Ravage Me (26 page)

“Mel has Cooper.” I repeated back to her. “Is he hurt?”

“No. He was fine when she took him.” That was a relief, but didn’t mean it would last.

“Princess, is she okay?”

“I don’t know. The docs have her in surgery. She took a shot to the shoulder, but it’s her head that’s the worst. God, Cruz… it’s not good, Cruz. It’s not good.” Hearing Ma’s sobs, I kicked into high gear.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I closed my phone, charging back into the barn. “Diamond, Pops!” Their eyes turned towards me as they began to walk.

“Princess has been shot and Cooper’s been taken by Mel. We gotta go… now!”

Diamond barked, “End it.” And three shots rang out. “Dagger and Rhys, get this cleaned up. We gotta get to the hospital; Princess has been shot.” We hopped on the four-wheelers, racing to our bikes.

Once we got to our bikes, I asked Zed and Becs to call Tug, Buzz, and Breaker and search Mel’s house, work, parent’s house, and anywhere else they knew to look. I’d be joining them soon, but first I needed to make sure Princess was okay.

Rushing down the hospital halls with Pops, G.T. and Diamond on my tail, I felt dread… utter and complete dread. I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t survive. And Coop, God knows where he was with that bitch. I swore when I fucking found her, and I would find her, I would end her. Fuck that no hitting women rule that bitch was dead.

Asking every person in a damn white coat where the hell Princess was pissing me off. Every worker there was scared and petrified us big bad bikers were in their hospital. If they didn’t tell me where she was soon, I was gonna give them a reason to be fucking scared, real quick.

Finally, an older lady with graying hair and round as can be, directed us to a waiting room where Ma was propped in the corner with her hands covering her face. G.T. ran up to her. “Ma! What’s going on?”

Ma looked up, her eyes red and puffy. “G.T.!” she yelled as she jumped up, wrapping him in her arms, hugging him tight and sobbing. Her knees gave out, and G.T. picked her up and set her gently in the chair.

“You okay, Ma?” Pops asked, looking at the bandage and blood on her shirt.

“Just a graze, not even enough for stitches.” Pops wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the forehead.

“How is she?” I said, panicked and not hiding it one bit. It’s amazing how my world could spiral down so quickly.

“I’m so sorry, Cruz.” Ma wept. “She’s in surgery. The blows to the head were what knocked her down. The bullet didn’t do much, but I haven’t got an update yet. I’m just waiting.”

“What happened?” As Ma replayed the entire scene, my gut ached, and my fury boiled. “Who else was there besides Mel?”

“That’s what I don’t know, Cruz. I didn’t see them.”

“Did Mel say where she was going with Coop?”

“No. The only thing she said was ‘I’m taking my boy.’ I’m so sorry. After the bump on the head, I got dizzy and couldn’t get myself together to help either of them.” She sobbed harder. “I’m so sorry, I let down my babies.”

Pops pulled Ma into his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wanted to stay here and see how Princess was doing, but I needed to go out and find my boy. Thank God, my brothers were doing it, because I would lose my shit if they weren’t by my side right now.

That damn clock ticked and ticked and ticked. I felt like eternity that we waited. Ol’ ladies came in along with other chapter members. When Dagger and Rhys came in, I jumped up immediately. “Any sign of my boy?”

“Not at the house, her work, or parent’s house. We even checked the local hotels showing a picture of Coop… nothing. But one of the nearby gas attendants swears he saw the little boy come in and use the bathroom with a woman matching Mel’s description. He then saw them get into the back of a green, four-door Honda. He even gave us the plates from one of their security cameras. I had Buzz go back to the club and run them. That’s the strongest lead we’ve got so far.”

“Fuck!” I yelled; I ran my hands through my hair, pulling it tight. I never felt this out of control in my life. I felt, so God damn helpless. I couldn’t help Princess; she was in the doctor’s hands, and I have no fucking clue where that bitch took my boy. Dammit.

Dagger wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight, “We’ll find him. Don’t worry. Becs, Zed, Tug, and Breaker are waiting for the word on the car. And the guys here,” he motioned to the room full of men from the other chapters, “have all agreed to ride as soon as the location comes in. We will find him.”

“The family of Harlow Gavelson,” a man with green scrubs called as he emerged from the door his eyes scanning the room carefully.

“Over here,” I barked. As he looked at the men and women, he gulped loudly. No doubt seeing us all together was intimidating. Good. He’d better make sure she walks out of this alive.

As he stepped closer, the beads of sweat beginning to form on his temples suggested his nervousness. “I’m her ol’ man. What’s going on?” I said as I stepped in front of him crossing my arms.

He cleared his throat repeatedly seemingly trying to get the nerves under control. “Sir, she suffered a minor shot to the shoulder that was easily repaired. It didn’t hit anything major. Unfortunately, the hits repeatedly to the back of her head caused a serious concussion. Right now, we expect a full recovery. She’s under anesthesia, but in about an hour, you’ll be able to talk to her. She may be confused a bit. I’ll let you know when she’s in her room.”

“Thanks, Doc,” I said, holding out my hand. He sucked it up, reaching out, shaking it back. After he left, I was surrounded by brothers and sisters with hugs and pats on the back. Even though I was relieved, I wouldn’t be all right till I saw her and talked to her, knowing that she was here and okay.

The waiting took forever. Minutes kept ticking away. With not being able to see Princess and not hearing back from Buzz, I was wearing a damn hole in the hospital’s linoleum floor. My mind kept focusing on my boy, wondering where the fuck Mel could have taken him. She doesn’t love him. She doesn’t want him. When he was first born, she tried several times to give him to me, but my ass didn’t want the full responsibility. Now I’m kicking myself hard. Why the fuck does she want him now?

