Jessica
Of course, it wasn’t negative. When I took that test, it said I was nearly a month pregnant. Now I’m a little over two months along and I’m in the hospital again, seeing the OBGYN. I’m really early for my appointment, so I walk through the halls of the hospital until I find a vending machine. Wandering the halls like a lost toddler crossed with a bored out of their mind adolescent.
Finally, as I round a corner, I spot one in the waiting area of A&E. It lights up with a golden glow as angels start singing. Finally, because I am fucking starving. I push coins into the machine with maybe a little more force than necessary until it spits out a chocolate bar and a bottle of lemonade. Then I lean against the wall and survey my surroundings. White… so much white everywhere.
Suddenly, there is a surge of movement by the doors. Hospital staff rushes forward, through the automatic doors and onto the pavement outside. I watch them, fascinated at how efficient the nurses are as a gurney is rolled in and pushed down the hallway. I hold myself back, pressing myself against the wall, I make as much room as possible for the nurses as they wheel the bed down the corridor.
Chancing a glance at the person on the bed, I wonder what could have caused so much commotion. Glimpses at the hospital bed rushing past don’t give much indication except that the person was small, maybe a child? That’s about all I can work out from my obstructed view.
My gut clenches and I send up a quick prayer that the poor kid will be alright before making my move towards the exit.
My soul aches for not only the child but their parents. Automatically my hand twitches, wanting to feel my non-existent baby bump. The instinct to protect and love this little peanut is already strong - and growing stronger every day. I can’t imagine, I don’t even want to imagine, how much of a wreck I would be if anything ever happened to him.
Oh god. Him?
What if it’s a ‘him’?
On the other hand, could I really handle a ‘her’?
There’s another ruckus down the corridor that’s quickly getting more and more attention from others around me. Being nosy, I look over my shoulder to see where the noise is coming from. Inhaling sharply, I realize that I recognise those faces.
While I don’t know the Sapphires’ gang personally, I’ve briefly met a few of them at Sal’s before. I mean, it’s hard not to notice Cohen with the amount he’s been reported on the news. But also, he’s fucking scary. No one can forget a face that could give you nightmares alone. I can’t see Tyler among them. Cohen lifts his phone to his ear and I hear his words as clearly as if he were speaking directly to me.
“Angel, get a read on Tyler’s car, he’s been run off the road. He’s in bad shape and I want answers.”
My body stops moving, but my insides are on the opposite end of the spectrum. My heart accelerates, beating so strong and fast that I think it might just burst from my chest. What the hell does ‘in bad shape’ mean when it’s someone like Cohen Mason saying it? How hurt is he? How serious is it? Is the father of my unborn child dying in this hospital right now?
My gut lurches and I know I’m going to be sick. Fortunately, there’s a plastic bin bag hanging from a hoop and half full of trash on the wall beside me. I lean over it as the world spins out of sync, and empty my stomach into it. I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand and straighten up. I know what I need to do, and the Sapphires aren’t going to get in my way.
I turn on my heel and head around the corner. The Sapphires are gone. There’s a harried-looking nurse on the phone, standing with her hand on the counter of the nurses’ station. I go up to her; I don’t need to force a worried expression. My heart is pounding, and I am terrified. For so many reasons. I pause behind the dark-haired nurse and she turns as if sensing me there. She covers the mouthpiece of the phone and quietly says, “one moment, honey” before turning away again. Another few moments pass and she places the phone on the receiver and turns to me.
“How can I help?” Her badge reads ‘Clara’. She has kind, tired eyes.
“My, erm, my fiancé. He was brought in a few, erm, I don’t really know how long ago — in the last hour?” I say, hoping she connects the dots. I press a hand to my abdomen, feeling like I’m holding myself together with string. “His name’s Tyler. Tyler Michaels. They said he was in a car accident?” I feel genuine tears pricking the corners of my eyes as my bottom lip wobbles. Shit. I need to keep it together just long enough to find out how he is…
“Car accident, male, mid-20s? Yes, he’s been taken into surgery. I don’t know how long he’ll be. His… friends… are in the waiting area,” she says with a sidelong glance down the corridor as if to say ‘where you should be’.
