Chapter Sixteen
Katie
THE LOW MURMUR of Rooster’s voice settled over me, and I smiled. However, in my sleepiness, I realized he was on his phone, and in the other room, so I sat up and listened.
“Can’t do anything here, brother.”
I frowned.
“Shit. Yeah. Gotta figure that out. If I tell her…” His voice faded away as the sound of his footsteps walked down the hall.
If he tells me, what?
I scrambled out of bed and wrapped a blanket around myself, rushing out of the room and into the living room. His back was to me, his phone to his ear, so I did my best not to make any noise at all.
“She’ll insist we come.” He sighed. “I know, Billy, but if Maisie’s sick—”
I gasped. “Maisie’s sick?”
“I’ll call you back.” He hung up and set his phone on one of the side tables. “She was. Her appendix was close to bursting. She’s good now. The surgery was successful, she’s gotta stay in the hospital for one more day, then she can go home.”
I cocked my head. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
His hand scrubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck.”
“Spit it out, Kam.”
“Someone attacked her in the hospital.”
“What?” I squealed. “What do you mean she got attacked?”
Rooster filled me in on what he knew about the hospital attack on Maisie, and I went into immediate action.
“Baby, what are you doing?”
“Packing!” I said in exasperation, grabbing a bag from a kitchen drawer and opening the cabinet above my head.
“None of that is our shit, Katie.”
“What?”
He made his way over to me and gently took the plastic bag out of my hand. “All of this stuff is pantry shit. It’s staying here. We’ll just pack our clothes, wash and change the sheets and head out. Sound good?”
I dropped my head to his chest and burst into tears. “Who would attack her?”
“I don’t know all the details,” he said, wrapping his arms around me. “We’ll find out when we get home.”
“You know how Hatch saved you?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Well, Maisie saved me, so if anything were to happen to her, I’d fucking lose my mind.”
He gave me a squeeze. “I know, baby. I get it.”
“Can we go home now?”
“Yeah, honey. We can go home now.”
After cleaning up, we headed back to Vancouver.
* * *
“Is Maisie at Legacy?” I asked as Rooster headed on to I-5.
“Uh, not sure.”
I grunted in frustration, grabbing my phone out of my purse and calling Cricket.
“This better not be my best friend calling me on her honeymoon.”
“Where’s Maisie?” I demanded.
Cricket’s deep, long sigh came through the phone. “She’s fine, you know.”
“Where. Is. She?”
“Legacy. Room 612.”
“Gina got her a private suite?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” I said. “We’re on our way.”
“Honey, she’s doing really well. The surgery—”
“Someone attacked her!” I squeaked.
“Who told you about that?”
“Does it matter?” I challenged. “I mean, I should have been notified the second it happened, not thirty-six hours later!”
“Okay, so Tabs is at it again. I’m gonna have to put Clutch on your brother, I see.”
“Are you with her?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon. And tell her I want access to her chart,” I bossed.
“Katie, you’re not her doctor.”
“Do not fuck with me today, Satan.”
She sighed again. “Okay, okay, you can talk to her when you get here.”
“Great. I love you. Goodbye.”
“Love you too.”
We rang off and I dropped my phone back in my purse.
Rooster chuckled, reaching over to link his fingers with mine. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
“You already know that about me,” I said.
“Oh, that was for me, baby. I just said it out loud.”
He kissed my hand, and we drove the rest of the way in silence.
Pulling up to the hospital, I was out of the car almost before Rooster had managed to park the truck, eliciting a growl of admonishment from him.
I waved my hand in an effort to get him to hurry, which got me another grunt and a frown on top of it. “Baby, would you give me one second to lock the truck?”
“Can you do it faster?”
He raised an eyebrow as he hit the key fob, then followed me into the building.
“You know, I don’t negotiate with terrorists,” he said as we stepped into the elevator. “It doesn’t matter how sexy they are.”
I rolled my eyes as I hit the button to the sixth floor. “You really shouldn’t say things like that in a hospital,” I hissed. “They might kick us out.”
Rooster chuckled, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me. “No one’s kickin’ us out.”
I tugged on his beard. “Are you trying to get on my nerves?”
“No.” He leaned down and kissed me gently. “That’s just a bonus.”
