Miles high, p.17
Miles High, page 17
part #4 of Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale Series
I glanced behind me. “Something wrong?”
“No, everything’s fine.”
I walked him to the front door, frowning. I didn’t like the idea of leaving him alone, but I wasn’t sure my being here would put him more in danger.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” I asked him.
“No, I’m fine, I promise.”
“At least let me check to see no one’s inside.”
“All right.”
I went ahead of him and checked each room carefully before I allowed him to enter his bedroom. He stopped in front of me and ran his hands up my chest to the back of my neck.
“It’s so sweet the way you want to protect me, but I’m fine.”
I didn’t believe him at all, but for now, I’d done what I could. “Just promise me you’ll call me if something is wrong.”
“How about this? If I can’t handle it on my own, then I call my big strong Daddy to come to my rescue.”
“That’s something at least. Close the door behind me.”
Tomorrow, when he was at work, I would have our tech guy secure the house. I wanted security lights and cameras installed that would let me see any visitors. He was afraid of someone, but he didn’t want to tell me who. I was going to find out on my own.
He walked me out, and I kissed him, then let him go back in alone. I waited for his door until the locks clicked. Then I hopped onto my bike and pulled out. As I drove back to my place, images of an ashen-faced Miles, darting his eyes around as if searching for someone, popped into my head. Something was scaring my boy, and I wasn’t having that. I slowly doubled back to Miles’s house. Everything seemed okay. All the lights were off except for a low glow in his bedroom. Since the incident, he no longer slept in the dark. I watched and waited for about an hour before I was satisfied. For now.
Tomorrow, he might get upset about all the security measures, but at least he would be safe. That was my main concern. He seemed not sure that the person he was afraid of wouldn’t hurt him, and I would rather not find out.
For the second time that night, I drove away, this time going back to the clubhouse. I needed help from the brothers. I couldn’t be the only one watching out for him. Maybe Mort would chip in, since he was so fond of Miles. I would even bear Mort teasing me about my feelings for Miles.
I just needed Miles to be safe.
At the traffic light, I stopped and waited for the lights to change. A car came up behind me, then next to me, and I glanced sideways. The window on the driver’s side lowered. What the fuck? I pressed the gas and sped away, the red light be damned. A dull pop reached my ear a millisecond before a bullet whizzed past my head.
A barrage of gunshots rang out behind me, hitting the gravel. The car picked up speed and gained in on me. I zigzagged, crouching low over the body of my bike, then veered off the street into the grassy area.
Thank fuck I’d packed heat before leaving the house with Miles. I never left home without my firearm. I slowed down just enough to reach behind me and grab my gun out of my waistband. The bastards firing at me had to be running out of bullets because it was eerily quiet. I timed my jump perfectly, launching my bike over the metal divider that separated the two opposing lanes, and let the motherfuckers pass me.
Car tires screeched on the asphalt. My move had clearly stunned them. Raising my pistol, I aimed at the vehicle and fired off all the rounds. Searing pain ripped through my leg. So much for them running out of bullets. I gritted my teeth, but the pressure was too much. The bike skidded, and the only option I had to lessen the impact was to swerve right into the grassy area.
A loud crash echoed through the night as my bike slammed into the ground. I was flung off and rolled along the rough earth until I came to a halt. My body was screaming in pain, but I managed to dig into my pocket for my phone. Through the stars dancing before my eyes, I swiped down my phone screen and turned on my location. Gritting my teeth, I opened the biker group chat and sent them what I hoped was the word “help.” Then I passed out.
Chapter 19
Miles
At nine-thirty the next morning, I was getting ready for my eleven-to-eight shift when my phone rang. I danced over to the dresser to a song I’d heard at the party last night but didn’t know the words to. Jamie’s name on the screen made me grin. He, Cass, and Fable had been awesome last night. They hadn’t even minded that I was a klutz with two left feet. I’d given dancing my best, but I was certain I was the worst dancer of the bunch. But being real friends, they’d refrained from commenting on it.
They were so much fun, although Cass slapping my ass I could have gone without. After what Rubble had just done, I had to grit my teeth to bear it. Not that I’d said anything. Something told me had I brought up the spanking I’d received before, they would have wanted to hear all the details of what took place between Rubble and me. Little was sacred between them, the evidence laid bare for me in the group chat.
They talked about everything from sex toys to who gave the best head. The result for that one was inconclusive.
I swiped the phone screen and put Jamie on speakerphone so I could get dressed and talk to him at the same time.
“Hey, Jamie, what’s up?”
“Hey, Miles, how are you? Have you recovered from the party last night?”
I laughed. “I was barely there for half an hour. I recovered just fine.”
“Great, we were really glad that you dropped in even for such a short time. The next time Rubble brings you, you’re going to have to stay longer.”
“Fingers crossed it won’t be on a day I have to work.”
“Fuck. Work’s such a pain, right?”
“Don’t I know it? I have a nine-hour shift at the restaurant today. Do you have to work?”
“Well, yeah, I’m calling you from the hospital right now.”
“Shoot. You don’t have to waste the little free time you have calling me.”