“Sorry, I’m, I was here for an appointment in maternity when they called. I didn’t know where else to go.” I suck my lips into my teeth and try to will myself not to start bawling in front of this nurse, even if she is helpful. “Thanks… I have to go.” I turn away and make my way back down the corridor — and just in time too, as the Sapphires come back to the nurses’ station to speak to Clara. I hear her telling them all that they ‘simply cannot wait in here’ before I am out of hearing range.
Silent tears stream down my cheeks as I walk as quickly as I can back towards the ante-natal clinic. Back on the correct ward, I spot a bathroom and dive inside it. I slam the door shut on the cubicle I enter and crouch down, folding in on myself, as I let the tears out. Fear courses through me. My breath is hot and ragged. My vision focused on the floor in front of me. I curl my arms around my belly protectively.
“It’s gonna be okay,” I whisper to myself. “It’s gotta be okay.”
Tyler
“Fuck,” I groan. I haven’t even opened my eyes yet, and I already have a headache from the light.
“See what you did?” comes a gruff, but familiar, voice. Rex.
“What I did? I didn’t do that,” Alec counters.
“The nurse said to keep it down, and here you two are arguing and roughhousing. You’re both assholes.” Sage’s stern voice comes across as a reprimand; I can almost hear his eyes rolling in their sockets.
“Looks like he’s waking up.”
“I leave the room for five minutes, and you two manage to wake him up. Brilliant.”
I hear a laugh and then a scrape to my left.
“Tyler?” Sage’s voice is much closer now, and weirdly gentle.
“Could you close the blinds?” My throat scratches, feeling dryer than the Sahara desert. Seconds later, the light beyond my eyes lessens enough for me to chance it. I blink a few times to adjust before scanning the room - a hospital room. Yep, looking down, I’m in a paper-thin gown.
“Shit,” I breathe.
Sage looks at Alec. “Could you get the nurse?” Then he turns back to me as Alec exits the little room. “Do you remember what happened?”
I try to shake my head, but it hurts too much. “The crash. It’s fuzzy, just bits and pieces. What’s the damage?”
“You were lucky. A fractured rib, some internal bleeding because of the fracture. Other than that it’s all external, some nasty fucking scrapes and bruises you got yourself there. The nurse will be in soon to check on you.”
“I meant the car.” My response causes Sage to release a hearty chuckle. “I’m guessing whoever ran me off the road got away…?”
“Yeah, sorry bud, we didn’t hear about it until you got here.”
“Damn. But really, how bad is the car?”
“It’s bad, but I’m sure we’ll sort it out. When Cohen gets here, we’ll go over everything with you, but for now, just rest up.”
“Oooh hello, looks like you're up. The nurse is back. I’ll give you a minute but don’t get too attached, we’ll want you out of here as soon as possible.” Sage winks before standing to leave. It’s not until the nurse comes in that I understand his words. Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise, I’ve seen photos of Sage’s ex, he definitely has a type. But I guess this nurse would register as the standard
definition of beauty. She’s leggy, with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes framed by long thick lashes.
My stomach turns. I’ll have no problem not getting attached, as Sage had put it. She’s not my type. Or maybe she’s just not my type anymore.
“Tyler Michaels, nice to meet you. I’m Clara, I’ll be looking after you for the rest of the evening. How are you feeling?”
“I feel like I was in a car crash.”
“That’s to be expected, you were in a car crash. I mean, is there anything that is causing you pain that shouldn’t be?”
“I’ve got a slight headache, and my side hurts.”
“Did your friend tell you that you sustained a broken rib in the crash?”
“Yeah, and something about internal bleeding?” I let my unasked question hang in the air.
