Chance

Sitting on my bed, I stare at the white blank wall in front of me. It's strange that just hours before I was sitting in this same spot, wondering if I no longer had a home with the Nightmare Warriors MC.

After Max and I retuned, Austin chewed me out for leaving the way I did. I thought for sure he was going to kick me out of the MC, but he gave me one last chance to turn myself around. He told me he understood the panic I must have felt, starring at Candice from across the room as he spoke. I didn't deny my feelings for Abby, everyone knew I cared deeply for her, but I didn't want to see the comparison between Austin and Candice's love versus ours. I'm not worth of Abby's affection, no matter how badly I want it.

Walking over to the en suite, I rinse my face in the sink and stare at myself in the mirror. How many times have I been here? How many times have I been disgusted by the reflection that stares me down?

Needing to get out of this box, I come out of my room in the clubhouse, my only home. When Austin found me six years ago, I had hit rock bottom. He offered me more, offered me something I didn't know I needed, something I thought I no longer deserved.

A home. A family. Brotherhood.

The Nightmare Warriors have been my family for years. But now, I don't know if I even have them any longer. I've proven not to be trusted. This isn't the first time I have put my needs before the clubs and that goes against the number one rule of the club.

Heading to the kitchen, I take in all of how much the club has changed since I first moved in. The once blank beige walls are now littered with Christmas d¨¦cor. Austin let Candice have free reign since she is apparently a Christmas queen. I pass small reefs and garland, tiny reindeers and even a goddamn mistletoe hung above the kitchen archway. Christmas used to be important to me. When you have children it allows you to relive it through their eyes. But that was a long time ago.

The kitchen is covered in different Christmas d¨¦cor and there is leftover food from the wedding reception last night. Sitting at the table drinking a hot cup of coffee is Candice, and it takes everything in me not to reach for her. She reminds me so much of Laurie it's scary. Everyone thought when she first got here, that I didn't trust her. But the truth was she reminded me of a ghost from my past. A ghost I wasn't quite ready to bury.

"Hey." I announce myself as I walk into the kitchen. She straightens up quickly and gives me a false smile. This woman was made for this life. She's strong and courageous and doesn't take shit from anyone, no matter their title. She and Austin have a love that I could only wish for.

"Hey Chance. How are you feeling?" She wipes at her eyes and I can tell she has been crying. What should have been an amazing end to an amazing day for her, wound up ending with one of the brothers in the hospital, while his daughter is still out missing.

I shrug my shoulders, not able to answer her with a single word or phrase. Truth is I have too many emotions rolling through me at the moment. Anger for whomever took Abby. Frustration and impatience that I am just sitting here while she could be fighting for her life.

"Right, stupid question." She states with another sad smile.

"How's Bone?" I ask, quickly changing the conversation. Last I had seen of him, he was practically bleeding out from the knife wound. When I got back last night with Max, he was in the hospital and Slice was with him.

"He's still in critical condition. Been in surgery, but I think he will make it. Lyla went in this morning so we can get a better update. Austin and Slice are there now."

"I take it we're on lockdown?" She nods her head to my obvious question, and I take in her small hands shimmering with her newly added wedding band. She looks tired and frail, when she should have a wedding glow about her. I know they opted out of having a honeymoon until we found Alberts but with us attempting to track him down for months, I'm not sure if they will ever be able to have it.

"I'm going to see him today. I'm going to make sure to clear it with Max before I head out." I quickly add when I see her eye me sideways. "I-I'm uh. sorry about everything that happened last night Candy."

She looks up at me with fresh tears in her eyes and I watch as she breaks down, trying to hold in her sobs. I stand and walk over, patting her on her back awkwardly. I don't handle women crying well, and I hate that I might have caused her to fall apart just now.

"I'm sorry Chance. I don't mean to do this in front of you. I just..I'm pregnant, and I haven't told anyone yet." She states and shock must register across my face because she begins laughing aloud. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just blurted that out there. I blame the hormones."

I sit next to her, touching her hand gently as I do. She's in a delicate stage and with all the drama she has been around with this club, she's nervous to bring a new life into this world around it. "Candy. Don't be sorry. It's understandable that you feel a little anxious."

"Is it?" She asks looking from her ring up at me. "Is it really okay for me to now start questioning everything? From my life, to my husband?" More tears fall free and I scoot in closer catching her attention.

