Page 6 of Saber's Surrender

THREE

Roxy

The phone callI’ve been waiting for finally comes in and I’m excited that Trinity General gave me a good recommendation when they got the referral call for me to join the ranks of Mercy Medical. It’s the same facility Saber works at, so I know we’re going to cross paths from time to time, but hopefully our semi truce will extend there like we agreed for it to here at the clubhouse.

I need to let the two presidents, and boy is that a weird concept, know that I got the position at the hospital I was vying for. I leave the infirmary to track them down, this time when I glide through the masses I do so with a friendly smile aimed their way.

I’d laugh at some of the faces they make at me if I weren’t in a rush to find Brick and Dragon. I have a meeting with the hospital administrator tomorrow morning where we’re going to discuss my schedule. I’m going to broach the topic that Saber and I should work alternative shifts so that there’s always someone here if the club needs them. My fingers are crossed that they’ll be in agreement. I just have to figure out a way to say it to where they don’t ask any questions in regard to my standing with the Imperial Knights.

When I make it to the Roanoke’s headquarters, or as Saber calls it the head clubhouse where that chapter resided before Cedar Creek invaded, I find them sitting in lounge chairs in front of the biggest damn television I’ve ever seen mounted on the wall. There’s also a cat habitat and running boards for them sprawled along the walls that the cats go wild on. I wonder how frequently they’re given catnip because those wildlings get a case of the zoomies more often than not.

I especially like how there’s a way for them to close in the area so the cats don’t escape and end up outside. It looks like what a store in a mall uses when they close for the day. Right now, it’s open so I suspect none of the beasties are around which is a shame since I enjoy seeing them play.

“That call was bullshit,” Dragon spits out, aiming a finger in the direction of the screen.

“It was a strike, Dragon. Do you need glasses? It was clear as day,” Brick argues.

“That was out of the strike zone, Brick. Your bald head must be shaven because you’re hiding your age. You’re the one who needs a magnifying glass.”

I hear RiffRaff, Brick’s dad, start laughing as he looks at his son. I glance in Brick’s direction to see his scowl as he rubs his hand over said bald head. “Not too old to kick some ass,” he finally growls out. “Now, look at the instant replayfrom behind the umpireand you’ll see that the pitcher was close but still in the zone. That’s what makes him a master at his craft. He paints those corners like that dude used to paint those fucking trees.”

“Um… I hate to interrupt whatever this is,” I say, waving my hand between the two of them. “But do you have a minute for us to speak?”

Dragon looks over at me, skepticism coloring his face and his brow raised. When he notices the way my face is lit up with excitement, he waves his own hand through the air in a get on with it motion.

“It must be something spectacular for you to be dancing around like you’ve got ants in your pants,” he teases.

“Did you just crack a joke? With me?” I ask, pointing my finger to my chest.

Dragon and I don’t have a great relationship, I’m sure there’s distance between us because of the tension between Saber and me. Needless to say, the man is intimidating and I’ve steered clear from him as much as I possibly can. Ever since he did whatever it is he did to me the day Saber and I were going at it—I’ve been more hesitant to be in his proximity. Saber can play dumb all he wants to, but I’m certain that it was Dragon who did something to me.

And whatever in the hell that was, I don’t want to experience it again—ever.

“He can occasionally do that very thing,” RiffRaff says. “Go, the two of y’all. I’ll keep an eye on the game because we all know that’s how our team wins. Whenrealfans spend hours watching a bunch of overpaid boys play a sandlot game.”

“Let’s take this into my office,” Brick suggests, shooting his father a mutinous glare. “Seems everyone’s got jokes today. Even the man with one foot in the grave.”

“Fucker, I’ll outlive all of y’all,” RiffRaff volleys with a mischievous look. “My woman keeps me young and virile.”

“Oh, hell no. I need ear bleach. That’s fucked up, old man,” Brick blasts out, doing a full body shudder. “Thank God Ryleigh wasn’t around to hear you say that.”

“Like she doesn’t know where kids come from?” Dragon asks. “I mean, y’all have a daughter, right? And I haven’t heard any claims out there about immaculate conception.”

“God, why do I get up some days?” Brick asks the ceiling as he starts moving toward his office.

I’m biting back my laughter because it’s obvious they’ve got a good camaraderie, even though they’re from different branches of the same club. Maybe I need to loosen the reins on my feelings concerning Saber, since I’m sure the women are as much if not more fun than these guys.

I’ve kept my distance from everyone associated with him as a way to protect myself from any further heartbreak than what I’ve already experienced in my life. Losing him and our son on the same day was devastating. I didn’t think I’d ever climb my way out of the pit of darkness I was tossed into. Even nowadays, it’s a struggle not to repeat how I felt during those dim days.

As the door shuts behind me and I’m shown what chair they’d like me to take I temporarily release the demons that try to drag me under. When everyone is settled, Brick looks at me and asks, “What is it you needed to talk to us about, Roxanne?”

“Please call me Roxy. Roxanne brings up a lot of bad memories I’d rather forget,” I plead.

“Roxy it is,” Dragon inserts, and I get a feeling he’s recalling all the times he’s used my given name instead of its shortened version. I’m thankful that they’re not probing for information in regard to those bad times. It’s not something I’m ready to put out there for the world at large. The only person in this universe that has an inkling of everything I went through is Saber, and I know he’s not going to dish out all those muddied details.

At least he has that going for him. Even with the hatred he has for me, he won’t be spilling all the dirty details of our childhood. He was right there in the thick of it just like I was and we share a lot of the same experiences. I’ll never tell what our foster parents did to him either. I may not have a lot of respect for the man, but I have enough respect for who was once my best friend and past love to never air his dirty laundry. That’s his story to tell, not mine.

“Mercy Medical just offered me a position at their hospital. I have a meeting with them tomorrow to hash out the details. I know you two gave me the thumbs up to apply so I wanted you to be the first to know that I got the job. Now, I have an issue I’d like to discuss with you. I think it’s best if Saber and I work rotating shifts so somebody’s here at all times in case of emergency. I’d like suggestions from the two of you on how I should approach that without dragging the club into it.”

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