Chapter Two ~ Chasan
Chasan rolled over in bed, exhausted from a night spent laying awake, thinking about the bartender at the Screaming Fox. He’d moved down to Newbury from Oregon several months ago, and he’d enjoyed his time getting to know the Skulls, but he’d been lonely. Fenix and the others had been pushing a bevy of women on him since he arrived, and while he appreciated the gesture, that side of the MC life just wasn’t for him. He’d spent years building up a rep that made it possible for him to move and become part of the skulls, but romance had never been on his radar.
Until now.
There was something about the way she had looked at him; he couldn’t get her huge hazel eyes out of his mind. He knew that Fenix looked at Kessi like a daughter, and he didn’t want to make anything awkward, but the idea of being around her and not making a move wasn’t something he could fathom. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen; she was tall, but curvy, her hair was long, and curly, dark with red highlights, and those hazel eyes like nothing he’d ever seen.
Today was the one day that the Skulls didn’t have to meet up at Fenix’s house to plan out their shit for the next month, but they still were supposed to show up at the Fox that night to drink and bond. As the new guy, Chasan was expected to be at every meet up without fail, especially if he didn’t want to piss anyone off, but if that meant he got to see Kessi again, he had no problem with it. He’d just spend the morning working on his house, nap, and then head over to the Fox after dark.
Chasan had bought a huge house on the water when he’d moved to Newbury, but it was a real fixer-upper. It had cost him next-to-nothing, especially compared to what he’d made selling his house in Oregon, which meant he could afford to really make it beautiful. But that meant pretty much any time he wasn’t with the Skulls, he was laying hardwood floors, or trying to install an entirely new plumping system, or tearing down forty-year-old wallpaper. It was soothing in a way he couldn’t explain, but he’d rather be putting down tile than hanging out in bars or clubs like most guys his age.
But tonight; tonight he couldn’t wait to get to the Screaming Fox. He just wouldn’t admit to the guys it was because he wanted to see Kessi again.
* * *
When Chasan got to the Screaming Fox that night, he was the first of the Sculls to arrive. There wasn’t a single bike in the lot; only what he assumed was Kessi’s station wagon. When he got inside, he saw her facing the bottles at the back, seemingly wiping down the same spot over and over again. Her long dark hair was hanging down in front of her face and she didn’t look up, even when the bell over the door signaled his entrance. He thought that maybe she hadn’t heard him over the Skynard playing on the juke box.
“Hey, Kessi. Nice night, isn’t it?” he shouted out to her, feeling like an idiot. He ran his hand through his hair trying to look cool, but Kessi didn’t turn around. She just waved. Chasan bit his lip and sat at a table in the corner, watching as Kessi inched back and forth, up and down the bar, without ever turning to face him. He was starting to feel a little offended, when the rest of the Skulls came bursting in to the bar, shouting “hellos” and “what’s up girls,” but Kessi didn’t turned for them either. She just waved again.
Two of the other guys, Wheeler and Forty-Five, joined Chasan at his table while Fenix went up to the bar to get them all drinks. They were just starting to ask Chasan about his work on the house when they heard Fenix scream,
“What the FUCK, Kessi?”
All of the men turned, but Chasan was on his feet and next to Fenix before anyone else had even moved. What he saw made him take a few steps back from the bar. Kessi’s face was covered in bruises and one of her eyes was swollen shut. She had a huge lump on her forehead, and her lip had been split right down the middle. Chasan felt his blood begin to boil, but it was nothing compared to the rage burning on Fenix’s face.
“Kessi, you tell me what happened right now. I mean it, girl. Now.”
Tears started pouring out of Kessi’s eyes, and Chasan could see it was painful for her to be showing emotion at all. He wanted to dive over the bar and gather her in his arms and make everything better, even though he had no idea what to do. Kessi grabbed a napkin from the bar and gently dabbed at her eyes, wincing when she touched the swollen skin. Chasan wanted to say something, but all he could do was stand there.
“Fenix, I don’t want you getting involved. It will only mean trouble for you guys, and I don’t want you getting in trouble for me, you understand?” Kessi whispered through lips that she could barely open.
“Why did you come in? Why aren’t you at the hospital? Or home resting?” Chasan asked.
Kessi scoffed. “Because I have a little girl to take care of, and if I’m not here, there is no one else to make the money we need for rent and groceries. Plus, the hospital costs money. And doctors ask questions. My best friend fixed me up as best she could, but I had no choice. I have to be here.”
Fenix slammed his fist down on the bar so hard, all of the bottles rattled. Chasan tried not to react, but it had scared the shit out of him.
“Who did this to you, Kessi? You know I’ll find out one way or another.”
Kessi poured herself a shot of absinthe before she answered and took it down straight without a flinch. “I have no idea, Fenix. It happened outside the bar when I was leaving. One minute I was walking to my car and the next minute, there he was.”
“Did he… I mean… Kessi… did he…” Fenix was stuttering over what we were all thinking. She laughed, exhausted.