“Actually, this is kind of an official call.”
“About what?”
“Look, they didn’t want us to know, but of course I’m going to find out because I’m the one who had to patch him up.”
My hands stilled on the button of my shirt. “Patch up who, Jamie?”
“Now don’t freak out. He’s going to be fine, and he just needs some rest, although I would’ve liked if he’d stayed at the clubhouse, but he insisted on going home.”
“Jamie!”
“It’s Rubble,” he replied. “Like I said, he’s okay, and he only got shot in the leg. Didn’t hit anything important, just lost some blood. And well, he might have gotten skid marks on his ass, but he’s fine.”
“What? I don’t understand. Rubble’s been shot?”
“Yes, but he’s fine. I promise.”
“Oh. my god, when? How did this happen?”
“Last night, after he dropped you off and was riding back to the clubhouse.”
“Oh, my god.”
“He’s fine, Miles. I patched him up myself, and if I couldn’t do the job, I would’ve called Dr. Collier.”
“How fine can he be, Jamie? He was shot!” Was it because of me?
“This is exactly why he asked us not to tell you,” Jamie said. “He knew you would overreact. Look, Miles, this is the tough part that we all have to deal with because we love these men. What they do gets them many enemies. It’s why we boys band together so much, so we can be there for each other. The men don’t know what we have to go through when they get hurt. So we’re here for you. If you need to cry, let off steam, or anything, we’re here. But we gotta show these men how brave we can be for them, okay, honey?”
But how could I be brave when this possibly had everything to do with me? I might have been the reason he got shot.
“Do they know who did it?” I asked Jamie.
“They’re working on it. Now don’t say anything else. You never know who’s listening on the line, okay?”
“All right.” I swallowed back all the questions I wanted to ask.
“If you need me for anything, text me. I’m on duty, but as soon as I get a chance, I’ll call you. You can also call Cass and Fable, but preferably Cass. Fable hates the violence, and it can send him spinning right back into his shell.”
“All right. I’m going to him now.”
“Good, and remember what I said, Miles. We stand by our men and support them, even when it’s ripping us to shreds inside. That’s why we have each other so we can deal with this part of loving men like ours.”
“Okay, I’ll be strong.”
“I know you will. I’ll talk to you later.”
I took a minute to compose myself, hugging the pillow to my chest and crying from fear. I’d never been so scared before. So terrified of losing the one person in my life who made it worthwhile.
After the good cry, I washed my face and placed a cooling compress over my eyes to decrease the swelling while I called the restaurant that I had a family emergency and couldn’t work. The supervisor on duty didn’t like my call at all, but after I answered her question if it was a life-and-death situation with yes, she told me to take the time off and to keep her updated as to when I would be able to return.
“You’re an honest worker, Miles, and it would suck to lose you,” she said before hanging up.
I changed into casual clothes, swiped my car keys from the bedside table, and locked up the house. I jumped into my car and pressed on the gas pedal, squealing out of the yard. No car followed me this time. While that was a good thing, I worried my bottom lip all the way to Rubble’s apartment. Jamie had said there was a crash, right? That would explain the lack of a vehicle following me this time.
Or maybe Tempus had given up trying to tame me.
And the Earth’s flat.
I didn’t have a key to Rubble’s apartment, so I knocked. The door opened slowly. Rubble stood with a crutch under one arm and a gun in his other hand. His sleeveless shirt showed off scrapes on his arms as well as gauze where the cuts must have been deeper. He had swelling above his right eye and bruises on his chin.
“Oh no.”
I utterly failed Jamie. I crumpled and cried. To be fair, I tried to hold back the tears, but they were stronger than I.
“It looks worse than it is, babe, I promise.”
He balanced his crutch under his arm and pulled me inside. Grunting, he closed the door and spun the lock.
“How can it be worse?” I carefully touched his chin, and more tears rolled down my cheeks.
He groaned. “This is why I didn’t want you to know. Which one of them squealed? Mort? Jamie? He swore he wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Of course, he told me. He knows I care about you and that I deserve to know when you’re hurt.” I pouted at him, my chest tightening. “I would’ve gone to work, not knowing, if he hadn’t called me.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted you to do, Miles. Not for you to be worrying. I am fine. I promise.”
I sniffled and wiped at my face with my hands. “You’re not supposed to be on your feet. Come on. Let’s get you back to bed.”
“I was actually on the couch, watching TV.”
“You should be in bed!”
Ignoring his protest, I took him by the arm as gently as possible, led him to his bedroom, and gestured at the bed. “I’m going to hide your crutch if you don’t get on that bed and behave.”
He hobbled over and lay down with the pillows behind his head and grinned at me. “You’re a hot nurse. Do you want to take my temperature? Or give me a sponge bath?”
I frowned at him. “How can you be joking about something like this?”
“I’m trying to cheer you up, Miles. I promise you I’m fine. You’re kind of freaking out, which is why I didn’t want you to know until I looked marginally better.”
I took a deep breath and tried to control my runaway emotions. He’d been hurt, but he was going to be okay. Jamie had said so, and he was a professional. Of course, I couldn’t take Rubble’s words for it that he was fine, but I could accept Jamie’s.
