by Khloe Wren
Tears were pricking my eyes but I sucked them down. This wasn’t the time. I could break down later.
“My doorbell rang and Scout went to answer it. I wasn’t with him. I don’t know what happened. There were two explosions. I don’t have a front door anymore and Scout has...” I looked closer at Scout’s back and legs. “Oh, fuck. He has nails in him, Bulldog! How the hell did he get nails in him?”
Bulldog let lose a string of curses before he calmed enough to talk to me.
“Someone packed a bomb with nails. When it exploded it would have shot out the nails in all directions. Have you been hurt at all?”
I shook my head before remembering he couldn’t see me. “No, I was in another room.”
“Okay, do you have a weapon? A gun?”
“I don’t know what to do with a gun.” That suddenly seemed like a massive oversight. I glanced around, looking for something, anything I could use as a weapon. I stood and ran to the kitchen and pulled out the largest blade from my knife block. “Okay, I have a knife. It’s all I have.”
“That’s fine, darlin’. If anyone you don’t know comes at you, stab first, ask questions later, okay?”
“All right.”
I had no idea if I could stab someone and I hoped like hell I wouldn’t have to find out. The sound of boots crunching just outside had me gripping the knife tighter as I whispered into the phone.
“Someone’s here. Just outside.”
“Arrow and Nitro are on their way, Marie. They should be there any second, can you see anything?”
I stood and crept a little closer to the front door and gasped at what I saw. But before I could process the state of Scout’s car, Nitro and Arrow both came into view.
“It’s them. I’m safe. Thank you Bulldog.”
“Okay, darlin’, I’m gonna hang up and get moving over there myself. Stick with Nitro and Arrow and I’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up the phone, I put the knife down on the side table next to my keys as I took a few deep breaths, relieved when I could hear the sound of approaching sirens.
“Marie? You doing okay?”
I turned to Arrow and before I knew what I was doing, I was sobbing against his hard chest. I’d known Arrow for over ten years, knew he was safe, knew he’d keep Scout and me protected. His large hands rubbed my back as he made soothing noises for a few minutes. I couldn’t hear him, but could feel the vibrations through his chest. He kept hold of me as he turned toward where Scout was.
“Brother? How is he?”
“He’s breathing, strong pulse. But he’s got fucking shrapnel embedded everywhere.”
With a final sniffle, I pulled away from Arrow to go to Scout. Kneeling beside him on the floor, I stroked his hair off his face, praying he’d wake up. When I ran my knuckles over his cheek, he frowned and groaned. Relief poured through me and I leaned down to press a kiss to his cheek.
“Stay still, Scout. You’ll hurt yourself if you move.”
I didn’t want him to try to stand and injure himself even more by moving all the metal and wood that was currently embedded into his body.
He tensed and his eyes flicked open and I could see the panic in his eyes. Arrow knelt down next to me and lifted his hand in a stop gesture, then clenched his hand into a fist, gave Scout a nod and a thumbs up sign.
“He won’t be able to hear you, Marie, no matter how loud you yell.”
I frowned up at him. “I’m yelling?”
He smirked at me. “Yeah, darlin’. Don’t worry, it’s normal when you can’t hear well to yell. If you aim to speak at what sounds like a whisper to yourself, you should be about right in volume.”
My cheeks heated with embarrassment as I realized I must have been yelling at Bulldog on the phone earlier. Poor man, his ears were probably ringing worse than mine!
Suddenly my house filled with people in uniforms and I watched in shock as they got Scout onto a gurney and out the door. A medic came and spoke to me but I was focused on Scout, not caring about myself. I vaguely heard Arrow tell them he’d make sure I got to the hospital soon. I tried to follow the medics that had Scout but before I could, a police officer got in my face and started asking questions. Arrow stopped him speaking before I could answer him.
“No way is she answering you right now. She needs to go to the hospital to get her ears checked. The blast has left her with impaired hearing.”
