Train's Clash (The Last Riders Book 9) (33 page)

“Who … Who are you?” Gavin’s voice came out in a way that sounded like he didn’t know how to use it freely anymore.

“I’m Rae.”

“Take me back to my room. If they catch me, they’ll hurt you.”

“Sweetness, no one is stupid enough to mess with me. You’ll never go back to that room again—Viper will see to that. When he gets finished with the Road Demons, their club won’t even be standing.” She didn’t make the promise lightly. If Viper didn’t, she would.

She raised up slightly to reach for the baby wipes. Taking one, she used it wipe the dirt and grime off his face. “That feel better?”

She dropped the baby wipe when she saw his eyes start to roll.

“Gavin! Listen to me! Don’t you quit now. I’m still here. I’m not going to leave you, so you better not leave me!”

“W-Why? No one else came for me. No one.” His gravelly voice held a pain unlike anything she had ever heard before; a pain so deep and raw that only very few people on this earth could ever understand.

Killyama did something she didn’t even know she was capable of. She cried.

“No one knew. They thought you were dead. They all did. Viper and Ton still don’t know you’re alive. They wouldn’t have left you there if they had known. Not one day, not for one second. Sweetness, you weren’t left behind or forgotten.”

“Viper was mad at me. He … They all left me to die. Crash told me it was Viper’s punishment.”

“Crash lied. Viper would have killed everyone in there if he had known. There isn’t a man in the club who wouldn’t lay down their life for you.” Killyama rested her head against his shoulder, letting herself cry silently for the broken man lying under her. “Did you see Train and Shade? I should have taken a box of Kleenex inside with me, they were crying so hard.”

“They weren’t there—”

“Yes, they were. They were the ones crying in the corner.” She reached for another baby wipe to dry her face. “I was the only one not crying.”

“You’re crying now.”

“That’s because you stink.” She smiled in the dark before she felt Gavin trying to get out from under her. “Don’t move; you’re my Kleenex.”

“I’m sorry. They wouldn’t let me shower unless—”

She put her hand over his mouth, her tears falling harder. “You smell like a survivor, Gavin. Take a deep breath. You’re free. You’re free.”

She couldn’t hold back her sobs when he started crying, too. They tore through his chest.

“I … gave up.”

“You didn’t give up. You survived. You did what any good soldier would do. You did what you had to do to live. Don’t you dare talk about stinking or giving up, or I’ll kick your ass when we get out of this car!”

“Killyama!” Hammer’s voice came through the headset.

“What?”

“You can get up.”

“Okay.”

Realizing the headset was still on, she took it off as she climbed up onto the seat. Then she reached down to help Gavin sit beside her. He started heaving.

“Here, I have a barf bag. Hammer’s driving makes me puke, too.” She handed him a bag that was tucked into the back pocket of the passenger seat.

He didn’t vomit, but it was close.

Killyama pushed a button to lower the window.

“I thought I didn’t stink,” Gavin remarked when he saw what she was doing.

“I did that to give
you
some fresh air.”

Laying his head back, he turned to stare at her. “You’re lying.”

“A little.” She took his hand in the dark.

Hammer lowered his own window. “Good to see you, Reaper.”

Gavin didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His head had fallen to the side, resting on her shoulder.

“Reaper?” Jonas turned around in his seat to check on him.

“He passed out. Keep driving. The sooner we get to the Destructors’ clubhouse, the sooner we can take care of him. Stud will have sent someone for Dr. Price. He’ll be there by the time we get there.”

She didn’t try to move Gavin away from her, putting her arm around him so he could lie more comfortably.

He was still asleep when Hammer brought the SUV to a stop at the back door of the Destructors’ clubhouse.

Hammer and Jonas were getting out when Train opened the back door.

“He’s unconscious.” Killyama scooted out of the SUV so Train could reach inside, pulling Gavin out in his tight grip.

Hammer and Jonas stood on either side of her as they watched Train and Shade carry the brother who had been lost to them for so many years. The two Last Riders deserved to be the ones to bring an end to Gavin’s journey home.

