Shattered & Scarred: The Sacred Hearts MC (7 page)

“I want to fight,” she murmured and I gave her a good hard look.

“Okay B
abe,” I told her. “We start tomorrow so we gotta get up early.” She nodded and I went back to my station to clean up. I was proud of her. The next client went smoothly and I finished ahead of time but I had a walk in right before the shop was supposed to close. Ashton said she was game to wait so I put a few extra bones in my pocket and did what the chick wanted. A little flower on her ankle.

We rode back to the club house, Ashton pressed tight against my back which had my cock pressed tight against my jeans. We slept soundly and in the morning I was woken by her crawling back up onto the bed, a cup of steaming strong black coffee in her hand. She held it out to me.

“What time is it?” I groaned.

“A little after seven.” She said softly.

“What the fuck Ashton?” I asked and she went very still. I cursed myself when she slipped off the bed, putting distance between us.

“You said we had to get up early.” She reminded me gently.

“Shit.” I swore softly. Partly because she was right and I was being an ass, partly because I was sporting some serious morning wood and her sitting there in my shirt wasn’t helping any.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered and I shook my head, my hair brushing along my shoulders. I scrubbed my face with my hands and sat up, putting my back against the scarred wooden headboard.

“Nothing to be sorry about sunshine. You’re right and I’m up.” I looked her over.

“Breakfast is in the kitchen… I hope oatmeal is all right.” she picked up her caddy of shower supplies.

“It’s perfect…” I said leaving the rest of my thought silent… What I wanted to say was
It’s perfect, kind of like you,
but to be honest, that kind of scared the hell out of me. I shouldn’t be thinking those things. I took a hefty swallow of coffee and she nodded once and slipped out the door.

It dawned on me that she didn’t know what I had planned and that she was ready and willing to go along with whatever I said at this point. That took a hell of a lot of balls for someone in her position. I finished off the coffee in three long gulps, got my ass out of bed and found a vacant shower. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take an extra-long one to relieve some of the… tension… being near Ashton of the sunlit eyes caused me.

I dressed in a newer looking pair of light jeans, my usual boots and a white crew neck tee. I pulled on a black and red checkered flannel with the sleeved rolled tight above the elbow and pulled my hair into a pony tail. I tucked my digital camera into the breast pocket of the flannel and went out to the common room.

I found Ashton out near the kitchen and looked down at her. She was polished in her white sundress and sandals, her long hair French braided tightly down her back. Her fading bruises still stark against her pale skin.

“How are we doing this?” she asked, placing a bowl of oatmeal in front of me when I sat down. She sat across from me with her own.

“We’re going to the cops. That way you can tell them you aren’t missing, and then we’re showing them these.” I turned on the camera and flashed through photos of her injuries when they were fresh. She paled.

“When did you take these?” she asked.

“After Doc sedated you, before he patched you up.” I said quietly. She looked like she was trying to swallow one bitter fucking pill. Finally she nodded.

“Thank you for thinking ahead.” She murmured.

“No problem.” I said, tucking the camera away.

“How is this fighting dirty?” she asked.

“What’s the only thing your husband cares about?” I asked quietly.

“His image.” She responded immediately.

“Yeah?” I asked. I saw her eyes light up as what I was proposing dawned on her.

“He’ll kill me for sure.” She murmured.

“He’s
gotta go through me and probably the MC first babe.” I said and she stared at the table top.

She was scared. I could see it all over her face. The woman was an open book that way, but finally she looked up, eyes mist
ing with tears and she nodded. I borrowed Dragon’s truck to take her. He and I had discussed at length involving the cops ad we both agreed it was the best course of action. We’d put it to a vote and had barely eked out a yay vs nay on suspending our other operations until this blew over.

Doc had swung the vote like I knew he would.
Still we had one more run in the next few weeks, something we’d worked too long and too hard on, so we would go through with that one. I’d worry about it when we got there though.

I pulled up in front of the sheriff’s department and went in with Ashton. She went to the front desk.

