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  Skull walks to the hallway. He passes the bathroom and knocks on the bedroom door where they keep Kiley. “Dagger’s here and he’s covering for me while I take a dump.” He receives a mumbled reply from Metal, the man assigned to Kiley. He’s assigned to watch her because Fox knows he won’t hesitate to kill her if needed. Fox thinks the same about me too, which only shows how bad some of the shit I’ve done for the club is. Killing children is a line I will never cross and Fox and Metal’s willingness to do so will cost them their lives.

  The bathroom is a few doors down from where Kiley is. Right before Skull closes the door, he turns. “You ain’t growing attached to the kid are you?” he asks softly.

  I don’t want to kill Skull, but I will. He doesn’t like what the club stands for any more than I do. I’ve seen it in his eyes. But after this last remark, he’ll need to prove he’s on board with me. Anyone who’s willing to let a baby go into the hands of some fucked up pedophile needs to be taken out.

  I growl and give a short laugh. “Hell no. I ain’t got room for no brat, especially one who came from between that whore Pauline’s legs.”

  I can’t decipher the look in Skull’s eyes before he closes the bathroom door. I shake it off and walk down the hall. I need to take care of Metal first. I knock and turn the handle. Metal is stretched out on the bed and he looks up when I walk in. Kiley is in the corner being small. She knows what happens when she makes waves and she rarely does. She’s unkempt and I can smell her from here. She wet herself sometime in the last few hours.

  I coached her when we spent time in the room alone together. There wasn’t much I could explain, but she seemed to understand my directions even if she didn’t speak. She looked up at me with her huge eyes and nodded so slightly I almost didn’t notice. I went over what I needed her to do when I brought the doll several times. Now, I need to trust that small nod.

  I look down at the doll in my hand knowing it’s the first one she’s ever had. The doll is a type of rag doll that she can hold close. Pauline kept Kiley mostly at the clubhouse. I would see her in a corner or under a shelf behind the bar while her mother fucked every biker who would give her a few minutes of attention. Every minute of this child’s life has been filled with fucked up shit.

  All six foot and over three hundred pounds of Metal slowly rises from the bed. “The fuck?” he grunts.

  I hold up my wrapped wrist. “I laid down my bike and my fucking hand hurts like a bitch. Promised the kid a doll if she stopped her cryin’ shit yesterday. Her stomach hurt or some such shit and I couldn’t take it. Back the fuck off and let her have the doll. I’m out of here for some R and R as soon as Skull’s out of the can.”

  “Fox will have your balls. The kid don’t need anything but an ass whippin’ for cryin’.”

  I smile calmly, though I want to strangle him. “Fuck, almost lost my balls last night when a fuckin’ big rig pulled in front of me. It was fucking turn and lay down or take a monster wheel to the head.”

  Metal laughs like I want him to. I walk to Kiley and bend down. I place the doll in her arms and wink. She doesn’t utter a sound, just pulls the doll in close and shuts her eyes like we rehearsed. It’s the best I can do.

  I stand up and turn to Metal. He’s watching me with a sneer. The two of us have never liked each other. “I’ll wait out front for Skull, can’t stand the smell of the brat. You might try changing her now and then.”

  “Fuck that. She can ask for the toilet.”

  I walk by Metal, slip my knife out, and partially turn while concealing the weapon. “Hey, Metal,” I say. He has dismissed me and turned to the bed. He stops and before he can completely shift his stance, I step in close and slit his throat. It’s a deep, clean cut from ear to ear. Most people have no idea of the intricacies of killing someone this way. If you do it correctly, it accomplishes three things—you must sever the trachea below the larynx to prevent sound, sever the carotid artery and prevent oxygenated blood from reaching the brain and sever the jugular so blood easily flows from the brain. I know what the fuck I’m doing.

  Metal’s hands come up and his eyes are as round as his bald head. He tries to speak—his lips move in mute horror as his brain is deprived of oxygen and blood gurgles from his mouth and throat. He sinks to his knees. The fucker’s big and I don’t need a heavy thud. I grab his shoulders as his body starts to shake. He’s dead, his brain just doesn’t know it yet. I bring him forward, which gives me a nice jolt of pain to my injured wrist. I grit my teeth.

  This is not even close to being over.

