Page 115 of Patching Over

“Thanks, Pres.”

Hours later, I follow behind the club’s vehicle since Kracken insisted on holding Moira, one of the other brothers is riding his bike back to the clubhouse. Now I know he’s attracted to her; he hasn’t let anyone else so much as touch her. While I’m glad we found one of the girls, I am dreading the call to Sleeper. Not only that, but since Kracken is adamant he won’t allow Moira to be left alone, I will either be going it alone or with another brother.

I made a promise to Sleeper, and I intend to honor it. I will not rest until Belle is found.

I just hope that Hawg is able to get some information off of the electronics he was busy boxing up when I left, so I know which direction to go in my search.

And that it’s not too late by the time I do eventually find her.

“Not giving up, Sleep,” I argue, my voice getting harder as he tries to argue over me. “Hawg grabbed some computer shit from the compound where we found Moira, it’s bound to have information to give us an idea of which direction to head in next, Brother. I told you I wouldn’t give up until Belle’s been found, and I mean it.”

“You’ve done plenty, Jingles,” he replies.

“Have I found your sister yet? No, no I haven’t. That means I haven’t done enough,” I insist. “Now, let me repack my shit so I’m ready to go when Hawg texts me with a direction or coordinates. I promise, Sleeper, I won’t give up.”

“I don’t understand why not, Jingles,” he says, his voice hardening.

“Because when I was at my lowest, you and your club were there for me. I’ve watched your sister grow up from a pain-in-the-ass preteen to a young woman. She deserves to live her life however she chooses, and I’m pretty sure it’s not in servitude to a bunch of pussies who subjugate women the way these independent fundamentalist fuckers do.”

“Just checking, Brother, seeing as she’s younger than you.”

Anger courses through me at what he’s implying right now. “Sleep, I’m going to say this one time, and it’s completely in deference to the fact we’ve known each other as long as we have. I’ve never once thought about your sister in an inappropriate manner. Not one fucking time. That being said, she’s now an adult and as such, should there be any kind of attraction on either side, it’ll be between us, plain and simple. You get me, Brother?” I ask, my own voice hard and unyielding.

A chuckle comes through the line until the fucker’s laughing so hard, I’m sure his face is red, and tears are forming. “Brother, trust me, I know you’ve never been inappropriate with regard to my baby Belle. Not only that, but if she ever decided she wants to get involved with a biker, I honestly wouldn’t have an issue if she chose you.”

“Wait, what? What the fuck, Brother?” I’m so fucking confused right now I can’t see straight, and I don’t know if it’s because I’m exhausted or worried.

“Jingles, much like you’ve watched her grow up, I’ve watched you do the same. I know the loyalty and commitment you apply to each and everything you do. Hell, you’ve been actively searching for my sister for a few months now, Brother, and you haven’t so much as complained one time about it, or asked for shit, even though I’m sure this has to have strapped you.”

“Actually, the brothers have taken care of us, Sleeper,” I admit, “so I’m not hurting, and neither is Kracken.”

“Yeah, but he’s an officer and you’re a patch,” Sleeper says. “So of course, he’s not hurting.”

“No, you don’t understand, Brother. Brick gave me a bigger share,” I reply.

“Still, what you’ve put into this search means more to me than you’ll ever know,” he argues.

“Glad to do this, Sleeper. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Have… were there any messages where y’all found Moira?” he asks, his voice cracking slightly.

“Yeah, Brother. Same as the ones before. We’ve got them on the run, my goal is to find them before Belle ends up in the shape that Moira’s in.”

“Fuck, that bad, huh?” His tone is painfilled when he asks me this question.

“She’s… I can’t think of the word, Sleep, but she won’t speak to anyone and her eyes? They’re blank.”

“Catatonic?”

I shrug because that’s one of those words I don’t recognize. “Maybe? I know Brick’s calling in Angel and also Wrecker so we can try to heal her mentally and physically.”

I hear his whistle at my words. “Yeah, I’ll be headed in that direction in the hopes that the next time I talk to you, it’s you telling me you’ve found my sister. Shiny side up, Brother.”

“Same to you, Sleeper.”

CHAPTER

EIGHT

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