She liked him holding her hand.
Hellen came into the room, followed by a man and a woman.
“Maddie, it’s Doctor Sinclair,” he said.
“And I’m Doctor James,” the woman said.
“Where am I?”
“What does this mean?” Bull asked.
“Amnesia can be a possible side effect from the … from what happened.” The doctor came close to her, and Maddie stared at him.
As he pulled out a small light, she was struck by everything. The pain exploded inside her head, and she remembered being punched, kicked, even spat on. All of it came rushing back, and along with it, the noise of the machines as they started to beep.
“Maddie, you need to calm down.”
She had been beaten up. The dogs. They had gone for the dogs.
“Fucking move,” Bull said.
She didn’t know how he did it, but he had the doctors out of the way, and he was there, right in front of her face.
“Maddie, it’s me. It’s Bull. You remember me?”
She nodded, but she couldn’t do anything more.
“That’s good. That’s so good. You remember what happened to you?”
Again, she nodded.
“I got them,” he said. “The dogs are safe. I got them back, and they are going to want to meet you, but first, you’re going to have to let these doctors look at you. You need to calm down. Do you think you can do that for me?”
Maddie nodded. It was all she could do.
“Good. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Stay!” She didn’t want him to go anywhere.
“Yes. I will stay.”
She hated hospitals so much.
The doctors got to work asking her so many questions, and in the process, they gave her a headache. They asked her about the pain levels. What she remembered. They mentioned the sheriff, but Bull took over and said she would do what she could and take her time. She was grateful to him for sticking up for her. She didn’t know how much more she could cope with. All their questions just seemed too much.
By the time they left, she was so exhausted.
Hellen was across the room, tears in her eyes.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I had no idea they could get in around the back. I called an ambulance as soon as I found you.”
“It’s fine.”
Hellen smiled. “I’m going to go and let Beatrice know. She and Carl wanted to stop by, but Bull said the fewer visitors you had, the better. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Maddie forced a smile and watched as Hellen left.
“Do you want me to get rid of her?” Bull asked. “I can see she’s stressing you out.”
She turned toward Bull. “You got the dogs?”
“Yes.”
“I couldn’t … stop them.”
“I know. They were fucking cowards. I got them back. The dogs are safe. I’m pretty sure they’re missing you. Just so you know, the one you were watching, she gave birth to ten pups.”
“Ten?”
“Yes, and Pat made sure they all made it as well. There was a little guy, I think of him as a runt, he was way too small, but Pat wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”
Maddie sighed. “Thank you.”
“You do care for those dogs, don’t you?”
“They have done nothing wrong, you know? All they want is to give you love and to be loved.” She tried to shrug, but her whole body was on fire. “How long have I been here?”
“Two weeks. You’ve been in a coma. You have also been in surgery, and you will make a full recovery.”
Maddie looked at her body. “I don’t know how I’m going to be able to cope with this.”
“You’re coming with me, back to my place.”
“Your place at the clubhouse?” she asked.
Bull smirked. “No, but if you wanted to go to the clubhouse, we could. I have a house not too far from the clubhouse. It’s set back from the road. Grant lives there, unfortunately, but he does spend most of his time at the club, so you won’t have to panic.”
“I don’t want to impose. I’m sure I can find someone who can stop by my house.” She had never suffered a single broken bone in her life. As a kid, she wasn’t exactly an explorer.
“Maddie, you’re not imposing when I’m the one telling you that I’m going to be taking care of you.”
“Don’t you have … other things to do? What about your girlfriend?”
He cupped her cheek. “Are you telling me right now that you don’t remember us talking about you and me?”
“I do remember.”
“Then it’s not up for discussion. When the doctors say you can leave, I’ll be the one to take care of you.”
She took a breath. “I don’t want to stay here.”
“Not a fan of hospitals?”
“I hate them.”
“You and me both. I can’t stand them.” He moved the chair closer, and she turned her head, wanting to move her body toward him, but unable to.
“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You stayed here for me?”