Beretta (MC#1)

Chapter 17- Him

Rose Bailey was nowhere.

Rose Bailey was no one.

Because Rose Bailey didn't exist. Rose Bailey with her red hair and her emerald eyes and her unusual strength. That woman didn't exist in the records. Of course, we had thousands of profiles of the same names. Same name but none of them were her.

And now Rose had vanished. She'd discharged herself out of the hospital. Right after I'd last seen her at Raven's door.

 I'd gone to the hospital after a long time hunting the fuckers who'd blasted our territory, to see her. The club had booked two rooms with fake names so you didn't know who was who  and I'd simply entered in the hopes of seeing her but instead I'd found Raven.

I had absolutely no business being there without Diesel's presence, but she was crying. Fat, heartbreaking tears dripped down as she looked up at me. And I just couldn't resist when she told me she was scared and couldn't sleep.

What an idiot I am, pining after a taken woman. That of my President.

"Just stay with me until I sleep, please", she'd said, eyes puffy and cheeks flushed. O course, like a fool I'd taken the seat next to her. As if in a trance, I'd clutched her hand in mine- for old times' sake. After all, we were still friends.

I was there next to her, but my heart kept rebelling, screaming at me to walk two doors down to that woman. The woman who probably understood me best- the woman who had showed me the first beams of light in the dark at the expense of her happiness.

The woman my soul recognized.

Rose could take care of herself, Raven couldn't so I made my choice.

Hours later, I realized she'd left just moments after she came to see Raven. No one, not even Julia knew where she was, and it had been days. Days. She had to be alright.

"Come on, this is Rose Bailey we're talking about. She can take care of herself very well", Harlow tried to cheer us all up.

"If that's even her real name", I muttered, looking up to see everyone staring at me expectantly.

"What?", Diesel stood up from his stool at the new bar we called our clubhouse.

"Circuit returned from his vacation and I had him run a check on her. That is not her real name- she is either lying about her name or she's been using disguises to change her appearance", I delivered the blow as softly as possible. But the tactic didn't seem to be working. Psycho slammed his fist on the table and another beer was delivered to him, while Diesel ran his hand through his beard. Raven looked lost in thought next to him and Harlow tried feeding her some half-assed reassuring words. Half of the club was out on a visit to neighboring clubs- to get a feel of the situation and to warn the others.

"That bitch needs to be tied down and made to spit out all those secrets she keeps getting the club in trouble for", Don spoke from his place beside Harlow, running his finger down the curved edge of his gun handle.

Without thinking, a growl like sound escaped me. All I knew was no one gets to talk like that about her. Not when I can help it. "Be careful with your next words, brother", I glared at my brother-in-arms. "Be very careful"

"What you pussy-whipped or some-", a fist flew at him and he jerked back in his seat. Even I was surprised at a furious Harlow shaking out her hand, glaring dagger at her man.

"Respect", she pointed a finger threateningly. Then pressed a tissue to his bleeding lip.

"Let me see your hand, sweetheart", okay- what the actual fuck was their relationship. Jesus.