Chapter One
Sapphire
“Hey Doc,” Mandy called. “You have patients waiting in Rooms three, four, and six.”
“Thank you,” Sapphire said, walking into her office.
She started this practice fresh out of medical school four years ago. Being a physical therapist was always her dream and she loved her job. She loved helping people. As she hung her jacket on the rack next to the door, she had the same sense of pride fill her soul when she saw the name plaque on her desk — Dr. Stephanie Kimber, Ph.D. Smiling to herself, she walked around her desk and pulled up today’s schedule. Being one of the most sought after physical therapists in the state, she stayed pretty busy.
“Sapphire, your mother is on line one. She wants to make sure you’ll be at the clubhouse this evening. She said there is a members meeting at seven.” Sapphire looked up to see her assistant Emily at the door. Emily had been her best friend since middle school.
“I’ll take the call,” Sapphire answered.
“Are you sure?” Emily asked. “You have patients waiting and you know how long-winded your mother can be.”
Laughing, Sapphire nodded her head, “Yeah. I got it. Perfect excuse to cut the conversation short.”
Grabbing the phone from its cradle on her desk, Sapphire gave her mother a quick hello.
“I was just calling to remind you of the club meeting tonight. You are going to be here, right?”
“Yes, Ma.”
“Okay, good. Also, T-bone will be stopping by the house.” Her mother had tried her best to find Sapphire a husband. She wanted to chain her to someone affiliated with a club, hoping it would entice her to take over when her mother retired. But that wasn’t the life Sapphire wanted. And there was no way in hell she would date a guy named T-Bone.
“Mother, that is a cut of meat. Not a name.”
“Sapphire!”
“What? It is. And I am perfectly capable of finding my own man. Your help is not needed,” Sapphire continued. “Appreciated, but definitely not needed.”
“You said you wanted college, a career, and a man. I am just trying to help you.”
“No you’re not, Ma. You are trying to hook me up with a guy from another club in hopes for strengthening the influence that the Angels have in the area. I told you, that is not the life I want. I am not taking over. Give the title to Paris.”
“Sapphire...”
“Look, Ma. I have patients waiting for me. I will talk to you this evening after the meeting.” Sapphire had to get off the phone before her temper got the better of her. “I love you.”
Not even waiting to hear her mother’s reply, Sapphire ended the call. Her mother was off her rocker!
T-Bone? Who the hell choose T-Bone as a damn name?
Shaking her head, Sapphire walked out of the room and one by one visited with each of her patients. As one person left, another took their place.
The day was crazy and chaotic, just like she liked it. The busier she was, the more accomplished she felt. As the day progressed, Sapphire couldn’t help but wish she could extend her clinic hours. She was not looking forward to going to the clubhouse.
She loved the members, loved her mother and sisters — but she hated the politics of it all. She hated the bullshit and drama. Those were two things Sapphire could never deal with — she was allergic to bullshit and drama. She’d check a motherfucker in a heartbeat, man or woman. As the oldest daughter of Penelope “Pope” Kimber, Sapphire was taught at an early age how to handle herself and men. When you live in a world dominated by mostly guys, you had to learn a thing or two, and you had to learn them quick. Sapphire hadn’t met a man yet that she wouldn’t stand toe to toe with. As her Ma always said, ‘If you put yourself in a man’s place, you better be ready to defend yourself like one’. And operating a female MC, definitely put them in a man’s place, constantly. All of her sisters were raised the same. Take no shit, badass, alpha females. Sapphire smiled to herself thinking about the poor men that would end up in relationships with the Kimber sisters.
They better have balls of steel.
After seeing her last patient and finishing charts, Sapphire grabbed her jacket from its hook and headed out the door, setting the alarm and locking it behind her. Walking into the parking lot, it was mostly bare, everyone had already left for the day hours ago.
Footsteps quickly caught Sapphire’s attention. Before she could turn around, a hand yanked her backwards. Her back collided with the hard chest of a man. A hand snaked into her hair and a knife landed on her throat.
“Give me your money bitch!” The foul smell of stale alcohol filled her nose.
“Okay,” Sapphire said. “But you have to let go of my hair so I can see into my purse.”
“Not a chance, you dumb bitch,” the man answered.
Sapphire rolled her eyes. This motherfucker has lost his mind.
“You got away with calling me a bitch once, don’t push your luck, asshole,” Sapphire gritted out. The only thing she would be handing over to this fuckface was an ass whooping.
The guy pulled her hair even harder, but Sapphire wasn’t tender headed. He could pull that shit all night long. It wouldn’t bother her a bit. But she had places to be, so this would have to end quickly.
Before the guy could reply, Sapphire threw her head back, the loud crunch of bone indicating she had broken his nose. Shoving away the arm holding the knife against her throat, she twisted out of his grip. Throwing her weight into it, she delivered a sharp right hook to his jaw and followed it with a roundhouse kick. Sapphire watched with a sadistic grin as the would-be mugger fell to the ground. Grabbing the discarded knife, she straddled his chest and put the knife to his throat.
“Understand this fucker, if you ever show your face around here again, I will not only beat your ass a second time, but I will gladly give you a vaginoplasty. Do you know what that is? No? It means I cut off all your little boy parts and make you my bitch!” Sapphire smiled sweetly. “Do I make myself clear?”
She waited until the mugger nodded his head yes, then climbed off of him. Tossing the knife down the gutter drain, Sapphire calmly walked over to her shiny yellow and chrome Harley.
