“Everyone needs to calm the fuck down. We need to find Kingsley, let’s focus on that,” Alex says.
“I don’t think he’ll hide. He’s not a coward. He needs to be in control, and he’ll be back at Club Kingsley, if he isn’t already. We have Finn and Alex sit on the club. Riley and Porter find out what’s being said on the streets. Kace and I will find out where Dom is. He was bleeding in the hallway the last I saw him, so he had to get medical attention,” I say, lighting a smoke.
Brooks and Enzo exchange a look and when Brooks nods, Enzo looks down the table. “Z is right. While you all do what he said, Brooks and I have to meet up with the Italians. We’ll all meet back at the hospital and check in.”
“What are you meeting the Italians for?” I question.
With the thoughts of what Kingsley said in the front of my mind, my defense is already up. The Italians only come around when they need something, or when Brooks makes a shady deal with things we don’t need or want.
“Marco wants to discuss a job he wants done,” Brooks says. It could be true, but I’m not sure of anything anymore. “Let’s get this shit done. Zane, if there is any change with Harper, you’ll let us know?”
I grab my cigarettes and shove them in my pocket. “Yeah.”
Kace drives us to the hospital in his pickup. I stare out the side window watching the blurry world pass by. “Do you believe them?”
“I don’t know, brother. I think until we have a reason not to, we have to believe them,” he says.
I shake my head, but don’t say anything. I need to get back to Harper, she still isn’t awake. Once I know she’s alright, I’ll fight this war and I’ll fucking win.
2
Harper
Muffled voices surround me. I’m alive? I try to open my eyes, but they refuse to give. A warmth blankets me and I’m once again pulled under.
***
3
Zane
I blow out a breath and lean over in my chair. “Come on, babe. Open your eyes already,” I whisper, kissing her hand.
It feels like a lifetime since I’ve seen her deep blue eyes and heard her soothing voice. It’s hard to believe it was just last night. I’m starting to feel like an entirely different person and I’m not sure I like him. I need something to happen-- anything.
“Hey,” Ivy whispers, walking in.
I nod my head at her. “Hey.”
She puts down a bag and moves to the other side of the bed. “I brought some of her things. When she wakes up, she’ll probably be pissed about this gown she’s in,” she says, with a smile.
I force a grin and squeeze Harper’s hand. “She’ll be glad you’re here.”
It’s one thing I do know for sure. She didn’t say it to me, but I could see the happiness in her face when Ivy was around. It makes me glad because
she needs a friend. Someone she can talk to that has no judgement. Ivy seems to be that person. She’s been here since Finn brought her last night, sitting quietly in the corner of the waiting room. She’s not comfortable with the club, you can tell easily by the way she focuses on anything, but them. But she’s dealing with it for Harper. When I got to the hospital from the club, I told her she could come into the room. She cried when she saw her but pulled herself together quickly.
“Have the nurses been in?” she asks.
“Not since they switched shifts.” I can’t take my eyes off of Harper. My heart feels like it’s struggling to beat at this point. I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss it again, keeping it close to my mouth. I sigh and close my eyes.
“She’s gonna wake up soon, Zane,” Ivy whispers.
My eyes slowly open and I stare at her. “I’ve done this before with Kace. He was shot, too.”
She nods her long brown hair falling over her shoulders as she chews her lip. “Harper told me.”
“This shit wasn’t easy then and it’s impossible now. I know she’s gonna wake up, she won’t leave me,” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut to keep back the tears.