“Thanks, you think I’m crazy for claimin’ her?” Doc and my dad were thick in their prime.
“Eh, not my place to judge. I do think the young filly might give you more than you bargained for. A strong girl like that, she ain’t gonna take it lying down. You’ll have your work cut out for you. Be mindful of that, and also of her injuries in case she goes running.” My eyes slide back to Persephone. She’s breathing peacefully even though the edges around her eyes crinkle and her eyelashes are fluttering. I hope like hell she ain’t reliving this shit all over again.
“I’ll be lookin’ forward to seeing her fire, Doc.” My eyes leave her. He’s attempting to hold back his laugh.
“I just bet you are. She’ll be out for a while if you wanna join the boys and me for a beer.”
“I’m good. You call Monroe while you’re out there. Thinkin’ it’s time to bring everyone in. This shit with the Cartel is still brewing, and now this. Something ain’t adding up.” He nods, agreeing with me about bringing his only child home, it’s a shame her mom took off when she did. Doc did a great job with her and it shows with how smart Monroe is.
“I fear you’re right. You always did have Nail’s intuition. Don’t flounder on it now.” Doc states, I don’t watch him leave, instead, I turn my head back to the dark-haired beauty full of mystery, one I’m going to solve one step at a time.
Four
Persephone
“God, I feel like a bus ran me over, then it was put in reverse and ran me over again.” My eyes slowly open. Last time I was awake, the only thing I was aware of were the people surrounding me, namely Shovel and Doc. The other guy was just that—another guy.
I take in the cream walls, the closed curtains that are brown in color, faded over time. A dresser that is beat up and has seen better days sits across from the bed, a massive television on top of it. This has to be a man’s room, and if I had any guesses on whose, it would be Shovel’s. The smell surrounding me gives me that clear idea. Leather, that’s what it smells like, pure, clean, leather, and I have no right to be here enjoying the scent, let alone be in his bed and bringing my issues to his doorstep.
My eyes scan the room one last time, seeing where I can go to the bathroom, semi-clean up, and then walk out the door. Not that it’s safe to go back to my once shared apartment. I’ll definitely have to strategize. What I don’t realize is, while I was going through my tirade inside my head, Shovel has been sitting beside me the entire time.
“That’ll happen when someone tries to kill you, then leaves you for dead, babe.” My head swivels to him. He’s sitting in a chair, arms crossed on his firm stomach, long muscular legs stretched out in worn jeans, and I know his whole body is muscular. I could feel through the pain of getting on his bike, holding him, that there wasn’t anything that wasn’t firm and hard.
“Ugh, yeah. I guess so.” I start to swing my legs out of the bed, but the pain in my chest stops me.
“Hey, stay there, or at least let me help you.” For a man of his size and stature Shovel really does move rather quickly.
“I’m not so sure I’ll be able to get up even with your help.” My eyes close. The stars I’m seeing behind them don’t do shit to combat the need to go to the bathroom.
Shovel grunts, but then he’s tossing the sheets off my body before he’s slowly and methodically helping me sit up with the help of my good side.
“Slow and steady, Persephone.” There is no way I should be enjoying the feel of Shovel surrounding me, or liking the way his voice sounds. Though, I guess with Kyle and his philandering ways, I shouldn’t be surprised. A woman can only handle being ignored for so long before she blocks that person out of her heart; plus, he almost tried to kill me. If I could go back a few months, I would have walked away. That sure as hell would have been smarter.
“Thanks, Shovel. I promise once I get things lined up, I’ll leave you and your club alone.” He helps me stand up, not moving back. Our fronts are meshed together, him being careful of my gunshot wound.
“How about we get you to the bathroom, so you can take care of business? Then I’ll wrap up your wounds, get the shower started, grab you some fresh clothes, and we go from there.” Shovel might have stated this like more of a question, but the hardness in his jaw lets me know he won’t back down from this.