by Khloe Wren
“You sure that's a good idea, prez? Won't Marie want to take her to her place?”
“You ever seen her place? There ain't no room for a kid. And we can grease all the palms we want, we still gotta meet the requirements. My house is huge and has plenty of room. That'll do for now.”
He cocked his eyebrow at me. “And it gets Marie in your house too, huh?”
“Brother, I am not in the mood for your crap right now.”
With a smirk, he left to do his job. He was aptly named Arrow. He spoke direct and got to the point, always. Even when you didn't want or need him to.
Turning to the ambulance, I was relieved to see they'd finally stabilized Sarah enough that they were preparing to head out. I'd been mentally willing the ambulance to hurry up and get gone with Sarah since they’d arrived. I'd like to blow this place before the cops rocked up, but didn't want to risk further injuring the poor woman. Eagle exited the front door and headed directly to me.
“House is all clear, most of the boys have headed out now everything's done.”
“Great, the second that bus is out the driveway, I want this shit blown.”
Eagle glanced into our bus at the sleeping little girl.
“Can I suggest you get gone too? No need to traumatize that poor girl any more than she's already been.”
I winced. I should have thought of that, dammit. The blast would scare the shit out of the poor kid. For about half a second, I considered letting them go on ahead while I stayed back, but leaving Marie while she was out and defenseless didn't feel right.
“Fine. Bulldog has the detonator. Double check no Charons are in there before you hit that switch. I don't want any friendly fire casualties here.”
“Yes, prez.”
With that I climbed into the back to sit beside the girls, then within moments things were closed up and we headed down the road. I was technically leaving a crime scene, but fuck, I was injured. And they should have gotten their asses out there faster if they wanted to talk to me that quickly. I knew Donald, the club's friend on the force would find me at the hospital later to ask questions, and really, with my injuries, they couldn't give me shit about not waiting for them.
Leaning my head against the side of the vehicle, I closed my eyes to rest a minute as we drove back toward Bridgewater. Fuck, it was going to be a fucking long couple days dealing with all this shit.
CHAPTER 7
Marie
My nose stung as I woke. The strong scent of antiseptic clued me in to my location even before I opened my eyes to see I was lying on a hospital bed. Well, I was lying more on Scout than I was on the bed, but he didn't seem to mind. I lifted the blanket and glanced down his torso. All he wore was a pair of black boxers, which revealed all his injuries. With all the blood gone, it wasn't as bad as I'd thought. A clean, white bandage was wrapped around his middle and I could see raised rows where stitches must be. He'd probably end up with a row of straight scars up his ribs, but I doubted he'd care about it. All the black and blue over him had me wincing. Poor Scout. They’d been thorough with beating him and I had no idea how he could stand me pressed up against so many of the bruises.
“Hey, babe.”
His voice was rough, and oh, so sexy. It had a wave of warmth flowing through me, heating me up from the inside.
“Hey, yourself. How you feeling?”
“Like I got beat on and cut up, but it's all good. I’ve had worse, and they didn’t break bones so it won’t take long for me to heal up. And since I got to wake up with you in my arms, I'm calling it a win. How about you? Your shoulder okay?”
I rolled the joint in question to test it, and all I felt was a twinge of pain. “It’s fine now. Guessing it’ll bruise up, but it doesn’t hurt.” Suddenly all the emotion from our rescue hit me and my eyes teared up again. “Poor Sarah. I had no idea she'd ended up out there, living like that.”
“We might be able to sneak you in to visit her if you want. She's got a hell of a long road ahead of her.”
I tried to sit up but Scout held me to him so all I could manage was to push myself up on my arms a few inches.
“What do you mean? She died. I couldn't find a pulse.”
He lifted a palm up to cup my face. “She's alive. Taz found a pulse, but we had to call the professionals in for her because we suspected she had a spinal injury. She's still in ICU, so I'm not sure exactly where things stand right now, but I know she was alive when she left the house.”
