by KB Winters
I shrugged, uncomfortable with her bubbling emotions. “My idea but Teddy executed it all.” And she’d done a damn good job. Better than I imagined in all the times we’d gone over the details. “She did a good job.”
“A damn good one. Thank you,” Jana wept and wrapped her little arms around me, squeezing tight. “Thank you, Tate.”
“No problem.” A quick look at Max told me he was just as grateful though not quite as gushy about it.
“Where is she?” Her blonde curls bounced around her shoulders as she scanned the room in search of her best friend, so excited she forgot to be self-conscious about the scar on her face.
Savior and Cross walked over to where we stood, smiling.
“Congratulations, you two.” Cross hugged Jana and then Max. “Your friend is a bit of a whirlwind,” he told Jana with an amused laugh.
Savior barked out a laugh. “That’s an understatement. More like a drill sergeant! We could use her to train the prospects, though. She had them in top shape putting all this shit up.” He shook his head and laughed. “Pissed off a few of the Bitches, too.”
“That’s my girl! So, where is she??” Jana was eager to thank her friend but I knew that some of her unease had to do with Teddy’s recent troubles.
Cross shrugged and scratched his beard. “She left to go pick up the ice, even though I told her one of the prospects could do it. Now, drinks?”
Jana rubbed her belly and he snapped his fingers. “Teddy left some cider for you, plus I’m supposed to show you something if she’s not here, and …” he looked around the room, seeing everything easily with the way he towered over everyone. “She’s not, so follow me.”
We all followed our club prez who ushered Jana to a big ass table filled with food. The centerpiece was a cake, four tiers with little sugary versions of Max and Jana. Her long blonde hair falling down the first two layers as Max tilted her over moments before their lips touched.
“Oh my God! This is so amazing! Babe, look at this, have I ever looked this hot?”
She was so excited she squealed, blowing out both of my eardrums.
“And look at your muscles, I don’t know which of you is hotter.”
She gave Max a heated look that left me a little uncomfortable to witness.
“I have to call her!” Jana walked away with her phone in her hand and a big smile on her face.
“You guys didn’t have to do all this,” Max said calmly as he stood beside me.
“I know, but I wanted to. Jana brought you back to life, gave you a reason to get right. I’ll always love her for that. You deserve it, falling for a great woman doesn’t happen every day.”
He smiled, looking over at his bride to be with more love than I’d ever seen. “I’ve never met anyone like her. I just wish you could see that you deserve it too, no matter what stupid shit you’re trying to convince yourself is true.”
I shrugged, doing my best to look innocent as he slugged my arm. “I have exactly what I deserve.” And I deserve exactly what I don’t have too.
“Teddy, what’s going on?” Jana’s voice rose and the tension in her tone was palpable. “Just pump them. Harder.” She screamed as panic took over her voice. “Teddy, answer me! Teddy!” Jana turned to Max, sucking in shallow breaths as she began to hyperventilate.
“Look at me, Jana!” Hands on her shoulders, I stared into her eyes until she focused on mine. “Do what I do,” I ordered and began breathing in and out slowly. She followed my instructions until she was calm, then I said, “Now tell us what happened.”
“She was in the car and couldn’t stop. It happened while we were talking. Something was wrong with her brakes. She hit them but the car didn’t even slow down! I heard her crash. We have to find her!”
“Do you know where she is?” Max asked, worry and patience warring for priority on his face.
Jana shook her head. “No, she’s hurt. We can’t just leave her bleeding in a ditch somewhere! Come on, that fancy car has to have GPS!” She hung onto Max, her voice and eyes pleading with him to help her find her friend.
But she was right about one thing, we couldn’t just leave Teddy to circumstance. “I’ll go out and look for her along the routes to all the places that sell ice. You call 911, Jana and stay here with Max until we find her, okay? I’ll check in with you guys.”
She nodded absently, already dialing emergency services as tears streamed down her eyes. “Thank you, Tate. Find her, please.”
“I will. I promise.” I just hoped Teddy was in one piece when I found her. And I’d really like to know who in the fuck would have tampered with her brakes. I called Max as soon as I was on the move asking him about it.
“Cutting brakes isn’t what you do to someone you want to be with, that’s for someone you hate, right?”
Max grunted but I could hear the background sounds getting quieter as he moved away from the group. “Yeah. I thought for sure it was a former fan, but now I’m not sure.”
“You think this is my fault? They wouldn’t have been able to mess with her car if she’d been at the house with me.” And that started my mind wandering to all kinds of places, like when had the brakes been fucked with and when?
“No, Tate. You were an asshole but this was going to happen at some point.”
“Yeah, thanks,” I told him and turned my focus to scanning both sides of the road, hoping like hell Teddy’s car wouldn’t be hidden in the dark shadows. I sent a prayer out into the world, pleading that if there was anyone listening, they would make damn sure Teddy was okay.
She had to be.
Chapter 18
Teddy
Before I even woke up, I knew something was wrong. The first thing I noticed was the bleachy, disinfectant scent that told me I was in some type of medical facility like a hospital or maybe an insane asylum. At this point I had no idea. Then I heard the beeps, the whirs, hisses and clicks, all telling me that the pain I felt meant something bad had happened. My eyes wouldn’t open, like lead weights were keeping the lids closed no matter how hard I struggled.
