Biker's Claim: The Broken Angel is Mine

Chapter 8

Gunner POV

Even though Cora spoke well and had me laughing at some of her comments and the words she used instead of swearing, there's a deep sadness about her that I can't put my finger on. Nothing about it shouts out the cause, but something or someone has hurt this woman. I can feel it. I have never been wrong. That's part of why I am good at my job. I read people, and don't mind saying I am good at it. I have a great bullsht meter. Few can get away with lying to me.

Cora has me intrigued. I want to learn why she's hurt, why she doesn't swear, and who she is. No one puts their lives on the line for a stranger, not like that. Does she have a death wish, maybe not even know it herself?

"Do you all have jobs?" Cora asked, being ignorant of the biker lifestyle.

"Yes, I am a mechanic, Oddball's a lawyer, Dozer's an accountant, Strike's a teacher, and Dizzy's a bookkeeper. You already know that Scrubs is a doctor, and Bluey is a nurse. Not many don't have outside jobs; the few that don't work here in the clubhouse, repairs, cleaning up, basic stuff, many of the wives who have children might not work. We have a child-minding center on club grounds that's run by mothers, who prefer to do that rather than go back to their previous jobs." I replied that it was no secret we have jobs and are good at them.

"The club owns a few businesses around town that our club members run. It's easier that way; if we have to shut shop suddenly, we don't have to explain it to the boss," Dozer chuckled. They appeared to enjoy Cora's questions, which showed how innocent Cora was about how we live our lives, and not judgmental, just honestly interested in how we live.

"There was no truck driver in danger, was there?" Cora suddenly changed direction, catching us all off guard. She had heard us when I thought Cora had fainted.

"No, we never found a truck driver in danger, not to say that there wasn't one, and that he had gained some balls and moved on to town," Oddball admitted, pointedly, that it was pointless to hide it, and watched Cora for her reaction.

"The shooter? Dead or alive still?" Now she was getting into dangerous territory; these questions hit a little harder than the others.

"Alive," Scrubs answered, because he treated him enough to keep him that way, till we questioned him further.

"When will you question him?" Oddball looked at me and back to her.

"Why do you ask?" There was an edge to Oddball's voice that spoke of caution.

"I want to see him, the azzhole that thought it was okay to shoot me." Eyes around the table glance at me, and back to Cora, surprise on most faces.

"When you meet him, what do you want to do? Just stare? Ask questions? Hit him?" Bluey asked, maybe judging her differently now.

"Don't know, to be honest, not until I am in front of him and see his face." Wow, interesting, we know Cora won't faint at the sight of blood, but the man's not exactly in good condition at the moment. Let's say he fell on his face a few times.

"We can arrange that, but not tonight, maybe in the morning, or after work. It's getting late, and most of us have work in the morning. It's Friday tomorrow, and a busy day for most of us." Oddball was going to let Cora see the shooter; that's a first. Was he testing her? Women don't go down there, only Bluey, when a nurse is needed.

The kitchen staff cleared the table. We have a roster for the ladies to do chores, like the kitchen and laundry; we don't expect them to clean our rooms. It's up to us to get the washing downstairs and take it to the laundry. Often, I do my own because, in the past, I have lost some clothes and no one would put their hand up to take them. I have put a small mark on my clothes now so that I can claim them back. Sometimes it's an accident, like it's hard to know whose blue jeans are whose when there are many of the same size. I am six-four, a little more muscular than most, and not many people can fit into my clothes. I have grown since that incident and become smarter, but I feel that if I do it myself, my favourite shirt or jeans won't get lost in the wash.

"Anything you need before I hit the sack?" Oddball asked us. Being officers, he expects us to do our share of the workload to keep the club running. Oddball is great at delegating, not that he didn't do his share. I meant he could see potential in people and nurture it. He must see something in Cora for him to be so open with her. My claim was enough for him to consider her already a member. He knows me. I won't let her leave if I can help it.

The shaking of heads around the table had Oddball call it a night; it had been a long day. We rode hard and fast; the tip-off was a bust. I think the idea was to get us out of town, and it worked, but the shooter failed on our return. We have yet to work out whether it was our rival gang, but we are not worried. They are as weak as piss, and we are more or less a peaceful club, helping our local community when we can, but not afraid to fight when needed.

I stood up, taking Cora with me. She quickly wrapped her arms around my neck at the sudden movement and squeaked, a sound I had heard when I moved her about. I am still unsure if it was pain or a surprise. Time will tell. When she's healed up and still squeaks, I will try to get that squeak more often.

Booted the door shut behind me and moved Cora to the bed.

"Can you manage to change on your own?" I asked. We don't need to shower again, and if I am honest, sleep was all I wanted at the moment. I can investigate her body tomorrow night. I won't take her beyond what she will let me.

Hope she's not a tease.

I hadn't thought of that.

"I can manage just fine," Cora grumbled back at me, and went to stand up, and promptly sat back down on the bed. A wince of pain flashed across her face as she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from screaming out.

"So it looks like, let me help." Cora slapped my hands away, but I persisted until I had her down to her underwear. I handed her the PJs she had on the bed and moved to undress myself. She managed her top, but not her bottom part, and she threw the bottom half on the floor in disgust.

"Do you want to wear them?" I asked, repeating to myself, "Say no, say no."

"No, it will only rub against my thigh, and at the moment it's tender." Fantastic news, going to have the sweet body close to mine, all night. I was getting hard thinking about it.

Cora wiggled until she managed to get into bed and onto her right side. I will have to be careful not to bang her injury during the night. I am a light sleeper and not a person to roll about, so it should be alright. Hadn't thought of that, and as it was my left shoulder, I would be lying facing her.

"Want some pain meds before you try to sleep?" I had them in my hand, as I was taking some for pain and for swelling. Cora already had her one for swelling, so she would only need pain relief.

"Yeah, should do, why suffer needlessly?" She rolled over, and I handed her the pills and a bottle of water. She didn't hesitate to take both and return the bottle to me.

"Thanks." Cora rolled back onto her side, and I climbed in behind her, moved in till my body touched her back. She flinched, but didn't push me away. I put my arm over her body, being a little tender myself, I didn't do much else, but lay it there.

It didn't take long for her breathing to settle and deepen. The sound relaxed me enough for sleep to take over.