Page 9 of Outlawed Treat
My eyes find Kreed at the bar and I head in his direction.He’s just getting off his phone when I reach him.
“Somethin’ is wrong,” he states before I can say a word to him.“Tiffany just called me to say Caliana isn’t home yet.She’s never this late from work.Even when she stays late.If she is, she always calls to let Tiffany know.”
“Cali’s in the hospital.I just got the call.I’ll go to the house with the kids and you can go to the hospital with Cali,” I tell him, already pulling out my keys to head for my truck.
If I’m going to have the kids, I’ll take my truck in case I need to take them anywhere.Especially if Cali gets admitted to the hospital for some reason.There’s no way I can transport them on my bike.Rory needs a car seat and Cali doesn’t want Bryce on the bikes for a long ride.We’ve only ever given him a ride up and down the street once or twice.That she knows of.Darren did take him on a longer ride one time and Bryce absolutely loved it.He’s definitely going to have a bike when he’s older.A fact Cali knows and hates.She doesn’t want her son to ride.However, he’s been around the guys in the club since he was born and his idol is Kingston.We’ve taken him to a few of Kingston’s races and I think my favorite boy fell even more in love with bikes and what they can do.
“Not fuckin’ happenin’, Reckless.You were called to go to the hospital so that’s where you’re goin’.I’ll go to the house with the kids and bring them by later once you know what’s goin’ on,” Kreed orders me, his voice hard and cold as I glare at my best friend.“You’ve been avoidin’ Cali for months now.When we were younger, you promised her you’d always be there when she needed you.Right now, she needs you and you’re gonna be the one to go sit at her side and wait to hear what’s wrong with her and what needs to happen durin’ her recovery.Put your fuckin’ pride aside and be there for the girl you still fuckin’ love.”
“I don’t know what you’re ...,” I start before Kreed cuts me off.
“Don’t even go there, Caleb.You’re in love with Caliana and have been since we were young.Now, you’ve got this fucked-up reasonin’ in your head that you can’t be with her because of Darren.He wouldn’t want you to push her away like this.You’ve been avoidin’ goin’ to the house unless it’s to fix somethin’ outside, you’re fuckin’ every damn girl who looks in your direction, and the kids miss you too.Pull your damn head outta your ass and go to the hospital.”
Kreed walks off and leaves me standing by the bar.I finally clear his words from my mind and race out the front door to my bike.Without hesitation, I’m straddling the machine I’ve built and repaired countless times over the years with my dad, Kreed, and Darren.My mind is blank as I force all the possible scenarios from my mind about what’s happened to Cali and the damage I’m going to find when I get to the hospital and can see her.At the end of the day, Kreed is right.I’ve been avoiding seeing Cali and the kids because of my feelings for her.I don’t want to cross the line and do something to betray Darren.Whenever I’m with Cali, my feelings for her always push me toward her and I want to make her mine.
Cali has been beatenso fucking bad.She’s bruised all over her face, neck, arms, and abdomen.There are cuts on her usually flawless, pale skin and over half of her nails have been broken down to nothing.A few of them are so short her fingers were bleeding.A large chunk of her hair has been ripped out as well.Cali has a broken hand Doc thinks it’s from being stomped on by her attacker.I know there are other injuries, but I can’t remember them right now.The only thing I can think of is getting my hands on the attacker and beating the fuck out of them.Or having one of the girls beat the hell out of them because we don’t touch women for any reason.
Walking out of Cali’s room while she’s still sleeping, I pull out my phone to call Master.He needs to check the security footage to find out exactly what happened.I know Cali won’t necessarily tell us the full truth.Something has obviously been going on with her and Kreed and I are being kept in the dark.This isn’t Cali and I might be to blame for her lack of communication.This is a thought that truly breaks my heart because we had her to the point she’d share everything.Even if she thought it was too much, Cali would open up and talk to us about everything going on in her life.
“How’s Cali?”Master asks, answering his phone before it finishes ringing one full time.
“Not good, Master.She’s been beaten to hell and I can’t even remember all of her injuries right now.Doc is doin’ everythin’ he can to take care of her.She might have to go in for surgery on her hand.It depends on what the x-rays show in a day or two.For now, she’ll be in the hospital for observation and to keep her safe.I want guys here on her door for an added layer of security.Make Manic one of the guys.He’ll pay close attention and not let anyone but hospital staff in her room.As for you, I want to know what the fuck happened to Caliana.Pull the security footage from the hospital parkin’ lot and get me everythin’ you can,” I order, my voice low and deadly as I lean against the wall and close my eyes in a desperate attempt to get myself under control.
“Excuse me,” a female voice interrupts me, causing my eyes to pop open and look down at the small woman standing in front of me.“My name is Josie and I was the one who found Caliana being attacked in the parking lot.You’re Reckless, right?”
“Yeah.Thank you for gettin’ her in here so fast.And for gettin’ the attacker away from her.You’re lucky you weren’t attacked too,” I tell her honestly as I keep Master on the phone so he can overhear what’s being said to add to anything he finds when he’s watching through the security footage.“Did you happen to get a good look at the attacker?”
“No.I can tell you he was tall and muscled.Like one of those assholes who spends countless hours in the gym and treats everyone around him like shit.He was wearing all black and had a mask on over his face.The only thing I could see was his eyes.It looked as if the mask had been ripped during the struggle and that’s the only reason I was able to see them.They were a dark color like brown.The main thing I remember about them though is how lifeless they were.It honestly sent chills through my body because it was like he was looking right through me and didn’t want me to walk away from him alive.When he ran away, he had a limp too.It wasn’t bad enough I would have noticed if he were just walking by me, but since he had my full attention as I made my way to Caliana, I noticed it,” Josie informs me with pure fear filling her face and eyes.She’s shaking and I know this woman put herself on the line to save Cali.
