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I had to see her today to help wash away the filth. My brothers believe I’m stirring shit at the club and causing trouble for Ford. It sits heavily on my shoulders. Being around Shelby helps me handle the weight. Still, I know I’m being selfish. I wanted to explain to her that I had club business, and it was going to keep me away for a while. I was going to tell her that I was staying away for her safety but that she was mine and needed to wait on me.
That was the plan but finding out about Billie makes me realize that I just can’t do that. I can’t leave Shelby alone. I don’t have any proof, but I’m sure that the diner was vandalized to scare Shelby. I can’t explain it, but I’m sure everything boils down to one name.Mason.
Shelby didn’t want to leave the hospital, but there wasn’t much she could do. Billie was stable and visiting hours were over until morning. Billie demanded she let her get some rest before giving me orders to take care of her granddaughter. It’s an order, I refuse to break.
I reach over squeezing Shelby’s hand. “How are you holding up?”
“I just don’t understand it,” she says softly, looking out the window.
“What’s that, baby?”
“I can’t remember a store downtown being vandalized since we moved here. The town is quiet. I mean, there’s barely any crime. There’s your average shoplifting here and there, maybe the occasional drunk driver or domestic issues, but that’s it. Plus, everyone in town loves my grandmother. I just don’t understand it.”
I frown, my hands tightening on the wheel. I don’t want to tell her what I think happened. It will only scare her worse than she already is and that won’t solve anything.
“You can’t make sense out of hate, Shelby. People who harbor it inside of them may pick different ways for it to come out and have different targets, but in the end, it’s only hate. I’ve dealt with it my whole life and the best you can do is realize it for what it is and refuse to let it change you. You have to try not to let it affect the man—” I glance at her giving her a wink, “or woman you are.”
“Realize it for what it is?” she asks, she repeats.
“Yeah babe. Hate is a twisted, dangerous disease coming from weak minds.”
Shelby leans over kissing me on the cheek. “I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.”
For a moment all I can do is take in her words and touch. She’s a beautiful woman inside and out. I glance at her again as she settles back into her seat, drinking her in. Her presence and kindness bring me a sense of calm when everything else is chaotic.
I click the call button and holding my phone to my left ear, listening to it ring until Ford answers. I’m not sure what Ford will say so I don’t put it on speaker.
“Man, please tell me you’re calling to put an end to this shit. I’m not you and I can’t even stand the bitter taste this is leaving in my damn mouth. We will blow those fuckers right off the map and just let the chips fall. We’ve weathered worse and we did that without having the allies we do now.”
The fact that I’m not the only one suffering through this plan is a little bit of a relief, but that’s not why I’m calling him.
“It’s already done. We will see what shakes out,” I tell him, glancing at Shelby, who’s still lost in thought.
“Fuck,” Ford cusses. “Then why are you calling?”
“Remember when I told you I was claiming Shelby and may need the club to protect her and her grandmother?”
“Yeah,” Ford responds.
“Someone struck out at the grandmother and trashed her diner. I know most of the guys hate me right now, but I could use at least some prospects to help get it boarded up and picked up until insurance springs for repairs.”
Ford is quiet for a minute. “Think this has to do with you and the club?”
“No, but I have a good idea what’s going on. We can discuss it later.”
“Fair enough. I’ll get guys over there.”
“Bring cages. Its close enough to the end of our territory line that we don’t want to bring unwarranted attention.”
“Fuck,” Ford curses under his breath before hanging up.
Pulling up to the diner, its worse than I imagined. All the big windows are shattered, the glass door too. “No!” Shelby cries out, nearly jumping from the car before it’s fully stopped, slamming her door behind her as she goes.
I throw the SUV in park, chasing her up to the building that’s taped off. “Shelby!” I can tell she doesn’t even hear me as she sprints into the building.
I stop in the doorway just behind her. Her body is trembling as she cries. She stands there looking around at the mess. The leather on all the booths and chairs are sliced open, chairs are turned over and smashed, walls are vandalized with spray paint. One wall stands out more than the others.
You’re mine, Bitch. The red paint dripping from the words make it look eerily like blood.
