GUNNEROne Year Earlier
The party is in full swing, the booze is flowing, the music's blaring and the guys are loud. We skipped the girls this time, since I'm not sure how the younger ones would take it. They're too young to witness that kind of thing.
We're celebrating Helena finally having healed fully. The last months have been really hard for her, the injuries she got when those loan sharks ran her and Scooter off the road were serious as hell, so the recovery time was exceptionally long. She's still not at her 100% yet, but at least she can finally move freely, with her casts off and the limp in her walk almost gone.
The compound smells like whiskey and sweat, the kind of atmosphere that only happens when the Iron Brotherhood lets loose. Brothers are scattered throughout the main room, some playing pool, others hunched over drinks at the bar. The bass from the speakers thrums through the floor.
She's been waiting to heal in order to deal with her mother, who's still in our custody. We kept the woman alive just for Helena, and we can't wait to get rid of her.
Especially after hearing the garbage her husband spewed when Tyson was beating him up. To say we were shocked would be an understatement of the year. I told the guys to keep quiet about it. Helena does not need more worries.
"Hey, G."
I hear Helena's voice behind me. I turn my head around and there she is, as beautiful as ever. Her long hair in loose curls, the black shirt she's wearing hugs her every curve, accentuating her great figure and the shorts reveal her long toned legs. She moves through the crowd with confidence, her recovery evident in every step.
"Hey, Helena." I grin. "How come the star of the party is late, huh?"
I tease, getting an annoyed groan from her as she points her thumb at Scooter over her shoulder.
"Why do you think? He made a fuss when I put on these shorts then wouldn't let me leave the house."
She huffs, making me laugh.
She and Scooter have been through hell together, but they're still as crazy about each other as ever. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I think as Scooter makes his way towards us with an angry look on his face and black flannel shirt in his hand. The kid's possessive, but after what they've survived, I can't blame him.
"Hey, Gunner." He nods.
"Hey Scooter."
I give him a knowing smirk which turns into a chuckle when he ties the flannel around Helena's waist despite her protests.
"Oh, for God's sake!" She exclaims exasperated.
"Do you know how many looks you got since you came in those shorts?!"
He hisses, wrapping his arms around her from behind and shielding her from people.
"You two are impossible." I shake my head. "But it's adorable as hell to watch."
The two lovebirds join me and some guys in the booth, where we stay just talking, joking and drinking. Wolf slides in next to me, already three beers deep. Blood and Shovel are arguing about something near the pool table. The party goes on like this for hours, the way it always does when the Iron Brotherhood celebrates.
The party goes on till morning, when our star finally crashes.
"You can take one of the rooms if you don't feel like driving. You did drink quite a bit."
I suggest, glancing at Helena. She's been going to physical therapy for a while, so it's understandable that she's tired. Her eyelids are heavy and she's leaning into Scooter like she might fall asleep right there in the booth.
She also got a lot of gifts from the guys and it will take at least two trucks to get it all to her house, but we don't have any sober drivers.
"I guess I'll take you up on that. Thanks."
Scooter sighs before maneuvering himself out of the booth, trying not to disturb the sleeping beauty.
"I'll show you the way."
I get up from my seat as Scooter picks Helena up then lead them towards the rooms upstairs. We have few empty rooms there, just in case, and I had the prospects clean them before the party, expecting this outcome. The rooms aren't fancy but they're private and clean, which is all that matters.
"The room is clean, so you don't have to worry. Night, kids."
With that I leave them alone, going straight into my bedroom. The guys will take care of the mess downstairs. That's what the prospects are for. I can already hear them moving around, collecting bottles and clearing tables. They know the drill.
I wake up sometime in the afternoon when someone knocks on my door. I will kill them. Dragging myself out of the bed, I make my way to the door, not minding the fact that I'm only in my boxers. My head pounds from the whiskey and my mouth tastes like an ashtray.
"What the hell do you want?!"
I snarl as soon as I swing the door open, not even looking at the person on the other side of it.
"Food's ready. You should come and eat while you can."
Helena gives me a gentle smile and pats my shoulder before leaving. Damn it.
"Sorry about snapping at you, I didn't mean to."
I apologize as I take my seat at the table, rubbing the back of my neck. Helena just laughs and waves it off.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"You should've seen her when she wakes up. She's a demon."
Scooter laughs, getting a glare from her which he counters with a grin.
"This is really good! You're a great cook, Helena. Wanna stay as the club's cook full time?"
Wolf praises, making me snap my head to the girl.
"You made this?"
I ask in shock. The whole table is covered in variety of foods and there are almost 30 of us, including the prospects. Did she really cook all this? Alone? There are platters of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, fresh fruit. It looks like a restaurant spread.
"Yeah. Figured you'd be hungry after drinking."
She just shrugs like it's no big deal.
After the breakfast, well technically lunch, Helena and Scooter leave, and I call church.
"The situation with Helena's parents may be dealt with, but those bastards that ran them off the road can still be a problem. We got few of them and beat them up, but they confessed that their boss will not give up. Key, did you find out how much exactly those people owe?"
The brothers settle around the table in our chapel. This is where we handle real club business, away from the prospects and the party atmosphere. Key pulls out a folder stuffed with papers.
"Yep. And I can actually understand why they're so persistent. The initial amount they borrowed was two hundred grand. The interest rate was forty percent until the deadline, then it was reduced to five."
"What?"
I cut him off. It doesn't make sense.
"Five percent, daily. That's the catch. And they've been behind with the payments for months, so you can imagine how much it is by now. And it's still counting, since it hasn't been paid off."
Damn. No wonder those bastards are so persistent. That's a lot of money.
"Okay, I get that they want their money back and whatnot, but why are they after Helena?"
Wrench questions. Apart from me, Don and Wolf, he's the one that cares about her the most.
"Because her parents signed her as their guarantor."
This causes a string of curses around the room. Hell, this will be hard to get out of.
"Doesn't matter. We will not let them stir trouble in our town and that's final."
I say with pure conviction. I know the guys got close to Helena and Scooter during last months, so they will have no problems with helping her.
"Yeah, that's as long as she's in town. What if they follow her after she goes to college?"
Wolf asks worriedly.
"Wolf's right. We won't be able to help."
Wrench adds, getting nods from the guys.
Damn it. This is getting worse and worse.