Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Vault

ANNABELL HASN'T BEEN in my hospital room at all for the last week that I've been in here. Valor, Chrome, and everyone but Bell, Tank, Slim, and Playboy have been here every single day. I don't know why she's not here and obviously pushing me away. Well, I guess it has to do with the guilt she feels that I was shot and how she feels about this entire situation resting on her shoulders because of her ties to Dominic. What she fails to see is that we were going after Dominic before she moved down here. We would've come head-to-head with him at some point and there's nothing Annabell could've done to stop it. I don't know why she wants to take this on her shoulders so bad, but that's who she is.

Today I'm getting the fuck out of here and Valor is with me in the room when Red walks in. He hasn't really been around this week either. I've had them riding out making sure no one else is selling that shit Dominic was pushing around Pine View and that we won't have any backlash from taking out Dominic and the other two fuckers. Red has been leading the men out searching for them and I know that's more important to him right now because he hates hospitals as most of us do. Red doesn't just hate them though. He loathes them and goes out of his way to avoid being in one as often as he can.

"Vault, I forgot all about this with everythin' goin' on over the last few days. Annabell gave me this for you," Red says, walking up to the bed and pulling out paper from his cut.

Grabbing the paper from him, I open it and hurt from Annabell's words. My Angel has left and gone back home.

Dear Alex,

I'm so sorry that you were shot. All of this is my fault and there's nothing you or anyone else can say to make me change my mind. Dominic is the one I was with in college as you know. I knew then he wasn't a good man. If I had gone to my dad, Playboy, or anyone else about him he wouldn't have been able to move to Pine View to start pushing the drugs that were hurting so many in your city. Instead, Hunter is the only one who knew about him and I made him promise me that he wouldn't tell anyone about what happened to me.

Right now, I have to go back home. I can't be here and watch you lay in that hospital bed every day in pain and hurting because of me. So, in order for you to heal and have the peace you need, I'm going back with my dad so you can move on and figure out what you need to do moving forward. I'm not giving up on you, but right now we both need some time to ourselves so that we can figure out what we need to do moving forward.

I do need to talk to you about something at some point soon, but now isn't the time. Once you've healed and are back on your feet we can talk and you'll know what I just learned. I don't know what I can say to tell you how sorry I am even before you know what's going on. Just know that nothing was done on purpose and I will never do anything you don't want done. I will be moving back to Pine View at some point, but the timing all depends on you and you'll understand when we eventually have our talk.

I'm sorry I'm leaving you with just this note while you're in the hospital. I couldn't bring myself to come look at you and know I'm the cause you can't ride for even longer now. I want you to know that I truly love you and I'm leaving because of the love I feel for you. It might not make sense to you, but it does to me. In my mind, I'm taking away the constant reminder of why you're there and not at work or doing whatever else you'd be doing when you're not in the hospital.

Love Always,

Your Angel

"What's goin' on, Alex? Where's Annabell?" Valor asks me, sitting up straighter in the chair he's occupied since I've been here.

"She left. Went back home to Benton Falls. Somethin' more is goin' on with her, but I don't know what it is. Here, read it," I whisper, handing my brother the note as I feel myself dying on the inside because she left instead of coming to talk to me about this.

I don't give a fuck what Annabell's going through, I'll always be there to talk to her and help her no matter what's going on. This entire situation is fucked up and if I can't talk to Annabell she's only gonna drive herself insane with everything filling her mind. I need to be there to talk through this shit with her and no one's gonna fucking stop me from being there for her.

"Fuck, Alex. What are you gonna do?" Valor asks me, his voice full of hurt because he knows I'm not the only one hurting right now. Annabell is too and she's cut herself off from us without a thought about how we'd feel.

"You know what I'm gonna do. Get me the fuck outta here, Zach. We're goin' to Benton Falls so I can get my girl back. My Angel will fuckin' get lost in her head and drive herself crazy if I don't go to her now. And the longer she holds this secret back, the harder it will be for her to tell me what it is," I state, motioning for Zach to help me get out of the bed and into the sweats Chrome got for me to put on so I can leave here.

"Who are we takin' with us?" my brother questions me, knowing I'm not gonna leave a skeleton crew here in Pine View to go home and grab my girl to come home with us.

