Chapter Seventeen
MONDAY ROARED IN with unrelenting winds, cold, driving rain, and bursts of thunder and lightning, and Bones had been on a dead run the entire day. Sarah had to be at work at three o’clock. Car seats could be pesky, and if the kids were having a hard morning, he knew they’d all be drenched by the time she finally got everyone situated. He had hoped the storm would abate, and when it hadn’t by two o’clock, he called Biggs, the one person he knew had the time to and wouldn’t mind helping her out. Now, as he answered his cell phone, he glanced out his office window at the gray, angry sky and cursed Mother Nature for unleashing her wrath on Peaceful Harbor.
“You fucked up,” Biggs said.
“Shit. Did I get the time wrong?” Bones asked, kicking himself.
“No, son. You’re hovering over a woman who’s got her shit together. I got there at two fifteen, just like you asked me to. Bradley and Lila were already in the car, and Sarah was climbing into the driver’s seat with one of those big-ass golf umbrellas over the open door. She was bone dry and smiling until I told her why I was there.”
“Aw, fuck.”
“Didn’t I teach you anything? Never underestimate a capable woman. Those kids were happy as clams with their little rain boots and rain jackets, all buckled up in their car seats.”
Bones leaned against the sill with a wide-ass grin. “You taught us to take care of our women even when they don’t want it.”
His father’s husky laugh came through the phone.
“Seriously? I’m up shit’s creek and you’re laughing at me?”
“I’m laughing because you’ve been bit in the ass by the love bug, and it wouldn’t matter what I said to you. You’re going to do all the wrong shit, thinking it’s right, you bullheaded bastard.”
More laughter rang out, making Bones smile despite screwing up, because if Biggs was one thing, it was honest as the road was long.
When Biggs finally stopped enjoying Bones’s stupidity, he said, “It’ll serve you well, son. And she wasn’t pissed. The tears I saw in those pretty eyes were happy. She got out of the car beneath that huge umbrella and hugged me.”
“What? Then how did I fuck up?”
“Because I got the hug, you jackass.” Biggs chuckled. “She thanked me for coming by and for raising such a thoughtful son. Then she got back in the car and drove away with that sappy look women get when they’re too happy to see straight. She’s a good egg, Bones.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “She sure is. I better get off the phone and text her before my next patient comes in. Thanks, Pop. Love you.”
“Love you, too. See you tonight at church.”
After he ended the call, Bones texted Sarah. Sorry to send Biggs to help with the kids. Told you I have a lot to learn.
Her response came a few minutes later. So do I. We can learn together.
Damn, he was a lucky guy.
Later that afternoon, he sat with his patient Wendy Stockard, who, surprisingly, didn’t pussyfoot around her feelings or buy time with Ollie’s latest adventures. Instead, she plunked herself down in front of him, looking agitated and angry. Mood swings were fairly normal in his practice, and that wasn’t too concerning. But what had her riled up also had him on edge.
“I know stress is bad for me, but I can’t get out from under this. I’m doing everything I can to make sure Ollie will be cared for if…if I don’t beat this. But my attorney said Calvin will get custody of Ollie. It doesn’t matter that we’re divorced or that I was given full custody, because Calvin wasn’t a bad father. It’s not like he abused him or anything. He’s just too busy with his girlfriends to be a parent.” Wendy’s hands trembled. “But his name is on the birth certificate, and there is no doubt that he is Ollie’s father, so…”
Wendy had never spoken about her ex-husband before, but again, this didn’t surprise him. Unless an ex was involved in his patient’s life, they rarely brought them up. She was doing all the right things to make sure her son would be cared for if the worst-case scenario came to fruition. He fucking hoped it didn’t, and he was doing everything within his power to keep that from happening.
“You’ve never mentioned him before. Is he part of Ollie’s life? Would Ollie want that?” Bones asked. It wasn’t his job to fix these types of situations, but maybe he could try to ease her worries enough for her to be stronger for her treatment.
“He hasn’t seen him in several years, but apparently that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that he’s Ollie’s father. And I don’t know if Ollie would want it, but I doubt it.”
