by L. Wilder
I led them up to Seth’s room, and even though I’d warned them, I could still see they were both shocked by his condition. He didn’t look any better. In fact, the swelling seemed to be worse, and all the tubes and wires connected to him were daunting, making it difficult to believe he’d pull through. I felt like an intruder as they walked over to him and started whispering words of encouragement. The guilt of it all became too much, so I started walking towards the door. I was just about to leave when Thomas called out to me.
“Zoe?”
I tried to hold back my tears as I turned to him. “Yes?”
“Thanks for looking after him.”
I nodded and was about to turn for the door, but couldn’t make that step. The thought of never seeing Seth again and never knowing if he was going to be okay made my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. I had no right to ask, but I couldn’t stop myself. “I know it’s asking a lot, but would it be okay if I came back to check on him?”
He paused for a moment as he considered his answer. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. You said yourself that you were worried about the club finding out you were here.”
Knowing he was right, I answered, “I understand.”
I turned and walked out of the room, and by the time I made it down the hall, tears were streaming down my face. I felt like a complete idiot as I pressed the button for the elevator. The whole thing was ridiculous. There was no reason for me to be upset. I’d done my part. Seth was safe, and I knew his friends would make sure he was okay. I knew me being there would only cause problems for him, but that didn’t stop my heart from breaking as I stepped onto the elevator. Just as the elevators were about to close, I heard Thomas call out my name again.
“Zoe!”
I reached out and stopped the elevator doors from closing. “Is something wrong?”
“What’s your connection to the Chosen Knights?”
I stepped out of the elevator. “What?”
“You an ol’ lady or something?”
“Hmmm… No.”
“Then, what’s the tie?”
There was a time when I was proud of the club and what they represented, but now, I was just plain embarrassed. “My father was the president.”
“Lucky was your dad?”
“You knew him?”
He smiled, and I knew right away my dad had left him with a good impression. “He was a good man.”
“He was.” My eyes dropped to the ground. “A lot has changed without him around. The way things are now… my father would never want this.”
“Tank is a different kind of leader.”
“You have no idea. He’d shut the club down if he knew it had come to this. I wish I could do it myself, but I just don’t have the means to do it.”
“Things have a way of working out.”
“Maybe, but I’m not holding my breath.”
“You know…” He studied me for a moment before continuing. “I’ve been thinking. It would be okay if you wanted to check in on him later.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just watch your back and be careful. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t. I give you my word.”
“We’ve got some things to tend to, so my guy Jacob will be there to keep an eye on him when we are gone. I’ll let him know you’ll be coming.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“And Zoe...”
I knew he was concerned about the brothers finding out that I was seeing him, so I tried to reassure him. “No one will know I’m here.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” He handed me a slip of paper with a number on it. “If something comes up, just let me know.”
I placed the number in my back pocket and pushed the button for the elevator. “I will, and thank you for trusting me to do this.”
I rushed back to work and went directly into my office. I figured staying out of sight was the best thing I could do. The last thing I needed was another altercation with one of the brothers. I spent the entire day to myself working on timesheets and anything else I could find to keep me busy. It was late, and I was starting to get stir crazy when Kat walked in. She shut the door behind her before she walked over and sat in the chair in front of my desk. A worried look crossed her face as she looked over at me. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
I hated lying to her, but I didn’t have a choice. “Nothing. It’s over.”
“Seriously? That’s all you’re going to say? You and I know there’s more to it than that.”
“Kat.”
“I can’t help it. I’m worried about all this. I don’t know what it is about this guy, but I smell trouble coming. I don’t want you to get mixed up in something you can’t get out of.”
“I’m not getting mixed up in anything.”
She sighed with one of her dramatic eye rolls. “I wish that was true.”
“Look. There’s nothing for you to worry about. His friends are there now. They will take care of him and make sure he gets home safe. That’s all that matters.”
“And you don’t think they are the kind of men that will want payback or something? At the very least, they will want to press assault charges. Their friend is in the hospital and could’ve died. They aren’t just going to let that go.”
“I… I don’t know. Maybe they won’t make a big deal out of it.”
“You’re kidding, right?” She ran her hands over her face as she sighed once again. “Just tell me you are going to steer clear of this guy. That you are going to let it go.”
I tried to sound convincing when I answered, “I am.”
“Oh, crap. You’re going to get yourself killed, Zo.”
“No, I’m not. I did my part. I got the guy to the hospital, helped his friends find him, and now I’m done.” I leaned back in my chair and held up my hands. “There’s nothing else I can do.”
“How long have we been best friends?”
“Kat.”
“How long have we been best friends?” she repeated.
“Since we were two years old.”
“And you don’t think I know when you’re lying?”
“Okay. You’re right.”
“You don’t even know this guy.”
“I know.”
“He could be a complete asshole.”