A look of sympathy crossed the man’s face before he moved aside and let me pass. I followed Arrow outside and stopped frozen in place as I got a good look at Scout’s car. What the hell had happened to it? The hood was sitting beside the car and the front wheels were at an odd angle.
“At a guess, the second explosion was a bomb set under the hood. Don’t think we’re gonna be able to fix it. Scout’s gonna be pissed that both his bike and car have been damaged within days of each other.”
Not wanting to yell anymore, I simply nodded and let him lead me away from the wreck.
CHAPTER 12
Marie
After a full week of living at the Charon MC clubhouse, I was over it. I understood that it was for my own safety, especially with Scout still in hospital. But it was still frustrating to be so confined. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the bomber to do something else, but he hadn’t so far.
I was also beyond tired because I couldn’t sleep in Scout’s bed on my own. I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the club whore’s he’d had in here. Plus, the sheets smelled of him, and everything in his room reminded me of him, but he wasn’t here. I couldn’t reach for him. Touch him, have him touch me. At least it was nearly over. Today Scout was set to get released from hospital. I’d thankfully not needed to stay myself, as my hearing cleared up within a few hours of the blasts. Scout had gotten lucky with his hearing too. By the morning after the blasts, his hearing had return to the point he could hear, but it sounded like he was under water. By the third day, it was back to normal. I was so grateful we’d both escaped having any permanent damage to our ears.
However, since the bomb had been filled with nails and had blown out part of my wooden door, Scout had ended up with nails and large splinters embedded up the back of his body. He’d put his hands over his head, so thankfully didn’t have any damage to his skull. But it was because of those pieces of shrapnel that he’d had to stay face down on a hospital bed until the doctor was happy with how the wounds were healing.
This hadn’t suited my man one bit. Nope, Scout did not make a good patient. Like most men, he was grumpy as hell and hated that he couldn’t go hunt down the bastard who had tried to blow us up. I was extremely glad he was in hospital and not home, where I’d have to try to keep him contained. The nurses needed some kind of medal for not tying him to the bed and gagging him.
Little Ariel was ready to come home too. Well, she’d been ready to be released for a few days now but the club had struck a deal with the doctor that meant Ariel could stay until Scout was ready to come home. We’d all agreed having her living in the clubhouse wasn’t a good idea. It was too similar to where she’d been living with lots of men around all the time and tiny rooms.
Despite the fact that whenever I left the building I had biker shadows, I still managed to make a few trips out to shop for Ariel and to go over to Scout’s house to get her room set up. Rose and Donna had been a huge help, and we put our guards to good use when it came to heavy lifting.
When I got to the hospital, I went to Scout’s room first. If something had happened and he wasn’t being released today after all, I didn’t want Ariel to have to be shuffled around unnecessarily. I also wanted Scout with me when we went to get Ariel to bring her home. I wanted to start how I planned to continue. Scout and me, together with Ariel.
I stopped short when I entered Scout’s room, taking in the sight before me. Scout was standing near the bed, dressed only in jeans with his back towards the door. I tried to look past the fresh red scars that were now dotted over his back, but it was hard to ignore t
hem and the way they stood out against his large tattoo of the Charon insignia. I guessed he’d be going to see Silk once the scars fully healed so she could touch up his ink. Once I managed to pull my gaze from his new scars, I could tell his whole body was tense, and with the way he had his hands on his hips I could tell he was glaring at the poor nurse who was standing in front of him and trying to tell him something.
“Scout, are you giving this poor woman a hard time for doing her job?”
His body stayed still for a moment before he spun and lunged toward me. Gathering me up tight against him, he pressed a kiss to the top of my head as he stroked his palms up and down my back and sides. Peace filled me instantly. I’d missed being in his arms so much. It seemed crazy that I’d become so addicted to him in such a short time, but it was the truth. I needed his touch and presence in my world for it to be right. For the past week all I’d been able to do is stroke his face or hold his hand. With a small sigh, I rested my palms on his hips, careful not to reach behind him, where I risked hurting one of his wounds.
