Chapter 1: Grave Digger: Chapter 1

Fifteen minutes later, they were on their way back to the compound. When they got there, they found Zeus, Memphis, and Diabolus waiting for them.

The woman took a step back as she stared at all the very large imposing men. She still had her son sleeping on her shoulder.

Grave Digger looked over at her and said softly, “Honey, you are going to have to justify why you came here.”

The woman looked at the men waiting and nodded. “When my son got sick, I had no choice. I hid inside the old garage.” She looked over at the men again and added, “Then the fence went up, and we were trapped. I was actually on my way out of town but then Anthony got sick. I couldn’t risk his life, so I found a place and just stayed hidden.” She hung her head. “I couldn’t risk my son.”

Grave Digger studied her for a moment. Her son was lying almost asleep in her arms. He reached over and felt his forehead. Grave Digger was surprised to feel his fever was spiking. “Holy shit, he really feels warm.”

She nodded. “I know but the aspirin I had is gone and I didn’t have a way to get anymore. I couldn’t leave him alone out here to get into town and buy anymore. I’ve tried to keep him cool but we ran out of water earlier today.”

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“Three days. I just wanted to get out of town but like I said, on our way, Anthony got sick and I couldn’t risk his life. I had to stop and take care of him.”

He nodded at the men in front of them, “Don’t tell me honey, you have to convince them and that isn’t gonna be an easy task.”

Grave Digger looked over at his Prez. “Can we do this inside? She’s got a sick kid and he needs to be somewhere warm. He needs care too.”

Zeus nodded then turned to go inside.

Memphis and Diabolus followed him.

Grave Digger ushered her and Anthony inside.

Delaney, Marty, and Lindy were standing there. They watched Grave Digger lead the woman over to the table, where she sat down with her son on her lap.

Everyone could see the boy was sick as his head rolled against his mom’s shoulder.

Delaney frowned as she saw the boy shivering. She retrieved a blanket and as she wrapped the blanket around the mother and the child, she studied the boy carefully. She stared at the mom and when their eyes met, the woman looked away quickly. Delaney frowned but stepped away from her. She headed back over to Marty.

Marty stared at her in question. “What’s wrong?”

Delaney shrugged. “I’m not sure but there is something about the kid.”

Lindy looked over. “What about the kid? He looks pretty sick to me.”

Delaney nodded. “And that’s what bothers me.”

“Why does that bother you?” Marty asked. “Kids get sick.”

Delaney nodded. “Oh, I know that, one of my brothers got sick all the time. It drove my mom crazy.” Shaking her head she admitted, “It wasn’t until he was almost grown that we found out he had a reaction to half the medicine my mom had been giving him the whole time. It wasn’t actually an allergy but he did have a reaction. His body kept rejecting a certain type of aspirin or pain reliever she was using.”

Marty shook her head. “That’s terrible, what did your mom do?”

Delaney shrugged. “My brother just had to tough it out, every time he got sick.”

The woman at the table with her son stared at Delaney. “You’re a Raggetti, aren’t you?” she whispered.

Delaney nodded as she studied her. “Why? Does that make a difference to you?”

The woman just shrugged. “It doesn’t really, I just asked, that’s all.” She looked away then hugged her son a little closer. Glancing up, she saw Zeus and the other men staring at her.

Marty went over to Zeus and whispered, “Can you question her later? The boy looks really sick. We have children. We need to think of the boy first.”

Zeus nodded. “I am thinking of our kids. We need to know what’s wrong with him first.” He looked over at the woman. “What’s wrong with your son?” he asked.

She released a heavy sigh, as she answered, “I’m not sure. His daycare just had the flu, so he probably picked that up.”

“What’s your name?” Grave Digger asked.

“Emily Saran and my son’s name is Anthony.” She looked up at Grave Digger and asked, “Can I get some water please. He hasn’t had anything to drink in a long time.”

He went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of cold water. When he brought it back to her, he knelt down so he could check the boy out but Anthony was freely sweating now and he didn’t look so good. He looked over at Zeus. “This kid is burning up, he needs medicine and now.”

Zeus nodded. “Take him back with you. We’re going to talk to his mother. We still have more questions for her.”

“No sir.” Emily shook her head. “I go where my son goes. Ask your damn questions, so Anthony can get the care he needs.”

Zeus narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t get to tell us what to do. Or how it’s going down. Digger, take the kid to the Infirmary and we’ll ask our questions out here.”

Grave Digger looked over at Emily then whispered, “Give me your son, I promise I’ll take care of him.”

Emily shook her head. “I won’t be separated from him. It’s not that I don’t trust you but he’s all I got in the world.” She had tears in her eyes but she wouldn’t let them fall. She turned to Zeus and growled. “Ask what you want to know or let me go with my son.”

“Digger, take the kid,” Zeus ordered.

Lindy and Marty gasped.

Delaney glared at Zeus then she marched over to Emily and whispered, “Can I take him? You can trust me with him and I’ll stay with him until they release you. I promise.”

Emily stared at her for a long moment then slowly nodded. “Please take care of him.” She turned to Grave Digger. “Tylenol works best with him but he’s only three and sometimes he throws the medicine back up. He might need a cool bath to bring his fever down.”

Grave Digger took her hand in his. “I’m an MD. I will give him the best care. We need his fever to drop and now.”

Nodding, she handed the boy to Delaney. She watched them in concern as Grave Digger and Delaney walked down the hall. The tears from earlier spilled down her cheeks and when the door closed behind them, she closed her eyes and prayed she would see him again. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and glared at Zeus.

He stared steadily at her. “Now tell us again who you are and what you’re doing behind our walls.”

“Fuck you, buster!” She growled. Her mama bear was kicking up and she just lost her give a damn.

Marty and Lindy came over and they faced him, both of them looked pissed.

Zeus shook his head and let out a sigh.

Lindy glared at him. “Look, I know you are in charge here. We all know it. But this is going too far.”

“I agree.” Marty stared at him. “How would you feel if it was your daughter burning up with fever? Would you just hand her off to strangers?”

Zeus growled low and looked over at Memphis.

He shook his head. “You are the boss. So what you say goes.”

“But?” Zeus growled. “I can hear a but in your voice.”

“Yeah.” Memphis nodded at his brother. “And don’t kick my ass, but we need to allow her to stay with her kid. We can find out why she is here when he gets past the fever? Right?”

Zeus shook his head. “Go on!” he huffed as he motioned to the women.

“Thank you!” Emily exclaimed.

Marty and Lindy turned and motioned to her.

Emily followed them down the hall.

“Can I say something here?” Diabolus asked.

Zeus and Memphis glared over at him.

He looked troubled. “We are all to blame for this,” Diabolus blurted out.

Zeus clenched his fists. “Now how did I know you would say some stupid shit like that?”

Memphis laughed, trying to ease the tension in the room. “I never dreamed I would be saying this, but…Diabolus is right. We’ve got women now. The MC is becoming more about family. Hell, we got little kids here, Prez. What the hell did we expect?”