It was a couple of hours before the three men emerged from the woods into the camp. They were in a different part of West Virginia now, but it was no less secluded, just several hundred miles away from the last location.
When the bikes were turned off and everyone sat around the fire, Cain addressed them.
“Been a long, hard ride, brothers. I want you to know I appreciate what you did for Suzie. In this whole fuckin’ mess, she’s the only one who’s truly innocent.” He pinned Stunner with his piercing gaze. “We have one more mess to clean up before we can go home.” Stunner opened his mouth to tell him to do his worst, but Cain held up a hand. “I’m gonna keep this simple, Stunner. I ain’t gonna kill you, though I won’t lie. I considered it. Strongly.”
Stunner didn’t blame the man. He’d been the one to bring El Diablo right to the fucking front door. While the man wasn’t evil, El Diablo would always be out for El Diablo, or, perhaps, his daughter, Magenta. He would never have the interest of his own club at heart, let alone the interests of another club.
“What I am gonna do is beat your ass. You knew it was comin’, so you should be prepared. Trucker will take care of your bike, and you’ll ride in the back of the cage when we’re done. Anything to say before this starts?”
“If it goes further than you intend, make sure Suzie gets all my shit. Ain’t much, but it’s hers.”
“Understood,” Cain acknowledged.
Then the beating commenced…
* * *
Stunner had no idea where they were. All he knew was that he felt like every single bone in his body had been broken. Twice. He tried not to groan at every bump in the road, but, honestly, he was certain Cain had made a pact with Trucker to hit every single pothole there was.
They’d been kind enough to give him some ice for the swelling on his face, but he was definitely wishing he hadn’t shaved the beard. He’d have had something to hide behind, at least. For most of the ride, he’d lain in the back seat. He knew, though, as they got closer to Kentucky, he needed to pull himself together. No matter how much he was hurting, he would not ride back to the clubhouse in a fuckin’ cage when there was nothing wrong with his fuckin’ bike.
They stopped just inside the border of Pulaski County. Still nearly forty-five minutes from home, but it was a big fuckin’ county. The door to the truck opened. Cain stood there assessing him.
“Not as pretty as you once were.”
“Nothin’ my fuckin’ beard won’t cover.”
“You good enough to ride?” Cain’s face was blank. He sounded like he could give two shits but felt obligated to ask the question.
“Take more than a beatin’ to keep me off my bike in my home territory.”
Cain nodded. “Good. Hop to it.”
Stunner unloaded his bike, taking his time so he could get his legs back under him. No one rushed him. Once he climbed on, he sat up straight, eyes up and on the road.
“Stunner,” Cain called, approaching him. “You forgot something.”
Cain tossed Stunner his colors, the vest he’d stowed in the truck. It had lain folded carefully on the seat beside him. Though Cain had given it back, insisting he keep it, Stunner hadn’t thought he’d ever wear it again.
“You wear those colors. Wear them with your brothers.” He took a step closer, close enough he was right in Stunner’s face. “And while we’re on the way to the clubhouse, you better be fuckin’ thinkin’ ‘bout what you’re gonna say to Suzie. Get down on your fuckin’ knees if you have to, but you will make this right with her. You will grovel at her feet until she forgives you, then you will convince her to wear your fuckin’ property patch. Otherwise, we’ll revisit this.”
Stunner couldn’t help himself. He chuckled. Then he laughed. Then he outright guffawed. To his surprise, Cain joined him before leaning in to hug Stunner. He clapped him on the back several times. Stunner couldn’t help the yelp of pain because he was still laughing. He discovered it was much harder to stifle his shrieks of pain when he was just trying to keep quiet that it was when he was already making noise.
“Fuckin’ bastard,” Stunner half laughed, half groaned. “You fuckin’ did that on purpose.”
“Not denying it. Now. Let’s get home.”
Chapter Nine
Suzie hadn’t come out of her room since Stunner left. First, she knew Vanya had offered herself to him, but Suzie had no idea if he’d accepted. She’d been too hurt and shocked out of her mind to investigate. Or even to find a gun and shoot Vanya. Whether or not Vanya had been successful in getting into Stunner’s bed would determine if Stunner got to live.
Angel had come to her several times, but she couldn’t get the comfort she needed from her mother. In the end, she just stuck a “Leave Me the Fuck Alone” sign on the door and locked it. Then proceeded to have a good cry. Over several hours. Then she managed to doze off.
When she woke, it was to the scent of Stunner…
And blood.
“What the hell?” Suzie sat straight up, shoving herself back and away from the big man sitting on the edge of her bed. It took her a moment to realize it was, in fact, Stunner. He wasn’t talking to her because his face was so swollen she knew it had to hurt to talk.
“Holy shit! Stunner!” She tried to climb
