Chapter 20

 

 

 

Banshee

 

Bellamy sent me a text letting me know that she was safe and sound at her parent’s and that she’d see me tomorrow. I’m cloaked in the relief that she’s uninjured and home, but the nagging feeling of dread still lingers.

 

I don’t know how long I’m laying here staring at the ceiling before the relentless banging begins and reverberates off the four walls of my room at the Clubhouse. I dash off the bed pulling on my jeans and yanking a shirt over my head. Opening the door, Brute stands there panting.

 

“Need you to get Bellamy here.” He rushes out.

 

“Pres, she’s in bed.” I chastise.

 

“I don’t care. Beanie just brought his brother through our doors, and he’s in bad shape.”

 

“Fuck.” I sigh as I tug my hair. I call Bellamy, and she answers after the first ring. “Bellamy, I need you at the Devils’ Clubhouse pronto.”

 

“Banshee, it’s going to take me over an hour to get there. What’s so important it can’t wait until tomorrow?”

 

“Beanie brought Cabo here. I don’t have all the details yet.”

 

“Well fucking find them out while I throw on some clothes.” She huffs.

 

I stomp down the hall to the main room where my brothers are surrounding the pool table that is now covered with a sheet and Cabo’s unconscious body. I slide in between Brute and Beanie, and can’t help the cuss words that leave my mouth. Cabo is covered in slashes; deep and shallow. His face is so swollen I’m not sure Beanie recognized him.

 

“It’s bad, Sweets. He’s cut up bad, and there isn’t a place on his face that isn’t swollen.”

 

“Lift up his shirt.” She demands.

 

I step closer and lift the hem of the flannel he’s wearing, and inspect. “There are black and purple splotches all over his stomach. His ribs are either bruised or broken.”

 

I hear a car door slam. “How’s his breathing?”

 

“It’s shallow and short.”

 

“Put cold compresses on his face and abdomen. I’ll be there as fast as I can.” She ends the call.

 

“She’s on her way. She said to put cold compresses on his face and stomach.” I repeat Bellamy’s last words to me.

 

Poison and Taz race away from the pool table for the kitchen. They come back with several frozen bags of vegetables and begin to place them on Cabo’s stomach. Beanie and Marc hold two bags on his face.

 

“Thank you, Banshee.” Beanie croaks.

 

I shake my head. “Don’t think me. I ain’t done shit.”

 

He bobs his head lowering his eyes to his brother. “I can’t believe they did this to him. When we went there I thought for sure he was going to open the door, but it was fucking Cobra. We shoved him back in the room only to find Marshall barely conscious on that shitty bed. Marc took care of Cobra and then all hell broke loose.”

 

“Bellamy,” I mumble under my breath.

 

“By the time we got him out of that room, it was like it never happened.”

 

We sit in silence because what is there really to say. He told us his back story, and we all knew that Bellamy and her brothers’ objective was to accomplish their mission as quickly and quietly as possible. It was a win-win for both parties. Bellamy got revenge on the men who killed her Granny and Beanie got his brother back. Cabo may not be in one piece, but he’s still breathing.

 

Time passes at a snail’s pace and before too long Bellamy is darting around the pool table checking out every last inch of Cabo. I help hand her what she needs as she sutures some of the cuts and then butterfly bandages the less serious ones. She sets up an IV and hangs it from the elk head beside the table. She’s adamant about getting him to wake up, so she only administers a little bit of pain meds. When she’s done, caring Bellamy disappears, and her face alters into one of rage.

 

“You fucked up tonight. I didn’t need you there nor did I want you there.” She yells at Beanie who winces at her words. “Because of you two, we are missing two Jackals.”

 

“You’re missing one Jackal. Marc took care of Cobra.” Beanie says trying to appease her.

 

“So that leaves Weasel.” She points out, and Beanie nods. “Well guess what buddy…he’s your problem and you better find him.” She spins to face me and the hard look slides from her face and is replaced with my Bellamy; the soft, caring and loving Bellamy with a hint of trouble. She wraps her arms around my waist and hides her face in my chest mumbling about missing me. She pulls away too fast and meets my brothers’ awed faces. “Y’all don’t have to worry about blowback. Everything other than the blood on the concrete has been taken away and concealed so that it will never be found. The only issue is Weasel, but I figure it will take him time to gather the courage to come at us again.”

 

“Six, Bellamy.” Brute says with admiration in his tone.

 

“Six.” She repeats.

 

“You know,” Brute starts, “I might be able to find a spot for you at our table if you’re ever interested.”

 

She giggles and the sound charges through me. “Nope. I’m good with the Pinks. What happened tonight, I don’t want to have to be apart of for a really long time. But if you ever need me to stitch up your boo-boos, I’ll be there.”

 

Coughing draws our attention to Cabo. He’s struggling to sit up, and in a flash, Bellamy is at his side. “Where am I?” He croaks.

 

Bellamy takes his hand in hers. “You’re at the Devils’ Clubhouse. Jude brought you here so I could take care of you. I’m a nurse.” She says soothingly.

 

“Jude.”

 

“Hey man.” Beanie answers hoarsely.

 

Cabo’s eyes fill, and he starts shaking with emotions. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop them.” He stammers.

 

“It’s okay, brother.” He runs his hand through his brother’s matted hair. “It’s all taken care of now. You don’t have to worry about that bastard anymore.” Beanie replies.

 

I step back from them and join my brothers who are staring at me in wonder. “What?” I spit out.

 

Red’s the first to answer. “If you don’t want her, I’ll take her off your hands.”

 

I narrow my eyes into slits. “The fuck you are. She’s mine and y’all better heed my warning. If you touch a single hair on her head, I will cut your hands off.”

 

“Jesus, brother.” Taz chuckles. “You ain’t got to worry. We don’t poach on our brothers, but if there comes a time where she isn’t your ol’ lady, I’m poaching the hell out of you.”

 

“Ha, ha, very funny. Assholes.” I leave them to their girly giggles as Bellamy approaches. I sling an arm over her shoulder and tuck her into my side. “What’s the verdict on Cabo?”

 

She sighs. “He’s got a long road ahead of him. Thankfully, his ribs are just bruised, and they’ll be sore for a while and hurt like a bitch every time he takes a breath, but the rest of him will heal.”

 

“Thanks for coming out here. You didn’t have to.”

 

“I know I didn’t, but I know that if I’d called you and needed you, you would have come for me.”

 

“Damn skippy. You need to do anything else with him.” She shakes her head no. “Good, let’s go to bed so we can cuddle.” She sniggers and I direct her down the hall to my room where we curl up in each other’s arms and pass out from a day full of grief, anxiety and adrenaline rushes.