Iceman
I was relieved when Loki texted to let me know Meadow was awake. I paced the waiting room as the doctors worked on her. When Dr. Schramm came to let us know we could go back, he updated us.
“How is she?” Sage asked before I could.
“She’s doing well. Besides the one she ate with you, we’ve determined that all the meals were at home or food she took to work with her. It didn’t give you ladies Salmonella. I assume you all eat the same food together?”
“We do. We made dinner together and ate the same thing every night except Friday,” Aspen answered.
“Then the only place I can think she came in contact with it was work, but she’s sure she washed her hands before eating. So we’ll need the name of her employer to contact them. We don’t want an outbreak. Or we might be able to stop one quickly if it’s already happened. Other than that, she’s responding well to the antibiotics. I think we can say she’s starting on the road to recovery.”
“That’s great, Doc. Thank you. Aspen, will you jot down the information for him on Meadow’s job?”
“Sure, Iceman,” she said.
While she was doing that, Dr. Schramm had more to add.
“Now, I don’t want you to be unprepared. Meadow is having trouble remembering what happened since Friday. That’s not unusual. She may remember it in full or partially, or maybe not at all. Who’s to say? So don’t be surprised if you have to tell her things, maybe more than once.”
He spent another minute or so answering questions, then took the information from Aspen and wished us a good day. We didn’t waste time getting ourselves back to her room. Meadow talked for a few moments, then fell asleep minutes later, but at least I saw her awake. The band that had been squeezing around my heart eased. It didn’t entirely go away. It wouldn’t leave until she was home and wholly healed.
I left her sisters with her with strict orders to text if she woke up, and I went to take a short walk. I needed to breathe some fresh air. I wasn’t outside long before Renegade and Loki joined me. Several club members from both chapters and their old ladies had been here on and off to check on me, the twins, and Meadow. Hell, Talia had insisted Blizzard and Icicle come to their house where they could be looked after and not cooped up in a hotel.
They had their dogs, as well as several others, at the compound. Most were big ones, but they wouldn’t harm the happy pugs. At first, Sage and Aspen had been wary, but after they showed them videos of the various dogs, they cuddled and kissed their pets before letting them go. According to Razor, Tali’s old man, we might not get them back. They were being spoiled by women and children and treated like kings.
Bull insisted as others returned home that my two friends stay. They were at the hotel rather than the compound in Dublin Falls, although I told them they should stay there. Both insisted they wanted to be close in case we needed them. Plus, it allowed them to look after the twins at night when they went back there to sleep. I wouldn’t have been able to leave them alone there, even if they were adults. Meadow’s protectiveness had rubbed off on me.
“What did the doctors have to say?” Loki asked.
“Dr. S. said she’s starting on the road to recovery. He thinks she might’ve got the food poisoning that caused it from work, although he doesn’t know how. Her memory is jacked up. Everything after Friday is hazy or blank, and it may partially or not return at all.”
“So her being upset with you, taking off out here, and the crazy stuff she was saying and doing, she might not remember?” Renegade asked.
“Maybe.”
“But you need to tell her and explain why you kept what was happening at the compound from her. If you don’t and she remembers, she’ll be even angrier at you,” Loki warned.
“I intend to, but not today. She just woke up. I don’t want to cause her to have a setback or anything,” I told him.
“I understand. Just don’t wait too long,” Loki responded. Based on his faraway expression, he was recalling how he’d messed up. I took what he said seriously.
“Did they say how long until she can go home?” Ren asked.
“No, and I didn’t ask. I doubt it’ll be before the weekend at the earliest, and even then, they might say she should stay in the area for a few days. Listen, I appreciate you guys staying out here and everything, but with her on the mend, you should go home. I know they must be scrambling to cover the work without all three of us. The twins and I will be fine.”
“We’re not going anywhere. Bull gave us strict instructions that we don’t return until the four of you do, or he says otherwise. I’m not arguing with him. Are you?” Renegade asked as he gazed at me as if I had lost my mind.
“Hell no. I enjoy my head right where it is, not shoved up my ass so I can see sunlight,” I told him.
Loki snickered, and Ren laughed. They knew what I meant. Bull could be the coolest and most helpful guy, but piss him off, and you’d better hunt a hole and never come out. And even then, that was no guarantee you were safe. Messing with his family, friends, and club was a surefire way to enrage him.
“Well, then it’s settled. We’ll wait to see how your woman does and if Bull changes his mind. I’m planning to make a food run soon. Can I get you anything? I’ll ask the girls if they want something,” Ren asked as he pulled out his cell phone.
“Anything that’s not from here or that isn’t dripping in grease, and I’m good,” I told him.
Loki was telling him what sounded good. I stood there watching the people come in and out of the hospital, and the vehicles come and go. I stayed like that until they excused themselves. I guess they decided to do the food run together. I told them to ride safely and then headed back up to see if Meadow was still out. Just being this far away made me nervous.
???