“Can I help you ma’am?” The deputy asked looking from her to me and back to her.

“Yes my name is Ashton Granger,” she said gently and followed it with, “… and I’m not missing… I’m hiding.”

God damn she was a fighter all right.

Ashton…

“You say you took these when?” the detective was speaking to Ethan, not me but still, I could feel my pulse throbbing at my temples. I felt hot and cold at the same time, and my chest was tight. I could barely breathe…

“Friday night, just after I found her.” He grunted.

We had stuck completely with the truth with only one minor embellishment. Rather than explain why Ethan hadn’t taken me to a hospital, which truth be told,
I
didn’t even know why… we’d said that I had begged him not to. We’d been here over an hour, the detective in charge of my missing person’s case going over every detail of our story forwards and backwards. I felt ill. I felt like I was a suspect, rather than a victim even though I really didn’t want to be either.

“I just want my driver’s license, birth certificate and social security card.” I said finally, “Then I want a divorce attorney and to walk away from this whole ordeal.” I looked the detective in the eye.

“You can’t know what it’s like living with him.” I said. Tears spilled hot and fresh down my cheeks and I didn’t bother to wipe them away.

“You understand your husband has to be notified you’ve been found.” He said.

“Yes but do you have to tell him where I am?” I asked.

“No…” the detective drawled.

“Then please don’t.” I said.

“You understand that you wasted a lot of people’s time and valuable police resources by not coming forward sooner, don’t you Mrs. Granger?” he asked, and I didn’t at all care for his tone. Ethan didn’t either.

“That’s it, we’re done.” He said standing.

“Sit down Mr. Howard.” The detective said sharply and I stood up.

“I would like to speak to your superior.” I said softly and that shut him up.

“Mrs. Granger…” I huffed out a breath. If I was going to learn to fight, I supposed now was as good a time as any.

“No. We are quite done detective. My husband has been keeping me prisoner in our home for the better part of the eight years of our marriage. He has beaten me, he has taken…” I stumbled over the ugly truth, “He has taken me by force, and you… you stand there affronted when I finally escaped him over attempting to find me when I didn’t wish to be found? I don’t think so. Send in your superior officer. I am done with your admonishments and I refuse to take your corrections.” I dropped into my seat, chest heaving.

At no point had I risen my voice. I had not yelled, I had not
screamed though every fiber of my being wanted me to, yet still I felt as if I had run a marathon. I swallowed and clutched my hands together in my lap to quell their shaking. Ethan was looking at me, concern etched upon his face until he turned to a very pale and very speechless Detective Olurund and said.

“I think you better do what the lady asks…” and amazingly, things went much more smoothly after that.

I filed charges through a detective in the domestic violence unit and was told if there was anything that I needed to retrieve from my home with Chadwick that a Sherriff’s Department detail would accompany me that afternoon to do so. I had stated that I would like that very much and a time to meet had been appointed for four o’clock. Ethan had guided me out of the building, a fat sheaf of papers riding in his back pocket. We stepped out of the dimly lit police station into the warm sunlight yet I remained chilled to the bone.

I had done it. I had stood up for myself, so why did all I want to do was fall apart screaming and crying onto the sidewalk? I didn’t understand…

“Ashton Baby what’s wrong?” Ethan knelt down in front of me to bring us eye to eye.

“I don’t know…” I murmured and my voice sounded far away even to me.

“You did it babe and I am so proud of you so what’s got you down?” he asked. “Tell me what you’re feeling.” He gripped my shoulder lightly and his warm, clear eyes snapped into focus.

“I feel…” how did I feel? Lost, angry, confused sure, but also fierce and proud and even a little elated but looming beyond all that… scared. Scared about how Chadwick would react, would he let me go? Would he try to kill me? Would he put on his angel’s mask and make
me out to be a raving lunatic? I stared into Ethan’s silvery blue eyes and felt so terribly guilty that he had become my lifeline in all of this. I must have spoken all of these things aloud because he smiled and said to me,

“Don’t you worry about any of that, I knew what I was signing up for and I’m here, aren’t I? Truth be told, there’s no place I’d rather be. Now c’mon, I’m not going anywhere on you. We
gotta go back to the club house. We’re bringing some reinforcements to go get your stuff.” He took me gently by the hand and we went back to the truck.

