The Junkyard Boys (20 page)

“I need an ambulance right fucking now!” Craze shouted, still holding Clover in his arms. I had to get to my woman. She needed me. No matter how bad I felt about leaving Buck, I had to make sure she was alive. I laid Buck’s body on the floor with a still sobbing Sebastian holding on to him. Dragging my dislocated shoulder, I felt no pain as I grabbed her from his arms and held her in mine where she belonged.

“Tootsie baby, talk to me. Please, I can’t lose you too…please.” The paramedics rushed to my side, carrying a stretcher.

“Sir, you have to let her go so we can help her.” Fuck that, they weren’t taking my woman out of my arms. She was staying with me, where I could keep her safe.

“Range, let her go so the doctor can help her.” Fox grabbed one arm, while Craze grabbed the other, dragging be backwards and out of the way so the paramedics could get to Clover. She looked so pale lying on that stretcher, and my heart ached to take away her pain and make it my own. The scene was too much to take in and I felt myself getting dizzy from my adrenaline wearing off. Screaming, crying, cursing, all of it was going on around me as I felt my chest getting tighter and tighter until finally, I felt nothing.

“We need a fucking stretcher over here!”

Range

I was floating, dressed in all white at the entrance of the junkyard, except it didn’t say “Buck’s Junkyard.” It said “Range’s Junkyard.” What the fuck is going on? Am I dead?

“Wake the fuck up, boy, you got work to do.”

“Buck?”

I was dreaming. It was the only explanation I had for this weird-ass shit going on.

“Who the fuck else would it be?” Buck replied with a smirk, also wearing white from head to toe. He even had white rubber bands around his too long beard and ponytail. He was standing in front of me at the junkyard.

“What are you doing here? You’re dead.”

“No shit, Sherlock. Now, listen up. I don’t have much time. I taught you everything I know, not only how to run the yard, but to look after my boys. They will all need you before everything is said and done, especially Max. Remember your promise and be the man I know you are.”

“I don’t understand any of this, Buck. Where are you going?”

“To Heaven, dipshit. Remember your promise.”

I woke with a start and some serious pain in my arm and head. I was lying in a hospital bed, that much was clear, but how the fuck did I get here and where the fuck was Clover? I had to find my woman, but when I tried to sit up, all I felt was a sharp shooting pain traveling up my arm and stopping just before my chest exploded.

“Hey, relax, man. You’re in the hospital, but it’s gonna be ok.” I rubbed my eyes and blinked a few times, trying to get my brain to clear as well as my vision. Max was sitting on one side of the bed, and Sebastian was on the other, both looking like shit as I took in their red eyes and tired expressions. I tried to sit up, but that shit was not happening.

“What happened? Where’s Clover?” The nurse walked in carrying a pitcher of water and a too happy smile on her face.

“Oh good, Mr. Reardon, I’m glad to see you’re awake. My name is Sally and I’m here to take care of you. Would you like some water?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I had to clear my head and find out what was going on with my woman. After taking a quick sip of water, I turned and asked my question again.

“Where is Clover? I want to see her now, damn it.”

“Please, calm down, Mr. Reardon. You have a dislocated shoulder and a slight bump on your head, which caused you to black out for a short time. We’ve reset your arm and given you pain medication. You’ll be groggy for a while, so try and relax and the doctor will be in to see you shortly.” With that little bit of info, she smiled at Max and Sebastian and quickly left the room.

“Clover is in surgery, Range. She took a bullet to her chest, and when that biker threw her to the ground, she hit her head on the counter. The doctor isn’t sure how much trauma her brain has suffered yet, but they are running tests.” Sebastian had tears in his eyes as he finished filling me in.

“Jesus fuck, I can’t believe this shit happened… Buck…fucking Buck saved my life, took a goddamn bullet for me, threw me out the way so I wouldn’t get hurt. Why the fuck would he do that? Jesus, Buck, why…Why?” I was on the verge of hysteria. The enormity of the situation finally caught up with me, causing me to lose my shit. Tears were streaming down my face and I couldn’t catch my breath as Sebastian tried to get me to calm down, while Max buzzed for the nurse when I trashed in my bed, not feeling anything but anguish and pain. I couldn’t take it any longer and let out a feral howl as I grabbed my chest in pain. The nurse appeared with a syringe, and before I knew it, I was floating in a sea of darkness with Buck’s dying face in the forefront of my mind.

