Author's Note:Between the last time I posted to now a lot has happened. As I said in the last chapter, my father has been fighting stage four cancer and it has taken its toll on the family. I am happy to report that he is finally done with treatments and the doctors believe they were able to target all the caner.
I also started a full time job, and my son started his first year of school, so my time to write was/is limited. About a month ago I was rear ended on my way to work and have not been able to return. Car was totaled, and I suffered a list of injuries and side effects. I am not sure how this will effect my ability to update this story, but I will try and do my best.
I would also like to give my beta a very loud shout out. She had been on my ass to finish this project, while also being very supportive of everything else going on in my life. More than just a beta, she has become a very close friend who has stood by me and helped me and my family even though she is in another country and we have never even met in person. I can never express how thankful I am to have her in my life. It is because of her that I am getting this new chapter out.
Before we get to the next chapter, I would also like to shout out to all the readers of this story. I am very thankful for all those who have read and left a review, and/or added this to their favorite/alert list. It means the world to me to know I am able to bring you something you enjoy reading. Even though it might take me longer to update, I will be finishing this project, and am working on many more.
Alright, I think that covers everything I needed to say. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and I can't wait to hear what you might think. As always, feel free to leave reviews with your commits, thoughts/fears, and any questions you might have.
Last Time...
Happy opened the Icy Hot patch and tried to keep his focus on the task at hand, but he found it hard. The sight of her in his grey shirt was much more appealing than it should have been. It looked good on her, and part of him wanted it to stay there. The other part of him was yelling at him to take it off. He wasn't sure if that side of him wanted to see what she hid under the soft fabric, or if he just wanted his shirt back.
Clenching his jaw to keep from saying anything, he pressed the patch onto her skin. Something deep inside him found satisfaction as she shivered at his touch. However slight a touch it was, her creamy white skin seared his fingers. He knew it would be a while before the burn would ease.
"We'll grab something to eat then head out, put the sweater on." He said, his voice sounding lower, even to him. Leaving, Happy headed back to the other room, tossing the wrapper in the trash and then running his hands over his face.
'Shit,'he thought.'I need to get laid.'
Born to Die
Chapter 27
She hated hospitals. It started with the death of her mother, at a time when a young woman needed the wisdom that only a mother could pass along. Years later it was herself who landed a room after undergoing her first surgery to correct her abnormal heart condition. It was a difficult time, having to face the very real fact her life could have been at its end should the doctors not be able to do what they said they 'should' be able to. Looking back, Gemma knew the fear had been misplaced. At the time however, she didn't know any better. In the years to follow, she lost her youngest son, her husband, sister in-law and close friend, and many more who had bled for the club.
Leaning forward, Gemma picked up Clay's large hand and rested it inside her own. It was chilled and felt weak, nothing like the warm strong hand she was used to. It wasn't the loving hand of the man she married, nor was it the bold hand who enjoyed to ravish her every night. This wasn't the hand that firmly held the gavel and lead the club into prosperity. Nor was it the protective hand that was more than willing to get dirty to defend those close to him.
Not even on his worst days, where his arthritis would leave him trembling, was he this weak and still. Despite the lack of movement, Gemma couldn't bring herself to release the cold and unmoving hand. So many times had it held her up and shielded her. She would find it in herself to hold on and let him know he wasn't alone.
"You can't leave me yet, you old man," she said in a low voice. Her eye's stung, but she fought back the burning and tightened her hold. "You hear me Clay?" she asked reaching out with her other hand to touch his forehead. "Not yet."
With eyes closed from the heavy medication, Clay remained unmoving. Wires attached to his chest monitoring his vitals, while tubes kept him breathing, hydrated and medicated. She hated seeing him like this, but she knew it was the only way he would pull through and make a recovery. It was a miracle he was even laying here in the much too white and clean room, and not down on a cold stainless steel slab in the basement morgue. At the moment, she would take whatever good news she could. Too much had happened recently for her to not see a gift when it lay in front of her.
Gemma had never been much of a person to pray or ask for help from any divine power, it hadn't saved her mother, son, husband or anyone else close to her for that matter. But she couldn't help feel like she owed a thank you to whoever was keeping Clay breathing. She knew it wasn't solely the doctors training and talent, they had admitted it themselves.
'Please,' 'Gemma thought in her head. 'Just help him recover, we can't lose him. I can't lose him.'
He had to pull thought and recover. She wasn't about to let everything they had worked so hard for wash down the drain with his blood. The club still needed a strong leader, and Clay still had many miles left in him. This was just an unexpected set back. 'Just another thing we will overcome together,' she thought with a weak smile as she reached out and stroke his face lovingly.
