Chapter 13—Cruz
As we sat back in the trees waiting for this a*shole to show up, I replayed last night in my head. If Butch had tried f*cking her, I would’ve killed him. Whether she was wearing the rag or not, she f*cking told him she was my ol’ lady. Sure, bitches lie, but my girl wasn’t. I was just damn happy that it didn’t come to that point.
This waiting shit was for the birds. Becs was inside the office like he always was. He’s sending texts every so often, but nothing has happened. Dagger was hidden in the dressing room with Stella close by. Rhys, Diamond, G.T, Pops, and I were scattered outside. We needed to get the outside threat gone first, then move in.
The sound of bikes in the distance had us getting our pieces ready. The plan was to do this cleanly and just capture the f*ckers. Hopefully it goes as we planned.
Three bikes pulled up wearing the Bobcat Demon patch, none of whom I recognized. One of the men stayed outside as their watch, while the other two went inside. Nodding at each other, we snuck up behind the f*cker watching the bikes. I pointed my gun directly at his head; he immediately grabbed for his piece. “Don’t,” I ordered, his arm instantly stopping.
“What the f*ck do you want?” he said as I ripped his pieces off his body, handing them to Rhys. After he was secure, I handed the man off to Rhys.
“You’ll find out soon enough f*cker.” Nodding, Rhys, took the a*shole to the waiting cage we had parked on the side of the building.
“Let’s go.” Placing our pieces back in our jeans, we slowly made our way through the building. Women were dancing, their tits bouncing everywhere, oblivious to what was about to go down in back.
Weaving through to the dressing room, Stella was on her knees with one of the a*sholes dicks sliding in and out of her throat. “Hurry up, Bitch. We don’t got much time, and I need mine,” the other a*shole said as he smacked her ass, hard, making gagging noises come out of Stella. Seeing Dagger out of the corner of my eye, I nodded. With G.T. and Pops on my sides, we moved in quickly. G.T.’s gun at one of the f*ckers and mine at the one getting head, they immediately reached for their pieces as Dagger stepped out of the shadows.
“Don’t f*cking move pricks,” his low voice grumbled as he stepped into the light, pointing his gun at them.
Stella fell back to the floor as the guy whose dick was just in her mouth kicked her hard in the stomach. “You f*cking bitch. You’re dead,” he growled. The butt of my gun slammed into the f*cker’s skull with a loud crack as he fell to his knees.
“Don’t move,” I growled, aiming at his skull as we swept for their guns quickly. “Stella, get out of here, now.”
“Guys,” G.T. said from the side. “Drugs and cash.”
“Grab it,” Diamond cut in from behind us. “Get these two f*ckers in the cage, and get ‘em up to the barn. Meet there in fifteen.”
The barn was an old building the Ravage MC acquired about ten years ago. It was located in the center of a hundred acre farm where no one could hear anything. The road into the barn was rough, making us unable to take our bikes down the path. Parking them in a small shed at the edge of the property, we hopped on the four-wheelers while the cage followed between us.
The barn was very stark. We stored supplies there and used it for the occasional informational gathering. The floor was dirt, and the wooden beams had seen better days, but it served its purpose.
Rhys and Dagger unloaded our special guests and brought them to the center of the dirt floor. “Give us your rags,” G.T. ordered.
“F*ck you!” they barked in unison. I smiled. This was gonna be fun.
Each of us took turns pounding their faces leaving them utterly bloody, but still able to talk. Diamond grabbed the discarded rags as the men groaned. “Looks like you had to take them off, anyway. At least you did it with honor,” Diamond said laughing.
“Why you guys targeting girls at X?” Pops barked. None of the men said anything, causing us to give a few hits. “Tell us!”
“Rabbit told us to.” No shit there.
“Why?” Pops was obviously leading this interrogation. When no words were spoken, a few hits to the skull changed their minds.
“She’s going after Babs,” the one on the far right said. We then knew he was the weak link.
“Tie those two up Rhys,” Diamond said as Rhys got to work. “So, what has Babs said?”
His eyes widened as we stood around him, just itching to start fighting. When he hesitated, Diamond ordered, “Tie his hands and attach them to the beam up top.” G.T. and I did as instructed, leaving the man hanging with his feet about a foot off the ground. He moved and shook, trying to loosen the rope, but we knew it wasn’t any use. Hitting him in the stomach detoured his movements. “Now try this again. What has Babs said?”
“Princess is after her. We gotta take her out.” Shit we already knew.
“What happens if Princess takes her out?” When he didn’t respond, Diamond nodded at Dagger who reached for his knife. He began twirling it in his hand back and forth through his fingers like a well-oiled machine. He placed the knife on the man’s t-shirt slowly and meticulously cut it cleanly away from his body. Taking the blade, Dagger began running it up and down his sternum never cutting the flesh. The man trembled beneath the blade. “You either tell us, or he’s gonna gut you and we’ll watch you bleed out.”