“I know.”
“He could be a psychopath.”
“I know.”
“Did he even hit on you? He could be… gay!”
“He’s not gay, Kat, not with the way he was looking at me. But you’re right. I don’t know anything about this guy, but…”
“There is no ‘but’, Zoe. You need to let this go.”
“I can’t do that. I just can’t.”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find my way back. I was lost in the darkness, unable to move or speak, and it was driving me crazy. To make matters worse, I knew my brothers were there in the room with me. I could hear them talking, but I couldn’t make out the words. They were speaking in just above a whisper, making it impossible to grasp what was being said. I tried to concentrate, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t understand. Regardless, I could still tell there was something wrong. It was in the tone of their voices and the tension I felt hovering in the room. I desperately wanted to know what was going on, but I was trapped in the darkness, unable to reach the surface. I was becoming more and more frustrated, and it only got worse when I heard someone’s cellphone ring.
Seconds later, I heard Clutch’s voice. “No change. He’s still out, but his stats are looking better.” He paused for a few seconds, then continued, “Yeah. Stitch is looking into those leads right now. Hopefully he’ll find something we can use to get these motherfuckers.” There was another pause, this one much longer, before he said, “It has to be someone local, and they had to have someone on the inside to find out the location of our drop. Whoever it is, we will find them.”
I had so many questions that I wanted
answered, but no answers came—just bits and pieces of information I couldn’t decipher. I tried to fight my way out of the darkness, but I was too tired. The fog was too thick.
Before he hung up, Clutch said, “We’ve got him covered. Bear will be here with him while we’re gone, and Doc messaged that he’s coming in the morning.”
Bear was one of our prospects. He’d gotten his road name for being in a piss-assed mood every morning. With his burly build and thick beard, he reminded us of a grumpy black bear. I wasn’t surprised that he’d be keeping an eye on things. If anything went south, he’d be able to handle it. Once he’d arrived, I heard them spout off some orders, and then they left. With my brothers gone, an overwhelming feeling of desperation crept over me. Every minute, every hour that passed, it just got worse. There was nothing I could do to fight it.
Until she walked into the room.
There was a low rumble of someone talking, and then I heard footsteps approaching. “Hey there, handsome.”
The woman from the strip club was back, and I couldn’t have been more relieved. Her voice was like a beacon of light pulling me from my desolation.
“Thomas wanted me to check in and let him know how you were doing.” I could feel the palm of her soft, warm hand on my arm as she continued, “You’re already looking better. The swelling is going down a little. You’re starting to look like you again.”
I liked the warmth of her touch, and immediately missed it when she removed her hand and started moving away from the bed. Her voice grew faint, making it harder to understand what she was saying as she spoke. I heard the legs of a chair scoot across the floor, and then the soft sound of her voice started again. “I’ve been reading up on comas, and they say talking helps patients recover. No one really knows for sure, but I don’t see the harm in trying. Since I don’t really know what to talk about… I thought I’d read to you. I have to get this paper about the main character done by the end of next week, and I’ve only read a few chapters. It’s been really good so far. It might be one of my favorite books ever.”
I’d only seen her once, but I still remembered how beautiful she was. At that moment, she seemed like an angel from heaven, complete with wings and a halo. I became calm and peaceful just having her next to me. I’d seen my fair share of beautiful women, but it wasn’t just the good looks with her. She was a fighter with a fire inside of her like none I’d ever seen. I couldn’t deny it. I liked it, and having her in the room and hearing her voice—and just knowing she was there—was the only thing keeping me from completely losing it.
I had to wonder why she kept coming back to me. I feared for her safety and hoped she hadn’t put herself at risk by being there. I listened as she read to me about a lawyer in the south and his two kids. Something about the story made me think of my dad. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d actually talked—really talked. When I was a kid, most of our conversations fed into a hidden lecture, but more times than not, I deserved them. I thought back to the time when he’d caught me after I’d snuck out of the house. I came slipping in at four in the morning, and he was there waiting on the front steps when I walked up.
When I opened my mouth to give him some lame excuse for being late, he held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it, Seth.”
I stood there feeling the impending doom as he glared at me in anger. There was nothing I could do but apologize. “I’m sorry, Dad. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right about that.” He motioned me over to sit next to him as he calmly said, “I think it’s time you and I had ourselves a talk.”
I lowered myself down onto the last step and looked up at him. “She’s leaving in a few hours. I just wanted to see her before she left.”
“You were with Sarah?”
“Yeah. She’s going to Tennessee for two weeks to stay with her grandparents.”
“Is Sarah someone you care about?”
I sighed with aggravation. “She means everything to me, Dad. You know I’m crazy about her.”
“So, you think this girl is special… that she’s the one.”
“Of course, I do. You’ve met her. You know how incredible she is. She’s smart, beautiful, and funny. Her folks are good people. She’s the real deal.”