The sound of the heavy hospital door opening drew her attention away from her resting husband, and to the brave soul who thought to interrupt her. The sight of her eldest son walking into the private room gave birth to her hurt, fear and anger. Deep down she understood that everything was thrown at him, it wasn't his fault that everything landed in his lap. The sight of the newly sewn patch on his cut brought a new pain to her chest. It was Clay's patch, and while she understood the needs of the club were not going to wait for Clay to heal, she couldn't help but feel pain at seeing her son wear the same patch Clay and his own father had worn. The patch was a death sentence. She was torn, anger and fear taking root in her heart.
Looking down at her hands that held tightly onto Clay's, she took a deep breath and then leaned over to kiss his hand as she laid it down resting on his chest. She wasn't sure what feelings to give into, her anger or fear. Who was it that now stood before her, the boy she raised or the man who lead the mother charter of the MC?
"Ma," Jax called out to his mother. Walking into the room, he made sure to close the heavy door softly.
"I'm not sure I want to talk to you right now," Gemma bit out softly, her anger taking over. Deep down she understood why he had sent Addison away, after all it had been a club vote. But she was still upset she had no say in the matter. It should have been brought to her, they should have never sent Addison off without telling her. She was family, and Gemma felt she had a right to know what was going on.
"How could you even think to send her off without letting me know?" She questioned her son, voicing her anger. "Without the chance to say goodbye," the burning in her eyes returned, and she could feel her throat closing up.
Jax walked quickly over to his mother and pulled her into his arms. He knew she would be angry with the vote, but he still stood behind the decision. "You know why we sent her away," he said as he held her tightly. "I didn't come here to have this debate with you again. I came to check on Clay and see how you are holding up." Jax said trying to defuse his angry mother.
Pushing herself away from his embrace, she glared up at him. "How the hell do you think I am holding up?" She fired back at him, keeping her voice low. "My husband is fighting for his life, you sent away my only niece with only two patches to care for her while she is being stalked and hunted down by two sick fuckers." She replied and turned around to gather herself. "And my only son now wears the very patch that is soaked in the blood of his fathers." she admitted in a soft whisper.
"Ma," Jax said with nothing but love in his voice as he walked up behind her and hugged her. "Clay is going to pull through," he said looking down at his step-father. "And when he does I will gladly hand him the patch back," he said with some humor, trying to lighten his mother's dark mood. "As for Addison, you know it was the best course of action, and Hap and Bull are with her. They aren't just patches. They have both been full members for a long time and understand what it means to watch out for family. They know the road, and they know how to travel unseen. I wouldn't have trusted her with just anyone." He hugged his mother and turned her around to look her in the eye. "We have a plan, and it's going to work. Trust me."
Gemma didn't respond right away, and took comfort in her son's hug. "Promise," she started as she pulled away from him. "Promise me nothing will happen to her, I can't bury anymore loved ones. Not Clay, not you and not her."
Jax, with unshed tears in his own eyes pulled her back in and squeezed her tightly. "You know I can't promise that, but I will give you my word that we will do everything we can to stop these sick fucks from ever hurting her or the club again."
With a sniffle, Gemma pulled away and looked up to Jax, meeting his stare in the eyes. "I will hold you to that," she said with a firm voice. They stood in each other's arms, watching over Clay as he rested for a while. Both left to their own thoughts and fears, dreading what might come.
A light knock on the door, pulled them apart and Jax stepped in front of his mother to give her a moment to regain her composure. Opening the door, Stone poked his head in and shared a knowing look with Jax. "Sorry to interrupt. We need to talk." Without anything else, he nodded to Gemma before disappearing and pulling the door closed.
"Go," Gemma said with a wave of her hand. "Go find those sick bastards and make them pay for ever messing with this family." With a nod, Jax made his way to the door. "And Jax," Gemma called out before he was fully out of the room. "Be careful."
Not able to answer his mother, he nodded and made his way out of the room. He knew his mother wanted assurance that there would be no more blood spilled on the clubs side, but something deep down told him that things were about to get even bloodier. He could only promise that they would play it smart, they wouldn't act on their anger or fear. They couldn't afford to make a mistake; it wasn't just about Addison anymore.
He didn't have to walk far down the hall to find Stone waiting with Bear and a few others. "What?" Jax asked as he ran his hand over his face. It had been a long night, and none of them had been able to get any real rest.
"Bull just called to check in." Stone said as he put his hands into his pockets. "They didn't make it as far as they wanted to last night."
"Why the hell not?" Bear asked, making it clear to Jax that Stone had held the information from the others until they were all present.