  Once he’s on the ground, I look at Kiley. Her eyes are tightly closed and her body is as still as a mouse. “Hold the doll and keep ’em closed, Kiley,” I whisper as I walk over and pick her up. I use my bad hand to release the latch on the bookcase. The safe sits back two feet and is open to make it easier to place her inside if shit goes down. It’s just big enough for her dead body, and I can’t fight the anger that boils through me. I place her in between the safe and the wall. She never opens her eyes. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She doesn’t acknowledge me. I close the bookcase and click the latch so it stays closed.

  I slip out the door and head to the living room to wait for Skull. He comes out with his hands at his belt. He’s not nearly as big as Metal, but I’m not taking chances. I have a gun pointing at him when he looks up. My shirt and DCMC cut are covered in Metal’s blood.

  “Don’t move your hands or I’ll put a bullet through your head.”

  “Fuck, Dagger, what the fuck?”

  “Metal’s dead. I’m taking the child. You’ve got two choices.” I take out my cell and make a call without taking my eyes or the gun off Skull. Again, my wrist lets me know it’s in pain. Skull is smart enough to stay where he is. “Got her, be sure to park in the back.” I push End and pocket the phone. “I have friends coming for Kiley and then I’m leaving to take out Fox.”

  He starts to raise his hands but stops himself. “Fuck, Dagger, fuck.” His eyes never leave mine. I’ve had no qualms with Skull though he’s been involved in some of the same messed up shit I’ve been in. He does his job. The part that makes me hesitate in killing him is that he doesn’t enjoy it. Not like Metal who gloried in causing pain and who deserves to be lying in a puddle of his own blood.

  I nod my chin to the bedroom door behind Skull. “There’s been a lot of shit in this club that I can’t stomach, but I’ve done it. That child in there is where I’m drawing the line. Selling a baby to some pedophile is my line. I’m taking over the club with or without you.”

  His eyes leave the gun and meet mine. “I told my old lady about the kid. It’s been buggin’ me, but I didn’t know what to do.” Talking to an old lady about this shit is taboo. I let him continue. “I’m with you, Dagger, but you know we’re both gonna die. At least let me call my old lady so she can go somewhere safe.”

  I understand what he’s asking. Fox will kill his old lady after beating the shit out of her and letting every man in the club rape her. It doesn’t change the way this is going down. “That’s not happening. Maybe this will give you more incentive to have my back. Johns, Coke, and Vampire are with me.” I use the gun to wave at the couch. “Walk over there and sit down. Keep your hands where I can see them and don’t think about going for your gun or you’re dead.” With his head down, he walks slowly to the couch and sits. Skull understands our world and so does his old lady. I doubt any of us expect to go out of this world easy.

  I’m worried about Kiley, but there’s nothing I can do at the moment. If I killed Skull outright, I would already have her out of the closet. Now, she’s safer in there. In all actuality, I need Skull. He has a few guys who might side with me if given the chance. Skull’s legs jump up and down, tapping on the carpet in agitation or nervousness. I’m worried but try not to show it. That’s half the game and I learned to play the hard way in prison. Before I was sentenced, I’d had exactly one traffic ticket in my life. Savannah’s death changed everything. She would
not be proud of the man I’ve become and I’ve decided to change that.

  Ten very long minutes later, the sound of a vehicle pulling up and then around to the back allows me to unwind just a bit. I walk to the front door and open it. I move to the side of the door and closer to Skull so no one is between him and a bullet.

  The man they call Rack comes through first. His gun is drawn and he turns it toward Skull. I don’t acknowledge him. Rack’s a big white guy, and it’s Gomez who’s going to determine if I take out Skull or not. Gomez enters—his dark skin and heritage prominent. Skull’s eyes grow large. Fox would have our heads for just smiling at a wet-back fuckin’ Mexican. Fox’s words. I’m not only smiling, I’m getting into the same bed. Celina comes in behind Gomez. I don’t pay attention to her, though I know she has a single thought on her mind.

  “Skull, this is my friend Alex Gomez.” Friends is most likely pushing it with Moon’s enforcer. “If the name sounds familiar, you’ve heard it in connection with Moon.” I let this sink in and allow Skull to put two and two together. “He’s taking Kiley and once Fox and his crew are out of the picture, I’ll be doing business with him directly.”

