Chapter 85
Lark
After I’ve changed and freshened up a bit, Anthony carries me down to Doc’s medical room and sets me down on the bed.
Patch is rummaging through the cabinets and starts setting things out on a tray for Doc.
As for Doc, he carefully takes off my sock and a slight pain runs through my foot when he pulls my sock loose from the dried blood.
Instantly, I can feel fresh blood oozing out of the cuts.
After a few moments, Doc nods.
“Well, it looks like they were both clean cuts and I don’t see any glass in either one.
I do see a lot of dirt in both of them, though.
We’ll get it all cleaned up but you’ll need to keep a very close eye on them for an infection.
If you notice the wound becoming red, puffy, or starting to seep puss, come and see me,” Doc says as he takes a few alcohol packets from Patch.
I wince when he starts cleaning it, but I don’t pull away.
This needs to be done. I just hate how much it stings.
“Will she need stitches?” Anthony asks and I hold my breath as I wait for Doc to answer. Please say no.
He shakes his head and I exhale in relief. “No, they aren’t that bad. I’ll use a bit of skin glue and that should take care of everything.”
I look up at Anthony, a silent question in my eyes and bite my lip nervously while I wait for his reply.
“Will she be able to walk on it?” he asks Doc, but he doesn’t look away from me.
“Yes, she will be able to walk but I recommend staying off her foot as much as possible since the cuts are near the ball of her foot. The motion of walking normally could cause the wounds to repeatedly reopen and prolong the healing.” Doc’s hand pauses mid-stroke with the alcohol wipe before looking up at Anthony.
They seem to have a silent conversation and after a while, Doc finally nods.
“It will need to be wrapped to protect it against anything that might get into it.”
Excitement and anticipation bubbles up inside me. Is he going to allow me to do it?
“Do you think you can manage to wear your boots for a little while, Darlin’?
Instantly, I nod. “Yeah, I’ll just be careful with how I walk to try and not disturb the wounds or the glue. I’ll keep most of my weight on my other leg as much as possible.”
Anthony steps up to me and cups my cheeks, his calloused thumbs rubbing back and forth on my cheeks. “If things get too heavy or if the pain gets to be too much, tell me and I’ll get you upstairs.”
My resolve hardens as I think about Zac and the others, and I nod. “I will, but I don’t think that will happen. I want to make them pay for what they did to me and for what they would have done to me.”
His eyes gleam with approval and the corner of his lips twitch as he winks at me. “Knew you were perfect for me, Darlin’.”
Frowning, I think back to that guy. “Do you have a picture of X? I wonder if the guy I saw was really him.”
Anthony starts to shake his head but then stops. “I don’t but Python does. Just a second, Darlin’.”
He texts Python and after a few moments, his phone dings. He hands me his phone and I flip through the pictures as I nod. “It’s him. He was there.”
My knuckles turn white as I grip the phone hard.
X.
One of the men who was responsible for everything Mae went through.
One of the men who was responsible for a lot of what Mary went through since her so-called uncle, Diego, was in partnership with him.
And the man that wanted to steal my child away from me should his and Zac’s plans succeed.
I hand Anthony back his phone and grip the edges of the bed as I try to process and sort through my thoughts.
Anthony leans against the bed and I lean into him, letting his warmth and strong arms soothe me while Doc works on cleaning out my wounds.
Then, once my skin is dry, he applies the glue.
A couple of minutes later when the glue is dry, he wraps my foot so that no…
ahem… bodily fluids… can get into them. When he’s done, I carefully slide my foot into my boot but then pause as I take a closer look at them.
These are the boots I was wearing earlier today.
I know they weren’t in the warehouse, so where were they?
“Where’d you find my boots?”
Anthony fishes something out of his pocket and I’m relieved when he hands me back my phone. The screen is slightly scratched, but other than that, it’s surprisingly undamaged.
“Zac tossed your phone and boots out along the road from the tavern back into town. I grabbed your purse, cut, and jacket from your office. They’re in my office right now.”
I frown and suddenly remember what Zac said. “He told me he had jammers set up and he somehow knew about the tracker under my skin. How did you find me?”
A sheepish look comes over him as he scratches his neck.