"Well," Stone said softly then looked down, none missing the fact that he was slowly turning a dark shade of red. Jax looked over to Bear who had the same lost look on his aged face.
"Well?" Jax prompted.
"Look, we're all adults," Stone said as he looked up and tried to regain his composure. "We all know the wonders of the female body," he went on to say, only to be cut off by Bear.
"Don't tell me they drug the poor girl to a strip club!" The elder Son said, his voice with a hard edge.
"Shit," Jax said as he looked up and covered his face with his hands. "I just told my mother they would take care of her," he said making eye contact with the others. "Don't make me a liar."
"They didn't stop at a strip joint. They stopped at a motel." Stone said then mumbled something quickly under his breath.
"I'm sorry what was that?" Jax asked for clarification. "You better not be mumbling that they stopped for a fuck…" Jax said with a heated tone.
Stone took a deep breath and reiterated what he had said. "Apparently Addison got a visit from her Aunt Flow," he said as he looked down once again. "So they stopped early last night."
Everyone stood there in silences for a few minutes, trying to comprehend what they had just heard. It was a heartfelt deep chuckle of Tig, who had been silent, to pull them all out of their deep thoughts.
"Man," the dark haired, blue eyed Son said as he whipped a hand over his face. "The killer gets all the fun." Everyone turned their attention to Tig, causing him to stop and put his hands up. "What?"
It was no secret Tig had a unique taste when it came to bedroom sports, but they loved him all the same. Soon they were all laughing about the misfortune of Bull and Happy, having to deal with a woman during 'that' time of the month. However deep inside, each member's heart went out to Addison, they knew it was going to be rough on her.
"It's a damn good thing we sent Bull with her," Bear said with a sigh.
"Shit," Jax said again, trying to wrap his mind around what had gone on, still finding the slight humor in it. "Don't tell my mother," he said as he turned to look all his brothers.
"I ain't ever talking about it again." Stone said and help up his hands. "I feel for the girl. Poor thing has to deal with that on top of everything else."
Everyone nodded their heads at that.
"Other than that, everything else okay with them?" Jax asked. As much as he felt the itch to call and check in on Addison himself, he knew he just didn't have enough time in the day to do everything himself. There was far too much to worry about and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes right now. With his new patch, there was more expected from him. He needed to show the others he could deal with everything being thrown at him. As much as everything that was going on was on a very personal level, he wasn't the only one effected. He needed to trust in his brothers and let them help.
"Yeah, they said they made good time. Plan on riding as far as they can today, as far as they think Addison can make it. Apparently she didn't even say anything about it. Bull picked up on the 'situation' and talked it over with Hap. They decided to call it a early night. Got the girl her own room and let her sleep in a bit."
"Good," Jax said, glad to hear that his two brothers seemed to understand the need to care for Addison as well as protect her. Nodding his head to let the others know he approved of the actions of Happy and Bull, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked over to Tig. "Anything from Juice yet?"
"Nope, still looking through tapes, and trying to find a new lead." Tig replied, as he placed his hands in his pockets out of habit.
"What about 'our' Addison?" Bear asked in regards to the croweater who had taken on the roll of Addison to try and though off the two stalkers.
"So far nothing. Hammer got her back to the clubhouse and went straight to the rooms." Tig answered. "I think she even fooled some of the other hang-arounds that she was the real deal. Kept her head down, and Hammer did good, following her about like a loyal fucking dog."
"Good. Let him know that they aren't to leave without my approval. No one moves without me knowing about it. We can't afford any more close calls, or to be caught off guard." Jax said. "Every step taken, every word spoken, needs to be carefully thought out." Jax said as he released his arms and pointed to each of his brothers. "We can't do anything out anger, that's what they want and I am not about to let them win."
"Done." Tig said as he walked away and pulled out his phone to spread the new orders. Jax knew Tig would inform everyone and make sure everyone followed the rules. Not many would be stupid enough to go against Tig.
"I'm going to stick around here a bit longer." Jax informed the others. "I don't want to be too far from my mother or Clay right now."
"Until we get a solid lead, you deal with family. The club can handle everything else." Bear said as he rested his hand on Jax's shoulder in a fatherly manner.
With a nod, Jax accepted their offered help. It was one of the things that made the club so important to him. The bond they all shared was nothing to be taken lightly. He knew these men who stood beside him would bleed for him should he ask it. They were also willing to make others bleed for hurting those close to him. Nothing more important to the Son's then family. And when family was threatened, not one Son would rest until the threat was dealt with.
S.O.A.
