I gasped at the realization he’d been following us. That meant Mason was in danger. Maybe the car the other night had been him after all. The thought made my blood boil. I straightened my spine, determined to respond, to show him I would not be cowed. Not by him. Not by anyone. “We stopped being yours the moment you raised a hand to me, you asshole.” I gasped the words, knowing I was going to lose consciousness if he kept up his grip.
He smacked me hard in the face. The sudden pain exploded across my cheek. “You don’t decide that. I decide. And I say, you’re mine. This isn’t over. We’ll never be over. I’ll be seeing you very soon,” he growled, his grip growing impossibly more painful.
The tingling sensation in my limbs became more pronounced as I desperately tried to suck air into my lungs.
“Jill!” Dr. Green’s panicked voice was the next thing that registered.
My eyelids fluttered open as I blinked against the bright light. I was lying on the linoleum floor. Everything from the neck up throbbed like a heartbeat as I tried to assess the extent of my injuries.
“Jill, oh my God. Are you all right?” Dr. Green demanded, crouching above me. “I need a stretcher!” he hollered over his shoulder.
I managed a nod, cradling my neck with one hand.
“Let me get a stretcher. We need to call the police.”
I shook my head. “Cal,” I croaked. It hurt like hell to talk.
His brow knit. “Jill, we need to call the police. You’ve been assaulted.”
I’d learned in my time with the Knights that they operated within their own law. I had a feeling Cal wouldn’t take kindly to dealing with the Hawthorne PD. I also knew he’d keep me safe. “Cal,” I pleaded.
“Jill, what happened?” Shelly, a nurse I worked with frequently, asked worriedly as she came wheeling the stretcher Dr. Green had requested.
I sat up, feeling dazed. My head and neck were pounding. I didn’t want to talk about it. I couldn’t.
Seeming to sense just that, she spoke again. “All right, sweetie. Let’s get you fixed up, hmm?” she tittered as she and Dr. Green kneeled down to help me up and onto the stretcher. Shelly had been a nurse for more than two decades. She was kind and incredibly capable. Her gentle hands probed my neck and the back of my head. “Are you hurt anywhere else? Did you lose consciousness?”
“Yes,” I croaked. It hurt like hell to talk.
“Have you seen Jill?” I heard Cal’s deep voice down the hall. No doubt he’d come looking for me when I was late to show up after my shift. It was a second later that he must have spotted me. “Christ!” I heard him exclaim, his boots pounding on the floor as he rushed to my side. “What the hell happened?” he demanded, peering down at me, his eyes bright with fear and fury.
“Someone assaulted her in the supply closet,” Dr. Green replied grimly. “We need to get her checked out. I found her unconscious and I don’t know how long she was out for or if she sustained a head injury.”
Cal took my hand, grasping it firmly as they wheeled me into an exam room. “Baby.” His voice cracked as he stared down at me. “I was just right outside…. Fuck!” he roared, stepping away from me to pace the room like a caged beast.
Dr. Green moved in, his gaze shooting a bit nervously to Cal before he returned his attention to me. “Let’s check your pupils.” The light he shone into my eyes did nothing to help my screaming headache. “Concussed,” he muttered. “Jesus, Jill. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.”
I put my hand on his arm, squeezing gently, trying without words to reassure him.
Shelly coaxed me to lie back and offered me pain medicine, which I declined. After what had happened, I needed to feel in control, or at least as much as I could.
Cal moved back to my side, taking a loud, deep breath in. He was fighting for calm. I saw the battle raging in his eyes. Despite his obvious fury, I’d never been so relieved to see anyone in my life. I’d never doubted he’d come for me, that he’d take care of me. Having someone to rely on was entirely new and incredibly moving.
Cal leaned down, cupping my face gently in his palm. “Did your motherfucker of an ex do this to you?”
I nodded, my hand catching on his wrist and squeezing. “Mason?”