“You’re going to pay for that later.”
He grinned just as the elevator doors opened. “Can’t wait.”
I’d been to Legacy more times than I could count, so I knew the lay of the land, so-to-speak, and headed toward Maisie’s room.
The second I turned the corner to the suites, I saw Razor sitting outside her room and rushed toward him.
He stood, opening his arms and wrapping them around me as I slid into them. “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hi,” I breathed out. “Is she okay?”
“She’s great. Go on in.”
“I’ll wait out here,” Rooster said, and I nodded, kissing him quickly before slipping inside.
Cricket looked up from her place in the recliner and put a finger to her lips. “She’s sleeping.”
“Where’s Hatch?”
She shrugged. “He and Minus took off somewhere.”
I frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Before Cricket could comment, Rooster peeked his head in. “Razor and I have to head out. A couple of prospects are on the door.”
I frowned. “What? Where are you going?”
“We should be back in a couple of hours,” he said not answering my question.
“Beckham, where are you going?” I pressed.
“They will take you home. Do not leave here without one of them at your back. Got it?”
I closed the distance between us. “I swear to god, Rooster, you need to answer my question.”
Instead of doing that, he leaned down and kissed me. “I love you.”
“No, sir.” I hooked a finger around one of his belt loops and tugged him back. “Where are you going?”
Cricket let out a quiet snort behind me.
I craned my neck to scowl at her. “No comments from the peanut gallery.”
“I can’t tell you where I’m going right now, Katie, because I don’t know,” Rooster said. “I got a call out from Flea—”
“Billy called you?”
“No, my sergeant did. It’s an official call out, so we have to go. I don’t have any details right now.”
“Who does?”
“Razor,” he bit out. “Who is currently waiting for me downstairs.”
I bit my lip. “Will you text me when you know?”
“Probably not.”
I gasped. “Rude.”
“Let the man go,” Cricket ordered.
“Katie?” Maisie rasped. “What are you doing here?”
Rooster used this distraction to escape and closed the door.
“I’m going to kill him,” I snapped.
“Who, love?” Maisie asked.
“My husband,” I said, making my way to her bedside. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled. “Like my guts have been ripped out.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Water would be great.”
I poured her some fresh water, and handed it to her, making sure she was comfortable.
“Where’s Hatch?” Maisie asked.
“He and Minus went somewhere,” Cricket said.
“Somewhere?” Maisie frowned. “Where?”
“They didn’t say,” Cricket said. “Minus dropped me off, and they headed out. Maverick and Harm are here on Maisie watch, along with Brian and a couple of other Dogs prospects.”
Maisie sighed. “But they’re together?”
Cricket nodded.
“Hand me my phone, love, please.”
Before Cricket could do that, however, Brynn walked in. “Well, it’s a party. Katie, I thought you were on your honeymoon.”
“Yeah, she was supposed to be, but her brother has a gossip problem,” Cricket tattled.
“No, he has my back,” I countered, turning back to Brynn. “I want to see Maisie’s chart.”
“Uh, HIPPA says I can’t let you do that, my friend,” Brynn countered.
“She can see it,” Maisie said. “Show her whatever she wants to see. She’ll hound me endlessly if you don’t and besides, she’ll be helping to take care of me at home.”
“Not Hatch?”
“Hell, no.” Maisie grimaced. “I mean, yes, he will, but he’ll want to carry me to the toilet, and if I so much as whimper, he’ll demand to know why, then probably call an ambulance. Katie will insist on checking on me, but she’ll be far more… what’s the word? Calm.”
Brynn chuckled. “Okay, I’ll log in and you can poke around.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
Brynn logged in so I could go through Maisie’s chart and I frowned. “Honey, you were septic. Holy shit, no wonder you were in so much pain.”
“How did you manage to keep all of that from my brother?” Cricket asked.
“It wasn’t easy.”
“Why would you keep it from him?” I asked, still reading through her chart.
“I thought I could handle it,” Maisie admitted.
“Sweetie, this was a lot,” I said, turning to face her. “Please promise me you won’t ever do that again. This could have gone badly. These two surgeons are some of the best and the ER got you in really quickly, but if you’d waited any longer…” I shook my head. “Well, I’m not going there.”
