Batta (Blackwings MC - Devil Springs Book 4) Read online

  “Ma’am, my name is Tatum. If you’d like to avoid the bullshit interrogating, poking, and prodding that the city officers are going to subject you to, I need you to get up and come with me. We’ll go out to my car and talk,” I said in an even tone. I didn’t believe in talking to victims like they were children or on the verge of having a breakdown. Until they’d proven they weren’t of sound mind and body, I would speak to them the same as I would any sane adult.

  “Okay,” she rasped and slowly got to her feet. Her eyes widened when she heard the sirens in the distance.

  “Follow me,” I instructed and led the way to my SUV. Once she was in the front seat, I backed out of the driveway and parked on the street two blocks from my sister’s house.

  “Did you know my sister?” I asked.

  “Is she the woman wh-who, who w-was—”

  “Who was lying on the floor in a pool of blood? Yes, that’s my sister.”

  The woman gasped and started to cry. Then, she shook her head. “No, I didn’t know her. The first time I saw her was right before…”

  “Right before someone tried to kill her!” I wanted to scream but forced myself to outwardly appear calm. “I need you to tell me what happened in there,” I said, hoping it didn’t sound like the plea it was.

  She turned to face me and met my eyes. After studying me for several moments, she asked, “Who are you?”

  Smart girl. “I’m the person who can help you; I’m also the person who can make you disappear.”

  1

  Sweat dripped from my nose and chin as my fists connected with the bag over and over again. I knew I was overdoing it, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. After almost a year together, Kennedy ended our relationship over dinner, and I needed an outlet.

  Honestly, I couldn’t be upset with her. I’d known for a while things weren’t working out between us, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her because I didn’t want to lose our friendship. And that’s what we were and had been for the majority of our time together—friends.

  Kennedy and I had a lot of fun together, but the spark just wasn’t there. We’d only slept together twice, and the last time was over six months ago.

  So, there I was, the big, scary biker nearing his thirties and single again. Sure, I could go out and pick up some random pussy if I wanted to get laid, but I wanted more than that. I wanted what many of my brothers had recently found—a woman to share my life and build a family with. A good woman.

  “What did that bag ever do to you?” Bronze asked from behind me.

  I ignored him and continued laying into the bag. My fists were throbbing, and my arms felt like noodles, but I didn’t give the first fuck.

  “Seriously, man, what’s going on?” Bronze asked and stepped up behind the bag.

  “Nothing. I’m just blowing off some steam,” I said and started stripping off my gloves so I could wipe the sweat from my face.

  “Yeah, I can see that. What’s got you all steamy?” he asked with a raised brow.

  Fuck it. If I didn’t tell him, he’d find out sooner or later. “Kennedy and I broke up earlier today. A part of me knew it was coming sooner or later, but it still sucks.”

  “Damn, man, I thought you two had a good thing going.”

  I nodded. “We did. We had a good friendship going.”

  “Ah, gotcha. You want to go have a few drinks at the clubhouse?” he asked hopefully.

  “I think I’ll pass,” I said and started to head for the showers. “Oh, if Layla’s there, don’t mention this to her. I don’t want her reactivating my profile on that damn dating site.”

  Bronze threw his head back and laughed. “You have to admit, that’s how you met Kennedy.”

  “True, but look how that turned out.”

  “All right, man. I’ll keep it to myself. Catch ya later. Oh, be sure to lock up when you leave,” he said and headed for the back door.

  “Will do.” I headed for the locker room after I put my equipment away and wiped my sweat from the bag and the floor. It was after hours, but I had to take a quick shower before I headed home. I couldn’t have my bike smelling like my sweaty ass, literally.

  I rounded the corner, headed to the shower, and froze in my tracks. About ten feet in front of me, Bronze was on the ground with the handle of a knife sticking out of his chest, gasping for breath. Instinctively, I reached for my gun only to realize I’d locked it in the office when I first arrived. Fuck!