His gaze softened in understanding. “He’s safe, honey. Ram’s posted out front of the day care and I just got a report a few minutes ago. I’ll have one of the guys go pick him up right now and take him to our place.”
His mention of “our place” would have ordinarily put me off-kilter, but seeing as though my world was already totally upside down, I let the comment roll off.
“I wanted to call the police. I still do,” Dr. Green broke in.
“No,” Cal growled, his eyes never leaving mine. “We handle this my way.”
The hushed silence that followed wasn’t surprising. In Hawthorne, Cal’s word was law.
“Where are you hurt, baby?” he asked, his large hand stroking over my head.
“I—” My voice was a low croak.
“It hurts her to talk,” Shelly interjected. “She has some significant swelling around her neck. It will bruise. Aside from that she has a good-sized lump on the back of her head and a concussion. Looks like she got a solid hit to the face as well.”
“Motherfucker,” Cal growled, his chest heaving with the effort to control himself.
“She refused the pain meds, but I think she should take them. We should be able to release her as long as you can wake her every few hours tonight.”
Cal nodded. “I’ve got her.”
I looked up into his blue eyes and I knew with every fiber of my being that he did. He had me. And, if luck was on my side for once, then I had him too.
Chapter 17
He insisted on carrying me into the house. With a quick chin lift to Ry and Mack, who were seated at the kitchen table, he continued on to the master where he gently deposited me on his bed.
With expert care he removed my shoes and slipped my scrubs down my legs. When he got to my top, he moved slowly, careful to avoid my neck.
Everything from the chest up hurt like hell, and I couldn’t even spare a thought to the fact that I was in my underwear.
He kept my bra on and slid my sleep tank down my arms and my sleep shorts up my legs.
“Jill.” His tone was stern as he regarded me. “I want you to take the meds the doctor prescribed. Your neck has to hurt like hell.”
I shook my head adamantly.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair in aggravation. “Why the hell not?”
My chin trembled.
“Ah, babe. Please don’t cry.” He sighed in a wretched tone. “What is it?”
“I-I don’t want to be out of it. I’m really sensitive to that type of medicine. I need to be able to take care of Mason,” I rasped thickly. “Tim is here. He’s been watching.” I gulped.
His eyes lit with understanding and determination as his finger reached over to swipe a tear from my cheek. “Jill, I’ll protect you and that boy with my life. The fact that fuck got to you guts me, but it’s not happening again. I’m not letting you or Mason out of my sight unless I’ve got one of my guys with you. The entire club is on this, baby. You’re family and we protect our family.”
I nodded hesitantly.
Sensing I needed more, he continued. “I’ve got the house secured. I have top-of-the-line security and three guys including me watching the house. You can sleep, honey. You need to. I know you want to see Mason. The sooner you let your body heal, the sooner you can be up and around. In the meantime, I swear to God I’ve got him and I’ve got you.”
He knew exactly what to say to coax me. Mason was the best motivator.
“Okay,” I agreed finally. “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” I continued on a rasp. “It’s just… years of habit.”
He nodded in understanding, his jaw clenched. He reached over for my pills and guided me to sit up, handing me a glass of water. “Get some rest, baby.”
; I lay back down with a sigh as his hand stroked over my forehead. His touch was like a balm that soothed my frazzled nerves. It didn’t take the pain away, but it calmed something deep inside, something that had been ravaged for years.
In my mind, that was a far greater feat.
****
I woke up disoriented. Cal had woken me up throughout the night but it felt like a distant dream. My throbbing neck soon brought my reality crashing down with every throbbing pulse. The muted light peeking through the blinds told me nothing about what time it was or even what day it was. How long had I been sleeping?
I passed my hand over Cal’s side of the bed. It was obvious he’d slept beside me. I smiled despite myself at the thought. I forced myself up and into the shower. The sooner I made myself presentable, the sooner I could see Mason.
When I emerged into the kitchen I found Cole, Cal, and Mack seated at the kitchen table talking in low, serious tones. All three sets of eyes swung in my direction as I made my presence known.