“But you’re not lecturing your first lady, are you, bestie?” Cricket admonished.
“I promise I will never do that again,” Maisie said. “I was trying not to worry Hatch, but I should have said something. At the very least, gone in and seen you or Gina.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, squeezing her arm. “Because I know what would happen if Hatch lost you, but the world doesn’t want to see what would happen if I lost you.”
Maisie laughed, then settled her hand on her side. “Ow.”
“Okay, time for pain meds,” Brynn said. “Do you need to pee?”
“Yes,” Maisie said. “And I’m hungry.”
“Good sign.” Brynn smiled. “Let’s get you sorted, then we’ll get you some food.”
For the next two hours, and after getting another two prospects to bring food in, we spent some quality girl time, waiting for our men to return.
They didn’t and by the time midnight rolled around, I was about to lose my mind.
But Maisie, well, Maisie was about to lose her religion altogether.
* * *
Maisie
I made sure the bathroom door was locked and dialed Danielle’s number. Cricket and Katie had taken a minute to step out so Brynn could help me into the restroom, so I took my phone with me in an effort to get some privacy.
“Hey, honey, how are you feeling?”
“Do you know where our men are?” I hiss-pered.
“Hatch is with you.”
“No, he’s not.”
“I don’t understand,” Dani said.
“Danielle Harris Carver, I swear to Christ, if you don’t start giving me information right now, I will walk out of this hospital and get it myself.”
“Honey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Booker went to the club earlier, but nothing seemed off. He was just going down to meet with a recruit.”
“At this time of night?” I squeaked. “Dani, think.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say here,” she bit out.
I squeezed my eyes shut and a foggy memory of Hatch kissing me gently and telling me he’d be back soon entered my mind.
“I want you to tell me everything you know. Cricket said Hatch went somewhere with Minus. They don’t ‘go’ places together.
I have been trying to call him all night.
He’s not answering. He’s also not returning my texts.
Jesus, you’re my second for all intents and purposes, and you know I know you’re more like a mafia boss than a second lady, so don’t sit there and pretend like I’m not aware you’ve got someone tailing our men right now. ”
“I don’t have anyone tailing them.”
“Then you have someone reporting to you exactly what’s going on.”
“Those drugs are fucking with your brain, honey,” she said gently. “There isn’t a man that’s part of the club that’d put their lives in their hands to squeal to an old lady about club business. Or do you know something I don’t?”
“Fuck,” I bit out. “My husband is doing something incredibly stupid, I just know it.”
“Sweetie, you need to heal. Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing with the full backing of the club. He’d never do anything to put himself in danger and you know it.”
“I don’t know it, Dani.” I sighed.
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Warlock sent someone in to try and kill me.”
“I’m sorry, what the fuck?” she snapped. “Where the hell was your cover?”
“Brynn said it was a guy pretending to be my doctor. Razor didn’t realize he wasn’t who he said he was.”
“Shit,” Dani hissed. “Who’s covering you now?”
“Um, Flash is here, I think. I’ve seen him twice.
Jamie’s here too, lurking in the hallway.
Maverick and Harm are covering their women, and Cricket is my constant companion, refusing to tell me anything.
And I know she knows more than she’s telling me.
Katie and Brynn are my caretakers and also refusing to let me do anything except pee and eat.
Rooster left without telling Katie anything, so she’s not happy.
I even tried to ring Minus myself. Shocker, he didn’t answer. ”
“If I knew anything, I’d tell you, honey, I swear. But I just checked Booker’s tracker and it’s at the club. Cash and Archer’s are also at the club.”
I frowned. “Hatch’s is too, but I think something’s up.”
“Okay, I’ll run down there and check. Will that make you feel better?”
“Yes. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Thanks, love.”
“You bet,” she said. “Give me an hour.”
“Okay.” We rang off and pressed the button to let Bryn know I was ready to head back to my bed. She helped me back into the room to find Cricket and Katie eating quietly.
“Want some?” Katie asked.
“Yes, I’m starving,” I admitted.
“Come on, back to bed,” Cricket said, and helped me get settled.
Despite the fact I was worried and amped up, I managed to eat a little bit, then fell back to sleep relatively quickly.