Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Savage

FOR THE FIRST time in a week I’m back at work. The garage has been getting more and more business lately and I haven’t been around to help as I sort my shit out with Zoey. While I appreciate the time off, when I’m working, I feel completely at peace and can forget all the thoughts swirling through my mind and focus on the task at hand. My thoughts are mainly focused on Zoey and now that she’s here, nothing has changed. The last week with her in my bed at the clubhouse and around my chosen family has been great. She fits in perfectly with everyone. Especially Alex and my sister. Nails is pissed as fuck and the only thorn in my side as she continues to push my boundaries and try to get me to fuck her. It’s never gonna happen, but the bitch can’t get a clue. The next time we have church, I’m bringing up kicking her ass out once again. If it doesn’t go through this time, I might have to rethink some shit because I’m not about to have my girl upset over a skank that doesn’t know what the word no means.

Zoey seems free and at peace now that she’s not in Benton Falls any longer. She’s not worrying about the cop harassing her every time she leaves her apartment or whoever is watching her. Tank and everyone in the Phantom Bastards went through the parking lot and surrounding area to make sure no one was there. Other than a pile of cigarettes hidden in the shadows, they didn’t find anything. What pisses me off is the location of the cigarettes. They were in a location that would allow the person to not only look in the windows in Zoey’s living room, but her bedroom as well. To know someone was watching her where she was most vulnerable makes a red haze fill my vision because no one should have to feel violated in their own home. To know it happened to Zoey fills me with a rage I’ve never felt before. She’s so fucking innocent and pure and doesn’t deserve to feel an ounce of fear because some asshole doesn’t have the balls to approach her like a normal person.

Slim, Playboy, and others from the Phantom Bastards are going to keep an eye around the area of her apartment to see if the person makes an appearance again. Tank and the triplets had to leave and head to their homes. They can’t stay in Benton Falls indefinitely because they all have their own lives to live and Zoey’s no longer there for them to protect and watch over. She’s with me and I’ll make sure no one gets close enough to hurt her ever again. If I can stop all the bad shit from happening to her, I will always do so. But, I’m realistic and know I can’t be with her constantly. She’s going to be going to school while I work and I refuse to keep her locked up in my room or the clubhouse because she also doesn’t deserve to be made to feel like she’s a prisoner. She’s an independent woman and should live her life. The Prospects can only do so much because they all have jobs to do as well. We’ll always protect our women, but they don’t need to feel suffocated on a daily basis because we don’t let them have the freedom to leave the clubhouse.

“Savage, are you happy to be back?” Trax asks me as we work in our bays on the vehicles we pulled in when we opened an hour ago.

“Yes and no. Zoey’s still findin’ her way in the clubhouse and I know Nails is gonna take advantage of me bein’ gone to start some shit with her. I know my girl can handle herself since she grew up in a club, but it doesn’t mean I want her to,” I tell my best friend honestly without looking in his direction as I continue working on the car in front of me.

“I can’t stand that she’s still in the fuckin’ clubhouse. The vote should’ve been enough to get rid of her ass,” Trax states, his voice filled with the anger he’s feeling right now while I look at him with rage in my eyes.

“I know. Fuckin’ Crow and Eagle had to vote to keep her ass. They must be fuckin’ her on a regular basis to vote that way. If she says one word to my girl while I’m gone today, I don’t give a fuck what the vote is, I’ll make sure she leaves the clubhouse one way or another. Even if I have to go behind everyone’s back and call in Summer to get one of her girls here to take care of the situation for me. Zoey isn’t gonna be made to feel as if I don’t want her or that I’m gonna fuck Nails because she keeps throwin’ herself at me. I’m also not gonna have Nails spewin’ her hate and lies to Zoey makin’ her feel as if she doesn’t belong here when she does,” I state as Reaper comes in the shop and listens to my rant.

“It’s not gonna come to that, Savage. The next time we vote on her, I’ll make sure she gets kicked the fuck out. Don’t do somethin’ you’ll regret later on,” Reaper says as he starts working on the truck in his bay.

