Freedom to Ride - Resolution (Raven's MC) (6 page)

He moved to grab her again when Jamie appeared from a door behind the bar, carrying a large crate of beer. As he caught sight of them he instantly saw the threatening expression on Alastair’s face and the frightened look on Deanna’s.

“Deanna, are you alright?” Jamie asked.

“Mind your fuckin’ business. This bitch is none of your concern,” Alastair snarled before she could reply.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I work for the MC. Deanna is the President’s old lady. Her safety is all the members’ priority.”

“You’re no’ a member. You’re a nobody. All you do is run around doing all the shite nobody else wants to do,” Alastair said smugly.

“A bit like you then,” Jamie answered and Deanna couldn’t help but smile.

“You wee shit,” Alastair replied enraged and moved towards Jamie just as the meeting room doors opened and Nate and Logan walked out, immediately spotting them.

“What the fuck’s happening?” Nate asked.

“This knobhead was giving Deanna a hard time,” Jamie replied, scowling at Alastair. Nate’s head immediately snapped to Alastair.

“I’ve told you before to stay away from my wife. You even look at her in a way I don’t like I’ll put you in hospital. Permanently. Now fuck off,” Nate growled as Alastair turned away from him. He glared at Jamie and his eyes strayed to Deanna and promised her with a look that clearly said this wasn’t finished.

After Alastair left Deanna turned to Jamie and thanked him, who nodded his head in reply but he watched her with concern, knowing that Alastair wouldn’t give up so easily.

Nate walked over and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

“You okay?” he asked her.

“Yes. Please can we go home?”

“Sure babe, come on. Night you two, see you tomorrow,” Nate shouted to Logan and Jamie who said their goodbyes and watched the couple leave, both hoping Alastair wouldn’t be around for much longer.

CHAPTER 7

Megan and Deanna laughed as they left the restaurant. They were having an afternoon in the city, a full day of fun and pampering. Nate had suggested it as he looked after Holly, hoping it would help Deanna unwind and she deserved it, especially with all the stress she was under.

Deanna had been apprehensive as it was her first time back in the city since spotting the weird man who looked like Lee. But with Megan at her side she knew she was safe.

A couple of days had passed since the awkward night in the clubhouse when Alastair had cornered her. Thankfully he’d remained at a distance and whenever Nate was around he didn’t even look in her direction. However, once Nate’s back was turned she caught the angry stares he sent her way, the expression on his face telling her he was up to something.

“Crap. I’ve left my credit card back at the restaurant. I’ll just be a minute,” Megan said as she turned and ran back the way they’d just come.

Deanna glanced nervously around her, realising that they’d walked down a quiet side street round the corner from the busy road on which the restaurant was situated. Her stomach dropped when she felt a horrible sense of déjà vu.

She turned and was about to follow Megan back to the restaurant when a hand closed over her mouth and she was viciously dragged down the narrow alley behind the restaurant, her feet scrabbling to get a delaying foothold.  The arms around her chest were like iron and she tried screaming but the hand smothered any noise she made.

Deanna was thrown roughly to the floor of the dirty alley, landing painfully on her knees and she looked up at the tall figure looming over her, their hand still bruisingly covering her mouth. It was clear it was a man because of his build and strength, but she couldn’t get a clear view of his face as his hood was concealing his features.

“I’m watching you Deanna. There isn’t anywhere you can go I won’t find you. I’ve tried to kill you once and I’ll do it again. Prison can’t keep me contained,” the man threatened in a low voice that Deanna instantly recognised. There was no doubt it was the same as Lee’s.

Before she could react the man pulled his hand back and punched her hard in the face, the impact knocking her to the ground on her back as her vision blurred. She screamed loudly when she saw the hazy image of the man advancing on her.

“Oi. Get the fuck off her,” a shrill voice echoed down the alley and the man was abruptly dragged away, an arm wrapped around his throat and fingers digging deep into his skin.

