Chapter Eight.
Harlequin
Two weeks had passed since I’d seen April, and that had been when Isla had got hurt.
April hadn’t seen me at the hospital, but I’d watched her.
Life had become a battle to stay away, and I’d begun thirsting for a daily fix of April.
There was a growing urge to explain to April exactly what had happened when I broke up with her.
Why I was bothered was only too obvious.
April might loathe the sight of me, but I still cared deeply for her.
Emotionally, I was a mess. The voice inside my head was a determined, stubborn annoyance.
Did I feel the need to vindicate my actions because April was back, or because I needed forgiveness?
Who knew? But it wouldn’t shut up and grew stronger every day.
Half an hour later, April appeared, scowling. A woman walked beside her, apparently agitated and waving her hands. April stopped and took a step into the woman’s space, who backed off and growled something.
April turned and stormed away.
Hate crossed the other bitch’s face, and she shoved April. Simultaneously, an ambulance pulled around the corner.
“April! Watch out!” I yelled, leaping off my Hog and running flat out.
I grabbed April as she stumbled, unbalanced, from the nurse’s shove.
The ambulance screeched to a halt as I tackled April and we fell backwards, with me taking most of our weight.
My head impacted the pavement, and it was lights out.
April
Mahoney had just tried to push me in front of an ambulance. What the fuck! I lay stunned as realisation swept over me and I shook in disbelief. Finally, I realised I was unhurt and lying on top of Stone, who wasn’t moving. People were spilling out of the ER entrance and heading towards me.
Mahoney was babbling something about not meaning it, but I was more worried about the blood coming from Stone’s head.
A doctor rolled me over, and I blinked.
“April, are you okay?” Teagan shrieked as she dropped beside me.
“Fine, let me up.”
“Stay there, April,” Simmons ordered as he appeared. “I want to check you over.”
“Doctor, I’m fine. But Stone’s not.” I got up and turned on Mahoney.
“You tried to kill me!” I yelled.
“No! No! It was just a push!” Mahoney yelped, wringing her hands together.
“What’s this?” Simmons demanded as Stone was lifted onto a gurney and carried away.
“Mahoney pushed me in front of that ambulance, and Stone saved me,” I cried. The shock of what had happened finally sank in.
“Nobody says another word until HR gets here,” Simmons ordered.
“Screw HR, I want the cops calling,” I snapped.
Simmons studied my face before nodding. “That’s your prerogative.”
“Damn right it is! That bitch pushed me in front of a moving vehicle! Mahoney’s a fuckin’ danger, and now a man is injured and unconscious because of her petty, unnecessary jealousy!”
Mahoney sobbed as people stared. “Dr Simmons, I didn’t see the ambulance!” she wailed.
“Do I look like I give a fuck! This stems from the fact that Dr Reines asked me on a date. It doesn’t matter that I don’t date.
Mahoney’s made-up lies and bullshit since.
Did I tell Reines to ask me out? No!” I yelled, scared at the pool of blood and using it to fuel my anger. “Stupid, jealous bitch!”
“Calm down,” Simmons said firmly.
I glowered atMahoney but my eyes were drawn back to the puddle. “Head wounds bleed a lot.”
“Yes, they do, and you’re aware of that. Teagan, take April inside and have her checked over. Mahoney, accompany security,” Simmons ordered.
“Doctor Simmons, I didn’t mean it!” Mahoney wailed.
“Stupid cunt,” I spat, and people winced.
“That’s enough!” Simmons said firmly. “April, I understand that you’re shocked, but please calm down and do as you’re told.”
I nodded and allowed Teagan to lead me away. I was boiling, but screaming wouldn’t get me anywhere, and the police were being called. Mahoney would pay for her pettiness.
Harlequin
Damn, my head hurt. Steadily, I stared at Bear, who peered into my eyes as Diesel, Chance, and Big Al rumbled away.
“Prospect’s awake,” Bear said.
“Will you get out of my face?”
Bear blinked before nodding and moving back.
“Harlequin, are you okay?” Chance demanded.
“My head’s killing me.”
“Not surprised. You hit the ground with a real whack. You’ve fractured your skull,” Chance stated.
“Is that a thing?”
“Yup, apparently so. Congrats!” Diesel added. I didn’t need the sarcasm. Asshole.
“Why did that nurse push April?” I demanded. Well, that was good news; the injury hadn’t erased my memory.
“Because a doctor asked April out. The other one was jealous,” Big Al said with a roll of his eyes.
“Seriously?” I exclaimed and winced.
“Yeah. That bitch and April have been suspended pending investigation, and the other one is in custody and is being questioned,” Chance elaborated.
“Why has April been suspended? She was the victim,” I whispered, outraged.