She looked up at the ceiling, her finger curling around the arms of the chair as tears filled her eyes. Bones remained quiet, allowing her space to regain control of her emotions. As she took a few deep breaths, his mind traveled to Sarah, and he wondered if Lewis was listed on her children’s birth certificates. Would he be listed on the birth certificate of her unborn child? The muscles in his neck tightened at the thought.
Wendy sat up straighter and drew her narrow shoulders back, reminding him of Sarah when she strengthened her resolve.
“My sister said she’d fight for custody if I don’t make it,” Wendy said a little shakily. “But goddamn it, Dr. Whiskey, I have to make it. He’s my child. My responsibility.”
“He’s your heart and soul,” he said absently, then caught himself and cleared his throat.
“Exactly. I know you can’t promise me anything, but just tell me again that you are doing everything you can. I need to hear that. I need to hear that a lot.”
Bones came around the desk and sat beside her. He looked into her pleading eyes and said, “Yours and Ollie’s battle is my battle. I promise you that I am, and will continue to do, everything within my power to help you beat this.”
She nodded, teary eyed, and eked out, “Thank you.”
Now came the hard part. “Can your sister help you with this to take some of the pressure off? Can she meet with your attorney, figure out a game plan so you can focus on treatments?”
“It’s not her battle,” Wendy said adamantly.
“No, it’s not. And I’m sure you’re used to handling everything, no matter how big. But just like it was okay to ask friends to help with driving Ollie and making meals when you had surgery, it’s okay to get help with the emotionally draining parts of your life that need to be ironed out. I’m not suggesting that you let her make decisions for you. I’m simply suggesting that you consider allowing whoever is closest to you to help shoulder the burden of outside influences so you can focus on your health.”
He thought of Sarah and knew if she were in Wendy’s position she’d never step back, even if it drained every ounce of her energy. As a physician, he’d refer Wendy to the right specialists to handle her emotional state. He’d get her through her treatments and hope she was strong enough for everything her body needed to beat this monster. But separate from his medical persona, as a human being he wanted to take away her—every patient’s—anguish. To talk to the damn attorneys, to plead her and Ollie’s case. But that was a line he couldn’t cross. That was a line meant for a boyfriend, husband, or family member.
He might not be able to be all things for his patients, but he sure as hell could be for Sarah.
A FEW HOURS later, Bones sat beside Bullet in the Dark Knights clubhouse, stewing over the idea of Sarah’s ex having any rights to her children. Crystal wasn’t feeling well tonight, and Bear had stayed home with her, but his brother’s concerns had been playing loud and clear in his mind all afternoon. What do we even know about the father of her kids? Huh? What if he comes back for them? Bones considered himself a pretty fair man, and he didn’t believe in separating parents from children, but that man was no parent. A father took care of his family, cherished, taught, and protected them above all else. Hell, a father would give his life for his children without a second thought. Bones ground his teeth together. That man—Lewis—was a slug, a bully, and a fucking rapist.
And he was only the tip of the iceberg.
Sarah also deserved justice where her cretin parents were concerned.
He glanced up at his father, who was seated at the head table, discussing club business. Before his father’s stroke, Biggs had run the bar. If a customer got too drunk to drive, instead of calling the customer a cab, Biggs would have Red drag Bones and Bullet out of bed to drive the drunk home. It took two of them, one to drive the customer’s vehicle and one to follow in their own. If someone was being treated unjustly when they were out shopping, or at a restaurant, they’d been taught to step in. To do the right thing, often what others were too scared to do. It had always been and would forever be the Whiskey way. Biggs had always been as intimidating as fuck, tougher than any man Bones had ever known. He knew his father was capable of killing a man with his bare hands, and he also knew he’d do it only if the situation called for it. Not out of vengeance. No, vengeance required only a good ass kicking and dragging the sucker to the police if they’d broken the law. When Bones was younger, he’d had trouble with that line of thinking. He hadn’t understood how vengeance could ever be a good thing. It had been one of his biggest struggles in feeling like he fit into his family when what he saw as the right thing differed from what the rest of them did. But when Thomas passed away, Bones had wanted vengeance. He’d wanted to kill someone for stealing his friend. But there had been no one to kill, no one to blame. So he’d turned that blame on himself. He knew he didn’t deserve it, but it had to land somewhere or it would destroy him in other ways. He channeled that negative energy to push past the difficulties of medical school and become the best damn doctor he could.
