Authors: S. E. Leonard
“Hi Sunshine,” he said and stayed in her chair.
“Ahh hi. What's up?” she said, trying to be casual, while her heart was thumping hard in her chest.
“I just want to get a few things straight,” he said, leaning back, putting his arms behind his head.
“Ok.” She stood there watching him, her mind racing. What is going on?
“Did you want me to leave you alone for the whole two weeks, or are we going to try to work this out during the two weeks?” He was trying to act casual too, but inside he was aching for her. He was this bad ass biker, that had just helped murder her husband and he couldn't just walk away. It was more than the pride of reclaiming her, it was love, total and complete love for this woman that stood before him. He wanted her back because he loved her
She just stood there for a moment. “I guess I want you to leave me alone for the two weeks and then I will decide,” she said to him, holding herself together through the sentence.
He abruptly got up. “Ok, just wanted to be clear on that. See you when the two weeks are up. If you need anything, you can let Drifter know. I am going on a run till the time is up.” He walked out, but before she could move her feet, he was walking into the clubhouse.
This threw her over the edge. The tears came and they would not stop. She made a snap decision, and climbed back in her truck and went home. There was no way she was going to be able to hold it together for the day, after that. She knew it was what she asked for, but it was taking a toll on her heart.
Scooter noticed when he went out to his bike that her truck was gone. He entered the office to see if her purse was still there. Maybe she had just gone on a parts run for the guys, but no purse, and a note on the desk for Georgie.
Georgie, Not feeling well, went home. Call if you need anything – Nik.
As he stood there reading the note, Georgie came in. “What’s up, Pres?”
“Just wondering where Nikki went,” he said as he picked up the note, and waved it at Georgie.
“I'm not one to pry Pres, but whatever is going on with you two is really eating her up,” he said, and walked back into the garage.
Scooter was confused. If this is tearing her up so bad, why is she doing this? He wanted to go see her so bad. He wanted to make it all better for her. How was he going to fix this? How was he going to reclaim her?
He shrugged it off and decided to follow through with things. He headed to his house to pick up Meagan. She wanted to go see her mom, and spend some time with her, reconnect after all that had happened, so he was going to take her there. They were on the road to Seattle within an hour, leaving it all behind for a while. He had some club business to attend to, and was just going to take some time to fish and get his head straight, until the two weeks was up. Drifter was on call if Nikki needed anything, so she was in good hands until he came back to see what his fate was.
She had managed to get back to work on Friday. She tried to stay as busy as possible to keep her mind off of him, but it wasn't working. Drifter came in and let her know he was there, while Pres was in Seattle.
“Did you just say he went to Seattle?” she asked him, knowing that his ex-wife was there.
“Oh shit, Nikki. He is just there dropping Meagan off so she can see her mom.” He knows that he has fucked up, big time.
“He is up there with her?” She asks again, in disbelief.
Drifter is freaking out. “He is just bringing Meagan up. He has some club shit, and some R and R to do while he is up there. I swear, if you knew her, you would know he would never go to her.”
Drifter calls Scooter as he leaves the office, knowing good and well he is in for an ass chewing.
“Yeah, what's up?” Scooter says when he answers, knowing it's Drifter.
“I may have let it slip that you are in Seattle when I was checking in on Nik. She is pissed.” Drifter cringes.
“Fuck! She is the one calling the shots here. I will come home early. Don't tell her. See you tomorrow.”
“Sorry Pres, I'm re...”
Scooter hangs up before he can get the rest of the words out. “Fuck you, Drifter.” He says, as he puts the phone back in his pocket.
Saturday morning, Scooter kisses Meagan, and tells her that he will be back the following weekend to bring her home. He thanks Linda for being open to reconnecting with Meagan and he is off to Vancouver to settle things once and for all. A nice ride alone oughta do the trick. He will be able to clear his head, and figure this shit out.
It's Saturday and she is getting the girls rounded up to go to the zoo. A little family time, just the three of them. Staying busy is number one right now. As she is getting a duffle bag full of snacks and drinks together, she gets a sinking feeling and she isn't sure why. It's one of those gut feelings that she gets when something isn't right. She pushes it back... it's time to have fun. It continues to try to rise to the surface the rest of the afternoon and she continues to push it down, assuming that it's just her sadness creeping up on her while she is trying to have fun.
