Page 8 of Chains
“Gotta go. I’ll let you know. Bye.”
He ended the call and rested his head back against the wall and watched the falling leaves swirl in the light breeze. The early evening sunlight bathed the mountain peaks in a golden glow, and Chains breathed deeply several times to calm his rising anger.
The relationship with his family was like oil and water; it had been that way as far back as he could remember. His dad had been riding his ass since the age of six, and his mother always sided with his father.
Chains had a brother, Bret, who was two years younger than he, and two sisters who used to drive him up a fucking wall with their constant chattering. Amelia and Emily were real close to their mother, and Bret was close to their dad, so that left Chains as the odd man out. And that was exactly how he’d always felt—like a fish out of water—when it came to his family.
“Hey, bro,” Jigger said as he walked out of the club. “How was your hike?”
“Good. Thor ate some shit from a vine and I’m not sure what it is.” Chains took the berries out of his pocket and opened the palm of his hand. “Do you recognize these?”
Jigger dipped his head down and picked up one and examined it. “Sorry, bro. I don’t know shit about plants. Did he eat a lot of them?”
“I don’t know. He was chomping on something when I found him in the woods.” He ran his hand through his brown hair. “Fuck, I’m probably worrying for nothing. How’s your kid?”
“He’s great. I’m going to Durango at the end of the week to spend a few days with him. This shit of not having him full-time is wearing thin, and the thing that really pisses me off is that damn ex-bitch of mine is fucking a new guy who doesn’t like kids.”
“Damn, that’s tough. Is that why she’s letting you see more of Abe this last month?”
“Yeah.” Jigger pulled out a cigarette and dangled it between his lips. “I just want him to live with me. Morgan’s just being a bitch about it because she wants to get back at me for leaving herandshe doesn’t wanna give up the child support. What a damn mess.” He clicked a lighter then inhaled the cigarette.
“Yeah, citizen women are the fuckin’ worst. You need to get a lawyer. Get the name of that attorney who defended Army. Maybe he knows someone who can help with a child custody case. I’m glad I didn’t have any kids with Krystal.”
“Why are women such bitches?”
“The club girls are cool. It’s the citizens you gotta stay away from.”
At that moment, Lila opened the door and looked at him, concern etching her face. “You better come inside. Something’s wrong with Thor.”
“Fuck,” Chains said as he dashed past her. “Where is he?”
“Over there,” Lila said, pointing to the northwest corner of the room. “I think he’s throwing up.”
He saw Thor’s head dipped down real low and could hear the sounds of gagging coming from him. He rushed over and dropped down on one knee.
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Chains put his hand on the husky’s back.
Thor whined then stepped back, his body swaying as if he was dizzy. Chains looked down at the vomit on the floor and stiffened: there was a fair amount of blood in it.
“Fuck,” he whispered. He cut his gaze over to Thor who lay on his side, his bright eyes dull and glassy.
“How is he?” Lila asked as she bent down and stroked the dog’s fur.
“Not good. Stay with him—I’ll be right back.” Chains ran from the room and sprinted up the steps two at a time. He rifled through a drawer in the nightstand until he pulled out the card his retired veterinarian had given him four months before. He quickly tapped in the number as he walked down the stairs. By the time he was back at his pet’s side, Chains had secured an appointment with the animal clinic right away.
“Come on, buddy,” he said as he gingerly picked up the big dog and walked to his car.
Lila, Ruby, Jigger, Razor, and the two prospects—Ink and Vegas—followed behind. Jigger and Razor pushed down the back seat, then Ruby and Lila spread a blanket over it. Ink and Vegas helped Chains lay Thor on top of it.
“You want me to go with you to help out?” Jigger asked.
“Yeah,” Chains said. His mouth was dry like sand, and sweat formed along his hairline.
They drove in silence as Chains maneuvered the SUV through traffic. He kept glancing behind his shoulder to make sure Thor was okay, but the dog’s breathing was labored and his eyes were shut.
I just gotta get him to the clinic in time.Chains pushed the thought that Thor could die out of his head. Thor had been a puppy when Chains found him shivering in a window well one cold January night seven years before. He had been at one of his lowest points after having caught his fellow brother and best friend, Crossbones, fucking Krystal. After that, everything was a blur: beating the shit out of Crossbones, kicking his cheating wife out on her ass, the club’s decision to throw Crossbones out of the Night Rebels, and his family’s smug faces when he’d told them he and Krystal had split.
And then a ball of fur had come into his life, and the only thing that mattered was saving the little guy. From that moment on they’d become fast friends, and Thor was always by his side.
He glanced back at the dog and clenched his jaw—the taste of blood pungent. Thor wheezed as he struggled to breathe.
“He’s gonna make it, bro. I know it,” Jigger said.
Chains nodded.
He just fuckin’ has to.
