Nasty Bastard (Grim Bastards MC Book 4) (21 page)

Boz takes off running past me. “Fuck! That’s Trix.”

For some reason, I know, just fucking know, that something has happened to Gidget. My life was going too damn good. I had my woman back, found a boy that I would be proud to call my son, and finally got the retribution I have wanted so damn long. No one’s life is that good; something has to go wrong.

He starts hollering, “Trix, where are you baby?”

We all run through the kitchen then head toward the stairs. As we reach the bottom step, Boz changes directions and heads to the back of the clubhouse. I’m at his back but pass him when I see Trix standing in the hallway with blood all over her hands.

Her eyes are bouncing between me and Boz. “Violet killed the prospect. She killed him then shot Gidget.”

I rush past her, into the room where Violet is being held while we figure out about her pregnancy. The first thing I see is the bitch standing there with a gun in her hand and a manic smile on her face. She’s covered in blood splatter, but she’s strutting toward me like she’s fucking Miss America.

“I did it for us, Smoke,” she says, taking another step toward me. “I knew, if she was gone, you’d want me again.”

Without giving it a second thought, I pull my piece and put a bullet right between her eyes. I don’t even wait for her body to hit the floor before searching the room for my woman. The first thing my eyes land on is the prospect with part of his face blow off. Blood and brain matter is pooled by his head, letting me know there is nothing to be done for him. Trying to ignore the pain of grief at the loss of a man I have grown to respect, I continue to search the room for Gidget.

When my eyes finally land on her, I drop to my knees. It feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest as I roll her over and see the blood covering the front of her shirt. The cunt shot her in the chest. Even with my untrained eyes, I know this could be fatal.

I pick her up and cradle her to my chest, my heart beating a frantic rhythm. “It’s gonna be okay, baby. We’re gonna get you help.”

She looks up to me and tries to say something. Instead of words, bubbles of blood cover her lips. The sight causes what’s left of my heart to crumble into pieces.

“Shhh, baby. Don’t try to talk. Just concentrate on breathing,” I say on a pained groan, fighting back tears.

As if the words are what she needed to hear, her eyes close. Lifting her up gently, I run out the bedroom door and head toward the door. My brothers are standing in the hall. Each one has their heads hung down and their hands over their hearts. They know my woman is dying; they know my life is over.

Just the thought has me stumbling over my next step. I can’t lose her, not when I just got her back. I feel a tear fall down my cheek and then another, and don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. I let the tears continue to fall as I walk past my brothers.

Dad steps forward, wearing nothing under his cut, and hands me his shirt. “Hold this against her chest. Use as much pressure as you can.”

I nod, moving her in my arms until I can do as he says. The entire time, her eyes remain closed and her chest continues to leak precious blood. I head out to the common room, not sure what in the fuck I’m doing. Again, my brothers meet me with their heads hung down. A few muffled sobs are coming from the back of the room, but I don’t even bother to look where the sounds are coming from.

Boz catches up to me just before I step out of the door. “Trix called an ambulance. They should be here in just a few minutes.”

“Fuck that. I can’t just stand around here and do nothing,” I growl, walking past him. “I’m taking her to the hospital.”

Boz reaches out and grabs my arm. “No, brother, you’re not. An ambulance is already on the way. They should be here any time. Let them help her.”

I want to argue with him but keep my mouth shut. He’s right anyway. She could bleed out before I got her to the hospital. At least, with them, she’ll have a chance. Maybe they can save her, because I sure in the hell can’t.

Slowly, I go to my knees again, still holding her in my arms. “What the fuck happened, Boz? Why did she shoot them?”

“I don’t know much, brother, just what Trix told me,” Boz says, running a hand through his hair. “Trix said the skank claimed she was having a miscarriage. Guess Gidget knew what to do for her, so she went to help.”

I still don’t understand but don’t have time to ask any more questions. At that moment, the ambulance comes flying into the parking lot. I wait for them to come to me but refuse to let her go without saying what needs to be said.

