Chapter 25

Caden

Even though I’m functioning on roughly an hour of sleep, I have already called church for 2 pm, contacted Dbag to dig deeper into Joe Russo, and now we’re getting Rebel ready to go the hospital. Hawk and Spike are here and they are helping to get him out to the SUV. Ari follows close behind and as I walk to the door, Emma comes to my side.

“I wish you would stay here,” I say to her.

“I know, but you know I feel safest with you. I’m going.” I nod and we proceed out the door. Brewer called my cell around 6:30 am this morning and told me to have Rebel at the hospital by 8. It’s now roughly 7:40; we should be there right on time.

Pulling up to the emergency room entrance as Brewer instructed, I send him a text:

He responds:

A few seconds later he comes out of the hospital with a wheelchair. He takes it to the back of the SUV where we have Rebel and a couple of orderlies help him out and into the chair. Spike says to me, “I’ll park the car. You go ahead and go with him.”

Handing him the keys, I say, “Thanks, man.”

Once inside the hospital, we don’t stop at the admitting desk and instead follow Brewer to the back. We walk down a long hallway and finally get to an area that says Radiation. Brewer turns back to me and says, “There is a waiting room just down the hall. Wait there. I’ll make this quick. He’ll be out in a few minutes.” I nod and we proceed down the hall to the waiting area.

Roughly thirty minutes later, Brewer walks into the waiting area. “Well?” I ask.

Nodding his head and smiling, he says, “Looks good. No internal damage and clean exit. We’re giving him two units of blood to make up for what he lost. It could take a while.”

“How long?”

“A couple of hours per unit. Plus it has to be cross-matched.”

Nodding, I say, “Ok.” Then I ask cautiously, “Any reports?”

“No, no paperwork, no reports. Rebel was never here today,” he replies.

Thank fuck! Turning to Brewer, I say, “Thank you. I owe you.”

He laughs. “Like I said, wait until you get my bill.” Then he adds, “You all got something you can do for a few hours?”

“Yeah, we have a friend here we can go visit. Text me when he’s ready.”

“I sure will.”

“Thanks again.”

“Don’t mention it. You pay me well for my services.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Yeah, we do.”

The nurse at the nursing station on Brianne’s floor informs us that Brianne had a couple of rough days, but that she is awake and had a little to eat this morning.

Emma leads the way to Brianne’s room and I follow behind. When we reach the door, Ari, Hawk, and Spike remain outside, while Emma opens the door and peeks her head inside. “Bri?”

Brianne smiles when she sees Emma. “Em. You’re here.”

“Of course I’m here. Where else would I be?” Emma says as she walks further into the room.

I follow behind her and I notice that the smile on Brianne’s face disappears as she spots me. She is horrified, but I’m not sure why.

“Who’s that?” she asks Emma fearfully.

Smiling, Emma says, “This is Caden. He is the one that brought you here. He saved your life.”

“Is he a biker?” she asks.

“He is.”

“I don’t want him in here. He’ll take me away again,” she says, terrified. I guess I can understand her fear, she probably thinks I’m one of the bikers that got her drugged up in the first place.

Emma turns to me and says, “Why don’t you wait outside until I talk to her?” I nod and turn to leave the room.

“What’s wrong?” Ari asks as I step out of Brianne’s room.

“Nothing, I think I scared her a bit. I shouldn’t have worn my cut.”

“Oh, I guess she would be a little leery of bikers.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think about that.”

A few minutes later, Emma comes out and says, “It’s ok, you can come in now.”

I follow her into Brianne’s room and as I approach her she says, “Thank you. I understand I owe you my life.”

“You don’t owe me anything. How are you?”

“I have a raging headache and I’m jonesing for a fix. Other than that, I’m doing just fine.”

“I don’t know if Emma told you or not, but we’re sending you to a rehab center in Erie called the Gage House. Hopefully, they can help you overcome your need for a fix and we can get you on the mend and back to your old self. When you’re better, we’ll get you settled back home.”

“Where’s Mark?” she asks.

Emma looks at me; apparently she’s gonna let me answer this one. “He’s gone. He won’t bother you anymore.”