Tears pricked my eyes and fell, again. “She's alive.” I lowered my head so it rested on Scout's chest, my ear pressed against his skin so I could hear the strong beating of his heart. His fingers stroked through my hair, smoothing it back from over my face.
“When are we allowed to leave?”
“We're just chilling here, waiting for you to wake up. We got the all clear a while back. Donna had to give you a light sedative to calm you down. I hated seeing you like that, Marie. So fucking upset you could barely breathe.”
His grip tightened on me as he pressed a kiss to the top of my head.
“Why are we in the same bed and not separate ones?”
“Because he's a stubborn bastard who wouldn't let you go.”
I tried to turn to look at Bulldog, whose voice had come from the direction of the doorway, but apparently Scout still didn't want to let me go. I turned my face to look up at his.
“You know you have to let me go at some point, right? Or I'll end up peeing on you or something.”
Bulldog laughed as Scout scowled at me. “Fine, I'll release you for a bathroom break, but you better make it fast.”
With a shake of my head, I slid off the bed. By the time my feet hit the floor, Bulldog was right there by my side. Thankfully I didn't need his help, as I found myself steady on my feet as I plodded over to the bathroom. When I got to the door and saw the shower, I turned back to Bulldog.
“Don't suppose you could find me a change of clothes so I can get cleaned up?”
He gave me a little frown. “You don't feel light headed or faint at all?”
I shook my head. “I just need a shower to wash away all the filth and grime from that place. I'm sure I'll feel much better afterward.”
He nodded and then handed me a bag I hadn't noticed he was carrying. “Zara went and packed you a bag, hoping you'd be out of this place today. She also said to tell you her and Mercedes have the cafe covered for however long you need them to so you don't need to worry about it.”
With a smile I thanked him, took the bag and locked myself into the small bathroom. For a few moments I just leaned back against the door and took some deep breaths. I could hardly believe that Sarah was alive. I needed to go see her, check with her doctor on how she was doing and what needs to happen with her recovery.
Pushing off the door I used the toilet, then stripped down and flipped on the taps to run the water hot, after checking the nasty bruise on my upper arm and shoulder, the ring of grey around my throat from where Bruce had grabbed me caught my gaze. Unable to look away, I pressed my fingers against the bruising, assessing how bad it was. Tears threatened at how close I came to dying today, but I pushed them down. Bruce was the one who died and I was here, alive. I opened my bag and smiled because Zara had thought of everything. I took out my shampoo, conditioner and body wash then went back to adjust the shower before getting in.
It was probably thirty minutes before I came out of the bathroom, but I felt a hundred times better. The hot shower had done wonders, as had having a little alone time. I rather got the feeling I wouldn't get much of that now Scout had apparently decided he needed to be physically touching me as often as he could manage it.
I walked back into the room to see that Scout had already put on clean jeans and his boots, along with a black t-shirt. He was currently shrugging into his Charon's cut. He reached for his head, clearly looking for the bandana he normally wore and adjusted about two hundred times a day.
“You bring me a bandana?”
Bulldog shook his head. “Sorry, man, didn't even think of it.”
I came up behind him and ran my palms over the large Charon MC back patch. The skull in the center had a bat-like wing coming from the right side, while the left side had an angel wing. Good and bad. Or rather, bad for good reasons. I didn't need to know the details to know the club would have cleaned house out at the compound before they left.
Scout slowly turned, wrapping an arm around my waist as he did. I pressed myself against his chest then with a smile reached up and ran my fingers through his graying hair.
“You know, I prefer you without the bandana. I can't run my hands through your hair if you hide it all the time.”
Bulldog scoffed. “And on that note, I'm outta here. I gotta get back to, um, you know. She settled okay with Rose and Donna, but completely panicked when Silk tried to get near her. I think it's the ink on her arm. Anyhow, she seems okay with me, so I'm gonna head back. Oh, and Sarah's not allowed visitors yet, they’re still trying to get the swelling of her brain to go down. Doc said by morning we should be able to go in and see her. I'll see you two later.”