“I won’t regret a fuckin’ thing. And Summer knows Zoey. If she finds out some skank from here is fuckin’ with her, she’ll send one of her girls without me havin’ to make that call. Summer was more than a club girl for the Wild Kings. She’s like Rebel. In good with the ol’ ladies and made sure the clubhouse was taken care of before worryin’ about findin’ a cock to ride. She lost her way when her best friend was killed in an ambush and everyone in the Wild Kings had her back. She’ll always go above and beyond to protect anyone with them,” I inform Reaper and Trax about my past a little more than I typically do.

“We’ll get the situation taken care of, Savage. I promise you,” Reaper says as we all get back to work on the vehicles in front of us.

Just as I go to remove the battery of the car, there’s a loud banging noise before the door of the shop is thrown open. My eyes immediately go there to find police officers standing in full gear with shields in front of them.

“Get on the ground!” is yelled from one of them as I make my way to get in front of Reaper. “Don’t move and get on the ground! Now!”

Dropping down, I keep my eyes locked on the officers as they make their way into the shop. I can hear the sound of shit being destroyed beyond the door where the counter sits. Things are crashing to the floor as the officers make their way to each of us and place us all in handcuffs.

“What’s goin’ on?” Reaper questions the officers surrounding him as he remains as still as possible so they don’t accuse him of making aggressive moves toward them.

“We got word that drugs and guns are being stored at this location. Here’s the fucking warrant,” one of the officers says as I look up to see the man crouching down in front of me.

He removes his face mask and helmet now that I have handcuffs on and my vision instantly clouds over in a haze as I realize this is the fucker who’s been harassing my kitten. What the fuck is he doing here?

“Not so fucking tough now, are ya?” he questions me, a smirk on his face as he spits right in front of me. “How’s my girl?”

I know he’s trying to make me go after his fucking ass with witnesses here. I’m not about to give him what he wants though. I remain completely still on the floor of the shop while never taking my eyes off the fucker in front of me. I’m not about to tell him Zoey isn’t his girl and never fucking will be. This asshole is delusional if that’s what he thinks. As I take in every fucking detail of the twatwaffle, I make note of his last name, that he’s still wearing the uniform from Benton Falls, and everything else I can catalogue. We’re gonna need this information.

“Wheeler, get the fuck away from Savage,” Officer Hilton says, stepping up next to the dead man walking as he looks down at me with rage filling his face.

Hilton bends down and helps me off the floor once Wheeler is away from me and walking out of the shop. Reaper, Trax, Hilton, another officer on his team, and me are the only ones left in the shop as the door closes behind Wheeler while he glares back in my direction.

“Reaper, I didn’t know this shit was goin’ down. Got the call at the last second and barely made it here in time. Wheeler called in the state boys and they’re leadin’ this shit. I’ve got them all to calm down and stop trashin’ the place. I don’t know what the fuck one of you did to Wheeler, but he’s got it out for you,” Hilton informs us as he removes our handcuffs and stands in front of us with his team members.

“I’m the one he’s after. He’s been harassin’ my girl when she lived in Benton Falls. Took her out of there a week ago and brought her here with me. He pulled her over before we left town and the shit he was sayin’ to her wasn’t things a cop should be sayin’ to someone they pulled over. There wasn’t even a reason for him to pull her over. She wasn’t speedin’ since she was pullin’ a trailer behind the SUV with her bike inside. He literally had no reason to stop us at all. I guess he didn’t appreciate me makin’ him leave her alone and pissin’ his pants when I promised him I’d gut him if he came sniffin’ around my girl again,” I answer Hilton because Reaper and Trax already know about this incident with the stupid piece of shit.

“What are we gonna find here, Reaper?” Hilton questions him after nodding his head at me.