Living the life he chose, Hammer knew he would make decisions he would have done differently if he had known the outcome ahead of time. He didn't regret much; he knew there was nothing to be done about past actions. There was too much to worry about, why waste time on things that couldn't be changed? However, he did learn from them and logged them away to remind himself later if a similar situation come up.
Rolling over on his back, Hammer knew this was one of those times. Lifting his large arm and resting it over his eyes in hopes to block the light from the rising sun, he tried to recall exactly what had happened. The hardened biker in him told him to suck it up, what was done was done. But the man felt sick with himself for not being in control enough to stop to it.
After arriving back at the club house and following Bella to the room Addison had been using, he found his control begin to slip. He had played the role of good club member and loyal brother, agreeing to go along with the plan to keep Addison safe, but inside he was boiling. He hated the idea of her leaving the club, going on the run. No one said the words, but he knew. He knew a moving target was harder to hit, but he also knew that a moving target would wear itself out given time.
That's what they had made Allison into, a moving target. Alone on the road with only two of his brothers to watch out for her.
He knew it was thought to be a means to an end, but Hammer couldn't help but think of everything that could go wrong. While he had faith in both Happy and Bull, he knew a lot could go wrong while on the road. No one was bulletproof. They didn't have any back up, and if anything happened while traveling, they would be sitting ducks. While the brothers were their main concern at the moment, and receiving the full focus of the club, Hammer wasn't about to forget the other threats that lurked in the dark. It would be easy for a rival club or gang to mistake Addison for an Old Lady and try and use her to hurt the club. It wouldn't be the first time, and he knew there were those out there that wouldn't turn down the opportunity if it was presented to them.
It would have been better to keep her close, around more members. Around him.
Movement to his left and a soft sigh brought him back to the present, and reminded him of his lack of control the night prior.
With a deep, angry breath, Hammer rolled off the edge of the bed and stood up. "Fuck," he said in a harsh tone to himself as he walked over to where his boxers had fallen. With stiff muscles he pulled the navy briefs on and then tugged on his worn jeans. Not once looking back to the bed or who still lay in it.
Ignoring the shifting from his bed partner, he kept getting dressed. Belt, guns and shirt. He was angry with himself for his actions, and fought the urge to look back at the blond still resting in the bed. He had been upset the night before, he felt like the club had taken something important away from him. It felt like they didn't trust him to keep Addison safe, so they sent her away.
So he had acted out the only way he knew how. He got drunk and fucked. However, in his drunken melt down he had fucked the croweater who had agreed to play the 'Addison decoy'.
He wouldn't lie to himself and say the thought of fucking Addison never crossed his mind, because it had. She was a beautiful woman and her innocence was more attractive to him than he ever would have thought. However, he knew he would never act on his inner thoughts. Addison was club royalty in his book, she was off limits to him and most of his other brothers. They were too fucked up for her. It didn't bother him that he didn't stand a chance with her, he knew his place. He just wanted to keep her close, make sure nothing happened to her. How could he do that if he wasn't with her?
Everything about her called out to him. She was like small kitten in a world of hungry wolves. She was soft and light, her voice kind and loving. He didn't want to see anything change more than it already had. She had carved out a spot in his dark heart and brought a bit of light to his hard life.
"FUCK!" Hammer shouted as he kicked out at the chair close to him, sending the wooden seat across the room. He still didn't understand how he had allowed something like last night to happen.
Memories flashed before him as he tried to piece together where everything had gone wrong. He needed to remember what happened so there wasn't a repeat. He could remember making sure Bella stayed in the room before going back to the bar and getting a bottle of whiskey. After downing a few shots, he ordered the Prospect to make some food. Both plates in one hand and whiskey bottle the other, he made his way back to the room. Walking in he had found Bella, still in Addison's clothing, playing with herself.
While normally the sight of a women with her hand down her pants would turn him on, and overwhelming rage had came over him. The thought of her doing such an act in 'her' clothes cause a burning rage to take over. He had slammed the door shut and threw the food down on the desk, not caring that most of it fell of the plates. Closing the distance between them, he could remember grabbing her throat and lifting her up off the bed.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he had asked. She had reached up and held onto his larger hands as they limited her air supply. Releasing her and letting her drop back onto the bed, he turned around with anger. "Answer me!" he yelled at her when she didn't respond.
"I was bored!" she had yelled back with a huff. Hammer turned around and could only glare at her.
"God," Bella sighed as she got up and tried to right the shirt that rode up. "…I thought you would like it. I mean I look like her right?" she asked without thinking about the reaction her words would have on the beast of a man.
Before he knew what had happened, he had grabbed her back up by the throat and pulled her close to him. His anger was boiling over and he wasn't about to take shit from a filthy whore. "Close your fucking mouth," he had said in a low, threating tone.
