ACE (Defenders M.C. Book 4) (7 page)

12

Ace felt like hell.  He rolled over and found Janice gone.  He grabbed his phone and called Lizzie.

“Hey Ace.  I figured you’d sleep another hour or two.  I’m on my way over there now to check on you.”

“Feel like hell today Lizzie.”

Her tone changed in an instant.  “How much did you drink last night Ace?”

“Five or six.”

“Alright.  How bad is the pain?”

“Fucking bad.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.  I have something with me that will help.  Hang in there Ace.”

“Hurry the hell up Lizzie, I can’t let Janice see me like this.”

“Almost there Ace.”

He laid back on his pillow and tried to breathe through the pain, but it was tearing him to pieces.  Janice stepped into the room and saw him.  He could only imagine the picture he made lying in bed with his teeth gritted and covered in sweat.  He watched her jaw harden as she took in the scene.  She went to his bathroom and brought back a cold wet cloth.   She bathed his face in the cool water and then laid the cloth across his forehead.

“Tell me what to do Ace.  Who to call.”  Her voice was steady and calm and helped him to relax a little.

“Lizzie’s on her way.”  He gritted out.

She just nodded and walked to the window.

“When this eases I want to know.  I want to know so I can help you.  It won’t change anything so don’t worry about that, but I need to know what to do.”  She took a deep breath.  “I guess now I know why you came back to Georgia and to Janie.   Well I’m not Janie, but I’ll stay if you need me to.  Lizzie’s here.”

Ace closed his eyes.  He had run out of time.  Now Janice felt like she was just a replacement for Janie.  Fuck he could not deal with this shit.

Lizzie walked in already holding a syringe.  “I won’t ask you how you are.  You look like shit.”

“Fucking sorry bedside manner you have.  How the hell did you snag Rider acting like that?”

“God knows.  Little pinch now.  There, how does that feel?”

Ace cut his eyes to Lizzie.

“Sorry, habit I guess.”

Ace let out a long breath as he felt the medicine start to ease his agony.

“Thanks Lizzie.”

Lizzie nodded and looked to Janice.  “Ace what do you want her to know, ‘cause she needs to know something?”  She asked in a hushed tone.

“Tell her everything, but do it right here so I can see her face.  I need to know what I’m up against.”

“Alright.”

Ace reached out his hand and Janice took it.  She sat on the edge of his bed while Lizzie told her about his cancer and where it had spread and how long he had to live with it.  He was taking treatments, but they were mostly to slow it down and give him more time.  There was no hope of recovery.

Lizzie was honest and she didn’t sugarcoat anything.  Janice felt her heart shatter when she realized how much she had grown to care for Ace.  He had known all along and had allowed her to get close to him, to love him and then Marty.  This would kill that girl.

Anger boiled in her belly until she couldn’t take it.  Tears poured from her eyes.  She turned on Ace and pounded her fist against his chest.

“How could you do this to us?  Why didn’t you just leave us alone?  How cruel are you to do this to Marty?  She loves you.  She…”

Ace just captured her wrists and tossed her to the bed.  He was feeling better now and he was strong.

“Lizzie can you give us a few minutes?”

Lizzie nodded and skittered from the room.

“Hush Janice.  I couldn’t leave.  Marty knew me and there’s no way in hell I’d let her think I didn’t want her.  I do.  I want her to know the brothers because I won’t always be around.  They will protect her for me and you too.  I didn’t plan what happened between us, but I don’t regret it one damned bit.  Stop fighting me and listen damn it.  I need you Janice and I want you in my life, what’s left of it.  I want you to stay for as long as I have and make a family with me and Marty.  I will understand if you don’t want that, but damn it I want it.”

Tears were about to choke Janice to death.  She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she couldn’t leave Ace right now.  He needed her.

“I’m not Janie Ace.”

“I know that.  Janie couldn’t deal with the shit you’ll need to.  I need you Janice.  I need your strength.  Just you.”

“I don’t know what I want Ace, but I’ll stay.  Damn you I’ll stay.”