“Not a fuckin’ thing. This is a legitimate business and we don’t deal in the shit they’re talkin’ about,” Reaper answers without hesitation. “This garage has been in my family for years and I’m not about to risk that shit for guns and drugs. I’ve got an ol’ lady, kids, and a club full of men and women to think about. Trax has a woman and kid now too. Savage has a woman of his own. None of us are gonna fuckin’ risk them for a few bucks.”

“Hilton, there isn’t anything here,” one of the state boys says, walking in the shop to stand with us. “Do you know why this claim would be tossed out against you?”

“Yeah. One of the cops here doesn’t like to be told no and put in his place when he’s harassin’ an innocent woman. I suggest you look into Wheeler. You’ll find he’s one step away from bein’ put on desk duty because of everythin’ he’s been doin’ in Benton Falls. He’s been harassin’ my girl for a long time and her uncle went to Wheeler’s boss about that shit. He’s not supposed to interact with bikers at all and yet pulled my girl after bein’ told that and didn’t wait for another officer to show up on the scene to take over for him. She wasn’t alone and there’s a witness to tell you exactly what I just said is true,” I answer the state cop as the man in questions enters the shop and glares in my direction while I spill the truth about him.

“I’ll definitely be looking into that. We’ll get out of your way. If anything is busted and needs to be repaired, call this number and they’ll get you a check for the damages,” the state cop says as he hands Reaper a card before turning to face Wheeler.

“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re not arresting any of them and you’re gonna pay for any damage done?” Wheeler explodes as he steps even closer to where we stand.

“Get the hell out of here. Head directly to the station and wait for me to get there,” the state cop demands, his voice echoing in the shop as he steps toward Wheeler who instantly turns around and flees from the garage. Fucking pussy!

“I’ll be in touch,” Hilton states as they leave and head out of the shop to leave the three of us alone.

I’m glad Rubber isn’t here today. He’s at school and finishing up his degree. Since he’ll only be working for the club, he doesn’t need to go for more than his associates degree. Once he graduates, he’ll help Cash with the accounting work so it can free Cash up for other things. If he were here, it wouldn’t be a big deal because he’s a brother. But, with him being away from the garage, Wheeler doesn’t know about him. I can still use him when it comes to Zoey if I have to because of this douche canoe. I know he’s not a Prospect any longer, but if it comes down to making sure someone is with my kitten, I’ll use anyone I have to. Her safety and protecting our baby is the most important thing in the world to me.

“Let’s get the fuck outta here. I’m callin’ church so we can find out about this asshole Wheeler. Should’ve already done that shit. And we’re votin’ on Nails when we’re in there,” Reaper states, anger filling his voice as we make our way outta the shop and take in the fucking mess we’ll be cleaning up for days.

Everything is fucking trashed. We’ll need new computers at the counter, everything we had on display is on the floor now, and I can’t even imagine what our storeroom looks like. Shaking my head, I follow Reaper and Trax out of the garage and set the alarm before locking the door once I’m through it. We all make our way to our bikes and don’t hesitate to start them and take off. None of us put our helmets on as we make our way to the clubhouse.

We’re all in church as I take my seat. Reaper had me bring Zoey in because she’s had the most interaction with this fucker. Taking my seat, I pull her down in my lap and hold her close to me as Reaper starts the meeting.

“The garage was raided today by the state cops. It’s fuckin’ trashed,” Reaper begins as the men around the table all grumble and swear under their breath. “Zoey, I need you to tell us everythin’ you know about the cop that’s been harassin’ you in Benton Falls. He was there today and got in Savage’s face. Said somethin’ about you bein’ his girl to Savage. I don’t know anythin’ more than the few things Savage has told me. So, we need to hear it from you.”

“Okay. Um, I moved to Benton Falls a little over a year ago. I graduated high school early and started college there the second I could. Growing up around the club and with three younger brothers, I was more comfortable with the guys than girls with the exception of Reagan. Anyway, I’ve been riding bikes for as long as I can remember. Started out on dirt bikes and progressed from there. I took my bike with me to school because if I don’t have to be in a cage, I refuse to be in one.

