Desi! Shit!
Jumping up, I didn’t say another word, rushing out of the room and down the hall, pushing through the people gathered in the common room.
It was dark outside as I ran out the door and into the lot of the compound, heading right for the main gate. Desi was leaning against one of the thick steel poles of fencing, the only thing keeping her upright. Her eyes were bloodshot and she stumbled as she saw me approach. I knew right away that she was drugged with something strong, probably Rohypnol. She was filthy and appeared thinner than the last time I saw her. My heart clenched when I noticed she was holding her side, blood soaking into her shirt and trickling through her fingers, dripping onto the thirsty sand beneath her feet.
Patriot forgot one important detail when he mentioned that my friend was here.
Desi had been shot.
“Who is this girl?” I asked, hoping Nylah had some kind of idea.
“No clue,” she answered, watching her sister as Mimi demanded that Toad open the gate.
Prospect glanced in my direction and I nodded, keeping an eye on Desi. Seemed like Mimi knew this girl but that didn’t mean she was someone the club could trust. I already stuck my neck out far and so did Rael for these sisters. We weren’t letting anyone fuck with them or put the Royal Bastards at risk.
As soon as the gate was opened wide enough Mimi rushed to grab her friend but I cut her off, lifting my hands. “She needs a doctor, baby. Let me check her over first, okay?”
Mimi was almost frantic with worry but she nodded, following close behind me as I approached Desi.
“Hey, Desi, that’s your name, right?” I asked as I did a quick inventory of her injuries.
Bruises in different stages of healing marked her slender body that ranged from dark purple to fading colors of yellow and brown. There was a deep gash on her left knee that was bleeding as badly as the wound in her abdomen. Old scars marred her skin and proved her life hadn’t been easy for many years. From what I could tell she’d been tortured for a long time.
“Trixie.”
Her words were slurred when she answered, taking a step forward as her knees buckled and I caught her before she had a chance to hit the ground.
“Shit,” I cursed.
Her eyes rolled back in her head as I shouted for Wraith and Exorcist.
“Need a table cleared in the common room so I can check out this wound in her stomach. Looks like a gunshot but I can’t be sure if there’s a bullet lodged inside her until I can get her stable first.”
Wraith and Ex assisted me plenty of times when I had to sew up wounds or remove bullets from our brothers. They knew enough basics that I could count on them to gather the supplies I needed.
Mimi followed me back inside as the music in the clubhouse abruptly turned off and the cigarette smoke began to clear as Wraith swiped across one of the tables. Glasses, bottles of booze, and ashtrays scattered to the floor as I gently placed Desi on the surface. She passed out and it was probably merciful. If I had to dig out a bullet it was going to hurt like a motherfucker.
“Is she going to be okay?” Mimi asked as I glanced her way and cringed at the tears streaking down her face.
“I think so,” I replied honestly, “but she’s going to need a lot of care. I have to inspect this wound in her stomach first.”
My sunshine bit her bottom lip and nodded.
“It would really help if you could get a bowl of hot, soapy water and try to clean her up a bit. She’s dirty and that’s a breeding ground for infection.”
Mimi swiped across her cheeks and gave me a small smile. “Thank you for allowing me to help.”
“Of course.”
The next hour and a half lapsed quickly as I cleaned and disinfected Desi’s wound and removed the bullet. Some asshole really did a number on her but no internal organs were hit. Didn’t know how that was possible but this girl must have had a guardian angel somewhere.
Once that was done, I sewed her up and then washed my hands, glancing down at my patient. The girl was still unconscious and I knew the drugs in her system wouldn’t help her recovery. She needed an IV but I didn’t want to do that here in the
common room. She needed a bed first and a room where she could rest without being disturbed.
Lifting my head, I noticed the dull ache in my lower spine for the first time. My shoulders rolled back as I stood up to my full height and glanced around the room. Wraith and Ex were sitting at a table a few feet away, flipping quarters into empty cups and whenever one of them missed they had to take a drink. Snooki was lounging on one of the leather couches next to Mimi and I smiled when I saw that my sunshine fell asleep and her head was resting on Snooki’s shoulder.
Rael was watching Nylah sleeping across from Mimi but he ticked his head in my direction and stood, heading my way with a taunting grin. “There ain’t shit you can’t do, brother. Fuckin’ miracle the way you can heal others.”