T
rain came
out of the bedroom that Stud had given Gavin with Shade on his heels as Dr. Price immediately started checking Gavin’s condition and giving him an examination.

“Did you talk to Viper?”

“No,” Shade answered. “I called Knox. All the brothers are on their way. I didn’t tell them why. It’s going to hit them hard. I didn’t want them wrecking while trying to get here.”

Train saw Stud approaching from the clubroom and told him, “Viper and the brothers are on their way. As soon as the doctor gives the okay, we’ll get out of your hair.”

“Take your time. I closed the club to the Destructors tonight. You can lock the door when you leave.”

Stud’s compassion tightened the bond Train was starting to form between him and the Destructors.

“Has Killyama left yet?”

“No. Hammer and Jonas left, but I told her I would give her a ride home.”

“I’d appreciate it if you and her stayed.” Train looked away from Stud. “She keeps Gavin calm when he gets agitated.”

“I’ll tell Killyama. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Thanks, Stud, I will.”

Stud nodded then headed back to the clubroom.

When the doctor didn’t come out after a while, Train and Shade left their post in the hallway and went to wait in the clubroom where they found Killyama and Stud sitting by the bar.

They were about to sit down at a table when Viper and The Last Riders came in.

Train and Shade shared a strained look as Viper stopped in front of them, Crash by his side.

“You couldn’t wait to get back to our club to …” Viper’s words trailed off when he caught sight of their expressions. He looked around the empty room. “What’s wrong?”

Train’s eyes met Crash’s. “You want me to tell Viper, or will you?”

“I don’t know what you’re …” Crash paled, seeing his and Shade’s condemning gazes.

Train lost it, and all the feelings he had been holding in erupted. Lashing out, he struck, planting his fist into Crash’s lying mouth.

Knox tried to pull him back, but Train jerked out of his hold, knocking Crash into Razer and Lucky.

“What in the fuck!” Viper reached out to stop him, but Shade held him back.

“He deserves more than what Train’s giving him.”

Shade’s cold voice had Train wanting to kill Crash with his bare hands, his instincts screaming at him to beat him until there was nothing left, but it wasn’t his call to make. That wasn’t the way The Last Riders handled their justice. Before he completely forgot that and dealt with the piece of shit himself, he stepped back.

“I called you brother … Every man here has. We put our lives in your hands countless times”—Train hit his chest with his fist—“and the whole time you were betraying us! You will never hear brother out of my lips again. I’m going to be the first one to spit on your grave when we get done burying you.”

Knox and Lucky each took one of Crash’s arms, holding him in place at Train’s words.

Sickened at the sight of him, Train turned to Viper. “Gavin is alive,” he choked out, the emotional upheaval of rescuing Gavin and having seen the one responsible for the years of torture of a man he considered a brother had him disclosing the reason for his fury. “Gavin’s alive,” Train repeated, seeing the men’s stunned faces.

Viper’s face twisted in grief. “No, he’s not.”

“He’s alive. I wouldn’t lie to you about this. Your brother—our brother—is alive.”

Viper’s face filled with anguish as he looked around the empty room, as if searching for Gavin. It was when his gaze skimmed over Killyama’s heartbreaking expression that he believed what Train was telling him.

“Where is he?” Viper shouted. “Gavin! You got two seconds to tell me where the fuck he is or I’ll fucking kill you.”

It was hard to see the man who held every man, woman, and child belonging to The Last Riders’ fate on his shoulders be told that the brother he had believed to be dead for seven years was still breathing.

“Brother, move or I’ll move you myself.”

“Viper, listen to us first. Then we’ll take you to him.”

Train stepped aside, letting Shade explain Crash’s deceit. Every word that came out of Shade’s mouth was like a slap to the face. They had all been in warfare and lost men in front of them, but nothing equated to what Train was seeing now as Shade described the hell that Gavin had lived through. All of the men were shell-shocked.

