Page 31 of Patch's Bride
When she glances hopefully at me, I give her a bright smile and say, “Maybe we can do lunch there sometime soon.”
She puts her hand up to her ear, making a pretend phone receiver and quips, “Call me,” before walking off with a pep in her step.
I have to admit Maggie is a bit of an oddball, but I like her anyway.
Patch peels off towards the back, saying something about scrubbing up. I head into his office and close the door behind me. His office has become my sanctuary. It keeps me in the thick of things, but the closed door gives me privacy, unlike the apartment upstairs. It gets lonely sitting up there.
The laptop Patch set up for me at a small desk in the corner of his office is already open. His program is still running, full of learning modules about medical terms and patient intake protocols. I’ve worked my way through a few modules, but today I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
I quickly check my text messages and emails. There is nothing from Lila. I turn my attention to the door cams at my stepfather’s home. I sign into the home security app. My mom gave me the login a few months before she died. I haven’t opened it in weeks.
The camera feed slowly loads, and I go to the front door camera. I start by looking backward, day after day, until I reach the night I left. Seeing my panicked self running away from home spikes my anger. Shoving it aside, I switch to the back door camera, then jolt forward in my seat when I realize there is a clip from last night. The timestamp is 12:14 A.M.
I press play, eager to see who’s sneaking around to the back door at midnight. I see my stepfather standing on the porch talking to a man I’ve never seen before. Tall, wide build, black helmet, dark clothes. He shifts just enough for me to read the cut. It says ‘Grave Diggers MC’. He’s a biker. I don’t know why I’m shocked by that.
I pause the video, squinting at the best image of the stranger’s face. Nope. I’ve never seen him before, but he’s smirking all over the damn place. I play it over again to see what I missed.
The man hands my stepfather something, and they shake hands. My stepfather looks smug. They don’t speak, at least not that I can hear.
Before he leaves, the stranger lifts his head and stares directly into the camera. Then he taps the side of his helmet.
I get the strangest feeling whatever message he’s trying to send is meant for me, and it freaks me out. I sit there, frozen for a brief moment, trying to get my head around what this means.
I quickly copy the clip onto my flash drive and push away from the desk. Panicking, I go in search of Patch. He’s two doorsdown in his consulting room with a patient. I stand in the hall and wait just long enough for him to finish.
He catches my expression when he comes out and walks towards me. “Beth? Are you okay? You’re white as a sheet.”
“We need to talk.” My voice breaks a bit midway through the sentence. “If you can make a minute for me.”
“Always,” he says immediately, putting his arm around me.
We walk into the office, and I play the video from the Ring cam for him.
He watches the clip. “Where’d you get this, Beth? Is it the footage from your stepfather’s door cam?”
“Yeah. My mom gave me access several months before she passed.”
He’s already texting before I finish my answer. “I’m calling Siege.”
“Why?”
“Because the Grave Diggers club president doesn’t belong in our territory, and he damn well knows it. Not to mention the fact that your stepfather sure as hell shouldn’t be making sketchy backdoor deals with anyone from the Diggers. I don’t like the sound of this.”
I stare at him as anxiety churns in my stomach. “Who are the Grave Diggers? I mean, they’re clearly another MC, but are they allies or enemies of your club?”
Patch doesn’t answer right away. He just continues typing and hits send.
Putting his phone away, he looks at me. “They’re a one-percent club that’s been around forever. They run guns, drugs, whatever earns them a fast buck. They have a really dirty history, they patched over our rival club the Hellhounds a few yearsback. The last president, Marauder, tried and failed to clean it up a little. Marauder wanted to focus on drugs and running guns. Unfortunately, he ended up losing control of the club after he was jumped by Lynch. Lynch is infamous for trafficking women. He sees it as easy money.”
I blink. “Women? As in more than just one?”
“Yes. All their club girls are strippers and hookers. And they’re always looking to top up their supply.”
I’m so shocked that my mouth is hanging open. “Jesus. Do you think that’s who my stepfather was going to give me to? Do you think they truly wanted to turn me into a sex worker?”
Patch nods. “Makes sense. If he’s using you to settle a debt, they will be looking to make that money back.” After a thoughtful pause, he continues, “Your stepfather’s in over his head. Or worse, he knows exactly what kind of company he’s keeping and simply doesn’t give a damn. Either way, we need to keep them away from you.”
I wrap my arms around my stomach as I think about what my life would be like if they got ahold of me. “This whole situation seems a little surreal, ya know?”