“Where’s your escort, love? You know you can’t just go wandering around on your own right now.”
I rolled my eyes and twisted my way out of his grip. “Keg’s out in the waiting room. Well, technically he’s at the reception desk flirting his heart out with the new admin.” I turned to the nurse. “So, what does he need to do to keep healthy?”
The poor woman seemed relieved to be able to tell me what Scout needed to do. Scout had really given the woman hell. I quietly listened to all her instructions, then took the scripts from her for antibiotics he still needed to take, and some pain pills which I was sure he’d refuse to take. Then she had him sign his discharge papers and he was free to go. As soon as he’d returned her pen, the poor woman just about ran from the room. After she left, I frowned over at Scout.
“You didn’t have to scare the poor woman so much. She’s just doing her job.”
He looked a little sheepish for a moment before he gave me a wide grin. “Don’t be mad, babe. I’ve never been a good patient. I hate being stuck inside at the best of times. Being stuck lying on my damn front for a fucking week when I wanted to be out there hunting this fucker made it even worse.”
I ignored his comment about hunting for now and gave him another eye roll. “Yeah, I caught that. C’mon, hurry up and get dressed already. We need to go get Ariel.”
“Then we get to go home.”
His look was hot enough my nipples went hard and warmth grew in my lower belly, but I did my best to push the arousal down.
“I wouldn’t get too excited. We’re going to have a young child in the house, so there’ll be no throwing me up against the wall until after her bed time from now on.”
He growled as he tugged a shirt from the bag I’d brought him yesterday and pulled it over his head. He eased his cut on over his broad shoulders then zipped up the bag. I went to take it off the bed when he grabbed me and tossed me on the bed. Before I could say a word, he was on top of me, his thick thigh pushed between my legs and pressed against my core as he took my mouth with his. He licked at my lips until I opened for him, then he deepened the kiss. My arousal skyrocketed under his assault. Eventually I had to twist my head to the side, breaking the fiery kiss in order to catch a breath. He nibbled at my ear before he spoke.
“We’ll find a way, babe. It’s been a long fucking week since I’ve been inside you, Marie. I ain’t waiting till nightfall to take what’s mine.”
He had me so heated up I was thinking pulling our pants down right here on the hospital bed was a good idea. Until a knock on the door interrupted things and brought reality back into focus.
“Who is it?”
I figured it wouldn’t be a nurse or doctor as they didn’t knock, but I didn’t want to be caught by one of his brothers like this either. I wriggled and managed to get myself out from under him just as Keg called out.
“You both all right in there?”
“Yeah, we’ll be out in a sec.”
Scout then mumbled something about cock blocking brothers but I pretended like I didn’t hear him as I dashed into the bathroom to finger comb my hair and attempt to get my body under control. Damn man turned my mind to mush with his kisses.
When I came out a minute or two later, Scout was in the hallway chatting with Keg. Taking a deep breath, I held my head high and went over to them.
“Right, let’s go get Ariel so we can get out of here. I’m so over hospitals.”
Scout chuckled. “You and me both, babe.”
I was grateful all the paperwork had been handled and somehow Scout had called in favors to get the courts to fast-track our adoption of Ariel. Well, we were technically her foster parents for the moment, but Arrow had assured me that it wouldn’t be long before we got the final word on us adopting her.
It didn’t take us long to make our way over to Ariel’s room. She sat on the bed, silently playing with her rabbit and dolls again. It was completely adorable, and totally heartbreaking to watch her play. She looked so much like Sarah that every time I looked at her my heart ached for my lost sister. Watching her play, it reminded me that I still needed to finalize the funeral for Sarah. It was another thing that had been put off until after Scout and Ariel were out of hospital and back home. I bit back a groan as my mental to-do list got longer and longer by the second.
“You okay, babe?”
Scout wrapped an arm around me and I cuddled up against his side. “Yeah, just thinking about everything I need to do.”
