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Cop cars and ambulances lined the driveway, parked around a dozen abandoned vehicles that the Black Eagle’s rode in on.
My step faltered when the cops’ eyes turned to us as we neared and realization that Fox had just killed a man a couple hundred yards away dawned on me. “Don’t worry.” He said soothingly as he kissed the top of my head. “I’m not going to leave your side.” I tilted my head back to look up at him as he stared down at me, with understanding in his eyes, “Never again.”
“Promise me.” I whispered, looking at my daughter in his arms as fear grew in my heart.
“I promise you.” He kissed my forehead as an older cop walked forward with my Aunt Suzie at his side.
“Is she okay?” Suzie asked lovingly at where Penny clung to Fox’s neck still.
I nodded solemnly, “Physically yes. How about you?”
Her jaw clenched and anger bloomed in her eyes, “I wish I had gotten my hands on that son of a bitch.” She cursed, ignoring her normal rule to keep bad language away from kids, and given the circumstances, she was allowed.
“Easy, Suzie.” The cop patted my Aunt’s shoulder affectionately and her cheeks blushed even as her anger bristled.
Was there something romantic going on between them?
“I’m Sheriff Dodge.” The cop introduced himself, holding his hand out for Fox to shake, who did so strongly. “Mind giving me a condensed version of what happened here today?”
“Is my sister okay?” I ignored his request and gave my own.
Suzie nodded, “The pretty boy said she’d be okay, though if he gives her any more attention she might melt into a puddle.” She shrugged, “The EMT’s are getting her loaded up now to take her to the hospital.”
The answer sufficed me for the time being, and Fox shifted Penny in his arms to run his free hand down the back of my neck. “Taz attacked D a week ago at her work, broke her ribs and then took off. He went into hiding and we couldn’t find him. Until today when he called D, telling her he had the girls here and demanded that she show up with cash in exchange for their safety.”
The cop eyed me and pursed his lips, “And I’m guessing you didn’t call the cops.”
I stiffened, “His orders were pretty clear.”
He nodded and sighed, looking back at Fox. “So how did you all end up in the woods?”
I filled in my part, “When I got here, he had Maddie and Suzie in the barn, tied up. He said I’d get Penny back when I gave him the money. But then he locked us in the stall and said he was going to take her with him for insurance.” I cringed, feeling Penny stiffen, “I took off after him as he ran into the woods to get away with her.” I swallowed the bile down in my throat, “I couldn’t let him get away or I’d never see her again, I knew that.”
“What about the gun shots?” The Sheriff eyed me. “Heard those rolling onto the scene.”
“I shot a warning at his feet as he fought to get her in his truck, and then another into his leg when he got her in and went to drive away.”
“Is he…” He eyed Penny and shrugged, avoiding the word.
“Not from a gunshot wound.” Fox answered for me. “Even with the hit to his leg he had a knife to my daughter when I got to him. We fought and he tried slashing me with it, but I got the upper hand and ended it.”
“With the knife?” The sheriff asked for clarification.
“Yes.”
The man looked around to the dozens of menacing bikers standing around, “And that’s it?”
“Isn’t that enough?” Suzie argued. “I know what you’re thinking Tom,” She hissed, “Not for one second is my niece or her boyfriend guilty of anything but self-defense. They had no choice but to save Penny. The same thing you’d do if it was one of your grandbabies that you dote on.” She glared at him, and the Sheriff’s scowl relaxed, and I knew she had him.
“I’d like to get to my sister now,” I said in a way to end the conversation. “I’m sure anything you have to follow up on can be done at the hospital.”
He smirked and shook his head, “I see the family resemblance.” He looked at Suzie and then nodded, backing up to let us pass. “I’ll be in contact.”
“Let’s go,” Fox said, steering us towards the ambulance parked outside of the barn with a nod to Houston. Bikes roared to life around us and the club members got on and left, avoiding any more interaction with the police now that the initial risk to Fox was gone.
EMT’s rolled my sister out on a gurney towards the waiting ambulance as we neared and I ran forward taking her hand in mine as she opened her eyes and started crying. “I’m so sorry, D.” She said, pulling the oxygen mask down to talk, “I tried to keep her safe.”
“Shh,” I smoothed my hand over her head, “She’s fine.” I moved and she looked behind me as Fox walked up with Penny in his arms who peeked out at her aunt lying on the stretcher.
