Chapter 35

Candice
I look around the room I am in. It's a bit on the small side, with just a queen size bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a television mounted on the wall above the dresser. The girl, the one Austin addresses as Abby, scoots her chair closer to the bed I'm on. She has a small little nurse's kit hanging from her forearm. I close my eyes at the irony that I'm on the bed while a nurse is getting ready to evaluate me.
"Abby, was it?" I ask.
"That's right. Slice tells me that Austin said you were a nurse. Which hospital do you work at?" She asks.
"Treepointe." I say with a small smile. The small movement to my cheek causes me to flinch.
Abby is by my side instantly checking my face out and going back to her bag to pull out a cold compress and some arnica cream. She starts rubbing the cream on my cheek softly and when her eyes meet mine I see a glimpse of compassion. She seems to be a very soft-hearted girl. She also seems to be a bit on the young side. She has long blonde curly hair and bright blue eyes. Her frame seems thin but in a way to where she just still hasn't grown all the way into her body. She is wearing stripped pajamas and a white spaghetti strap. I almost want to call her cute.
"I'm Candice." I say to her, trying to ease out of the awkwardness.
"Abigail. Oh, but you knew that already huh? Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"Just my stomach. They kept punching me there. I can't bend down to see it myself but from my breathing it seems like they just bruised it." I explain to her.
Abby nods her head at me and puts her bag away.
"So, what happened exactly Candice?"
I tell her everything. From the encounter with Max to the knock on my door all the way to now. I explain to her that I assume those guys are just trying to make a point with Max and his friends but I didn't understand what that was.
"I have no idea why they attacked me to be honest. When I read the letter, it appeared to be a threat to Max, but I don't understand why they thought we were together. He helped me out today with a tow but that was it." I explain to Abby.
"The club has had some enemies over the years. Any one of them could have done it, but things have been so peaceful these last few years that it doesn't seem possible." She speaks about the club like she knows a lot about it.
"So, who are with here?" I ask, part of me hopes that she doesn't say Austin.
To say that it was a surprise to be woken up in a strangers bed surrounded by two of them men I met the other day would be an understatement. When those assholes that beat and kidnapped me brought me to an abandoned building, I didn't know what to think. When I saw a glimpse of Max running out of the building and towards me I thought for sure I was dreaming, now I know it was real and I must say, I was completely relieved when I saw him and Max talking quietly when woke up.
"Oh, I'm not with any of the brothers here." She says with a blush in her cheeks. "My dad is a member. I was practically raised by these men. It's like they are all my uncles. Max, Austin, Shane and I sort of grew up together, they are like big brothers to me."
Abby seems to have an innocence to her. I can also tell the way she told me she wasn't with anyone that she wants someone in particular. I don't know if that person is a part of the club or not, but she is definitely handing her heart out to someone. Or at least attempting to.
"So, can I ask you something? You don't have to answer because I think I already know the truth but I'm going to ask it anyway." I babble.
We both giggle at my attempt at a sentence, but turn serious when my question flies out of my mouth.
"Why haven't they called the police?"
I'm not stupid, I know that in their world cops aren't necessarily their BFF'S but I'm not in their club. Surely if they didn't do anything wrong, they would have taken me to a hospital and called the police. I hate to judge, but generally that's what people who are guilty of something do.
"There isn't much I could say about that Candice. There are certain rules that we all follow and calling the cops when something happens goes against a few of them. The club is not behind anything that would lead to what happened to you tonight, but they do have an ugly past that the cops have labeled them with." She pauses and gives me a worried look. "The club will handle their own business."
I just stare at her. I had a feeling the answer she gave me would be something along those lines. I feel kind of strange not going through the police. What if something happens and I need to call the cops? Would Austin get into trouble? She is right, I have seen at work enough times on how cops work. They are so focused on solving the crime that they don't think twice about who the lock up. I don't want the club that helped me to get into trouble based on their looks.