Deanna tried to see what was happening but her left eye was already swelling and her head was throbbing. She watched as a young female stood her ground in front of the unknown man. The woman was tiny and delicate looking with long glossy black hair. Deanna was only average height at five foot five, but this girl was a good few inches shorter than she was.

What Deanna watched next amazed her. The man stood in a menacing stance with his back to Deanna and she watched as determination filled the woman’s features. As the man lunged at her she swung her leg back and kicked forward so fast it was a blur. It connected with the man’s crotch and he howled in pain, falling to his knees.

The girl acted quickly as she brought her knee up and smashed it into the man’s face. Just as she was about to swing at him again, the man stumbled to his feet, holding his nose, and shoved her out of the way as he hobbled groaning to the end of the alley, disappearing round the corner.

“Oh my God. Are you alright?” asked the woman as she rushed to Deanna’s side, who’d managed to stagger to her feet holding her aching face.

“Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t turned up,” Deanna replied.

“No worries, love. I used to teach self-defence so I’m pretty good at defending myself. People always underestimate my tiny frame. It’s great when I shock the crap out of them with my moves.” Deanna chuckled at the woman’s comment.

“I’m Fiona,” the woman introduced herself, smiling kindly.

“Deanna.”

“Nice to meet you. Well actually it’s not. Not this way. I was coming down the street when I heard you scream. Is there anywhere I can take you?”

“I was going back to the restaurant just round the corner. My friend forgot her credit card and she’d run back there. That man just grabbed me and pulled me down here,” Deanna said shakily.

“Come on. We’ll go find your friend,” Fiona said softly, wrapping a supportive arm around her waist to help her walk, Deanna wobbling on her unsteady legs.

“He hit you good and proper. You’ll have a shiner for a few days I think. We need to get some ice on it to bring down the swelling,” Fiona continued. They were abruptly interrupted by a panicked voice.

“Deanna, what the hell happened to you? If you’ve laid one finger on her I’ll rip your hair out, bitch.” Megan had exited the restaurant in front of them and saw Deanna, immediately thinking the woman by her side had attacked her.

“Megan, this is Fiona. She saved me. A man grabbed me back down the side street and she pulled him off me. You should have seen her. She was like Jackie Chan. She kicked his arse and he ran away,” Deanna said, completely in awe at what this stranger had done for her.

“Sorry I jumped to conclusions. Thanks for saving her. Deanna, who was it?” Megan asked.

But Deanna couldn’t answer.

“Deanna? Please don’t say it was Lee,” Megan continued, knowing that it couldn’t have been the bastard as he was locked up but she was scared that someone was after her best friend again.

“I don’t know. He said some really horrible things and then he hit me. Then Fiona came along. I didn’t see his face but he spoke in Lee’s voice. Oh God, I feel like I’m losing my mind,” Deanna said, gripping her head in both pain and confusion.

“Who’s Lee?” asked Fiona curiously.

“Her mental ex-boyfriend. He used to beat the shit out of her so I helped her escape. But he found her and tried to kill her. He’s in prison now,” Megan explained.

“So obviously it can’t be him,” Fiona said rationally.

“I know. But I’ve seen a man just like him and the man who just attacked me spoke in his voice. I just don’t know what’s happening,” Deanna said, feeling helpless. She knew logically that it couldn’t be Lee so who the hell was this man and why was he after her?

“We have to tell Nate and call the Polis,” Megan said.

“Nate is going to be pissed. How bad does it look?” Deanna asked.

“Not gonna lie sweetie, your eye is nearly swollen shut and your face is already bruising. Come on, we’ll go inside and get some ice for it. Hopefully the swelling will have gone down by the time he gets here,” Megan said, wrapping an arm around Deanna’s shoulder and they entered the restaurant.

“Is Nate your boyfriend?” asked Fiona as she followed them inside.

“Husband,” Deanna said fondly. “He’s very protective,” she added.

