She’d never forgive me for bruising it.
For a second time.
So I said nothing as I untangled from her and went for the bag Voss had left.
I washed my hands, then applied the gauze and tape to her skin.
“You can’t put those pants back on,” I told her. “I’ll go borrow something,” I added, watching her give me a tight nod. “Take that antibiotic while I’m gone,” I demanded.
I moved out of the bathroom, and damn near collapsed back into the wall beside the door, drawing the attention from the others in the room.
“She okay?” Fallon asked, inspecting the bullet that he’d likely fished out of his little brother’s shoulder, judging by the bandage I saw there.
“Through and through,” I told them. “Time will tell.”
“Okay,” Fallon said, exhaling hard. “Get her back to the clubhouse and resting.”
“I’m going to need a car,” I said. “It’s… in her… hip. And thigh.”
“And by hip, you mean ass,” Fallon concluded. “Yeah, can’t imagine riding on that on a bike would feel great. I’ll text Danny to come get her and Finn. I want you and Voss at the clubhouse, keeping an eye on the patients while we figure out what the fuck is going on.”
“Got it,” I agreed. I probably should have been arguing to be a part of the action, but if he was going to give me a chance to look after Louana, I was going to take it.
“Keep your phone by you,” he demanded, moving off to call Danny.
I grabbed a pair of pajama pants from Cary’s girl then made my way back into the bathroom, finding Louana standing at the sink, staring at her own reflection.
“Hey, got you some pants,” I told her, waving them so she could see them in the mirror.
To that, she gave me a tight nod.
“Ten minutes,” I told her, moving up behind her. “Ten minutes and we can get you some pain meds.”
I got another nod to that.
“Alright. Let me help you get these on,” I said, moving down to a squat before she could object, and waiting for her to slide her feet in.
I was more than a little worried about her complete silence as we moved slowly through the apartment, then painstakingly down the steps toward the SUV that Danny had driven over.
“Bring your bike back,” Danny insisted, pushing me away from the door when I’d attempted to get in as well. “Give her a minute,” she added, giving me a knowing look. “The way I hear it, you were a massive fuckwad to her back in the day. And now you were the one to take care of her today. She’s processing. Give her a minute.”
“Right,” I agreed, nodding and taking a step back. “Okay,” I added.
As soon as Danny was in the car, I hopped on my bike and followed them back, though.
She could have a minute.
She could even have a five-minute drive across town.
But nothing else.
I didn’t like her silence. It wasn’t like her. So she was either in a lot more pain than her pride would let her admit, or she was mentally and emotionally having a rough time. Either way, she needed someone there for her. And there was no one else at the club at the moment that she had any sort of connection to.
It had to be me.
Iwantedit to be me.
And, what’s more, I bet she did too.
Even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.