Scout nodded but didn't say anything as Bulldog left. I wanted to ask about who Bulldog was talking about. Had there been another woman out there? Before I could speak, Scout cut in.
“So, you don't mind all the biker stuff anymore, huh?”
I was still stroking my palm over the raised stitching on the patch on his back, even though I couldn't see it anymore.
“It was never really about you being a biker, Scout. It was about how you kept holding me at arm’s length, but had your whole club not letting anyone else get near me either. I was lonely, and sick to death of it. Who was Bulldog talking about?”
Scout moved his hands to hold my face, so I was forced to look up into his eyes.
“Things will be different now. I wasn't yanking your chain in Houston, I've claimed you. You're my old lady and that ain't ever gonna change. You believe that, don't you? Believe that I want you in my life, in my bed, every fucking day for the rest of our lives?”
Tears pricked my eyes. He looked so earnest. So damn serious.
“It's a lot of change in a short time, Scout. Give me a minute to catch up okay?”
With a growl he crushed my lips beneath his in a fiery kiss that melted me. I clung to his biceps, desperate for an anchor to help me stay on my feet. Then just as suddenly as the kiss started, Scout ripped his mouth from mine, ending it.
“If we had the time, I'd show you right fucking now how much I want you, how much you're mine. But we don't have the time right now. I got someone you need to meet.”
My thoughts were spinning and I was panting as I tried to get myself under control. Scout nuzzled his cheek against mine, his beard tickling my neck.
I cleared my throat. “Ah, who do I need to meet? Is it who Bulldog was talking about?”
He pressed kisses to my jaw before standing back up.
“Yeah. When we were clearing out that place we found a child. A little girl. Can't be much more than two or three years old.”
Suddenly a wash of cold flowed over me, like my blood had become ice water.
“She Sarah's?”
Scout nodded slowly and I tightened my grip on his arms so I'd stay standing when my knees threatened to go weak.
“What's her name?”
“No idea. Not sure she even has one. None of the men out there could tell us her name or who her father is, but she's the spitting image of Sarah. Well, that and there were no other women out there. So, she has to be Sarah's. She kind of met you when she rode to the hospital cuddled up against you in the back of the bus. We told her you were Sarah's sister, and she clung to you.”
I released Scout and tried to head for the door, suddenly desperate to see this little girl. But he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him.
“Wait a second, there's something else. She hasn't spoken. Not one word since we rescued her. The doctors are trying to work out if there's a medical reason for it, but we suspect it's from the trauma she's suffered in her life.”
That had tears flowing. That poor little angel.
“It doesn't matter, she's family. And I won't abandon her.”
He cupped my face, swiping my tears with his thumbs.
“You're a natural mother, and I cost you that because I'm a damn fool. I'm so sorry, Marie. Can you forgive me?”
I shook my head at his words, unsure if I heard him correctly. “It's not a done deal yet, I still have regular cycles. You really want a baby?”
“Never wanted one before, but with you? Hell yeah, I do.”
I smiled up at him before rising on my tip toes to press a kiss to his lips before pulling back and giving his beard a small tug.
“We'll have to work on that later. I want to meet Sarah's daughter.”
The whole time I followed Scout through the halls of the hospital I thought over his words. I'd always wanted a family of my own, but at forty-three, could I really handle pregnancy and everything that came with a newborn? Sure, Zara and Silk both seemed to be handling motherhood well, but they were at least ten years younger than me.
I was jerked out of my thoughts when Scout stopped in front of a brightly lit room in the children's ward.
“Here we are.”
He held the door open so I could go in first. Nerves had my palms sweating and I wiped them on my jeans as I stepped into the room. She was on the floor, along with Rose and Bulldog, playing with blocks, but she was facing the door and at the sound of it opening she'd stopped playing to stare at the doorway.