The a*shole didn’t hesitate. “Then there’s a bounty on Princess’s head for 50k.” I stood there for a moment. Didn’t the Intel say that it was a million?
“You sure that’s the amount?”
“Y… es” I didn’t believe him. I could tell that Diamond didn’t either by the scowl on his face.
Diamond growled, “Dagger.”
Dagger began carving into the man’s chest and stomach, deep enough to cut, but not deep enough to release any internal organs. With each cut, the man’s screams became louder. The other two men sat on their knees watching, but with the gags in their mouths, all that could be heard were weird grumbles.
“What’s the f*cking amount?” Diamond grumbled loud.
“50k I swear… please…” The a*shole 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 f*cking found her, and I would find her, I would end her. F*ck 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 f*cking 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.”
“F*ck!” 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 f*cking 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 f*ck 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 f*ck 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.”
“F*ck,” I shook my head lacing my fingers through my hair. Do I stay here with my girl or go find my boy?
I didn’t have time to make that decision when the same gray-haired nurse that helped us out earlier came into the room. “Family of Harlow Gavelson?” I took off to the door with Ma right behind me.
“Yeah.”
“You can go in and see her now. She’s still a bit out of it, but she’s slowly coming to. Only one at a time for now.”
Turning to Diamond, I pleaded, “Please go. Text me the address, and I’ll be there soon.”
Ma patted me on the shoulder as I left rushing to Princess’s room. The walls were sterile white. She had machines on both sides of her body beeping and making other strange noises. My girl laid on her back with tubes and wires coming out of every part of her body. She didn’t move. She laid there… lifeless.
My stomach dropped to my knees at the thought of losing her. Grabbing a chair, I pulled it alongside the bed, grabbing her hand, holding it for dear life. It was warm which was a comforting feeling. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed like that. Time evaded me. When Princess started making noises, I looked at her face. Deep lines crossed her forehead as her head began to move slowly side to side.
“Baby. It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.” I whispered gently into her ear.
Princess’s eyes began to flutter open as she blinked repeatedly trying to adjust to the bright hospital lights. She stared at the ceiling as I talked calmly to her. “Princess. You’re okay. I’m here.”
“No… don’t touch me…” she groaned as her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and her lids shut, scaring the shit out of me. I instantly yelled for the nurse and jumped her as she walked in the room. “Her eyes rolled back. And she’s not moving.” I was unable to hide the panic laced in my voice.
“It’s okay. She’s just coming out of the meds. Give her some time.”
I didn’t have time. I had to get to my boy. I texted Diamond, saying that I’d need to stay a bit longer, that as soon as I could, I’d be on my way. He instantly texted back saying my brothers would find my boy. A small sliver of relief came over me, knowing they were the ones out looking for Coop.
Waiting… waiting… waiting. That damn chair was uncomfortable as shit. Over the course of two hours, Ma, Pops and the ol’ ladies all came in one at a time. It was a revolving damn door, but it kept the time moving. Ma tried to get me to leave and take a break, but there was no way in hell that was happening. The f*cking cops had so many questions that, even if I could answer, I wouldn’t. I felt closer and closer to falling off the edge with each passing minute. The cops got to Ma in the waiting room, but Pops was there to handle it.
Casey came briefly and held Princess’s hand as she sobbed, saying she was sorry. When I asked her for what, she said that she shouldn’t have listened to Princess. Apparently, my girl told her best friend to stay put instead of coming with her. It was the right thing to do, even if Casey didn’t see it now.
Staring at the TV, I couldn’t even tell you what the hell was on. It was just there for the noise. I couldn’t stand the sound of these f*cking machines beeping on and on. Each one told me that Princess hadn’t woken up yet. Docs kept saying she would, but as more time passed my anxiety kept increasing rapidly.
Suddenly the moans from the bed were a bit louder than before, I moved over to Princess’s body. Her eyes were a wrinkled mess, and her arms start moving a little. I began saying the same soothing words as before, “Princess. It’s okay. You’re all right.”
Her eyes fluttered open as she continued blinking. When her eyes settled on me, she just stared, not saying a word. After about fifteen minutes of my reassuring words, Princess’s eyes changed, as if something in them clicked and she’d actually woken up.
“Cooper,” she croaked out, her voice sounding nothing like her own. At that moment, she gained strength, and she started pulling at her arms. When she saw the wires, she tugged at them and pulled some of them out. The machines going crazy with noises.
“Princess. Stop!” I said forcefully, but she didn’t listen. She kept tugging as I reached over, grabbing her hands, pinning them down to the bed. “Stop!”
“I can’t. I… I have to find Cooper… she’s got him.” The pain in Princess’s eyes was breaking my heart. I knew she loved him as much as I did. I just wasn’t ready for her reaction when she woke up.
