“What’s the fucking amount?” Diamond grumbled loud.
“50k I swear… please…” The asshole cried.
“Who’s putting out the hit?”
“Rabbit…” he moaned.
“Is he the only one that can put it out?”
“Ye… s”
I still thought Babs was working with someone. “How did you guys know the girls were having a hard time and needed the drugs?”
“Don’t know… never told us.” Dagger put a few more blows to his ribs as he grunted. “Don’t know… assumed Babs.”
When my cell rang, I pulled it out quickly going to push ignore, but when I saw Ma’s number, I looked up at Pops, who nodded at me.
Walking outside, I answered. “Hey Ma, how’s it going?”
“Cruz, get to the hospital. Mel… she shot Princess and knocked her in the head, pretty hard. She’s hurt really bad, and Mel took Cooper.” My entire world was frozen by the words she just spoke. I couldn’t form a single word. “Cruz!” she yelled, snapping out.
“Mel has Cooper.” I repeated back to her. “Is he hurt?”
“No. He was fine when she took him.” That was a relief, but didn’t mean it would last.
“Princess, is she okay?”
“I don’t know. The docs have her in surgery. She took a shot to the shoulder, but it’s her head that’s the worst. God, Cruz… it’s not good, Cruz. It’s not good.” Hearing Ma’s sobs, I kicked into high gear.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I closed my phone, charging back into the barn. “Diamond, Pops!” Their eyes turned towards me as they began to walk.
“Princess has been shot and Cooper’s been taken by Mel. We gotta go… now!”
Diamond barked, “End it.” And three shots rang out. “Dagger and Rhys, get this cleaned up. We gotta get to the hospital; Princess has been shot.” We hopped on the four-wheelers, racing to our bikes.
Once we got to our bikes, I asked Zed and Becs to call Tug, Buzz, and Breaker and search Mel’s house, work, parent’s house, and anywhere else they knew to look. I’d be joining them soon, but first I needed to make sure Princess was okay.
Rushing down the hospital halls with Pops, G.T. and Diamond on my tail, I felt dread… utter and complete dread. I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t survive. And Coop, God knows where he was with that bitch. I swore when I fucking found her, and I would find her, I would end her. Fuck that no hitting women rule that bitch was dead.
Asking every person in a damn white coat where the hell Princess was pissing me off. Every worker there was scared and petrified us big bad bikers were in their hospital. If they didn’t tell me where she was soon, I was gonna give them a reason to be fucking scared, real quick.
Finally, an older lady with graying hair and round as can be, directed us to a waiting room where Ma was propped in the corner with her hands covering her face. G.T. ran up to her. “Ma! What’s going on?”
Ma looked up, her eyes red and puffy. “G.T.!” she yelled as she jumped up, wrapping him in her arms, hugging him tight and sobbing. Her knees gave out, and G.T. picked her up and set her gently in the chair.
“You okay, Ma?” Pops asked, looking at the bandage and blood on her shirt.
“Just a graze, not even enough for stitches.” Pops wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the forehead.
“How is she?” I said, panicked and not hiding it one bit. It’s amazing how my world could spiral down so quickly.
“I’m so sorry, Cruz.” Ma wept. “She’s in surgery. The blows to the head were what knocked her down. The bullet didn’t do much, but I haven’t got an update yet. I’m just waiting.”
“What happened?” As Ma replayed the entire scene, my gut ached, and my fury boiled. “Who else was there besides Mel?”
“That’s what I don’t know, Cruz. I didn’t see them.”
“Did Mel say where she was going with Coop?”
“No. The only thing she said was ‘I’m taking my boy.’ I’m so sorry. After the bump on the head, I got dizzy and couldn’t get myself together to help either of them.” She sobbed harder. “I’m so sorry, I let down my babies.”
Pops pulled Ma into his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to stay here and see how Princess was doing, but I needed to go out and find my boy. Thank God, my brothers were doing it, because I would lose my shit if they weren’t by my side right now.
That damn clock ticked and ticked and ticked. I felt like eternity that we waited. Ol’ ladies came in along with other chapter members. When Dagger and Rhys came in, I jumped up immediately. “Any sign of my boy?”
“Not at the house, her work, or parent’s house. We even checked the local hotels showing a picture of Coop… nothing. But one of the nearby gas attendants swears he saw the little boy come in and use the bathroom with a woman matching Mel’s description. He then saw them get into the back of a green, four-door Honda. He even gave us the plates from one of their security cameras. I had Buzz go back to the club and run them. That’s the strongest lead we’ve got so far.”
“Fuck!” I yelled; I ran my hands through my hair, pulling it tight. I never felt this out of control in my life. I felt, so God damn helpless. I couldn’t help Princess; she was in the doctor’s hands, and I have no fucking clue where that bitch took my boy. Dammit.
Dagger wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight, “We’ll find him. Don’t worry. Becs, Zed, Tug, and Breaker are waiting for the word on the car. And the guys here,” he motioned to the room full of men from the other chapters, “have all agreed to ride as soon as the location comes in. We will find him.”
“The family of Harlow Gavelson,” a man with green scrubs called as he emerged from the door his eyes scanning the room carefully.
“Over here,” I barked. As he looked at the men and women, he gulped loudly. No doubt seeing us all together was intimidating. Good. He’d better make sure she walks out of this alive.
As he stepped closer, the beads of sweat beginning to form on his temples suggested his nervousness. “I’m her ol’ man. What’s going on?” I said as I stepped in front of him crossing my arms.
He cleared his throat repeatedly seemingly trying to get the nerves under control. “Sir, she suffered a minor shot to the shoulder that was easily repaired. It didn’t hit anything major. Unfortunately, the hits repeatedly to the back of her head caused a serious concussion. Right now, we expect a full recovery. She’s under anesthesia, but in about an hour, you’ll be able to talk to her. She may be confused a bit. I’ll let you know when she’s in her room.”
“Thanks, Doc,” I said, holding out my hand. He sucked it up, reaching out, shaking it back. After he left, I was surrounded by brothers and sisters with hugs and pats on the back. Even though I was relieved, I wouldn’t be all right till I saw her and talked to her, knowing that she was here and okay.
The waiting took forever. Minutes kept ticking away. With not being able to see Princess and not hearing back from Buzz, I was wearing a damn hole in the hospital’s linoleum floor. My mind kept focusing on my boy, wondering where the fuck Mel could have taken him. She doesn’t love him. She doesn’t want him. When he was first born, she tried several times to give him to me, but my ass didn’t want the full responsibility. Now I’m kicking myself hard. Why the fuck does she want him now?
Diamond stood in my pacing path his boots being the first thing I saw. As I looked up, his eyes were masked. “Buzz got a lead on the car. It’s about three hours out.”