Chapter 4
I was shaking with fury as I entered Tiago’s room after the mostly worthless talk with that woman who ran the ICU.
I couldn’t believe they saw nothing wrong with allowing someone like Paige Worthy to care for their patients.
How could you trust someone like her?
Tiago’s furious expression met mine as I closed the door.
I bet he’d have some shit to say about it.
“I can’t believe this place. They—.”
He cut me off with a slashing motion of his hand.
“What did you do? Where have you been all this time? I heard yelling and then nothing,” he growled.
“I went after her.
I was telling her to stay away from you when another nurse came up and tried to quiet me.
Finally, the director and a couple of security guards came.
We took it to the director’s office for all the good it did. They’re still allowing her to work. They did promise to keep her away from you. Sorry, I couldn’t do more.” I dropped into the chair I was in earlier.
“Who the hell asked you to do any of that?” he asked.
T sounded and looked upset.
“No one had to ask.
You’re my best friend, Tiago.
I always have your back.
You know that.”
“I know who you are and that you do, but this wasn’t a situation where I needed you to have it or to do anything, Scorpion.
You took off without allowing me to say anything.
You took it upon yourself to decide what I wanted.
I have my mental faculties. I make my decisions. The only time you step in is if I can’t,” he snapped.
“Whoa, wait, hang on.
I’m sorry if it upset you.
I didn’t mean to treat you as if you couldn’t do it yourself, but she left the room.
You couldn’t chase after her.” I explained the obvious.
“True, I couldn’t chase her, but if you hadn’t attacked her the way you did, I wouldn’t have had to chase her.
We could’ve stayed in here and had a conversation, and not had the whole floor hear my business.”
I was taken aback by his anger at me.
What had I done wrong? “Tiago, I don’t get it.
You seem pissed at me.
I was only trying to help.”
“If you want to help, talk to me about what I want done and if I need you to do it.
Why did you go berserk on her? You must’ve scared her to death.”
“Who cares? She deserves it.
You ask why.
Come on, she’s the person who hit you and left you a paraplegic.
She changed the course of your life. Surely, you don’t expect us to be calm about the fact that she’s been your nurse. How did you not recognize her? She hasn’t changed that much.”
“I didn’t recognize her because things were very hazy for me during that period.
I was so far into my woe-is-me stage and depression that very little registered.
Paige Worthy’s face is a blur to me.
All I recollect is that she was a young, frightened kid who was devastated by what happened. Sure, I was angry at her, but I recognized that she didn’t do it maliciously as time passed. Shit happens, man. You just savaged her for something she did thirteen years ago when she was still a kid.”
“What the fuck? Are you joking? You’re defending her? Christ, Tiago,” I almost shouted.
“I don’t know what sixteen-year-old Paige was like as a person.
Maybe she was selfish or whatever, but I’ve known the current Paige to be kind, competent, and caring.
She’s been nothing but great to me.
She has a sense of humor and is the nurse I get along with the most. They’ll be too afraid to let her near me, even if I say it’s okay after your rampage,” he said disgustedly.
“You’d let her back as your nurse?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes, I would.
Instead of chasing her off, why not let us have a conversation as adults? You’re a hothead sometimes, Scorpion.
I know asking you not to tell the rest of the club is useless.
But when you do, make it clear that when any of you come to visit, don’t give her attitude. She has a job to do and doesn’t need the hassle,” he demanded.
I was in a surreal situation.
I didn’t know what to say, but he was clearly mad at me.
Not wanting to argue with him, I nodded and added one more point.
“I’ll let them know.
But it’s not a good idea to have her be your nurse.
Why she didn’t tell someone when she recognized you, I don’t know.
It feels suspicious to me.”
“Only to you.
The way you reacted, no wonder she didn’t say anything.
Enough talk about this, I’m pissed off.
Let’s discuss something else, or do you have to leave?”
We chatted about stupid stuff, and honestly, I hardly remembered what it was.
As I said goodbye later, I knew he was still thinking about the incident.
He hugged me.
As I walked out of his room, I couldn’t prevent myself from scanning the nurses’ station and the hallway, but there was no sign of her. On my way to the elevator, I sent a message to Diablo.
Me: Got a situation everyone needs to hear about.
We need to have a quick church tonight.
I made it to my bike before he responded.