As scared as I was about what was going to happen to me, I believed in what Ethan said whole heartedly.  He was here and he wasn’t going anywhere. Don’t ask me how I knew that those words above all others carried weight, but they did.

We drove back to the club house in silence, hands linked, resting between us on the old pickup’s bench seat.

That afternoon
in what Ethan had called “colors” but was really just him, Doc, Dragon and Reaver in their motorcycle club vests came out.  The old pickup, with me and Chandra in it, was escorted by four motorcycles, two in front and two in back through the rich suburban neighborhood I had lived in with Chadwick.

Dragon and Ethan were in front, Doc and
Reaver followed up behind. A county Sherriff’s cruiser sat in front of the gate when we arrived. I got out of the truck and went to the key pad. I punched in the five digit access code and the gate rolled aside. I had seen Chadwick punch it in often enough to know it was his birthdate. 52781.

Chadwick and our head of security
, Maynard, was waiting at the top of the drive. His hazel eyes smoldered as I got out of the truck, knees turning to jelly. He strode towards me. I plastered myself flat against the truck and threw up my hands in defense as he started screaming at me but Ethan was suddenly there as were the two Sherriff deputies, a man and a woman, placing themselves between me and him.

“You stupid fucking whore! What did you do!?” he screamed.

Ethan folded me up against him. Strong arms going around me, sheltering me from the storm. The two deputies were yelling at Chadwick to calm down and to stop yelling. Maynard stood by and nodded once in my direction.

“Ma’am,” he said plaintively, and that one word held so much. It was cold, and dispassionate and dripped with his disapproval and disdain. I opened my mouth before I could stop myself.

“Truth is I don’t much care for you either Maynard.” I said and was surprised I didn’t burst into flames, spontaneously combust from his look alone. He’d known what Chadwick was doing, had known from the start, had even participated to some degree in ‘correcting’ my behavior.

“Sir if you don’t stop screaming at your wife I’m going to put you in handcuffs and take you in on a charge of disorderly conduct.” the female deputy snapped. Chadwick stopped screaming and looked at her, realizing that this time his money and affluence held no sway.

“What the fuck are you here for?” he demanded, face red, vein in the side of his neck throbbing at the perceived indignity.

“I want my papers. That’s all. You can have everything else. I just want my license, my passport, my social security card and my birth certificate.” He tugged his sleeve cuffs and adjusted them smartly, pushing a hand through his hair.

“They’re in the safety deposit box at the bank, darling.” He lied.

“They’re in the wall safe in your office.” I said flatly. He was going to make me work for this. Ethan had taken up position behind me, his arms still around me, holding me on my feet. I was grateful.

“No, they’re at the bank.”

“Then you won’t mind showing us.” I said coolly.

“Fine!” he snapped and stomped into the house. The deputies, Ethan, and I followed. Dragon, Doc, Reaver and Chandra stayed outside with Maynard.

“Your boss is a dick.” I heard
Reaver say.

“Don’t bother
Reaver, this one’s a dick too.” I heard Chandra’s voice clear and loud as I went into the house.

Ethan was
a warm comforting shadow at my back. He loomed over me and I drew what strength from him that I could. I was terrified, I didn’t want to be here. With every fiber that I was I wanted to tuck tail and run, far away from here… but Ethan was behind me, pushing me inexorably onward until we stood inside Chadwick’s study. I trembled and shook and felt like I couldn’t get enough air. Ethan’s hands descended on my shoulders and he kneaded them gently and suddenly I felt calm. I could do this.

Chadwick
took down the painting behind his desk, it was of some revolutionary war ship battle, and he keyed in the safe’s combine. He opened the door and pulled out file folders, slapping them on the desk.

