Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alejandro
Elaina was in a bit of a better mood once she saw Emmanuel again and saw he was truly on the mend. But the moment River and Sam carried Joey through the clubhouse doors, and she saw he was unconscious, all the progress she’d made went right down the drain.
“Joey?” Elaina croaked, her once bright eyes turning horrified and panicked.
Adelaide lurched from the couch, her face paling.
River cast his wife a pained look before hurrying to help gently lay Joey out on the table in the chapel.
Elaina hurried forward, her eyes running over Joey’s body until they landed on the bleeding wound on his side.
She sucked in a sharp breath, a tear running down her cheek.
“Pequena luchadora,” I called, drawing her eyes to me.
I was worried as well, damn near terrified for Joey, who was fucking unconscious.
“Step back so they can work.” I didn’t feel much better than she looked like she was feeling, but I had to hold myself together for her sake.
She needed me to be strong, and I couldn’t let her down. I needed to be her rock.
She stepped back, her lips trembling. I drew her into my arms and plastered my back to the wall, holding her to me as River, Sam, and Ink set to work on Joey.
They didn’t say much, just mostly told each other what to do and what they needed.
Eventually, York appeared with an IV pole, a bag of saline, and two pints of blood.
Wordlessly, he worked on sticking Joey’s arm and began running the fluids.
Part of me wanted to ask if they were sure they knew what they were doing when it came to giving blood, but I kept my mouth shut.
They wouldn’t do anything that could harm Joey, and I knew that. He was their president, but he was also their brother. Their family. And if there was one thing I’d come to learn about the Sons of Hell MC, they looked out for each other.
“Fuck,” Joey suddenly groaned, his eyelids fluttering open. “It fucking hurts.”
He lifted his arm, but York gripped it, shaking his head at Joey. “Keep it down and straight,” York told him. “You lost a lot of blood. We’ll move you to your bed once River’s done stitching you up.”
Joey lifted his head, looking down at where River was working, then dropped his head back down with another groan.
Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes locking on me and Elaina.
A small smile tilted his lips, but it was full of pain and discomfort.
“Sweet girl,” he rasped, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get shot. I fucking swear.”
She sniffled and swiped at her cheeks. “I’m so mad at you.”
He sighed, smiling softly at her, though it looked more like a grimace. But fuck, the man was trying for her sake, and I loved him for it. “I know,” he murmured. “But once I’m feeling better, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
I released her so she could walk over to him. He grabbed her hand in his that wasn’t connected to the IV machine and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “You’re so pretty when you cry, even if I hate that you’re crying because I’m hurt,” he softly told her.
“Done,” River announced. He looked at Joey. “I’ll handle Adelaide. You need rest.”
Joey grunted, shaking his head, then moaned in discomfort, stopping immediately. “I can—”
“I’ll handle her,” River repeated. He helped Joey sit up, and I hated the pain that crossed Joey’s face. “Let Alejandro get you to bed.”
Joey arched a brow at him. River smirked. “I’m not fucking blind, brother. But I won’t say a word. None of my business what you decide to let anyone know, if you let anyone know anything.” With that, he left the room.
Once everyone but Elaina had cleared out, I strode forward and gripped Joey’s chin, tilting his head back so he was forced to look up at me. “We’ll talk later about how something like this happened,” I told him quietly. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”
His crooked grin was fucking breathtaking. “Thought you’d get rid of me that easily, Garcia?”
I grunted. “If I did, Joey, I wouldn’t have staked a claim on you.” Leaning down, I pressed my lips to his in a quick, hard kiss. “Let’s get you to bed. You’re going to want to rest, and Miguel should have already had someone leave pain medicine for you.”
“Pain meds sound so fucking good right now, and it better be the good shit. Not some bullshit ass Tylenol.” Joey groaned in pain as I helped him down from the table.
Then, he wrapped his hand around Elaina’s again, holding her close to his good side.
She grabbed his IV pole to wheel it with us. “And I want cuddles.”
Elaina’s laugh was watery. “You can have the middle,” she told him.
He hummed and nodded his head. Wrapping my arm around him, I helped him from the chapel. York looked up from his beer when we emerged from the hallway. “I’ll come in frequently to check his drip,” he informed us. “Goodnight.”
“Night,” Elaina softly told him.
Once we were in Joey’s room and I had him situated in the middle of the bed, pain medicine already down his throat, he promptly passed out again, and it didn’t take long for soft snores to leave his mouth.
I pulled Elaina to me and just held her for a minute, letting her lean into me and take all the comfort she needed.
“You okay?” I softly asked her.
She lifted her head, and surprising me, she lifted up onto her toes and pressed her lips to mine in a soft, slow kiss. Groaning, I laced my hand in her blonde hair and quickly took charge of the kiss, plunging my tongue into her mouth.
Dios, she tasted like heaven. All soft and warm and pliant. She was a dream come true, and I was so fucking lucky that she was willing to let me make her mine, especially after all the hell she’d endured at men’s hands.
“Elaina…” I rasped, tilting her head back so I had more access to her throat.
She moaned softly, her hands curling into my button-down shirt.
But then suddenly, she was pressing her hands to my chest. Immediately, I stopped and lifted my head, backpedaling.
Had I accidentally overstepped a boundary?
“I’m not upset,” she hurried to say, “and you didn’t do anything wrong. I just…” She drew in a deep breath. “I just want anything… sexual to be with both you and Joey. Together. At least for the first time.” Her cheeks darkened at her declaration, but she didn’t back down from what she wanted.
It just made me fall even more stupidly head over heels for her.
I cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Okay, pequena luchadora,” I murmured. I smiled at her and stroked my thumb over her cheek. “I want that, too.”
“Good,” Joey slurred, his voice thick with sleep. I looked over, surprised to see him looking at us through barely open eyes. “Now get your asses in bed and cuddle me.”
“Demanding, aren’t you?” I teased, but nonetheless, I stripped down to my boxers and got in bed, watching as Elaina did this same, though she stayed dressed.
The moment I had Joey wrapped in my arms, spooning him, and his head was resting on Elaina’s chest, our man relaxed and passed right back out.