Chapter 20

20

Piston – Two Days Later

My Diamond: When you get back and see the new bruise on my hip, don’t worry, it’s nothing xxx

I raise a brow at Nat’s text before groaning at the picture, which causes Anchor and Acid to walk over from their bikes to see what I’m reading. Acid instantly starts groaning while Anchor laughs and asks, “What did she do this time?”

I sigh and bring up the photo she sent of the bruise, and both men wince.

I nod. “She was trying to put up blinds in the living area because, apparently, waiting two days for me to do it was too difficult.”

“Fuck.” Acid winces. “Tell me the ladder knocked into her hip, and she didn’t fucking fall.”

I snort. “Unfortunately, no, she fell from the top of the ladder this morning, half hitting the coffee table while the ladder went into the wall, leaving a massive hole that I’m going to have to repair after rewiring her security system. She dropped her glass of water on the exposed wiring I didn’t have time to cover, causing a fucking blackout. Thankfully, Tech from the Devils, was able to talk Steal through fixing the issue because she refuses to stay in my room at the club, stating it’s probably full of STDs, and she won’t stay at the log house because we’re currently in limbo—her words, not mine.”

Both men blink at me, and I nod before sighing. “I need to call my wife. Acid, can you grab me a coffee? I’ve already filled my bike.”

He winces but nods while Anchor pats my back with sympathy, and goes to check on the prospects while I lean on my bike seat, and press her number.

It rings five times before she answers, but it’s not her voice on the other end.

“Hey Piston,” the kid answers, and I smile.

“Hey, Coop, how’s it going?” I ask. He sighs, and I murmur, “That bad?”

Chuckling, he answers, “For two days, she’s been in a cleaning mode. I don’t think she likes you going on club business.”

I snort. “Yeah, kid, I know, but I should be back tonight, and I’ll see her in the morning.”

I hear him sigh in relief. “That’s good. Then maybe you can convince her to have a doctor look at her hip; it's really bad, Piston. I know she can be clumsy, but this one is the worst. When I heard the crash, I found her unconscious.” I stand straight at his words. “I had to call Dad, and he wanted to call a doctor, but she refused. I’m scared, Piston….”’

Fuck, fuck, fuck….

I clear my throat. “She’s just struggling a little, kid, but she’ll be okay.”

He sighs. “I know, but the sooner you’re back, the better.”

“Not long now, kid. Why don’t you put Sissy on, and I’ll see you in a few days, alright? I expect you to get no less than a B in your math test.”

He groans at my words, and I laugh as he mumbles, “Fine,” then shouts for Natalie.

“Who is it, Bud?” I hear her ask, but he doesn’t reply; he hands her phone over. “Piston?” she asks with confusion, and I smile.

“Hey, Diamond….”

I hear the smile in her voice as she asks, “Shouldn’t you be riding right about now?”

I chuckle. “We’re on a coffee break, and I needed to ensure you're alright. You never said you knocked yourself unconscious, baby.”

She mumbles, “Dammit,” before clearing her throat. “It was only for a few minutes.”

I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “Still unconscious, Nat.” I look up as Acid passes me my coffee, frowning. I give him a tight smile before asking my girl, “What’s going on in the pretty head of yours, Diamond? You’ve been so clumsy this week that even Cooper is worried….”

Acid leans against my bike next to me, waiting to hear her answer, but I can guess what it is.

She’s scared but trying not to run.

“Piston,” she whispers, and I cut her off before she can change the subject, “You’re scared, and I get it, baby, because I am too, but we agreed to this, remember? We promised each other we’d try, after you broke down and cried that you didn’t want to lose me.” And, fuck me, was that the hardest moment for me, witnessing her fear of not committing and losing me.

It was after that bitch attacked her, and we made love three times.

I sigh. “No more once a month meetings without communicating, no more clubwhores and accusations of trapping, and no more blaming yourself for the miscarriage.”

Acid flinches, overhearing everything. After I told him about the baby, we spent an hour in the ring while the club mourned, Aunt Holly and Gran struggling the most, understanding more as to why Nat doesn’t want a child.

“Marriage, Nat, that’s what we both decided we wanted, so we’re no longer stuck in limbo, and I get it, you want to run; me being on club business has come at the wrong time, I know, but it’s also good practice for us to stay in contact, something we didn’t do over the years. We can do this, Diamond; six years together, and it brought us here. We got this.”

Acid squeezes my arm as she’s silent for a moment, then whispers, “I miss you.”

I half smile. “I know, I miss you, too…. I’m going to call Medic to check you out, alright?”

“Piston, I’m fine,” she huffs.

I sigh and use the one person I know will convince her. “You’re scaring Cooper, Nat. He’s worried, so if not for yourself, let Medic check you out for Cooper’s sake and mine, because I’m miles away, and I won’t be able to concentrate unless I know you’re alright.”

She grumbles, “Fine,” and I chuckle.

“That’s my girl,” I reply. I hear a whistle and look up to see Anchor twirling his finger in the air, ready to roll out. “Right, I’ve got to go. I’ll be back late tonight, so meet me at the club in the morning. We’ll do breakfast, and Nat, no more DIY shit, yeah, because if this works out, you’ll be moving anyway. Now, go take a hot bath. I’ll message Medic,” I pause for a moment, knowing my brother is still next to me, but decide ‘fuck it,’ and declare, “I love you, baby.”

Acid looks at me sharply, but I ignore him as Natalie replies, “I love you, too. Be careful.”

I smile. “Always, baby.” I hang up, and down my drink, before climbing on my bike and quickly messaging Medic. He sends a thumbs-up in reply, and I sigh in relief, putting my shades on.

