Coby lifts a hand full of drugs, and my rage gets the better of me. I charge over, ripping the scumbag from Coby’s hands and slamming him so hard against the wall his head busts open. He bellows in pain, and begins to plead. “She wanted it, she said she wanted it,” he yells in a high-pitched, squeaky voice.
I lift my fist and I drive it into his face, busting his nose. Blood spurts out, but I don’t stop. I drive another fist into his eye, relishing in the feeling of his bones crunching.
“Axel, stop!” Lady cries.
I spin around panting. “This is my business now, Lady. I’m takin’ him.”
“We will call the police, and...”
I step toward her, letting the scumbag drop to the ground. Coby reaches out, putting his boot down on him, stopping him from crawling away.
“Meadow is club property, and he fucked with club property. This is my business now, and if you call the police, you’re only goin’ to get questioned. I’m goin’ to deal with him, and you’re goin’ to stay out of it.”
“Axel,” she whispers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know...I didn’t know he would do that, and if I had...I would have never...”
I can see the genuine pain in her eyes. She really believed this guy wasn’t bad. I walk over, controlling my rage for long enough to put my hands on her shoulders. “I know, Lady. It wasn’t your fault. I’m goin’ to deal with this now, but what you can do is go and look after my girl until I get back.”
She nods. “I will, I swear.”
She stares down at Trigg on the floor, groaning in pain. “I trusted you,” she whispers, shaking her head sadly. “I hope he makes it hurt.”
When she disappears up the stairs, I turn to Coby. He’s glaring down at Trigg, and his foot is planted firmly on his ribs.
“You fancy a ride?” I growl.
He looks up at me. “You’re gonna let me in on this?”
I stare down at the worthless piece of shit on the floor, then back up at him. “I figure he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, so yeah, I’m lettin’ you in.”
Coby leans down, hurling Trigg up. “Then let’s do this.”
“Please,” Trigg bellows, thrashing in the chains.
I’m standing in front of him. Coby and Cobra are to my left, and Colt and Jax are to my right. They were all too eager to be in on this when they found out what the scumbag did.
“You think it’s okay to fuck women that don’t want it?” I growl.
“I...I...” he stammers.
“You think it’s okay to drug them so they don’t get a choice?”
“I just...I just...”
“You fuckin’ answer me, boy,” I roar.
“No!” he cries. “No!”
I take step toward him, and the knife in my hand shimmers in the dull light. “Did it turn you on to see that she couldn’t move?”
His eyes are frantic, and he begins babbling again.
“I wonder how it’ll feel when I cut your dick off, and you can’t do anything to stop me.”
“Please,” he cries. “Please, I won’t do it again. Don’t hurt me. I fucked up. I swear I won’t do it again.”
I take another step forward, yanking his pants down. I glare at his flaccid cock with a rage that is uncontrollable.
“That was my girl you fucked,” I spit. “No one fucks with my girl.”
“Please!” he screams.
I stare at his dick, and turn to Cobra. “Hold it up.”
His face scrunches up. “Fuck that, I ain’t touchin’ that shit.”
“Don’t be such a fuckin’ pussy, hold it.”
Jax snorts from behind me, and I glare at him.
“Boss, seriously, you want us to touch his fuckin’ dick.”
“Someone needs to so I can make sure I get it right off.”
“No!” Trigg screams, twisting and turning.
“Shut the fuck up,” I bark at him. “Come on you pussies, hold his fuckin’ dick.”
“You hold it then,” Colt says, walking over. “I’ll cut it.”
“Fuck that, I need this satisfaction.”
They shake their heads, putting their hands up. “Then you hold it, boss.”
“Bunch of girls!” I mutter staring down at Trigg. “I’m not touchin’ his cock.”
“I have a better idea,” Coby says.
I turn in time to see him pull a blowtorch off the wall, and light it. My grin is wide.
“Good choice, boy.”
CHAPTER 20
MEADOW
There’s enough room in my heart for you, come in, I’ll welcome two.
That night, after Lady comes in and helps me shower, I cry myself into exhaustion. She tried to give me some food, but my stomach couldn’t handle it, so with a kiss to the head and whispered sorry, she left. I know she’s blaming herself, and maybe when my emotions aren’t so shaken I’ll tell her it wasn’t her fault. It was no one’s fault, except maybe mine, for accepting the drink so easily.
I clutch Axel’s jacket to my chest, breathing in the smell of leather mixed with that smell that is all Axel’s. I haven’t heard from him. It’s been more than five hours, and I’ve not heard anything. It’s early hours, now, and I’m still listening for that rumble of his Harley-Davidson. I can’t hear it. Is he hurt? Or worse? My heart pounds angrily in my chest, and I try to do anything to take my mind off it.
My phone vibrates beside me, and I peer down at it. The number on the screen is Cobra’s. My heart nearly leaps out of my throat, and my entire body stiffens. Why would Cobra be texting me? He would never text me...unless...with trembling hands, I open the message and read what he’s written.
C - Boss is on his way. He’s in bad shape. I know you’re fucked right now, but he needs you. Take care of him. Yeah?
I feel sudden relief flood my system, and I quickly reply.
M - I promise.
A moment later my phone beeps again.
C - You doin’ ok?
My heart swells that one of these guys, one of these brothers, would even ask me such a thing.
M - I’m doin’ ok.
I smile at the response I get, because I can imagine Cobra saying it.
C - Well, alrighty then.
I listen for Axel’s bike for a long, long time. Three hours later, I hear the rumble as it comes to a stop outside of Lady’s house. I get out of my bed, and with shaky legs I walk out of my door and to the top of the steps. I hear the front door slam, and when I see Axel, I gasp. Lady walks out, and she does the same, stopping in her tracks.
He’s got blood all over him.
I mean...all over him.
His hair is messy, his face is gritty, and there’s blood on his cheeks, on his hands, on his arms, on his shirt, and on his jeans. Lady covers her mouth, and he gives her a sad expression, then he turns and looks up at me. The pain and utter exhaustion I see in his eyes makes my heart ache. He takes a step toward me, and then doesn’t stop until he’s a step down.
Looking up at me, I can see something I’ve never seen in Axel’s eyes before.
It’s need.
He needs me.
He drops his head forward into my belly, and I react by wrapping my arms around it, holding him to me. I try to ignore the smell of burned flesh on his clothing because I know Axel doesn’t cuddle, but this is his way of showing me that he just needs me with him, and I need to be there. I stroke his hair, ignoring the blood there, and when he lifts his head, I reach out and take his hand, walking us to the shower.
The moment we get in, I turn and take hold of his shirt, slowly lifting it over his head. He works with me, lifting his arms when I need. I move to his jeans next, trying to ignore the mass amounts of blood on them. I unbuckle his belt, and then I slide it out of the loops before unbuttoning him and lowering his jeans. When he’s naked before me, I quickly strip out of my own clothes.