Ace kissed her then and Janice knew she would never leave him.  It would be Ace that would leave and from what Lizzie said it wouldn’t be long and it wouldn’t be pretty.  Janice just wrapped her arms around the man that had snatched her heart without her knowing it.  How could she do this?

After a few minutes he eased off of her and sat in his spot.  His face had regained a little color and he wasn’t sweating like before.

“Feeling better?”

He nodded.

“Well what do you want for breakfast?”

Ace looked at her for a long while.  “I don’t want special treatment Janice.”

“Good damn thing too I guess.  What will it be Ace?”

He chuckled.  “Well I guess bacon and eggs would do me fine.”

“Comin’ up.  Get your lazy ass out of bed.  We still have things to do around here.”

“Yes ma’am.”

13

Ace sat in church and listened as the brothers talked about the plan to infiltrate the Devils.  They needed to cut out the heart of the snake and Preach believed they could do it from within.

“I have information that says a Devil brother from California is heading out to join the Virginia chapter.”  Spec laid a picture on the table.  “Name’s Nix Bradley.  From what I hear he’s never been to Virginia and hasn’t met many of the brothers.  Run into some trouble with one of the California brothers over a woman so he’s got a new home.  We could intercept him and put one of ours in his place with very little trouble.” 

“Who you got in mind Spec?”  Preach perched his glasses on his nose and looked at the photograph.

“I was thinking Vest there.”

Mike rolled his eyes.  “Stupid fucking name if you ask me.”

“No one did and I think it fits.”  Preach said without looking away from the photo.  “What about tats?  VEST there doesn’t have the right ink.”  He emphasized the use of the new nickname.

“Vest there never got his club ink.  He was recovering for a long damned time and then surgery and I don’t think he ever got around to it.  He could wear devils ink.”  Ink said as he leaned back in his chair.

“Fuck that.  No fucking way am I putting devils ink on my skin.  No.”  Mike was livid.

“I can do it in semi perm ink, like a henna.  We can just wash it off when it’s all done and ink the real shit on there.”  Ink said sounding bored.

“Preach that shit is fucked and you know it.  I don’t want that shit on my back even for a few weeks.”

Preach shrugged.  “What’s Marty’s role in all of it?”  He turned his attention to Spec.

Mike sat.  His jaw was hard, but he stayed quiet.  Ace watched him like a hawk, but the man gave nothing away.  Whatever was going on with Mike and Marty wasn’t showing on the man.  For some reason that didn’t make Ace feel anybetter.

“She should be out of harm’s way.  All we need her to do is talk to the brother, Harper, see if he lets anything slip.  She seems to think he’s just like her, on the outskirts of the club, but he may have some info that could help us gain some ground.”  Spec looked around the table.  “She is risking more than you know.”  His eyes cut to Ace.  “She’s a total innocent.  She’s never done more than kiss a few boys back home and more recently the prospect, Tommy.”  His eyes burned into Mike.  “They get their hands on her they will destroy her and make sure we know how bad.  Having somebody in their ranks will offer a measure of protection if that happens.  Damn it Mike, you look like the bastard.”

Mike just nodded.  His jaw was hard, but he didn’t say a word.

Ace had held his tongue, but he couldn’t let this go.  “I can’t take this shit Preach.  You are sayin’ that you are willin’ to put Marty in the hands of the fucking Devils to gain a little ground?  That’s fucked up and we both know it.  That’s my blood.  Why don’t you send one of your own fucking kids?”

“We’ll keep her safe Ace.  You know we will.  The brother is her connection.  We can’t send anybody else.”  Preach assured.

“And if she’s taken the only person that we have to count on is him?”  He pointed and accusing finger at Mike.  “Fuck that shit, send anybody but him, fuck that prospect kid would be better than him.  He’d probably volunteer to hurt her himself if he got the chance, he sure hasn’t missed a chance around here.”

“Fuck you Ace.  I can handle my goddamned job.  I know how to keep personal shit out of business and I think you need to figure it out or take up the fucking rocking chair.”  Mike spat.