Diablo: Regarding?
Me: Tiago.
Something happened at the hospital.
Diablo: Is he ok?
Me: Yes, physically.
Diablo: I’ll arrange it.
Check your phone later.
Me: TY
I had to fight to concentrate on the ride home.
The last thing I needed was to get in an accident while obsessing over Paige Worthy.
Seeing her was like watching a ghost enter your life.
Those months after Tiago was hurt were painful for all of us. I’d been dealing with my anger at the whole thing and the stupid teenage girl who caused it. I’d lashed out, just not publicly. That part I’d kept a closely guarded secret, even from Tiago.
***
The mood around the table in church was a mixture of curiosity and somberness.
Everyone knew from Diablo’s text that we called church to talk about Tiago, which made them nervous.
Even the members who hadn’t been around when he had his accident, which was most of them, had gotten to know and befriended Tiago over their time here, and they knew the story.
I had no doubt they’d be upset over what I had to tell them.
Diablo called us to attention.
He was in his chair at the head of the table.
The one we’d gotten him.
It was wooden, tall-backed, with devil’s horns. He pounded the table with the bone-shaped gavel—another gift we’d given him as a joke. He loved them.
“Alright, you filthy animals, you’d better not have anything to complain about this week, or it’s off with your heads, especially since we’ve met twice,” he growled loudly.
The first part was his standard greeting when we started church.
The room got very quiet, other than the creak of a chair as someone shifted their weight.
After running his gaze around the table, Diablo nodded.
“Okay, it seems that we’re all here and ready.
Your VP called this meeting.
He has something to tell us about Tiago.
VP, I’m handing this over to you,” he said before he leaned back in his chair.
Clearing my throat, I didn’t beat around the bush.
“I went to see Tiago this afternoon.
While I was there, his nurse came in.
She’s been caring for him on the day shift for the past few days.
It was while she was there that I made a discovery. When we got face-to-face, I recognized her. Tiago didn’t, it seems.” I paused.
“Recognized her? What does that mean? Why all the mystery?” Lucky asked.
“Some of you will remember this name.
Paige Worthy,” I replied.
Mentioning that name caused a reaction from those who had been here then—Diablo, Butcher, and me.
Butcher and Diablo glowered and growled low.
The rest were puzzled.
Not waiting for them to ask, I let the growling coming from our president and enforcer die down before I explained.
“For those who don’t know that name, that’s the name of the girl who hit Tiago on his bike and caused his paralysis.
She was the teenager driving when she wasn’t supposed to.”
This news made the others scowl and mumble darkly, and a few hit their fists on the table.
The noise took longer to die down, but eventually, it did.
“What happened when you recognized her?” Diablo asked.
“I called her out in front of T.
She got scared and ran, the coward.
I had to chase her to the nurses’ station.
I grabbed her before she could disappear into a locked room. I was tearing into her, demanding to know why she was there, when another nurse showed up. Right after that, we had security guards and the director of the ICU appear. We were taken to her office to talk.”
“Why the hell would they let her take care of him?” Thunder asked.
“It seems they had no idea about her past, and Paige Worthy didn’t see fit to mention it to anyone.
Once it was clear what she did, the director was appalled and assured me they wouldn’t allow her near Tiago.
If I had my way, they wouldn’t allow the bitch near anyone, but that’s not my call.
I did tell the director that if she had any contact with him, I’d find out, and she wouldn’t like it.”
“What did Tiago have to say about it? I assume you went back to him after you dealt with her,” Butcher asked.
“I did go back, and I gotta say, he shocked me.
He’s mad at me for calling her out and causing a scene.
He said I had no right to do that.
I asked him how he didn’t know it was her. His excuse is that the first year after his accident is a blur, and he barely remembers Paige. He defended her as a good nurse, the one he deals with the best, and that my actions would ensure she wasn’t allowed near him even if he said it was okay.”
“What the hell?”
“Is he nuts?
“That makes no sense.”
Various members muttered all those comments.
I was about to agree when I was stunned.
“Well, try to see it from her point of view.
You said you don’t know why she didn’t say anything.
The truth is, she’s not obligated to tell.