With a finger under my chin, he tilted my face up so he could give me a short, sweet kiss.
“You’re not alone, Marie. I’ll be standing by your side for every one of those things on your list. As will the club.”
That made me smile. This man was as perfect as I’d always imagined he would be, and I was so damn happy he was finally mine.
Scout
Even with the few things the old ladies had brought in for Ariel over the time she’d been here, the kid didn’t have much. Ariel’s face lit up when Marie showed her the bright pink backpack she’d bought her. With a grin, I stood back and watched as Marie helped Ariel pack. The little girl carefully placed each of her possessions inside the bag as though each one were made of fine crystal. Bulldog had told me during the week how the old ladies had gone out with Marie a few times to buy a ton of shit for the kid, then taken it all back to my place. As much as I was dreading seeing how much pink they’d filled my house up with, I couldn’t wait to see what she was going to do with all her new things. Although, I still thought I should have a little chat with the old ladies about spoiling the girl. She needed to be eased into the real world, not thrown in the deep end where she’d suffocate from all the attention and stuff suddenly surrounding her. However, when I’d mentioned that to Bulldog earlier he’d just rolled his eyes at me and told me the women all knew that already and there was nothing I could say that would change the fact that Ariel was gonna be spoiled with both attention and gifts.
“Right, we’re all packed and ready to go, Ariel. Are you ready to come see your new home?”
The little girl clutched her bag and looked both worried and nervous. I went over and kneeled down in front of her, so she could look into my eyes.
“Hey, Ariel, you know where we’re going, right? To my house? You remember Marie telling you how the three of us are all going to be living in the same house? Just you, Marie and me. No one else. You’re even gonna have your own room and Marie’s bought you a few things so you’ll be comfortable. Does that sound good?”
She still looked worried and I wasn’t sure what she needed to feel better. What would have her so worried still? Then it hit me. She’d lived in fear of one man her whole life.
“You remember us saying how you’ll be safe with us? It was the truth. Bruce is gone forever. You won’t ever have to see any of the men from where you used to live again. My house is very safe. It has a special security system with an alarm that will make
a really loud noise if anyone comes in who shouldn’t.”
The more I spoke the more relaxed she looked, until finally she glanced to Marie and gave her a small nod. My woman knew what the little girl needed, she came straight over and took her hand. Then we were walking out of the room and toward the entrance of the hospital, Keg walking in front of us to make sure nothing nasty was waiting for us outside.
When we got to Marie’s car, Ariel stopped short of the vehicle.
“You ever been in a car before, darlin’?”
She shook her head at my question and I cursed silently. Of course she hadn’t.
“Well, how about Scout sits in the back with you while I drive us?” Before I could protest against her driving, she held her palm up at me. “No way are you driving after all the medications you’ve been on for the past week, so don’t even try it.”
Knowing she was right didn’t mean I had to like it. She continued to talk to Ariel about how the car worked and how long we’d be inside it while she got her buckled into the new booster seat. Leaving her to it, I went to speak with Keg.
“What’s the plan?”
“You know we had Marie living in your room at the clubhouse while you were in here but nothing’s happened all week. That don’t mean it won’t though, so I’ll follow you back to your place and hang out to keep guard until nightfall, when someone else will come take over. Not sure who Nitro lined up. No matter what, you and Marie will have at least one of us outside whatever building you’re in until we find this fucker.”
I gave him a nod then when I noticed that Marie was ready to go, I walked back to the car and leaned down to speak with Ariel.
“So, kiddo, is it all right if I sit back here with you?”
She gave me a little nod as she kept a tight grip on her new bag. Without another word, I climbed in and sat next to the little girl who was, for all intents and purposes, my daughter. I stopped breathing for a moment as the realization hit me. Adopting Ariel meant she was mine. My daughter. I was a fucking dad. Holy shit. I glanced over at her just as Marie started the car and she jumped and tensed in her seat. Automatically I reached my hand over to rest on her little knee.