sat down.
“Prez, you think Carly is going to want to come back to Haven and recuperate?” Keg asked Wild Bill, drawing mine and Speed’s attention as they talked to each other. Speed beat me in answering.
“She will go to Black Hawk.”
“She was raised at Haven. If she wants to come there, we will welcome her as we always have.” Wild Bill glared back at Speed. I wouldn’t let her go to Haven if it was the last thing I did but I wasn’t ready to share that information. Besides, I knew Speed well enough to know he wasn’t going to let that happen.
“Carly may have been raised as part of Haven, but she is Black Hawk. So there is no confusion, she will be recuperating there.”
“You think you are going to get her to stay at Black Hawk?” Keg said and Moose laughed and Wild Bill just smiled.
“It will be easy enough, if I can’t get her to cooperate, Crusher will,” Speed’s words had me turning toward him.
“What makes you think she will listen to me?” Wild Bill’s laughter at my words pissed me off.
“Please, now is not the time to act like there is nothing going on between you or had gone on between you, take your pick. But give us credit for not being stupid, brother. Are you forgetting I know you? You all act like I’m the only one who goes after what they want, it offends me.” The rest of our friends laughed at Speed’s statement, they and I both knew it took a lot to offend our friend.
“You telling me that you aren’t going to give me shit for going after your sister?” I didn’t have to wait long for Speed to answer me.
“Why the hell would I be upset that one of the best men I know wants to be involved with my sister? Damn, Crusher.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe my thinking. And I wondered if I wasn’t giving my friend and brother enough credit. At least until he continued, “Now, if you hurt her, that will be another matter.” I couldn’t hold my grin back.
“Excuse me.” The lady’s voice had us facing the door. “The doctor said to inform you gentleman that Ms. Monroe is awake and being moved to a private room. I will let you know when she is settled.” She stopped, turned her head back and forth as if to check the hallway, then her voice lowered. “He also said to tell you that if you keep the noise down, he would allow more than two in her room at a time.”
“Not a problem,” was said by a few of us.
“Great, I will be back to tell you when you can see her.” The nurse walked away.
“I’m going to call the Prez, let the club know she’s awake,” I said, pulled my phone out and stepped out of the room. Speed followed. I was sure it was to call Sami to update her on her friend and to share what Devil had figured out.
As I walked down the hall waiting for Stroker to answer, it didn’t escape my notice that for the first time today, I could breathe easy. I planned to enjoy the feeling for however long it lasted.
When I heard Stroker pick up, I started filling him in, “Hey, Dad. Got good news.”