The accident happened before she was an adult. Do you know how many kids get into trouble when they’re young, sometimes terrible shit, and those records are sealed and expunged? That means they don’t have to reveal them. She was acquitted of a crime. Something like that has probably haunted her since. She wouldn’t want it known or to stir up old feelings or animosity. As for Tiago, maybe he feels the same. It’s in the past and can’t be undone. All I’ve ever heard is that it wasn’t done on purpose. He’s trying to let bygones be bygones,” Punk said clearly.
“Are you fucking high, Punk? She almost killed him, left him in a chair, and changed his fucking life! And you say let bygones be bygones!” I snarled.
I held myself back from coming out of my chair and crawling across the table to choke him.
“Hey, I’m just saying there could be reasons.
I’m playing devil’s advocate here.
Would you want it thrown in your face for years, or ruin your career and life for something you did that was beyond stupid as a kid? How many of us have snuck out and taken a vehicle when we weren’t supposed to? Or went out when our family said not to.
Any of us could’ve ended up the same way,” he argued.
I came to my feet.
“She’s not innocent.
Several months after the accident, she and her family moved away from St.
Augustine.
Why would she dare return here, knowing we’re here and what happened? I don’t believe it’s because she couldn’t get a job elsewhere. She’s a damn nurse. If she’s a decent one, she’d have her pick of jobs. I want to know what she’s doing back here. How long has she been back? I want to ensure she stays as far away from Tiago as possible,” I snarled.
“Easy, VP.
Calm down,” Diablo said softly.
I sank into my chair after taking several deep breaths.
After I was seated, Diablo added, “We understand being upset and wanting answers.
I do, too.
Something about that whole night never sat well with me. It was how everyone acted and how we were kept from that family, and even prevented from talking to the girl. Until we know more, I agree that allowing her to care for or be alone with him isn’t smart. Micro, I’d like you to see what you can dig up. Where did the family go when they left St. Aug? What has she been involved in since that time? When did she move back? Where is the rest of her family? You know what to look for.”
“You got it,” Micro said.
His answer appeased my anger a tiny amount, but I was still seething.
“Anything else you wanted to tell us, Scorpion?” Diablo asked.
“Yes, I know we’re all in and out visiting him.
I want everyone to keep their eyes open.
I don’t want her around him.
I can’t rely on Tiago to tell me if she is. Micro, is there a way you could put one of your bugs in his room so we’d know?”
“I can if you think it’s needed.”
He shifted his eyes between me and Diablo.
I glanced over at our president.
Diablo studied me briefly, then gave Micro a chin lift.
“Do it.
Hopefully, Tiago will be moved off the ICU and out of there soon.
We’ll leave it in place until he’s gone.
If that’s all, church is over.”
No one said more, so we all stood.
I hurried ahead of most of them and then down the hall.
I caught Punk before he disappeared into his room.
“What the fuck was all that talk in there?” I asked him.
“I was just offering an alternate viewpoint, VP.
I’m not saying you’re not right to be concerned about her, but there might be extenuating circumstances we don’t know about.”
“You know nothing of what that was like or what Tiago and those of us closest to him went through.
Save that misplaced sympathy for someone who deserves it.
Paige Worthy doesn’t deserve a fucking drop of it.
Remember who your loyalty should lie with,” I told him hotly.
“Message received, VP,” he said quietly before entering his room.
I stood there staring at his shut door.
I wanted to pound on it and maybe him.
A hand coming down on my shoulder made me jump.
I had been so in my head that I hadn’t noticed anyone approaching. Swinging around, I faced Diablo.
“Come talk to me,” was all he said.
I let him lead me to his office in the clubhouse.
He maintained one here for when he was working on club stuff and didn’t want to disturb Jauhnna or the kids with us tromping in and out and chattering.
He closed the door.
Before he sat down, he got into the bottom drawer of his file cabinet and brought out two glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
He placed them on his desk and poured out two generous portions.
Handing one to me, he took the other and sat.
“Looks like you need it.
I want you to listen to me, Scorpion.
I know how much Tiago means to you.
He means a helluva lot to me and Butcher, too. What we went through with him was hell. However, the club members have to feel they can voice their opinions, whether we agree with them or not. It’s our duty as brothers and officers to ensure they can. They can’t feel stifled, and the way you just spoke to and cornered Punk was the wrong way to handle it. Sure, we can lose our cool. I’ve done it. And I’ve not acted the way I should in situations. However, when I don’t, I expect one or more of you to call me on it. Punk isn’t the enemy. At the risk of you taking my head off, I don’t know if Paige Worthy is the enemy either. The whole thing has never sat well with me, VP. I think there’s more to the story.”
