Chapter 16 Maverick
As we made our way outside of Jynx, Marcus was on the ground outside gasping for air, and Chase knelt beside him and sprayed Narcan into his nose. This dose did it. The dumbass started coughing as air finally reached his lungs.
I looked over at Thea and she still had the same dead look on her face. I wanted to grab her, pull her to me, do everything in my power to bring back her smile, but before I could decide, the sirens did for me.
Of course, someone called the police. Shit, Sheriff Brinkley was the last fucking person I needed to deal with right now.
“Prospect,” I said, calling out to Blake, the prospect. “Get the van and take dipshit to the clubhouse.”
“He needs a doctor,” Chase, or Captain America, I’ve decided to name him, answered.
“We’ve got a doctor back at the club,” I said. “Unless you want to answer to the cops,” I signaled to the lights heading towards us, “why your friend just overdosed. I’m sure mommy and daddy would love to know, too?”
A look of shock registered across his face as the sirens and lights got louder. He looked over at Thea who was staring in that direction, but now with tears streaming down her face. She didn’t look like she was here with us, but somewhere else.
“Shit, come on, Kid,” Chase said as he grabbed Thea's arm. Instead of going with him, she slumped down to the ground and started crying.
What the fuck?
“Is she okay?” I said as I looked over at the scene and then over at Ares who was helping put Marcus in the van.
“Sirens,” Chase said simply. He bent down to console her whispering words that I couldn’t hear.
I wanted to rip off his arms, and I wasn’t sure if it was out of jealousy or the fact that he knew what was going on with my girl more than I did.
Fuck, I knew what we had was new, but all of her secrets really pissed me off.
Thea nodded to Chase’s words and closed her eyes and he reached down and picked her up.
“I’m following you to the clubhouse with her,” Chase said matter-of-factly.
“No,” I deadpanned. “You’re both riding with me and Ares. Get Blondie to follow behind,” I said in reference to his bitch sister.
Once we got into my SUV, I was driving, Ares was beside me, and they were in the back.
For a second, it seemed like Thea had stopped crying until an ambulance whizzed by us, the flashing lights illuminating the car.
She let out a gut-wrenching scream and I looked in the rearview mirror to see her shaking her head profusely.
“Is she okay?” Ares barked rather than asked.
“Now you’re worried about her,” Chase smarted off. Captain America had no idea who the fuck he was dealing with, dumbass.
“Why don’t you mind your fucking business?” Ares said through gritted teeth. “She is my business. Can you say the same?” Chase shot back.
“Why don’t you both shut the hell up and worry about Thea,” I said.
Chase went back to consoling her with no luck. She was still crying with her eyes fused shut, and she stayed that way until we got back to the clubhouse.
The other part of the crew was back at the clubhouse already. Crash texted me to let me know that Doc was looking at Marcus and expected him to be fine beside some side effects from the Narcan.
Once again, Chase carried my girl in his arms inside.
She still wouldn’t open her eyes. Obviously, this was more than just watching her friend overdose.
She already knew he was going to be fine, so what was making her freak out this way?
I thought back to how she looked when the sirens got closer. Was it them?
Inside the living room, everything was calm. I had Serena get everyone out except a few. She greeted us at the door and got one look at Thea and worry crossed her face.
I shook my head to let her know not to ask. Chase placed her gently on the couch.
“Can someone get me a cool towel and some vodka?” he asked. Serena quickly ran into the kitchen. Thea’s eyes were still squeezed shut and tears were still coming down. I stood by the couch next to Ares as we watched Chase crouch down in front of her.
“You can open your eyes now, Kid,” he said, softly.
She shook her head in protest. “Okay, that’s fine.
You don’t have to.” He turned around to sit beside her on the floor with his back pressed up against the couch, dropping his face into his knees.
Serena came back with the towel and vodka, but he didn’t reach for it.
“You remind me so much of Cass. Sometimes I think she sent you here to be with me,” he said as he dropped his head into his knees.
“She was the funniest person I ever met, charming but could be the biggest bitch if she wanted to be. The type of girl that hated to be the center of attention, but it would always find its way to her when she started talking. The same way you do,” he continued.
“You remember the first time we met? We always say it was when Bridge introduced us at the party. But, that’s not really the first time.
It was when you caught me in the bathroom shooting up.
It was like in that moment, the darkness in you saw the darkness in me and we knew that we needed each other.
If you hadn’t walked in on me that night and made me promise to come to you when I felt like I missed her too much, I’d be dead by now.
You saved my life, T, you continue to save my life, and I promise that I will do everything in my power to save yours. ”
I never would have taken him as the heroin type, but I pushed down my surprise and continued to watch. He looked up at her and rested his hand on her thigh. She squeezed her eyes tighter.
“You don’t have to open your eyes, kid. Hell, you can keep them closed for the rest of your life if you want to, and I will see for you,” he gave out a dark chuckle.
“But there are so many people who would miss your light, if that is the case. And I promise that if you open them, we can take on whatever you’re feeling together.
You’re not alone, Kid. Not anymore. I will always be here to save you. ”
Finally, as if she heard the words she needed to hear, she opened her eyes and threw herself into his arms. I hated that another man knew exactly how to put my girl back together, but I felt like I was finally breathing again as I saw a little bit of weight come off her shoulders.
“I couldn’t get their screams out of my head,” she whispered, looking up at us and staring into Ares’ eyes as if she was telling him who.
It was at that moment that I understood her a little more.
Chase grabbed the towel and wiped her face with it.
“I know,” was all he said. I looked around at Serena, Anna and Ares and they all had the same grim look on their faces.
Thea was going through so much pain and it seemed like we had all been so oblivious to it.
“I’m going to take her to her room,” Chase said as he grabbed the bottle of vodka. “She’s good with me.”
I let out a sigh and nodded. Thea didn’t need me. She needed her best friend, and I needed to put on my president’s hat and check on the dipshit in there with Doc.