Chapter 13
13
Trigger
A nurse came in a few minutes later, injecting more morphine into Chase’s IV. After asking him a few questions to check his pain levels and make sure he didn’t need anything, she left the room, and the morphine dragged him back under. I wanted more time with him while he was awake, but I knew he needed to rest more. Resting was going to be a vital part of his recovery.
Taking advantage of his slumber, I tugged my phone off the charger one of the nurses let me borrow and called Johnston, pacing to the window to look outside. The sky was beginning to darken, the moon beginning to shine high in the sky. It cast an almost eerie yet beautiful glow over the courtyard Chase’s room looked out over.
Johnston answered on the second ring. “Yeah?” he growled. I heard Aaliyah murmur something in the background, and I winced. I’d definitely called at a bad time. He hated being bothered when he was with his wife. Couldn’t blame him though. I hated being bothered when I was with Chase and Sophia.
“You asked for an update when Chase woke up,” I reminded him.
He blew out a harsh breath. “Yeah. Anything?”
“No,” I told him honestly. “Nothing we didn’t already know. But they’re getting hungrier. Said they took him because they couldn’t get their hands on Aaliyah.”
Johnston audibly ground his teeth. “Fucking hell,” he growled, sounding impatient. “I’m so over this shit. I mind my goddamn business. I don’t step on toes. And now these mother fuckers think they can just roll over me?” he snarled.
I stayed silent because I knew Johnston was just venting. He wasn’t a patient man by any means, and I knew he’d been trying to play this cool. Stay patient and quiet. Make moves only when they did.
But they’d fucked with us way too much. I was thirsty for blood now that they’d touched both Sophia and Chase, and I was hoping Johnston was, too. Because I wanted to get revenge. I wanted them to pay for touching my man and my woman. I wanted to brutalize them.
“Let me touch base with Scorpion,” Johnston finally said, sounding much calmer. I was pretty sure Aaliyah had something to do with that, even if she was completely silent in the background. She had a way of settling him that none of us understood, but we didn’t question it, especially since she made him a lot more chill than he’d been before they’d gotten together.
But… I guess I did understand now considering Sophia and Chase had a way of settling me that seemed damn near impossible before I got pulled into our little trio.
“I’ll wait for orders,” I told him before hanging up. Turning, I walked back to Chase’s bed, pushing his hair back from his forehead before leaning down to press a kiss there. Settling back in the chair beside his hospital bed, I sighed and closed my eyes, beyond fucking tired. But I couldn’t truly rest, even if I was used to sleeping in uncomfortable places and positions.
My body and mind wouldn’t shut down enough to truly sleep while Chase was laid up in that hospital bed, vulnerable and unable to defend himself.
I just needed to get Chase home, where he was surrounded by the club and could be better protected. Then and only then would I rest.
I peeled my eyes open when a light knock sounded on the door. Chase was still sleeping, not even aware of the knocking. I stood and walked to the door, my gun comfortably resting at the small of my back. When I opened the heavy wooden door, Chase’s doctor was standing on the other side, and he kindly smiled at me.
I didn’t return it, but then again, I hadn’t returned a single smile he’d given me. I hadn’t smiled at anyone since we’d been here—no one except the man laid up in that hospital bed.
Stepping back, I allowed the doctor into the room. The night nurse followed him in. Silently, I shut the door back and returned to the chair I’d been occupying before they came in, settling onto the uncomfortable leather again. The nurse checked Chase’s vitals, and the doctor waited until she was done to look at me.
“I’ll be releasing him here in a few minutes.” I sat up a little straighter at that. “I figured you might want the cover of darkness to safely move him out.” I nodded, relief flooding me that not only was the doctor being accommodating of our situation and the danger Chase was in, but he was also getting us the fuck out of there as soon as possible. “We’re sending him home with some pain meds. It should be enough to let him heal without too much pain. Rest is going to be the best thing he can do for his body.”
“The staples in his chest?” I asked, glancing toward my man. His chest was covered, but that didn’t remove the image of that brand from my mind.
“I’d like him to come back to see me in two weeks to get them removed,” he told me. “Do you have any questions or concerns before we process his discharge paperwork?”
“None,” I told him. “Thanks, doc.”
He nodded once and left the room, letting the nurse out ahead of him. Chase grunted and shifted a little before moaning in pain. I was on my feet instantly, hovering over him, wishing I could do something to lessen his pain. And it made me twitchy to know I couldn’t.
I fucking hated this feeling. This helplessness when it came to him.
When Chase peeled his eyes open, I was the first thing he saw. Roughly clearing his no-doubt sore throat, he asked, “What?”
I shook my head. “Wasn’t sure if you needed me.” His lips twitched with the tiniest hint of a smile. “The doctor’s about to spring you.”
“Thank fuck,” Chase breathed. “I’m ready to be home. I miss Sophia.” He opened his eyes, looking up at me. “I’m sure Sophia is a mess.”
I just hummed, not giving him a true answer. I’d texted her off and on throughout Chase’s stay here to check on her, but besides the one phone call I’d made to let her know I had Chase and he was in the hospital, I hadn’t actually spoken to her. Just like him, I was sure she was a mess, but she was trying to hide it from me.
I was letting her. For now.
“I know she’ll be happy to have you back home,” I told him instead.
He grunted and shut his eyes again, his face screwing up in pain as he shifted to get more comfortable. “She wants both of us home, Trigger. Don’t downplay the bond you have with her.”
Leaning down, I slanted my lips across his in a soft kiss. He sighed, one hand coming up to grip my bicep. His grip was weak, but it was stronger than it’d been when he’d woken up the first time. We were making progress.
“I’m not,” I promised. “She just… she’s been lost without you, Chase. Terrified for you and just… spiraling.”
He swallowed thickly, closing his eyes. “I shouldn’t have left,” he said quietly, repeating what he’d said earlier. The guilt in his voice gutted me and flayed my chest open. “I should’ve stayed.” Blowing out a soft breath, he steeled himself and lightly shook his head. “Get us a ride so I can get home to her.”
I nodded once and slipped my phone from my pocket to call Scorpion and let him know he could send Mark and Reese to get us.