Scorched King (Outlaw Justice #5)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Bear

I sprang from the bed, practically ripping my hand from Sasha’s in the process. Axel’s sudden appearance startled me, firing a shit load of adrenalin into my blood, and rocketing me into high alert.

“Jesus Christ!” I bellowed, clutching my chest and bending over to slow my heart that was threatening to beat out of my chest. “You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I hardly snuck anywhere. I fucking walked up and the door was wide open.”

It was true. I’d propped it open because I thought it seemed gloomy in here. And whether Sasha wanted to admit it or not, I knew she preferred the noise of the hospital over the silence any day. I might also have a preference for hearing people approach in advance. Although I’d been too focused on Sasha, her head snuggled against my side, to hear anything.

Fuck.

“Still. You could have knocked.”

Axel smirked and strode across the room to Sasha’s bed, where he bent over and kissed the top of her head. “How’s my second favorite girl today?”

His casual kiss and comment irritated my already frazzled nerves, though I couldn’t explain why. He meant nothing by it. He was so in love with Mandy that he couldn’t see straight from it. So why I wanted to grab him by the cut and toss him back into the hallway made no damned sense.

Sasha wasn’t mine.

“Second, huh?” She laughed, clearly joking.

“Number three, if I’m lucky.”

Her smile widened as she asked him about his old lady and her pregnancy. I tuned out the rest of their conversation, but didn’t take my eyes off her. She needed protection and I didn’t like leaving her alone here. It wasn’t right and if I had my way she’d be going with.

While our peaceful moment was broken, at least she had a smile on her face. I’d half expected JD to pick me up instead of Axel, but given the situation, that would’ve been awkward.

Sasha had made it clear she didn’t want to see him anymore. And yet, I still hadn’t made a move beyond friendship with her. Nobody knew what the hell had happened with them, but if there was unfinished business between her and the Prez, I needed to stay clear.

There were a lot of rumors at the clubhouse that she might have a special place with him, or maybe that was wishful thinking on their part. While we all tried to stay out of each other’s business when it came to our personal lives, everyone thought JD needed an old lady. Or they hoped he’d find one.

I figured for him, that idea was overrated. He’d clearly had the love of his life and didn’t want to replace her.

He was a great leader, but having a President thrashing around without any other commitment could be seen as a weakness by some. Particularly in his case, where his previous arrangement had blown the club apart.

“I’m going to go get my stuff,” I said, interrupting their conversation. “But I’ll be back to say goodbye before I go.” I aimed the last at Sasha, but Axel gave me a smirk at the same time. I’d have to find out what was up his ass.

I shuffled back to my room and traded the sweatpants I’d worn for weeks for a pair of jeans and some fucking boots. But it was putting on the t-shirt and cut that made me feel whole again. Weeks of not wearing it had felt weird as fuck. As if by not wearing it made it disappear or something. I shook my head. I’d just been disconnected for too long. It was time for life to get back to the way it was.

Although I wasn’t sure about that either. More than my arm and hand were different. It was as if everything had been changed by that bomb. Another travesty that made no damned sense. It was time to right the wrongs and get back with my brothers where I belonged.

I gathered up my few personal items. A notebook where I wrote all my shit down so I wouldn’t forget anything, a deck of cards I’d used with Sasha more than once, and my cellphone. Although I was never going to admit to anyone how much time I’d spent watching useless but hilarious videos on there to keep me going.

The most important things though were the pictures on my phone. Sasha had insisted that we document our injuries and their changes over time. I didn’t give a shit about memorializing those fucking painful burns or looking at a picture of my mangled hand. But there were pics of her I didn’t want to forget. Not all of them as focused on her injuries as she’d thought.

I brushed my hand across my buzzed head. When the hell did I get so fucking sentimental and why was all of this so goddamned important? I was alive. I could still ride a bike. My dick had escaped unscathed. Everything else was minor next to those. So why was I dwelling on pictures or dragging my feet on getting the hell out of this pit?

Shaking my head, I returned to Sasha’s room where her and Axel were still going on about pregnant women and the extra attention they needed. Of course they did. Any dumbass knew that. But Axel was lapping up her advice like a starved dog. Not that he blamed him. Who wouldn’t want to hear what she had to say? She was always concerned for others, and went out of her way to make others lives better. Men and women gravitated to her and she didn’t even seem to realize it. I’d noticed from the first time I’d seen her on that stage at our club…

She’d certainly improved my life. Her sunshine smile had done wonders for my disposition while in hospital hell. Axel, however, seemed hell bent on ruining all that progress with that pissed off smirk he kept aiming in my direction every chance he got. If he wasn’t careful, he might find my fist running into his face and wiping it off.

“I’m ready,” I announced not waiting for a lull in their conversation.

“Great. As soon as JD gets back, we’ll head out.”

“Gets back?” I asked, noticing the panicked look on Sasha’s face, and feeling a little unease of my own.

“Yeah. He was right here with me until he saw the two of you. Then he took off. Said he had something to take care of and would be right back.”

I could feel the blood draining from my face with every word. If the Prez had seen what Axel did, and gotten the wrong idea…

Well, fuck. I hadn’t counted on getting my ass in trouble on my first day back. Although I would never regret the moments between me and Sasha. They were special and I didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought.

“He’s—he’s here?” Sasha had gone from panic straight to sheer terror. What the hell was up with those two? If I was stepping on toes… I should have known. I had no business getting too close to my President’s girl. Because that’s what it seemed like she was whether either of them wanted to admit it or not.

“Here.” The gruff, clipped spoken word was delivered from behind me. JD was back. We all turned. He came forward, a deep scowl on his face and obvious fire in his eyes. He wasn’t pissed. He was furious. He ignored me and Axel, looked over at Sasha and spoke directly to her. “Get the fuck out of that bed. These are your discharge papers. You’re going home.”