Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Fang
“Oh my god. It’s you.” Winter’s voice is weak, but what does she mean? Has she met Ghost before? What the hell is going on?
Ghost sneers at her. “Yeah, I’ve been me all night long.” The way he dares to speak to her, I could tear him limb-from-limb.
A sadness washes over Winter’s features. “But why?” The way she asks, it’s almost like she’s heartbroken over this fool. Which is something I just can’t wrap my head around.
Ghost’s top lip curls in disgust. “Because you’re Fang’s.”
That’s right asshole, she’s mine.
“So, you would kill your blood because I’m dating your enemy?” Wait, what did she just say? Is Winter insinuating that she is related to Ghost?
“My blood?” Ghost pauses, his eyes staring at her like he’s seeing her for the first time.
Then all the color drains from his face.
“Wait, your name is Winter?” If at all possible, his face loses more color, and he looks like he may toss his cookies any minute.
To my relief, he drops the device that could kill Winter. “You’re Winnie?”
How the hell did I get mixed up with my enemy’s blood?
Shocked doesn’t begin to describe how I’m feeling.
My mind automatically thinks that Winter has been a spy for Ghost. Was it really a coincidence that we met on Halloween?
But as I watch tears fill her eyes and the look of betrayal that shines in those hazel pools, I know she knew nothing of Ghost’s extracurriculars.
“Yes, Uncle Josh.” Those tears break free, wetting her cheeks in their descent. “It’s Winnie.”
“Uncle?” Rage, Rat, and I ask in shock. How is Ghost her uncle, and how did she not know who he is in the MC world.
Then it dawns on me. He did not recognize her the entire time he held her captive.
That means he hasn’t seen her in ages, probably since she was a kid.
Which would explain how she had no clue who Ghost was.
Before I know what’s happening, I hear the sound of a bullet whizzing nearby. When Ghost clutches his neck, blood spurting from a hole there, I know Ramon has made his move. With a quick hand, I put a bullet between Rat’s eyes. Rat hits the floor two seconds after Ghost.
Rage and I run forward. He rushes to free Buzzcut, and I rush to free my girl. My very drugged out girl. God, what the hell did they give her? “You okay?”
Winter’s glassy eyes struggle to connect with mine. “Uh, huh.” She looks so wasted. Her body is shaking uncontrollably, and sweat is dropping from her pores. I have to get these ropes off her and get her up to my room to sleep this shit off.
Once her arms are free, her body slumps forward and I use my forearm to keep her somewhat upright as I kneel to cut the rope binding her legs to the chair.
It takes a little longer than I’d like, but I finally get her untangled.
Lifting her into my arms, I realize just how hot her body is. She’s burning up. “I’ve got you.”
The second the words leave my lips her body becomes lax. Her head rests against my chest and her lungs inflate. I’d like to think she’s pulling my scent into her lungs. Or it could be the fact that she feels safe at last, and her body is just releasing tension.
Boots stomp up the porch steps. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s my brothers. Ramon approaches with a major limp in his step. “She okay, brother?”
I nod. “She will be, they have her hopped up on something.” Glancing down at Rat, I say, “Search his pockets. If you find a vial, be sure to let the doctor know when he gets here.”
“Will do.” Ramon joins Sinner and Wolf, discussing what to do with the remains of Ghost and Rat. I don’t care what they do with them. Burn them, chop them to pieces and feed them to the pigs on the farm just outside of city limits. As long as I never have to lay eyes on them again, I’m good.
As I start up the stairs, I hear Rage filling Sinner in on Ghost’s relation to Winter. There are several questions that follow. “She’s related to that piece of shit?” “Is she one of them?” “Did he send her Fang’s way to spy on us?”
I tune them out. This can all wait until tomorrow when everyone’s had time to rest and think clearly.
My priority is getting these drugs out of Winter’s system and making sure she’s okay.
The Hollow Bones have ripped her clothes to shreds and I can see several cuts and a few cigarette burns on her flesh.
A girl working with the enemy would not have suffered as she has. They tortured her. Tried to break her for their own sick and twisted minds. They did a real number on her. After seeing the damage, I’m glad we got rid of the Hollow Bones for good.
It takes some doing, but I get my hand free enough to twist the doorknob. Using my foot, I shove the door open and trek to the bed so I can lay her down. Up to this point she’s been softly snoring, but the moment her body hits the mattress those eyes flutter and she cries out. “No, don’t leave.”