But he’d grown up since then. He’d seen the worst, learned that some people needed to be put into their place. Now, as he thought about the way Lewis had treated Sarah and the children, his hands balled into fists, his chest expanded, and he saw red.
He wanted vengeance.
He wanted to torture the motherfuckers—all of them: Lewis and Sarah’s parents. Neither an ass kicking nor jail seemed a harsh enough punishment for what had been done to the woman and children who already owned a piece of him. But taking a human life wasn’t something Bones could do after the fact. Before Sarah, he wasn’t sure he was capable of it at all. As a doctor he’d taken an oath to act morally and ethically. Hell, even the biker code was to help others, not harm them. But those lines got blurred when catching an asshole in an outright egregious act. Bones had taken down enough men, had sent them to the hospital for raising a hand to women or children and not heeding his warnings to back off. Had he walked in on Lewis or Sarah’s parents treating her like shit, they would probably have already taken their last breaths. But he needed to find other ways to deal with this. Ways that would ensure they couldn’t come anywhere near Sarah and the kids and remove Lewis’s parental rights.
Bones looked across the room at Charlie “Court” Sharpe, a family law attorney. Before the meeting Bones had researched how to terminate parental rights. He had no idea if Lewis was listed as the father on the children’s birth certificates, but even if he wasn’t, he could prove paternity and try to stake claim to the children. Bones needed expert advice and a concrete plan in place before he took another step. He hoped Court could provide that.
Bullet nudged him and leaned closer, speaking in a low voice. “What’s got your cock in a knot?” He seemed lighter, happier since he’d returned from his honeymoon, but the fierceness in his eyes flashed unencumbered. Bullet was always ready to tear someone’s head off. Happy or not.
“I need to talk to Court.” Bones glanced at Biggs. He was winding down the meeting, confirming dates for an upcoming anti-bullying rally and wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. He felt the heat of Bullet’s stare and found his older brother studying him.
Bullet’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know yet.” He needed answers from Sarah, but she was at Bullet’s house tonight with the girls, going over menus for Thanksgiving, and he wasn’t going to try to talk about this over the phone. It would have to wait until the kids were asleep.
“What don’t you know?” Bullet pushed.
Biggs rose to his feet and grabbed his cane, signaling the end to the meeting and sparking a cacophony of conversations. Men headed for the kitchen, gathered around pool tables and dart boards, and milled about catching up with each other, creating a sea of Dark Knights patches. Brotherhood. If Bones revealed what had happened to Sarah, there’d be thirty-plus brothers hunting down Lewis and her parents before the end of the night. He wasn’t about to let that happen. Taking down those assholes or putting them in prison wouldn’t give Sarah—or him—the peace of mind they needed. This required what he was best at, planning, strategizing, and then making sure he succeeded on all fronts.
Bones stood, and Bullet pushed to his feet beside him, beer in hand. Bones stared into his brother’s dark eyes. “I’ve got this, B.” It struck him that he’d called Bradley the same endearment since the first day they’d met. Had he subconsciously known even then that he’d end up being this much a part of his life?
“So do I,” Bullet said. “Whatever it is.”
“Not this time, B. I need to handle this on my own. At least until I have things under control and understand what needs to happen.” He clapped a hand on Bullet’s shoulder and said, “I appreciate it, though.”
Bullet’s jaw clenched, making his beard twitch. “This about Sarah?”
Bones gave a single curt nod. He knew Bullet was only trying to help, but he wasn’t in the mood to have his path blocked. He had a plan and wanted to get the hell on with it.
“You go after someone, I go after him. Got it?” Bullet’s eyes turned stone-cold black.
Bones took a step away without answering, and Bullet grabbed his arm. Bones glared at him. “I’ve got this, B. If the time comes when I need help, you’ll be the first to know. Now take your hand off me before I break your fucking fingers.” He yanked his arm free and headed for Court, who was playing pool with his brother, Tex.
Court was a barrel-chested guy who spent as much time in the gym as he did on his bike. His hair was buzzed to a sheen of black, his beard and mustache shaved just as close. His T-shirt strained against bulbous pecs and biceps. In his leathers he looked intimidating, but like Bones, from nine to five he was all dress shirts, slacks, and professionalism.