  Skull gulps and it’s almost funny to watch. He makes to stand but thinks better of it. He raises his hands up. “I’m with you, brother. I got no problem with finding someone else to do business with.”

  I give him a nod. “Sit tight while I grab Kiley.”

  Rack keeps his gun steady and I turn to Gomez. “It’s messy. Let me get her.”

  Celina is the one who answers. “You’re not keeping me away from my niece for another second. Take me to her now.”

  Gomez lifts his chin toward the back of the house. I put my gun in the concealed holster at the small of my back and head down the hallway. I enter the room and step over Metal’s body to get to the bookcase. There’s a lot of blood soaking into the carpet and Celina gives a small gasp. “I’ll take her out,” I say with finality. I open the bookcase.

  The baby’s eyes are shut and she’s gripping the doll tightly. “Hey, Kiley. I’m going to pick you up. Keep those eyes closed for me for just a bit longer, baby.”

  Her eyes squint harder. She’s so still and it’s from knowing nothing but pain in her short life. That’s about to change. I lift her and back out of the closet. She’s wet against my arms, but I know Celina won’t mind. I turn and hand her over. “Keep your eyes closed, Kiley,” I remind her again.

  “Oh, baby, you’re okay now,” Celina whispers. She hugs Kiley close and follows Gomez from the room. I kick Metal’s head when I walk past his body. The fucker deserved to die. I watched him beat a woman to death once. Fox laughed, and when I tried to stop it, I took a good thrashing from several of the club members for interfering. That was shortly after I earned my full patch. If it were before, I’d be dead.

  When we’re back in the main room, Gomez pulls his gun. “Rack, get them out to the car, I’ll be there in a moment.” I suddenly realize both mine and Skull’s lives might be over. Celina looks at me and gives me a slight smile through teary eyes before she walks out the door. The door closes and I turn my gaze to Gomez. His gun is on Skull.

  “You trust him?” Gomez asks me.

  I turn to Skull and give him a hard look. “I do. He has an old lady who’s in danger and that makes him unpredictable. Take him with you and get his woman. Keep them safe while I take care of business.”

  “No,” Skull says and, like an idiot, stands up. He eyes Gomez. “Could you pick up my woman from work? Dagger needs the backup.” He turns his attention to me. “I wasn’t letting Fox hurt the child. My wife has a sister and we were taking her there. You need me, and as long as I know the old lady’s safe, I’m your man. Johns, Coke, and Vampire are good men. You’ve chosen wisely, but you still need me. A few of the other guys will back me and essentially back you. I want nothing to do with heading up the club and I agree—it’s time to eliminate the bad blood in the DC.”

  “Are you willing to help with his old lady?” I ask Gomez.

  “Give me the information and it’s done. I have a man on a bike around the corner who can pick her up if she’ll come easy.”

  “I’ll write a note and she’ll go with your man,” Skull replies. There’s a newspaper on the coffee table. He sits back down and picks up the pencil beside it that he most likely used for the crossword puzzles he enjoys so much. He tears off a corner of the paper and scribbles a quick note. He puts his hand out to Gomez.

  Gomez grabs the note and turns to me. “Good luck,” is all he says.

  He walks out and I’m alone with Skull. I hope the two of us aren’t dead men.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Celina

  “HEY, BABY, YOU CAN open your eyes,” I whisper against her ear. I’m holding her against my chest with the rag doll between us. She’s so still. My head is tipped down and my neck is pulled to an odd angle so I can see her eyes. Alex is sitting next to me with Rack driving. Finally her little eyelids peek open. “I’m your Aunt Celina,” I tell her softly. “We’re taking a short drive and when we get you home, I’ll change you into something dry and you can eat. Would you like that?”

  She doesn’t answer. Her eyes are glued on Alex and when he turns and looks at her, she closes them again. Alex gives me a tight smile. Her condition is worse than when I saw her the first time. Her clothes are beyond soiled and she reeks of urine. The injustice of what this poor baby has lived through is more than enough to break my heart. She’s nothing but skin and bones in my arms.

