His eyes bulge. “Two men… two women. They’re young… early twenties.”
My body tenses. Fucking four of them!
“Call him… I want them herenow.” My voice threatens violence.
“One of my usuals said the police were here asking questions. Jason won’t come back… not now.”
My breathing is heavy, my patience wearing thin.
“Where else would they be?” Bomber asks, his voice just as threatening as mine.
“The park… down by the beach.”
I slowly let go of him. “If you warn them I’m coming… I’ll be back for you!” I let my threat hang in the air.
He abruptly shakes his head. “I won’t say anything,” he stutters. “I don’t get involved.”
With that, I turn and leave, get on my bike, pull the throttle back, and race to the park.
I pull into the parking lot and let my bike glide into an empty spot. I get off, hang my helmet over the handlebars, and wait for Bomber. When he gets off his bike and stands beside me, we move as a unit, our eyes searching the tables.
I freeze. “Is that Candy?”
Two guys are sitting down, with what looks like Candy standing and a girl sitting across from the guys. Young-looking. It matches the description.
“It looks like her,” Bomber answers.
I growl. “I should have known it was her!” A mix of despair and rage laces my tone.
With every stride, fury pumps adrenaline through my veins. Bomber is by my side, and when we reach them, they take a second to recognize who we are. They stand to run, but I pull one back and slam him onto the ground. Bomber restrains the other while holding on to the other woman’s arm. I hear screams.
Bending over, I grab the guy’s shirt. “You beat up my wife?”
Bulging eyes peer back at me, then to my cut. His head whips up to the women. “You stupid sluts! She was from the club?”
I punch him square in the face. One punch… he’s out cold. I stand tall and step toward the other man in Bomber’s hold. Fear shines brightly in his eyes. “We didn’t know,” he sputters.
“Like that’s going to save you,” I say and follow it up by pulling my arm back and punching him in the face. He falls down. There’s a dull ache in my hand, but it was well worth it.
Two down… two to go. My death stare zeros in on Candy. She cowers, head bowed, her hands shaking in front of her. “You disgust me,” I say, spitting at her feet. Tears fall down her face. “Sophie’s not to blame. You have a problem, you take it up with me.”
I glower at them, nostrils flaring. “Four against one… you bunch of cowards. If I see any of your faces in this town again, you’ll face the fury of the club and Sophie’s family.” I mean every word.
The other woman frowns and looks at Candy.
I let out a wicked laugh.They don’t know. “Her name’s SophieCrown.”
Blood drains from their faces.Yeah, that’s right… you should be scared.
Me and Bomber walk back to our bikes. “Can you organize with Rage to check that they’ve left by tomorrow?”
“Done. Where are you going now?” he asks.
“Back to the hospital. I want to stay by Sophie’s side in case she wakes again.” Dread envelops me. Sophie’s hurt, and the club could face possible jail time. “If Garrett finds out I’m in any way linked to Sophie’s beating, he’ll take it out on the club. We’re fucked.”
I haven’t felt like such a burden since my time in foster care, when no one seemed to want me. A burden to Sophie and the club. Everything is my fault. All because I wanted Sophie as my wife. I hang my head in shame. I’m such a selfish asshole. For the first time, I wonder whether it would be better to give her the divorce she wanted in the first place, even though every fibre of my being resists the idea.
When I get to the hospital, I walk down the corridor to Sophie’s room. I pull the curtain across and see she’s asleep. My heart constricts in pain. It makes me want to return to those men and hit them some more. Lawson and Harrison are sitting on chairs on either side of her. Their gaze shifts upward when I walk in.