“Will you tell me what happened?” I went over to sit beside him on the bed.
“The club’s taking care of it,” he said. “Plus, I managed to get the guy driving the car. We’re just not sure he was the only one in the car at the time. His was the only body found, though.”
“Who found him? The police? Did you report it?”
“No, my brothers got there before the police but not by much. We didn’t get the time to check the car for anything to give us a clue who they were and what they wanted.”
Did the accident have anything to do with me or just the regular club conflict with other people?
“Please don’t tell Jamie I cried,” I said.
“Wait, what’s that about?”
My cheeks flamed. “He gave me this speech about how we’re supposed to support our men, rely on each other for all the emotional dramatics but be strong for you.”
“I call that bullshit. If Grimm ever got shot, Jamie would be a fucking mess. Same for Cass if anything happened to Mort, and if any of Fable’s Daddies wound up hurt again, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.” He reached over and stroked my cheek. “And you know what, if you got hurt, I’d be the same.”
I took hold of his hand. “Is there anything I can do for you? Are you in pain?”
“I’m doped up on pills right now. I was about to doze on the sofa when you knocked. Jamie is checking in on me later, and Cass promised he would bring soup.”
“I would’ve brought you soup.”
“Next time?”
I gasped. “There’d better not be a next time.”
“I’ll try.”
I spent the entire day with Rubble. I allowed him to sleep while I lay on the bed beside him, wide awake, and watched him all the time. Should I tell him the truth? I wasn’t the only one who was involved. So was my dad, and for years, Tempus had held my dad over my head to get me to do what he wanted. If Rubble and the bikers took me in, what would happen to my dad, and how could I leave him to fend for himself? He was practically useless, a sponge that soaked up as much alcohol as he could.
It was partly my fault why we were in this predicament. He’d taken the loan from Tempus to pay for my medication and treatments when I’d been sick. Something he would never have done if he had been sober enough to realize how bad that decision had been. He had to borrow more, and when he couldn’t pay it back, I became the interest he owed Tempus.
All day, a steady stream of bikers invaded the apartment. Cass showed up with Mort and the promised soup. He’d learned from the group chat that I was there, so he’d brought enough for both Rubble and me. It was way better than any soup I’d eaten.
In the evening, Rubble fell asleep again. He didn’t want to admit it, but judging from his tense face and stiff movements, he must have been in more pain than he let on. The painkillers helped somewhat, but they also made him sleepy. I kissed his brow and rose from the bed quietly to avoid waking him. It looked like I was going to be here for a while. I hadn’t brought spare clothes, and although I could borrow something out of his closet, they were too big for me to get comfortable.
Better to run home and pack a bag. Fifteen minutes tops and I would get out of there. I could cruise past first to make sure no one was watching my house and, when everything was clear, go back.
Should I leave him a note? Nah, I’d probably be back before he woke up and realized I was gone. My first pass by the house didn’t show anything suspicious. As I drove by a second time, just for good measure, I watched my rearview mirror to see if anyone was following me, but no black sedan was in view.
I parked and left the car running while I sprinted inside. Not hesitating, I headed straight to the closet in my bedroom and grabbed a small duffel. I threw underwear inside and rummaged through my drawer for T-shirts.
A door creaked in the hall.
Freezing, I cocked my ears and listened. Footsteps. Shit. I rushed to the window. Leaving everything behind except for my phone and car keys, I jumped to catch the windowsill and hoisted myself up onto the lever. If they were here, then they weren’t the ones responsible for shooting Rubble. I slithered through and braced myself for the fall. Hopefully, I would not land too hard.
I landed all right. Right into the arms of a waiting man. Hook.
“Let me go.” I pushed at his chest, but he held me tight.
“One day you’re going to pay for what you did.”
“I didn’t do anything to you.” I yelped as he pulled me around to the front of the house and up the steps. “You cut off your own ball.”
“Only because of you,” he snarled.
Inside, I lashed out at him with my foot, but he sidestepped, and I lost my balance and stumbled to the floor. He didn’t miss a beat. He grabbed my right arm and dragged me along the floor while I screamed.
He stopped walking, and I pulled in a deep breath. A face appeared above mine. Tempus’s. I gasped. What was he doing here? He never came to the house but always had someone do his dirty work for him.
He shook his head. “Now where is all this defiance coming from?” he asked. “Did I indulge you too much? Is that it? Because if you want to do this the tough way, I assure you we can.”
“I just want you to leave me alone,” I begged. “Why do you even want me? I don’t serve any purpose.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re here for my entertainment, and I’m tired of my other boys. They break way too easily.”
I strained against Hook’s hold on me. “What are you going to do to me?”
“Take him to the bedroom,” Tempus instructed Hook.
That could mean only one thing. Oh, my god, was this it? The day I would lose my virginity to this cruel bastard? Why hadn’t I given my first time to Rubble when I had the chance?
Hook hauled me to my bedroom, not caring that my knees scraped over the carpet and my legs bumped against the door jamb. He picked me up from the floor and threw me face down onto the bed.
“Secure his hands.”