“When Nathan called me and told me you were missing, Python activated your tracker but could tell it was being blocked. It was actually Crystal that led us to you. We were out driving around town trying to spot Zac’s truck when I recognized her car.
She’d changed her appearance some, but I knew it was her. I followed her which led me to you.”
I scowl. “Crystal changed her appearance, including her clothing, so that it mirrored mine.” My scowl deepens.
“She was going to use that same drug on you, and then, in her words, prove that she was better for you than me. My guess was that Crystal hoped she would get knocked up by you and then you’d be tied to her that way. ”
He grits his teeth and the muscles in his arms bunch but his grip on my cheeks remains light and unchanged.
He takes a deep breath and slowly exhales.
“Let’s get you ready and then fed. You must be starving after missing supper and having your lunch cut short.
The fuckers can sit on ice for a while.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbles and we both chuckle.
Doc hands me a couple of packets of medicine and I finish lacing up my boots before cautiously stepping down from the bed.
It hurts when I put my full weight on my foot, but I know the meds Doc just gave me will help knock the edge off once they kick in.
Carefully, I limp into the main room and am instantly bombarded. My eyes sting as all the guys come up and hug me, fist bump, or clasp my shoulder. Mama Astrid is the last one and my tears threaten to break free as she wraps me in a hug that is so similar to my mom’s, that it must be a ‘mom thing’.
“I’m so glad you’re back safe and sound,” she whispers in my ear. A few seconds later, she pulls back and gives me a knowing smile and a wink. “Now, let’s get you fed before you take care of business. You’re going to need your strength.”
I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me despite the situation.
She links her arm through mine, letting me use her as a support as I limp into the kitchen.
Not surprisingly, Anthony follows closely behind.
I have a feeling he’ll be shadowing me for a while, but I don’t mind in the least since I know I’m going to want to have him close after everything I learned in this mess.
My mouth waters as I step into the kitchen at the array in front of me. Mama Astrid prepared a make your own sub station and fuck, the idea of a loaded sub really hits the spot right now.
Twenty minutes later, I’m stuffed and lean back in my chair. Nibbling on my lip, my gaze goes to Nathan. Glancing back at Anthony, he dips his chin in understanding. Standing, I walk over to Nathan and sit down next to him.
“I’m sorry,” I start, but when he frowns, I start to worry. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I have listened to you, and I should have trusted you. I’m sorry.”
He leans his forearms on the table, staring down at it.
“Do I wish things had happened differently? Yeah, I do. I mean, both of our Prospecting terms have been extended because of what happened.” He pauses as his gaze locks with mine.
“But I also get why you snapped like you did. You’ve had a shadow ever since the stalker shit started.
And these last few weeks? You never had a second alone.
” Then he levels me with a serious look.
“But if this ever happens again, I’ll be checking everything out no matter what you say. ”
I nod. “I agree, definitely. And thank you. If something like this happens to another woman that hooks up with one of you guys? I’ll try to help dissipate their frustrations.” Pausing I chew on my lip nervously. “Are we okay?”
He gives me a soft smile before reaching over and squeezing my shoulder. “We’re good, Queen. It’s all in the past.”
Reaching up, I squeeze his hand in return, relieved that Nathan doesn’t hate me for what happened.
Movement has me turning and Anthony catches my eye before raising an eyebrow in question. I nod, silently telling him we’re good. He gestures toward his office, and I smile back at Nathan before rising and following Anthony.
It’s time.
I finish tying my hair up in a tight bun, and glance once more in the mirror.
Satisfied, I close the closet door and grab my cut off of Anthony’s desk, sliding it on.
After these last nine hours, feeling the familiar weight of the cut on my shoulders and smelling the faint scent of leather has a knot in my chest loosening. I am back where I’m supposed to be.
At Anthony’s side, both in his personal life and as his Queen in the club.
I’m home.
Thinking of home, I breathe out a breath of relief that my family is safe.
That my friends are safe.
Nathan is safe.
Anthony is safe.
Crystal didn’t get her claws on Anthony.
I am safe.
Richard didn’t get my family’s land.
I can’t stop my smirk at that. Even if I had signed the papers, they wouldn’t have gotten what they wanted.
Kelly didn’t witness my entire life being ripped apart.
I frown at the thought of Kelly. What about Grace? What about Genivieve?
Then another thought hits me which has me frowning even more.