As soon as Viper and I got back to the clubhouse, I headed straight for the infirmary. I walked in and my stomach twisted into a knot when I caught sight of the girl sprawled out on the gurney. Her clothes had been removed, revealing the horrific state of her battered body. Deep bruises covered her torso and face, her eyes were swollen shut, and she was lying perfectly still as Doc finished stitching up one of her larger wounds.
The sight shouldn’t have fazed me. I’d mangled plenty of men over the years, but seeing her like this brought bile up to the back of my throat. In just a blink, I was thrown back in time with images of Lindsey at the scene of the accident.
Blue and red lights were flashing, cops and medics were rushing around like madmen, but Lindsey lay perfectly still—she was bleeding, her face almost unrecognizable, and her clothes were tattered and soaked in blood. The medics raced from one area to the next, doing what they could to save Lindsey and her friends, but one was already gone with another barely holding on. I stood there helplessly, watching as they zipped up the body bag, concealing her friend’s mangled body.
Sensing that my mind was somewhere else, Doc gave me a gentle nudge as he asked, “You all right over there?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You sure? ’Cause considering everything, I’d understand if you weren’t.”
Doc was one of the few people who knew the whole story about my past. While it wasn’t a topic either of us discussed, it meant something that he was looking out for me. Trying my best to collect myself, I let out a deep breath and stepped over to the gurney. “I’m sure, but what about her? How’s she doing?”
“Been touch and go, but she was lucky.” He finished the last stitch, then started applying a bandage. “The guy who stabbed her either had no clue what he was doing or was a pro ’cause the internal damage was minimal.”
“I take it she hasn’t said anything?”
“No. She’s been out since y’all brought her in.” Doc looked over to me. “I’m sure Viper is eager to get her talking, but it’s gonna take some time. Poor kid’s been through a lot.”
“So, how long are we talking about here?”
“That’s up to her, brother.” Doc took a sheet and covered her. “The fact that she’s made it this long shows she’s got some fight in her. She’s gotta hold on to that, and maybe...just maybe, she’ll make it through this.”
“Damn.” This girl had me all kinds of fucked up. The memories I’d worked so hard to push to the back of my mind had risen to the surface and were gnawing at me, pulling me back into the darkness. It was a feeling that had me wanting to shut down and forget this shit ever happened, but I didn’t have that luxury—not when I had no idea who the girl was, and I had no doubt that Viper would feel the same. “Viper’s gonna come unglued.”
“It is what it is.” Doc shrugged. “I’ve done what I can. Now it’s just a matter of waiting. I’m gonna go get some shut eye, but I’ll check on her in a couple of hours.”
“I’ll stay here with her just in case she decides to wake up.”
“Don’t think that’s gonna happen—at least not for a while.” He checked her stats once more. “I’ve given her some pretty heavy sedatives and pain meds. I figure she’ll be out for a while.”
“I’m still staying.”
“Suit yourself.” He motioned his hand behind me. “There’s an extra cot around back and some blankets.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“Let me know if you need anything.”
I nodded, then watched as Doc left the room, leaving me alone with our broken stranger. I stood over her, and I could once again feel the darkness inside of me brewing in the pit of my stomach. As I stood there, I studied the marks on her body. Fuck. Every goddamn inch of her had some kind of a bruise or scratch. I couldn’t be sure, but I got the feeling that it wasn’t just one guy who’d fucked her over. It was several. Just thinking about what they’d done to her made me want to hunt the assholes down and kill them with my bare fucking hands. I knew I needed to get a fucking grip. I didn’t know shit about her. For all I knew, she could’ve had this shit coming to her, but the mere fact they all jumped her at once showed what fucking pussies they were.
Thinking she might get cold with just a sheet covering her, I walked around and grabbed a couple of blankets out of a closet. After I’d gently tossed one of them on her, I moved a chair over and sat down next to the bed. I could’ve gone back to my room and gotten some actual fucking sleep, but I couldn’t make myself leave her. It had always eaten at me that I wasn’t there when my folks were pulled into that water, that they’d both died alone, and I didn’t want the same for her. If she happened to pass, I’d be there watching over her. Besides, questions needed to be answered and I’d rather be close by in case she woke up. I turned out the light and did my best to get comfortable enough to sleep. I hadn’t even realized I’d dozed off until I heard the muffled sounds of her cries. “No. Stop. Please.”