Finally, I gave up and just listened to the sounds of all the machines monitoring everything from my heart rate to blood pressure and even the amount of oxygen in my blood. Between the pain darting all around my body and the number of different sounds all around me, I knew I was hurt. Bad. And as I tried to sit up, the shooting pain in my arm brought it all back to me.
Driving back to the Reckless Bastards hangar with a trunk full of ice, because ice was another thing Tate was supposed to do. Only he’d been off doing who and what the fuck was anybody’s damn guess, and that was how I’d ended up on Interstate 15 at seventy-five miles an hour. The car started to vibrate and then made a kind of burp as I moved over for the next exit, but then Jana called, distracting me. Still, I listened to her excitedly ramble on about all the things she loved about the party, smiling at her over the top happiness.
The car wouldn’t slow down as I turned onto the exit ramp. Pumping the brakes as hard as I could and realizing something was wrong. Telling Jana. Going too fast on the exit and then the asphalt turning to grass and mud. A sharp smack and everything went black.
So I wasn’t dead and this hospital room was my personal hell. I put all of my focus and concentration on opening my eyes. Fucking blinding white fluorescent lights made it hard, but I was determined to get answers and then get the fuck out of this place.
Finally, when my eyes opened, I scanned the room to confirm it was a hospital room and not a torture dungeon. But when I tried to sit up, fiery nails stabbed every inch of my skin.
“Oh fuck!” A string of colorful curses rang out in the empty room as I tried to reach for the call button. Some genius had put it on the same side as the arm snug in a fucking cast.
“Shit, shit, goddammit! Got you fucker.” One finger landed on the call button for about four seconds because that’s all I could handle before the pain intensified.
“Ms. Quinton, you’re awake.”
&n
bsp; Thank you, Captain Obvious. “Yes, can someone tell me what happened?”
“You were in an automobile accident and the police are waiting to speak with you.” The nurse hesitated and I glared, hoping she wasn’t seriously going to put the needs of the police before my own medical needs. “Right. You sustained no significant injuries other than the broken arm and sprained wrist. There are some cuts and bruises and a possible concussion, but all things that will heal in no time. I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake.”
I frowned at the nurse’s retreating back, feeling uneasy and okay, maybe a little scared, too. What else did the doctor need to tell me if I was completely healthy but with a few minor injuries? I felt myself begin to freak out as I reached down to my leg with my good arm, not really relaxed even though I didn’t feel any screws or other damage to my already impaired leg.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry too long. A few minutes later the doctor, a petite woman with long black hair and blunt cut bangs, strolled in with a professional smile. “Hello, Ms. Quinton, I’m Dr. Evans. How are we feeling?”
I sighed, centering myself so I could deal with another medical professional. “I’d prefer it if you just tell me exactly what’s wrong in the simplest way for me to understand. I don’t need false hope and I don’t need my feelings to be spared, Doc.”
Something like pride flashed in her eyes and she nodded at me. “Okay then. Nurse Bellows gave you the highlights, but the most limiting thing will be your arm and maybe the sprained ankle. I’ll give you some painkillers that won’t have a negative impact on the baby, and we’ll monitor you for another night until we’re sure about that concussion.” Dr. Evans’ mouth was still moving but I couldn’t hear her words anymore.
Baby? She said the painkillers wouldn’t negatively affect the baby. A baby? “What baby?”
She frowned for a second, and then her face changed to a more understanding look. “You didn’t know? Based on your hormone levels, you’re about nine weeks along.”
“Nine weeks? How did I not know?” My heart moved up to my throat and I took a deep breath to calm the dizziness in my head. Pregnant? How could I be? Tate? No way. We’d always used protection.
“Life,” she said with a sympathetic smile and a shrug.
“Is the baby okay? Was it harmed in the accident? What do I need to do?” I was freaking out for sure, but this news combined with everything else, was about to push me over the edge. A girl could only take so much.
Dr. Evans smiled and laid a hand on my shoulder. “All you need to do is take your prenatal vitamins, rest and eat better than you’ve ever eaten in your life. Well balanced meals and exercise, once that ankle is healed.”
“Thanks, Doc. I can handle that,” I lied.
“Good. Are you up to speaking with the police, because they’ve been waiting to speak with you.”
I nodded as my thoughts swirled. Single and pregnant, just like my own mother. But unlike dear old dead mom, I also had a stalker in the mix. Because you could take the girl out of the ghetto, but you couldn’t take the ghetto out of the girl.
“Give me ten minutes and then send them in?”
“Okay, I’ll let them know.”
I let out a long sigh and thought about Jana and the party. It was time for me to do better.
Chapter 19
Tate
“Is she all right? What happened?” I was on my feet and moving across the dimly lit waiting room as soon as Jana stepped through the door.
“She’s a little banged up, Tate, but she’s fine. I didn’t get to stay long because the cops are in with her. They’re pretty sure her car was tampered with.”
