Katie went through the motions, not allowing herself to think about anything other than what she was going to do and the warm feel of the water as it soothed all her aches and pains. She had no idea how long she’d been in there, but when she got out, the room was completely filled with steam. Digging through the drawers, she found travel sized packages of toothbrushes and toothpaste and brushed and rinsed her teeth until she started to feel a little better. Then she tackled her hair—the snarled mess was worse than Medusa’s on a bad day. That took some time, and she lost a lot of hair to the effort, but when she was finally done and dressed, she felt like a real person again. Now for some payback of her own.
Katie went downstairs and into the common area of the Clubhouse. Usually, the place was packed with people drinking and having a good time, but tonight, it was empty. She looked down to her watch out of habit but remembered it was gone—the expensive little sucker had gone right out the window just like her dress. She would need to get a new one soon. The words, “Doctors need watches” drifted through her mind. Katie remembered the day her dad had said that, giving her the gift. Her dad was a good man, but he didn’t often give out presents or outwardly express how he felt about his children. Sure, there had been hugs and kisses when they were younger, but as they got older, those things happened less and less. But that watch and the pride in his eyes when she had told him she had been accepted into med school was a memory she would never forget. It hurt that the watch was gone forever now.
Movement off of one of the halls caught her eye, and she turned, looking right at Crash. He looked like a deer in headlights, looking at her, but instead of saying anything, the jerk just turned tail and walked the other way. It confused Katie; she wasn’t sure why he would do that. Maybe he was still feeling awkward from what had happened in the car. She didn’t think so but let it go. It wasn’t worth trying to figure out right now, especially when she had other things on her mind. Like a certain man who was going to get an earful of how she felt about his highhandedness.
Katie took the same hallway where Crash had disappeared, knowing it led to Tuck’s office and a few others, along with the med room. She was just a few doors down when someone said, “Now, darlin, I don’t know where you're off to in such a huff, but do you think you could stop for a minute and give an old man a hug?”
Katie spun around smiling. She hadn’t heard Doc’s voice in years and had missed her mentor and friend.
“Well, how can I deny such a wonderful request, you old coot?” Doc was hardly an old man—late forties early fifties, maybe. He had that George Clooney thing going on—salt and pepper hair, dark, sultry eyes, and a killer body, to boot. While working at the hospital with him, she had heard more than a few rumors about him. With his looks and demeanor, he was a hot commodity with the staff for gossip, and from what Katie had heard, he lived up to his reputation.
She had thought to herself more than once why couldn’t she have been attracted to this man. He was everything Tuck wasn’t—kind, caring, compassionate, and treated her like an equal and not some stupid chit of a woman. Damn, that wasn’t exactly true, that was her anger getting in the way. Tuck was those things and more, it just took a long time for the layers to fall off before you got to the good stuff. Plus, unlike Doc, she was attracted to Tuck in a big way. There had always been a pull between the two of them, and Katie didn’t think it would end anytime in her lifetime. When Doc opened his arms, Katie practically ran into his arms, needing the comfort, but at the same time, wishing he was Tuck.
After a little while, Doc pulled her back, keeping his hands on her upper arms.
“So, you going to tell me what has your panties all in a twist?”
“Tuck.” Katie didn’t need to say more than one word. She and Doc had a few conversations about Tuck over the years, mainly her complaining about something he had ordered or said, and Doc just listened. The man knew how she felt about Tuck and had always been willing to be Katie’s shoulder to cry on.
“Ah, what has the boy done now?” Doc asked, and Katie didn’t mince any words.
“He drugged me because I did it to him.” She hadn’t expected Doc to burst out laughing.
“Ah, sweet girl, I think your anger is going to the wrong man this time. I’m the one that gave you a sedative.”
“Why?” Katie asked, confused.
“Shit, hon, when you guys came barreling in, I could hardly keep that boy contained. Crash and Link were trying to wake you up, but you just kept on thrashing around yelling out in your sleep. Tuck was fit to be tied. I did what I thought was best for the both of you. Your body needed the rest, but your mind wouldn’t let it happen. I just helped it along.”
Shit, she couldn’t argue with that. If she had been in the same position, she would have done the same thing. A little defeated, she slumped down.
“What is going on, Kate?”
It was the one question she hadn’t wanted Doc to ask, but since he had, she was going to tell him, just not standing in the hallway where anyone could overhear them. He must have realized her dilemma.
“Come on, let’s go to the Med room. I want to check you out and make sure you’re doing okay.”
Even when they got into the room, and it was just the two of them, Katie couldn’t find the words to tell him about what happened between her and Tuck. She didn’t want to be disappointed again, but the bigger problem was that she didn’t want to look like a fool in this man’s eyes. This wouldn’t be the first time she had mistaken something Tuck said or did for something more than what it was. She was ashamed to talk about it, so she started asking questions while Doc worked taking her vitals.
