The screen started to white out as flames challenged the night vision cameras, and I lay back against the pillows, almost feeling exhausted by the fight I’d watched rather than participated in.
“You okay?”
I felt strangely choked up as I pulled Glory against my chest.
“Guess I’m feeling kinda loved right now. I’ve got you with me, and a club who just destroyed another for attacking me. If I’d ever doubted the club I was trying to patch into, I don’t anymore. They came together for us.”
She nodded, snuggling tighter against me, despite how it niggled the bruising, because I’d never stop her.
“I thought I was better at telling who the good guys and bad guys are, but I had it all wrong. Not that I ever doubted you, I knew exactly who you were, but your club? Even if you’d askedme earlier today I’d have said I’m not sure about them, but now? I get it. The sense of belonging you must feel…”
“We should both be feeling it. They’ve claimed you too, you know.”
“Even though I brought those mob guys into things again?”
“I don’t think they would have found things so easy tonight without them, sweetheart. They know that.”
“I was just so scared. That journey to the hospital to see you was the longest of my life, and I’ve lived some very long, slow, painful moments in the last few years, but none of them compare to today.”
Glory
Ifell asleep therewith him, woken only by a soft touch on my arm, a finger against smiling lips, and a jerk of a head toward the door. I carefully extricated myself from Henley’s heavy arm, his sleep even heavier with the pain relief, and followed her outside.
“How’s he doing?” She asked, and I smiled, rubbing my tired eyes as I fought the fogginess of my sleepy brain.
“He’s fine. Annoyed they’re keeping him in. Oh, and even more annoyed he missed the fun.”
Lenore grinned, that ever present deadliness in her eyes.
“Oh it was a wonderful night out. It had everything. A road trip. Snacks. Beating bastards to death. Just everything.” She looked exhilarated, but her shoulders sagged with exhaustion asshe leaned against the wall, dragging a bruised hand over her face.
“I like how your guys operate. Swift. Deadly. They pillaged what they could before the place was torched too.”
She waved someone off, and I looked over my shoulder to see Marco chatting to the silver haired one. Danno? For some reason, I was sure that was right.
“You look shattered,” I said gently, because I didn’t know why she or any of them had added time to their day to visit here.
“Just wanted to check in, you know, make sure you guys are okay. You didn’t watch did you?”
I nodded, moving to lean against the wall beside her, because I was feeling that tiredness and all I’d done was keep Henley company all night.
“I was impressed. I’d love to learn how to do what you do.”
“Don’t let it give you more nightmares, babe, okay? This had to happen, but we came out on top. We always come out on top. Just because they got the drop on your boy, doesn’t mean the world isn’t safe. It’s just that there will always be assholes, but that’s what people like us are for. To remove assholes, or ugh… I was going to try for a metaphor but my brain is fucked. We’re heading back home, but don’t lose my number. I’m still your friend no matter how well you keep recovering.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t know whether to try for a hug, or if I’d lose my throat, so I just smiled at her, and she patted my arm as she straightened up. Now she was moving, I could see tears in her clothing, dust and mud on most of her lower body, and a bandage around her left hand.
“Are you okay?”
She grinned. “I chose this life and I fucking love it. Get some sleep.”
She headed back to her man, and he and Danno waved at me as they left. It was then that I realised there were a couple ofbikers in chairs in the waiting area too, one asleep, and the other playing something on his phone. He’d been watching the guys with Lenore, but now he caught my eye and gestured at me to come over. He was cute, if you were into baby faced blonde guys.
“I’m Has-Been, love. Just wanted to make sure you and your man are doing okay? We’re here ‘til six, so just shout if you need anything.”
“You’re just going to sit out here?”
He glanced at the sleeping guy beside him, who I couldn’t recognise because his head was down, and all I could see was dark hair and folded arms over his patches.