  Turning, I quickly glanced around the gym looking for the motherfucker who wasn’t going to live much longer. When I didn’t see anyone, I started to move toward my brother while my eyes continued to search for the threat. Bronze’s gurgling gasp had my attention going straight to him. His lips were moving as he tried to lift his hand.

  “Stay with me, brother. I’m going to get you some help,” I said quietly. Bronze’s eyes widened just as searing pain pierced my back—not once, but twice—and stole the air from my lungs. I tried to turn, to see who was behind me, but I couldn’t move. All I could do was close my eyes as I fell face-down to the floor.

  2

  “Are we almost finished?” I asked my sister in the whiniest voice I could muster. We’d been at work for over ten hours and I was beyond ready to go.

  “All of this has to be done before the store can open. Might as well do it now while we’re on a roll.”

  “We are not on a roll. You might be, but I’m sure as hell not. My roll stopped two hours ago.”

  She sighed in exasperation. “Fine. Whatever. You can leave, but I’m staying for a few more hours. I want to at least finish the Romantic Suspense section.”

  “If I leave, how will you get home?”

  “I’ll drive the truck home,” she said simply. “The question is how will you get home?”

  Shit. “We drive separately next time,” I grumbled causing her to laugh. We didn’t have that option; with only one vehicle, we had to ride to the store together. Besides, I couldn’t leave her alone, and she knew it.

  I briefly contemplated throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her out to the truck, but decided against it, and went to the office to find something productive to do while sitting. I was exhausted from moving boxes of new and used books all day.

  Just as my ass hit the soft leather of the office chair, I heard a sound that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. And then I heard it again. Right on cue, Josie came running into the office with wide, fear-filled eyes. “Did you—?” she started.

  “Shhh!” I hissed and pulled my gun from the holster at the small of my back. “Go to the safe room and call 9-1-1,” I whispered.

  “No, Tay! Don’t go,” she pled, but I was already on my way to the back door.

  I pushed it open as two figures dressed in black came out of another door several feet down from ours. And one of those figures had a gun in his hand.

  “They’re not dead,” a male said.

  “They fucking will be before anyone gets to them. Now, shut the fuck up and let’s get out of here,” another male said.

  I raised my gun and took aim. “Hey, fuck nuggets, drop your weapon and let me see your hands!”

  “You stupid bitch,” the one with the gun said as he whirled around and fired his weapon at the same time I fired mine.

  As his body was dropping to the ground, I ignored the burning pain in my arm and immediately fired another round hitting the other guy. He grabbed his shoulder and bent forward crying out in pain. “Put your hands where I can see them!” I ordered.

  Did he? Of course not. “Hands in the air or I’ll wing the other side.”

  While he held his shaky hands out in front of him, I stepped closer and kicked the gun away from the man on the ground. I was pretty sure he was dead, but I wasn’t going to take my eyes off of the other guy to check.

  When sirens sounded in the distance, the dumb fucker spun on his heels and took off running, which thoroughly pissed me off. I couldn’t chase after him and leave Josie in danger, an
d I couldn’t bring myself to shoot him from behind, especially when I wasn’t sure if he was armed.

  “Tay,” my sister whispered from the door, clearly not in the safe room where she was supposed to be.

  “I’m okay, Jo, but I need to check on the people next door. Pick up the gun on the ground and bring it to me.”

  While Josie did as I asked, I moved closer and bent down to feel for a pulse. As I suspected, I didn’t find one. “He’s dead. Let’s go see if we can save the others.”

  I went to the door I’d seen the men come out of and yanked it open. Josie and I gasped at the same time. One man was flat on his back with the handle of a knife sticking out of his chest. Several feet away, another man was face down on the floor with two gunshot wounds to his upper back.

  “Go check for a pulse and don’t touch that knife! If he’s got a pulse, clear the blood from his mouth and help him breathe,” I instructed while I ran to the other man who was losing an alarming amount of blood, but was thankfully still breathing.