  It’s only about an hour before I see the gates of Moon’s home, but it seems like a lifetime. I actually wish I was taking her to a real home where I could keep her away from everything violent. Until Fox is dead, this is as safe as I can make her. I refuse to think of the dead man back at the house where they kept Kiley or the blood covering Dax. I can never repay him for what he’s done, and thinking that he might not survive is too much for me to handle right now.

  I’m all in. I knew someone would die and I didn’t call the police or even try to stop it. I’m no different than Moon or Alex. This is the world I chose. Keeping Kiley safe is the most important thing in my life.

  Alex takes her from my arms after he steps from the car. His shirt will be unwearable after he holds her against him, but he doesn’t seem to care. Kiley fell asleep halfway to the house and her little body went as floppy as the rag doll that I’m now carrying.

  Alex takes her straight to his apartment. Moon and another man rise from the couch in the small living area. Alex called Moon when we were safe and gave him our estimated time of arrival.

  Moon makes introductions. “Celina, this is my friend, Dr. Santos. He specializes in pediatrics and I want him to have a look at your niece.”

  The doctor gives me a reassuring smile with gentle brown eyes. I move the rag doll to my other arm and shake the hand he offers. His voice is soft but firm. “I think it would be best if we did this in a smaller room. Please carry the child into the bedroom, Señor Gomez. Gracias.”

  Alex heads to the spare bedroom where I first slept. He rests Kiley on the bed and kisses my cheek before leaving the room. The door closes softly behind him, but I only have eyes for my niece.

  “Señor Moon told me about the situation, but it would be best if I heard it from you. Some of my exam can be performed while she sleeps, but we will need to wake her eventually.”

  I lift my eyes. I can’t help the tears that roll down my cheeks. “She’s just a baby.” The doctor moves closer and awkwardly pats my back. I fill my lungs with air to gain control of myself and repeat the entire story, excluding the dead man who was at my feet an hour ago.

  I keep my eyes on Kiley so I know she’s sleeping. Dr. Santos listens patiently and doesn’t comment until I’m finished speaking. “Children are resilient. From this moment forward, she will heal. I’m a pediatric oncologist and I’ve seen children do miraculous things. I will begin my examination now and explain what I am doing.”

  He
examines her scalp for trauma and her hair for lice. Her little feet are bare and he checks her toenails and fingernails. There’s a soft knock on the door and I glance over. Alex steps in and hands me a pink baby blanket. I have no idea where he got it. He gives me another tight smile and steps out again without saying anything.

  “I don’t want to startle her, but we need to remove her clothes so I can check her for bruises, cuts, and other physical injuries. It’s normal for children in her circumstances not to show pain. The only way to be sure is to check her thoroughly.”

  The doctor moves away when I sit on the side of the bed next to Kiley. I place my hand on her shoulder. “Hey, Kiley, sleepyhead. Can you open your eyes for your Aunt Celina?” Her eyes fly open and she looks around as much as she can without moving. “Here’s your doll.” I place it next to her. It takes a moment, but then her little hand sneaks out and grabs it. “We need to get you out of those clothes, hun. I have a blanket for you. It’s soft and cuddly—your doll will like it too. Can you sit up for me?”

  She doesn’t hesitate and sits up immediately. Her eyes go to the doctor. “This is Dr. Santos. He won’t hurt you, but he needs to look at your belly. Is that okay?” I have no idea if I should ask her or just tell her. Even if she doesn’t want this, it needs to be done. I just can’t bring myself to demand anything. I grab the bottom of her dirty yellow shirt and bring it up a bit. She doesn’t do a thing as I pull it to one side and slide her arm through. I take care of the other arm next and then bring the shirt over her head. I toss it on the floor because it’s filthy. Not that the comforter won’t need to be washed when we’re done, but I hope to never see the clothes she’s wearing again.

  I lift the blanket and wrap it around her shoulders but not before I notice the black and blue bruises on her shoulder. They’re finger marks and look like she was grabbed roughly. I pretend nothing is wrong, though every nerve ending I possess is screaming to beat the shit out of the person responsible. “Lie back, baby, so I can get the rest off. I’ll put you in a bath as soon as the doctor finishes.” She lies back and I remove her shorts. The shorts are yellow with dried urine and she’s wearing no underwear. I’m guessing she’s potty-trained because otherwise I would think she’d be in a diaper. Really, though, what the hell do I know? She’s so compliant and that alone drives my anger up another notch.