Hawk
Past
As soon as I step into the sterile room, the constant beeping of machines invades my ears. Taking tentative steps, I reach her. The only thing that I recognize about the person lying in the hospital bed is the dark brown hair that’s matted to her head. Fury burns in my veins as I take in her condition. Her neck is secured in a brace along with her left wrist. Her face is purple and swollen. The right eye seems to be sunken in, and her lips are crusted with blood.
When word got back to the club that Sienna had been taken, there was no mention of Tessa. I didn’t think anything of it, which was wrong on my part because it’s a rare occasion that the girls ever did anything apart. My contact at the hospital informed me that witnesses told the police Tessa was physically beaten while Sienna watched. Once those fuckers were done leaving bruises on Tessa’s body, they left her.
It’s been a shitty forty-eight hours since we got word the El Diablo’s got what no one knew they wanted–Sienna. My stomach churns at the thought of what she went through before they took her life. What Devin must have seen right before he was killed–along with my father. I shake those thoughts from my head. He died protecting his Prez, just as it should have been.
Shit’s tense at the clubhouse, and when I got the call that Tessa was lying in a hospital bed, alone, I knew there was no way I couldn’t come. From what I know of the timeline, it took someone six hours to find her body. The entire time I thought she was home safe. I never thought to call. I never thought to go to her house to tell her that her best friend was murdered. I never thought to do shit. A mall employee found Tessa’s almost lifeless body tossed naked behind the dumpsters. Her heartbeat was faint, and the breaths coming from her lungs even more so.
She could have fucking died.
From the looks of it, she’s somewhere in between life and death.
I snatch the chair that’s located near the foot of her bed and set it near her head. As soon as I sit, the coppery aroma of blood invades my senses. Reaching up, I lightly brush away the crimson liquid that’s slowly trickling from her nose. I smear it across the top of her lip, only making more of a mess, so I turn and find a box of tissue.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as I dab the tissue at her skin. “You shouldn’t have to endure this. This never should have happened.”
I toss the used tissue into the trash can by the door. When I find out who’s responsible, I’m going to make them wish they were never born. I’m going to rip them limb from limb and shit down their fucking throat. They think they can do this to someone I care about? They’ve got another thing coming.
The evils of the club weren’t supposed to touch her. That’s the reason why, even though I wanted to do the opposite, I’ve kept my distance. All I’ve ever wanted to do since the moment I realized the difference between boys and girls was to claim her as mine. And not the way my father has claimed woman after woman. I’ve only ever wanted her. That one night we shared was never enough. It will never be enough.
My hand trembles as I reach for her hair. I make a fist, turning my knuckles white, trying to get a grip on my emotions. Shaking out my hand, I try to comb through the tangles of her hair with my fingers.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her again, praying that she can at hear me. Years of memories flash through my mind, the sound of her laughing, the brightness of her smile, how she always stood her ground around the guys and me. She’s an angel with wings of steel.
A moan rises from her chest as her lashes start to dance along with her cheeks. Her eyes flutter open, blinking a few times before they once again close. “Shhh,” I say as I gently brush my hand over her hair.
I place my hand over her heart as her chest raises in breaths. When it collapses and then builds again, I hesitantly remove it from her body. She’s alive, though I wouldn’t doubt if the reaper is standing guard at her door right now. She has to survive.
Leaning into her, I push the hair away from her ear. “You’re strong, Tessa.” I rub my hand down her arm. “You’ve got this. Heal, baby. Heal and come back. Come back… to me.” I press a kiss to her temple. Making a vow right then that her being by my side is the only way she’ll live her life. I’ve kept my distance, for years now, I’ve held her at arm’s length, but no more.
No. Fucking. More.