I bury my face in her hair and whisper in her ear, hoping she can hear me. “Please, baby. Please don’t leave me, Gidget. I love you. Without you, I don’t have shit, not a fucking thing. Please fight, baby.”

It takes every bit of will power I have to let them take her from my arms. Once her skin is no longer touching mine, my brain kicks into gear again. As much as I want to run after her, I know there is something else I have to do first. I head back inside as the paramedics are loading my woman into the ambulance.

“Trix,” I scream, anger and fear causing my voice to shake.

In a blink of an eye, she comes running into the room. She crashes into me, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m so sorry, so damn sorry. I should have checked on her myself, but I didn’t think Violet would ever do something like this.”

I ignore her words and focus on what I need to do. “You take care of Parker, keep him safe, and tell him that his mom and I love him.”

With that, I push away from her and head to my bike. Putting my hand in my pocket to get my keys, I feel Gidget’s ring brush against my fingers. I’ve carried it in my pocket ever since I took it from Stone’s house, waiting for the perfect time to give it back to her. Knowing that I may never get the chance now tears at my heart. By the time I get on my bike and start the engine, the sounds of my brothers doing the same fills the air.

Boz lifts his hand and shouts, “Ride out, Grim Bastards.”

Gidget

The smell of harsh antiseptic hits my nose as sleep finally clears from my mind. The sound of machines beeping assaults my ears soon after, a sound that I am familiar with, having spent most of my adult life working in the hospital. Other than delivering Parker, I had never been the one the machines were hooked to before. With that thought, pain hits me hard. It radiates from my chest, reaching out to grasp every inch of my body. What in the world has happened to me?

“Did you get everything cleaned up at the clubhouse before the cops showed up?” A voice I should know reaches my ears, causing even more confusion.

It takes a few minutes of concentration before memories of the last few weeks become clear. I’m home now, back in Trenton. Most importantly, I have Layton back, and he still loves me. Even better, he loves Parker, too. The thought barely has the chance to take root in my mind, when another follows it. Violet shot me; she shot me right in the chest.

“Yeah, the whore was moved before they got there. I gave the sheriff enough money that there won’t be any questions about the prospect or Gidget.” There’s a shuffling sound as another voice answers. “The official story is the kid was teaching your old lady to shoot, and somehow, the gun went off.”

“The fucking cops believed a gun went off twice by accident? How fucking stupid are they?” This time, I recognize the voice. It belongs to the man I love, the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

A cough fills the room, and someone says, “Like I said, Smoke, put enough money in the right pockets, and there will be no questions asked.”

After a few seconds of silence, Layton asks, “Did you take care of the bodies? I don’t give a shit what you do with Violet, but the prospect deserves to be buried with honors.”

A knot works its way up my throat at the memory of the prospect stepping between me and the gun. He was young, had his whole life before him. The worst part is he died trying to protect me, and I don’t even know his name.

“The bitch’s body is floating down the Cumberland by now. The kid will be wearing a cut on his back when he’s buried tomorrow.” My mind clears enough for me to know the second voice is Boz.

They go quiet for a moment or two before Layton rasps out, “God, brother. I don’t know how much damn longer I can stand this. Seeing her laying there with all those fucking tubes sticking out of her is tearing me apart inside. I love her so fucking much. What if I never get to tell her again?”

It’s at that exact moment when I realize something; Violet shot me before I got the nerve up to tell Layton I love him, too. What if I had died? What if I still die? I have to tell him how I feel. I have to make sure he tells my little boy how much I loved him, too.

“I know, man,” Boz says, his voice gruff with emotion. “She’s strong, Smoke. She’ll pull through this.”

“If she doesn’t, there won’t be anything left for me to live for,” Smoke says, his voice filled with emotion.

Tears fill my eyes, forcing me to finally open them. I’m too sore to move anything else, in too much pain to even turn my head. My eyes roam the room until they land on Layton standing a few feet from the end of my bed. Even with drug-induced sleep still clouding my mind and pain causing my vision to blur, I can still see the worry and anguish written all over his face.

