Chapter 6 #2
“Yes, but why?” I look around, having a hard time seeing things in this darkness. The streetlights aren’t bright enough this far from the main street. I really want to get a look at the building where Lucian spends so much time.
“Because this shows you are mine.” I glance down at the vest, then back up to him.
“I don’t understand.”
“Come on, we’ll discuss it in my room.”
Lucian clasps my hand, and we walk up some stairs. Men stand around watching us. Some of them I recognize, others I don’t.
We walk through humongous ornate doors into what must have been a guest vestibule at one point.
I remember Ruby mentioning that this place was an old family camp back in its glory days.
That her father bought it at auction after it was shut down.
There are decorative pillars, but the wallpaper has all been switched to dark woods, and before I know it, we’re walking down a hallway past a large staircase, then Lucian turns us through another room that looks like a small-scale clinic.
“My office is right through those doors.” He points to two closed, heavy wooden doors towards the back of the building. “If I’m not in our room with you, I’ll be there. If I have to leave, I’ll let you know, but I won’t go anywhere without you for a bit.”
“Okay.”
A man not quite as large as Lucian approaches us. He looks as if he could be related to him, with the same dirty blond hair, though longer and drawn into a short ponytail at the back of his head. He has brown eyes, with a trim, maybe week-old scruff on his face, and is slender yet muscular.
“This is Lach. He’s my cousin. Ruby might’ve mentioned him.” I do remember her saying she had a cousin from Norway who moved here. He’s a doctor. “Lach, this is my Evie.”
He reaches out a large hand with long fingers, and I hold out mine. “I see you have some injuries that need looking at. Come this way.”
I follow, and he points to a table, then walks over to close the door. Peering around the room, I imagine this was the formal library, given all the shelves. They are not only stacked with books but also with medical equipment.
I go to climb up onto the exam table, but Lucian lifts me up. When he told me to let him do everything, he obviously meant it. I sit there twiddling my fingers until Lucian takes my hand.
“It’s okay, baby. He’s just going to check you over, especially that ear.”
I tell him, “Sound has been muffled as if I’m listening through a tunnel or with cotton in my ear.”
Lach comes back over with his exam coat now covering his vest. I think they are called cuts, at least that’s what I’ve read in my romance books. He has me turn my head and uses one of those scopes to look in my ear. He moves on to examine my face, lip, and then my back before saying anything more.
Lucian says, “Oh, yeah, she also has a good-sized knot on the back of her head.” Lach uses those long fingers to palpate through my hair. I wince when he rubs over the goose egg.
He inhales deeply before sliding a rolling chair in front of me. “Do you have any other injuries?” He looks me up and down, turns to Lucian, then back to me.
I shake my head no, but Lucian says, “She has several older bruises,” and I whip my head toward him.
“Really? You’re just throwing me under the bus here, Lucian.” I sigh and turn back to Lach. “They are from a few days ago, and some are from last weekend.”
“Where?”
I point to my ribs and legs.
“Do you struggle breathing?”
“No.”
“Well, your ear will take a couple weeks, but it should heal. Same with your cheek and lip. Your back, I’d like to clean it up and bandage it.
As for the other injuries, they will take time.
The head, I’d like you to take it easy with.
Head injuries can be nasty.” Lach looks over to Lucian now.
“Nothing rough with her. Take it easy, she’s one big bruise.
I also need to talk to you about Dr. Erickson. ”
I get the feeling they don’t want me to know who they’re talking about, and I start to fidget again.
Lucian takes my hands, which seem tiny compared to his, and says to Lach, “I don’t know who that is.”
“Yeah, you do. The new veterinarian in town.”
“Oh shit. Uh, can we discuss it later?”
“No.”
“I can leave if you want me to,” I offer.
“No.” Lucian continues holding my hands. “You can’t know MC business, but Lach can understand that you take priority right now.”
“Judge, this is a time-sensitive matter. She’s going to need help soon. I can’t tell you everything because of patient confidentiality, but the club needs to step in.”
“Perez fucked up when he went after her,” Lucian says as he releases me and follows Lach to a desk set in the corner. “He fucked up worse when he stole. I’m not letting that go.”
“I don’t care about him. It’s the husband that I’m concerned about.” Lach’s voice lowers, but it’s still audible.
I shift and slide from the table, not wanting to overstep. When I reach the door, my hand barely turning the nob, I hear, “Sweet cheeks, you better keep your ass right there, or I’ll spank those juicy buttocks of yours.” His words stop me cold, and as I start to step back, the door flies open.
I jump back just in time for a guy to come barreling through. He has brown hair and tattoos covering his body up to his neck, and even one on his face. His eyebrow is pierced, and he raises it at me.
“Who are you?” He smiles as he eyes me up and down. I pull my cardigan tight around me as I step back into a wall of chest.
“Mine,” Lucian growls as his arm wraps around me, his hand settling on my stomach, which erupts with butterflies.
“No cavemen shit in my office, assholes. God, I pray I never get as bad as you, Judge. Just piss on her leg if you want to,” Lach interjects.
“Yuck, no,” I squeal as I push farther back into Lucian.
“Like I didn’t know she was yours, she’s wearing your fucking cut, Prez. Jeez, I wanted to give you the info I found before you locked yourself away.”
“What you got?” Lucian uses his free hand to take a file from the man who still smiles at me.
“I’m Mal, by the way.” He holds out his hand, and I’m about to reach for it when Lucian smacks it away with the folder.
“Don’t touch her.”
“Uh, Lucian, should I maybe find your room and go lay down for a bit while you talk to your men?” This is so confusing. I’ve never had a man act this way, not allowing others to touch me. Though every time another woman is mentioned, the green-eyed monster pops out of me, too.
“Not leaving my side, sweet cheeks.” I can feel his erection against my backside, and I try not to squirm more.
Lucian hands the folder back to Mal and says, “Put that in my office. We’ll talk about it.
I had wondered if they knew each other, but thinking about it now, the situation at Blissful Passages could have been targeted.
Justin likely has more planned than originally thought.
” My body locks up at the name. Lucian’s hand caresses my stomach.
“Babe, it appears that Justin might have put a target on me, too, back in September.”
I gasp, and the panic pumps through my body. “No. I don’t know why. Is this because of Dean?” I ask, and before I know it, I’m lifted and being carried. My head swims, and I feel like I’m going to faint.
“Lach,” is barked, and then everything goes black.