“Thank you, Josie.I’ll make sure to let Cali know you were the one who saved her.If I need anythin’ else I’ll find you,” I tell her, turning and heading back inside Cali’s hospital room to take the seat next to her bed.“You hear that, Master?”
“Yeah.Caught every word.Already got the security footage pulled up.You gonna call Link or do you want me to?”Master asks me, his voice fading away as a whimper escapes from Cali.
“I’ll call him.Right now Doc doesn’t know when Cali will wake up.She does have a gash on the back of her head and a wound on her forehead.The scans they did didn’t show any bleedin’ on her brain, but Doc isn’t sure of how much damage has actually been done at this point.It’s a waitin’ game.Get me the details on what you find immediately,” I order Master as he swears on his end of the phone.“What the fuck happened?”
“There were rose petals and a note left on her vehicle, Reckless.She walked out and had the note in her hand still when the attacker struck.I don’t know what the fuck is goin’ on, but this is deliberate.Someone is targetin’ Caliana and she needs to have protection on her at all times,” Master states, anger filling his voice because he cares about Cali as a younger sister.The guys all got close to her during our time in the military and everyone has taken my girl under their protection because of Darren.We all feel responsible for her and will do everything in our power to ensure the kids and Cali are protected.We’ve failed her.
“Fuck!”I growl, my voice hard and cold as I look down at the woman I’ve loved for so long.My heart once again shatters into a million pieces with the knowledge that I didn’t protect her because of my pride and need to push her away to keep from crossing that invisible line.
Now I need to make the one phone call I dread making.If anyone is gonna take this hard, it will be Kreed.He’s also going to know we’ve failed Cali by not making her talk and by spending less time with her than before.My best friend is going to lose his shit and I have no clue what to do to help him through this because I don’t know how I’m going to make it through this shit myself.
“What the fuck is goin’ on, Caleb?Tiffany’s still here waitin’ to see where the fuck Cali is.I’m waitin’ to see where ‘Lil Bit is, too.Is she awake?Does she want to see the kids?When will she be home?”Kreed answers his phone, shooting out rapid fire questions at me and I know he’s panicking.The fear is evident in his voice and I know he’s pacing the floor of Cali’s home while on the phone with me.
“It’s not good, Kreed.Cali had the shit beat out of her.Right now, she’s sleepin’.Doc doesn’t know when she’ll wake up.She’s got two head injuries but there’s no bleedin’ on her brain from the scans they did when she was brought in.Her upper body is bruised almost completely and there are cuts all over as well.Her hand has been broken and she might need to have surgery in order to fix the break.They won’t know for a day or two.Doc is keepin’ her in the hospital for now.I don’t know when she’ll be discharged or anythin’.Right now, we’re still in the emergency department and she’ll be transported to a room in a little bit,” I tell Kreed as I reach out and take Cali’s good hand in mine.Good being a relative term with the bruising and cuts on it.“She fought back though.Most of her nails have been broken down to nothin’.This fucker strangled her, Kreed.She’s got handprints around her fuckin’ neck,” I inform my best friend as a tear slides down my face taking in all of her injuries once again.
“Fuckin’ hell!”Kreed explodes and I hear Rory crying in the background.“Who the fuck did this, Caleb?Have you talked to Master yet?”
“I’ve talked to Master and one of Cali’s co-workers came to talk to me, too.She was the one who found Cali in the parkin’ lot and brought her into the hospital,” I answer Kreed, leaning down and pressing a kiss against Cali’s hand.“Master is already searchin’ the footage from here and Josie gave me some information about what she knows.I’ll keep you updated as I learn more.Send Tiffany home and take the kids to the clubhouse.Make sure you pack a diaper bag with Bryce’s help and he needs to have a bag of his own too.They’ll stay there until we know more about what’s goin’ on.Manic and at least one other guy will be here soon to stand guard.No one else will get close to Cali.I’ll be back at the clubhouse once she’s been moved and the guys are here.”
“Stay there with Cali, Caleb.I know you’ll want to be there when she wakes up.Someone needs to be there with her.If she wakes up alone, she might lose her shit.Cali hates the hospital and we both know that,” Kreed demands as I listen to Tiffany soothe Rory and Bryce ask a million questions no one can answer right now.
“We’ll see,” I respond before hanging up and sliding my phone back in my pocket.“My Reina, what am I supposed to do?I promised to protect you from all the evils of the world.Instead, you’re layin’ in a fuckin’ hospital bed, beaten to hell and I don’t know when you’ll wake up.I didn’t protect you when Darren died either.It should’ve been me instead of him.Because of me, you’ve been left alone and I’m pushin’ you farther away every damn day I stay away from ya.How do I keep my feelings buried and still spend time with you?I love you, Caliana, and wish I could make you mine.A dream I’m still tryin’ to bury deep years later.”
I don’t let go of Cali’s hand as the monitors beep in the background and I keep my eyes locked on her.Manic, Mad Dog, and Count show up and come in Cali’s room.To say they’re pissed off would be the understatement of the year.The rage showing on all of their faces would scare the biggest man they come up against if they didn’t know them and why they’re so angry right now.After getting my instructions and telling me the rest of the guys will be here soon, the three leave me alone once again with Cali.I rest my head on her bed right next to her hip and hand.Closing my eyes, I force all thoughts from my mind.The only thing I can think of right now is the damage that’s been done to her and how much force would be needed to leave it all behind.Cali is the sweetest woman I’ve ever met in my life and doesn’t deserve this shit.I also force thoughts of the note and rose petals left on her SUV away.There’s only one person I know who consistently got Cali roses despite knowing she hated them.