“Baby. I know. We’re on it. We’ll find him.” I said still gripping her hands to the bed.
“I’m so sorry, Baby. I’m so sorry.” Her words came out in choked sobs as I released her hands, rubbing her matted hair away from her face. She rolled over to her side pulling her knees to her chest as if she were trying to hide.
“It’s okay. We’ll find him.” I tried to reassure her.
“I couldn’t stop her… I couldn’t do anything. I lied there and watched her take him. I watched her take him!” She screamed the last part, her face covered in tears.
“You were protecting our boy. It’s not your fault. We will find him.”
“Has she called?”
“No, Baby. But we will find him.”
“Cruz. You need to go find him. Now!” Her voice became more and more determined by each word she said.
“I will. I will.” The nurses began rushing in because of all the bells and whistles going off.
“Ms. Gavelson. You need to relax.” The nurse said as she began sticking all the wires back onto Princess’s body.
“I can’t!” she barked at the nurse, who pulled out a very large syringe.
“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, about ready to throw this bitch on the ground if she thought about sticking it in Princess.
“Sir, it’s a sedative. She just got out of surgery and needs to heal. She can’t be agitated or upset. It will just let her go to sleep for a while.”
“Cruz… no don’t let them give it to me. I gotta go find our boy!” Princess pleaded, but I nodded to the nurse. As much as it killed me, it would be the best thing for her to rest.
Nothing… f*cking nothing. Before I was able to hop on my Harley and meet up with the guys, Diamond called. He said there was no car. It had taken off about an hour before they got there. They were now on the road going the direction the hotel manager said it went, but nothing was coming up. At least we had the car and license plate number.
Every chapter was now looking for this car and my boy. Diamond called every president demanding help, and they all began the search. I kept holding out hope. I should be out looking for my boy, but he’s more than four hours away, and by the time I got there… it would be another four hours. I’d always be lagging behind. It was best to let those who were closer ride.
One piece of information from the hotel clerk was interesting though. He said that Mel was traveling with another woman. I thought back to the people in Mel’s life. Calling Buzz, I had him run traces on every one of the bitch’s friends that I could think. I needed to find out which one was helping her ass.
“You haven’t found him yet,” Princess groaned as she turned towards me. It’s been two days and nothing. Not a single person has seen the car or them. My guess was they had somewhere to go and hid the car. Maybe the bitch was smarter than I gave her credit for or the woman that was with her was the smart one.
Princess had a pretty severe concussion, so they wanted to keep her at the hospital for those two days. They were talking about releasing her. Too bad her f*cking mind was not right. She blamed herself repeatedly for Coop being taken. She didn’t seem to understand that when you get shot and hit in the head repeatedly, it kinda puts you out of commission. But better than anyone, I felt her pain and guilt.
“We will.”
“You keep f*cking saying that, but he’s nowhere! How does he just drop off the planet?” She clenched her fists. Anger was raging through her like a momma lion about to attack her prey. And damn if I didn’t find that sexy as shit, wish the timing was better, though.
“We’re working on it.” She glared at me. I knew she was sick as shit of hearing those words, but it was all I could give her; I didn’t have anything to share.
“Working on it. How?”
“We will find him.”
“Dammit! I just want to know how you’re finding my boy. I don’t want to know club business. I just want my son found!” She swung her legs over the bed, standing up. She moved into the bathroom slamming the door behind her.
F*ck. I couldn’t tell her everything we found. Her state of mind was making it hard for her to trust me. I knew deep down she did. Once she got off all these f*cking meds she would come back to her damn senses. I just had to wait it out.
Diamond came in the room as I sat there trying to figure out what I was gonna do. “You all right, son?”
“Not really.” I said shaking my head.
“We’ll find him. Got every brother in the country looking for him. It’s only a matter of time.” I wasn’t giving up hope, but the more time that passed, the worse things looked.
Princess stormed out of the bathroom. “You here to tell me how you’re not finding my boy, too?” she accused him.
“Princess,” Diamond warned.
“What? Seems everyone can go find him but me. Then, the ones I trust to find him won’t tell me shit!” she barked.
Diamond’s eyes grew furious, and I knew that he was going to blow. “Princess. Enough! You hear me? Enough!” he growled. Princess’s eyes widened and lowered as she fell hard on her knees to the floor, the machine at her side falling within a crash.
She was sobbing uncontrollably as I rushed over to her. My strong woman was breaking before my eyes, and at this point, I didn’t know how to fix it. Sitting on the floor, I pulled her onto my lap wrapping my arms around her, held her tight. “I’m so sorry.” She cried in my shirt.
When the nurses came in and took sight of the scene, they quickly picked up the machine that fell, but said that Princess didn’t need it anymore and took it away.
“Come on, Baby. Let me put you in bed.” She nodded her head as I scooped her up in my arms, laying her on the bed. I crawled up with her holding her tight until she fell into a deep sleep.