by L. Wilder
When I walked in, Doc was sitting in a chair next to her bed, and he looked like he was just about to doze off. “How’s she doing?”
He stood up and said, “No change. Her stats are good, but she’s still out. Hopefully, she’ll come around soon.”
“You ready for that break?”
“Absolutely. I’m too old for this shit,” he groaned. When he got to the door, he turned to me and said, “I’ll be in my room. Come get me if anything changes.”
“You got it.”
I walked over to the bed and was pleased to see that some of the swelling had gone down. Her eyes were no longer completely swollen shut, and while they were still dry and cracked, the cut on her bottom lip looked like it was starting to heal. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Doc was one of the best. Before he joined the club, he’d been a doctor in the military, and he’s always been there whenever one of the brother’s needed him. He could do it all—from your everyday cold and allergies to life-threatening gunshot wounds, and I hoped he’d be able to do the same for her.
I hadn’t been there long when Cotton came by. He was followed by Smokey and Maverick, and then Stitch—each of them staying just long enough to see if she was awake. Once they were gone, I stood over her and took a moment to look at her—really look at her and not just her battle wounds. Even with the bruising and swelling, I could tell that she was beautiful. She was in her mid-twenties, tall with subtle curves, and her hair was long and dark. As she lay there sleeping, she looked so peaceful, like an angel, and I found myself wanting to know everything about her. I glanced down at her left hand, quickly searching for a wedding ring, and while I found no ring, I could see a faint indentation around her ring finger. Yet another mystery.
For hours, I watched the rise and fall of her chest as I waited for her to wake up, but she never opened her eyes. When I couldn’t stand the silence a minute longer, I stepped over to her and gently ran my hand across her cheek as I whispered, “Come on, angel. It’s time for you to wake up.”
Her skin felt warm to the touch when I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. “My name’s Scotty, but the guys call me Diesel. I know it’s an odd name, but that’s how it goes when you have one bad go of starting a fire. You get yourself a road name that leaves an impression. Anyway, you’re in Port Angeles at the Satan’s Fury clubhouse. One of the brothers found you outside in the snow the other night. You were pretty banged up. Bleeding and half frozen. Our guy, Doc, has been working on you, but you gotta do your part. He told me that you’re a fighter. I need you to prove it. Open your eyes.”
I never took my eyes off her as I continued talking, hoping by some chance that I would be able to convince her to wake up. “You don’t have to be afraid. You’re safe here. We won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. You have my word on that.”
I ran my hand down her arm until it reached hers and then placed it in mine. “You can trust me.”
I was still holding her hand when I felt her fingers twitch. “That’s it, angel. It’s okay. You can come back now. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Her eyelids fluttered as a low groan vibrated through her chest, and after several long seconds, she finally opened her eyes. As her eyes skirted around the room, a look of panic crossed her face and her breath quickened. Knowing she had to be freaked out by her surroundings, I said, “Easy there, doll. You’re okay.”
She slowly turned her head towards me, and the fear in her eyes was quickly replaced with confusion. Her voice was low and scratchy as she asked, “Who are … you, and where … am … I?”
“I’m Diesel,” I told her. “I’ll explain the rest later, but first I need to let Doc know you’re awake.”
When I started towards the door, she reached for me. “Don’t … go.”
I placed my hand on top of hers and said, “I’ll only be gone a second.”
While it was clear from her expression that she didn’t want me to leave, she gave me a quick nod. “Okay.”
I rushed out the door and then down the hall to get Doc. As soon as I told him she was awake, he shot out of the bed and hurried down to the infirmary. Standing beside her bed, he shined a small light into her eyes and said, “Welcome back. You gave us all quite a scare.”
She looked more confused than ever, so I explained, “This is Doc. He’s the one who saved your life.”
“Saved my life?” She brought her hand up to her head and asked, “What are you talking about? What … happened?”
“I don’t know, darlin’. I was hoping you could answer that,” Doc told her.
“I don’t know. I … can’t remember.”
“That’s okay. It’ll come to you,” he assured her. “What about your name? Do you remember that?”
Her face twisted into a grimace as she tried to think, and after a long pause, she answered, “No. I … can’t remember.”
“You’ve had quite a hard knock to the head. Things will be pretty jumbled up for a little while, but it will sort itself out. Just give it some time.”
She glanced back over to me, and with a strained voice, she asked, “What is … this place?”
“You’re at our—”
I started, but Doc interrupted me by saying, “We need to get Cotton and let him know she’s awake.”
“Can’t we wait a minute? Give her a second to come around a bit?”
“You know we can’t,” he replied. “You go find him while I check her stats.”
Before I left, I looked down at her and said, “I’ll be right back. You gonna be okay while I’m gone?”