Meadow was in and out for the rest of the day and all night. I stayed the night in her room, although I did get more sleep than I had the previous nights. The staff had found a cot and allowed me to put it in the corner. She tried to get me to go back to the hotel and sleep in a real bed, but I told her to save her breath. She snorted and called me a stubborn-assed man. I told her it took a stubborn-ass woman to know one. When she laughed, I kissed her into silence. The bemused expression it left behind made me happy.
She had been more awake since breakfast. There were still some episodes of her catnapping, but they didn’t last as long. The one battle she won was insisting that Aspen and Sage go to the Dublin Falls compound and spend time with Blizzard and Icicle. She reminded them how much those dogs would be missing them. To make Meadow feel more secure since she didn’t know the members of that chapter, Renegade and Loki went with them. They’d escort them back to the hotel tonight.
We entertained each other by playing twenty questions, or in our case, more like a hundred. I wanted to know everything I could about her, and she claimed the same. I was thinking of telling her about what happened last weekend, or the parts I could, without the danger of having people overhearing us, when there was a knock at the door.
She called out, “Come in.”
I assumed, and likely she did too, that it was one of the nurses or a doctor. They seemed to pop in at all hours of the day and night. We were both wrong. I jumped to my feet, and she groaned when we saw who came strolling in as if he had a right to be there. Goddamn, Scott Harrison walked in carrying a bouquet of flowers. He looked at her at first, smiling. Then, when he saw me, his smile was wiped away and replaced by a scowl. He kept approaching the bed, so I placed myself between her and him. I folded my arms over my chest. I didn’t wait for him to say something. I pointed to the door over his shoulder.
“You need to turn your ass around and leave. You weren’t invited here, nor are you welcome. You have a lot of nerve or a death wish to come here,” I snarled.
“I’m here to see Meadow, not you. And since when do you speak for her? She hasn’t said I couldn’t be here,” he smarted back.
“Then let me say it, Scott. There’s no reason I can think of for you to be here. How did you even know I was in the hospital?” she asked.
“Director Higgins told the supervisors and managers what happened. We had to have the breakroom tested for Salmonella. He asked me to check on you and to be sure there was nothing you needed. I told him I was happy to do it. I tried to stop by the apartment to check if your sisters were alright and needed anything, but they weren’t home. I assume they’re in school.”
“You should’ve told him that it was impossible to do or found another excuse why you couldn’t come here. As for my sisters, they’re here. They have no school this week,” she told him curtly.
“Enough talk. You’ve seen she’s taken care of, and so are her sisters. My club and I are watching out for all of them. There’s no need to stay. Oh, and if your director wants to know how she is, he can call her. She has her phone with her. In fact, babe, didn’t Higgins call you earlier?”
I loved seeing the bastard caught in a lie. Higgins had called and asked how she was and assured her she was to take all the time she needed to get better. Her job would be waiting for her. In addition, he told her they were having the office scoured for any trace of the poisoning and where it came from. Luckily, so far, no one else has come down with it. Caught in a bald-faced lie, his face flushed red.
“Fine, so I lied. I wanted to see her. I’d like to speak to Meadow alone.”
“That’s not happening,” I immediately said.
“Why? Are you afraid of what she’ll tell me?”
“Like what?”
“That she doesn’t want you here, but you’re not giving her a choice. She’s afraid of you and needs help, but you’re forcing her to lie by holding her sisters’ safety over her head. Meadow, all you have to do is say so. I can help you.”
I laughed at the same time as she did. I smirked at him. “I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t sound like she’s afraid, but to prove she’s not, Meadow, I can leave if you want to speak to him alone.”
I glanced back at her, and she shook her head. “That’s not necessary, honey. I’m fine with you right where you are. Scott, I won’t tell you again. Stay away. My life doesn’t concern you. I’m with Iceman of my free will. His club and the chapter out here have been nothing but wonderful to us. I’ll be calling Director Higgins to let him know that you aren’t welcome here and that you lied about him sending you. Why don’t you go home? I’m sure Joni is jumping for joy that I’m out of the office, and she has you all to herself.”
“I don’t give a damn what Joni wants or likes! I care about you. I always have. I don’t understand why you’d go out with someone like him yet won’t give me a chance. He’s not the right man for you. He doesn’t fit your lifestyle. You’re not a biker slut like the others are,” he snapped.
“You mean like Dr. Moretti? Boy, wait until I tell her what you think of her,” Meadow taunted.
His fury got the best of him. He threw the bouquet on the floor and stomped out. I picked them up and tossed them on the counter. Maybe one of the nurses or a patient would like them. It was a shame to waste them, but they wouldn’t stay here. My flowers were beside the bed, where she could smell and see them.
“I can’t believe him,” she muttered.
“I sorta can.”
“How?”
“He’s fighting not to lose a chance with you, even though he was never getting one.”
“You talk like I’m something special. I’m just a woman, Jake.”