"Candice. Bringing a child into this world is the most amazing feeling. But it's also full of dread and worry. You have to keep them safe, and with everything going on around here, dodging bullets and kidnappings, you wonder if you've made the right decision by staying in this. But you don't have to worry. Your child will be loved and cherished. By way too many assholes, including your brother in law." This gets her laughing, so I continue. "This may not be the most usual settlement, but it's family. It's something I've learned I needed, something I hope I never go without. Tell Austin the way you feel. I'm sure once he finds out he's going to be a daddy, you will see he might have the same fears."

I wait for her to ask me the questions I know I will get. I wait for her to look at me strangely the way everyone else does when I let small pieces of past lose the way I just have. But instead, I'm met with a genuine smile from her and a look of understanding.

"Thank you Chance."

Yeah, this woman was made for this role.

"I'm going to head to the hospital. I'll have Austin keep you updated with anything that comes up." She nods her head at me, and I stand to head out front. Before I get to the door I turn back when I hear my name.

"I'm not sure what you went through before this, but just so you know, if it's guilt that you feel, if that's the reason why you feel you can't be happy, don't. Life is too short." I stand there shocked as she smiles, and numbly nod my head.

Someone told me the same thing years ago and till this day I don't believe that. What I did was unredeemable. She's wrong, I deserve no happiness.

ùùù

Walking out to the bikes, I spot Max speaking with one of our newest prospects, Art. I approach him with caution, not knowing how he feels about having to practically drag me back here last night by my teeth.

"Scan the perimeter, keep your eyes alert." Art nods his head towards his VP then heads off for his round of watch. Ever since we got shot at while trying to protect Candice, we have had our men do patrol. Only Austin, Max, Shane and I hold back but I have come out here a few times when sleep evades me to relieve some of the other brothers.

"Need to speak with you."

"Know what you want Chance. Can't stop you, I understand you wanting to be there for Bone, but that means you bring whatever he says back here to the table. No more Robin Hood shit brother."

I nod my head at Max, understanding his threat and walk over to my bike. Firing it up, my anxiety peaks at the rumble from under me.

I can still remember the first time I sat on a bike. I was elven years old and my uncle had come down from Canada to show my father his new glory. I didn't understand it, couldn't get why the man looked at his bike like it was the love of my life. Then I sat on it, felt the bike roar underneath me, and it all started to make sense. The connection between the bike and the road was something else. The feeling would come again after I purchased my first bike, something Laurie hated, but once I got on the road, nothing else mattered.

I feel none of that now. Knowing Abby is out there somewhere, no doubt with that fucker Alberts, has my skin feeling like it can crawl off my body. I shake my head, ignoring the dreaded images, and take off. I don't plan on being long. It's not right that Abby is gone, and Bone is in the hospital for a knife wound. I need to be there for him, for reasons I can't quite explain.

It takes me only twenty minutes to get to Treepointe. I park next to the line of bikes parked at the emergency entrance. Spotting Austin's bike, I know I need to speak with him first. Walking in, the hospital screams of Christmas. There are wall stickers hung up with dancing Santa's on each desk. The occasional gold Christmas bells hang on each door handle, and a large Christmas tree sits in the far corner spot where the janitor's office is.

All of this makes me think of Ava and how much she adored Christmas. While most children her age loved opening presents and eating Christmas cookies, Ava simply wanted to decorate. She was infatuated with Christmas lights and the joyous feeling of walking along our suburban street and seeing all the outside d¨¦cor.

"Chance?" I look over from the tree to see Lyla walking over to me. She is her blue scrubs and has a large clip board in her hands.

"Hey darlin'. Thought you were off today?" I know Shane spoke about finally having a Christmas where he can watch his daughter open presents. I automatically figured Lyla wouldn't be working. Not until Candy mentioned she had gone in.

"I was, but after watching Adrianna open her presents, I knew I wanted to come in and get my mind off things." She states and I watch her eyes water.

I place my hand on her shoulder, hoping to lend some kind of comfort to her. Lyla's daughter was kidnapped a few months back by the same asshole that most likely has Abby. It was a moment where we all had to be strong for her but knowing Abby is now in the same boat, is making her think the worse. We got lucky with Adrianna. I'm hoping for the same outcome with Abby.

"How is Bone?" I ask, looking behind her for Austin and the others.

"He's doing okay now. He's in recovery. The knife wound hit his abdomen, barely missed his colon, so he will be here for the next few days. We also have to do an exam on his liver. Seems his drinking might have been more severe than anyone thought. The doctor is speaking with Austin now and soon he and Slice can go in and speak with him." She wipes her eyes then looks around the hospital. "The cops are also here. Anytime there is a stabbing like this they have to take a report. I was able to keep them at bay, but I can't do much more when they find out he's awake. I suggest you guys get in there as soon as you can."