“Hey there, sweetheart. My name's Marie, and I grew up with your mom.”
I slowly made my way over to her, keeping a gentle smile on my face. I didn't want to startle her. “I'm sorry I wasn't awake in the ambulance earlier. I would have given you cuddles if I had been.”
She chewed on her lip and glanced to Bulldog. He ruffled her hair softly. “Go on, kiddo, you can go give her a hug. You don't ever have to be afraid to give someone a hug, okay?”
With a slight nod, she slowly rose from the floor. She was like a scared little mouse, and it was breaking my heart. What kind of hell had she lived through in that place to be so scared of everyone?
After lowering onto my knees, I held out my arms for her to come to me. Which she did, she crept slowly up toward me until she stood right up near me, then she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face against my throat. Blinking back tears, I wrapped my arms around her little body and rubbed her back gently as I held her, inhaling her sweet smell.
Scout
Watching how Marie was with the little girl was tearing me up inside. She was so fucking good with her. And I'd robbed her of having a baby of her own. Sure, she said she could still technically have a baby, but she wasn't in her twenties any more. Any idiot knew the older a woman got the more risky pregnancy was.
I wanted to kick my own ass for what I'd cost her. And myself. I'd cost us both the joy of having a family by being such a selfish fucking bastard.
Although there was always adoption, and considering Sarah was still in a coma and things weren't looking too good there, this little angel might be looking for a loving home soon. Would that be enough for my Marie? Would raising her sister's child be enough?
Rubbing a palm over my face, I went to adjust my bandana only to find I wasn’t wearing one. Fuck. I was so used to having one on, not having one was gonna take some getting used to. But if it meant Marie would have her hands on me more often, I'd deal. Glancing back to her, I could tell she was tired, and the little one was nearly asleep too as Marie continued to tell her tale after tale about her mother as a child and teen. I moved to stand near them.
“Marie? How about we call it a night, love? We can come back first thing in the morning. Maybe by then we'll be able to take the little one to visit her mom, yeah?”
The little girl―dammit, we needed to give her a name―looked up at me bright-
eyed. I reached down and stroked her cheek.
“Yeah, that's right. Your mom is very sick, little darlin', but hopefully by morning she'll be well enough we can go see her.”
Marie frowned like she was going to argue but Donna cut her off before she could say a word.
“Don't you worry about our little angel. Rose and I have the night shift covered. I got certificated with Child Protection Services years ago to take care of at-risk kids who come into the hospital. You two go home and get a good night’s sleep, then you can take over tomorrow and we'll get our rest then.”
That reminded me, I needed to call Arrow, see if he'd had any luck seeing that senator yet.
“I'm feeling a little ganged up on right now.”
With a chuckle I pressed a kiss to her head. “Yeah, but it's outta love. C'mon, say your goodbyes and we'll be back before you know it.”
I stepped back to let the girls have a moment, then smiled when Marie came to me, took my hand and let me lead her out of the hospital. We were halfway to the exit when it occurred to me we had no way to get anywhere.
“Ah, fuck.”
“What? What's happened?”
Marie was looking around like she expected someone to jump out at her. I knew better than to tell her how cute she looked doing it.
“I’ve got no ride here, babe.”
“Got that covered, brother.” Bulldog came up behind us. “C'mon, I'll get you where you need to go.”
“Speaking of rides, don't suppose you know where my phone and keys are?”
“Ah, fuck. Sorry, babe. Forgot all about them.”
I reached into my pocket and handed them over to her. Her battery was dead, which she soon figured out. After slipping it into her pocket, she toyed with her keys.
“Has anyone brought my car back yet?”
“Didn't know where it was to collect it, Marie. If you give me your keys and tell me where it is, I'll send a couple of the brothers out to grab it for you.”
She handed them over to Bulldog without hesitation. “It's in the parking lot of that little convenience store that was just before the turn off to the compound.”