  I pulled my shirt off and covered one bullet hole with it while I scrambled to find something else to press against the other wound. Just as I was about to ask Josie for her shirt, the back door flew open and two police officers stepped inside with guns drawn.

  “We’re the ones who called! We heard the gunshots. These two need help, right now!” I yelled before either one of them could utter a word.

  “Put your hands in the air and move away from the body,” one of the officers commanded.

  “If I put my hands in the air, he’ll bleed to death. The man who did this is outside on the ground. My weapon is tucked into the back of my pants, which you can clearly see. You’re welcome to come get it. My sister has the assailant’s weapon. Now, please help us!”

  Before the officers could even blink in response, the hall was flooded with men approaching from the other side. Big, muscular, leather-clad men. “Where in the fuck is the ambulance?” one bellowed as he landed on his knees beside my sister.

  “Let me help you,” another one said as he knelt down beside me and pressed a cloth to the unattended gunshot wound.

  “Move and let them in!” someone shouted.

  “Don’t touch that fucking knife!” I yelled. The last thing they needed was some overzealous newbie yanking the knife out and killing the man’s chances of surviving.

  “He knows what he’s doing,” the guy beside me said. “He’s a friend of ours and a good paramedic.”

  When two more paramedics arrived beside us, I carefully removed my hands and stepped out of the way so they could take over. As soon as Josie saw me, she came over and stood so close to me I could feel her body trembling.

  “Savior, go with Batta. Copper went with Bronze. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” the man said and turned to face me. “My name’s Judge. Thank you, both of you, for helping our friends tonight. Can you tell me what happened?”

  “I can, but the cops are going to want to hear it, too, so could we gather the pertinent folks and make this a one-time deal?”

  His posture suddenly changed. “You got somewhere more important to be right now?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I’d like to go have this bullet pulled out of my shoulder before it gets infected and causes my arm to rot off. That would totally fuck up tank tops for me,” I snapped.

  He stepped back and his eyes went straight to my shoulder. I pulled the wide strap of the tank I was wearing to the side, so he could see the bullet wound. “Fuck! Coal! Get her to the hospital. Now!”

  “Calm your tits, bro. I’m good for a little while. I just don’t want to be here for hours saying the same damn thing over and over again,” I explained.

  “Gotcha. Listen, let my friend drive you to the hospital. The cops can get your statement there.”

  I snorted. “Sorry, Your Honor, I’m sure you’re good people and all, but they’re going to confiscate my weapon. I’m not going anywhere with a man I don’t know without a weapon, especially while I’m injured. My sister can take me, and we can all chat there,” I told him and grabbed my sister’s hand. “Come on, Jo. I’ve got a date with a doctor, and I don’t want to be late.”

  3

  “Do you want me to drive?” I asked Josie as soon as we were in the parking lot.

  “Are you crazy? You have a bullet in your arm. I can drive, Tatum,” she snapped. “And for the record, I’m not the delicate little flower you seem to think I am.”

  She was. She just didn’t like to admit it, but I kept that to myself. “Okay, I was just checking. I mean, gunshots and stab wounds aren’t everyday things for you.”

  “They aren’t everyday things for the majority of the population, but that doesn’t mean that the majority can’t handle a crisis when faced with one.”

  “Understood,” I conceded and got into the car.

  Josie wasn’t like me. She was what most people would refer to as normal. Me? I was born tough and had hardened over the years. Things didn’t faze me like they did other people. Add to the fact that I was a female—a pretty female—and I was almost always the oddball of any group. And dating? Dating was damn near impossible for me. They didn’t make men that could handle me, not without being abusive assholes. Or I should say, without trying to be abusive assholes. Because, well, the two that tried ended up with broken bones. So, as long as I had a fresh set of D batteries, I was perfectly content without a man in my life.