She nodded, and with great hesitation, I headed out to find Cotton. As soon as I told him she was awake, he called Maverick and Stitch, telling them to head over to the infirmary. She was already scared, and when my brothers came barreling into the room, it nearly sent her over the edge. Her face grew pale and her eyes widened with pure terror as she watched them file into the room. Doc patted her on the arm as he said, “Don’t you worry now. These men are here to help you.”
Cotton approached the side of the bed and asked her the same question Doc had already asked. “Do you got a name, Miss?”
“I can’t … remember.”
“You got any idea how you got here?”
She shook her head as she replied, “No. I can’t remember … anything.”
I knew Cotton wasn’t happy with her answers. Like the rest of us, he wanted to know who she was and where the hell she came from, but we’d all just have to wait. In time, she’d answer all of our questions, but her answers would only lead to more questions— questions that would turn her world, and ours, upside down.
Chapter 6
Ellie
Every inch of my body was throbbing in pain, especially my head, and I was still trying to break free from the fog that was weighing down on me as I looked around the room. I started to get nervous when I realized it looked less like an actual hospital and more like a room at a veterinarian’s office with all the odd cabinets that lined the walls and the peculiar smell that filled the room. It had a strange assortment of medical gear and supplies, and they were far from modern, making the entire room look like something out of the past. I was still trying to become accustomed to my surroundings when they walked into the room. That’s when I really started to panic. They were big and fierce with various tattoos marking their skin, and they were each wearing leather vests with skulls and embroidery on the sides and back. As they towered over me and prodded me with questions, it was impossible not to feel intimidated, especially by the man who was standing off to the side. He was tall and muscular with dark hair and a beard, and the way he stared at me with those dark, penetrating eyes chilled me to the bone. I would’ve been completely freaked out if it hadn’t been for him—the man who called himself Diesel. The way he spoke to me in that deep, calming voice, and how he looked at me with those kind, green eyes, made me feel less threatened—like I was safe in t
his crazy place I’d found myself in.
An older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a goatee hovered over me as he asked, “What exactly do you remember?”
My mind was still trying to fight the fog I was under, and every memory seemed so far away, unable to be reached. I wanted to answer his question, but I didn’t know how, and that terrified me even more. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I don’t remember anything. I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know how I was hurt. I don’t even know my name. How can this be happening?”
Doc came over to me with compassion in his eyes as he said, “She’s just now coming around. We need to give her some time, Cotton.”
“I’ll give you some time,” he told me as he glared at me with suspicion. “But if you’re hiding something, it’s only going to make it worse. If there is something going on, I need to know about it. I don’t like surprises.”
“I wish I could tell you … but I can’t remember anything.”
“Well, if that changes, I want to be the first know,” he demanded.
Doc looked over to him and nodded. As they started to file out of the room, Cotton stopped and looked back over to me. In a deep, authoritative voice, he commanded, “I want someone with her at all times. She isn’t to be left alone … Understood?”
Diesel answered, “With the weather the way it is, things are slow at the construction site and in the garage, so if it’s good with you, I can stay with her. Doc and I will let you know if there’s any change.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Relief washed over me as I watched them walk out of the room. Doc and Diesel talked quietly between themselves for a moment, and for the first time, I finally got a good look at Diesel. He was wearing loose fit jeans that were frayed at the hem and a long-sleeve, black t-shirt, which brought out the olive tone in his skin. Although he wasn’t as big as the others, he was still very muscular and tall. While I was checking him out, Doc came over to me and asked, “Are you up for eating something?”
I was caught off guard by the question, so it took me a minute to answer. “Umm … No. Not really.”
“We’ve got to get something in your system, darlin’. Even if it’s just a piece of toast or something.”
The thought of eating just didn’t appeal to me, but I knew he was right. “Okay. Maybe some toast?”
“You got it. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Diesel is going to stay with you. If you need anything, just let him know.”
“Um … Before you go … I really need to go to the bathroom,” I whispered.
“I can help with that.” He walked over to Diesel and motioned for him to step outside. Once he was gone, he pulled my blankets back, and I was surprised to see that I was only wearing my bra and panties. When he noticed my expression, he said, “Your clothes were wet and covered in blood. We’ll get you something to wear in just a bit.”
“Oh.”
He helped me to my feet, and as soon as I tried to stand, I found that my legs were like noodles, and I stumbled forward. Before I dropped to the floor, he reached for me, pulling me to his side as he helped me walk towards the bathroom. Once I was on the inside, I eased the door closed and stepped over to the mirror. I gasped with horror when I saw my reflection. I looked like I had been in some kind of battle, and I’d lost miserably. As I held onto the sink for balance, I stared at my reflection for several moments, trying to force myself to remember what had happened to me, but no memories came. When my legs started to tremble, I finally gave up, went to the bathroom, and walked back out to Doc. As he helped me back over to the bed, I told him, “I don’t know why you did it, but thank you for saving my life.”
“No need to thank me. Just trying to do what’s right.” He patted me on the leg. “Now, get some rest. I’ll grab you something to eat and some clothes. Are you going to be alright here with Diesel?”