I nod my head relieved that Bone is alive and on the road to recovery, but Lyla is right, we need to be quick and see what he remembers. I'm sure Austin is all over it, but I do wonder if he will tell Bone about Abby missing. Getting that kind of bad news about your kid is something out of horror film but Bone deserves to know.

"Lyla, can I get your help over here?" A nurse asks as she walks over to us with a large machine.

"Sure, I'll be right here." She answers then turns back to me. "Room two thirteen." I nod my head and watch as she walks in another direction.

I head straight for the room where I spot Austin walking in. He looks weary and exhausted as he spots me, a look I'm too familiar with seeing on his face. It's been a hard few years, and now that I know the news his new wife is holding in, it makes me want to solve everything for my president.

"Slice, go in and speak with Bone. I'll be right in." Slice spots me then nods his head at his president. An old timer who came in a few years after Crusher and the others started the club, Slice is the club's medic and all around scary lookin' mother fucker. Six five, with a large dark goatee and booming voice, but deep down the asshole is gentle as a kitten in a sandbox.

Austin approaches me with a chin lift, and I lean against the nearest wall.

"Figured you'd show up sometime today." He states crossing his arms and placing his back against the wall.

"Know you're still pissed at me Prez. But I need to hear everything he has to say. I owe it to her." Austin meets my gaze and after what feels like an eternity, finally nods his head in my direction. "Appreciate this." I say when we both begin walking towards the door.

"Don't thank me. Just make sure I don't regret this. I'm not some asshole Chance. I'm going to bring everything Bone tells us to the table. But if it were me, and it was Candice out here missing. Think I would break every fuckin' rule to get her back."

I ignore the pang I feel in my heart and continue walking to the room. Bone needs me to show strength and that's exactly what I plan to do.

"Just want to get the fuck out here and go after those fuckers that jumped me."

"Know that brother. Can't say I blame you, but we need you to not cause more shit while you're here. Cops are just waiting for us to fuck up, then it's our words against theirs on Alberts."

"Fucker. Can't wait to strangle that halfwit to death."

Austin and I walk in on Slice and Bone's conversation and I smirk hearing Bone's threat.

He's going to have to get in line.

"Bone, glad you're up brother." Austin approaches him first. He looks small, frail in his bed, with wires and tubes going in and out. It's no surprise that Bone's a drinker but seeing him look so weak in his bed lets me know just how bad it's gotten. Abby hasn't mentioned anything, but I know they have been fighting more and more lately.

"Prez. Tell me you got something on those fucks."

"Gettin' there. Torque is working double time."

"Poor fuckin' kid. Can't seem to catch a break."

"That's why we got him a sweetbutt. Figure he could use some relief." Bone chuckles but stops when the pain hits his chest.

"So where are we with everything? You get any of the fuckers that did this?" Austin gets quiet then looks towards the door."

"No. They got away brother. But we're working on things. The cops were asking questions, told them we were attacked but don't know by who. Shane was so fuckin' pissed at their questions, he started asking about Alberts. That sure shut them the hell up."

I stare at Austin in shock. That's the first I've heard that, but I suppose if I would have stayed put last night, I would have known.

"So, they don't know where the fucker is either huh?" Bone continues.

"Either they don't or they're keeping that shit under wraps. It's good for us no matter what. Means they know to stay the hell out of our way." Slice adds in.

Bone nods his head then looks over to me. I stand taller, feeling guilty for not telling him about his own daughter's disappearance. Before I could say one word to Bone, my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I pull it out and don't recognize the number but something inside tugs at me to answer it.

"Chance."

"Ch-Chance..I need?I need you. I don't know where I am." My heart beats rapidly as I listen to her words.

"Abby?" I scream causing everyone around to me still. "My God, where are you baby?" Austin approaches me and I push the phone further into my face as I listen to her sobs.

She tells me about a man she killed, but the only thing I focus on is her breathing.

She's alive. She's alive and she called me.

"I'm coming Abby. Hang on, I'm coming for you." I stay on the phone with her as Austin and I rush out of the room and straight to our bikes. I can hear Bone shouting at us to tell him what the fuck is going on, but I can't stop. My feet take me straight to my bike and I hop on, not bothering to see if Austin or anyone else is behind me.

I'm going to get my girl, and I'm going to kill anyone that tried to take her from me.