“Did you check Tuck out? He should be on antibiotics, and the wound on his thigh needs to be packed. I left it open because of the infection, but we should start seeing an improvement soon, and he needs vitamins. He said they fed him, but for him, he’s underweight, and I’m worried about—”
“Hon,” Doc laughed, “I already took care of all that, well, as much as the stubborn fool would let me. At least I have the man walking around with an IV pole attached to his side. You don’t have to worry, he’s going to be fine, Kate, we will make sure of it,” Doc said, but Katie was worried Tuck needed to be laying down, sleeping not running around with a damn IV pole. He also needed to eat, but sleep would help him so much more right now.
Katie told Doc everything she’d done and the medications she was able to get into him. He made a couple of notes and told her she had done good under the circumstances, and when he examined him, Tuck’s wounds were looking good.
Doc finished checking Katie out and said, “You look good, maybe a little dehydrated, but in general, the bruises will fade in a couple of days. I think it would be a good idea for you to make an appointment with Kayla to talk some things out, but a few good meals and a couple of nights of some good, solid sleep and you will be back to yourself in no time.”
Katie would be making the call to Kayla. She wasn’t overly freaked out or stressed, at least she hadn’t thought she was, but if she was thrashing and calling out in her sleep, she knew enough that her subconscious was playing things out her mind wasn’t.
“I’ll do that, Doc.” Katie got up to leave, but Doc stopped her.
“You know if you need to talk, Katie, I’m right here.”
She knew that, but things had changed somehow, and she didn’t feel right talking to him about Tuck, so she smiled and squeezed his hand.
“I know, Doc, I think I’m just a little over my head right now. I’m going to head down to the kitchen and get something to eat and maybe go back to bed for a day or two.”
“Sounds like a good plan, hon. Make it doctor’s orders, so that mind of yours will make it happen,” Doc laughed, but it was a little strained. Just as she was about to walk through the door, he said, “He cares about you, Katie, more than I think he even knows.” Katie turned her head but didn’t take her hand off the door or turn around.
“What?”
“Easier said than done, Doc.” Katie smiled, but it was forced. “It has taken me years to realize you can’t force someone to admit a damn thing, now can you?” With that, she left the room but heard Doc mutter, “If anyone can do it, you can, Kate.”
Katie hadn’t felt like going to the kitchen. Instead she went back to the room she had been placed in and curled up in the bed. The ball was in Tuck’s court now, either he lobbed it back or threw it over the fence. She tried to convince herself she would be okay either way, but she knew that wasn’t the truth. As she drifted off to sleep, she just hoped that this time she had gotten through to him because there wouldn’t be a next time. There came a point in every woman’s life when she had to either move on or stick it out, and Katie didn’t think she could stick it out much longer.
Chapter Thirteen
Tuck and Talon were sitting in his office, going over everything. The further they delved into it, the more Tuck realized how much he had been putting on the back burner with his search for Maddie and every damn thing else. This shit wasn’t good. They didn’t have much time before Church, but he was doing his best to get through it all. His biggest obstacle now was finding a fucking comfortable way to sit and keeping his mind on the damn papers in front of him, not Katie laying alone in a fucking bedroom too far away for his piece of fucking mind.
He felt like a fucking ass for just leaving but hadn’t had a choice. To begin with, Crank put them in separate cars, then when they got back, she was freaking out in her sleep. It tore him apart. He demanded Doc give her something or do fucking anything. When he injected her and she finally calmed down, Tuck just held her for a little while. He had wanted to lift her up and take her to his room but didn’t have the fucking strength, and there was too much crap that had to be done. He sat there in the fucking cage and watched as Doc carried her away. It fucking hurt worse than any of the injuries he had on his body.
“We can do this later, boss man,” Tal said for the fifth or twentieth time. “This shit can wait. I would have told you if there was anything important in this data.”
Grumpy as hell and just straight off pissed, Tuck barked, “If you need a break Tal, take it.”
“Fuck this!” Talon yelled, slamming his hands down on the desk, standing up. “You’re the one who has been fucking tortured, and God knows what for the last three months. You’re the one who needs a fucking break.”
Tuck knew this was going to happen sooner or later and should have known it would have come from Talon, but he wasn’t ready for it or to give an explanation. There was too much on the line and not enough time. So, he did what he always did—sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Watch yourself, Zander,” he said in his best Sargent Major voice. “You’re pushing a very thin line here.” But even that wasn’t getting through to Talon. Tuck had hoped that by using his given name, it would have snapped him out of it and they could have gotten back to work, but Talon was too far gone.
He had just started pacing the room, running his hands through his hair when he turned, and howled, “Why did you fucking do it, Tuck, I don’t get it? You taught all of us the RBMC is a family, we protect our family, and they fucking come first. But apparently, you’re the only one that motto doesn’t apply to.”
“I’m not going to explain myself, Tal, not to you or anyone. I did what needed to be done like I always fucking do.” Tuck hated the taste of the lie as it came out of his mouth. He had already explained himself to one person and needed to talk to the guys too. Fuck, he needed to apologize and admit he was wrong, but how the fuck did he do that and not lose face with his brothers?
Tuck was saved from having to say any more when Whisk, Tank, and Brass barreled into the room, covered in dirt and dust, determined looks on their faces. He knew they had found something.
