Chapter 5 Blair
I awakened with a groan, slowly opening my eyes as pain seemed to radiate throughout my entire body, spreading into my fingers and toes.
Every part of me throbbed and ached. I winced as I sat up, noticing the tenderness in my ribs and my blurry eye.
My lip hurt when I reached for the cup on my bedside table, thankful it was filled with water and ice.
The cool liquid soothed my dry throat as I sipped it for several minutes. My stomach growled as I looked around the room. I needed to eat. It had been over a day, at least, since I had something.
I pushed the call button and waited for a nurse to answer.
“Hi. What can I do for you?” a cheery voice asked.
“Hey. I’m starving. What am I allowed to eat?”
“Let me check your chart. I’ll be in shortly.”
“Thanks.”
While I waited, I tried to fluff my pillows and raised the head of the bed so my back was straighter. It hurt a little, but I ignored the pain. Maybe I could talk the nurse into medication. I sure needed it.
She came in about ten minutes later, carrying a tray with chicken broth, cranberry juice, green Jello, and chocolate pudding. I sighed as she gave me an apologetic smile.
“The doctor wants to see how you do with this first, and then we can slowly increase the amount of pureed and solid foods.”
I frowned. “Because of my injuries?”
“And your surgery. They had to operate and repair a tear in your spleen.”
My eyes widened. “Shit.”
“It went well. Your recovery should be minimal. The soreness will decrease over the next couple of days as long as you can move around, get out of bed, and try to resume normal activity. If you need help, please use the call button again.”
“I will,” I promised, knowing I would want a shower soon. I felt gross after the attack, rolling in the dirt and blood leaking from my nose and mouth. The metallic taste lingered on my tongue.
“Oh, the Good Samaritan that dropped you off wanted to visit later. He waited until after your surgery to leave. It was sweet.”
“I never learned his name.”
“I’m sure he’ll tell you. He was quite adamant about returning to see you.”
“Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
She left me, and I sipped on the broth, drank half the cranberry juice, and devoured the pudding. The Jello? No.
I dozed for a few hours, waking again to the sun’s rising, blinding me through the blinds.
My door opened, and I reached for the call button as the two bodyguards who had been with Mateo at Toxic Tonic entered.
One pulled a gun, tugging the curtain closed around us.
The other ticked his head toward me. “Put it down.”
My heart began to race, and the monitor picked it up.
Both the assholes smiled.
“Mateo asked us to give you a message.”
The second goon, who had long, stringy hair, stepped closer. “You keep your mouth shut. Talk to anyone or squeal to the cops, and we’ll return and finish the job Mateo started.”
“I’m not stupid,” I spat. “I won’t talk to anyone. Tell Mateo.”
“We will. We’ll let him know about your Good Samaritan, too.”
Shit.
They moved toward the door, stowing the gun. I didn’t know how the hell they managed to smuggle it inside the hospital.
“Mateo will be in touch.”
I slumped back against the pillows, fighting tears as they left.
How the hell did I fix this?
A KNOCK RAPPED AGAINST the wood of my door a short time later before a head popped around the corner.
I recognized the same rough-looking guy I met outside Toxic Tonic.
My head was still a little fuzzy. The nurse said it would get better over the next few days, but right now, I couldn’t remember if he brought me straight to the hospital after my injuries.
He wouldn’t have taken advantage of me, right?
A sick feeling pooled in my stomach until our eyes met, and it vanished. This stranger didn’t seem the type. I wasn’t an expert, but I met enough assholes and men who preyed on women to sense the difference.
The stranger’s gaze flitted over my face, and I wondered how I had forgotten the unique color of his eyes.
Pale, the lightest green, with an almost other-worldly sheen.
They seemed to have more depth than I remembered, defiant yet non-threatening.
The sides of his head were shaved close but already growing out with thick, long strands on top.
A few had become unruly and draped over his forehead.
They faded into a dark blond. A full brown beard covered his jaw and chin with a hint of red.
He had eyes that could stare into your soul and dig up every last secret, and I shivered as he cautiously approached. “Hi. I’m Creature.” He stopped at the end of my bed. “We didn’t get a chance to exchange names before you passed out.”
Right. “Blair Connelly.”
He nodded. “Blair. Pretty. It suits you.”
“Thanks.” I blinked, licking my lips before reaching for the cup on my bedside table, sipping cool water through the straw before placing it back down. “Why Creature?”
He moved to my left and dragged a chair closer to the bed. “My road name. I did have it long before that, though. The fuckers, uh, guys that I grew close to gave me the moniker, and it stuck.”
“It’s a bit odd,” I admitted. Creature wore a black leather vest over his clothes. Patches on the front read his road name and Enforcer. I gasped. “You’re in a biker gang!”
