Chapter Three

Cross

“Was that the art teacher?” I knew I sounded like an asshole but goddammit, this was just another damn complication.

“Her name is Moon,” Max said with a deadly glare aimed at me. “And she’s the reason my wife is still alive.” His breathing was shallow and his nostrils flared, signs of a man in conflict.

“Why doesn’t she just fucking let the paramedics do their goddamn job?” I was being an asshole, but I was worried for Max, and Moon was an easy target. She’d always seemed a little hippy dippy, which wasn’t what I saw as she kept her hand on Jana’s throat. She was serious and intense, kind of badass even. But I never would have pegged her for a glory hog.

“Who gives a shit? Jana has a chance!”

Goddammit, Max was right. Whatever the fuck had gone down at Moon’s shop, it looked like she’d help save Jana. “You’re right man. Need anything?”

“Just for my fucking wife to be okay,” he grunted and began to pace in front of the windows. I just watched him, anger and fear radiating off him with every turn, every step.

I didn’t know how long I sat there watching Max as more Reckless Bastards entered the waiting room, but it was long enough that they forced us to move up to the critical care waiting room. Finally, maybe an hour later, Rocky came in on shaky legs, looking pale and afraid.

Lasso was up and at her side in half a second, wrapping her in his arms. “How’s Jana? Have you heard anything?” Her words were shaky and broken, projecting just how bad tonight had been.

“It was terrible, she was spurting and choking and I thought she was gonna die,” Rocky gulped in a breath and clutched at Lasso’s shirt. “But Moon was there, calm as can be as she issued orders and kept Jana calm. She just whipped off her fucking shirt to stop the bleeding. Where is she?”

“Babe, settle down. We haven’t heard anything yet. Have a seat.” Lasso guided her to a chair and whispered in her ear until she was less frantic.

“How come we haven’t heard anything yet?” Rocky blurted out.

“Exactly,” Max growled. “Not one fucking word.” He continued pacing, no doubt scaring all the doctors, nurses and family members who crossed his path.

“Any word yet?” Teddy asked as she showed up with her daughter, Quinn, in a stroller and a little black-haired boy holding her hand. The whole gang behind her, a parade of family – Mandy with Max and Jana’s son Charlie and Gunnar’s baby sister, Maisie.

“No,” Max barked, getting angrier each time someone asked the question. I made a mental note to stop the next one.

“Tate’s on his way,” Teddy assured him from a distance, seeing he needed his space. It was always a trip to hear Teddy call Golden Boy by his given name, but she only did it to fuck with him.

More people arrived, more family. People I was responsible for keeping safe and I was doing a shitty job of it. Poor Jana didn’t deserve this.

She’d already been through hell and back, never mind the hell she’d pulled Max from just in time. And Max, he looked ready to rip someone apart with his bare hands. Something had to be done, it just fucking had to be. I couldn’t let more hurt and pain come to my club. My family. I got Jag on the phone. “Look up all the cameras near Rainbow Canvas and see what you can find.”

“Done,” he said, the one word clipped before the call ended.

The doors opened and every gaze in the waiting room turned to Moon, still shirtless and covered in blood, light eyes stunned and glassy. Her skirt hung to the floor, vibrant and beautiful in sharp contrast to the surroundings and events of the night. She went to Max and wrapped an arm around him, whispering to him as she led him away.

I was right behind them, listening to every word. “I’m sorry, Max. They assumed I was family and the doctor was out of the room before he finished his sentence. Do you want me to wait with you until the doctor returns?”

“I’ll stay with him.” Why I insisted on that, I had no fucking clue.

Moon nodded and stepped away, her eyes looking hurt and confused. Then more confusion as Max grabbed her arm. “No, stay. Did she say anything, Moon?”

Her lips twitched but I was too distracted by the bloody bra and killer set of tits on display as she crossed her arms.

“She did. Jana said to tell you not to do anything stupid. And to kick some ass.” She rubbed Max’s arm gently. “It’s not good but she’s going to pull through.”

Max smiled but I could see how hard even that was for him. “Thanks, Moon.” He took off his kutte and slid his t-shirt off over his head, handing it to Moon. “Here. Cover yourself up.”

“Don’t thank me, I’m just sorry it happened at all.” She took his extra-large t-shirt and slipped it over her head. Moon wasn’t like most of the women who interacted with the club. She wasn’t intimidated by Max and didn’t keep her distance. Seeing just how hurt my buddy was, she stepped in close and wrapped long, lean arms around him while Max cried his eyes out for his wife and unborn daughter. The sound was pure anguish and was like an arrow in my chest.

“Let it all out now, Max. Jana and Charlie are going to need that famous strength she’s always going on and on about.” His shoulders jerked like maybe he was laughing, and I stood watching, stunned by her gentle nature. “Besides, you might get to name the baby because she’ll feel so bad about worrying you.” She kissed his cheek and squeezed him into another tight hug that looked like pure comfort.

“Mr. Ellison,” the doctor called out and Max went to him. Leaving me alone with Moon.

She walked over to me and said, “The shots came from a yellow and black sports car. It might have been a Mustang, I don’t know. It looked like a Mustang, but it could have been any kind of sports cars with that style body.”

Her words sank in and fire sparked in my veins as that tingle started in my extremities. Something was coming together, and soon I would have a piece of the puzzle.

“Thanks,” I said gruffly and walked away before she noticed the half-chub I sported like a goddamn horny teenager.