"Chrome, Crab, Buzz, and Court. I know I should leave Chrome here as the VP, but he needs to come with us. I want my best friend with me when we go home," I tell my brother, knowing I said I'd never return to Benton Falls again because of everything it reminds me of.

"Okay. Let's get the fuck outta here then," Valor states, helping me into the wheelchair I know is mandatory to leave the hospital. "I'm gonna put your cut in the truck so you have it when we get to Benton Falls. You can wear it once we get there."

Nodding my head, I pull out my phone when it starts vibrating in my pocket. Seeing Slim's name on the screen, I answer immediately and put it to my ear so no one in the hospital can hear whatever he's calling me about.

"Slim, what's goin' on?" I answer, as the guys surround me once Valor gets me in the hallway.

"You know Annabell came home?" he asks me, his voice sounding rough and on edge as I listen to him.

"Yeah. Red just gave me her note. He's been out searchin' for anyone who might've been workin' with Dominic and to make sure no one is still pushin' that shit in Pine View," I tell him, looking around the hallway at the nurses watching us while we leave.

"Okay. She's in her apartment. Tried to get her to come home with me, but she refused. Shy's been over to see her with Savannah. Annabell isn't sayin' much to anyone. I take it you're comin' to get her?" he informs me, his voice getting even worse and I know he's hurting for his daughter because she's not letting anyone in. "Don't let her hold this shit in, Alex. Tank can't even reach her and you know that fucker can reach all the women. He tried talkin' to her the entire drive back to Benton Falls."

"I'll get her to tell me what's goin' on. Is it just about what happened with Dominic and me or is there somethin' else goin' on?" I ask Slim, needing to know what I'm walking into when I get to my girl. "Her note said she had to tell me somethin' eventually but she didn't want to until I was healed or some shit."

"She found somethin' out before leavin'. I think that's upsettin' her more than anythin' else that happened. I want to let you know, Alex, but I can't. This is somethin' you need to hear from Annabell. Make her tell you because it's fuckin' with her and I know you're not gonna react the way she thinks you will. I have a feelin' you'll be happy as fuck and it will only cement things between the two of you," is the only answer Slim gives me, making my mind start spinning with everything it could be while trying not to get my hopes up with one particular thought.

"I'll make sure she tells me. We're leavin' the hospital now and headin' straight for Benton Falls. I'm gonna have Valor, Chrome, Crab, Buzz, and Court with me. Everyone else is stayin' here to make sure that no one fucks with the city or clubhouse while we're gone," I tell him, needing him to know our timeline for getting there.

"Stop by the clubhouse and I'll give you my key for Annabell's apartment. She's got a security door to get in and then her apartment. I'll make sure you have the address when you leave the clubhouse too. See you when you get here," Slim says before hanging up the phone and I turn to my brother as we exit the elevator and make our way to the front door.

"Chrome, go grab my truck and pull it up so we can get this fucker loaded inside," my brother says, tossing Chrome his keys while never slowing down his steps.

"On it. Be right back," Chrome says, jogging from the hospital to get the truck I know the guys will have to help me in.

I'm still sore as fuck but the pain is slowly getting better. It's going to take a while before it disappears completely though. I can't wait for the day it lessens enough that I can stop taking the pain medicine and use over the counter shit when I absolutely need it. For now, I'll use it sparingly and only when the pain is too much for me to handle. Which is still the point I'm at as I take my first breath of fresh air in a week the second Valor pushes me outside and I squint my eyes as the sun hits me directly in the face. It feels good though after being in the cold hospital.

"Okay, here's what's gonna happen," I say as we wait for Chrome to bring the truck over. "I'm headin' to Benton Falls to get my girl. She ran home with her family and that doesn't fuckin' work for me. Somethin' is goin' on with her and I need to find out what it is. I shouldn't be gone more than a few days. I'm gonna take Chrome, Buzz, Crab, and Court with me. Red, I want you leadin' the club in my place if somethin' comes up. You got questions, call Chrome or me. I know I should leave Chrome here, but I need him with me. Any of you others go to Red for any questions or concerns. Keep an eye on the Prospects and make sure Martin is good. I'll check in daily so you know what's goin' on. Red, keep your phone on ya so I can call you. We'll deal with the Prospect when I get home. Buzz can work with Fox and Kingston to figure out what he's hidin' and we'll deal with it together."