I feel Acid's eyes on me, and I look his way. His eyes are teary, and he rasps, “Yeah, you two are going to be alright,” before walking over to his bike near Anchor.

I clear my throat and start my bike, praying he’s right, because I know, without a doubt, I won’t survive without her.

It takes us another hour to reach the meeting point with the Rebels MC, who will meet with the Devils in two days.

We were met with a thunderstorm, so spending a night in a motel has made this trip longer than it should have been for the drop-off. From our compound to Wincher, it’s only a four-and-a-half-hour drive; the weather fucked up our plans, causing my girl to get restless.

Their Road Captain , Anchor, shakes hands with our VP Anchor, and I grin, asking, “Is it weird that you both have the same road name?”

Both men look my way. My VP shakes his head while their Road Captain grins wide, and my brother chuckles. Cam and Adam, our prospects, try to hide their laughter.

I shrug and ask, “What? It’s a genuine question.”

My VP snorts, turns back to the other Anchor, ignoring me, and says, “There are three thousand rounds of ammo in the truck.”

Their Anchor nods seriously, and I butt in, “Does this mean your legal names are the same as well?”

Acid laughs while my VP shakes his head, exasperated.

I chuckle and look around, ensuring it’s still safe, when something catches my eye. My smile disappears when I notice the muzzle of a gun. I shout, “Fucking duck!”

The men all drop, grabbing their pieces just as bullets fly our way. I grunt as one hits my arm, and quickly duck behind my bike.

“Fuck, you’re fucking shot!” Cam shouts, getting everyone’s attention as blood pours from my arm, but I ignore it, and peek over my bike to see where the shoots came from. I grab my pistol from my holster.

Another round of bullets fly, and I notice three men hiding behind the Welcome to Wincher sign, all fucking wearing Killers jackets.

Motherfucker!

“They are wearing Killer jackets,” I say, grunting at the ache in my arm. The men look at me, before peeking over to see where the shooters are hiding. I roll my eyes, then lock eyes with my brother and nod to the Welcome sign, he nods as I lift three fingers, and he relays it to others. Just as they start to shoot again, I lift my gun, ignoring the blood dripping from my arm, the pain nearly non-existent as adrenaline runs through me. I pull the trigger, my bullet hitting the fucker’s temple, his body dropping instantly.

Several more shots sound, and I quickly duck my head, a bullet just skimming my head, making me curse and move again.

Like fuck am I going to let my father’s men kill me when I have a woman waiting for me.

I aim my gun as another soon-to-be dead fucker stands from behind the sign to shoot. I pull the trigger once, then twice. One hits him in the chest, the other in the head, while my VP hits the third guy.

“Fucking Killers,” I announce and stand, wincing when I lift my left arm, causing the pain to shoot through me.

“Ah fuck, your wife is going to fucking kill me,” Acid grumbles, quickly grabbing the first aid kit. I sigh.

“Never mind killing you, she’s going to have my fucking balls. Her emotions are already all over the place lately with all the revelations between us, or have you not noticed she’s clumsier than fucking normal, which, for her, is dangerous as shit.”

He winces then inspects my arm as the prospects run over to the bodies, and my VP and their Road Captain rush my way.

“Fuck, the bullet is still in there; we need to get it out.” Acid curses, and I grumble while the brothers chuckle.

“Oh yeah, your wife is going to flip,” just hit my ears as Anchor, the Rebels’ Road Captain, grips my arm, as Acid digs to find the bullet, causing me to curse. Fuck, that shit hurts!

Hours later, we roll up to the club, Medic already waiting for us near the front door, his arms crossed, his hazel eyes looking at me with concern.

I lift my hand to him as I climb off my bike and confirm, “I’m alright, Acid dug the bullet out.”

He nods but says, “I still want to have a look, possibly stitch it up, and give you a shot of antibiotics as a precaution.”

I sigh but nod as I pass him, patting his back with my good arm.

“How was my wife?” I ask as we enter the common room, everyone standing around.

I put my hands up to everyone, knowing Anchor and Acid will fill them in on the shootout, where, thankfully, only the Killers were killed.

I head to my room, Medic following.

“She’s alright. There was no concussion, which is good. The bruise on her hip is quite nasty but it’ll heal in a few weeks, and she has a slight bruise on the side of her forehead.”

I groan at his words, making him laugh before guiding me to my bed. The picture of my wife grinning at the camera from college catches my eye.

I fucking miss her, which says a lot about our relationship and whether we’ll make it.

Yeah, we’re both fucked up, but we’re both willing to try.

I can’t lose her.

Medic checks my wound, confirming it needs stitching, making me sigh and accept the strong painkillers.

I groan, my head pounding, my arm throbbing. After taking the painkillers from Medic, I passed out, the tablets doing the job, but they always make me wake with a fucking hungover feeling, which is why I only take them when I have to.

Having a druggie mom make you become tolerant to pain….

I feel a body move against mine, a body I don’t fucking recognize, and my eyes fly open, only to connect with a very fucking naked Katie sprawled across my body, and anger as no other fills me.

“What the fuck!” I demand, and Katie grins before I hear a throat being cleared to my right, my head snapping to the doorway praying it’s a brother standing there only to see my wife, my fucking heart and soul leaning against the door frame, her eyes on the woman laying on me, naked, my blood brother looking pale behind her.

Fuck no, please no.

I swear, if she takes this the wrong way and runs, then I’m hunting her down and tying her to my fucking bed.

My body vibrates with fury and fear as memory after memory of us together over the years hits me: her smiles, her giggles, the way she looks at me like I’m her world, the way she’s willing to fight for me despite her traumatic past….

I can’t lose her, I fucking can’t, I need her….

Fuck!