“Yes, I think so.”
He walked over to the door and once he opened it, he motioned for Diesel to come back inside. They spoke for a moment, then Doc walked out into the hall, leaving us alone. Diesel came over and asked, “You doing okay?”
“I would be doing better if you would tell me where I am and who those men were.”
“You’re at the Satan’s Fury clubhouse.”
“Satan’s Fury? What are you talking about?”
“Satan’s Fury is a motorcycle club. Have you heard of ‘em?” he asked.
“I’ve heard of motorcycle clubs before, but I’ve never heard of Satan’s Fury. Should I be worried about these guys?”
“I’m one of ‘these guys,’ and you’re alive, aren’t ya? You’ve gotta remember … these are the people who are trying to help you. They gave you a roof over your head with a warm bed, medical attention, and whatever else you may need. I’d say you already have the answer to that question.”
“You’re right, and I really do appreciate it. But there’s just so much that I don’t know … like … how did I end up here?”
“That’s just the thing.” He shrugged. “None of us know. The clubhouse is miles away from town. Got nothing out here but trees and mountains. It’s like you showed up in the middle of thin air. And on top of that, when Maverick found you out there in the snow, you had no car, no identification, and you were just about dead when they brought you in here. You’d lost a lot of blood … had a pretty nasty bump on your head, severely bruised ribs, and scratches and cuts all over. It’s a miracle Doc was able to bring you back.”
“How is that possible? I had to come from somewhere.”
“You’re right about that, and in time, we’ll figure it out.” Even with a storm of confusion raging inside me, there was something about the way he spoke that set me at ease. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew I could trust him. “For now, you just need to get some rest and try to get better.”
Moments later, Doc returned. “I got you some things to wear and a bite to eat as well.”
“Thanks, Doc,” I told him as I took the folded clothes from his hands.
As Diesel started towards the door, he said, “I’ll step outside while Doc helps you get dressed.”
I was able to put on the black knit leggings without any trouble, but the long-sleeved t-shirt was a different matter. With my aching ribs, I couldn’t manage it on my own. Seeing my struggle, Doc came over to me and took the shirt from my hand, careful not to hurt my wound as he eased it over my head and helped me slip my arm through each of the sleeves. Once that was done, he checked my bandages and gave me some medicine for the pain. Even though I wasn’t hungry, I managed to eat a few bites of toast and drank a little tea, which seemed to satisfy Doc, at least for the time being. “I’ve gotta run home and check on a few things. When I get back, we’ll see about getting you moved to a more comfortable room.”
“That’s okay. I’m fine here.”
“No. A room like this isn’t suitable for a young lady like yourself.” He reached for his coat and as he put it on, he added, “You need anything, just let Diesel know and he’ll take care of it.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
He gave me a quick nod, and then started for the door. Once he stepped outside, Diesel walked back in. As he came over and sat down next to me, he asked, “You feeling better?”
“Yes, but I’d be feeling even better if I could remember something … anything. I just don’t understand it.” Something occurred to me as I thought about everything that had happened. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“If I was in such bad shape, why didn’t you just take me to the hospital?”
He shrugged. “They were going to, but just before you passed out, you begged them not to. Cotton figured there had to be a reason why, so he got Doc to fix you up.”
“Why wouldn’t I want to go to the hospital?”
“I don’t know, but there had to be a good reason. Probably had something to do with why you were out in the middle of snow storm.” His eyes dropped to the floor like he wa
s thinking about something. After several seconds, he looked back to me and asked, “I know you can’t remember your name or what happened, but is there anything you can remember?”
I closed my eyes for a moment, and as I tried to think back, I was bombarded with images of people’s faces, a house with a front porch, a kitchen, an apartment, and all the sounds of voices, but they were all jumbled up. I couldn’t make sense out of any of it. “It’s like all these memories are right there … I can almost reach them, but they’re just too far away. Does that make any sense?”
“It does, and they will come to you when you’re ready. It’s just going to take some time.”
My voice trembled as I asked, “Are you sure? What if my memory never comes back?”
“You’ve got to take this thing one step at a time, angel. It’ll all sort itself out. Just give it a little time and don’t push yourself. You’ll see.”
“Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me. I could be a horrible person. I could’ve done something terrible. What if that’s the reason I’m here.”
“Maybe you did do something bad. Hell, if I know, but somehow, I doubt it. I’ve always been pretty good at reading people, and you don’t seem like the kind of person who could’ve done something all that bad. So, the way I see it, we just have to wait and see how the cards fall.”
“Can I ask you how you got the name Diesel? Is that really your name, or is it a nickname or something?”
“My real name is Scotty. Diesel is my road name. I acquired it after I had a little mishap with some fuel and starting a fire. Over time it just stuck, and the brothers have been calling me Diesel ever since.”