“Well, I’d better leave you to it. Should I leave my phone number in case the Polis want to speak to me?” asked Fiona.

“No, please join us. I need a drink. The least I can do is buy you one for rescuing me,” Deanna said politely and Fiona smiled in return. 

Deanna pulled the mobile out of her bag and dialed Nate’s number as the girls were shown to a table which was discreetly situated away from the other customers, the restaurant Manager rushing over as they briefly explained what had happened. He sent one of the waiters off for some ice and he left to call the Police.

Megan reached over and held her hand in support as Deanna listened to the phone ring.

“Hi babe. I hope you’re having a good time? What you up to?” Nate asked as he answered the phone.

“Erm, Nate. . . I’m not too sure how to tell you this . . ,” she started nervously.

“What’s up?”              

“I’ve sort of been attacked.”

“What the fuck? What d’ya mean, sort of?  Where are you?” Deanna heard in Nate’s voice a mixture of panic, anger and, what tore at her heart, sorrow. She knew Nate would somehow blame himself.

“I’m in our favourite Italian restaurant. We’ve just had some lunch. We’re waiting for the Police to turn up.”

“I’m on my way. Stay there. If you’ve called the Polis then I know it’s serious. I’ll be there soon. I love you baby.”

“Love you too,” she said, but Nate had already disconnected.

“Are you okay?” Megan asked.

“No, not really. He’s on his way,” she said as she leaned her head back against the booth and closed her eyes.

“Here you go. The Polis are on their way. Is there anything else I can do for you?” asked the kind restaurant Manager as he returned with an ice pack that he handed to Deanna.

“No, thank you. I’ll just warn you my husband is on his way. He won’t be too happy when he sees what’s happened to me. You won’t miss him. He’s a big bloke who will be extremely angry when he turns up. Please could you send him over?” Deanna asked as she held the ice to her eye.

“Of course. Every man has a right to be angry if their beautiful woman has been attacked. I’ll send him over as soon as he arrives.”

“Thank you,” she replied as he walked away, dread filling her stomach. She knew the shit would hit the fan when Nate arrived and saw the state she was in.

CHAPTER 8

The three of them waited in the restaurant as the Police quickly arrived on the scene and took her statement, as well as photos of her injuries.

Deanna explained that her brother-in-law ran the security company ‘McKnights’ and that Detective Sergeant DS Cameron Neilson is a family friend.

Cameron had investigated Lee months before and had been the arresting officer after Lee had attacked Deanna. They spoke regularly, as Cameron was tirelessly still trying to find the whereabouts of Deanna’s fathers’ body. Initially Lee had denied killing him to the authorities but later admitted it but refused to give Cameron any more information during his regular visits.

When Nate turned up at the restaurant it was a memory she’d never forget. He’d brought half the club with him. Deanna knew the moment Nate walked in because of Fiona’s exclamation.

“Holy shit. Is that Nate?” Fiona asked quietly, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open as she stared at the hulking pissed-off male striding through the door.

He stood strong, dressed all in black as usual, his presence stifling and intimidating. A few other men entered behind him also wearing leather vests and Fiona caught sight of the ‘Ravens Motorcycle Club’ badge and she realised that Deanna’s husband was part of the notorious motorcycle club that was well known throughout the city. Fiona stared as the giant scanned the restaurant until he spotted Deanna and his face filled with so much emotion, his expression sent a shiver through Fiona.

Deanna turned and spotted Nate, immediately recognising that he was beyond furious as waiters scampered out of his path, the Police also moving aside as he stalked over to Deanna in such a way that made the people around him keep a wide berth.

His gaze was focused solely on Deanna as he knelt in front of her and pulled her into a fierce hug, burying his face in her neck as his whole body shook.

As he pulled away, he cradled her face in his large hands and gently stroked her beaten face.

“Who the fuck did this to you Deanna?” he asked in a gentle voice, but Deanna knew he was fighting his anger.