Page 35 of Inglorious
“Do I need to sign any paperwork?”
A laugh escaped me. “No. We order your cut and patch, and welcome you with a cookout and a party.”
“Count me in. Slim and I didn’t get on. I blamed him for judging me. But Slim left me something, a legacy, and I can honour that.”
“If Slim had known—”
“Oh, Slim learned the truth, as I explained. Slim tried to make amends, but anger is a thing often regretted at leisure. If I could go back and accept his visits, I would, but it’s too late, and all I have left of Slim is this. Order my cut, Nanci. Seriously, I’d be honoured to be a member of the Unwanted Bastards. And I want to put roots down.”
“You joining us means a lot. Slim would be proud of you,” I replied, stopping and holding his gaze.
“Just like your brother would be of you,” Sabre said, and I nodded.
“They’ll never be forgotten. Rapid City will always know their names,” I stated.
“Damn straight! Let’s see how the kiddo is.”
“Kya. Her name is Kya.”
“Is Kya the first kid the club had?” Sabre asked as we headed towards the clinic.
“Yes, which is why I’m so furious Inglorious lost track of her and didn’t fight for her. Kya should have been safe here. Instead, who knows what that drugged-up whore did to her?” I responded bitterly.
I hated the fact that Kya might have been damaged by what happened. It was an awful thought. A tiny voice nagged, saying there was always hope, but deep down I knew it was futile. Hope was a dead thing where Kya was concerned.
We entered the clinic, and Chill pointed us towards the examination room. Vortex, Razor, King, and Moon were allpresent, and Hercules paced a corridor. I guessed Inglorious was inside with Kya.
“Go in,” Chill said to me.
Sabre took a seat.
“Sabre has agreed to join us and rebuild the club,” I said as I passed them. Several of those present offered congratulations, but I knew everyone’s mind was focused on Kya and what she needed.
I quietly opened the door and met a huge pair of bright green eyes. Kya stared at me listlessly. I smiled, which elicited no response at all. Worried, I turned to Doc and Inglorious.
“How is she?”
“Kya is malnourished, dehydrated, covered in bruises, and has a water infection. Her left arm is also broken. I’ll be potting it soon, I’m just waiting on her X-ray so I can set it correctly. And Kya’s got a bad cut on her leg, which is infected,” Doc Paul said.
He was placing a bag of fluid onto a stand as he spoke. I glanced at Kya’s hand and noted she had a needle inserted.
“Does Kya need a hospital?”
“No. I can pot her arm and manage the other conditions here. Kya also has nits and needs her hair shampooing. Poor thing is covered in flea bites, too.”
I ground my teeth together. Well, that explained Kya’s shorn hair. What a cunt Manda was. How could Manda treat her daughter like that? What type of monster was she? A dead one, for sure. A huge part of me nagged that Manda had got off too easily. And I was in full agreement. Manda hadn’t suffered anywhere near enough.
Chapter Eight.
Inglorious
“Are you joining us this Sunday?” Vortex asked as I worked out in the gym.
I put the weights down and wiped my brow. “Yeah, I’d like to, but I don’t want to leave Kya alone,” I replied.
“Nanci has offered to stay with her.”
“Then, yup, I’ll ride with you.”
