Psycho - Headless Horsemen MC novel Chapter 27

- Harley -

"Besides we can't carry the thing I want if you're riding the bike" we make our way out of the compound and start walking towards the centre of town I take out a joint and hand one to Gunner we light them simultaneously, we walk in silence for a while until we finish the joints. "Well, what are you going to get then?" He looks at me confused, I laugh and mess up his hair as we stop infront of a building.

"A dog" I simply reply, "A dog?" He repeats as a question, "A dog" I say again with a smile I turn my attention back to the building infront of me, "We are at the pound?" I turn my attention back to Gunner, "Well no shit sherlock what gave it away? The sounds of dogs barking or the giant fuking sign infront of us that says pound?".

"No need to be so sassy gosh" he mumbles under his breath, I roll my eyes and punch his arm before walking into the building, we walk over to the counter and ask if there are any dogs available for pick up today, she nods and leads us to one of the workers out the back.

Gunner whispers to me as we start to make our way down the aisles and aisles of cages "Why didn't you just get one from a pet shop?" I shoot him a deadly look "Because Gunner, pet shops are cruel, and I don't want a damn puppy I want a dog. Everyone always forgets about the older animals leaving them to be killed", I feel a pang in my heart when I think about how many older dogs are put down each year because they grow up and people don't want the responsibility, don't get a fucking dog if you can't love it for the rest of its life.

"So Gunner, tell me something" I say as we walk around inspecting each dog, "What would that be Harlz" he stops infront of a dog I look around and notice a massive rottweiler lazily lounging on its bed, as if a light bulb goes off in my head I come up with the most fantastic idea.

I turn back to Gunner who has now tilted his head to the right studying the dog on the other side "It's a pug" I inform him, he hums at my reply still staring at it, "Anyways. What are you hiding from me?" I smile and watch his face drop, he quickly tries to cover it up and make a confused face "Why what do you mean Harlz? I'm not hiding anything", I cross my arms over my chest and deadpan him, "Alright I gave you a chance" I grab his arm and shove him into the metal fence on the opposite side of the walkway that just so happens to contain the massive rottweiler.

I pin his arms behind his back and use my body to push him up against the fence, the dog begins to growl and snarl at Gunner's body against the fence. The dog begins to crouch down as if ready to attack, "Harley let go it's going to kill me, oh my god oh my god, tell my mama I love her, tell Shelby she can have my playboy collection, tell her to watch them with her life" he cries out.

I push his body into the fence more the dog getting more and more agitated by the second, it starts to charge at Gunner and he squeals like a pig "Were throwing a surprise party for you" the dog pounces up at the cage and I hesitate for a second, a fucking surprise party are you kidding me?

Gunner's now screaming and almost crying the dogs inches away from his face before I pull him back and throw him to the floor, I straddle him and pull my knife out from my bra flipping it open and holding it to his neck "You are going to tell me everything you fucking know or I'm going to have one very heartbroken Shelby when they never find your body" I say in a low growl, I mean I'd never do that to Gunner, well not unless he betrayed me or pissed me off too much.

Gunner explains to me the little information that he knows, everyone knows not to tell him anything exciting because he can't keep his damn mouth shut. I have no idea why they chose him to 'distract me' hes an idiot. After walking around for a few hours and meeting various dogs I was frustrated, don't get me wrong I wanted all of them but they were all relatively youngish, I turn to one of the workers that are walking around with us, "Do you have any old dogs? You know the ones that no one wants because they had outgrown the household?" She smiles nervously and plays with her fingers for a few seconds.

"We have some out the back but they're supposed to be going to a kill shelter in an hour or so, I'm not supposed to take you out there to see them but for you I'll make an exception" I smiled and thanked her before she led us out the back to a small courtyard, it's there that I see them, the dogs I had been searching for, 2 huge bear looking dog's run around the small yard they're so beautiful one darker in colour one lighter, as we get closer to the fence the dogs both snarl and show their teeth, the worker beside me speaks up.

"We have some out the back but they're supposed to be going to a kill shelter in an hour or so, I'm not supposed to take you out there to see them but for you I'll make an exception" I smiled and thanked her before she led us out the back to a sma...

"They're extremely aggressive, their last owners dumped them after they got busted for illegal dogfighting rings" I turn my attention back tot he 2 dogs in the ward that are trying to warn us off, luckily for me warnings mean nothing to me, I go t...