"Sounds good. Anythin' else you want us doin' while you're gone?" Red questions me, looking around the group.

"Someone needs to make sure Hound's is good and the customers know what's goin' on so they don't think we're flakin' on them. Chrome is gonna need some help when we get back because I'm not cleared to work yet. I've got a while before the doctors will clear me after the surgery and with my shoulder dislocated again. I need a few guys to volunteer to help him. I'll be there when I can to help Annabell in the office and stay caught up on paperwork and that shit. Hopefully it won't be long before I get cleared to do that shit," I tell him, watching as Chrome pulls up and parks the truck as close to me as he can get without hitting something so Valor kills him.

Valor's truck is just as important to him as his bike. He doesn't let anyone drive it and I know it's taking a lot for him to have Chrome in the driver's seat. However, he'll do anything for me and that's a hard lesson to learn after everything I did. If I've learned anything from this experience, it's that you don't get a second chance to make things right. I almost died and wouldn't have gotten to repair things with Valor. Now, he wants to forget the past and I get where he's coming from. It's just not that easy for me to do when I'm the one at fault for all the shit between us. So, I will work on making shit up to him and doing what I can to get as close to him as we once were.

"Have a safe trip. We'll be here when you get back," Red says as Valor and Chrome help me in the truck and we get ready to take off.

Chrome tells everyone where he wants them to ride around the truck when we head out while I try to get comfortable in the truck. By the time we leave, I'm ready to be on the road so I can go to sleep without someone bothering me every two damn hours or so. I hate being in the hospital for that reason alone. If you're admitted, you don't actually get any rest despite the doctors and nurses telling you that's what you need to do. I mean, do they really believe people can rest when a hundred people are in and out the door for one reason or another? I know I can't and hate those who can.

"You wanna get somethin' to eat on the way out of town?" Valor asks me as his stomach rumbles with hunger.

"If you want. I'm just here for the ride," I tell him, trying to lessen the tension in me as I look out the window at the city we call home now.

"You're not ready to head home for the first time since we left, are ya?" my brother asks me, pulling over at a fast food place where he goes through the drive-thru and orders us both something to eat while grabbing more food for the guys.

"Not at all. It's been a long time and I know we have to go back when the boys patch in. I just wasn't ready for it to be so soon. Five years isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things. The second we pull into town, all those memories will come rushin' back and I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with them yet," I answer him honestly because I know that's my main problem with being in Benton Falls.

"I get it. Everywhere we look there's somethin' to remind us of somethin' we did with Dad or some story we were told that involved him. Knowin' Slim was his best friend and has so many memories of him that we don't know from all the stories he's shared with us over the years is somethin' else to deal with. But, it's the place we grew up and eventually we'll have to face the fact that Dad is not there when we show up for one reason or another. We'll deal with it together, Alex. Don't push us away again," Valor says, paying and grabbing the food that's handed over to him before handing the bags to me.

"I'm not gonna push you away again. I want to relive the memories we share of our dad with you. But, at the end of the day, neither one of us knows how we'll react when we get back home. We'll have to take it a day at a time and rely on one another. Slim and the guys will support us as well. It's what I should've realized when we first lost our dad and I didn't. I'm not gonna make the same mistake twice," I promise Valor as he pulls from the drive-thru and I start to dig out our food so we can eat and then he can drive us home. The guys on bikes will have to eat before riding and we won't leave them behind.

We park on the side of the parking lot and Valor hands out the burgers and fries to the rest of the guys. They quickly eat their fries while I start to eat my food slowly like I've been doing so I don't get an upset stomach. Once we get on the highway toward Benton Falls, we won't be able to just pull over and find a bathroom. Once the fries are gone and the guys have their burgers in hand, Valor makes his way back to the truck and climbs in to eat the rest of his food. It doesn't take us long to get on the road. As I watch the scenery pass us by, I let my eyes slide closed so sleep can claim me. It doesn't take long before images of Annabell are filling my head and I dream of her carrying my baby and growing our family.