A hand lands on my shoulder, heavy and full of authority.
“You are not at fault here, brother. These pricks who took her are to blame for this. Val is to blame for this, for putting her on their radar,” Racer states.
I know what he is saying but it really doesn’t help the shitty way I feel.
“Logan.” My name is like whisper from the fucking racing gods.
“Baby.” I am at her side in a flash, taking her hand in mine. “Shit, it is good to see you awake.”
She goes to speak, but croaks, her throat dry.
“Here.” Racer hands me a cup of water with a straw. I help her take a sip.
“Slowly, babe.” She takes a few small sips, and nods, gracing me with a smile that brings me to my knees.
Sitting on the bed, I lean in, kissing her head.
“How long have I been out?”
“A few hours. What do you remember?” She looks to the bottom of her bed, seeing my brothers there.
I tense, waiting to see what she says. I know she heard what Pres said about getting stories straight, but I could never ask her to lie to her cousin for us— for me. Stevie should never be put in this situation; she is too good to be dragged into shit like this.
What we just dealt with is not an everyday occurrence for the Rugged Skulls as we are not a one-percenter club. We do have run-ins with some shitty people we have to face head on, as trouble always seems to finds us.
Bringing her gaze back to me, she sighs.
“I got a text from Val, saying she wanted to meet and talk. I went. Not my finest moment, but what can I say? I was curious. You know me.” I kiss the back of her hand.
“Then what?” I ask.
“I got there, but did not see anyone at first, so I went inside. You know when you scream at a horror movie, telling the hot chick not to go inside? Well, that was playing in my head, but I still went in.”
“I knew I fucking liked you, babe,” Savage speaks up, and Stevie winks at him.
Fucking winks. Chuckling, I gain her attention.
“Then?”
“I got grabbed by some men. I didn’t really see their faces, but they took me into a room where I found Val dead on the floor,” she states firmly.
“Fucking love her. if you do not wife her up, I fucking will and she can wear a fucking strap-on,” Savage threatens.
Stevie giggles, her hand gripping mine. I flip my brother off over my shoulder and he chuckles.
“Stevie, you were a brave girl, I will give you that. Fucking proud of you. If that is what you want to tell the cops, then we will support you,” Racer starts, then my girl cuts him off.
“I won’t lie to Grady.” He nods to her. “But that is what I will tell the police. I do not want Logan or the club in any sort of trouble. I will add that Logan was tracking me and got a bad vibe, so he followed and found me hurt. Got me to the hospital.”
“Okay, then the club owes you a debt.”
“No you don’t. Family helps family.” She grips my hand tighter and shit, it hits me like a sledgehammer.
I fucking love her.
“Still. You are now a Rugged Skull, honey, and we do what we can for family. No one stands alone, that is the club’s motto. Youshowed that you belong with our brother, so you always have the club’s protection. So do your folks.”
“My folks?” she asks him, then looks to me with a frown.