“It was Jaime, no doubt about it. Took an end loader and these two fuckers, plus some of Creed’s fancy ninja shit, but we found him not even ten feet from the entrance,” Whisk said, his toothy grin looking out of place with all the dirt on his face.
“He had to have been close when Creed and Slim blew the place,” Brass cut in.
“Not much left of him though.” Whiskey smiled even bigger and held up a thumb drive. “Except for this.”
Tal took the thumb drive and headed out of the room without saying a word. Tuck knew the kid would do his job, regardless of how pissed off he was. Tuck asked the remaining guys,
“It’s been a long time, you sure it was Jamison Sinclair?” Tuck asked.
“Yeah, man, he even had his wallet on him. Like I said, not much left, but I’m pretty sure.”
“Pretty sure isn’t good enough. Get Doc and have him run tests, I want to be damn sure, understand?”
“You got it, Prez.” Whisk went to leave but stopped. “Good to have you back.”
“Good to be back, now get to damn work! We have less than an hour before church, and I want to be able to get all this shit out in the open.”
Whisk and Tank left, but Brass made himself comfortable in the chair in front of Tuck's desk. Tuck raised his eyebrow waiting for him to talk, Brass was always unpredictable, and this time didn’t prove any different.
“Maddie is living with me. You get your shit straight, and I’ll set up a meeting between you and Jada.”
Tuck was just about to ask who the fuck Jada was when Brass kept going and it all became a little clearer.
“Jada has raised your daughter from the time she was a few months old. She thinks of Maddie as her own, she has and would kill for that kid. You’re my President, and I consider you a brother and a friend, but those two girls are as much mine now as they are yours. I’m not saying it to be a dick, but that’s the way it is.”
“Is that so,” Tuck said between gritted teeth.
“Yep, that’s so. It’s up to you if you want to make this shit hard or easy on everyone involved.”
“She’s my kid, Brass, and I haven’t even met her, let alone this Jada person, and you want me to what, just stand back and do nothing? Let the three of you live like a nice little family, with my kid?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying you need to talk to Jada, let her see the man we all know, Tuck. Maize filled Jada’s head with shit about you that you wouldn’t believe, and it’s messing with her. She had to protect your daughter from Maize for years, and now, she’s afraid she is going to have to do the same thing with you.”
“I would never hurt Maddie, Brass, and if you think that, then you don’t know me at all.”
“Never thought you would. What I’m asking for here is time, Tuck, nothing more. Let it all play out. Spend some time with your kid letting her get to know you, instead of barreling in and throwing their lives into a tailspin. They’ve been through enough. Do what is best for Maddie, she deserves it,” Brass said, getting up and leaving the room.
Fuck, he always believed the man’s road name fit, even gave it to him, but never so much than at this moment because if he was in better shape, he would have kicked his ass and thought about everything he said later. The fucker had brass balls and then some.
“What NOW?” Tuck yelled when Doc walked into his office.
Doc just laughed, came over, checked his IV, put something in the tube, and walked back around the desk, and sat down. Tuck wanted to slam his head down on the desk and knock his own damn self out, but instead, just like before, he waited for Doc to have his say.
“Ran into your girl in the hallway. She was pissed and looking to take it out on someone, I let that person be me.”
“Yeah, and why is that, Doc?” Tuck questioned. He didn’t like the way Doc was looking at him. He did, however, respect the man, so he didn’t grab the Glock out of his desk drawer
and blow him away. If one more person came at him with something else, he was bound to do it.
“You going to do the right thing by her now?”
“What the fuck, Doc, are you her father now? Hell, Trey, you're what, three or four years older than me? This is bullshit. What I have with Katie or don’t have is our business, not yours.” Tuck was at his limit. This was it, he wasn’t going to sit there any longer and take this bullshit. He knew he had a few things to answer for, but Katie wasn’t one of them.
“She loves you, fuck, she always has, and you keep on throwing her away. If you’re going to do it this time and finally make her yours, you need to do it soon, or she will leave, and it will be the last chance you'll ever get, understand?”
“What are you saying here, Doc, you have plans for Katie?” That thought pissed him off, but he knew the two of them were close, and Katie had said he offered her his coveted Resident position. Maybe he had been blind and not noticed Doc had feelings for Katie because right now he felt like the other man was threatening him.
“Katie is mine, she has always been mine, and always will be. She isn’t going any fucking where.” It was the first time he said the words, but he meant every fucking one of them. Katie was his, and it didn’t matter the club was knee deep in shit and Tuck’s life was a mess. He would claim her and keep her. There wouldn’t be any dicking around with what-ifs and trying to keep her safe because she was just as much in this shit as he was.
“Enough said, Prez, that’s all I needed to know.” Doc got up and walked out the door.
Tuck was tempted to get up and lock it but was just too damn tired, plus, that shit with Doc was messing with his head. He hadn’t planned on making a claim for Katie just yet. He wanted to talk to her about it all and see if she was even willing, but the bastard had forced his hand, and Tuck didn’t like it. These boys needed some refreshers on the proper way to speak with the President, and he planned on doing that pretty damn soon. The RBMC Defiance chapter needed to go back to basics, and Tuck was just the fucking Drill Sargent to do the damn job.
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