“I don’t trust you to take care of this one.  No.  I say no to this and if Marty knows he’s her safety net she will too.”  Ace demanded. “He won’t take a risk for here and that’s what I’m asking for here.  I just want somebody who’ll put her safety first.”

“Then we won’t tell her.”  Preach was serious now and the look on his face showed that he meant business.  “This is club business and she don’t need to know it.  Our man Vest will protect her as well as he did Lacey of I’ll have his balls for it.”

Ace thought his teeth would shatter, he gritted them so hard.  “That’s how it is then?  I don’t get a say in how this goes down?”

Preach nodded.  “That’s how it is.”

Ace looked to each of his brothers.  He saw anger on many faces, but none were willing to stand up with him on this one, not even Law.  Ace stood.  “We’ll be heading back to Georgia in the morning.  This shit ain’t happening.”  He was hurt.  His brothers had turned on him.  He couldn’t believe it.  He left the room and didn’t look back.  He didn’t care if they kicked him out, right now all that mattered was keeping Marty safe and he would do anything to make that happen.

14

Janice looked up from washing dishes when Ace slammed the front door.  It was getting dark and he had been gone for hours.  She saw the pallor of his face and knew things weren’t good.

“Ace, what happened?  Are you alright?”

“Fucking bullshit.  Pack your shit.  We’re heading back to Georgia first thing in the morning.  No fucking way I’m standing for this shit.”

“What’s going on?  Where have you been?”

“You know I can’t talk about it.  Don’t ask.  Went for a ride to cool off.  That’s all you need to know.”

“This is you cool?”

“Don’t start with me Janice.”

“This is bullshit.  Whatever though, I need to go home anyway.  I have a business to run.”  She turned back to her dishes and tried to ignore the nagging ache in her heart.

Marty slammed the door and glared at her father.  “What the hell did you do?  I found a way to earn the respect of your brothers and you go and pitch a fit and ruin it?  I’m nineteen Ace, I can do this if I want.  I know the risks, I’m not an idiot!”

“Like hell you will.  I’ll tie you to a fucking chair if I have to.  I’ve seen what those monsters do to women.  There is no way in hell I’m letting my kid risk it.”

“You can’t decide what I do.  I sure as hell don’t get a say in what you do.”

“Yes I can!  I’m your fucking father so I get a say!”

“You’ve been my father for all of five minutes and you can’t stop me.”

Ace narrowed his eyes.  He had warned her before about throwing that shit up in his face.  “They will rape you Marty.  Not just one, but all of them.  Over and over again.  They will slice you up and do it again and again until you are praying for death.”  As he spoke he walked closer until they were toe to toe.  “They will violate you in every way you can imagine and in many you can’t.  They will force you to parade around naked in front of all of them and suck so much dick you won’t be able to hold all they pour down your throat.  They will beat you until you can’t move and then they will fuck you some more.  They will drug you until you don’t even know who you are anymore.  We will get you back a piece at a time and they will send us video of every minute of it.  That’s what you’re risking here Marty.  That’s not worth the respect of anybody that would risk you that way.  If that’s the only way you can win respect then I say fuck it.”

Janice stood behind Marty.  The girl had grown so pale Janice feared she might faint, but Marty locked her knees and stood toe to toe with her father.  Any other time it might be funny how similar they were, but nothing was funny right now.  Janice was afraid, not only for Marty, but for Ace too.  He looked like he had one foot in the grave already.

“They won’t get me.  I won’t leave the diner with him.  Janice will be there with me the whole time.  I’m just supposed to talk to him.  I’ve been on dates with Harper several times, he’s not a bad person.  I could help here.  You told me to win their trust.  To make them respect me and this is the only way I know.”  Tears rolled down her pale cheeks.  “Nobody likes me here except Spec and a couple of prospects.  I thought it would make you proud of me.” Ace was firm.

“It’s not worth the risk.  Plus I know that’s bullshit.  The old ladies loved you.”

“They treat me like a kid.  I want to be respected as an adult.”

“The only thing these guys want from a woman is her pussy so I don’t see what that will do for you.”

