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A year later, January 2005.
Chance stood growling over the body of Animal. His friend had been shot five times and had been dead for a while. Sunny lay close by, felled by the same number of bullets but breathing still. An ambulance was on the way. Nearby were three of Zeus’s final members that left Zeus and two others. During the year-long war between Chance and Zeus, none of Chance’s had fallen. Today he’d lost Animal and, more than likely, Sunny.
Shit. Chance ducked his head. The war had raged for a year. Zeus’s gang of thirty was steadily whittled down while Hellfire held their own. Chance, once president, began breaking the ties that Zeus had forged, leading them into other battles. Chance re-directed some assholes to Zeus. Those who insisted Hellfire honour what Zeus agreed to discovered a fight on their hands.
Chance glanced up at Bear, who stood quietly.
“Sunny won’t make it,” Chance added, swallowing hard.
“No,” Bear said, glancing across to Sunny, who had Big Al and Rooster with him.
“You’ll take VP. No arguments. Hellfire needs to remain strong,” Chance announced, the words bitter in his mouth.
“Sunny will not make it,” Bear muttered, dropping his head and reaching out to grasp Chance’s shoulder.
“No,” Chance whispered, swallowing hot tears.
Six months later, 2005.
Tati
“I’m home,” I called out as I entered the clubhouse. Diesel and Shotgun glanced up as I strolled in. “Can someone help me empty the car, please? I’m making pot roast tonight, special order for a celebration.”
Shee and Chatter lifted their heads, jumped to their feet, and raced out. Big Al strode across and dropped a kiss on my head before chucking at Tiny, who joined in grumbling. Tiny had been sent to help me shop today, and he wasn’t happy about it, although he didn’t complain about eating the food!
Two nights ago, Big Al and Chance had caught Zeus. Finally, Zeus and the last of his cronies rotted in an unmarked grave. It was finally finished. Hellfire was clean. Despite Chance’s offer to protect the former old ladies, none of them had stayed. Which meant I was the only old lady in the entire club. Oh, there were women around, club sluts and skanks who came at the siren call of hot bikers who’d look after them. But the difference was, I understood none would ever ride on the back of a bike. The brothers may fuck them, but they wouldn’t put a ring on it.
As soon as Chance had kicked Zeus off Hellfire, changes had begun. I still managed the books for the pawn shop, but most of my time was spent at Hellfire. I made sure the bar was stocked. The fridges and cupboards in the small kitchen had food in case the brothers wanted a snack. One brother would take the shopping list I wrote, and they’d go get what I required. If I went out, a brother always accompanied me. I didn’t expect that to change now that Zeus was dead.
Chance and the inner circle decided not to recruit prospects for several years. They wanted Hellfire to be completely clean before they did that. Big Al said they wanted to mourn their losses; Sunny’s death had hit them hard. Chance had reached out to his family as Sunny had a daughter, but they moved away without a word. No one blamed them. The deaths that stuck in my heart were the three innocent children. I hoped that when Big Al took his turn with Zeus, who admitted shooting Sunny and Animal, Big Al made him pay for everything. I’d never know, but all Big Al had told me was that Zeus paid in spades.
Truthfully, I didn’t care. All I’d ever wanted was a family, and now I had a huge one around me. We just needed kids, and everything would be perfect!
Chapter Six.
Present Day
Big Al
“Come on, baby, it’s been four days. I need you to open your beautiful eyes,” Big Al murmured. For three days they’d sat in this room, he and his wife and their family. The staff had made a mild fuss about the number of visitors hanging around until Phoe paid for a private suite and donated to the hospital. Yeah, Big Al thought to himself, money talked, and Phoe had no remorse in using it to secure what Hellfire and Rage needed.
Phoe made sure that the hospital gave Big Al a bed and allowed an overnight visitor who’d sit with Tati while Big Al caught some sleep. Hellfire set up a four-hour daytime rotation because everyone demanded time with Tati to tell her how much she was loved. The room was bursting with flowers, chocolate, knick-knacks, and an adorable Harley Davidson teddy bear he’d bought her.
Tati hadn’t lacked visitors; Hellfire and Rage had been expected. Guys, old ladies and children. But Big Al had been touched when the Hawthorne women, all of them and including Leila and Dana, showed up bearing gifts and offering love and comfort. Some of the Hawthorne men arrived, and Hellfire’s friends in SPD and RCPD. Tati was so dearly loved; if only she’d known. Phoe spent most of her time at the hospital, working from a laptop quietly in a corner.
Tati had been Phoe’s first sister, the role model of an old lady, and Big Al had underestimated how much Phoe cared for Tati. He’d thought they were fond of each other until he saw the deep pain in Phoe’s eyes. Now he understood Phoe cherished Tati as much as she openly loved all of her Hellfire brothers, and he didn’t have the words to comfort Phoe. Phoe’s kids came in twos and threes, seeing their Aunt Tati, holding her hand, and muttering stuff to her. Eddie outright demanded yesterday that Tati open her eyelids and talk to her. For a few moments, Big Al had held hope she might, but Tati’s eyes remained closed.
The story of his life.
Tati
I heard Big Al calling me from far away and turned to find him. I appeared to be swimming in darkness and struggled to find a path. Lightning flashed, and clouds rolled as I drifted through them. The entire scene was a total trip, and I did not do drugs! The wind blew me from pillar to post as I rolled in the air, trying to find a balance. Somewhere in my mind, I was aware of a deep bone-crunching pain. Shit hurt, and at the moment, I floated pain-free, so no, I didn’t want to confront it.
Big Al called again, and I stared into the darkness, struggling to find him. Where was my husband? Why did Al sound so anguished? Had something happened? Phoe spoke to Big Al, her voice gentle and tired. Both were sad, and I wondered if it was because of this raging tempest surrounding me. Should I be trying to escape? Something terrible had occurred, and it appeared to have centred around me. There was a noise, and then Big Al sounded closer than ever.
“Al?” I called out into the darkness, seeking him.
“Tati, open your eyes. Baby, I can’t live without you. It’s been four days, five since the accident. Tati, you have to wake up,” Big Al begged.
