Chapter 10: Rebel
It had been a little over a week since the party at the clubhouse. I still couldn’t believe Madisen had agreed to us having sex out in the open where anyone could see and hear us. It had been hot as hell. Though no one said anything about it the next day to her, several of the guys mentioned to me that they had seen and heard us. They told me I was one lucky bastard. I had to agree. Not that I was looking to have an audience, but if the mood struck us, I didn’t care who saw me making love to my woman. I was glad she felt the same way.
Today, I was in Nashville for the club. Bull needed someone to make a run and pick up parts for a custom bike some of the guys were building. They didn’t want to wait another couple of days until the dealer could send the parts to us. I volunteered to go since I wanted to check out a baby store in Nashville for a crib set Madisen had shown me online. I wouldn’t be gone long. I had to be back in time to go to her doctor’s appointment at three. I planned to be back way before that time. She was at the bakery with Tate, Alex, Ajax, and Joker for the morning, then we’d head over to the appointment.
I hit the dealer up first to pick up the parts. They weren’t ready with the order, although they had told us they’d have everything ready for us by ten. I was a little pissed, but decided to go check out the baby store for that crib set while I waited. They assured me they’d have it ready to go within an hour.
I looked around the baby store. The sheer size and number of things in there was overwhelming. I hoped Madisen knew what all we should get because I didn’t have a clue. I found a lady to show me where the cribs were. I found the exact one Madisen had shown me. I had to agree it was beautiful and looked even better in person. I looked at the others they had, but none compared to this one. I’d let her know we should get this set for sure. While I was there, I wandered around, looking at different things.
After killing a little over an hour, I was back at the parts dealer to pick up our order. They still weren’t ready. I was really getting pissed now. I wanted to get back on the road. I paced around as I waited for them to get their shit together. I glanced at my phone. It was an hour and a half drive from here to home. As long as I left by one o’clock, I should have plenty of time to get back for the appointment. It was almost noon now.
It was another hour before I was on the road with the damn parts. I’d called Bull and let him know this place was so disorganized, it was crazy. We’d never used them before, and I doubted we would again. I was driving along, trying to not speed too much, so I could get back. I thought I was going to make it in plenty of time until I ran into traffic at a standstill on the highway. Cars stretched out ahead of me as far as I could see. I swore. If I was on my bike, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I could have gotten around them. But I took the SUV so I could get the parts. I sat there, inching along while watching the minutes tick by. Checking the radio, I found out a semi had flipped and the whole road was shut down. The nearest exit to try and go around the back way was three miles ahead. I banged the steering wheel with my fist. Fuck. An hour went by, and I still hadn’t gone more than two miles. I sighed as I called Madisen. Her cheery voice came over the phone.
“Hi, honey, are you almost here?”
“No. I’m sorry, baby. I’m not going to make it. The damn place didn’t get me out of there until one which should have been fine, but now I’m on the highway and it’s shut down due to a rolled semi. I have no idea how soon I’ll get home. I’m so damn sorry. You’re going to have to get the guys to take you. I hate to miss it.” It pissed me off that I'd miss an appointment. I wanted to go to every one of them.
“Ronan, it’s okay. It’s just a regular visit. They’ll check my weight, the baby and that’s it. No worries.”
“But I wanted to be at every one. I love hearing the baby’s heartbeat. Make sure if they do an ultrasound to take more pictures. I love you, baby. I’ll see you as soon as I can. Stay with the guys and be careful.”
“I love you too, Ronan. I’ll be careful and stay with the guys. You drive safe.” We ended the call. I then called Joker. When he answered, I told him what had happened and that I needed them to take Madisen to her appointment.
“No problem, brother. She’s coming my way. I’ll bet she’s about to tell me you called. Relax. Alex, Tate and I will get her there and back. I’ll leave Ajax here to watch the store with Trudie and Jessica. Take care and we’ll see you later.”
I did feel better that she was with my brother and two prospects, but it still pissed me off to miss her appointment. I cranked the music and tried to zone as I waited for the traffic to break. It wasn’t until close to three thirty that I got past the point of the accident and back to normal speed. She should be done soon. I’d wait until at least four to call. I wanted to know if the doctor had anything new to tell her.
At five minutes before four, my phone rang. I saw it was Joker. “Hey, Joker. How did the appointment go? Is my girl there? Can I talk to her?” He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Joker, what’s wrong?”
“Okay, Reb, I need you to listen. Madisen is alright. I have the club with us—”
“What the fuck happened to my woman, Joker?” I shouted into the phone. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. Something had to have happened for him to preface his call that way.
“We were leaving the doctor’s office and headed home. We were outside of the town limits when a car came out of nowhere. They ran us off the damn road. Alex and Tate ended up in the ditch. They opened fire on us. Of course, she was in the SUV, so nothing got to her. She’s shook up. The guys are getting patched up. She hit her head on the window and has a little cut. We’re getting Doc Weeks to check her out. She’s asking when you’ll be here?”
“Tell her I’ll be there within the hour. You make sure she’s okay, Joker. If Doc thinks she needs to go to the hospital to get checked out, you take her even if you have to hogtie her ass. Put her on the phone.” He handed it off.
“Hi, honey.” I wanted to close my eyes, hearing the shakiness in her voice. She sounded subdued.
“Hi, baby. Are you okay? Really, okay? Joker said you have a cut on your head. Do you hurt anywhere else? Maybe you should just go to the hospital to be safe.”
“Ronan, I’m fine. Just a headache and a cut. I don’t hurt anywhere else. I just want you here so you can hold me. But don’t drive like a maniac either.”
“I’ll be there within the hour. Let Doc check you out. You do exactly what he says, including going to the hospital if he wants. Hang tight, I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
I hated to hang up. I increased my speed a little more. The whole way back, I worried about her and the baby. I wanted to know if they got the person or persons who did it. I didn’t go into it on the phone. We were careful never to talk about things like that over an open line. Another forty-five minutes and I was pulling into the compound. I barely threw the vehicle in park and shut it off before I was racing inside. Several of the guys looked up when I came barreling through the door. “Where is she?” I asked as I thundered past them. One of them said my room.
I threw open our bedroom door. She was lying on the bed. Bull, Jocelyn, and Joker were sitting with her. I ignored all of them as I hurried to the side of the bed and sat down. She raised up, and I could see she had a small bandage on her forehead. I pulled her into my arms. My heart settled a little. I rubbed her back and kissed her. I needed that connection to know she was alive and safe. Bull cleared his throat. I reluctantly broke our kiss and looked at him.
“Doc said she’s fine. Banged up a little and has the cut on her head and a headache. He didn’t think she needed to go to the hospital, but if she starts to feel bad or gets any other symptoms, then she needs to go. We’ll leave you two for a bit. We’ll be having an emergency church in an hour. Jocelyn or Devyn will come sit with her while we do.”
I nodded my thanks. I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone yet. Joker clapped his hand on my shoulder. Jocelyn gave it a squeeze and kissed me on the cheek. She told Madisen she’d see her later. I pulled away enough to swing my legs up on the bed, then I hugged her close again.
“Baby, you need anything?” She shook her head. I didn’t want to ask her what happened. I would wait until I got all the details from Joker and the others. I decided to try to take her mind off it. “How did the doctor’s appointment go? Anything new with the baby?”
She gave me a tiny smile. I’d take it. “It went well. I gained a little weight, so he was happy, but he wants me to gain more next month. The heartbeat was nice and strong. They didn’t do an ultrasound this time. My blood sugar and everything were good. He just wants me to continue to take my vitamins and folic acid and let him know if anything changes.”