I grab her hand and squeeze, thankful for their support. “That would be great, thank you. And maybe if someone can swing by my bakery and pick up more of those cookies because Joker, being Joker, told her she can have as many as she wants.” I roll my eyes, everyone laughs, lightening up the mood for just a moment.
“Don’t worry, we will go and pick some up along with a few things for lunch.” Scarlett says while Savannah nods her head as Hailey and I walk down the hall.
We walk in to see Bailey laughing at whatever Joker was saying, making me smile. Hailey walks over with the laptop in her hand. “Hey Bailey, I brought my laptop and have some movies on there for you to watch.” We watch as Bailey gets an excited look on her face as Hailey sets up her laptop.
Joker and I work in silence, cleaning up Bailey’s back, cleaning the wounds and making sure there isn’t an infection. Each wound I clean is like a knife right to my heart, and the sad part is she doesn’t even flinch or cry out. We dress and wrap what we can and pull down her shirt. While I was getting the laptop, Joker drew her blood, and we should have the results in a few days. I walk towards the sink and clean my hands, which are trembling right now.
Joker shuts the water off and pulls me to his chest. “It’s not fair.”
“I know, angel. But she’s here now with us, and we are going to make sure she has everything that she needs, starting with therapy, which I think will do her some good.”
I pull back, and he wipes the tears. “I don’t even know what I’m doing. What if I screw up her life even more?”
“That’s impossible. You are the most kind-hearted person I know, and Bailey is lucky to have you in her life, going to bat for her. Hell, I'm the lucky one as well. I know this isn’t ideal in how we are starting, but I’m here with you through all of this. We are going to get through this together, okay?”
This side of Joker that people rarely get to see is one of my favorites. I’m really finding it hard not to fall in love with him. “Together?”
“Together always.” He looks into my eyes and down to my lips, and I know this is the moment he’s going to kiss me.
He doesn’t waste a second as his lips touch mine in a feather-light kiss. Everything I thought I knew has just flown out the window as he deepens the kiss, sending my heart soaring. His lips are so warm and soft. His kiss is a promise. Firm, unshakable, filled with things we can’t say out loud. It’s at this moment I know without a doubt I have fallen hard and fast. He slows down the kiss until he pulls back, leaning his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. My lips tingle as if he’s still kissing me.
“That just sealed your fate, angel. You're mine, and there is no going back.”
I smile as my face flushes. “I kind of like the sound of that.” His smile is beautiful, so full of life and happiness, and I know I just put that there.
A knock at the door interrupts our moment as Blade sticks his head in and walks over to us. “We are ready. It’s been confirmedhe’s in the trailer now, licking his wounds.” His voice is lowered so Bailey doesn’t hear us.
“I’ve got to go, angel. But we will finish this conversation when I get back.” He places one last lingering kiss on my lips before walking away.
“Be safe. Oh, and Joker. Make it hurt.”
He walks backward out the door and winks at me. “You got it, Angel.”
I watch as he walks out the door with Blade, and I say a little prayer for them to come back safely. Now all we can do is wait and hope they catch him before he’s able to do anything else.
Seven
Joker
We walk out of the clubhouse with purpose, all the brothers following behind me, along with a prospect in the van. We aren’t just doing this for Bailey, but for every other innocent person in this world that didn’t get a chance to ask for help. Today we are putting Bailey’s fears to rest. She might not know the details, but she will know she will be safe. She will no longer have to look over her shoulder; she will no longer go to bed hungry. She will know what it means to be a kid and to be loved. I’m going to love torturing Leo. I'm going to inflict pain like he’s never felt, just like he did to Bailey, only worse. I might evendrag it out for days just so he has an idea of what he put her through. What broke my heart was Bailey didn’t even make a sound as we were cleaning her wounds. It was as if it didn’t even faze her anymore, and that’s just fucked up. This is why I suggested therapy. Bailey is already strong, but with the right help, she will come out stronger and thrive in life. She has Madison and me in her corner with a shit ton of uncles and aunts who would do anything for her. She is family.
I stride my bike and start it up just as the others do the same. The gates open up and we all ride out as Blade takes the lead heading to the outskirts of town. Right now I’m not the fun-loving Joker; rage is all I feel, and I let that fuel me as we ride into town. People in town stop and stare as we ride past. We aren't people who cause shit; we are the ones who stop it. It takes about another twenty minutes before we reach the rundown trailer park. I can see drug deals going on right in the open and prostitutes standing around. Jesus Christ, this place is a mess. None of these people care. We need to come back and shut this shit down fast.
I spot the trailer Bailey said she lived in, and we pull up loud. I want him to know that we are here. I can see the bars on the windows, and the foundation looks like it’s one strong wind away from blowing over. They didn’t take care of it; that's for sure, with the overgrown grass and garbage all around. I can see fucking rats running at the sound of our bikes. Looking around the lot, I can see people looking out of their windows wondering what’s going on, not that I give a shit because one way or another we are doing this. I pull out my gun as Stone and Crow run to the back so he can’t make an escape as I walk to the front with the others behind me and I kick the door right in, not even bothering to knock. The door lands in the middle of the living room. We file in aswe watch Leo jump off the couch. The smell in the place hits me first; this place is disgusting. The floors are no longer white but black; dirty dishes are piled in the sink, and don’t even get me started on the mold on the walls. It’s taking everything in me not to gag. That's how bad it is. Fuck, I might even have to burn these clothes after we are done.
I turn to look at Leo and see him shaking, taking us all in. He looks at our patches, and I can see the moment he realizes who we are, and that’s when I smile.
“What do you want?” Leo’s voice shakes as he stands up, trying to be tough, but he’s nothing but a pussy.
I push him back down, pressing on the gunshot wound Madison gave him, and his scream of pain makes me laugh. “Aww, what’s the matter, Leo? Did someone hurt you? It’s not nice when you hurt someone, is it?”
He whimpers as I let go, standing back up. “I don’t know what you're talking about.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, tired of listening to him, I cock my fist back and punch him in the nose, feeling it break under my fist.
He grabs his nose as blood gushes from it. “What the fuck, man. What the hell did I do?” His crying is doing nothing but pissing me off. It would be so easy just to put a bullet in him and burn this place to the ground, but I need to have my fun.
“Does the name Bailey Fisher ring any bells?” I watch the color drain from his face. “I see you're getting it now. She is under The Lost Saints protection, and you fucked up big time by putting hands on her. I’ve seen the marks on her. She told me all about what you have done, and now it’s your time for judgment.”