I couldn’t swallow past the lump in my throat at hearing that someone had done this to her. “This is all my fucking fault.” I put an arm around Jana and led her to the seat beside Max, who watched his woman with worry in his eyes.
Jana groaned and smacked my chest. “Yeah, Tate, this is all about you.”
I grinned at her show of levity, appreciative. “Seriously, I was an ass. Got too much in my own damn head and just walked out while she was in the shower. She knew what the fuck I was doing, probably better than I did at the time, and so she went home. Giving whoever this asshole is, a perfect chance to target her.” It pissed me off that I let those fucking cops get inside my head, because this was the end result.
Jana sighed and grabbed my hand. “Teddy is her own woman, Tate. We offered her a place to stay and she refused us too. This psycho is out to get her so what’s important is that we find him! Or them.” She shook her head as tears fell down her cheeks. Max wrapped his big arms around her and I stepped back, looking out the window as fat, round drops of rain fell to the ground.
All I could think about was it was a good thing the accident had happened before the rain came or else her injuries might have been worse. It wasn’t much to be grateful for, but all of it seemed too perfect, or too perfectly timed.
“Shit, of course!”
Jana and Max’s gaze both found mine and I chuckled, walking out of the waiting room in search of Teddy.
Teddy who was ignoring me and had no desire to see me.
Well she would now, because her safety depended on it. She was buried in pillows gazing through the half-closed blinds when I walked in, so lost in thought she didn’t even hear me enter. “Teddy. I’m glad you’re all right.”
She tensed and slowly turned her head so I could see the anger and hurt, the disappointment in her big, blue eyes. “Tate. I’m fine.” She pulled the covers up to her chin with her one good hand.
I grinned. “Sorry sweetheart, but not from where I’m standing.”
“I’m also not your problem.” She spit out. It really was too bad that she couldn’t cross her arms because the defiant tilt of her chin was adorable. And sexy.
“I can understand why you think that, and you have every right to be pissed off and ignore me all you want. But later. Right now, I need to keep you safe.”
She groaned.
“No, don’t say anything. You’re not a problem. Ever. So tell me Teddy, are you going to shut up so I can apologize or are you going to answer my questions?”
I could see the indecision in her eyes. She wanted me to apologize and to mean it, but she’d never do anything that might resemble asking for an apology.
“Ask your damn questions.”
I grinned at her fiery temper. A redhead to her core. “Okay. I need you tell me everything that happened from the moment you left my house.”
“After you disappeared, I packed my things and went home. The workers were still there and I got a few things done, including a security consult.” She went on and on about the mundane tasks that filled her day and when she got to the breaking glass, something became clear.
Someone had waited until she was as vulnerable as possible to maximize her terror. “Have you noticed anyone following you, or seen the same car in different, random places?”
She shook her head, wincing and pinching her eyes closed at the pain. “No. And I have been looking, being cautious and even taking different routes.”
I smiled because she was actually listening even though she’d pretended not to at the time. “When did you notice something was wrong with your car?”
“Not until maybe a minute or two before I realized something was wrong. The noise wasn’t noticeable, not really, so I turned down the radio to listen. It vibrated a little more and then the brake pedal went down too easy but nothing happened.” She was starting to get upset, remembering and I felt like an ass all over again. “I’ve been busy, Tate. Between the party, the work on my house and the psycho stalker, I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“No one is blaming you, Teddy. I’m sorry I left the way I did and I know you won’t believe me, but it had nothing to do with you. Spending time in there with the cops did a number on my fucking head and I had to get away.”
“Sure,” she snorted, which told me clearly what she thought of my apology.
Or my excuse, I wasn’t really sure. “It doesn’t matter, Tate. You don’t owe me anything. Including an apology.”
She wouldn’t listen, not now. But that didn’t mean I’d give up. If we were nothing else, Teddy and I had become friends and my behavior had betrayed that friendship. “Maybe I don’t, but I want to be a better person than that for you. You deserve more.”
She scoffed. “I have exactly what I deserve, Tate. Believe me.”
I didn’t believe it, but I knew arguing the point with her now would only make her angrier. “How long are they keeping you?”
“At least another night. I might have a concussion and since I have no one to watch me safely, they’re keeping me.” Her words weren’t accidental, we both knew it, but I don’t think she meant it to hurt. To Teddy, it was just a fact.
“And?”
She shrugged. “I have a sprained ankle and a broken arm, so I’ll take the rest of today to figure something out. You should probably go check on Jana and Max.”
“They weren’t in a fucking car accident!”
“Don’t yell at me, Tate! Who fucking asked you to come, anyway?”
There was the fiery beast I knew she hid within her. “Not you, because you would never admit such a weakness as needing someone, would you?”
“What would be the point of needing people when they just leave? I’ll stick with myself since I know I won’t let me down.” She sucked in a deep breath, her pain written in every line drawn across her face. Watching her struggle to reach the call button tore me up and I went to her, placing it in her hand.
“Thanks,” she growled at me, clearly not thankful.
“I won’t let you down, Teddy. You might hate me forever, but I promise I won’t ever let you down again.”