“Did you know Sailor was pregnant and without protection?” I accuse.
“You better reign it the fuck in, brother, or I’ll knock you the hell out. But, no, I didn’t, and I’d never expect Ender to confide in me with their friendship, same as she wouldn’t expect me to do that in return. So, think about it, and while you’re doin’ it, think long and hard about how you want today to turn out. You wanna live your life full of regrets, that’s on you, but I’m tellin’ you, it’s not fuckin’ easy.” This whole day has been nothing but a shit show, driving all day, hearing that Sailor was kidnapped, then she’s at the hospital, and now what has happened over the last twenty minutes.
“Fuck, you’re right. I’m gonna go for a walk. See if I can get my head on straight.” I know Hawk is telling me to get back up there right now, but that’s not happenin’, not with the way my head is spinnin’ and the mistakes I keep makin’. Sailor doesn’t need that, and neither does the club. Nothing like adding more stress than necessary when shit has gone to pot.
“You need me, brother, I’m there. And I mean that, no matter if it’s walkin’ with you to have your back or you need to talk. Whatever you need, I’m here, yeah?” For a grown-ass man, I sure do some dumb shit. Havin’ a man like Hawk willing to help means a lot.
“I think I need to do this on my own. Let the others know I’ll be back later?” I flick my cigarette to the ground, smashing it with the toe of my boot before picking it up and throwing it in the built-in ashtray on the garbage can. I never did understand why they put them so close to doors of a building. Seems a little fucked up. It also has me thinkin’ that no way Sailor can work in the bar while being pregnant surrounded by smoke, booze, and assholes. Shit, she’s gonna have to change everything. I make a promise to myself not to pick up another cigarette, not wanting to bring that back to her or our unborn child.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Hawk probably knows this woman and relationship thing better than I do, seeing as it’s always been just him and Lavender, even when they were ripped apart, yet I’m not taking his advice.
“Probably not, but it’s all I’ve got. I won’t do anyone any good with where my head is right now.” I shrug my shoulders and walk away from my Ol’ Lady, our child, and the club, at least for right now.
CHAPTER 17
SAILOR
“You good for when the cops make their presence?” Shovel asks me after questioning me to death. Even though he told me the cops are on his payroll and he’s doing his best to make sure they know I’m under Diamondback protection. Apparently, Jackson staked his claim during all of this. Of course, he didn’t tell me that before he walked away. I swear Lavender may have to get in line to kick him in the balls because I’m sure I’ll be the one doing it first. It was hard replaying the last twenty-four hours. I guess that’s how long it’s been, at least. It’s late in the day, nearing the witching hour of midnight, and I’m still not being released from the hospital. Which totally sucks, by the way, yet I get it. There is nothing worse than attempting to sleep at a hospital, let alone hooked up to machines that beep incessantly, even if it’s better for the little peanut inside of me. The only plus side of this is that I don’t actually want to go home alone, at least not in the dead of night.
“I am.” There wasn’t so much detail that I could tell Shovel much of anything. Besides cataloguing the looks of the man I named Scarface, that’s all I could remember. It was as if the whole night was a blur after the parking lot. Even the hospital security feed didn’t show much of anything. The brothers compared it to what happened at my apartment. Let’s just say Scarface isn’t too stupid, after all, since he used stolen license plates. So, I gave them the details of what he looked like, mentioning he thought I was Henley, but other than that, there’s nothing, absolutely zilch that I can recall.
“Good, now I know you aren’t being released tonight. I’m going to keep a guy on your door, then, when you get home, you’ll have protection, too. I’m not lettin’ anythin’ happen, okay?” This big man. I kind of want to demand a hug from him. Something tells me he’d give it to me and then brush it off, and yeah, there’s only so much a girl can take, even if it’s from a man who treats her like his daughter.