I nodded. "Can you co look at Jo, please?"
He released with a nod, but kissed quickly before heading to the living room. "Hey, Jo."
"Hey, Aidan," she said, grimacing when she smiled.
"Got a few cuts and bruises, huh?"
She nodded.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I’m not sure, honestly. I was attacked as I ca into the house."
I grabbed an icepack as Knight looked her over. I swept up the glass while they talked, and then Jo called her husband.
"Book’s here, sugar," Knight said.
I hugged Jo gently and promised to check back with her before we left, and then followed Knight back to the barn. Before we reached the structure, I pulled Knight to a stop.
"What, sugar?"
"I just don’t want to freak out in front of Booker, because then he’ll tell Dani, and I really don’t want her to worry."
He stroked my cheek. "We’re gonna find him, Kim."
"But what do they want with him? And why would they hurt Jo?"
Knight sighed. "I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out."
"It’s my uncle," I whispered.
"Yep."
I gripped his shirt. "He’s killed before, Knight."
"Sugar, he’s not touchin’ that fuckin’ horse. He does, a world a’ hurt’s rainin’ down on him, the likes he’s never seen."
I bit my lip and stared up at him. "Can you make that happen even if he doesn’t hurt Fozzie?"
"Don’t even need to ask, sugar."
I dropped my face to his chest and he slid his hand to the back of my neck and squeezed. "I need him to be okay."
Knight kissed the top of my head. "I know."
"I need Flea to be okay too."
"He will be, honey."
"Knight!" Booker bellowed, rushing towards us. "Flea got a ssage to us. He sent an address."
"Is he okay?" I asked.
"A text is damn promising," Booker assured .
"Kim, you go in the house with Jo and you lock the doors," Knight ordered. "No one in or out ’til you hear from ."
"Shouldn’t I hook up his trailer?" I countered.
"Right now, I need to know you’re safe while I figure this out, yeah?"
I gave him a reluctant nod and headed to Jo’s house so Knight could find my horse. I refused to relax until I could wrap my arms around Flea and Fozzie, but I at least had a modicum of hope now.
As I waited to hear from Knight, Jo’s husband returned ho and insisted she go to the hospital, so despite their trepidation to leave alone, I finally convinced them to take care of her injuries. I made sure all the doors and windows were locked and Jo handed a baseball bat before she left. Three hours later, and four fingernails less (due to chewing them to the nubs), Knight texted to say they were on their way with a perfectly healthy Fozzie and Flea in tow.
I was, of course, still not to leave the house until he "fetched" , which all felt so dieval to , but I did as he demanded, because I wasn’t in the mood for a fight. And if I was being honest, he was probably right to be cautious, but I still didn’t like it.
About twenty minutes or so after Knight’s text, I heard the tell-tale sound of tal and truck shocks, and knew soone was hauling a trailer onto the property. I peeked out the living room window, saw Flea in the passenger side of a truck I didn’t recognize, and made a mad dash out of the house and toward the barn.
"Kim!" Knight snapped as he climbed out of the truck. "I told you to stay put."
"I saw you drive up, honey. Take it down a notch." I unlatched the door to the trailer and jumped into the back, sobbing as Fozzie gave a quiet whinny. "Oh, my big boy. Are you okay?" I ran my hands over every inch I could reach inside the small trailer and kissed his muzzle a hundred tis before Knight pulled gently away.
"Let get him out, sugar."
"Is... is he okay?" I rasped.
"He’s fine, honey. Let’s get him settled and I’ll fill you in."
I stepped out of the trailer and off to the side where Flea stood, his face bruised, bloody, and swollen, but smiling like an idiot. I threw my arms around him and squeezed. He hissed in pain and I loosened my grip, but didn’t let go. "Sorry, honey. Are you okay?"
"I’m good, babe."
I cupped his face gently. "You saved my horse."
He smiled. "He’s a fuckin’ cool horse, Kim. Wasn’t gonna let assholes hurt ’im."
"I love you, so so much, you know that, right?"
Flea chuckled. "Love you, too, babe."
Hooves on gravel returned my focus to Fozzie and I rushed to follow Knight to Fozzie’s stall. "I’ve looked him over, Kim, and he’s fine. Nothin’ to worry about."
"There’s a lot to worry about," I argued. "Like these people coming back and trying again."
"Not happenin’." Knight removed the halter and stepped back so I could get to my horse. "Crew’s on their way, then Flea’s gonna dump the truck and trailer and you’re gonna get locked down for a bit."
"What do you an, locked down?"
"You’re gonna hang with Dani while I take care of so shit."
"Okay, I love ’hanging’ with my best friend, but I’m not sure I like the sound of you taking care of so shit."
He smirked, but said nothing to alleviate my worry. The sound of Harley pipes roared and Knight left briefly. I turned to Fozzie and did a more thorough check as I brushed him down. Knight returned a few minutes later with Cricket’s brother, Hatch.
Hatch had long dark hair and a big, bushy beard, and looked a bit like Jason Momoa crossed with Rollo from Vikings. He was gorgeous, and a little intimidating, but also treated like a big brother would. Not at the levels he did with Cricket, thank God, but he was very sweet to and I adored him.
"Mack’s drivin’ you to Book’s place," Knight said. "I’ve got three guys on Fozzie, and Hatch and I need to head out."
"Where?" I asked.
"Sugar, just co outta the stall."
I leaned to catch Hatch’s eye. "Hatch, where are you guys going?"
"My na’s Paul and this is between y’all," he said, and walked out of the barn, obviously to give us so privacy.
"Honey," I said to Knight.
"Baby, co out of there."
"That world of hurt you ntioned? Promise you’ll be careful."
"Don’t worry, sugar, I’m always careful."
"Why doesn’t that make feel better?"
"Co on." He waved out.
Knowing I’d get nowhere if I argued, I put the brushes away and locked the stall. After giving Fozzie a peppermint, I followed Knight out to the vehicles. At least ten Harleys had been backed in and lined up against the fence by the house. Another half-dozen, trucks and cars were parked on the property (including Mack’s BMW).
"Is the whole club here?" I asked.
"Close," he said.
"Why?"
"This is our hub for the mont. Closer than goin’ back to the compound. Four guys will stay here, the rest have other shit to do, but they wanted to be here for moral support."
"Hey, Kim," Mack said as he approached, hugging quickly. "Let’s get you to Booker’s."
"I’ve got my car..."
"We’ll have one of the guys drive it over," Knight said.
"Honey, it’s ridiculous to pull soone away when I can just as easily drive it myself."
He gripped my chin gently and frowned. "Not up for discussion."
"Okay," I ground out.
"Armor, sugar."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. We can fight about it later."
"’Preciate it."
"You will tell everything when you’re done with the world of hurt, get ?" I demanded.
"Promise."
While Knight made plans with the Dogs, I grabbed my bag, handed my keys to Hatch, and found Mack. After kissing Knight (far too quickly), I followed Mack to his car.
Knight
I watched Kim leave, then Ace, Hatch, Buck, and I gathered at the bikes. "Any questions?"
"No," Ace said. "Let’s just get this asshole."
Agreents ca, and I nodded. "Let’s go."
With both Kim and Fozzie locked down and safe, I rode with my brothers to Blush to put our plan into motion.
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