“Bones, how’s it going, man?” Court said as he lined up his shot.
“I’ll know after I talk to you. I need some legal advice.”
“Give him a minute to make a shitty shot.” Tex smirked. He had a serious side, but most of the time he was cocky as hell. His hair was thick and finger combed, his beard scruffy, and he had colorful tattoo sleeves, the polar opposite of both Court and their youngest brother, Ramsey “Razor” Sharpe, a professional football player.
“You still working at Rough Riders?” Bones asked. His buddy Sam Braden owned Rough Riders, an adventure company located on the river. Now that he was thinking about it, he imagined taking Sarah and the kids there in a few years, teaching Bradley and Lila how to row a boat. Soon there would be an infant in the mix, but maybe next summer they could have a picnic by the river and he could show the kids then. That thought led him right back to the reason he needed to talk to Court.
“Yeah,” Tex answered. “Come down sometime. We do fall adventures.”
“I’m pretty busy, but maybe in the spring or summer. Thanks.”
“Talking here okay?” Court motioned around them. “Or should I give up my stick?”
Bones hadn’t thought about that. Now he felt like a dick for interrupting his friends’ game, but he definitely didn’t want to talk there. Not with Bullet watching his every move. “Finish your game. I’ll catch up with you afterward.”
“No, man.” Court tapped Hawk on the shoulder. “Hey, cameraman. Mind finishing my game?”
Hawk shifted an arrogant grin in Tex’s direction. “Not unless your brother’s going to whine when I kick his ass.”
“Go for it.” Tex took a swig of his beer.
“Bones, I’ve got those pics for you,” Hawk said. “Want to stop by next week and look through them?”
“Yeah. Tuesday night after work okay?”
“Perfect.” Hawk leaned on his cue as Tex lined up his shot.
Bones and Court each snagged a bottle of beer on their way out back. Bones inhaled the cool night air, glad to be out from under Bullet’s radar.
“I take it this isn’t club related?” Court asked.
“Personal, and I’d appreciate it if you kept it between us.”
“Always, Wayne.”
It was rare to hear his given name at the clubhouse, but he and Court had met professionally before Bones had brought him into the club several years ago.
Bones explained Sarah’s situation and shared what she’d gone through with Lewis and with her parents, leaving out the details about her stripping.
“Damn, Wayne. That’s an ugly situation. I’m sorry you two are dealing with it. Unfortunately, there’s a statute of limitations that varies from state to state on child abuse. In most cases it’s seven or eight years after they turn eighteen. I’ll look into Florida law, but I think you’ll be hard-pressed to do anything with her parents in that regard. Although she can certainly get a restraining order to keep them away. But you know how that works. It’s a piece of paper.”
“Her parents haven’t been in her life since she left home at sixteen. I’m less worried about them than I am about the father of her children, although I’d like to see her parents’ asses in jail.”
“We both would. As far as this other guy goes, the easiest tactic is to have him voluntarily terminate his parental rights. If he’s as strung out as you made him sound, he might be happy to do it. Terminating rights means no child support. Not that it sounds like he could provide any. But there’s a flipside to that coin. He could want something in exchange and hold the kids over Sarah’s head, but if he raped her and if you threaten to turn him in, there’s a chance he’d let that go. But you know proving a rape that happened months ago, without a police report, will unfortunately be a nightmare for Sarah. I’m not saying give up, but she needs proof. Evidence of some kind to get a conviction. I don’t suppose you have an eyewitness that’d come forward?”
Bones’s gut twisted. “There was just her and the kids. Thankfully, they didn’t see it.”
“That could get ugly, and even if he doesn’t want the kids, they could get dragged into it. It’ll be hell for everyone.”
He ground out a curse. “Sarah’s a pillar of strength, but I’d never put her or the kids through that.”
“Talk to Sarah, get this asshole’s name, address, and any other contact info she can give you. I’ll draft termination-of-parental-rights papers. But you need a witness, and the papers have to be notarized. After that they’ll be reviewed by the court. If he consents, I’ll handle court for you and plead your case.”
“Thanks, man.” Bones began making a mental list of the things he needed to do, at the top of which was talking with Sarah.