“Come on, Bron. Let’s go see what we can find to drink.”
Certain that Bron’s in good company, I hold my head high as I follow the VP out into the front yard. I’m going to fight for what I think is right, and I’ll counter every objection he throws at me.
Saint rubs his hands against his face, then draws his cheeks down and simply stares toward me. I hold my ground, letting him think, holding my tongue until he speaks.
“Wish you could have told me what I was walking into. Fuck, Short. Even hearing the highlights was hard.”
“I did warn you,” I remind him. “And believe me, the totality was worse hearing it first-hand. But hell, Brother, I can’t believe what she’s gone through. Men might have put a bullet through their head well before now, for suffering even half of it. Yet her? She’s still alive, still standing, functioning in the real world, and letting no one suspect a thing. They kept her quiet with threats.”
Thoughtfully Saint nods. “Had to be something like that. Did the abuse continue after the pregnancy?”
“I didn’t ask. I don’t even want to think about it. But I just know she can’t ever go back. Neither her nor Trip. They’re the innocent parties. They didn’t ask for any of this. That’s why I want them to have the best protection they can, which means becoming the Kings’ property.”
“By taking her as your ol’ lady?” He barks a laugh. “Not you, Short. You’re not the settling down type.”
“Neither were you until…” I tilt my head behind me, indicating the doorway.
“Pippa’s my fuckin’ one,” he growls. “Bronwyn? She’s even further out of your league, than I previously thought after what I heard tonight.”
“She’s not a virgin.” My teeth grind as I voice the words.
“No?” He waves his hand in the direction of the house. “If she’s telling the truth,” he holds up his hand to stop me from interrupting, “well, let’s assume she is. I’ll break it down for you if you haven’t connected the dots already. She’s been abusedfor almost all of her life. She’d need more gentle handling than the most chaste virgin, and if you couldn’t handle a woman untouched, how the fuck are you going to deal with her?” He places a hand on my shoulder. “I know you, man.” He chuckles softly. “You’re not exactly discreet in the club. I’ve seen your kinks and your desire for control. You haven’t got it in you to go at the pace she’d need.”
“Fuckin’ sex is the last thing on my mind,” I rasp. “I just want both her and the boy away from her, his, fuck it,theirfather. I want them untouchable, and if I’ve got to step up to achieve that, I’ll do it.” As Saint goes to speak, this time it’s my palm that’s raised to stop him. “Doc depends on the money from the club. He wants to get paid? He’ll have to keep working. He’ll just have to learn his daughter and son are out of bounds.”
“And you think I want a man like him anywhere near the club after what I’ve heard tonight?” Saint’s shaking his head at me. “My woman’s going to have a baby. And you want him treating you when you know he’s a pedophile?”
Shrugging, I answer, “We’re all adults, and you knew he was handsy with females, yet you let him touch Pippa.”
“She wasn’t mine then,” he snarls. “And we put a stop to that game pretty fuckin’ fast.” Again, his head moves side to side. “I told you to stay away from her. Yet you had to get involved. Fuck knows what Prez will have to say about this, or any brother who sits around the table.”
I fist my hands. “Are you telling me to walk away from her? Leave her and Trip to go back to a family like that?”
“Of course, I’m fuckin’ not. Just thinking how much easier it would have been had we never found out about it. Then we could just have gone on with our lives.”
“With a fuckin’ wrong going on behind closed doors.” My jaw is clenched as I look at him. “What we don’t know doesn’t hurt, right, Brother?”
Saint’s chest puffs out, but even as I prepare myself for our conversation to turn physical, he deflates in front of me. “Not what I’m saying, but fuck knows how we’re going to handle it. Those kids have suffered enough.” He takes a breath. “Now we know, there’s no way to condone what’s going on. The Kings don’t let harm come to women and children. I see only two options. We somehow protect them by getting them far away from here, with one of our other chapters, perhaps? That would allow us to keep Doc working for the club.” I open my mouth to protest, but he pre-empts me. “Which, of course, would be condoning his crimes, right down to aiding and technically abetting what’s already been done. Or we get rid of a pedophile, putting him six feet under.” He looks up and meets my eye. “Short, I’ll speak to Bullseye. We’ll see what we can do for them.”
“Me claiming them is putting them under the club’s protection,” I obstinately point out. There’s no way I want them to leave, be out of my sight, and be somewhere I can’t help them.
“And how’s that going to look for you? Being tied down to a girl who won’t fuck, and a boy who can’t talk. Fuck, even his problems make sense now. He’s a victim of incest. Aren’t they all born retarded?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with the boy, only that he needs professional help he’s not been getting up to now. Maybe even a mother’s love, which he’s been denied, might help him. Retarded? I advise you not to use that word. Different? Special needs? Let’s talk about it in those terms.” I don’t even know why I’m defending him. But when I’d done the only thing I could to stop his fists whaling on Bronwyn, I’d acted instinctively in holding him tight. And it had fucking worked, even though Bronwyn had expected differently. Perhaps I have something I can bring to the table to help him.
Maybe it’s because I see something of myself in a boy who’s been abused by his father. Perhaps not sexually up to now, butbeing locked in a fucking closet until he calmed down. Yeah, I know all about fathers who don’t give a damn about their kid’s feelings.
I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that didn’t want to help.
Everyone needs chances, don’t they?
Saint’s been staring at me while I’ve been lost in my head. He clears his throat to get my attention. “I can see you care for them both. As I said, I’ll speak to Prez in the morning. Lay the groundwork for you to plead your case.”
Though I called him over to help me deal with a deceitful bitch taking advantage of her father, after her admissions, my thoughts had done a one-eighty, and I’d ended up pleading her case rather than throwing her out. I’m still glad he’s here. I offer my hand, and he takes it, pulling me into him and slapping my back. As I reciprocate the gesture, I think he could be a good ally. Maybe his hearing it all tonight will help me in my inevitable meeting with Bullseye tomorrow. And, after him, he might prove useful, providing backup. Fuck knows how what I’m proposing will go down with the rest of the club.