Cal stood, coming to stand in front of me. “How’re you feeling?” he rumbled, tipping my chin up to look at him.
“Okay,” I murmured as my eyes searched the room.
“He’s down for a nap,” he answered my unspoken question.
“What time is it?”
“Just after three. He should be up any minute.”
“Three? Wow, I slept the whole night and most of the day away,” I muttered.
His expression grew soft. “You needed it.” That soft gaze turned hard when it landed on my neck. The dark purple bruise was ugly. I’d only glanced at it briefly in the mirror before forcing my eyes away. “Did you take anything when you got up?”
I shook my head. “I’ll take some ibuprofen once I get some food in me. I’m not taking any more pain pills. I can’t miss another day with Mason.”
He looked like he was going to press the topic before he simply nodded.
“Hi, guys.” I nodded to Cole and Mack, feeling slightly embarrassed with how much effort was being centered around me. “Did you guys eat?”
“We’re good, baby. How about I get you some coffee?” Cal replied.
I nodded, shuffling over to the table to sit with the guys. I still had a case of foggy head and caffeine was just what the doctor ordered.
“How’s Tatum?” I asked Cole.
He smiled. “Good. Eating like a champ. Not sleeping so well, though.”
“Your girls okay?” I asked as Cal placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me.
“Girls are great. Scarlet’s a natural, but that’s not surprising.”
The pride with which he referred to his wife warmed me from the inside out.
“What do you want to eat, babe?” Cal asked.
“I can get it,” I protested.
Cal sighed. It was the exasperated, Jill-is-being-a-pain-in-the-ass sigh. I was getting to know the sound well. “Toast?” he continued, as though I hadn’t spoken.
I thought it best not to argue right then. “Toast would be good. But I didn’t think the toaster was one of the appliances you were well acquainted with,” I teased.
“Smart-ass.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
I was just finishing up my food when I heard Mason’s babble over the monitor Cal had brought into the kitchen. “I’ll get him,” I said immediately, rising from the table and heading down the hall.
Mason was standing in his crib bouncing up and down as though it were a trampoline. He squealed when he saw me, his toothy grin the best sight in the world.
I picked him up, cradling him close, and kissed his sweet cheeks before taking him over to the changing table.
“Mama missed you, sweet boy,” I murmured, grinning down at him as I changed his diaper. “Did you have fun with Cal? I bet he took good care of you, hmm?”
Mason looked up at me as I continued our one-sided dialogue. Ever since he was a newborn, I’d talked to him. Most of the time it had been just the two of us. I figured even if he couldn’t understand what I said, the sound of my voice might be soothing. And truth be told, it soothed me to talk to him.
“Mama will always protect you, baby,” I told him quietly. “And Cal will protect us too,” I said with a soft smile. “He’s going to teach you what a good man is,” I murmured as I pulled his pants up. “He might just have to teach Mama, too,” I added. “We’re lucky, Bubs. Did you know that?”
Despite everything, I did feel lucky.
“Let’s get you a snack and go play.”
I carried him back out to the kitchen and froze as three sets of eyes turned to me, their expressions so warm they were molten. Then my gaze landed on the baby monitor.
Oh God, they’d heard everything.
My cheeks heated in a deep blush as embarrassment coursed through me.
Cal turned to Cole. “Take Bubs for a minute.”
Cole nodded, reaching for Mason. I handed him over, looking at Cal in confusion. Cole and Mack carried Mason out back.
“What?” I asked as Cal drew close, pulling me into his warm strength.
“Babe.” Cal’s voice was an octave lower than usual as he regarded me.
Then his lips were on mine.
He took my mouth in a scorching kiss, his full lips caressing mine in an exhilarating onslaught. His tongue sought entrance, meeting mine as his hands pressed into my hips, pulling me closer still.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands found my backside, pulling me up so that I straddled his waist. He carried me to the counter, setting me down and pressing in between my legs.
