Frisco

36. Kali

36

KALI

A wet nose and a pounding headache greeted me when I woke.

Arms swept under me, lifting me, and I was being carried/ran across a field. I looked up. “Wha–” It was Shane. He hugged me tighter. “Hold on, babe. I got you.”

Oh.

That sounded good.

Also, Shane!

I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest and a feeling came over me. I’d be fine. I’d be safe. Everything would be okay. I’d never got that feeling from a guy. Ever. Even Harper. It was my job to reassure him, but with Shane–I was noting that here.

Then I remembered Aly.

“Aly!”

“Corvette’s got her. We need to get you to the hospital.”

Oh, good. That was all good.

“Babe.” We were still running.

“Hmm?”

“You shouldn’t fall asleep. You look like your head got hit.”

Right. Yes. I was concussed, very very sure to where I knew I was. My head was still hurting. And things were still woozy.

Still. Logic was kicking in. It’d be better if I stayed awake.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened to you? We’ve been looking all night for you.”

Yes. He would’ve had no idea.

Panic seized me. “Those guys!” They couldn’t come back. They couldn’t get Shane. Wait. I was okay. Shane had a gun.

“In here.” That was another voice and Shane was slowing down.

“I got her. Make room.” Shane’s voice was now rough as he passed me to someone else.

I looked up. It was the new guy from yesterday. Idaho? No. That wasn’t right. Why couldn’t I remember?

“Okay.” That was Shane.

And I was being passed right back to Shane, who was in a truck. He held me in his arms, going all the way to the inside and a second later, Corvette slid into the seat next to us, Aly tucked in his arms. He was cradling her like a baby, and I knew Aly. Her huge size of ten (I’m being very sarcastic here) did a number on her self-esteem, but he was cradling her like a baby and our eyes met since he had her the other way on his chest. We both were noting the same thing, and she started laughing a little.

Corvette froze, his head jerking down to take her in.

I started laughing, which made Shane hug me a little tighter. “Ow. My ribs.”

He loosened his hold immediately.

I looked up. “No. It’s from laughing.” I looked back to Aly. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m not really sure.”

The Idaho guy got behind the wheel, and another guy jumped in the passenger side. Both slammed their doors shut, as Shane opened his window a little. “Thank you for the use of your dogs.”

I heard a muffled voice, but then we were off and we were going fast too.

Shane put his window back up, saying, “Hit the heat, Roadie.”

The heat’s fan blasted a second later.

“Should we call her man?” I couldn’t tell who that came from. Shane’s heat was pulling me back down, and we were in a moving vehicle. Sleeping in a moving vehicle was my favorite.

“Not yet.”

I heard Aly say something.

Shane responded, but …

“They were outside all night?”

I woke again, hearing that question as I was being put on a bed, then wheeled down a hallway.

Shane answered, coming with us, “Yes. We found them this morning.”

“What time?”

“A little after five.”

“And they were outside, why?”

I was a bit more coherent this time, and I waited for what Shane would respond with. He didn’t.

“Sir, do I need to call the police?”

“No fucking cops,” he growled.

We were moving into a room, and as we did, I lifted my head, taking in the scene around me. At Shane’s growl, Roadie and Boise moved next to Shane, all three giving the doctor a meaningful look.

“I see.” The doctor’s response was tight. His eyes narrowed. “I need the room. You three will need to step out. We have a lobby where you can wait. I’ll have one of the nurses show you.”

“We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be right out here.” Shane stepped back, his anger simmering under the surface and he took one step out into the hallway. His gaze went to mine just as a nurse came in and whisked the curtain closed. She went to the bed and started setting up an IV right away. The doctor was looking me over as the nurse mentioned, “Red Demons, huh?”

I looked up, giving her a different look because she didn’t sound scared. “You know them?”

“I think the better question is do you know them? They friends of yours?”

She was worried about me. I nodded, slightly just as the doctor said, “Don’t move your head. Not yet.”

I said to her, “They’re friends. He’s my man.”

Because he was.

Shane.

My man.

I liked telling her that, and I liked that it was true. I wasn’t scared to claim him. I also wasn’t scared that he was my man. Felt right.

Yeah. I’m pretty sure I was concussed. Only thing that made sense right now.

“What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Kali. I’m a nurse. Hoping my ankle is a strain and fairly sure I have a little concussion going on.”