Clover

“She’s going to be fine. We’ve repaired the damage in her chest and shoulder. The bullet didn’t hit any vital organs and went straight through. The bump on her head looks a lot worse than it is. It’s not causing any brain damage according to her latest scan, but we’ll check again just to make sure. She’s been given pain mediation, so she’ll be in and out for the next couple of hours, but all in all I would say it’s the best possible scenario. I’ll be back to check on her in a couple of hours.”

The kind doctor was giving my family an update on my condition. I could see Ashley crying in the corner of the room, while Shelly held her close, stroking her back in comfort. My parents were listening to the diagnosis, my mom leaning slightly on my father’s side as he nodded his head in understanding at the doctor’s instructions. Once the doctor was done, he gave one last quick smile and exited my room to complete his rounds for the day.

“Hi, mom.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Do you need the nurse?” She sat on the edge of my bed and held my hands, looking relieved, my dad standing at her side.

“No, mom, just some water, please. My throat is so dry.” I looked to my sisters in the corner.

“I’m ok, guys, don’t worry.” I wanted to reassure them, especially Ashley, since she was the most emotional in our family.

“Fuck that, Clove. I told you that bastard would get you hurt, but did you listen?” Shelly screeched.

“Please, Shelly, don’t be mad. It’s not Range’s fault.”

“The fuck it ain’t, Clover. When I see him, he damn sure better run the other way, ‘cause I’m gonna kill him.” Shelly was livid.

“Shelly, watch your language and stop yelling like a fool. Your sister doesn’t need the added stress right now, so cool it. We’re all upset, but placing blame isn’t going to make it any better, so stop it.” My dad spoke calmly to Shelly as she threw up her hands and bolted from the room with Ashley following quickly behind her.

“I’m so sorry, mom. Please forgive me.”

“It was a robbery, honey, you couldn’t have known what was going to happen. I’m just happy you’re going to be alright.” She wiped at a stray tear falling from her eye as my dad patted her on the shoulder.

“Mom, where’s Range? I need to see him. I have to make sure he’s ok.” I tried to move, but it was no use; the drugs were quickly taking over and I knew it was only a matter of time before sleep took me under.

“He’s going to be fine, honey. His shoulder is dislocated and he has a slight concussion, but other than that, he’s doing well. His brothers are with him and he’s also under heavy sedation, so don’t worry.”

I was happy to hear the news as sleep claimed my worried thoughts. I had so many questions that needed answers, but I was in no physical condition to get them. I needed to see Range as soon as possible. He needed me and I needed him. Soon, my love…soon.

Range

I was being discharged today, but I wouldn’t be going home. I wasn’t allowed to see Clover during my twenty-four hours of observation, but nothing and no one was going to stop me from seeing her now. My arm was in a sling, so Sebastian had to help me get dressed, which sucked, since that included helping me into my underwear. Having him come face-to-face with my junk was not the way I wanted to start my day.

“Where the fuck is Max? He was supposed to be here,” I asked Sebastian.

“Um…He’s not gonna make it today,” he responded.

“The fuck you mean, he’s not gonna make it over here today? What the fuck is going on, Sebastian, and trust me when I say I am not in the mood for your bullshit, so just spit it out.”

He turned his back to me and dropped his shoulders in defeat. He didn’t want to tell me about Max. He was stalling trying to get his thoughts in order. I couldn’t tell if it was because I was hurt and he didn’t want to burden me with more shit, or if there was something else that caused his hesitation. I grew tired of waiting, so I yelled at the back of his head.

“Now, Sebastian! Where the fuck is Max?”

“He’s at the house, ok? But he was in no condition to come this morning. I went to check on him last night when we left the hospital, you know, to make sure he was ok and didn’t need to talk or something. When I got there, he had some people over.”

“What fucking people?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“You know, the usual. Mitch, Marci, and a few others I’ve never met.” He looked a bit green around the gills as he answered my question.

“Ok, so he had some people over. What else aren’t you telling me?” He turned to face me while letting out the shaky breath he had been holding. He looked completely put out and disgusted by what he was about to say next.