“I’m not goin’ anywhere, baby.” I bend over to kiss her forehead. “But I do need a shower, I’m covered in blood.” It’s not an over-exaggeration. I am wearing Hollow Bones blood like a second skin.
“No.” She outstretches her hand, reaching for me, but it falls like lead.
I stand still, just watching her, debating on taking that shower.
Then I think back on how alone I felt when Vile died.
How I wanted nothing more than to feel Sandra next to me.
We had both lost my brother and for days we laid in bed soaking in the comfort of the other.
There’s no way I can leave Winter knowing how desperately she needs me.
Stripping off my clothes, I crawl into bed beside Winter.
Contrast to how hot she was just moments ago; she is absolutely frigid now.
“You’re so cold.” Thank God I never made my bed.
The blanket is rolled up at the bottom. Sitting up, I grip the thick material and pull it over our bodies.
As soon as I pull her body flush with mine, the shivering stops and she snuggles into my arms. “You’ve stolen my heart, Winter Green. I am forever yours.”
I’m just dozing off when I hear my bedroom door open. After the last few days, I’m quick to untangle myself from Winter and hop out of bed, snagging my Glock off the nightstand. Doc holds up his hands. “Sorry, Fang.”
Lowering the gun, I ask, “Why the hell didn’t you knock?”
“I did.” He glances over at Winter. “I knocked for quite some time. When I didn’t get a response, I figured I would let myself in and make sure you were both alive.” He moves to her side of the bed and places the back of his hand to her forehead. “No fever, that’s good.”
Now that I know we’re safe, I crawl back into bed with Winter. “Should I wake her?”
Doc nods. “You can try to wake her, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s out for the count. The drugs they injected her with were a mix of opioids and a sedative. She may not rouse, so don’t freak out.”
Gently shaking her, I do my best to wake her. No matter how hard I try, she doesn’t budge at all. I know Doc said she may not stir, but I can’t help but freak out. Internally. “Please, help her.”
“I will.” He opens his medicine bag, rummaging through the contents. When his eyes meet mine, he says, “You may want to step out.”
“Like hell I am.” This man has lost his mind if he thinks I’m leaving him alone with her. What happens if she wakes up and I’m not there, but a complete stranger is standing over her, examining her.
“Suit yourself, but this may not be an exam you want to witness.” I lift a brow because this man knows the shit we do.
Each of us has been through hell and back.
A few wounds and burns are not going to make me weak in the knees.
Then he says the one thing that guts me.
“In addition to the obvious, I need to examine her for rape.”
That word echoes over and over in my head. If the Hollow Bones weren’t all dead, I would run out of this clubhouse and hunt down every last one of them. Thankfully, we got them all. And I will make no apologies for their demise.
“I’m staying.”
Doc nods and begins treating her wounds.
I lift Winter’s hand and thread our fingers together.
This day will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Especially if Winter wakes up and decides this is not the life for her.
That would be my undoing. Living in this world without Winter by side would be too much.
I’m not sure I could stay here if she wasn’t with me.
Dread fills me at the thought of her not wanting me.
Doc works swiftly and I take note of all the wounds that had been hidden under parts of clothing. There are so many more cuts than I first thought, and some bruising I hadn’t noticed before. Looks like she had been kicked in the stomach several times.
“Good news.” Doc places a bandage to the last open wound. “There doesn’t appear to be any broken bones, and these lacerations should heal with minimal scaring.”
Relief floods me and I feel thankful that her injuries aren’t worse.
“Now, I need to do a vaginal exam.” His words knock the wind out of me, reminding me that we aren’t done yet. She could still show signs of worse injuries.
God, I know I’ve never been a praying man, but please let Winter come through this. Please let there be no signs of rape.
I don’t know if God exists, but right now I hope he does. I need him to exist. To fix Winter.
Doc takes instruments out of his bag. They are cold and sterile.
I can’t watch. Turning Winter’s head so we’re face-to-face, I focus on her.
Her scent, her nose, those full lips. If this is the last time I get to hold her, I want to memorize every feature.
Also, if she happens to wake up while Doc is examining her, my face is what I want her to see first. So, I can reassure her that everything is okay. That I’ve got her.
It doesn’t take him long. Next thing I know, Doc is packing up. “Fang, she got real lucky.”
Peeling my eyes away from Winter, I glance at Doc with hope. “So, you’re saying that she wasn’t—” I can’t even let the word slip from my lips.
Doc nods. “There are no signs of rape.”
“Thank God.” I nearly collapse in bed with relief.
Winter was not violated. Now I can close my eyes and get some sleep.