Straddling her bike, she watched as the guy ran off down the road in the opposite direction. With a turn of a key and push of a button, the bike rumbled beneath her. She might not want to run the MC, but her bike would always be a part of her.
Pulling out of the parking lot, Sapphire headed in the direction of the clubhouse. She would be late, thanks to the asshole in the parking lot. She would have to listen to her mother complain — ‘You’re supposed to be an example. If you’re late, everyone else thinks it’s acceptable to be late too. No order means no leadership. Blah, Blah, Blah.’
Sapphire pulled into the clubhouse with two minute to spare. Technically, she wasn’t late, but to her mother it would be the same difference. With a heavy sigh, she climbed off her bike and headed inside. As she closed the door, her youngest sister was there to greet her.
“What the hell happened to you? You’re bleeding,” Scarlet asked, concern evident on her face.
“What?” Sapphire asked.
“Your throat. It’s cut. Like a little nick.”
“Oh. Some asshole tried to mug me when I was leaving the clinic.”
“Please tell me you beat the shit out of him?”
Sapphire turned to look at her sister. Raising an eyebrow, she just looked at her knowing her face said everything she needed to.
“That’s what I thought,” Scarlet laughed. Throwing an arm over Sapphire’s shoulder, they walked into the club meeting room together.
“Glad you could finally join us,” said Sable, Sapphire’s second youngest sister.
“Fuck off, Sable. I am not in the mood for your shit,” Sapphire countered.
“Sapphire was almost mugged leaving work. Try to be less of a twat for once. Can you do that, Sable?” Scarlet asked.
“Mugged?” Sapphire turned to see her mother approaching. Pope Kimber was still in the prime of her life. “Who the fuck tried to mug you?”
“Some punk ass kid. I handled it.”
There was no way she would tell her mother who it was, even if she actually knew. The Iron Angels were a totally legal organization, but her mother wouldn’t think twice about putting a hit on someone for messing with her kids. Even though Sapphire and her sister were all adults, her mother was still over-protective on most days.
“Fine,” Pope replied. “Let’s get this meeting started. We’re late.”
The meeting proceeded like normal. The group talked about problems within the organization and how to fix them and issues with local gangs and drug dealers. For the most part, Iron Angels stayed within the law. No drugs, no guns, no prostitution. Those were the rules. If Pope found out that you broke one of those rules — she’d strip you of your cut and personally deliver you to the police. The Iron Angels made their money via lawful, respectable businesses. Sapphire was the doctor, Piper was a police detective, Sable was an attorney, and Scarlet was a CPS worker. Then there was Ma. She owned one of the largest shipping companies in the country. Money wasn’t a problem for the club, so there wasn’t any reason for illegal activity.
As the meeting ended, Sapphire was ready to get home. She wanted a hot bath, a cold beer or two, and to go to bed — all in that order. But before she could even make it out of the door, her mother called her back.
“Don’t leave yet. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Ma, I’m tired. I want to go home. I have to work tomorrow.”
“That’s what it’s about. I have someone I would like for you to see, if you can fit her into your schedule.”
“Really?” Sapphire was surprised.
“Yes,” her mother answered. “Everybody, out!”
Sapphire knew it must be important if Pope was clearing the room to talk to her. She didn’t know if she should be intrigued or nervous by her mother’s actions.
“I got a call from Sledge. He’s the President of the Devil’s Henchmen,” Pope said once the last person exited the room and closed the door.
“I know of him, but I’ve never met him,” Sapphire replied. “What does he need a physical therapist for?”
“It’s not for him,” Pope answered. “Diesel, who is one of his crew and Diesel’s woman were involved in an accident about a year ago.”
“Okay?”
“Rachel was injured pretty badly. Actually, she’s paralyzed.”
“Oh shit! What happened?” Sapphire felt sorry for the woman. Paralysis was an evil injury.
“There was a fire. The house collapsed and a beam fell on her and broke her back. I am not one hundred percent sure of all the details. Anyway, Sledge was researching online and your name popped up. So he called me. He wants you to work with Diesel’s woman. See if you can help her.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Spinal injuries are tricky, though.”
“Just visit with her. See if you can help her. Medical technology is advancing every day. And you’re one of the best.”
“Ma, I’m not a neurosurgeon. Repairing broken backs isn’t my thing.”
“Sapphire, get her in to see whoever she needs to. Then you see her. Work with her. I have faith in you. I know you can help her. She is just a baby, maybe twenty years old.” Pope wasn’t known for taking no for an answer. And honestly, Sapphire didn’t want to say no. She became a therapist to help anyone who needed her.
“Okay, I’ll get her added to Cleo’s schedule and then I’ll visit with her,” Sapphire conceded. “I can’t promise a miracle, but I’ll see what I can do to help.”
“Thank you,” Pope kissed Sapphire’s cheek and headed out the door. “Now, come say hello to T-Bone.”
Not a chance! No. Fuckin. Way.
With a heavy sigh, Sapphire walked out of the meeting room, but all she wanted to do was go home. Maybe drink four or six beers, then go to bed. Tomorrow was approaching way too quickly. With a quick look around to make sure nobody was watching, Sapphire headed towards the door.
“Are you really sneaking out of the house?” Piper laughed.
“Yep,” Sapphire answered, continuing her escape.
Leaving the clubhouse as quietly as she could, she got on her bike, completely avoiding T-Bone, her mother, and the rest of her sisters — and headed home.