"Shit," Bella coughed out as she fought with the large hands still around her neck. She could still breath, but it was becoming difficult.
Once again Hammer let her go and make his way to pick up the bottle of amber liquid. Everything about the situation was becoming too much for him. Taking a long pull from the bottle, he tried to calm himself down. There was nothing he could do at the moment. He wasn't sure where Addison was, or when they would check in. He would have to make sure to ask about them in the morning. Taking another hit of whiskey, he forced himself to sit down.
Looking over the blond slut on the bed, he couldn't help but compare her to the one she was trying to imitate. Sure they had the same body type, and hair color, but something was off with Bella. Hammer wasn't sure what it was, but there was something that Addison had that Bella lacked. Maybe it was confidence, a spark. Even though Addison was dealing with the tragic loss of her father, she still tried to put on a strong face. Bella, like all croweater's, cried at anything and everything they could and were all dead inside.
Tipping the bottle back again, Hammer let the warm liquid work its magic. He could feel the tension leaving him, and he found that he couldn't take his eyes off the blond on the bed. It was at this point that he wasn't able to fully control his actions. So hurt at the loss of Addison and frustrated that he wasn't able to do anything, he had allowed the damn bitch to weave her illusion.
Flashes of his Allison overlaid with the body in front of him. Her scent still clung to the clothing that the whore was now wearing, small hands touched him softly and he couldn't help the effect they had on him. For a moment, his Addison was back, and she was taking the time to care for him.
One part of him knew this wasn't right, that this would soil her image. The still sober part of him told him he couldn't go through with what was about to happen. It told him to stop the hands as they pulled at his belt and slid his zipper down. The darker part of him just wanted this one moment to forget about everything, he deserved to find a little release after the events of the day. Besides, it wouldn't hurt anyone. No one had to know that he was thinking about his former President's daughter sucking him off.
Things got fuzzy after that, but there were plenty of flashes to show him that he hadn't let it end with the blow job.
Coming back to the present, Hammer turned to the still naked woman in the bed. "Get the fuck up," he called out to her. No care in his voice.
"Sure baby," came the mumbled reply.
"Shut the fuck up," Hammer said as he stood tall in the middle of the room. "You don't get to talk. That shit that happened last night doesn't happen again. You understand me?" he asked her.
Bella looked up at him with a slight pissed off look. "I don't understand what your problem is," she said as she reached for a pair of panties. "I would think you would be in a better mood after what I did for you last night."
"What you did for me…" Hammer shot back at her in question.
Getting out of the bed, Bella pulled up the panties then grabbed the shirt from the night before. "Look, everyone has their fantasies, yours happens to be the Presidents niece." She said without looking up. "I mean, I get it, she's totally fuckable."
The sound of a harsh slap filled the room. Hammer reached down and lifted Bella back up off the floor. Ignoring her sobs, he held onto her hair. Pulling her head back he made sure she was able to look him right in the face. "Don't fucking talk about her like that, don't even speak a single word about her. Do you understand?" He asked while he applied more pressure to his grip on her scalp.
Unable to find the words to comply, Bella nodded her head as best she could.
Releasing her Hammer stepped back and ordered her to get cleaned up. He made his way to the door and took a deep calming breath. He needed to get himself under control. Opening the door and slamming it shut behind him, he marched down the hall in search for someone who would have answers to the one question he had; where was Addison.
S.O.A.
It was taking longer than he had thought. His brother's plan had seemed much easier when he had first heard it. He didn't think it would take this long, he didn't want it to take this long.
Soft cries pulled him out of his inner thoughts to the young woman gagged and bound on the bed behind him. Stripped bare, her arms were tied to the old headboard while her feet where pulled apart and anchored to the feet of the bed. Course rope rubbed and bit into her soft skin causing the white sheets to turn red beneath her.
"Shh," he said in a soothing voice as he ran a gloved hand down her tear-streaked face. Sitting down next to her, he moved the hair that had fallen out of place and took the time to rearrange it back to his liking. "Not much longer now," he lowered his hand and cupped one of her breast. Taking his time, he pinched the soft nipple, ignoring the new muffled cries. "Soon your part will be over," he continued to speak softly as he pulled off his glove and slid his hand lower down her body.
The pained cries didn't stop him, she meant nothing to him. She was just here to fill a void until he was able to claim the one that was rightfully his. He just hopped his brother's new plan didn't take as long. He was running out of patience and his urge to feel the soft skin of her, was growing each day.
END OF CHAPTER 27
There you go, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Can't wait to hear what you all think!