Trying to force my lips to move, I attempt to get his attention. Instead, they barely even open. Not one sound is made. The inability to move even the slightest bit causes fear to rush through my veins. What if I live but am paralyzed? Could I really live the rest of my life in a wheelchair? If so, what would happen to Parker? Just the thought has me focusing all my attention on my toes. I concentrate on moving them, until I feel one wiggle the slightest bit. That little movement sends a tidal wave of relief through my body.

Layton walks across the room and places his palm against the glass of the window. “This was all my fault. How the hell is she ever gonna forgive me?”

Again, I try to call out to his name. I want, no need, to tell him he holds no blame for what happened. Violet did this all on her own. It had nothing to do with him or his relationship with her. It was her petty jealousy that caused her actions, nothing more. This time, my lips open up enough to blow out a puff of air but no more.

“Brother, there’s no fucking way you could have seen this coming,” Boz says walking over to lay a hand on Layton’s back.

“I slept with that bitch more times than I can count. How the hell did I miss the fact she was completely fucked in the head?” he asks, as he leans his forehead against the glass and lets out a sigh. “I should’ve known something was wrong with Violet, should’ve done a better job of protecting my woman. How the hell is she gonna trust me to take care of her after this? Fuck, Boz, I don’t even trust myself.”

They talk about more, but they are talking in hushed voices that don’t quite reach my ears. Finally, Boz steps back and says, “I’m gonna head out, Smoke. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Layton nods his head, turning around enough to lift his chin. “Make sure to tell Parker that his Momma is doing good, and I’ll call him later on tonight. Hopefully, Gidget will wake up soon and he can see her.”

After a quick goodbye, Boz leaves the room. When the door click shuts, Layton turns to look out the window again. He just stands there, holding a cup of coffee in his hands. His entire body is taut with tension. Knowing I have to get his attention, I focus all my energy on my dry lips and say his name. Sound comes out, but it’s only a faint whisper. I try again and again to call for him, each time growing a little louder. My lips are moving with more ease, but the sound is still barely above a whisper.

“Layton.” Finally, his name is loud enough to draw his attention.

He immediately turns around, the cup of coffee in his hand dropping to the floor with a splash. He stands still for a second or two, not moving a muscle. His dark brown eyes are locked on mine. Even from across the room, I can see a sheen of tears that I never thought I would see in his eyes.

“Baby, thank God you’re awake,” he says in an awed whisper, walking over and placing a gentle hand on my cheek.

As soon as he touches me, his legs buckle. He goes to his knees and lets his forehead rest against the edge of the bed. “Fuck! I thought I was gonna lose you, baby. I’ve never been so damn scared.”

I try to tell him that none of this is his fault, but I can’t. After being awake only a few short moments, sleep is claiming me fast. I know I will be out in just a second. In the time I have left awake, there is something I need to say that is a hell of a lot more important.

Looking into his beautiful chocolate eyes, I tell him what’s in my heart as I close my eyes. “I love you.”

Four Months Later
Smoke

Standing on the front porch, I stand with my feet spread and legs locked, arms crossed over my chest. I watch as the black Lexus pulls out of the driveway, carrying my boy in it. I’ve never been so fucking pissed. This stupid shit shouldn’t be happening, and if I had my way, it wouldn’t be happening now.

Not taking my eyes off the retreating car until it disappears from my sight, I grumble, “I don’t like this shit.”

“Neither do I.” Gidget snuggles into my side, laying her head against my forearm. “But we don’t have a choice in the matter.”

All this time, we hadn’t heard a word from Richard. If it hadn’t have been for his child support checks showing up, we wouldn’t have even thought about him. Then, yesterday, he calls to say that he’s in Nashville on business and wants to spend some time with Parker. He said he couldn’t keep him long but wanted to take him to grab a bite to eat and watch a movie.

The first word out of my mouth was no. Parker is mine now; that fucker gave away the right to claim him a long damn time ago. Gidget said we had to let him go. If we didn’t, Richard could say we were not allowing him his visitation rights. That could lead them back to court, and she doesn’t want that to happen. Myself, I think digging a deep hole could solve all our problems, but I didn’t mention my idea to her.