“All right, Kali. I’m Rena, and this is Dr. Vioeri. You just give us some of your time and we’ll make sure everything is okay with you. Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Good.”

After that, the doctor moved in and I was checked out.

The final diagnosis was a slight concussion, my ankle was already better so the strain was super slight, and some seriously nasty scrapes over half of my body. I’d really not liked when they cleaned those up, but when they wrapped everything and gave me antibiotics, I was more inclined to like the staff from the Fallen Crest hospital. The doctor told me I needed rest, keep away from too much stimulus with my concussion, and I’d need to have my bandages cleaned once per day. The stitches would dissolve themselves, for where I needed to get stitches.

He headed out, but Rena stayed back and I noted the look he gave her, also the looks the other nurses all gave each other as they walked out. I was readying myself for a good talking-to from Miss Rena. The last nurse pulled the curtain shut and I could now hear the ER door slide shut. I’d not been with it earlier to notice it. It was nice and quiet. Smooth.

“This is about them?” I started it off.

One of her eyebrows raised from surprise before it settled back, and she gave me a knowing look. “You know anything about New Kings Bounties?”

I started to shake my head, and remembered I shouldn’t. “No.”

She gave a small nod, letting out a tiny breath. “My husband works with them. He’s a bounty hunter. Reason I’m sharing that tidbit with you is because there’s history between them and your man’s motorcycle club. I’ve listened to them talk about the Red Demons in the past. Don’t remember hearing a Shane so I’m not saying it’s with your particular man, but I do know that they are supposed to keep clear of this town and another not far from here.”

“You’re telling me this, why?”

A look flashed in her eyes, and she dipped her chin down before stepping further back. “Just be careful. That’s all.” She was going to leave.

I asked, “My friend? Aly. We came in together.”

“Oh, yes. She’s already been discharged. Her scrapes were less minor than yours.” She reached for the curtain, but paused and looked back. “I shouldn’t do this, but I am. What the hell.” She came back, took her pen out, scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it over. “That’s my number. If you’re staying in the area and need a job? We’ve got a serious shortage. If you need anything and I mean, anything, you call me. Text me. I don’t care. Just know that there are people here who can help if you need it.”

I took it, putting it in my pocket.

She was giving me another reassessing look before a wall came down over her face. “Though, I’m thinking maybe I got it all wrong and you can handle yourself just fine? I hope I’m getting that right.”

“I’m good. Thank you.”

One last nod before she left. Then it was just me and my thoughts.

So, Shane’s club had history here. Right. I didn’t know what to take from that, but it was what it was. I’d heard it enough.

I wanted to check on Aly, find Shane, and then get those assholes who came after us. Those were my priorities now.

The doors slid open and I felt Shane before I heard him. “Kali?!”

“I’m here.”

The curtain was flung open, and Shane was at my side in two steps. He started to hug me, but paused and stepped back. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He was looking me all over again, and this time, now that I was a whole lot more clear-headed, I was seeing the strain it was taking him to keep himself under control.

He was almost shaking.

I reached out, touched his arm, and his hand came over mine instantly. I could feel his tension. He felt like cement under my touch, but he drew in a sharp breath at my touch. “Jesus, babe.” He came in, his voice hoarse. “Do you know how many years I lost when I realized you were missing?” Still shaking, but his eyes closed, and he stepped in, resting his forehead to mine.

“Oh, baby.” I touched his waist.

He let out a rueful sigh, half grinning. “Do you know how much I didn’t know I needed to hear you call me that until you just did?”

I grinned, feeling an assuredness that it would all be okay.

It had to.

Had to.

“How’s Aly?”

“I should be asking you. They closed ranks as soon as they got her in there. Her man got here and they took off.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know how to process that. Happy she had someone that cared that much about her? But also, pissed because Aly was my family and he just met her. “What about Harper? Justin?”

A whole different vibe came into the room, and my stomach dropped.

It sunk low, a ball of dread nestled right next to it and I saw a transformation come over Shane.

This was biker Shane looking back at me. Ghost.

A shiver went down my spine, because I could understand why everyone was so scared of him, of them, if this was what they got to see.

I swallowed around a lump in my throat. “What is it?”

He blinked, once, before saying, “They’re gone.”