“No, you’re not. You’re exceptional. Now, how about you kiss me so I can wash the taste of him being here out of our mouths?” I whispered as I came to lean over the bed rail. She smiled, then curled her finger, gesturing for me to come closer. I did so without hesitating. Any excuse to kiss her was wonderful in my book.
By the time we stopped kissing, I was hard. She smirked and reached her hand through the rail to rub up and down the bulge in my jeans. I groaned.
“Babe, you’d better stop it. I don’t have a lot of control when it comes to you. I might come in my jeans,” I half-teased, half-warned.
“I like seeing what I can do to you and that you feel just as needy as I do. I want to get out of here, Jake. When the doctor comes in, I’ll ask when I can leave.”
“I’m all for you coming home, but we can’t rush it. I don’t want you to relapse or cause complications.”
“I won’t. I’m responding very well to the medication, and my headaches are almost gone. Besides feeling tired, which can last for weeks, I’m good. We can keep up the antibiotics there. Zara will watch me, I’m sure. Besides, people heal faster and better at home. Studies show that to be true. Plus, the girls will need to be back for school next week. This wasn’t how they planned to spend their week off.”
“Don’t you worry. They’ll be back for school even if you and I have to stay out here. Dr. Schramm may want you to stick around locally for a few days after your discharge just to be sure you’re okay. If he says you’re good to go, we’ll head back to Hunters Creek, and Zara will take over. I already talked to her, and so has Dr. S. She’s prepared for you. She’s sorry she hasn’t come, but things have been crazy busy for her.”
“I don’t expect her or anyone to drop everything to visit me, although it was very nice of everyone who did. I hate that I’ve taken three of you away. Why don’t you send Renegade and Loki home?”
“I tried when I was outside. Bull has ordered them here, and we don’t go against him. He’s too scary to do that.”
“Bull isn’t scary! He’s sweet,” she protested.
“He’s sweet to you. But if you push him, he earned his road name, Bull, for several reasons, and he can live up to those. If he needs us, he’ll tell us.”
“Hmm, I don’t see that, but I’ll take your word for it. Wow, look. I learn more from you all the time. Which reminds me, back to what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted.”
There was no better time than now to tell her about our brush with Bosch and his people. I checked to be sure the door was shut before I launched into telling her.
“Babe, I need to tell you why I left that night and what happened the days you don’t remember. I want you to listen and let me get through it before you say anything. Will you do that?”
She was puzzled, but she agreed. “I can. Go ahead, Jake.”
Remembering what Loki, Bull, and Zara said, I didn’t leave anything out other than admitting we tortured and killed the men responsible. When I was done, she reclined there, not saying a word. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking by her expression. It was the same as the twins’ poker faces. I tried not to fidget, but it was hard to do. Finally, after agonizing minutes, she met my eyes and spoke.
“Jake, I don’t know what to say. That’s horrible. To think poor Saylor had to deal with it on top of everything else she battles daily. What a nightmare. Not that I mean it wasn’t terrible for the rest of you, but in her case, it’s adding a big insult to a major injury. I’m so glad everyone is now safe. I can kinda see why it was something you wanted to tell me face-to-face. However, if I was angry like you say, then it was for a reason. You shut me out completely.
“You didn’t say what happened to those men. Only that you defended the compound and your club family. Are they in prison? Did anyone die? You’re keeping something back. I can tell. If you can’t share everything with me, that’s a red flag in my book.
“No, let me finish. I have no recollection of the way you said I talked and acted. Yes, I believe I was upset with you. Would I take it that far if I was in my right mind? I don’t think so. However, we’re back where we started. You’re not telling me everything. I understand we’re new, but if we can’t be honest from the start, we shouldn’t pursue a relationship,” she finished.
Hearing this made me want to shout, but I didn’t. I knew she had a point. I glanced at the door. There was no way I would tell her where someone could overhear it. It wasn’t just me who would hang for it if anyone found out and went to the cops.
“I will tell you, but I can’t do it while you’re here. I can’t. Promise me just a few days of leniency until they discharge you. When that happens, I swear to God, I’ll tell you the rest. I’m not playing for time to think up a lie, either.” I hoped I said enough to express my sincerity without revealing too much.
She studied me so intently that it felt like she was peeking into my brain. When she blinked, I relaxed. “Jake, I’ll give you these next few days, but as soon as I’m sprung, you will tell me that day or else. Swear it.”
“I swear on my life I will.” I held up my hand like I was swearing in.
“Okay, then we have a deal. I think I need a nap. After Scott and this, I’m tired. We’ll have to resume our questions later.” She yawned, and her eyes drooped with fatigue.
“You go to sleep, Killing Frost. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
She smiled. “Killing Frost. I love that name,” she muttered before drifting off.
While she slept, I stayed and watched her. In between, I sent out a text letting my club know about Scott. He was becoming a nuisance. I wouldn’t kill him for it, but I would beat his ass if I needed to for the point to get across.