“Likely from a puncture from the broken rib. You went into surgery as soon as you arrived to make sure that it didn’t get too bad. It seems the surgery went well, but we’ll need to keep you in for observation for at least another twenty-four hours. After that, if everything is all clear, then you should be free to go home. Of course, you’ll need to take it easy for the next four weeks.”
I nod along as she talks, and it seems I was indeed fortunate.
“Your friends have been here a while if you wouldn’t mind telling them to keep it down - I have patients trying to rest. Your fiancee was here before, but she had to leave. If you have any questions or notice anything abnormal, press this buzzer and someone will be with you shortly. Is there anyone else you’d like us to contact? Parents, perhaps?”
What? “Did you say fiancee?”
“Yes, a young woman - blonde hair, green eyes, freckles?” She pauses as if only suddenly thinking it over. “Should I be alarmed? We didn’t tell her anything, at the time that she came in you were only just being wheeled into surgery.”
That little minx. Jessica was here… and told them she was my fiancee. But wait, how did she know I was here?
“No, absolutely not. Sorry, it’s only new, I only proposed last week.”
Clara gives a suspicious squint of her eyes as she nods and turns to leave. I throw her my cheesiest grin as I call out, “Nurse, could you send Sage back in, please?”
She leaves, and a minute later the door opens again, with Sage’s head poking through. He walks in and slouches back into his seat next to the bed. Cohen and a couple of the guys follow him into the room. The small, flowery room suddenly gets very crowded with overstuffed bikers. When the door closes behind them, I know things are about to get serious.
“Who was it?” Cohen asks, standing at the end of my bed, seemingly front and center.
“The Albinos?” Rex calls out.
“Bet it was the Mayhems,” someone else called out.
I scan everyone’s faces. It takes a minute for it to sink in, I’m one of them. They’re all pissed because one of their own was attacked. I hate the thought of starting a war because truthfully this had nothing to do with them but all to do with my own past.
“I don’t think it was a gang, not one that we’re associated with, anyway.” There’s a couple of lamentations from the back. “This one’s on me.”
“Do you know who?” Cohen asks, all serious.
“No,” I shake my head, even though it hurts to do so. “All I know is that I got a panicked phone call from my brother the other day. He kept saying he was sorry, that he had fucked up. He owed money to the wrong people.”
He grimaces. “Is there any chance he would’ve sent them to you?”
I start to shake my head because no, of course, my brother isn’t that stupid. But…
“I don’t know. I swear to god if he did…” I can’t even finish my sentence because each second that passes only adds fuel to the fire of my rage.
“It’s okay. I hate to get all sappy but, you’re a part of this family. We’ll handle it.” Sage speaks for all of them when he says this. I know because as I look around the room, the Sapphires present are nodding along in agreement, determination set on their faces.
“Thanks, guys…” A swell of pride rises inside me. I’m so glad to be a part of this family.
“We’re glad you’re okay. Let us know if you need anything, but we’ll make sure to have someone here at all times. Who knows, they might be stupid enough to come back.”
A thought comes to mind as he says this: What about Jess? But I quickly dismiss it because these thugs — whoever they are — couldn’t possibly know about my ties to her. I almost eye roll, like we actually have a relationship… What I have is a fuck buddy and a friend. But still, even if that’s all we are, she’s important to me, anyway. Maybe it’s worth mentioning…
Everyone files out of the room, Tanzie and Luce come in with a bunch of flowers and wish me a speedy recovery. Cohen and Sage go to follow them out before I call them back.
Once it’s just us I look to Sage with anticipation, he’s going to have a right ol’ time making fun of me for this. “Cohen, could you do me a favour?”
Cohen opens his mouth to answer, but Sage is quick to cut him off. “Depends on what it is. I’ve been caught in that cookie jar too many times before.”
I see by the quirk of his eyebrow that Cohen is struggling between his amusement and his annoyance at being interrupted.
“Could you… swing past and check on my girl?”
