Alexander stops me. "I'm fine. ER patched me up and I'll be fine." I knew he was hiding something but it could wait until I break out of this hospital.
Alexander walks back in as the nurse leaves, before she helps me adjust my bedding to sit up a bit more. “You up for a visitor or two?” He asks. I nod my head. And hell must have frozen over because I see the salt and pepper man himself walking in with Seamus in his arms. Never in a million years did I imagine this man handling my dog. Nor him choosing to come see me.
“Dear one.”
“Rawlings.” I nod my head as he lets Seamus down on the bed. He sniffs my feet before he gently walks towards me. I reach my arm out to scratch my hand. He licks in response. “That’s my buddy boy.” He seems to sense that laying on me would hurt me, so he pancakes in between my legs.
“Tessa. I want to apologize.” I snap my head up. My heart rate monitor is spazzing out because I am in shock.
“Easy, darlin’” Alexander puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Run by that me again, big man.”
“I want to apologize.”
“How do those words taste like?”
“Unusual.”
“Proceed.” I grin, knowing that it took a bit of his strength to speak those words.
“I want to apologize. First, for my behavior. When I said that this club was a family and it extended out to you, I didn’t treat you like family. It has been hard for me to think that we need to give our old ladies, our partners, more of a voice. Second.” He pauses and steps closer to me. “Second, you were right about a few things and instead of listening.” He looks at Alexander and back at me, “I may have put you into your dumbass…” Alexander clears his throat, “Your plan of action when Connors reached out to you. It seemed like they were a couple steps ahead of us.” Rawlings comes closer to the bed, acting like he is going to break me if he gets closer. I gesture him to come closer to me and lean in. When he does, he plant a small kiss on his cheek.
“That was kind of you to admit and say to me.”
“Well, you took a bullet for our man here.” He places his hand on his shoulder. “It’s the least I could do.”
“While you are here can you answer a couple burning questions.” I look at both of them. The president and vice president.
They both look confused. “I guess?” Rawlings did not know what to say.
“First, explain why the news has no other connection to Connors and Carla.” I wiggle in my bed.
Alexander steps in first. “Just thank Joaquin, kid got us out of more news articles and evidence to tie any of us with it. Including yourself.”
“So what you’re saying is.” Waiting for the other end of the shoe to drop.
“The less you know, the better it is for you in the future if any cops ask you.”
“Try again. It’s my agency, my life.”
Rawlings hangs his head. “Fine. Joaquin was able to hack in and erase any notion of us, the Falcons, and you. The only mention is that you were a casualty due to you checking into the shelter project and defended yourself.”
“But there wasn’t any justice, there is so much more.”
“This is our fight. No one else needs to get involved.” Alexander chimes in.
“What do you expect people to do? People have seen you all associated with us.” I point out. Knowing that people within the agency will not forget random bikers around the foundation.
“We will figure out that piece. No one has come forward.” Rawlings states.
“Yet. Key word there.” I say.
“We are doing everything to take the heat from you and us. You are one of us. We protect our own.” Rawlings caresses my cheek. His ringing sincerely.
The dots start to connect. Protection in this is better. The knowledge of what is happening is a sign of trust and a long road ahead of us. More like a fight is waiting for us.
“One last question. How did you find me?” This one I know had to be an explanation because I remember I turned off my phone beforehand.