  My thoughts were interrupted when Josie pulled into the hospital parking lot. We walked inside to find the waiting room packed with people, many of whom were wearing a combination of leather and denim. “Please fill out this form and have a seat until one of the nurses calls your name,” the receptionist said.

  In big, block letters, I wrote “I’VE BEEN SHOT” as my reason for being seen and handed it back to her. When she looked up with wide eyes, I pulled my tank top strap to the side and pointed to my wound.

  “Oh! Oh my! Yes, ma’am. Right this way,” she stammered and scrambled to push the door open. “Gunshot!!” she screamed, causing everyone in a one-mile radius to focus their attention on me.

  I smiled and waved at the staff staring at me. “That’s all her. I’m not even bleeding right now.”

  A woman dressed in scrubs came over to us. “Let’s get you in a room and see what’s going on.”

  “I was shot in the shoulder,” I said and then shrugged with my good side. “Eh, or maybe it’s considered the arm. Either way, it didn’t hit anything major; it’s just stuck in the meat. I just need someone to pluck it out, clean it, and maybe hit me with some antibiotics.”

  The woman looked at me like I was insane. “What? It’s not the first time I’ve been shot. If you’ve got some of those insanely long tweezers, I’ll fish it out myself.”

  “Tay,” Josie scolded. “Stop scaring the nurses with the freak show that is you and get on the bed.”

  “That hurts, Jo. It really does,” I snarked, but hoisted my ass onto the bed.

  “My name’s Kennedy, and I’ll be your nurse tonight,” she said and sniffled. “Let me take a look at your wound before I grab one of the doctors.”

  Once again, I pulled my strap to the side. She came closer and inspected the wound for a moment. “Oh, you really aren’t bleeding. Okay, let me get one of the doctors. We just had two emergencies come in, so it might be just a few minutes,” she said and looked like she was fighting back tears.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Josie asked.

  She sniffled again and nodded her head. “Uh, yes, I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”

  A few minutes later, a doctor entered the room without knocking. “Hello, I’m Dr. Abernathy. I hear you’ve been shot, too. Well, let’s have a look, shall we?” he asked, though it didn’t sound like a question. Actually, he sounded rather irritated or inconvenienced by having to deal with me.

  While his bedside manner sucked, he did get the bullet out and bandaged my arm much faster than I’d expected. “I’ll go finish with
your chart, and the nurse will be in momentarily with your discharge instructions.”

  I rolled my eyes, but kept my mouth shut. The nurse wouldn’t be in with any discharge papers until the police had been in to speak to me, and based on the earlier events, I assumed one or more of the bikers would be in to see me as well.

  As if I’d conjured them up myself, two police officers entered the room with Judge and another man right behind them. I glanced at my wrist like I was wearing a watch. “Right on time, boys.”

  “Tay,” Josie scolded yet again.

  “I believe I know everyone except you,” I said to the man behind Judge.

  “Copper Black, President of the Blackwings MC, and I’m the brother of the man who was stabbed,” he said and held out his hand to shake mine.

  “Taylin Cr-Crawford,” I said and firmly clasped his hand. “How is your brother?”

  He shook his head and looked at the floor. “He’s alive because of you. Thank you,” he said sincerely, and it was clear he was struggling to keep his emotions in check.

  “He’s in surgery right now,” Judge added.

  “Well, I hope he pulls through. And the other guy?”

  “He’s also in surgery,” Judge answered.

  “Okay, let’s get to it,” I said and proceeded to tell them exactly what happened from my perspective.

  “May I ask what your background is, ma’am?” one of the officers asked.

  I scrunched my forehead and pretended to be confused. “My background?”

  “You seem to have some formal training in law enforcement as well as first response.”

  I chuckled and tried to play it off. “Oh, I don’t have any training. I just watch a lot of police shows on television. My sister and I are brand new entrepreneurs. We’re opening the bookstore next to the gym,” I announced hoping to distract them from my obvious fuck up.