Diamond stood in my pacing path his boots being the first thing I saw. As I looked up, his eyes were masked. “Buzz got a lead on the car. It’s about three hours out.”

“Fuck,” I shook my head lacing my fingers through my hair. Do I stay here with my girl or go find my boy?

I didn’t have time to make that decision when the same gray-haired nurse that helped us out earlier came into the room. “Family of Harlow Gavelson?” I took off to the door with Ma right behind me.

“Yeah.”

“You can go in and see her now. She’s still a bit out of it, but she’s slowly coming to. Only one at a time for now.”

Turning to Diamond, I pleaded, “Please go. Text me the address, and I’ll be there soon.”

Ma patted me on the shoulder as I left rushing to Princess’s room. The walls were sterile white. She had machines on both sides of her body beeping and making other strange noises. My girl laid on her back with tubes and wires coming out of every part of her body. She didn’t move. She laid there… lifeless.

My stomach dropped to my knees at the thought of losing her. Grabbing a chair, I pulled it alongside the bed, grabbing her hand, holding it for dear life. It was warm which was a comforting feeling. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed like that. Time evaded me. When Princess started making noises, I looked at her face. Deep lines crossed her forehead as her head began to move slowly side to side.

“Baby. It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.” I whispered gently into her ear.

Princess’s eyes began to flutter open as she blinked repeatedly trying to adjust to the bright hospital lights. She stared at the ceiling as I talked calmly to her. “Princess. You’re okay. I’m here.”

“No… don’t touch me…” she groaned as her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and her lids shut, scaring the shit out of me. I instantly yelled for the nurse and jumped her as she walked in the room. “Her eyes rolled back. And she’s not moving.” I was unable to hide the panic laced in my voice.

“It’s okay. She’s just coming out of the meds. Give her some time.”

I didn’t have time. I had to get to my boy. I texted Diamond, saying that I’d need to stay a bit longer, that as soon as I could, I’d be on my way. He instantly texted back saying my brothers would find my boy. A small sliver of relief came over me, knowing they were the ones out looking for Coop.

Waiting… waiting… waiting. That damn chair was uncomfortable as shit. Over the course of two hours, Ma, Pops and the ol’ ladies all came in one at a time. It was a revolving damn door, but it kept the time moving. Ma tried to get me to leave and take a break, but there was no way in hell that was happening. The fucking cops had so many questions that, even if I could answer, I wouldn’t. I felt closer and closer to falling off the edge with each passing minute. The cops got to Ma in the waiting room, but Pops was there to handle it.

Casey came briefly and held Princess’s hand as she sobbed, saying she was sorry. When I asked her for what, she said that she shouldn’t have listened to Princess. Apparently, my girl told her best friend to stay put instead of coming with her. It was the right thing to do, even if Casey didn’t see it now.

Staring at the TV, I couldn’t even tell you what the hell was on. It was just there for the noise. I couldn’t stand the sound of these fucking machines beeping on and on. Each one told me that Princess hadn’t woken up yet. Docs kept saying she would, but as more time passed my anxiety kept increasing rapidly.

Suddenly the moans from the bed were a bit louder than before, I moved over to Princess’s body. Her eyes were a wrinkled mess, and her arms start moving a little. I began saying the same soothing words as before, “Princess. It’s okay. You’re all right.”

Her eyes fluttered open as she continued blinking. When her eyes settled on me, she just stared, not saying a word. After about fifteen minutes of my reassuring words, Princess’s eyes changed, as if something in them clicked and she’d actually woken up.

“Cooper,” she croaked out, her voice sounding nothing like her own. At that moment, she gained strength, and she started pulling at her arms. When she saw the wires, she tugged at them and pulled some of them out. The machines going crazy with noises.

“Princess. Stop!” I said forcefully, but she didn’t listen. She kept tugging as I reached over, grabbing her hands, pinning them down to the bed. “Stop!”

“I can’t. I… I have to find Cooper… she’s got him.” The pain in Princess’s eyes was breaking my heart. I knew she loved him as much as I did. I just wasn’t ready for her reaction when she woke up.

“Baby. I know. We’re on it. We’ll find him.” I said still gripping her hands to the bed.

“I’m so sorry, Baby. I’m so sorry.” Her words came out in choked sobs as I released her hands, rubbing her matted hair away from her face. She rolled over to her side pulling her knees to her chest as if she were trying to hide.

“It’s okay. We’ll find him.” I tried to reassure her.

“I couldn’t stop her… I couldn’t do anything. I lied there and watched her take him. I watched her take him!” She screamed the last part, her face covered in tears.

“You were protecting our boy. It’s not your fault. We will find him.”

“Has she called?”

“No, Baby. But we will find him.”

“Cruz. You need to go find him. Now!” Her voice became more and more determined by each word she said.

“I will. I will.” The nurses began rushing in because of all the bells and whistles going off.

“Ms. Gavelson. You need to relax.” The nurse said as she began sticking all the wires back onto Princess’s body.

“I can’t!” she barked at the nurse, who pulled out a very large syringe.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, about ready to throw this bitch on the ground if she thought about sticking it in Princess.

“Sir, it’s a sedative. She just got out of surgery and needs to heal. She can’t be agitated or upset. It will just let her go to sleep for a while.”

“Cruz… no don’t let them give it to me. I gotta go find our boy!” Princess pleaded, but I nodded to the nurse. As much as it killed me, it would be the best thing for her to rest.