“I’d say within a few days of me moving to Benton Falls, I started noticing a cop following me whenever I’d go out on a ride. At first he didn’t pull me over and just followed me. He’d follow me all around town and pull up to the lookout point when I went there to be alone and just breathe. About a month after he started following me around, he started pulling me over. Bullshit reasons for the most part. Knowing I’d be getting followed, I didn’t speed or anything when I was in town. If anything, I went slightly under the speed limit. I also always wear full riding gear when I’m on my bike so it’s not like I was flashing a ton of skin or letting my shirts blow up and displaying my back and shit for the world to see.

“Every time he’s pulled me over, it’s gotten worse and worse. He’s threatened me, my family, and everyone I know. I go riding with my friend Kingston and he threatened to arrest him for drug charges and he’d make sure they stuck so he would rot in prison and couldn’t protect me. Those were his exact words. This asshole didn’t do any research into me because then he’d know that Slim, the President of the Phantom Bastards, is my grandpa and his son, Playboy is my uncle. My dad is in the Wild Kings out of Clifton Falls and all three of my brothers are in the new chapter of the Wild Kings in Cedar Bay. So, no matter what he tried to do, I’d always have someone to ride with me.

“Anyway, I wasn’t about to let Kingston get in trouble so I started riding out of town with him. The cop would still follow us. Even when we left his jurisdiction. I know he’s an addict and every time he talks to me it becomes more about fucking me and making me his than anything else. When I first started feeling as if I were being watched, I didn’t even think about it being him. Now, I’m wondering if it was him all along. The last interaction I had with him was the day Jameson and I left to come here. It was so bad, I couldn’t even continue driving myself. He scares me. This fucker is completely unhinged and I don’t honestly know what he’s gonna do,” my kitten says, her body trembling in my arms as she relives every single interaction with the fucker.

“Thank you, sweetheart. Go back out and sit with Alex and Reagan. Savage will be out soon. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get to you again, Zoey,” Reaper promises her as I grab her neck and turn her face toward mine so I can get a kiss from her.

Pulling away, I stand after she gets up and walk her to the door. I watch Zoey walk back down the hallway toward the common room where Alex and my sister are waiting for her. Once she’s out of my sight, I close the door and take my seat once again. Reaper smiles at me because he knows I’m fucking done when it comes to Zoey. With a nod in his direction, he starts issuing orders.

“Hawk, do your thing on the computer and find out everythin’ you can about this Wheeler fucker. He’s out of Benton Falls. Not sure of his first name. I’m sure it won’t be hard to pull up. Take the security footage from the garage today and get his image from that if you have to. You’ve got an hour to find everythin’ about him you can. We’ll meet back here then. Not only will we be discussin’ that stupid bitch, we’ll be takin’ a vote. I hope you all fuckin’ vote the right way this time,” Reaper says, looking around the table but letting his gaze linger on Crow and Eagle as they sit together. “The rest of you, I want all bikes pulled into the barn here. I don’t want a fuckin’ one of them left in the open. If you’re not doin’ that shit, go through your room and make sure you ain’t got shit in there that can get you arrested. We’re gonna go through this entire fuckin’ place and make sure nothin’ comes back at us if this is raided next.”

After Reaper slams the gavel on the table in front of him, we all get out of chairs and head for the doors. I’m gonna move the bikes first before I head to my room. Walking through the common room, I don’t see Alex, my sister, or Zoey anywhere. I hear music coming from the kitchen and know at least one of them is in there. I’m sure the others are taking care of the kids or doing something else around here. The Fallen girls are really getting fucking lazy and need to be talked to. Again. Rebel is the only one I see working right now as she stocks the bar and makes sure everything is clean and ready for anyone who wants a drink. Forcing all thoughts aside, I head outside and help the guys move our bikes away from the clubhouse. We’ll have to figure out what to do about the SUVs, trucks, and cars when we’re done.