Page 28 of Loch
After Bocca went down on the run, I waved everyone off and stayed behind. We needed to get the merchandise out of there. Keeping it safe and away if the cops were to somehow show up was the number one goal. I dropped off of my bike and waited. No more shots rang out. When I finally stood, there was an odd calmness in the air. Nothing was around. I ran over to Bocca, who was groaning on the ground. After rushing him to the hospital, I called Cal and let him know what was going on. Cal handled everything else. In less than five hours he showed up at the hospital with Tank and two prospects. He threw me a change of clothes and told me to go home.
“Went to the Dogs house before I left town,” Cal glanced at me and I wondered why this was the first time I’d heard about it. “Place was empty and locked up tight. Looks like they cleared out in a hurry.” He paused, eyeing each one of us.
Shit. Something was going on. I felt like I was on the edge of figuring it out. But everything was hazy like I just couldn’t quite piece everything together.
“Do we think they were the ones who did this?” Stone piped up.
“No, but I think they know who’s behind it,” Cal replied. “This attack was carefully planned out and executed. It was a warnin’. Show us that there is someone out there that knows our business. And I have a bad fuckin’ feelin’ they are goin’ to try and get in it at some point. I wouldn’t doubt if they’ve already taken down the Dogs. There is a corner there on the coast. Someone, I guarantee, wants a big piece of the pie.”
“So we’re in the damn dark, then?” My voice was gruff and I knew everyone could tell I was on edge. Hell, the whole room felt that way. Cal shot me a warning look. I knew I had to keep my head level, but everything about this situation had me on the fringe of losing my shit.
“We keep our eyes and ears open. I’ll let the other chapters know. Gonna suggest we not make the rest of the run just yet. Keep everyone where they are.” Cal’s face was stern. Everyone nodded in agreement. Without information, we had nothing. Best thing to do was to sit back and figure it out.
“I’ll talk to Ethel. You know if there is somethin’ strange goin’ on then she’s the one to know about it,” I said. Ethel always came to me when she saw something was out of place. She was our unknown ears in an unofficial way. She was smart enough to know we weren’t completely legal. And wise enough to not ask questions as well as keep her mouth shut about it.
“Anyone else have anythin’ to add?” The room was quiet. Cal banged his fist on the table ending the meeting. The mood was strained and somber as we piled into the bar area. Most of us drank our beers in silence.
Bocca’s voice filled the big area, lightening the heavy mood with his loopy rants of insanity. He was spouting things that I was sure made no sense to anyone but him. He was sprawled out on his stomach on the couch. Jackass was only wearing his boxers that had candy hearts all over them. And yelling some kind of nonsense about bees trying to befriend him and steal his hair. There were a few giggles that escaped him. It was hard not to laugh at the poor fucker. He’d never live that shit down.
Tammy was hanging around Bocca. I didn’t even give her one glance. I was still pissed at her over what happened while I was away in Tennessee. She had tried a few times to talk to me, but every time I ignored her ass. I may not have claimed Reagan as my own, but she knew what she was doing, and she knew she was in the wrong. Her shit was really starting to make me rethink letting her stay here. However, I didn’t have a good reason to bring it up with Cal. Plus, I knew most of the boys liked her and she treated them well in that respect. I realized it wasn’t too long ago I let her do the same to me.
I could still smell Reagan on me, even through the stale air in the clubhouse. My mind went in so many different directions. Part of me smiled. If I was being honest, I liked being marked by her. I liked that she let me in. And most of all, I liked the way she made me feel.
She had been there for me, no questions asked. She gave me all of her even if it was just for a brief moment. My thoughts drifted to how it would be to have her by my side. How it would be to come home to her and wake to her beautiful face.
The wiser part of my brain shook it off. I was too old. She was too free and headstrong. She didn’t want me. I shrugged the actions of what happened off. It was only because she found me at a weak point and she was such an amazing person she just wanted to make me forget. In a strange way, she was just being a good friend or something. I couldn’t figure it out. And the more I thought about it, the more my head began to hurt.
The club life wasn’t an easy one to live. It suited the lot of us because most of us were damaged or lost or broken in some way. We were seeking loyalty and a sense of family. That’s what you got with the MC. Brothers to watch your back. People that were there for you whenever you fucking needed it. And when you took on an old lady, she became part of that too. Not too many of us had one, but we all treated them with respect. In turn, the women were there when we needed. Like Stone’s old lady, Melody. She was often around making us food and looking out for us. But she also didn’t ask questions and knew the dangers that may come from the things we did. It wasn’t a life for just anyone, and part of me wondered if it would ever work for Reagan.
On the one hand, Reagan was strong enough to handle it. I knew that. She wasn’t afraid and she had a backbone of fucking steel. However, she didn’t seem like the kind of person to let things slide. If she wanted answers, I knew she would go after them, and she wouldn’t back down. It wasn’t a life she deserved. She had the world at her feet and being with me would only drag her down and chain her to this lifestyle.
This was why I never really tried to find someone to stand at my side. Brothers came first. The club was always number one priority. That was how I saw it. Hell, that was how we all saw it. I didn’t ever think that I could split myself into two like that. Juggle the happiness of the club and a woman at home. Maybe I just wanted the simple life. If there wasn’t someone there, then there would never be the situation where I would have to choose. But then there was Reagan. She was turning my world upside down and making me question many of my choices and thoughts.
The thing was, I didn’t know if I liked it or not.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Reagan
“Oh, God!” I sucked in a harsh breath at the sight of Bocca. He shuffled into the bar looking rough. “What the hell happened to you?”
He was limping and his face grimaced with every step. His arm was in a sling and it looked like someone had taken a cheese grater to the side of his face and arm. I ran around the bar and hesitated in front of him. I wanted to throw my arms around him and hug him tight, but I didn’t want to hurt him worse than he already was. He threw his good arm around my shoulders and gave me a cocky grin.
“Had an oopsie. I look cool, right?” He winked at me and I shook my head at him.
“You’re crazy, you know that, right?” I patted his stomach. I wondered if this was part of what had been eating at Nate the night I found him sitting on his front porch stairs. I had an idea that something happened on that night. And I had a feeling Bocca being shot was part of what was worrying Nate. It had to be the reason why everyone seemed to be in a down mood the past week. I sighed internally, wishing I could make it better for all of them. I ran my fingers lightly over the rough skin along his jawline. To his credit, he didn’t even wince. That shit looked gross.
“Tell me the truth, Reagan. Did I mess up my handsome face?” He carefully situated himself on the barstool, half of his ass hanging off the side. I eyed him suspiciously.
“Nah,” I said shrugging. “You weren’t that handsome to begin with.” I went back around the bar and handed him a bottle.
“Ouch! Damn brother, looks like you lost your touch,” Crow said standing beside him, laughing at my jab. I handed Crow a new beer and shot him a wink before he walked away.
“You hurt my heart, doll face.” Bocca feigned sadness. I laughed and swatted at the air in front of him.
“You don’t fool me. And besides, you know the ladies all love an injured man. I’m sure you have more than one playing nurse to you.” I rolled my eyes as he a wide smile stretched across his face like I had hit the nail right on the head.
“You want me to add you to that list? I can always use another set of hands for my sponge bath.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