“What?” I shook my head. “What does that mean? What do you mean they’re gone?” My voice was rising with each question.

“When I realized you were gone, and when her man realized your friend was gone, we all went apeshit. The whole bar locked up, and I mean, we locked everyone inside. Lights were on. Music was off. We went through every person in that bar, checking phones. Everything. If we’d been cops, none of that would’ve been a legal search, but good thing we aren’t. I gotta warn you now, though. We pissed off a whole lot of people doing what we did, but Aly’s man was right with us. We couldn’t find you guys, and we couldn’t find your friends. We started a search right after, and Stripes called in a favor. Got us in touch with a local guy who uses search dogs. That’s how we found you when we did, but it took a while.”

The air was pulled out of me. I… I couldn't comprehend this. “Justin and Harper? They’re gone too?”

Wait.

I gasped, grabbing Shane’s arm. “You didn’t–no, no. Their bodies?” God. Pain seized my insides. I couldn’t finish that thought.

“No. They were taken like you guys, or that’s what we were thinking until you both showed up. Two sets of wheels left the back house’s driveway that’s attached to the other road. Security cameras picked up two vans leaving. One went south, yours. And one went north. We’re assuming that was theirs.”

The room became stifling. The air was thick, pressing down on me.

Justin and Harper. They were kidnapped.

“Babe.” Shane stepped in again, his voice gentle. He cupped the side of my face, tracing a thumb over my cheek in a tender touch. “We need to know who these guys were. What do you remember about them?”

Justin. Harper.

They couldn’t have them.

I grasped his wrist, holding it tight. “You have to get them back.”

His eyes widened, just a bit at my ferocity, then they softened again. “We will.”

“No. I mean it, Shane. We have to go now.”

His eyes narrowed, and his head leaned back an inch. He was reassessing me, not that different from how Rena had moments earlier. “We will, but we handle this in-house. You gotta know that about us, this life. We don’t deal with cops. We take care of everything ourselves.”

He’d get no argument from me there.

He was still watching me, studying. “You okay with that?”

I stood up, looking around for my clothes. Seeing a bag he’d brought in with him, that he put on the counter behind him, I pointed to it. “Those for me?”

“They are. Roadie went and bought you some. Figured you wouldn’t want to wear the others.”

I suppressed a shudder because he was right, but reached for them. “Give ’em to me.”

He passed them over, still eyeing me from my sudden change of attitude. “You okay, Kali?”

I took the bag and began to change clothes. “I’ll tell you everything I remember, but I don’t know much.” I told him what I did as I finished dressing. Once I put on my old shoes, I was ready to go.

“You’re supposed to take it easy.”

But the way he said that, he knew me. I gave Shane a look. “You expecting that of me?”

He flashed a smile. “I’m a bit worried about your head, but no. You’re forgetting I remember you from high school. I know just how much you love those friends of yours, and I’ve heard how fond you are of the boyfriend. I’d expect nothing else.”

Good.

Some of my own tension left me at hearing that. He wouldn’t fight me. He wouldn’t try to contain me. He wouldn’t tell me to stay home and be a good woman.

We left the room, and I put my head down to help with keeping out the extra stimulus. “They took our phones. Smashed them.”

Shane was right next to me. “We found ’em. I got a replacement for you. Waiting until you were ready for it.”

He handed over the phone just as we got to the hallway leading from the nurse’s desk to what looked like the waiting room. I saw Shane’s guys standing down there, waiting for us, but looked back over my shoulder.

Nurse Rena was standing, handing over a file to another nurse, but she was watching us right back.

Her eyes caught and held mine. She took me in, her gaze sliding to Shane, who had gone ahead, but was waiting for me now. He wasn’t touching me. He wasn’t coddling me, and Nurse Rena was noting all of that.

Her warning, Aly’s warnings all flared through me but when I gave them much thought I kept coming back to the key terms that they were based off of history. In the past. That was back then, and not now and I had to make a decision if I would care or not.

I chose not to, right then and there. I’d heard the warnings. I wouldn’t forget, but I wasn’t going to let them affect me any more than that. That was a history that didn’t pertain to me, so I was going to let it go.

That decision made, a whole renewed sense of desperation filled me up.

Justin and Harper. We needed to find them now.

I turned and I was the one who said to Shane, “Let’s go.”