Being called out by Diablo never felt good.
But I respected him enough not to argue, even when I disagreed.
However, I wasn’t planning to argue, just restate my feelings.
I’d let Micro find all the incriminating evidence, and when he did, I’d be able to say I told you so.
“Alright, I’ll smooth things over with Punk.
But until we know, I don’t like the idea of Tiago being alone there too much, especially on the day shift.
That’s when she works.”
“We’ll get that bug planted tomorrow and see about having people stop by as much as possible, but we have work to do.
We can’t let the businesses slide,” he cautioned.
“I know, and that’s fine.”
“Then we have our plan.
I can tell you’re anxious to get out of here and to your house.
It’s been a long day.
Before you rush off, let’s sit and enjoy this whiskey. It shouldn’t be rushed. It’s the good stuff.” He winked.
And that was how I sat there in silence with Diablo, savoring whiskey, while I plotted to unveil that Paige Worthy wasn’t some misunderstood innocent.
After we were done, he waved me on my way.
I didn’t go through the main common area to leave the clubhouse.
I exited through the back. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone tonight.
At my house, I had a hard time decompressing enough to go to sleep.
I paced for a while.
When it failed to mellow me, I tried to get lost in a movie on television, but I couldn’t concentrate.
After a hot shower, I decided to go to bed. I lay in bed and tossed for hours before falling asleep, but images of her haunted my dreams.
A part of me felt guilty that I hadn’t told the club everything.
I kept telling myself it wasn’t necessary until I proved my point about her.
Then I’d reveal the rest.
Everyone would see that I was right for what I did. Hopefully, others would see that she wasn’t the one who should be taking care of people. Why would she ever think being a nurse was appropriate for her?
***
I rushed through my urgent work at the garage to visit Tiago in the afternoon.
I wished I could be there all day, but Diablo was right.
We couldn’t neglect our businesses.
I arranged for Micro to meet me there so he could plant the bug. We met in front of the hospital. After greeting each other, I got to the point.
“Do you have it?” I asked.
“I do.”
My next question was, “Is it just a listening device, or does it also have video?”
“It has both.”
“Good, Hey, I don’t want Tiago to know it’s there.
The way he’s thinking and all that, he might tell them.
He’s messed up over this,” I explained.
Micro was quiet until we got on the elevator.
“For me to plant it without him knowing, he has to be out of the room.
Are you sure you want to hide it from him? If he finds out, he’ll probably be pissed.”
“Better pissed than harmed.
How long would we need to be scarce?”
“Ten minutes would be nice, but I’ll make it happen if you can get me five.
I have to see what’s in there to hide it in.
I didn’t pay attention on my visits.”
“I’ll find a way.
He’s been stuck in that bed for days.
A trip to the courtyard where they have the garden would do him good.
Fresh air, sunshine, and freedom are great healers. We can put him in his wheelchair. I don’t see them objecting as long as it’s not for very long. Even if they do, I’ll do it anyway.”
As the doors opened on the elevator, Micro grabbed my arm, preventing me from exiting all the way but keeping the door from closing.
“If she’s here, don’t say anything.
I saw how angry you were last night.
I’m not saying you don’t have reason to be, but publicly lashing out isn’t the answer.
I’ll start my investigation when I get back. Diablo asked me to do something first.”
I knew he was saying it for my good, so I nodded.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut unless she’s around him.”
“Okay, let’s see what he’s up to today.”
He let go, and we fully exited.
As we strolled to Tiago’s room, I scanned the floor.
There was no one at the desk.
It didn’t mean she wasn’t in someone’s room, or maybe today was her day off. The door to Tiago’s room was open. Pausing at it, I knocked on the doorframe. He glanced over. When he saw it was us, he waved us inside. That was a good sign. He didn’t appear angry like he was yesterday. Maybe he was coming to his senses.
“Hey, man, it’s good to see ya,” Micro told him as I shut the door.
They fist-bumped each other and grinned.
When it was my turn, I leaned over to give Tiago a semi-half hug.
