Shadow’s eyes fluttered open and I flew to his side.
“Dude!” I whispered. “Shadow, hey man.”
It took him a few seconds to focus, but he looked at me and flashed a crooked grin, tried to move, then winced and fell back on the bed.
“Don’t move, dude. You’re in the hospital. You’re really fucked up, Shadow.”
He nodded, slightly, before mumbling something very quietly that I couldn’t understand.
“What?” I asked, putting my ear to his mouth.
“K-k-kill me,” he said, his words thick with pain.
I stood up, looking at him in shock.
“What, dude?”
“Kill me,” he said again, his voice a little louder this time.
“Dude, what the fuck? Why would I kill you?”
“Because,” he grumbled, each word an effort for him to get out. “I love Evie. And if you’re going to kill me, do it now so I don’t have to go through the pain of getting better.”
“You dumb shit,” I said, shaking my head and laughing. “I already know about you and Evie, asshole.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, man,” I said. “And I figure any guy who fights off a fucking bear to protect her is probably a pretty decent guy for her to date.”
“I’m not going to date her.”
“What the fuck, dude?” I said, my voice laced with anger. “She’s been by your bedside for weeks, she’s torn up about everything, what do you fucking mean?”
“I’m going to marry her.” His eyes flashed with determination.
“Oh!” I said, laughing. “Man, Shadow, do whatever the hell you want. You fought a fucking bear, dude!”
He chuckled, then winced again. “I don’t recommend it.”
I busted out laughing. “No, I don’t suppose you would.”
The door behind me opened and Evie walked in, breaking out into a run when she saw Shadow’s eyes open.
“Shadow! Oh, my god! You’re awake!”
“Hey, beautiful,” he mumbled.
She kissed him, her face awash in pure joy.
“Ah, shit,” I said. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
I walked out, closing the door with a smile.
A bear, man.
A fucking bear…
Now that’s a man.
I pulled out my phone and called Riot.
“Hey, man, Shadow woke up,” I said. “He’s talking and everything. I think he’s going to be okay.”
“That’s really good news,” Riot said.
“It sure is. Now what? Should I come back to the clubhouse?”
“Yeah, man,” he replied. “You’d better. We got a new job.”
“Why am I not surprised? It’s good, though. I’m in the mood to fuck someone up.”
“I hear there’s a mama bear running around that makes a great sparring partner.”
“Fuck you, Riot. You go fight the bear.”
“Nah, man, the monsters we have to battle are enough for me. At least we have a chance at destroying them. A bear, not so much.”
“Yeah, man, not so much,” I said, laughing. “I’m on my way, man.”
“Hey, Slade, can you stop and pick me up a bear claw on the way home?”
“Very funny, asshole, very funny,” I said, rolling my eyes and hanging up the phone.
I walked out to the parking lot and headed towards my bike. It was a crisp fall day, and a perfect day for a ride. I walked up to my bike and saw something sitting on the seat.
A long crow’s feather had landed on the seat. I picked it up and twirled it around between my fingertips and smiled.
“Doc loved finding these,” I mused, out loud. “Damn, I miss you fucker, wherever you are.”
I put the feather into the inside pocket of my cut and pulled on my helmet. Starting up my bike was like coming home.
I was so happy Shadow was going to be okay.
Now, I could go home to Diana and my boy with a clear conscience.
I roared out of the parking lot with a huge grin on my face, bright orange leaves falling from the trees like rain as I made my way home.
THE END
Thanks for reading the Gods of Chaos Motorcycle Club series! Book Thirteen, Chasing Sunshine, is now available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085H8R4C7
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Gods of Chaos MC Box Set 4 Page 44