Page 54 of Wheelie's Challenge
“Fuckin’ cunt!” Tigger shouted, kicking her in the lower back and once in the hip as she fell to the ground and curled up. His foot slammed into her ribs and then her shoulder before he wrapped her hair around his hand and yanked her across the floor.
By the time they reached the bedroom everything hurt, even her teeth, and Sofia prayed he’d spent his anger and would leave her alone and find comfort between the legs of the club girls. Blood filled her mouth, spilling down her throat, and Sofia thought she’d be sick.
“I’m going to throw up,” she croaked, trickles of red coming from the corner of her mouth.
Tigger punched her in the mouth, and the force of it blurred her vision as she felt herself slipping… slipping… gone.
***
Am I dead?Steady humming pricked her ears as Sofia tried to figure out where she was. Something kept buzzing around her face and she tried to swat at it but groaned when pain screeched through her arm.If I was dead I wouldn’t feel like shit, would I?Above her, she heard the whispering of voices—voices that fell silent just as her eyes fluttered open. In the darkness, shapes in monochrome came into focus as they bent over her.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” a harsh voice said.
I know that voice. It’s Banger’s. Banger’s not dead, so I must be alive. Tigger didn’t kill me.Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes.
“Fuck, man. How could you hurt your wife like this?”
That’s Hawk. They’re trying to help me. Is Wheelie here? Oh… Wheelie.
“I fucked up, Hawk.” Tigger said. “I fucked up real bad. I don’t even know how it happened. I didn’t hit her that hard—”
“The fuck you didn’t. We gotta call Doc,” Banger said. Doc had been fixing up and taking care of the Insurgents for over fifteen years. The club paid him well and admired his discretion.
The room wasn’t as obscure now that she was getting used to the light, and Sofia could see Hawk, Banger, and Tigger huddled around her bed. Banger took out his phone and spoke to someone in a low voice.
“Doc’s on his way.” Banger looked back down at her. “You put Scotch tape on her lip?”
Tigger stroked her face, and she cringed. “I didn’t know what else to do. It was bleeding so bad. Fuck… I didn’t mean it.”
“I told you to stop this shit. I even gave you the stuff some of the old ladies gave me for you to get help.” Banger’s voice rose, “You told me you had this under control.”
“I did. I’ve been real good, but I flipped out. When I got home she was wearing something slutty, and I found out she’s been cheating on me.”
“Who’s the guy?” Hawk asked, an edge of tension to his voice.
“I think it’s our next-door neighbor, Jim. I found a necklace he gave her.”
“Did you catch them together?” Banger said.
“No, but she was wearing a skimpy top and the bottom of her butt was showing ’cause the shorts were so tight.” Tigger peered down at her. “I think she’s awake. My sweetcakes is going to be just fine.”
A cool cloth dabbed at her aching face.It feels good.
Hawk leaned down close as he ran the cloth over her forehead. “Sofia. Can you hear me?”
She tried to answer but nothing came out other than a guttural croak. It was like her whole mouth and throat were filled with sand.
Tigger’s face replaced Hawk’s, concern lines etched all over it. “Are you all right, sweetcakes?”
No, you fucking idiot. I’m not all right. I hurt everywhere, and it’s because of you.
“I think she’s thirsty. I can tell. We have this connection between us.” Tigger put his hands under her shoulders and tried to sit her up. As pain burned through her, she cried out and he let go. “She’s gonna be okay, right?”
“You should’ve thought about that before you laid a hand on her. You don’t even know for a fact that she’s with your neighbor.” Hawk reapplied the cool rag on her face.
“I found the necklace. She hid it in a drawer. Why would she hide it from me?” Pricks of anger snuck into Tigger’s voice.
“’Cause you do shit like this to her,” Banger answered.