Abby searches through her bag once more and pulls out what appears to be some pain pills. She pops the lid and gives me a glance, silently asking if I need one. I narrow my eyes at the bottle. She appears to be very nice and polite, but that was the same thinking that led me here in the first place. The truth is I don't know this woman. Plus, it's never okay to take someone else's prescription pills. Abby simply smiles at me and closes the lid tightly. She turns the bottle around and brings it closer to my face. I read that it is just Tylenol and let out a small chuckle. Guess I was doing a little judging myself.
"It's okay, I took the oath too, and would never bring anything or give someone something that would get me into trouble. Nor would the guys ask that of me." She says answering my unspoken question.
"Sorry, so which hospital are you at?" I ask as she hands me the pill and a bottle of water.
"Ridgemont" She says then looks down.
That's a pretty far hospital. It's all the way in the city. At least an hour drive from here. I wonder why she would work so far when there are dozens of hospitals closer. My mother had a temp job in the city one summer. Seemed like she was gone more often than not because of the drive. My mother. In all this craziness, I had forgotten that she is staying with my grandmother, but there is nothing stopping her from coming home early or stopping by for more clothes.
"Abby, do you think I could borrow a cell phone? I need to call my mother and make sure she is not coming home anytime soon. I don't want those guys to do anything to her." I say with a calm voice even though I feel anything but.
Abby's face changes to a look of concern when I tell her about my mother coming home and pops up out of the chair she was sitting on. She grabs her cell phone out of her back pocket and checks the time.
"It's three in the morning right now, but when the guys are out of church, I'll have one of them bring you a burner, so that you can call your mother in a few hours. If you call her now she is bound to freak and head home anyways. That's what my mother would do anyways." A sad smile crosses her face. "Why don't you get some rest and when you wake up in a few hours you will feel a lot better."
I nod my head at her and try to get as comfortable as possible. Once she leaves the room I toss and turn for a few minutes. All I can think about is my mother and would could possibly happen to her if she came home early. It isn't until about an hour later that I finally drift off to sleep.


The urgent need to urinate is what wakes me. It Feels like only minutes have passed since I feel asleep. I'm surprised I slept at all. I've never been one to sleep just anywhere. My mom used to always have to lay with me whenever we moved into a new house for the first few nights because it was strange for me. I am laying on my left side facing the wall and I do a little stretch in the bed noticing the blankets are covering most of my body. I never sleep like this. I always end up kicking the blankets off me in the middle of the night.
I roll the comforter back and take in my surroundings. I am feeling much better, but I know that in a few hours I will need another pain pill. I look over to the far end of the room and see an adjoining bathroom. Thank God. I really didn't want to leave this room without someone I'm familiar with going with me. I am still in the same pajama's I had on when I was attacked. I'm sure some of these guys would just love if I walked out with them on but I would rather not give them a show.
I take a slow step off the bed, unsure if I will have any pain in my midsection from moving too fast. When both feet are on the floor I walk over to the bathroom and do my business, I glance at my reflection and gasp in horror. My eyes are bloodshot, nose is all red from hitting the ground and there is a large bruise that has turned yellow on my cheek. Surprisingly it actually looks worse than it is.
Once I come out, I walk back over to the bed and sit down putting my head in my hands. I'm exhausted. My body feels extremely week. I look to my right and see a glass of water and another pain pill on the nightstand. I also notice a pair of skinny jeans and a white thermal long sleeve on the dresser. I smile at Abby's generosity, down the pill and water, then slowly get myself dressed. The shirt isn't too bad, but the pants make me wince in pain while I bend down to pull them up.
I sit for a few minutes before I decide to venture out of these four walls and exit the room. When I finally gather up enough courage I walk out of the room, enter a hallway and look around. I hear lots of noise, like if I were in a cafeteria and everyone is speaking at the same time. A sort of echo of voices. I head towards the noise and stop when I see nothing but chaos in front of me. Not only is this place absolutely huge but there are men everywhere. There must be at least thirty of them in here. Most of the men are in what I would guess to be the living area of the clubhouse. There are two sets of couches and a variety of chairs circling a giant flat screen television.