They spend an hour or so wandering around, looking at all the critters, petting snakes, feeding goats and enjoying the day. They reach the center of the zoo, and decide to sit at one of the tables to have some snacks. As she is pulling food out of her bag, her phone rings. She sees that it is Drifter and she lets it go to voicemail. The feeling is now on the surface again. She hears the ding that confirms a message. Tapping her screen, she puts to phone up to her ear.
Drifter- “Nikki, Pres.. I mean Scooter has been in an accident. He is at a hospital in Tacoma and we are going up. I know things are crazy with you two, but if you want to come, I can get you. Call me and let me know soon.”
Her heart sinks. Both girls see she is upset. “It's Scooter. He got in an accident and is in Tacoma. We have to go.” They pack up, and head home. It takes her almost 45 minutes to get back to Vancouver, but she is numb. It could have been 5 minutes or 45 hours. It was just one more thing to add to the list of bad shit that happened, because of her. Nelly called Drifter, and let him know that they want to go, all of them.
When they get home, Drifter and Jewel are waiting in the club van for them. The rest of the club is on their way already. They all throw some stuff together for the trip, and within minutes are on the road.
Chapter 11
By the time they get to the hospital several hours later, she is in a panic. She found out through Drifter, that a truck had cut him off in traffic, and he had nowhere to go. He ended up flipping into the back of the truck, and then got thrown from there, when his bike went under the truck and caused it to flip on its side. He had remained conscious through the crash, but had passed out in the ambulance, and due to head injuries, they were keeping him out. He had a broken collar bone, broken arm, and a busted ankle that was going to need to be pinned back together.
Leaving the girls in the van with Jewl, Drifter and Nikki entered the hospital, searching the large waiting area in the lobby for club members.
John waved his hand at them and they rushed over. “We can go see him now, but just two at a time.” He started towards the hall with the elevators. “We have all seen him, so it's your turn.” Looking at Nikki with concern, he said, “He's in bad shape, darlin'. Be prepared for it, ok?”
Unable to speak, she nods. Tears pool up in her eyes. Drifter pats her on the back, trying to comfort her.
They reach the 3
rd
floor and John leads them down the hall to Scooter's room. “Remember Nikki, he doesn't look good.” He opens the door, and lets them in, staying in the hall.
Nothing could have prepared her for the site of the man that she loves lying there. Tubes and lines everywhere. Eyes swollen shut. Stitches on his forehead. Ankle in a blowup splint. Beeping, whooshing, ticking. And there he is, in the middle of all of it. Her tough biker. It is that moment that she has made her decision. He just reclaimed her without even knowing it.
Epilogue
George continued to call Sam's phone, and it continued to go to voice-mail. It had been days with no contact. He kept hoping that they would pull in the driveway.
He had been well aware of Sam's plan to kidnap Meagan, and trade her for Nikki and the girls. He knew that it must have gone bad when he talked to Sam, and heard that she had escaped. They never showed up. With all the evidence on him, he couldn't go to the police.
Judy kept asking questions, so he sent her to stay with their daughter Trina, so he didn't have to listen to her nagging.
He knew that where ever Sam was, those stupid fuckin' bikers Nikki was whoring around with, were responsible and he was going to find a way to get his son back.
He picked up the phone and dialed, listening to the ringing, and then the click on the other end.
“This is Joel.”
About the Author
S. E. Epperly lives in Vancouver Washington with her Husband and two daughters. When she isn't writing she is attending Orchestra concerts and Volleyball games that her daughters are in. She is an eBay Powerseller and in the middle of acquiring her Real Estate license.
Other than the occasional drive by of the local MC house in the neighborhood she is no expert on the MC life. She thought it would be interesting to see the middle aged mom's take on the MC experience. Hence, Claiming Sunshine. More to come... Book 2 is in the works.
Visit Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20824990-claiming-sunshine
Author page
https://www.facebook.com/claimingsunshine
ps.. Thank you for reading my book. Looking forward to hearing your feedback.