He laughed. “This isn’t Sons of Anarchy. My club, and most of them out there, aren’t a television show. We’re a brotherhood, not a gang. We share an interest in Harleys and freedom. That’s about it.”
Somehow, I doubted it was that simple. “I see.”
He didn’t reply to that. “How are you feeling, Blair?”
“A lot better than yesterday.” My side was tender, and I had so many bruises I couldn’t count them all.
The swelling in my eye had reduced, but it was bloodshot.
I could see out of it, and it felt like a victory.
When I smiled, my lip stung, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.
My ribs hurt, and taking a deep breath was painful.
“Would you get pissed if I asked who hurt you and why?”
Curious, I asked a question of my own first. “Why did you help me?
“That’s who I am, Blair—a guy who doesn’t like bullies or men preying on women. I’m a Marine. I’ve fought for my country, and I don’t take it well when the ones I swore to protect are fucked with.”
“Telling you who hurt me won’t solve anything.”
“Why do you feel that way?”
“It’s complicated.”
He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not in a rush.”
“Well, Creature, I don’t tell my life story to someone who won’t reveal their real name.”
He nodded. “Alright. That’s fair.” His hand shot out. “Balen Hobbs.”
We shook briefly and he caressed the top of my hand with his thumb before releasing my fingers.
“Balen. It’s different.”
He shrugged. “I’m different. Relentless too. You might as well tell me because I won’t give up.”
Yeah, I got that vibe from him already.
“I can’t tell you what you want to know.”
He dropped his arms and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the mattress. “Are you being threatened?”
Shit. Was it that obvious? If I said too much, what would happen to my best friend?
I still didn’t know where she was or what happened after I left her at that party.
Guilt was eating me up inside. I should have stayed with her.
If she wasn’t alone, whoever took her wouldn’t have gotten away with it so easily.
“I can’t,” I whispered, agony clawing up my throat and lodging inside.
“Blair.”
I wouldn’t look at him. Instead, I stared at the thin white blanket covering my bed. Why were hospital blankets always white? Almost everyone admitted leaked fluids because of injury or surgery. It didn’t make sense.
“I can protect you, Blair.”
“No. You can’t.” I knew that now. Nobody could. But that wouldn’t stop me from trying to find Bells.
“If you would give me a chance,” Creature began.
“I’m sorry, but I need to ask you to leave.”
He blinked. His body went rigid for a few heartbeats before his shoulders relaxed.
“If you change your mind, reach out. I’ll leave you with my number.
” Creature ripped off a piece of paper towel from the dispenser by my sink, pulled a pen out of a pocket inside his leather vest, and jotted down his information.
“I only left my road name and number. Nothing that could get you into trouble.”
“Okay.”
His fingers wrapped around mine and placed the paper in my palm. “Enter it into your phone before anyone finds it. I’m serious, Blair.” Those hypnotic eyes of his held me prisoner. “If you get in trouble, I won’t hesitate to help.”
And get killed in the process.
“I’ll think about it.”
He frowned. “I can’t tell if you’re scared or determined. Both are dangerous. Whatever they’ve got or need, it’s not worth your life.”
I didn’t react to his words. “Creature. Please.”
He sighed. “I’m going. Just so you know, I plan to be at Toxic Tonic every night until I see you again. I’ll be at the bar if you want to meet me.”
He was tenacious. I’d give him that.
“We’ll see.”
With a nod, he walked to the door, turning around once before he left. “Just an extra free tidbit. I’m also a bounty hunter and private investigator. So if you need that sort of help, I’m your guy.”
My eyes widened. No shit?
“I think you might be seeing me soon,” I admitted.
“I thought so, Firecracker. Get some rest.”
Firecracker. He called me that nickname twice now.
It wasn’t just his eyes that I found attractive and hypnotic. It was the way he held himself—the confidence and intelligence, the need to protect, and his willingness to fight off anyone who tried to hurt me, even when I was a stranger.
Fatigue pressed in as I closed my eyes and rested against the pillows.
All night, I dreamed of Balen “Creature” Hobbs.
He invaded my mind, held out his hand, and rescued me from every monster.
When my eyes opened, and dawn spilled over the horizon in a golden shimmer, I wondered if the hero who showed up in my life just when I needed him was a gift from my dead parents.
My father promised he’d always watch over me.
Maybe Creature was my dark knight, but I wasn’t a damsel in distress. I could save myself. At the very least, I had to try.
I got the shit beat out of me for standing up to a bully. I didn’t regret that choice. I’d do it again. In fact, I planned on it.
I wouldn’t stop until I found Bells and brought her home.