“It’s good to see you, brother.
You’re looking better every day.
Any idea when they’ll spring you?” I asked.
“They were talking this morning.
The doctor thinks a couple more days here and then maybe a couple on a regular floor.
He’s being overly cautious.
I told him to transfer me now, but he said no. He wants to send me to rehab when I leave here, but I don’t want that. I’ve had enough rehab facilities to last me a lifetime. I think I’ve talked them into home health, although I’ll have to hire someone to be my caregiver. I won’t be able to do the dressings every day, and the nurses won’t come daily. I prefer that to another stay at rehab.”
“Don’t worry.
Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen.
If I have to do it, I will.
They can teach me what to do. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go to rehab. Well, that’s good freaking news. You know what we should do?” I asked as if struck by inspiration.
“What?”
“It’s a sunny, warm day out.
You’ve been cooped up here long enough.
Let’s get you in your chair, and we’ll go out to the garden for a bit.
Let you feel what your freedom will be like.”
The sparkle in his eyes told me he loved the idea, and I felt guilty that no one had thought to take him before this.
It didn’t take long to get him in his chair.
We left on his hospital gown but put a blanket over his legs.
He said putting on his regular clothes would be too much of a hassle. Once he was ready, we were about to leave the room when Micro snapped his fingers.
“Damn, I forgot.
I have to make a call.
Why don’t you two go ahead, and I’ll meet you in a few? If I don’t do this today, my ass will be dirt.”
“Sure,” I said.
Tiago, not suspecting a thing, nodded.
“You do what you have to, then meet us.
Maybe when we get done, we’ll swing by the snack machines.
I need some bad-for-you snacks.”
Tiago and I mock-argued about his need for junk food all the way outside.
The weather was super nice.
He sighed as the sun beat down on him.
As we wandered there, not saying anything, just absorbing the vitamin D, I was saddened when he said what he did.
“You know, it’s times like these when it’s so sunny that I miss my bike and surfing.
What I wouldn’t give to do either of those right now.”
“T, if I could make it happen, I would.
I miss the hell out of riding with you.
Surfing was always your thing, but I loved watching you ride those waves.”
“I know you would.
And I know that you would do anything for me, just like offering to be my caregiver and do my wound care.
I appreciate it more than you know.
I love you, brother, which makes this hard to say. You were out of line yesterday. I thought about it all night. And I know you. When you get something in your craw, you don’t let it go easily. It made me scared that you’re planning to do something to Paige. More than removing her as my nurse.” He paused. My heart beat faster. Why the fuck were we talking about her?
“I’m begging you, as your best friend and brother, don’t.
Leave Paige alone.
She’s not the evil bitch you think she is.
Let her get on with her life. I have. It’s time you did, too. You need to let go of your anger, Scorpion.”
I’d been pushing him slowly around the path in the garden.
His plea made me stop.
I walked around to face him and sat on a bench off to the side.
He was studying me as I stared at him. It took several seconds for me to respond.
“Tiago, it seems like yesterday to me.
You want me to forgive her, but I don’t know if I can.
Her sudden reappearance after years of living away from here makes me suspicious.
Seeing her here makes that wound raw. But, if it makes you feel better, I’ll keep my mouth shut unless she comes near you. Then, all bets are off. I’m not letting her walk free this time.”
He sighed but knew from my expression that it was as good as he was getting, so he didn’t argue.
Our time was somewhat strained until Micro joined us.
I’d looked at my watch when we left him.
He took seven minutes, and part of it was getting here. He was right. Five was enough. Micro gave me a subtle chin lift to show it was done. I felt a sense of relief fill me.
We enjoyed the outside for half an hour, then returned Tiago to his room.
But only after making a detour to get his junk food.
He loved Coke and Snickers.
Back in his bed, he was checked by a nurse I’d never seen. She was friendly but nervous. After checking him and ensuring he was positioned okay, she left. We hung out for a while longer. Tiago enjoyed his treat. We talked about work and funny things happening at the clubhouse. He did say he couldn’t wait to visit.
When we left, I felt more assured that he’d be alright and Paige wouldn’t be near him.
There was no sign of her the entire time I was there.
If our luck held, T would be transferred to the regular floor before she came back to work.
It had to be her day off. In the meantime, we had eyes and ears to ensure he was good.