“Range…I have never seen anything like it in my life. The things they were doing in there made me sick to my stomach, and that’s saying something. The house was a wreck, dirty condoms all over the floor, beer cans piled up on the table, butt-naked women sucking any dick within a two-feet radius. I had to cover my cock with my hands just so I could walk into the living room. I found Max draped across the couch with some bitch sucking on his dick and some random dude fingering his asshole. He didn’t even know who I was!” He ended when his voice broke with sadness at the state of our brother.

“Was he on drugs from what you could tell?” It was a stupid question, ‘cause we both knew Max never did drugs, not even when we were teenagers, but I had to ask.

“No, there were no drugs, it’s just…it’s like his mind has completely checked out. His body was there, but everything else was gone.” He was so overwhelmed he threw himself into the stiff-ass hospital chair and covered his face with his hands while shaking his head back and forth, as if that would clear his memory of what he’d had to witness last night. I stood next to him and rubbed his hair. He hated when I did that, but I spoke to him with all the confidence I could muster.

“Hey, we’ll fix this…He’s our brother and we won’t let nothin’ happen to him.”

“Yeah, ok, man. Whatever you say.” He wasn’t convinced and frankly, neither was I.

***

I arrived at Clover’s room in time to see who I assumed were her parents leaving arm in arm. They looked tired and worried for their daughter, and I couldn’t blame them one bit. If that were my daughter lying in a hospital bed with a bullet wound, I would be climbing the fucking walls by now. I wanted to introduce myself, but by the look on her mother’s face, I didn’t have to. She was smiling from ear to ear and shocked the shit out of me by embracing me in a hug, careful not to squeeze my injured arm.

“Oh, Range, I’m so happy you’ve finally been released. Clover’s been going crazy with worry and she’s dying to see you with her own eyes.”

“Ma’am, it’s good to finally meet you both. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Nonsense, son. I’m just glad you both made it out alive.” Her father gave me a firm handshake and a pat on the back. It was clear these two people loved their daughter and her happiness was the most important thing to them.

“Your friend Julian was here earlier to see her, so we stepped out to give them a little privacy. She said she wanted ice cream, so we are on our way to get her some. Would you like for us to bring you some back as well?”

I tried not to let my heated expression show at the mention of that motherfucker Julian, so I just shook my head to the offer of ice cream and wished them well until they returned. If I had tried to say anything else to them right then, I would have come off like a crazed maniac, complete with any and all cuss words in my arsenal. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and pushed open the door to Clover’s room. Lying under the standard issued white sheets she looked so tiny and fragile as she slept facing the door. I hated to wake her, but the need to hold her in my arms was too strong to ignore. I crept inside the room and sat carefully next to her on the bed. I took her tiny hand in mine as I watched her sleeping soundly. She had a bandage on her forehead, and I could see the remnants of a heavier bandage on her chest, covering the bullet wound. Just the thought of her being hurt made me want to kill that fucker all over again. I tensed and accidentally squeezed the hand I was holding, causing Clover to wake and open her eyes. She looked so damn beautiful, it hurt my chest just to look at her.

“Hey, tootsie baby…I missed you so damn much.” I kissed her softly on the lips as tears started rolling down her pale cheeks.

“Don’t cry, baby. I’m ok and I’m right here with you. I’ll never leave you again.”

“Oh, Range. I was so scared. I thought we were all gonna die. If Buck hadn’t shot that man…”

“Shhh, it’s all over now, baby. I got you and I’m never letting go.” I used my thumb on my good hand to wipe her tears away as she leaned her face into it and held it there. Jesus Christ, she still smelled like candy and my stupid dick got hard thinking about it.
Down, motherfucker, this is not the time or the place.

“Julian came by to visit earlier before he left town.” She felt me flinch and grabbed hold of my wrist so I wouldn’t pull away.

“Range, please, I know you’re angry, but what happened wasn’t his fault.”

“The fuck it wasn’t! If he hadn’t come to town with his bullshit, shooting out windows and shit, Buck would still be alive and you wouldn’t be lying in this fucking hospital bed!” I didn’t mean to yell at her, but she had no idea what was going on, and I refused to let her believe that Craze/Julian was the victim.