Directly across of that is a huge industrial kitchen. There are two sets of each appliance and a long bar style island in the middle that is currently being used as a buffet table. There has to be well over fifty pounds of food varying from eggs, pancakes, waffles, toast, muffins, bacon, sausage and a huge pot of coffee on the end. My mouth waters at the sight of such glory. I have to be at work early most mornings and mom sleeps in, so my breakfast usually consists of Starbucks and granola bars. It's been a while since I've had a hot breakfast waiting for me.
I walk a little closer into the living area, intent on finding a familiar face when I notice even more about this enormous place. There is a foosball table, a pool table, and several gaming consoles line up below the television. This is so weird. It's like I died and went to a fraternity of boys who also happens to make amazing breakfast.
One of the guys sitting on the couch gets up to, I'm assume get more food, when he spots me in the middle of the hallway. He stops and stares at me. I am usually not one to be shy, but I must look a hot mess with this damn bruise on my face. He starts walking towards me and I, out of fear and embarrassment, begin walking backwards. That is, until a set of muscular hands stop my retreat.
"Careful babe, we don't want you to hurt yourself." A familiar deep voice says from behind me.
I stare at the man in front of me, whom has paused in his conquest of coming to me and heads back to the kitchen. Goosebumps flow through my arms as the muscular hands slowly move down them. The scent of men's body wash filters through my nose. My mind trying to conjure up the image of Austin naked, wet and soapy. Oh my God when was the last time I got laid? I turn around to give him my full attention and get even more goosebumps with how close he is to me.
"Glad you're up and about. How are you feeling?" He asks with his sexy deep voice.
"I'm doing okay. I woke up alone and couldn't find anyone, so I ventured out. I won't lie and say that the smell of the food had nothing to do it though" I joke. I thought Austin's scowl was permanent but apparently his lips do curve the other way. He is absolutely gorgeous when he smiles, and I plan on making that happen again.
"Help yourself babe. C'mon, I was just about to grab a plate myself. Then we can talk." He says while leading me to the kitchen where there are less giant men than before.
Austin places his hand on my lower back and it sends shrills down my back. This man could very well be the death of me. When I woke up scared in the middle of the night I didn't know where I was, but I remembered what happened to me. I was so worried that the men had taken me somewhere. When I heard Austin's calming voice reassuring me, I instantly felt better.
Considering how the first day I met him, just days before, he was such a dick, it was hard to believe that he could be that sweet, but he was. He was completely genuine with me and damn if it didn't feel good to have a man like this with me.
Several men nod their head in our direction and Austin returns the gesture. Once we reach the line of men grabbing plates Austin grabs one for me and piles it high with just about everything on the island. I stare at him in shock as he grabs another plate and does the same. Guess we aren't sharing the one plate then. He hands me my over the top plate and leads me to where the other men are in the living area. I see Max and the other three men that I met at the hospital that day, and they each give me a different expression.
I carefully sit down next to Max on a chair and sat my plate down on the floor. I notice there are no other seats for Austin, so I immediately get up and sit on the floor, so he can sit. This is his place after all. Austin sits on the chair that I vacated and just as I'm about to dig into my mile-high plate, a pair of strong hands wrap around my waist and gently lift me onto his lap. I screech in surprise and nearly drop my plate all over the floor.
I look around at the brothers, but none seem to care that I am practically on top of a man in front of them while they eat. I have never done anything like this before. My previous boyfriends never really showed affection in public, not that Austin is a boyfriend but it's a little awkward. I get ready to get off of his lap when his lips are on my ear once again.
"Relax babe, no seats left, and we can head back to the room right after your finished." He says in a hushed voice. Jesus, does this man have a voice that is not sexy?