I barely recognized the low moan that escaped my lips. I’d never been kissed like this, not even close, and I was ravenous for more.
I took his soft lower lip that I’d been eyeing for months in between my teeth and sucked. His low groan sent liquid heat between my legs as I wrapped them around him tighter, drawing him closer.
Far too soon, he pulled back, pressing his forehead against mine. We both panted for breath.
“Christ, Jill,” he rumbled, stepping back slightly to look into my eyes. His thumb swept over my lips, swollen from his mouth.
I was rendered speechless and simply stared up at him. Lust had been such a foreign concept to me before Cal. Now I relished its sensation coursing through me.
The sliding door opened and Cal lifted me off the counter, letting me stand carefully on my feet as Cole and Mack rejoined us with Mason in tow.
Cole handed Mason back to me, his expression blank. I knew my face was still bright with a blush but to his credit he didn’t show the faintest reaction.
“What do you want to do, Pop?” Cole asked.
“You get on home to your family, bud,” Cal replied. “I want everyone at the club tomorrow for a meet.”
Cole nodded. “Who do you have on the house tonight?”
“Tag,” Cal replied. “I know Sophie wants to see her girl too. I’d imagine she and Axel will come by.” He turned to me. “You good with that?”
I nodded.
He turned back to his son. “We’ll stay here tonight.”
“All right,” Cole agreed with a nod, cocking his head toward Mack. “Let’s roll. Glad you’re okay, Jill.”
“Thanks,” I murmured. Both men offered a chin lift and a two-fingered salute as they made their way to the front door.
Cal’s hand sat on my shoulder, squeezing briefly as the sound of their motorcycles rumbling to a start reverberated through the air.
I took a deep breath in the silence that followed. I needed a sense of normalcy amidst all the turbulence surrounding us. Then I looked to Cal and felt the reassuring weight of Mason in my arms.
Who needed normal when I had the extraordinary?
Chapter 18
When we walked into the club the next morning, it was without the reservations that had plagued me in previous months. Though nervous about the fuss they would inevitably make, I was looking forward to seeing my friends.
Sophie and Axel had sto
pped by the previous day. She’d tried hard not to fuss over me but had failed in near spectacular fashion. I loved my friend but by the time they’d left I’d been ready to pass out from exhaustion.
I felt better today, stronger. My neck still looked awful—the bruises had turned an ugly yellow and green—but the pain had decreased.
I’d take whatever wins I could.
Cal held Mason in his arms, his hand in mine as we walked into the main room where a majority of the guys were gathered. Aside from Ettie, who came to wrap me in a quick hug, I assumed most of the girls were out back.
“Prez,” Mack greeted with a chin lift before his eyes turned to me. “Hi, Jill.”
“Hi,” I replied.
Cal handed Mason over. “Gonna meet for a while, baby. You got what you need?”
I nodded, shocked when he dropped a soft kiss on my lips. I was still getting used to him kissing me at all, much less in front of other people.
“Come on, Jilly,” Ettie coaxed.
I nodded, following her.
All the girls sat at the table out back in various stages of sipping coffee or caring for a child.
“We’re gonna try really hard not to bum-rush you,” Connie announced in greeting.
I laughed. “I appreciate that.” I set Mason in the Pack ’n Play they had set up, hoping he’d be willing to stay in there. There were enough toys to occupy him for a few minutes at least.
“Coffee?” Piper offered, before handing over a cup.
I accepted it gratefully before cocking a brow at the table at large. “Your restraint is impressive.”
“We practiced,” Scarlet deadpanned.
“Don’t hurt yourselves,” I quipped.
“Are you okay?” Kat asked, concern evident in her blue eyes.
“I’m okay.” I nodded. “The pain is way better today. It looks worse than it feels,” I assured them. “What do you think they’re meeting about?” I asked, craning my head toward the club.
Cal (The Ride Series Book 5) Page 10