“If that would make them see me as an adult I’d do it.”

“Then they’d just see you as a whore like all the other bitches that hang around so they can fuck a brother.”

Janice felt shame crash over her and felt Marty’s arm slip around her shoulders.  Ace had all but called her a whore to her face and Marty had picked up on it.

“You’re a pig!”

“Tell me somethin’ I don’t know.”  Ace wouldn’t even look at Janice.  She tried to hide her hurt, but she knew it showed.   She forced her face to blank.

Marty threw her hands up and stomped to her room.  Janice helped Ace to a chair in the living room.  His skin had gone and ashy grey and she knew he was in pain.

“Should I call Lizzie?”

“No.  I don’t want a fucking thing from them anymore.  Just leave me alone.”

“You can’t live like this Ace.”

“Give me a shot of whiskey and stop bitchin’ at me for two seconds so I can catch my breath.”

Janice got him the shot and watched as he wince when the liquor hit his stomach.  She knew she would pay for it later, but she picked up her phone and dialed Lizzie’s number.  Lizzie answered on the first ring and Janice could tell she’d been crying.

“I can’t help tonight Janice.  I’m so sorry.  Daddy just left and he’s pissed at Ace.  Said he deserves what he gets for putting shit before the club.  Call an ambulance Janice.  Don’t let him suffer.  Please.  If he won’t let you… call mama.”

Janice heard Ace groan and the whiskey glass hit the floor.  She rushed to his side to find him gripping his stomach. 

“Ace?”

“Call.”  He let out a guttural moan that made Janice want to cover her ears and brought Marty from her room.

“Lizzie can’t come tonight Ace.  I need to call an ambulance.”

“Fuck no.”

“Call mama Janice.”  Lizzie insisted.  “He needs to be in a hospital and he can’t get pissed at her.”

“What’s going on?”  Marty looked like a child.  She was terrified.

“Ace is sick honey.  Get me a cold rag while I make a call.”

“No fucking ambulance Janice.”  Ace insisted.

“I’m just a stupid whore Ace, I only know how to do what you say.”  She knew she was being petty and he couldn’t handle it, but she couldn’t hold back her venom.  She dialed the number Mrs had given her the night of the party and waited.

“Shit doll tonight is not the best night for a chat.”  Mrs’s voice sounded strained.

“Ace is in bad shape.  Won’t let me call an ambulance.”  Ace let out another low moan.

“Fuck.  I’ll call the ambulance.  Hang in there honey.  This anger shit won’t last and I don’t always do what Preach says.  Ace matters to us all.”

“Let her call and I promise I won’t go near the Devils.  Show me I matter enough.”  Marty had tears streaking her face and her hands shook, but she held her father’s eyes.

“Fuck.  Call somebody.”

“On the way Ace.  Just hang on.”  Janice tossed the phone away.

Before Ace was loaded in the back of the ambulance the yard was filled with bikes.  The brothers looked grim as they watched one of their own scream in pain as he was loaded into the back of the ambulance.  Janice climbed in the back with Ace and Marty was left.  She stood alone, apart from the brothers as she stood in the yard and Janice wanted to break in half.  Marty needed her right now almost as much as Ace did.  The poor thing looked so lost.  Before the ambulance turned the corner Janice saw Mrs. step up beside Marty and pull her against her side.  Janice felt better in that moment.  She knew Mrs would see to it that Marty was taken care of.

She looked down when Ace gripped her hand.

“I didn’t mean that shit Janice.  Don’t ever call yourself a fucking whore again.  I mean it.”

Janice wiped her eyes.  Ace looked so pale and he was drenched with sweat.  The paramedic had started an IV, but hadn’t given him anything for pain.  It was a short ride to the hospital, but it seemed to take hours.

Janice just held his hand and prayed like she had never prayed before.

She looked out the back window to see a seemingly endless line of motorcycle headlights.  The brothers had put aside their anger and they had come out to support their brother when he needed them most.  She hoped they would see how mush this hurt him and rethink their plan of using Marty.