Chapter 26 Isla
ISLA
It’s been a week since I made a fool of myself at the strip club, my jealousy taking over.
I don’t regret losing my temper. That woman shouldn’t have been in my seat, but I regret letting the entire club see it all.
I’ve been getting amused smirks from the men all week long.
Although the sex in the back room was so hot, I might have to let my temper out a little more often.
Now, I’m on the back of Skull’s bike, doing a charity ride that Ora organized.
Afterward, there’s a cookout in a public park that anyone in Rest Falls can attend.
I figure it’s the club’s way of giving back, trying to get to know people in our small town and getting them to know us.
Ora told me she used to go to the cookouts to see her dad, Rome, president of the MC, before he even knew she existed.
I love riding with Skull, and I love seeing the way all the bikes ride together in formation, two in a row.
Rome is leading them with Ghost to his right.
War is behind Rome with Lore on his right.
Then Haze and Angel, with Skull and Bones behind them.
Followed by the other patched members, with the prospects at the back.
I’ve noticed sometimes they go in twos, and other times it looks like a more zig-zag formation. I don’t miss all the stares that we get, but I ignore them and hold onto my man, loving the feeling of being pressed up against him. And when he reaches back and touches my calf or my thigh, oh boy.
I even love it when he rests his hand over mine on his abs. After a two-hour ride, we finish at the park. Rome parks his bike first, and the others follow suit until they are all parked in a row.
Proof that men can be organized when they want to be.
Skull takes off his helmet and then helps me with mine. Reaching down, he gently massages my thighs. “How was that, spitfire? You sore?”
“A little,” I admit, hopping down from the bike. “But I loved it.” I walk my fingers up his cut, then bring him closer to me. “You going to give me an even longer ride tonight?”
His eyes heat, and his hands roam down to my ass. “After the club party tonight, you are all mine.” He pauses and then adds, “Fuck it, we’ll make time for it before too.”
“In the shower,” I suggest.
Bones comes up next to us and gets me in a soft headlock. “You were born to be on the back of a bike, little nurse. You looked good on there.”
“Thanks.” I beam, glancing between the two of them. “I’m going to go and help with the food.”
Kissing Skull’s mouth and Bones’ cheek, I walk toward Ora and Atiana, a little pep in my step. “Okay, what can I do to help?”
“If you can get all the cooked meat from Romeo and Patch and bring it here, that would be amazing,” Ora says, her hands full of bread. “Lu is doing the desserts, and Atiana is serving all the drinks.”
We interact with heaps of different people from Rest Falls, and I really enjoy myself, especially when all the money from the charity ride goes to the children’s hospital.
Skull drops me home so I can get changed and walk Layla, while he goes back to the clubhouse to get Natalia.
“You want to stay at the clubhouse again tonight?” I ask my dog, letting her off leash when we reach the dog park.
She spins around, doing a few zoomies with excitement, then runs to fetch the ball I throw her.
She gets a lot of looks from passersby, with her long coat and her one lucky white paw.
She is a pretty girl, but it’s her intelligence and loyalty I love her for.
The hair on the back of my neck suddenly stands on end, and a bad feeling settles in my stomach. “Layla, come,” I call out, and she instantly runs and sits in front of me. Clasping her leash back on, I start to walk home quickly.
I’m almost there when suddenly a car comes out of nowhere. Turning around to see what the hell is going on, I see a blonde woman driving the white BMW, coming right for us.
I let go of the leash and scream for Layla to run home. I change course to try to dodge being run down, but then I’m hit from behind.
And then all I see is darkness.
* * *
When I wake up, all I hear is a beeping noise.
I know that noise, this place. It’s basically my second home.
When I can finally force my eyes to open, the first thing I see is Skull.
He’s pulled the chair as close to the hospital bed as it can go, and he’s holding my hand in his, his other resting on his knee.
His head is down, and he looks defeated.
“Skull,” I rasp, and he lifts his head, quickly leaning forward.
“Baby, you’re awake,” he whispers, his voice husky. He scans my face, then presses the nurse’s button. “Can I get you something? Do you want some water?”
I nod. He pours a cup and hands it to me, placing a straw in it and holding it to my lips. Liz rushes into the room, her eyes filling with tears. “You’re awake. You scared the shit out of us, Isla! Dr. James is on the way. He’s barely left your side.”
“What happened?” I ask, taking another sip.
Liz checks my vitals while Skull answers my question, “You got hit by a car. A lady found you unconscious on the road. Layla was by your side, barking like crazy.”
“Is she okay?”
He nods and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “She’s at the clubhouse being spoiled by everyone.”
My body relaxes. “I remember now. I was walking her back home, and it felt like someone was watching me, so I quickly left. And then there was a car. A white BMW. A blonde woman was driving it, and she tried to run me over.”
Skull stills, and then his nostrils flare, the veins in his neck pulsing. The room suddenly drops in temperature. A shadow passes over his eyes before he masks it. “I’m going to make a quick call. I’ll just be outside the door.” He kisses my forehead before he leaves.
“He’s hot,” Liz whisper yells, fanning her face. “He hasn’t left your side. His biker friends were trying to get him to go home, rest, and shower, but he refused. His twin has been here almost as much.”
“How long was I out for?” I ask, frowning.
“Two days. Your body needed the rest. You’ve had a whole motorcycle club in the waiting room. We had to tell some of them to leave because they were scaring everyone.”
My lip twitches, I lie back, and close my eyes. “What’s the damage?”
“Brain swelling, concussion, broken leg, and fractured wrist. All in all, you were lucky, Isla. I heard the bikers say they are looking for camera footage from the houses that were on that road. But I think what you just told your man might have helped the search,” she says, lifting the blanket off me to show me the cast. “Come on, let’s get you in the shower before your bikers return. ”
“Do you think someone wanted to hurt me because of my connection to the club?” I ask, putting the pieces together.
“I think you need to talk to your man about that,” she says, shooting me a pointed look. “But it definitely sounds like someone wanted to hurt you. I’m worried about you, Isla. I know good dick is hard to come by, but your life is more important.”
I laugh, and then that hurts, so I force myself to stop. A woman did this. Did Skull screw over some woman, and now she tried to kill me? Just like what happened with Lu in the bakery, but a much worse situation.
At least Layla wasn’t run over, I’d rather it be me than her. I wonder if that’s why she used a car. If she came after me on foot, Layla would have attacked her.
Skull steps back into the room, gently closing the door behind him.
“I’m going to get her cleaned up,” Liz says, gently pushing my hair back behind my ear. “And you better find whoever did this.”
“We will,” Skull vows, and a shiver goes down my spine. “I’m so sorry this happened, spitfire. I wish I hadn’t left you at your house. I should have stayed with you—”
I put my hand up. “You can’t be with me at all times, Skull.”
“The hell I can’t. You and Layla are moving in with me. Put your house up for rent or sell it. I don’t care. I’m building us a house behind the clubhouse.”
“And Bones?”
“He will have his own house right next door,” he replies, sitting back down and taking my hand.
Scorp comes in and checks me over. “You’re a lucky woman, Isla.”
“I don’t feel very lucky,” I mutter, and he touches my cheek.
“You need rest, sweetheart. And we’re going to make sure you get it.”
After he leaves, I finally get the shower Liz promised me.
And then I fall asleep with Skull gently rubbing soothing circles on my back.