“April made some allegations and also verbally attacked the nurse. Her name’s Mahoney Rivers.
Sunny’s looking into her. Rivers has been arrested for assault.
Lio will take April’s statement. From what I heard, April was adamant that Rivers be charged.
” Chance eyed me sternly. “Wanna tell me again there’s nothing between you and this April? ”
I scowled and flinched, as scowling made my head hurt. “When can I get out of here?”
“The docs want to keep you in for a twenty-four-hour observation, then we’ll bust you out,” Bear said.
“How about now?”
Chance shook his head. “Any other time, prospect and I’d agree, not with a head wound. You fractured your skull. That’s serious.”
“Chance…”
“No,” Chance was firm. Shit, I was stuck in here until tomorrow, unless…
“How sure are you this Rivers doesn’t have friends who’ll try to harm me?” I demanded.
Chance’s eyes narrowed as Bear chuckled.
“Nice try,” Bear said. He clapped slowly.
“I’ll have a prospect stay. And ensure that only a doctor we know attends you. How’s that asshole?” Chance replied, and I sank back into the pillows. That was my final shot at freedom. I closed my eyes as my headache worsened and the light was hurting me. Damn it, I wanted to know how April was.
April
I ignored the looks as I walked through the hospital.
No doubt everyone had now heard about what had happened.
Gossip would be rampant. Let them look and chat shit; they would anyway.
I held my head high and kept my stride steady and determined.
Teagan, coming from the staff room, spotted me and hurried over.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Although I guess the rumour mill is working fine.”
“Yup. It’s all over about how Mahoney pushed you. The police arrested her and carted her off.”
“Can’t say I’m sorry. Seriously, Mahoney nearly killed me because Reines asked me out on a date and not her? Grow the fuck up,” I snapped.
“Are you pressing charges?” Teagan asked.
“What do you think? I’m also putting in a complaint against Reines and the hospital. Reines has created a hostile work environment, obviously confirmed by Mahoney’s actions. HR should have dealt with Reines a long time ago,” I replied.
“Nice. About time someone stood up to them. Is that where you’re heading?”
“No. I’m going to see the asshole who saved me from being squished,” I ground out.
Teagan began laughing. “Thanking Stone is gonna hurt, isn’t it?”
“Oh, like the burning pain of thrush,” I retorted, and Tegan laughed.
“Don’t mince your words. Good luck. How about I bring pizza over to your place tonight, and we’ll have a girls’ night in? Neither of us has work tomorrow,” Teagan offered.
“Sure, that would be great. Although I’m uncertain if Clara will want pizza. Come over, and we’ll order takeout,” I replied.
“Clara’s your stepmom?” Teagan asked, trying to clarify our relationship.
“More like my mom, ain’t no one else I think of as a mother. I wish Clara had adopted me; she’s amazing,” I said.
“Okay, see you about what six? Send me your address,” Teagan threw over her shoulder as she hurried away when a doctor called her name.
I marched on, ignoring the curious looks and the gossiping, and headed towards the ward Stone was in. As I approached the nurse’s desk, several of them spotted me coming and stopped talking.
“Stone Ryan,” I said, and one of the nurses pointed to his room.
A guy was sitting outside. “Who are you?” he demanded.
“April, the one Stone saved.”
“Stone? Harlequin, you mean?”
“Whatever he wants to call himself now. But Stone saved me from being pancaked, so I want to say thanks.”
“That’s gotta hurt considering the hate you feel.” The guy smirked, and I nodded.
“Ain’t going to lie, it’s a bitter taste.” I squinted at his name badge. “Gonna let me in, Sailor?”
“Yeah, although I might record this for posterity.”
“I know how to kill you in a dozen ways that won’t be detected,” I whispered as I passed him.
Sailor blanched before laughing again as I entered the room.
“Fuck off, whichever of you assholes it is,” Stone growled from the bed.
“Fine, that saves me saying thanks,” I responded, and Stone’s eyes flew open.
“April! Stay! I thought it was one of those idiots.”
“Which ones?”
“The club’s been assholes. They’ve been bringing me gifts,” Stone complained as he hefted himself up. He motioned to a pile of random items on a chair. I smiled as I saw two crash dummy helmets, padding, a ream of cotton wool, a large ‘Hero’ badge, and a pair of oversized dark glasses.
“At least they care.”
“Yeah, I can do without that shit,” Stone grumped. He squinted at me and covered his eyes.
“Is the light too bright?” I asked, and he nodded gingerly.
I moved to the window, pulled the blinds, and turned off all the lights except a small lamp. “Better?”
Stone released a groan of relief that sent shivers through me. I’d once heard that same noise in a different situation. Ruthlessly, I shoved the memory away.