Page 57 of Bounty
Suddenly, I was free. Turning to my side, I coughed and sputtered, gasping for air. Grunts and curses broke the silent morning. Sounds of a fight. Motorcycles rumbling.
Gathering the last of my energy, I lifted myself into a sitting position. Slice swung a machete and Dutch’s head went flying.
“Slice,” I mumbled. “Now, I know why.”
I fainted.
Daria and Lennon demanded medical care for Effie and expressed outrage at Cash’s insistence we take her to the clubhouse. I thought he was out of his fucking mind, too. It didn’t matter how many questions I faced—how much time I’d end up doing—I couldn’t see a way aroundnotrushing her to the ER.
But I was outnumbered. Out of my club members, only Drifter and Dad rode with us. Striker refused to allow anyone from the Austin chapter to ride at my side, though Dolph, Desmond, and Raider volunteered.
Since the Death Dwellers were on the line too and considering they’d risked their lives to assist when my brothers wouldn’t, I ceded to their demands. While we searched the warehouse, Cash ordered Saw and Ziggy to bring the van used to transport Lennon. They took Effie back to the club in the van. Unfortunately, they also placed two dead men, one head, and three live Satan’s Sinners in with her.
Back at the club, I rushed to the van, expecting a hysterical Effie. She remained unconscious. When I carried her in, Daria lost her shit. By now, her son and other daughter had arrived. I knew this because they looked like Lennonandthey sat at a table with him.
Cash ignored their insistence that we call an ambulance and ordered me to lay Effie on the bar. Her injuries horrified me and I regretted killing Dutch so quickly. He deserved a slow, painful death for what he’d done to her.
I kissed Effie’s cracked, bloody lips. Her bruised cheeks. Her blackened eyelids. Her swollen nose. I touched her neck, the imprint of Dutch’s miserable fingers so clear on her once flawless skin. I caressed her battered belly, almost lost my shit at the purpling on her breasts. Even in her state, she shivered.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whispered.
Cash shoved me out of the way and covered Effie with a thermal blanket. “See to her cuts, Ophelia,” he ordered.
Sick to death of Cash, I pushed him. “Motherfucker,” I gritted. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself.”
“Shut the fuck up,” he barked as Ophelia snapped on medical gloves and dug into a first aid kit.
Furious, I swiped that paltry shit away. Ophelia halted and blinked at me.
Cash lunged, but Stretch held him back.
“Stop, Cash. He’s upset,” he soothed.
“I don’t give a fuck. Thatupsetmotherfucker will respect Fee.”
“Effieneeds a hospital,” I snarled.
“Motherfucker, you call an ambulance and we all go to jail.” Cash jerked out of Stretch’s hold. “We have no contacts in Austin. We don’t have a chapter here. Calm the fuck down. It’s fucking handled. Josh is landing the McCall family plane shortly with help.”
Saw stepped next to me. The club was silent. Even Effie’s parents had quieted.
“Your woman’s foot is injured. Ziggy picked out the glass on the way here and wrapped it with his T-shirt, but at least let Ophelia disinfect it.”
My woman. Effie. Yeah, she was my woman. Whether she hated me after this didn’t matter. In my heart, she’d always belong to me.
“We can’t afford a private plane.” Daria looked as broken as she sounded. “Please, let us take her. We’ll say she went for a walk and didn’t return. We searched for her one last time before we filed a missing person’s report and found her ourselves. We won’t even bring up any of your names. Just please let me help my baby.”
Cash’s face softened and he laid his hand between Daria’s shoulder blades. “I know you’re scared, Daria. I’ve put my mother through enough to recognize it, but I swear we will get her the best care available. If she needs more care than we can provide and we can’t figure something out, we’ll fly her to Hortensia. We have control over the hospital there. We don’t expect payment. Outlaw is all about family. His little sister is afan of your work and thinks Effie is great. That’s all he needed to hear. What his wife, daughters, sisters, and nieces want, he gives them.”
Effie groaned and began coughing. Opening her eyes, she popped into a sitting position. The blanket fell away and exposed her tits.
“Mom?” she called. “Mom? Don’t be mad at me, Mom. I’m so sorry.”
Daria threw her arms around her. “I’m here, baby. I’m here. I love you. I love you,” she chanted.
“Where’s Dad?” Effie asked as if Daria’s words didn’t sink in. “Mom? Are you mad at me? Where’s Dad? I hope he doesn’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you, princess,” Lennon said around a sob. “I love you.”