“No. I fought him off and got to my car. But he tried. Listen, can we just forget about it? Please? I don’t want to cause any trouble, and I know what you guys will do if you find him.”
“Damn right!” Wheeler called out from the back of the bar, and all of the other Sculls stared agreeing. Kessi leaned over and put her head on the bar, clearly shattered, and in need of a break that she wasn’t going to get without some help. Fenix walked around the bar and put his arms around Kessi, pulling her into a gentle but firm hug.
“Whoever did this to you isn’t getting away with it, Kess. I’m going to get Dean down here to take over, and you are going home with one of my boys to watch over you. He’ll help with errands, getting Hanna to school… whatever you need.”
Chasan didn’t even think before he spoke. The words poured out of his mouth in an instant.
“I’ll do it, Marvel. I can take care of her, no problem.”
Fenix turned and looked at Chasan suspiciously, but nodded. “Thank you, kindly, Chasan. We appreciate the gesture and it won’t be forgotten. You drive Kessi home, and we’ll have Nightcrawler bring your bike over later.”
Fenix leaned over to whisper something to Chasan so Kessi couldn’t hear him, but Chasan saw Kessi trying to listen.
“Chasan, I’ll have one of the boys bring over some pain killers for her from the stash as soon as I can. In the meantime, keep your piece on you. If this was the Choppers, they’re going to be pissed she survived, and they may try to finish the job. So keep an eye on her, and Hanna, understand?”
Chasan nodded as Fenix rushed off to call Dean and Kessi grabbed her bag from under the bar. Chasan watched as she painfully inched into her coat, cringing when she bent her arm into the sleeve.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t go to the hospital? Something may be broken,” Chasan asked, unable to hide the worry in his voice. But Kessi gingerly shook her head.
“No way. All of this,” she gestured to her face, “means the cops will be called for sure. And if you’re there with me? They’re just going to assume it was you who did it.”
Chasan tried to hide the hurt in his eyes, but that one stung. Kessi saw it, and she let out a long sigh. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I just now how the cops around here look at the Sculls, and the other MCs. You could be the sweetest guy on the planet, and you look like you might be, but that won’t change the way they perceive you, fair or not.”
Sweetest guy on the planet, huh? Chasan thought with a smile. I’ll take it.
* * *
Once Dean arrived at the bar, Chasan got Kessi settled in her car and followed her directions back to her house. It was already after 11pm, and Kessi was drifting in and out of sleep in the passenger seat, despite the fact she was usually up until seven when Hanna left for school. She’d done several shots at the bar to try and dull the pain of her injuries and they must have been setting in. She only came too long enough to direct Chasan when to turn.
When they pulled in to her driveway, all of the lights were off, except for the gentle glow of a TV in the living room. Kessi was out cold, so Chasan walked over to her side and eased her out of her seat, tucked his arm under her knees and lifted her out of the car. He kicked the door shut as quietly as he could and walked up to the front stoop of Kessi’s house, using his foot to knock, hoping not wake Hanna either.
After a moment, he heard shuffling inside the house, and the door opened to reveal a young woman wrapped in a blanket, with bright pink hair, a lip ring, and a sleepy look on her face. At first she looked annoyed, but when she saw Kessi in his arms, she started fussing.
“Shit! What happened? Did she collapse at work? I TOLD her to call out. I knew she shouldn’t have gone in. I knew it. I told her it was a terrible idea. She should have let me take her to the hospital, but all she would talk about were those damn biker basta…”
She stopped rambling and caught Chasan’s eyes, and then looked down at what he was wearing. Her face stretched into a grimace.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t… Mean… shit. Come in. Put her on the couch.”
Chasan nodded and followed her inside, setting Kessi down on an overstuffed, but worn, dark purple sofa. Then the woman rushed over and took the blanket off her shoulders, throwing it over Kessi. Once she she seemed to be comfortable, the woman gestured for Chasan to follow her into the kitchen. Once they were inside, she reached out her hand.
“I’m Marnie, the best friend. And who the hell are you?”
Chasan couldn’t help but laugh. He appreciated a woman who didn’t stand on ceremony. “Chasan Denner. I’ve been elected to make sure no one else hurts Kessi until we sort out what exactly happened.”
Marnie scowled and put her hands on her hips. “What does that mean? Obviously you’re one of the bikers. But what exactly are you going to do? You think you’re fit to be around Hanna?”
“Well, I can’t really say, but I’m here to help. I won’t push. I don’t know much about Kessi, but I want to be here for her. That’s all.”
Marnie crossed her arms over her chest and eyed Chasan. Hard.
“Alright, then. I’ll leave you to it, but only because I know if you fuck up, Fenix will kill you. Take care of her, man.”
Marnie made a gesture with her fingers that made it clear she would be watching him, then she grabbed her coat and left. Chasan chuckled as he walked into the living room and plopped down in the arm chair next to where Kessi slept. She looked so hurt, so beaten up, it broke his heart. But at the same time, he felt himself getting riled up. He knew it wouldn’t be long before Fenix figured out who had attacked Kessi. And when the Skulls found the bastard…
Chasan would be there.