Page 49 of Smoke

“Smoke,” a deep baritone voice bellows over all other sounds. “This is not what I expected to find when we rocked up to your gaff.”

“Mammoth.” I let out a sigh of utter relief at the arrival of our Florida brothers. “Not the welcome we were intending to show you either, believe me.” I step up and glance at the man in his arms. “Cub.” I drop my head and swallow hard as the fucking pain in my chest threatens to take me to my knees. But I need to be strong. As the club’s president, I need to keep my raging emotions under wraps, at least for now, while I have eyes on me.

A searing pain that I’ve not felt since I lost my sweet Violet pierces my soul.

I step up closer and place my hand on his blood-covered forehead. It kills me to see this young, full-of-life kid, lifeless, his clothes ragged and coated red. With the palm of my hand, I swipe away the blood splatters on the leather of his cut; the cut that was due to be decorated with the club’s patches. I lay my hand over his heart. If only there was a beat against it.

“We tried CPR, but we were too late, he was already gone.” Mammoth lays Cub’s body gently on the ground. When he straightens up, he pushes his long hair back off his face. I’m met with the dark, sad, brooding eyes of his. I take in the silver scar that runs from just under his left eye across his cheek before disappearing into the thick beard he’s currently sporting. He’s a fierce-looking mountain of a man who, while you wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his wrath, has a softer side to him that only the closest to him gets to see.

“The young dude,” he thumbs over to Brush and the guy supporting him. It’s not someone I recognize, so he must be a new addition to the Florida chapter. “He needs some attention. Said his guts hurt, might just be bruising, still best to get him checked over in case he has internal bleeding.”

“Doc is on the way. Should be here soon.” I step forward and put my arm around Mammoth’s huge shoulder and give him a firm slap on the back. “Thank fuck you’re here.”

“That’s our Doc,” Mammoth gestures to the guy who, along with Edge, is walking Brush up to the clubhouse. “He’s an ex-military medic and will do whatever he can to help.” He chuckles. “Can’t harm having twoDoc’s in the house, but it might get confusing if they go by the same name.”

“True,” I nod, “But at this time that’s the least of my worries.”

A solemn Diesel and Mayhem, who seem to be uninjured albeit covered in grime, arrive and stand looking down at Cub’s blood coated lifeless body. They crouch down at his side, hook their arms under him and lift him from the ground.

“Take him to his room, will you?” I ask of them. “Get a couple of the girls to help clean him up before Wolf gets back.”

Fuck. Wolf has no idea yet what has gone on. That his son is dead. I need to get to him as soon as he’s back and warn him before anyone else gets the chance. I can’t even comprehend the pain he’s going to have to endure. This is going to kill him.

They both acknowledge me with a simple nod. Neither of them has words, but the pain etched on their face at the loss of their brother is heart piercing.

“We’ll park up, get our gear inside, then we’ll look at securing the entrance. You got someone who can move the wreck outside before the cops come crawling?”

“Yeah, I’ll get Stone on it.”

“Where is the fucker?” Mammoth tips his head. “Not like him to be MIA when there’s trouble.”

“I could say the same for Cannon? Where’s he at?”

“His old lady, Leah, is about to pop a brat. If he isn’t around when it happens, let’s just say he wouldn’t be adding to his family.”

“Understand. Stone is up at the cabin; he’s checkinghis woman and kid are okay.” I can’t deny that I’m also itching to get up there so I can check on Tenley. “In fact, I need to get up there, but first I need to check on everyone inside, then we have decisions to make.”

“That fucker,” he chuckles. With his heavy arm resting across my shoulder, he joins me on the walk to the clubhouse. “Never thought I’d see Stone pussy whipped.”

“He’s not the only one,” I throw back, side-eyeing him.

“I can’t argue with that,” he shouts back. “My old lady, Dana, has me firmly by the balls.”

Little does he know that I’m referring to myself.

Chapter

Thirty

Smoke

After checking in with Blackjack and Edge and ensuring everyone is safe and accounted for, I make my way to the cabin. While I walk, I pull out my phone and fire off a message to Wolf, asking him when he’ll be back at the clubhouse. I thought he’d be back by now. In some ways, I’m grateful that he isn’t. I hate that he has no idea what has gone down here, that his son is dead. Still, at least it’s given us the time to clean Cub up. The cuts to his face and body are far from superficial, but now that his wounds are cleaner, the bulk of the bloody mess gone, it’s less horrific to look at. Not that Wolf is squeamish, nonetheless this is his son, and no father should have to see his child like that, let alone outlive them. The pain he endured when he lost his woman I could relate to. I’d lost the love of my life, too. Still, the loss of a child, a brutal one at that, I can’t even begin to comprehend.

The response I get back from my message to Wolf is that he and the girls are going to be at least another hour as they’ve had to drive over to the next town to get some of the supplies needed. I send him a simple thumbs up emoji in response.

I want to be waiting for him when he gets back, but I desperately need to see Tenley.

I don’t knock; I power through the door, not even stopping to kick off my boots. Don’t give a shit if the floor gets scuffed. I’ll pay for the wood to get professionally cleaned if needed.

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