“So, I take it this is someone you could see yourself being with.”
I knew he was getting at something, but I had no idea what it was. Playing into his hand, I answered, “Yes, Dad. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“And you don’t think you should respect this girl you care so much about?”
“What do you mean? I do respect her. I love her, Dad.”
“Then, you have to show her.”
“I did show her,” I said with a smirk.
He shook his head with frustration. “You’ve got a lot to learn, son.”
“Come on, Dad. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I just went over there to tell her goodbye. You know… spend a little time with her before she left. It’s no big deal.”
“Did you tell me or your mother you were going?”
“No.”
“Did her folks know you were there?”
My eyes dropped to my feet. “No.”
“You knew what you were doing was wrong. You broke the rules… rules that your mom and I set in place to protect you and her folks set to protect her. What do your actions say about you, Seth?”
“It says that I care enough about her to break the rules to see her.”
“Does that mean she’s the kind of girl that has boys coming over at all times of the night?”
My back stiffened as I turned to him in anger. “No! She’s not like that.”
“Then, why did you treat her like she was?” He placed his hand on my shoulder as he looked me in the eye. “You have to respect her enough to do the right thing… the right thing for both of you. Show her she’s worth that.”
“I didn’t think of it that way.”
He left me hanging as he sat there staring out into the darkness without saying a word. Finally, I asked, “So, I take it I’m grounded.”
“You got that right.”
The memory started to fade and my attention was drawn back to her when she said, “I think something bad is about to happen. Scout is awesome. If something happens to her, it will ruin this whole book for me… I hope I’m not boring you. Maybe we should try something else for a little while.”
Some time passed, and then she said, “This is one of my favorite songs. My dad used to play it all the time. He’d say it reminded him of me, and now it reminds me of him. I really miss him. He died last year, and it’s been hard not having him around. He was my rock, and it just hasn’t been the same without him.”
Her voice was low and filled with sadness, and there was no doubt her mood had grown somber. The room was suddenly filled with silence, and I started to think she’d left the room until another song started playing. There was no more talking, just one song after another.
When I walked into Seth’s room, I found Jacob sleeping soundly in the chair beside the bed. His head was craned forward, his shoulders drooped low, and he looked like an uncomfortable mess. He’d been there every night, and it had become our routine for me to wake him up and send him to the waiting room where he could sleep more comfortably. I walked over and gave him a nudge. “Hey, bud, I’m here.”
With a stretch and a groan, he smiled. “Running a little late tonight, huh?”
“Yeah, it was pretty crazy at work tonight. Sorry I’m so late.”
He stood from the chair. “You work too hard, darlin’. Pretty girl like you needs a fella to take care of her.”
I snickered, “Ya think so?”
“Just say the word. I’ll be at your beck and call.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I smiled. “Go get you some rest.”
Once he had gone I curled up in the chair and pulled out my book. I hadn’t been reading long before my Aunt Janet peeked her head into the room
and asked, “How are you doing in here?”
“I’m doing okay,” I answered as I covered my mouth to yawn.
I could see the look of concern on her face as she stepped into the room. “You’ve been here every night this week. You look exhausted. I think it’s time for you to call it a night.”
“No. I’m fine. Honestly. I like being here with him.” I looked over at Seth and couldn’t help but worry. It had been five days, and as far as I could tell, there had been no change. “How is he doing? Really.”
“The doctors have taken him off the meds and ventilator, and he’s breathing really well. His stats are good, so it’s up to him now. I think he’s holding his own.”
“How much longer do you think it will be before he wakes up?”
“It’s hard to tell. Sometimes these things happen pretty fast… a couple of days or even less, but other times it can take longer. He’s been through a lot. We just have to wait and see how he does.”
“But you think when he wakes up… he’ll be okay?”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up, Zoe. He’s had severe trauma to the brain. There’s no way to tell how he will come out of this.”
“So, this could’ve messed him up permanently?”
“There’s always that chance, but he could wake up tomorrow and be perfectly fine.”
“I really hope he’s going to be okay.”
“Tell me again how you know him.”
“Umm… he’s a friend of mine from school.”
“Okay.” She sounded doubtful. “And you said he was robbed?”
“Yes.”
She gave me a knowing look. “Hmmm… Well, that’s strange.”
“What?”
“He still had his wallet… and his watch and ring. They’re in the cabinet with his other belongings. So, what exactly did they steal from him?”
“I have no idea.” My eyes skirted around the room as I tried to think of a plausible response. “Maybe they got scared off or something.”
“So, you aren’t going to tell me what’s really going on with this guy and why you’re so uncomfortable talking about it?”
There was no way I could make her understand because I didn’t understand it myself. Sure, he tried to help me, but that didn’t explain my need to be there in the middle of the night checking on him. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
