Page 45 of Fury

“We are not talking physical stuff here, we are talking about mental abuse. There are some that stick their dick in and then just walk away or toss the women from the room. They are club whores; they know what they are here for and accept that way of life. They are still women, and we wouldn’t let anyone else treat them this way so why are we doing it? You know who you are. You know that it is wrong. Now you know that we know. Get the attitude adjusted to the women, or I for one will adjust it for you.” Fury is very intimidating when he wants to be, and he has certainly got the bit between his teeth on this. I’m with him on this, too.

“I wasn’t aware of this, but I’m with Fury. We’ve just approached one of the women for help, and she’s jumped in with both feet to help protect the Doc. If I find that it’s an officer involved, I’ll be extremely disappointed. I’ll be harder on them than a brother, but believe me when I say that a brother will not get off lightly. We do not mistreat women physically or mentally, no matter who they are unless they deserve it, and I shall decide that in all but exceptional cases,” I nod at Ghost at this point, “so this needs addressing from this moment forward.”

I dismiss Church, stand by the door, and watch each of them leave. I hope I never have to deal with one of them over a club woman, but I will if it comes to it.

Chapter 24

*~* Jamie *~*

It is the third day, and as much as I enjoy Mateo’s company, I’m starting to feel the walls closing in. I kept Salem talking on the radio yesterday for almost thirty minutes before she couldn’t take any more of my dribble and made her escape. If something doesn’t change soon, I’m going to take things into my own hands and make something happen. I’m sure I’m being transparent too, as Mateo has taken to hanging out near the doorway.

Mateo and I have had some good conversations, and I have certainly had the time to reflect on my relationship with Fury and the MC. As Mateo once said, if I buy into Fury, I get the MC along with him. I’ve been helping the MC long enough now that I should be more aware than I think I am, but Fury and I dated outside of the clubhouse and away from the club. I don’t think that was a deliberate thing other than he got to be more of himself than maybe he would have been around his brothers. Or I’m completely wrong and that bullshit he had in his head about him not being good enough was in play.

Hearing the radio squawk, I grab it from my belt, where I’ve taken to hogging it, and hear Salem’s voice crackle through it.

“Don’t shoot me, I’m coming in.”

“I won’t shoot you coming in, but I might to stop you leaving!”

Mateo raises his eyebrows at me. “Present company not good enough anymore?”

“Well, we haven’t exactly been anywhere recently to enlarge our topics of conversation, now, have we?” I’m almost hopping as I wait to see Salem.

Salem steps in and I grab her in my best bear hug. Hearing her grunt as I squeeze and her feet leave the floor gives me the weirdest sense of satisfaction.

“Put me down. I’ve had my quota of hugs for the day from the boys, thank you. Although at least yours aren’t accompanied by a large helping of drool like Bruno’s. Spectre is far too refined to drool on the hand or face that feeds him.”

Releasing her from my hug, I keep contact with her by taking her hand and leading her to the kitchen area. She stops before we get there and rather obviously disentangles herself from me.

“It’s all been quiet, and I’m sure that you’re going a bit stir-crazy in here, so I thought I’d escort you into the woods for some fresh air and exercise.” She watches us both for our reactions, and Mateo beats me to a response.

“Actually, no. We’re fine in here. Your pa did a great job, so it would be rude and discourteous if we were to leave this oasis of calm and solitude until we know the threat to Jamie has gone one hundred percent.”

“Shut up, asshole.” I give Mateo my deadliest look. “Salem, I love what your pa has done with the place, I really do, but I’d love to see more of his woods too.”

“I shouldn’t leave one of you behind, so if Mateo is staying, you should both stay. I’ll come back in a few more days and maybe we can do it then, okay?” Salem looks at both of us, and I’m ready to scream. In fact, I do.

“Nooooo! Mateo is going with us. Aren’t you, Mateo? Dead or alive, you are going outside into the woods, aren’t you?”

“Well, it depends if it is warm enough. I didn’t bring a jacket or anything warm to wear. I don’t want to get a chill and be ill,” Mateo gives me a real hangdog expression, and I explode.

“I’m a doctor, Mateo. If you don’t go outside, I can give you worse than a chill. How does a bout of the plague sound? Or maybe one of the more serious STDs that I could inject you with? I have a seriously extensive repertoire of diseases that I can call on. Perhaps leprosy would be a good one, and you can watch as your parts begin to dry up and drop off?” I am just getting into my flow when he laughs at me.

“Wow, talk about zero to full speed in a few seconds. If someone could harness that from you and load it into a vehicle, they could have the world land speed record beaten, hands down.” Seeing Salem heading for the door, he follows and leaves me with my mouth hanging open. “Aren’t you coming, Doc?” He calls this over his shoulder as he disappears.

I’m going to kill him in his sleep. No, poison his food so I can watch him die slowly. Tie him up and torture him so he knows how much he pissed me off. Find his greatest fear and scare him to death with it. All these thoughts run through my head as I quickly follow them both into the sunshine and fresh air.

Only there isn’t any sunshine. There’s only moonlight. I look at my watch and wonder how I’ve managed to completely lose track of which eleven o’clock it actually is. It has to be a trick of my mind, as it’s only been three days, but even so. Using my intelligence to its fullest, I remember that it’s only been a few hours since Mateo had his turn at making dinner.

I have to follow Mateo through the woods as I can’t see or hear Salem in front of us. Bruno isn’t crashing through the woods, but I can hear him to our right. I don’t even know if Spectre is with us. I haven’t seen or heard him at all. I almost crash into Mateo before I realize he has stopped and was looking at something.

Pushing by him, I stop suddenly, too. Ahead is a small clearing. There are several large rocks arranged near the treeline where Salem is sitting. Opposite this, trees have been cleared at some time, as there is a view out over the surrounding country that you would have to pay a realtor millions of dollars to enjoy.

Walking silently to sit by her, Mateo and I just sit and soak up the view. The silence is deafening and yet totally relaxing. Mateo starts to say something, and Salem just holds up her hand for him to be still. I have to agree with her. This is no time for talking. A contented sigh is all that you need in this place at this time. We sit like this for some time and see several shooting stars before Salem speaks.

“Okay, my happy batteries are fully recharged. You can let the gibberish out now, Mateo.”

“What I was going to say, Salem, was thank you for bringing us to this place. It is…” He pauses as though lost for words.