"They're extremely aggressive, their last owners dumped them after they got busted for illegal dogfighting rings" I turn my attention back tot he 2 dogs in the ward that are trying to warn us off, luckily for me warnings mean nothing to me, I go to jump the fence but Gunner's firm hand on my shoulder stops me.

"If I let you go in there and anything happens to you Jax will cut my dick off and shove it down my throat, so there's no chance. Let's go pick a dog inside" I shrug his hand off of me and continue to climb the fence, I jump over and turn to face him again, "Well if that's the case I hope something happens to me" I turn my attention to the worker that now has a pale face and looks horrified.

"Oh don't worry love, I'm sure they won't do anything," I say as I turn around to look at the dogs infront of me, the hairs on there backs standing up straight, still snarling and barking at me. I can hear Gunner mumble multiple curses under his breath but I pay little to no attention to him, I sit on the ground crossing my legs and stay silent.

I close my eyes and wait patiently, the only thing I can hear is Gunner's heavy breathing, the wind and the dog's soft growls and footsteps as they circle me, I remain still and continue to wait. Soon enough I can feel the wet noses of the dogs bumping my skin every so often, I open my eyes and come face to face with 2 pairs of eyes staring back at me.

I stare at them and they stare at me, like we already have an unspoken bond, I raise both of my hands in the air and slowly move them towards the dogs at the same time, I touch their fur and they both growl at me "Shhhhh, I'm not going to hurt you I pinky promise" I whisper to them as if they're going to understand me but they stop growling, I apply a little more pressure and begin to pat them.

Within 5 minutes I have both dogs in my lap fighting over who gets the most pats from me "I'll take them" I say to the worker without looking over my shoulder, I know she's still there I can almost smell the fear on her. I slowly get up and make my way to the fence and jump back over with a smile.

Both dogs are still growling at Gunner as he slowly steps down from the table, once his feet almost land on the ground the dogs rear up again, "Stop he's okay," I say to them before softly patting their heads, he steps down properly and lets out a sigh of relief before both dogs jump on him covering him in licks.

"Where you find the bears?" Jax's voice comes from beside me, I turn to look at him as he raises an eyebrow at me "The pound, they were going to be killed" he holds his hand out and the dogs look to me as if asking permission i give a small nod and a smile as I watch them almost knock Jax over.

I whistle loudly and the dogs stop before I turn on my heel to walk inside the clubhouse to see this dumb surprise party, next thing I know I'm being pulled into Jax's chest tightly "What are you doing?" I know exactly what you're doing, "Late lunch remember?" He replies, hmmm I thought he forgot "Hungry?" He asks and I nod my head "I haven't eaten all day, I'm starving. Gunner, can you watch the dogs?" I yell to him.

"Are they going to kill me?" He yells back, "Not unless I tell them to" I reply "Fine" he yells before calling the dogs over to him and walking into the clubhouse. Jax and I make our way out of the compound we rode off a few minutes before he pulled up at a diner.

"How did you know I love diner food?!" I smiled while looking over the building, one of my most favourite things ever are diners. "Lucky guess" he simply replies, we walk in and I take in the atmosphere as I look around I see a familiar face, no my minds playing tricks. But she turns her head and I stop dead in my tracks "Kitten what's wrong?" Jax whispers in my ear.

The older lady walks over to us before introducing herself "Welcome to Rose's diner how can I-" she stops mid-sentence when she looks at me, "H-Harley? Is that really you?" Tears pool her eyes as I feel a single tear roll down my face "Betty," I whisper, she pulls me in for a hug that knocks all the wind out of me, I need to be sure it's her, I pull back and study her face once again just to be sure "It's really you".

"My beautiful girl, why did you stop answering my text messages dear I thought something had happened to you!" Her wrinkled face turns angry and I can't help but laugh I pull her in for another hug and inhale her perfume, a mix of jasmine and sandalwood the smell brings back memories of the time we spent together. "I'm so sorry mum I broke my phone and had to get a new one, I was going to ask one of the boys to find it but I just haven't had the chance" I mumble into her neck as I held her tighter.

I pull back as she gives me a big smile and a small nod, she then turns her attention towards Jax "And who is this handsome man? Is he yours Harley? If not I might just have to take him for myself" same old Betty, I giggle at her before answering "Betty this is Jax, Jax this is Betty. Jax is my..." I trail off Jax is my what? We never talked about labels or whatever.

"Nice to finally meet you Betty, I'm the current boyfriend soon to be husband" he says cockily as he holds out his hand for a handshake, she scoffs and slaps his hand away before pulling him in for a hug she turns back to me and whispers loudly "He gives good hugs, he's a keeper".