Before Shade was even done talking, Train was holding Viper back. Then Rider tried to go by him, his face tortured beyond belief. Stud managed to hold Rider back with Cash’s help. After that was mayhem as all the men were either fighting to get into the hallway, or fighting to hold the others back.

“Shut the fuck up!” Killyama shouted. She was standing on her chair, facing the men and staring them down. “I’m telling you now, the brother you care so much about can’t handle this shit. Do you want to hurt him more than what’s been done to him already?” Not waiting for a response, she told them, “Go outside and walk it off, or beat the hell out each other—I don’t care. But the first one who tries to go into his room without a smile plastered on their face, I’ll fucking taze your ass!”

Viper broke free from Train’s restraining hold. Train was afraid Viper would go after Killyama, even though Shade had told him it was because of Killyama, Hammer, and Jonas that Gavin had even been rescued.

Viper didn’t go for Killyama, though. No, he went for Crash. Knox and Lucky barely had enough time to step out of the way before Viper had him by the throat.

“You stared me in the face when you told me Gavin was missing. You fucking cried when you carried that phony casket to the cemetery, telling me how fucking sorry you were that Gavin was dead.” Viper’s rage had him throwing Crash against the wall where the helpless man sank to the floor.

“Memphis told me he would kill me if I didn’t help him.”

Viper picked him up by his T-shirt, punching him in stomach so he didn’t have enough breath to continue his lies.

“Memphis has been dead for five. Fucking. Years!” Viper screamed.

“And I was the one who helped you find the evidence to take him out, but then those fuckers put my head on the chopping block. It was me or Gavin …” Crash started to cry, knowing he had betrayed the men who called him family. “I didn’t want to die.”

Viper spoke so low that the menace poured from his words. “When I get done with you, even the Devil won’t recognize you,
you get me
?” Viper hit Crash so hard the man fell back down to the floor, unconscious. Then Viper picked up one of the chairs, raising it over his head.

“Viper, this isn’t the place.” Knox caught his arm

“
God dammit to Hell
!” Viper cried out, throwing the chair against the wall where Crash had just stood.

Consumed with fury and pain, Viper went berserk, throwing chairs and tables until the room looked like a cyclone had hit it. He threw the biggest table, muscles straining as he lifted it. Then a chair went sailing over the bar, shattering the bottles into smithereens. One lone bottle of whiskey still clung to the shelf, its contents dripping to the floor.

Viper doubled over, hands on thighs, and Train had to blink back his tears as Viper gave a howl of pain that filled the clubroom. When he finally managed to stand erect, Train could see a cut on his cheek where a piece of shattered glass must have cut him.

Killyama strode around the bar, glass crunching under her boots. Taking a bar rag, she handed it to Viper.

He stared at it blankly for a second before taking it, wiping the blood from his cheek.

“Where is he?” Viper finally asked, tossing the rag onto the bar before he turned to stare at Train and Shade.

“I’ll take you to him.” Train nodded toward the hallway.

Viper stepped around the mess he had created, following Train down the hallway. At the door, Train knocked, and Dr. Price immediately opened it, looking out at the grim-faced men who filled the hallway.

“I’ve sedated him. Stud warned me what to expect, so I already set up the IV. Viper, I need to get him to the hospital to seek the best way to treat him. I can only give you a few minutes before I call the ambulance.”

Viper nodded as Dr. Price moved away, letting him enter. Train and Shade followed him inside the small room where Gavin was lying on the bed, eyes closed.

Viper fell to his knees by his brother’s side, tears streaking down his cheeks as he stared at him. Carefully making sure he didn’t touch the IV, he pulled his younger brother into his arms.

“Gavin … Baby brother.” Viper’s hoarse voice had The Last Riders fighting back their own tears. “What have they done to you?”

Gavin’s lashes rose, amber eyes staring uncomprehendingly up at Viper. He started struggling against his hold.

“Just kill me. I’d rather be dead than go back there.”

