“How are you now?” Dusty asked.
“Better,” I said just to reassure him, but there was no medication that could heal the agony I was in. I clutched at the T-shirt one girl gave me to change the subject. “They were kind and gave me this to put on, and Doc is very skilled. He did a great job with the wounds.” I stared at the cast on his left wrist. “He did your cast, too?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t believe you broke your hand to get out of the shackles.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and stretched on the bed beside me where I lay. “To get to you. I was ready to break both my arms and legs just to get to you, Cammie.” He blew out a troubled sigh. “I’m so sorry I was late. I wished I’d arrived earlier….before he…”
“You were trapped. I kidnapped you, and you still broke your own hand to protect me. You went through all this trouble because of me and still you made it in time…and saved me.” Tears sprang from my eyes. “You saved me, Dusty. You killed your own father for me. Why?”
His tender eyes cradled me. “Because if anyone here deserves to be saved, it’s you, baby.”
“No. I hurt you, and now you and your mother are in trouble because of me.”
He shifted, his arm dropping off me. Then he put on a faint smile that was far from genuine. “We’re not in trouble. Not anymore.”
“How?” I glanced at his outfit. He was in jeans and t-shirt, no cut. “Why aren’t you wearing your cut? What happened at the meeting…if I’m allowed to ask?”
It was a moment before he spoke. “Well, they bought the story. But most of the brothers were really angry because some members at the table took Mama’s side.”
“And?”
“And…that caused a problem. The vote was in her favor, no retaliation, but the members who didn’t vote for her didn’t look so pleased.”
“What does that mean, Dusty?”
“It means there’s a division. With that comes mayhem. Someone could split or take matters into their own hands.”
I frowned. “I’m sorry. Does that mean your mother is still in danger?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Of course. So that means you have to stay here in Rosewood, back with the Night Skulls for real, right?” I didn’t know why my heart squeezed. It was expected he’d stay with his family after what happened, and what Dusty did with his life was none of my business.
He nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “It’s not just that.”
“What else?”
He rose to his feet, a scowl on his face. “You’re looking at the new president of the Night Skulls.”
My eyes widened, yet my chest contracted. “What? H-how? They were angry at you, too, and, no offense, but you’re too young. Shouldn’t your VP be the president?”
“Yes, but…Rush didn’t want to be the president. He nominated me and gave me the first vote.”
“That’s so weird. Why?”
“Because the Lanzas said so.”
I blinked in confusion. “I don’t understand. How can they have a say in who runs your club?”
“When I came back from Europe the last time, they came to me. They knew about my issue with Roar and didn’t like that I was visiting other clubs. They wanted to make sure I wasn’t gonna join a club they don’t work with or start my own.”
“So they told Rush to make you the president to ensure you’re not going anywhere and protect their ongoing operations.”
“And if I say no…”
“Your mother will be in danger. If they can sway the VP to do their bidding, they can sway the others to create mayhem.”