28. Blake
Blake
I hear them before I see them, thanks to the thunderous roar of their motorcycles. When we turn into the parking lot, I spot the crowd of bikers gathered around a cluster of chapels. As soon as Reign pulls over, I’m out of the car and heading toward the blue chapel where most of the bikers are standing.
Nobody tries to stop me when I head inside. I move down the dimly lit corridor and yank open the first door I come to. I freeze and stare in horror at the sight of Callie lying on the floor, covered in blood, with her head in a biker’s lap. I roar in anguish, my pain and anger needing an outlet as I look at my girl lying bloody and bruised. How many times can I let someone down? It’s like Afghanistan all over again. I failed to protect my men, and now I’ve failed to protect my girl.
I’m on my knees beside her in moments, my hands hovering over her, afraid to touch her and cause her any more pain.
I look at the biker, who speaks briefly “It’s mostly her head and jaw, from what I can tell. Hold her hand, talk to her. Let her know you’re here.” I nod in understanding.
I lean over her and place my lips as close to her ear as I can without making contact. “I swear, I leave you alone for five minutes.” I chuckle, but I can hear how forced it feels and the sadness in it. When she doesn’t answer, I drag in a ragged breath. “Please, baby, I need you to wake up,” I plead. “I need to see those big eyes of yours flash with gold as you scowl at me. There is so much I haven’t told you yet, so many things you need to know, things I should have said before, but I was a fucking coward. You need to wake up, Callie, so I can tell you.”
She still doesn’t respond, and I feel myself getting angry, not at her but at the whole fucking universe. Why did this happen? In what fucking world is it okay? I want to take her place, take every bruise, every cut, every wound from her as my own, just so she doesn’t feel a second more of this pain.
“If you don’t wake up, I’ll be forced to tell all these bikers about your toy collection. What are they again? Oh, that’s right, the Invader, the Womb Raider, and the Incredible Bulk.”
I hear the biker supporting her head let out a surprised chuckle. But that’s not what has my head lifting; it’s the groan emanating from Callie. And I swear to fucking god, it’s the most beautiful sound in the world.
“Meanie,” she manages to get out, her words slurred before she passes out once more.
I look at the biker and grin.
“She is going to kick your ass when she wakes up,” he tells me, making my grin bigger.
“I’m fucking counting on it.” It was only one word, but it’s enough to give me hope that she’ll be okay.
Everything moves fast after that as paramedics come rushing through the door. They head toward us, then veer off to the left, making me frown and look over at them. That’s when I see another body crumpled on the floor on the opposite side of the makeshift aisle.
A tall, blonde-haired biker steps into their path. “No, you’ll see to her first.”
They don’t argue—wisely so, judging from the pissed-off look on his face. They head over to us, moving me and the biker out of the way so they can assess Callie’s injuries.
I turn to look at the other body on the floor and feel rage flood my veins like a drug, blurring the lines between right and wrong. I climb to my feet and prowl over to him, but I’m blocked by the biker who stopped the paramedics.
“I know what you’re thinking, but there are too many eyes in here.”
I look up at him, taking in his huge frame, light hair, and anger-filled eyes, and try to get a handle on my temper, knowing he’s right.
“And if that was your girl lying there?” I question, my voice so hoarse it doesn’t even sound like mine.
He grins at me, but it’s not a pretty sight. I’ve been to war, seen things I’ll never unsee, and yet that grin almost makes me want to take a step back and make the sign of the cross.
“People call me Priest for a reason,” he informs me, moving his head closer so his quiet words are only heard by me. “Anyone who crosses me or mine ends up needing their last rites given to them.” He slaps me on the back before stepping aside as two more paramedics come into the room, heading our way.
I move back over to Callie, who they now have up on a gurney, and grab her hand.
“I’ll be right behind you, baby.” I kiss the back of her hand and look up, finding her pretty eyes on me.
She mumbles something, but I shake my head.
“Shhh… don’t try to talk now. Let’s get you patched up first. You can yell at me later,” I tell her with her wink, chuckling when her eyes narrow at me. Yeah, my girl is gonna be okay.
I let the paramedics lead her outside to the ambulance as I follow behind them, spotting Felix at the door, his furious eyes on Callie as they take her to the ambulance.
“Sir, can you tell me what happened to this man here?” I turn my head. A young blond male cop questions Priest, who looks up at me and shrugs, tipping his head to me in a good luck gesture.
“We arrived just as he finished his brutal attack on that young lady out there, and then, I swear, it was the darndest thing,” he drawls, turning back to look at Christian, who is still on the floor with the paramedics working on him. “He seemed to lose his shit when he saw us and ran into the wall. Repeatedly . I really think he might have had some kind of psychological break.” He shakes his head as if that’s the saddest news he’s ever heard.
I have to look away and stifle a grin as more cops arrive on the scene. The energy in the room changes to one of wary hostility with the arrival of more cops, but I don’t have time to think about it. Spilling out into the parking lot, I see the bikers present have doubled in number too.
I move over to Felix as they load Callie into the back of the ambulance.
“They’re taking her to the hospital now. I have to go.”
“I’m coming with you,” he replies, daring me to argue.
“Hey guys, how’s she doing?” I turn at the sound of Tate’s voice.
“They’re taking her in now. I won’t know until then. I need a ride to the hospital,” I tell him, already knowing they won’t let me ride in the back with Callie.
“Yo, Raindrop,” he yells over his shoulder. “These boys need a ride to the hospital.”
I look behind me and see Reign detach herself from a dark-haired biker’s arm, where she has been wrapped up before she heads our way.
“Here,” she tosses me her keys with a smile. “I’ll have someone come and pick it up. Don’t scratch her,” she orders before yanking Tate down so she can kiss her brother’s cheek before making her way back to the group behind her.
“Your sister is awesome,” Felix points out quietly.
“Yeah, I know. Just don’t tell her I said that.” Tate smiles. “They look ready to go.” He indicates the ambulance slowly backing out of the lot. “Go. I’ll stay here and smooth things over with the local PD. I’ll meet you at the hospital and see if I can find out what’s going on back home.”
“Thank you,” I say, and I mean it. “You ever need a favor, call me. I’ll never be able to repay you for this.”
He smiles at me then, with a look of calculation on his face. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
I just bet he will.