“He doesn’t recognize us.” Train came to stand behind Viper, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Gavin … don’t,” Viper pleaded when Gavin still tried to get away from his touch. “It’s me, Loker.”

“Loker, I’m sorry…”

Viper held him tighter. “I’m the one sorry, I didn’t know…” His choked voice prevented from getting any further words out.

Train felt Killyama move near him. She gave a brief squeeze to his arm in compassion, aware of how devastated he was at watching Gavin’s inability to recognize them.

“I sent Calder to get Winter and Ton when you told Stud that Viper was on his way. They’re here.”

Train turned to see Winter and Ton in the doorway as The Last Riders moved out of the way, letting them inside. From Ton’s ravaged expression, he had only just been told his son was alive.

“Gavin …” He came to the other side of the bed, crouching down next to him. “Gavin!”

“Dad?” Gavin turned in Ton’s direction.

Viper stood. Overwhelmed, he held his arms open to Winter, who flew into them, sobbing.

“My brother—”

“I know, Viper, I know.”

Winter and Viper watched as the missing part of their family became whole again.

Crying, Ton pulled Gavin toward him. He stiffened, but let his father hold him.

“Don’t let them take me back!” he cried.

“I won’t, son.” Ton rocked the man like he was a child.

Gavin didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He had passed out.

“Viper, the ambulance is here,” Dr. Price interrupted as he helped Gavin lie back down. “You and Ton can ride in the ambulance with him.”

They returned to the clubroom to let the EMT have enough room to get the stretcher inside. The broken furniture had been removed to a corner of the room by the brothers who were looking as anxious as Ton and Viper.

Winter held Viper’s hand as they watched the EMTs wheel the gurney down the hallway.

When the men parted, Train could see shock and horror on their faces as they silently watched the gurney being wheeled by. The man who had left their clubhouse one sunny day filled with joy and excitement about going to Treepoint had ended up being unrecognizable to them.

Gavin made no movement or sound until he passed Killyama. Then he reached his hand out, making the EMTs stop.

“Any woman who lets me sleep on her shoulder, smelling like I did, deserves a dozen roses.”

A grin tugged up at the corner of her lips. “It wasn’t so bad once I got the window down.”

“Do me a favor?” He waited until Killyama nodded. “There’s a girl—Ton has her name. Call her for me. Tell her I’m …” Gavin started shaking but managed to finish asking for his favor. “Tell her where I am, and that I need her.”

Killyama lifted her eyes to Train’s, and his heart twisted in regret that the woman who Gavin had left behind was no longer waiting.

“Dude, that’s one call that would be better coming from Ton. You don’t want to make me jealous, do you?” She placed a tender hand on his. “Get some rest and feel better.” With that, she stepped away, letting The Last Riders fall in behind him.

The ambulance’s lights cast a glow over the parking lot as Gavin was loaded inside.

“What are we going to tell him?” Train asked Shade as they stood, waiting until everyone pulled out. It wasn’t the first time the two had stood alone when a mission was over.

The adrenaline was gone, and in its place was a soul-wrenching discovery that the life Gavin had hoped to live was gone. The casket that had buried on that hillside might not be him, but the soul of the man he used to be wouldn’t be coming back.

Grief filled Train in a way he hadn’t expected, knowing the ambulance carrying the man inside wasn’t the one he had shared beer, women, and dreams with. The eyes that had passed by him hadn’t shown a flicker of acknowledgment. If that was hitting him hard, he could just imagine what Viper and Ton were going through.

“We’ll tell him the truth. Gavin’s strong, and Killyama was right; he’s a survivor. Those bastards didn’t break him. You can’t break steel.”

“What did you do with Crash?”

“Knox took him back to the clubhouse. We’ll keep him alive until Gavin can take his revenge.”

“The Reaper will have his revenge. Then The Last Riders can take theirs.”

“Crash will be praying The Last Riders will go first.”

The shape that Gavin was in, it would be a miracle if he survived the withdrawals.

“He better be careful of what he wishes for, because it just might come true.”