“No problem. I’ll have Angel track her down,” Cohen responds quickly, not giving Sage the chance. I’m about to say that he’ll need her name when I think better of it. They know who she is without knowing who I’m talking about. After all, she’s the only one I’ve mentioned to the gang, the only one they’ve ever seen me with.
I nod my thanks as Cohen then takes his leave. I sigh at being left alone with Sage. He’s a good buddy, he’s been by my side since the day I came to town. So I know him well enough to know what to expect.
“‘Your girl’ huh?” he asks, a small smile playing on his lips. He’s gonna rib the hell outta me for that.
I groan, rolling my eyes. “Sage, drop it. You’ve known for months that I’ve been sweet on Jess.”
“Well yeah, you weren’t doing your best to hide it, but now that you’ve fessed up I can finally ride you for it.”
Jessica
I walk home from the hospital. The sun is high in the sky, making it a warm day. My appointment was uneventful, compared to seeing Tyler wheeled in on a gurney. Things are progressing smoothly with the pregnancy, for all we can tell right now. My morning sickness has more or less gone, which I’m told is lucky, and my cravings at the moment aren’t too weird. I still can’t eat Strawberries and Cream ice cream but it turns out that Cherry Garcia is fine, so I’ve switched it up a little.
My head is whirling with everything that’s happened today. As I look both ways to cross the street, a figure in the corner of my eye catches my attention. He’s tall and broad, with short blonde hair. His green bomber jacket is zipped up despite the warmth, and something about him is so familiar.
Was he at the hospital? Surely not. But I know I’ve seen him around before, for the life of me I just can’t place his face.
I cross the road at a jog, eager to get home. As I turn onto my street, something inside me begins feeling wrong. Like, really wrong. Then, when I stop outside my house, I notice why. My door has been forced open. It hangs open in the frame, one hinge busted. The damage to the door frame makes it look like it’s been kicked in.
Slowly, cautiously, I head up the porch steps and head inside. This can’t be happening.
It’s dark inside. My sofa has been moved and one of my plant pots has been knocked onto the floor. There are soil and footprints everywhere. The floor creaks as I take another careful step forward. Nothing looks missing, but it’s not like I have any valuables to speak of, really. This really isn’t my day.
My heart races, I should call the cops. What if they’re still here? Oh god, I have to call my landlord… He’s gonna be so mad. I hope h
e has insurance for this sorta thing.
As I turn the corner to look into my large kitchen, I see a mountainous figure perched on one of the breakfast bar stools. In the dim light, I see the glint of his teeth as he grins and the shine of a gun on the countertop. A movement in the shadows behind him alerts me to the presence of another man.
“Welcome home, sweetie.” His gravelly voice sends the hairs on the back of my neck upright. He places one hand on the gun as he speaks. “Now, I think you’re a smart girl. You’re not gonna make me use this, are you?”
“Who are you?” I take a step back towards the living room, I need to get out of here. But I can’t run. What if he shoots me?
“My name, sweet thing, is Durk and I have come with a proposition for you.” He grins at me, but it looks much more like he’s just baring his teeth. I feel sick. My heart is racing; it feels like the only thing I should be able to hear.
“Sit down,” Durk says, gesturing at one of the stools. My stomach churns as I take the seat furthest from him.
“I want you to help us convince your sweetheart, Tyler to come with us and go along with our plan. I think you’ll be a star. Because if you’re not…” He runs a finger down the barrel of the gun and grins at me.
“Please, I don’t think you understand, Tyler isn’t going to do anything like that for me… We’re,” The words stumble in my mouth. “We’re not what you think.”
Durk’s grin only widens.
“Oh, sweet thing. You don’t know that.”
“No really, we aren’t anything special,” I say, shaking my head. “If you want someone to change his mind, you’ve got the wrong girl.” I barely know what I’m saying but I need to convince them that I’m harmless, useless to them.
Durk picks up the gun, takes off the safety, and weighs it in his hand. He looks like he’s deciding something and I dread to think what that something is.
Wicked Little Thing Page 5