Page 44 of Torch
“What if it’s someone you’re close with, and care about? You talk like it’ll be easy to kill whoever it is, but what if killing them hurts you even more?” Well, fuck. Hadn’t that been at the back of my mind the whole time? There were a handful of guys I was really close with, and I was pretty sure they were all innocent, at least of this bunch of sick shit, but what if?
What if we found the fucker, and it turned out to be someone I loved like a brother? There were guys in the club that nobody was all that close with. They lived offsite, they worked day jobs, and they came along on rides and stuff, but that was it.
Weren’t we all just hoping it was one of them? They had access, even if they didn’t live onsite, and they knew more than an outsider would. It had to be one of them, right? We kept looking inward, at the guys living onsite, but was that more about ruling out the ones we trusted the most?
“She’s got a point, man. I mean, there’s a bunch of you I’d already ruled out in my head, but what if one of those is playing me for a fool, and I’m gonna have to deal with losing someone I’m close to?” Dammit, Ryder, don’t you start now too.
“If it keeps Tori safe though?”
He cursed, taking the last turn towards the road which led to the clubhouse.
“Fuck’s sake. Obviously Tori’s safety matters more to me, but imagine if it was someone we’ve ruled out, like Ice, or Has.”
“It isn’t either of them, man. No fucking way. Has? His old lady was taken twice, for fuck’s sake, and he got attacked too.”
“What if someone faked being attacked, so it’d take the heat off them though,” Grace suggested, and my blood ran cold in my veins. If that were true, they might suspect me too, and I knew it wasn’t me. This was the problem with this situation, anyone could be suspected, and it would be so easy to misjudge the facts, and who’d believe that person then, when they protested their innocence?
“Jesus. Let’s just get back there, and talk with Stitch.”
We stayed silent until we were leading Grace into the clubhouse, tucked firmly under my arm, and with her face hidden from any of the guys milling about in the bar area. Seriously, so many of them had sleeping bags there right now, it was like a big dorm room, and that was a place I wanted her nowhere near.
“Hey, Stitch says to meet up in his room,” Ice suddenly called out to us from the stairs, because of course he’d have known we’d arrived, from his many screens. We led the way to Stitch’s room, tapping on the door, and stepping inside when he opened it. He cast a compassionate look at Grace.
“Do you need to see Doc first, darlin’?” She shook her head, lifting her chin, to try and portray that inner strength of hers, even though I knew it was intimidating for her to suddenly be in a room with many large bikers, after what she’d just been through. Has, Ice, Grease, and Stitch were there, with the two of us, and beside Ice was Lissa.
“Hi, Grace, I hope you don’t mind me being here. I’m uh… they wanted me here in case you need support from someone a little less testosterone-y.”
Her calm manner seemed to relax Grace a little, as it always did for all of us, and as Stitch moved everyone out of the way, and offered one of his armchairs to Grace, I dropped into it, and pulled her onto my lap. She needed me right now, and even if she didn’t, I wasn’t sure I could let her go.
“Let me start by saying how incredibly sorry I am that you’ve been caught up in all of this. Obviously our hope was that this bastard hadn’t figured out your connection to the club, and that you weren’t at risk.”
Grace
Lissabroughtmeacup of sweet tea, and some painkillers, which was what I really needed right now, followed by an ice pack for the side of my face, which was throbbing in concert with my heartbeat.
“I know you probably just want to get some rest, but we could do with knowing what you know, before any details might slip away from you.” Stitch was at least familiar to me, and had a gentle approach that I appreciated right now.
None of the men in the room were built like my attacker, so at least I knew he wasn’t here right now. I turned to Torch, which wasn’t easy when I was sitting in his lap, and facing mostly forward.
“It’s none of them, Torch. If these are the ones you’re closest to, you’re not being betrayed.”
“Wait, what? You thought it was one of us?” The vaguely-familiar guy with the beanie asked, looking horrified. I’d been introduced to everyone, even though I knew a few of them, but the names of the others had escaped me almost immediately.
Ryder spoke up quickly. “Not necessarily, we were just worrying that it might not necessarily be one of the guys we’re not close with. You all are great, but we’re all close with others, right? It’s a tight knit club.”
Stitch sighed, rubbing both hands over his face and taking a deep breath.
“I swear, this shit is going to destroy this club. Whoever this fucker is, we need to find them. Now, Grace, darlin’. I know you’ve been through an ordeal, but can you tell us what happened?”
Lissa leaned forward from her seat beside Ice on the sofa. I remembered their names, of course, because I’d met them both before and even knew Lissa pretty well.
“Are you comfortable with everyone being here? If not, they can leave the room.” Stitch frowned in her direction, but nodded at me.
“Yeah. You want these ugly fuckers to clear out?” There were a few grumbles in response, but I shook my head. Strangely, I felt safer in a room full of these guys right now, knowing none of them were the man who attacked me.
“He got into my house somehow. That’s… I heard a noise downstairs, and at first I didn’t think it was… like sometimes the neighbours make a noise, and I think it’s downstairs. Ugh, sorry. The facts. Let’s see, he broke in downstairs, and got into my room while I was trying to phone the police for help. I rang 999 and it connected, but he ended the call, and… and he pinned me down on my bedroom floor, and… and…” Oh god.Don’t cry. Don’t cry in front of all of these big strong people. Don’t be that loser.
“It’s okay, babe. Take your time. You’re safe now,” Torch whispered, kissing my temple. I could do this. I fucking had to.
