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I felt the car crank up as someone began to drive. Relief flooded my veins and caused tears to spring to my stinging eyes. The pain in my body was great—but not as great as the hope I felt welling in my chest. The brothers were driving me away from this nightmare. Away from the men that took me in the middle of a place I thought was supposed to be my solace.
The movement of the car lulled me back to sleep, and I dreamed of my store again. The decorations on the wall and Lindy’s designs peppered the rooms. I thought about the repair shop and how we would be inundated with leather that needed work done to it. I thought about the reputation we could garner in the streets for being open to every crew, playing off the idea of non-affiliation to bring in more business.
I thought about parties we could throw in the sprawling backyard of the building and music we could play. The food we could cater in, and bike shows we could sponsor. I saw my life unfolding in front of my eyes as the brothers drove me wherever they were taking me. And it wasn’t until my back hit something cool and soft that I woke up.
“It’s okay. It’s us,” Tanner said.
“Where am I?” I asked.
“Our place,” Tyler said. “I mean, Tanner and mine.”
“What? Who the fuck—”
“Let’s get you looked at by a doctor first. Then we’ll explain,” Tyler said.
“She’s right through here,” Adam said.
I felt the bed dip beside me as a pair of hands descended onto my torso. I reacted instantly. I lifted my hand and captured the wrist of whoever was touching me, ready to fight for my life. My entire body went on high alert as I tried to open my eyes. I grimaced at the pain that ricocheted through my face, throbbing in my head and causing me to feel nauseous.
“Ma’am, I’m Doctor Kingston. I’m only here to figure out if you need to go to the hospital.”
Her voice was soft and comforting, and I released her wrist so she could check me out. Her hands slowly pulled up my shirt, her cool touch descending to my ribs. I flinched at her touch, but there was nothing that hurt. She inspected my wrists and ankles gently, asking me to wiggle things for her as I choked down my pain.
Then she moved to my face, pressing into bruises as tears welled in my eyes.
“The good news is that nothing seems to be broken or fractured. She’s pretty bruised up, and she’s irritated on her wrists and ankles, but that’s it. The swelling and the bruises will fade with time. Tylenol will help her with her pain, and I have something that’ll help with her ankles and her wrists.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Jacob said.
&nb
sp; “Sweetie, I’m going to rub some soothing salve on your skin and bandage up your ankles and wrists so they don’t get infected. It’ll be very cold, but it should numb up your skin so you won’t be in so much pain.”
“Thanks, Doctor,” I said.
I laid there as she bandaged me up, trying not to flinch. She wasn’t joking when she said it would be cold. But it did numb my irritated skin and brought me a massive amount of relief.
Relief I was ready to feel after what I had endured.
“Here’s the salve and the gauze. Change the dressing every morning and night. If anything looks like it’s getting infected, give me a call,” the doctor said.
“Got it,” Nick said.
I felt all the guys sit down on the bed as I sighed.
“What the hell happened?” I asked.
“Hold on,” Jacob said.
We waited in silence until the front door shut, then they listened for the doctor’s car. I heard it crank up before she backed out of the driveway, then a voice spoke up at the far corner of the room.
“She’s gone,” Adam said. “Go ahead.”
“The Devil Hogs found out about you,” Jacob said.
“They knew they could get to us through you, so they coordinated an attack,” Tyler said.
“Yeah. The one who did all the talking slept with my mother, got her to talk while she was drunk, and came after me at my store,” I said.