I remain seating and begin eating. Everything is absolutely delicious, and I wonder for a brief moment who made this, so I can personally thank them. After eating more than half of what's on my plate I get up and notice some of the men have their empty plate on the ground. I walk over and make a complete circle, picking up all the empty dishware up and walk to the kitchen. I put the dishes in the sink and begin washing them. Before I know it, I have washed all the dishes and am cleaning the whole kitchen. I'm a bit of a neat freak. Mom calls me a robot when I get in a cleaning mode.
"Got prospects to do that shit babe." A sexy voice says from behind me.
I startle and fall backwards. I was currently under the sink looking for cleaner. I turn around and see Austin leaning back on the wall facing me. I stand up and dust my hands on my jeans, a little embarrassed that I got so carried away. Austin gives me a smile that just about knocks me back on the floor, and walks over to me. He grabs my hands, but I don't dare look down. My eyes are staring straight into his.
"Thank for doing that. Sorry these jackasses can't clean up after themselves." He says in a whisper.
I don't know what my problem is, but I can't seem to speak. This man, though I have known him for less than forty-eight hours has done something to my ability to speak. He is definitely keeping me on my toes.
"C'mon babe. We got some things to talk about and then you can borrow a burner phone to call your family." He says while pulling me from the kitchen.
I stop him before he could get far and go turn off the oven. While cleaning I noticed there was enough ingredients in the cabinet and fridge to make some homemade chocolate chip cookies, so I made a few batches. They are just about ready and need to rest so I leave them on a cooling rack. When I go to turn around Austin is standing there chuckling at me. So, I love cookies, sue me.
"Babe, did you make a bunch of bikers, cookies?" He asks still chuckling.
I simply shrug and smile up at him. When I walk back over he grabs my hand and we head for the room he had me in this morning. Once we are inside he closes the door and I sit on the bed.
"Got you a burner phone. Know you wanted to call your family. Before you do, I got some things I need to tell you." Austin says in an almost threatening manner.
Austin sits down on the bed right next to me and releases a deep breathe. Whatever he is about to tell me I think he knows I am not going to like. I'm not sure what it is, but judging by his menacing scowl that he has covering his face, it is not good.
"Listen babe, I'm sorry that you went through all that shit. We think when Max gave you a lift yesterday, the guys that beat and kidnapped you, were watching. They must have followed you home and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. I promise you, I will find those assholes and make sure they pay for what they did to you, but you have to know, we take care of our own problems. We don't go through cops." He says.
"I understand Austin. Abby already spoke to me about the club handling their own business and I get it. Unfortunately, I've seen firsthand when cops are only after the case being closed instead of getting the story straight." I tell him.
I won't go to the cops, but I don't know if I want to know what Austin plans on doing to those guys either. Feels like I'm in an episode of The Sopranos or something. I was being honest when I told Abby and Austin that I don't plan on going to the cops, but I do need some kind of reassurance that I, along with my family will not be bothered by these men again.
"Good. That was easier than I thought it was going to be. Now, the next thing we need to discuss is your family." He explains pulling out an old flip phone.
"My mother lives with me and when those guys came and attacked me she wasn't home, she was at my grandmother's. I just don't want her coming home and seeing a mess and me missing. I want to call her and tell her not to come home but I'm not sure what I can or can't tell her." Austin nods his head at me once I'm finished and passes me the phone.
"Call your mom babe, tell her everything. I'm going to have some guys on her just to be on the safe side. After your call, we'll head to your house and grab some of your shit. Need you to lay low for a few days, at least until we figure this shit out. You can stay here or at my house, but I can't have you home just yet, need you to have some patience with us." He tells me.