“See, I told you. Not here.” He crossed his arms and I went forward
, slipping from Ethan’s grasp and went through the first file. Nothing, the second file held my birth certificate and marriage license as well as my social security card and mother’s death certificate. I sighed in relief. In the third file I found our passports.

“I guess you were wrong.” I breathed.
I met his cold gaze and stood my ground.

“So it seems.” He scowled at me. He had expected me to cow down and take his word for it. That wasn’t going to happen.

“Anything else my darling wife?” he asked, acid lacing his tone, a barely suppressed caustic rage emanating from every pore.

“Yes.” I said defiantly, straightening, my important papers clutched to my chest. I went for the second floor and our bedroom. Ethan, the Sherriff’s deputies and my very angry husband hot on my heels.

I snatched my iPod off the dresser and stuffed it in my dress pocket before anyone but Ethan could see. He smiled at me and I went to the closet. I pulled an old file box down and Ethan took it from me. It held a few mementos from my life before Chadwick Granger. Some high school yearbooks, photographs… that sort of thing. I pulled out the largest suitcase and began throwing clothes into it, from underthings to my yoga gear to jeans and sweaters and blouses to summer dresses until I could barely close it.

“Like me to carry anything ma’am?” the female deputy asked and I nodded once and hefted some things on hangars. She threw them over her arm and I knelt in the back of the closet and pulled up the carpet there, revealing my secret stash.

Chadwick looked apoplectic when I pulled out the journals. I stared across the short distance between us coldly and I put them into the box Ethan carried. He handed me the box and heaved the overstuffed suitcase by its handle.

“C’mon S
unshine. Let’s get you out of here.” He said.

“Yes. I’d like that.” I said and took Ethan’s hand, grateful for his strength.

We all trouped downstairs. Maynard looked like he was seething and Chandra lit up.

“Hey B
aby! We’ve been having a good ‘ol time at the rent-a-cop’s expense out here. You missed it!” I blinked and gave a tentative smile in return. The suitcase, and clothes went into the back of the truck, the box I held Ethan took from me, sliding it into the truck.

Chandra got in the driver’s side
. I got in the passenger’s and took one last look at Chadwick. The look he gave me chilled me to the bone. He had murder in his eyes and I knew without a doubt that none of this was over, not by a long mile. Ethan looked from me to Chadwick then back to me. He leaned in the open door of the truck.

“I’m right behind you B
abe. It’s going to be fine.” He said and then he kissed me.

My world stopped spinning, everything that had felt so out of control and completely mad the moment before simply fell away. It was a quick, chaste press of his lips over mine. My hand flew of its own accord, the scruff of two days growth scratch
ing against my palm as I gently cradled his face and returned the press of his lips against mine. The universe seemed to hold its collective breath and all too soon he pulled away.

He pressed his lip
s in one final kiss to my palm, his hand warm against the back of my own where he pressed it to his mouth before relinquishing his hold.  My fingertips trailed across his stubble and skin and fell limp with shock and wonder into my lap. He shut the door to the truck with a hollow metal clang and I jumped.

I looked across the drive way to Chadwick one last time. He’d gone very still and very cold. A snake in the grass.

“I bet you won’t be so smart mouthed when there’s no one to stand behind you Ashton.” he said, crossing his arms.

“Oh boy.” Chandra said and started the old pickup, the motor rumbling to life. The overwhelming growl of four motorcycles starting in unison filled the warm spring afternoon, shattering the idyllic silence. I spared a final look at Chadwick but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. He was staring at Ethan and the look on his face sent icy fingers of fear ticking down my spine.

I sat back into the old worn bench seat as Chandra put it into drive and pulled down the long circular drive. A new kind of fear took root in my mind, planted by the seed of his chilling words; that one look. I sent up a fervent prayer that whatever bad thing that was going to happen would happen to me and not Ethan, because I knew my husband… I knew the monster that lived inside his head and the monster was hungry. I closed my eyes and prayed that I would be enough to sate it, and that Ethan would be spared.