“And Skid?”

“He won’t bother you either.”

She looks at me warily, but drops the subject. “When are they taking me to the Gage House?”

“Probably tomorrow. I will have to check with your doctor to make sure.”

“Ok.”

Just then my phone beeps. Pulling it out, I see that Brewer just texted.

I look over at Emma. “We need to go.”

She nods and goes over to Brianne and gives her a hug. “I’m so glad you are safe now. Everything is going to be alright and when you get out of rehab, I’ll be here for you. Whatever you need.”

“Thanks, Em. I sure have missed you.”

“Me, too. Love you.”

“Love you too.” Emma turns to leave and then turns back and takes one more glance at Brianne and smiles.

We head back to the radiation area, wheel Rebel out in a wheelchair, and head home.

Once we get back to the house, I look at my watch. It’s almost time for church. We’re having church at the house so that Rebel can participate as well. I need him on the Russo thing. We get Rebel situated in the living room and wait for the others to arrive. It’s going to be odd holding church here with the ladies present, but I don’t really have a choice. I don’t have plans to discuss anything that they really can’t hear. They know everything about Grayson and Russo that we know and everything else is just an update on what’s been going on since we left. I could ask them all to leave, but I don’t trust them out alone right now with Russo around. I know having them here goes against our rules, but sometimes you have to push the rules aside, and Rebel’s participation is more important.

Everyone shows up on time and the meeting begins. Dbag reports that he hasn’t found out any more on Russo but that he will keep digging more to see what he can find out. Hawk reports that the refitting of the new clubhouse is done and we should be able to start utilizing the facility first thing next week, once the building crews get their shit cleaned up. Money is good and everyone is glad we are home and that Rebel is going to be ok.

The meeting adjourns and the boys linger in the game room while they feast on the snacks that the girls have prepared for them.

The doorbell rings and I walk to the door to answer it. When I look out the peephole, I see Briggs standing on my doorstep. Opening the door, I say, “Hey man, come on in.”

Briggs walks inside, followed by two other men. One is a uniformed officer and the other is Joe Russo, Grayson’s twin.

I feel the bile rising in my throat seeing Russo’s smug face. The general camaraderie in the house suddenly stops as Emma walks over to me. She gasps at the resemblance and she reaches for my arm for support.

“Hello Emma.” Russo says. He’s got Grayson’s voice and as Emma’s hand tightens on my arm he adds, “Good to see you again.” And immediately I know without a doubt that he and his brother did a number on Emma by switching. Those sick fucks!

My instincts tell me to take the fucker out before another word spews from his mouth, but the fact that Briggs and another officer are accompanying him I know I need to tread lightly and not over react. Nobody else in the room has seen Grayson except in pictures, but I can still sense that there is surprise and confusion going around. I know Hawk has seen him, but I’m sure seeing a mutilated, pretty much unidentifiable body doesn’t count for much in seeing a resemblance.

Briggs steps close to me and whispers, “I’m really sorry about this, Ice, but I have no choice.” Then louder, so that everyone can hear, he says, “Caden Jackson, you are under arrest for the murder of Mark Grayson. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand your rights as I have read them to you?”

“Caden!” Emma screams. “No!” She pulls my arm away as Briggs tries to place me in handcuffs. When her efforts don’t work in her favor, she throws her arms around me and begins to cry. “You can’t take him!”

Hawk walks over to her and pulls her off me. “It’s ok, baby,” I say and look directly at Hawk, “Call Vitali and get Saint here,” I say and he nods. He knows what needs to be done. I turn back toward Emma. “Everything’s gonna be alright, darlin’. Take care of our kid. I love you both,” I say to her and then turn back toward Briggs.

“Caden! No!” Emma cries again. I hear Hawk behind me trying to settle her down and I know that she is in good hands. Hawk will take care of her until I get released, and I know for a fact that I will be released. Michael Vitali is an old friend. He has connections and he owes me a big favor.

“Caden, do you understand?” Briggs repeats.

“Yes,” I reply. He nods and walks me to the door. As we leave my house, my heart shatters as I hear Emma’s screams and sobs fade into the distance.