As much as I want to go home and catch my breath after everything that has happened, I know deep down Austin is right. Those guys probably followed me home and obviously know where I live. I can't have my mom come home yet, I don't know how I am going to explain everything to her. That has me more anxious than anything else. My mother may not understand the predicament and the last thing I want to do is disappoint her. It's my biggest fear. I am grateful that Austin wants to put some of his men on her to be safe. I take a deep breath and nod my head at him. Another strange look passes his delicious features.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I laugh watching his face contort from goofy to confused.
"I don't know." He shrugs. "I guess I just assumed you would give me shit for something by now. I mean, don't get me wrong I'm fucking grateful, but after what those guys did to you, you having to stay here, not being able to go home and everything, I am just waiting for you to complain."
"I am a little scared to be honest Austin, maybe everything just hasn't caught up to me yet, I don't know, what I do know is I don't want anything happening to my mother because I was too stubborn to listen to you."
I'm usually not that forward with people. Telling Austin that I'm afraid is new to me. I don't like letting people in on my feelings but it's surprisingly easy with him. I stare into his deep brown eyes and see a look of compassion. I know Austin is just trying to figure this thing out. I don't want to make the situation worse by complaining. Not like I had any plans for my vacation anyways.
"Tell ya what babe. Why don't you crash at my house? Ain't much, but it's home. I'll have a few guys on you at all times to be on the safe side but other than that, you'll have your privacy."
"Oh, um, thanks but that's okay. I don't even know you really. Plus, wouldn't it be a better idea to just take my family and put us in a hotel or something?"
"Need to keep an eye on you babe. Just you. If those fuckers that hurt you are watching you, and see you with your family, you'll be adding people to their hit list."
His words have my mind reeling about staying with him. As much as I am uncomfortable with staying with him alone, he is right. What if those men go after my family now because I'm around them. I won't risk them. I can't.
"Are you sure? You don't mind?" Austin shakes his head and blesses me with another of those perfect smirks of his.
"Can I ask you something?" I ask.
"Shoot"
"What is it you guys do exactly? Abby told me you guys have a past that wasn't so squeaky clean but what exactly would you be getting in trouble over if the cops did come into the picture. I'm just trying to figure out who I'll be living with these next few days."
I know I told Austin I wouldn't go to the police and I meant that, but there is still a big part of me that is curious as to why the police would suspect them in the first place. Austin sighs loudly and shifts his body a little.
"When I was eighteen, I decided to join my father's club as a prospect. You have to be one first in order to get patched in. My mother fuckin hated the idea but in my heart, I knew that's where I was meant to be. They were into just about everything when I first joined. Running drugs, running guns, everything. As a prospect I didn't see much because I wasn't allowed to. Once I got patched in though, I realized just how deep the club was on the wrong side of law."
"Drugs?" I ask.
"Mostly Cocaine. I hated it. Hated having to watch my back everywhere I went, hated having the cops pull us over for random shit, hoping we had something on us. Hated everything about it. My father promoted me to vice president when I turned twenty-one and I worked hard for four long years to change the road this club was going down. Wasn't until my father had to step down and I took over that I was finally able to convince some of the men to start going legit."
"What happened then?"
"Most of the men didn't want to lose the income. Made good money doing bad things. Couple years ago, my father was on a run with a few other old timers. Whole thing was a set up. They were outnumbered and were told to give the money without the drugs. Dad put up a fight and lost his life. From that day forward, I made this club legit. If anyone had a problem with it, they were allowed to leave. Most left, some stayed. We've grown over the years and now, we have a strong bunch of men who never want to go back to that side." He says passionately.
I just stare at the man in front of me. I'm extremely grateful for him telling me the history of the club, something tells me he normally wouldn't do that. I can't imagine losing my father the way he has. He hated that what club represented and right before he could make it right, he lost his father. I place my hand on top of his and he turns to me. I lay my head on his shoulder and we sit in silence for a few minutes. It couldn't have been easy telling me everything but all the same I'm glad he did. We have started out a little rocky, but Austin Stone is starting to become a fixation in my mind.