Chapter Forty-One
“All right, sir, the nurse will be in with your discharge papers in the next few minutes.” The fresh-faced intern slung his stethoscope around his neck and held out a hand to Lucky.
Sir. Jesus, after the ruckus he caused demanding to be in the same curtained off room as Kori, it was a surprise the physician didn’t tell him to fuck off and good luck with his battered face.
Lucky caught Kori’s eye as he grasped the doctor’s outstretched hand. Her bottom lip was between her teeth as though warding off giggles and her gaze was unfocused from the pain medication. Stubborn woman had tried to be stoic, but didn’t stand a chance at hiding the severity of the pain from him.
“Sorry for all the trouble I caused,” he said to the doc. He didn’t do apologies, but he had been a bit over the top when they first brought him in. Worry for Kori mixed with a healthy dose of anger that she hadn’t stayed in the motel room found an easy target in the medical staff. Now that she was more comfortable and he had a chance to cool down, he felt bad for being such a dick.
“No worries, man,” the doctor answered. He winked at Kori, earning himself another scowl from Lucky. “I’d act the same way if she were mine.”
Lucky frowned. Was this asshole hitting on his woman? He was just about to take back his apology and blast the young doctor when Kori jumped in.
“Thank you, Doctor Coleman. We appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“My pleasure. You two should be out of here in fifteen minutes tops.” The doc tossed her a smile then left the room.
The hospital really had gone out of their way to accommodate them. While they weren’t willing to break policy and keep him and Kori in the same cubicle, they had given them adjoining rooms and kept the center divider open so it became one big room with two separate plinths. While Lucky regretted not being able to touch her while they examined and cleaned her wounds, he supposed he should be grateful they allowed him to be a witness.
The moment the curtain swished closed, Lucky was off the plinth and across the room. He wasted no time gathering Kori into his arms and pressing soft kisses to her face. She sagged against him, a hitch in her breath the only indication that this was anything more than a hug between lovers.
“How you feeling, angel? And don’t give me that fine bullshit. How are you really feeling?” He was careful to keep his hands low on her back. The burning hot asphalt had done quite a number on the skin over her shoulder blades. She’d required extensive and delicate cleaning to care for the road-rash type abrasions and second degree burns that covered her upper back. She also had a fractured rib and quite the colorful array of bruising, including on her beautiful face.
When his work was finished, the physician had rattled off ten minutes’ worth of aftercare instructions and bandaging techniques. Lucky had paid close attention, but planned to hand the responsibility off to Lila as soon as they got back to Arizona. Best to leave it to a professional. He wasn’t taking any chances that the wounds would become infected.
“Well,” she said with a sigh as she drew back and gave him a soft smile. “I’m sore all over, but whatever it was they gave me for the pain really seems to have helped. I’m not too excited about how I’ll feel when it wears off.”
He swallowed, hard. Part of him itched to be back at the clubhouse doling out punishment to Rebel and Savage. If Kori hadn’t needed medical attention, there wouldn’t have been a chance in hell he’d have gone to the emergency room. As he suspected, all he had was a busted-up face, mangled knuckles, and a mild knock to the head. He was divided in his desire to be with Kori and his need for revenge. Hearing her admit to being in pain made it all that much harder to resist charging out of the hospital and wrapping his hands around Savage’s throat until the man’s eyes rolled back in death.
Then he’d move on to Rebel…
“How about you?” she asked in a soothing voice. With one fingertip, she traced the purple swelling under his right eye. Her touch was soft, exploratory. He’d give his left nut to be alone with her and have them both uninjured. There was only one thing that would truly calm the raging waters inside of him and that would have to wait until Kori was feeling better. Looked like he’d have to settle for a little vengeance for now.
“Been worse, baby. Much worse. Don’t give it a second of your thought.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Tough guy.”
“Damn straight.” He winked and kissed her. “Where’s that damn nurse?”
“Hey, what did you say to Savage? At the end. When I asked you not to…you know.”
Kori was quick, not much got by her. She was smart enough to recognize an admission of murderous intentions wasn’t a smart move in a bustling city hospital.
“I just let him know how things were now. How his reign was over. No drugs, no money, no club, no friends. Just enemies. Enemies who weren’t the type to forgive or forget.” He held her gaze, not about to apologize for his vicious statement.
“I want to see him, Lucky.”
No point in pretending he didn’t understand. She meant Rebel, not Savage. His stomach clenched as his body literally rejected the idea.
“It was part of the deal.”
He arched an eyebrow. “The deal? Oh, you mean the deal where you were supposed to wait in the motel room until it was safe for you to come to the clubhouse? That deal?”
A red flush stole across her face. “You’re mad.”
“Fucking pissed is more like it. But I’m way more worried about you being hurt, so you’re off the hook for now. Later though?” He cocked his head and slid his hands down until he cupped her ass. “Let’s just say we may revisit the topic when you’re feeling better.” He gave her cheeks a squeeze then backed away as the nurse entered the room.
Five minutes later, armed with pain medication and a bag full of ointment for Kori’s back, they walked out into the hot Vegas sun. Acer waited, resting against the side of a black mustang convertible. Lucky had no idea whose car it was, but he was grateful for it. Kori was in no shape to be on the back of a bike.
“Ready to rock and roll?” Acer asked.
Lucky nodded. “Get us the fuck out of here. I hate hospitals.”
“Are we going to see him?” Kori asked.
Lucky lifted their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He studied her for a second. The sight of the lumpy bandages under the scrub top they’d given her after cutting away her shredded tank top made him want to wrap her up and hide her away.
But this was her father they were talking about. A man she never knew existed until a few months ago. A man who’d given her hope for a family then ripped it away in the most ruthless way possible. A man who almost got her killed.
She deserved to confront him, to say whatever was on her mind and to see him pay for his crimes. No, she’d never know exactly what the club planned for him, but she’d at least have some closure. So, while it made him want to tear apart the clubhouse with his bare hands, it wasn’t about him, and he’d take her to see her father.
His heart broke a little for her and the loss of her family. But he understood it, having no blood family of his own. This was the first time in his life he was putting a woman’s needs before his own and he was good with it. Better than good. Seeing to her needs felt right.
“Yeah, angel, we’re going to see him.” He glanced at Acer who nodded and moved around to the driver’s side of the mustang.
“Thank you,” Kori said when Acer was out of earshot. “I know you don’t want to do this so I want you to know how much it means to me.”
He kissed her, absorbing her surprising strength and sweet flavor. “I just want you to be safe, happy, unafraid. Whatever I have to do to make that happen, I’ll do.” He kissed her again. Keeping away from her was becoming impossible. They needed to hurry this along so he could take her back to the motel and show her just how grateful he was that Savage hadn’t harmed her further. He’d have to be creative due to her injuries, but he loved a challenge and a little natural painkilling chemical in the form of multiple orgasms would do wonders for Kori.
“You two want to break it up any time soon? My woman is a few hours away. It’s cruel to get me all riled up like this.” Acer rapped his knuckles against the top of the car then disappeared inside.
A giggle snuck out of Kori. “Thank you.” She snaked her arms around his waist and squeezed tight, too tight. It had to be straining the abused skin of her back. “I love you,” she whispered against his chest.
The answering words burned the tip of his tongue in their struggle to break free, but still he held it back. Maybe it made him an asshole, keeping her in suspense this way, disappointing her. Soon, he’d say it soon. Right after he looked Savage in the eye and told the man who Kori really belonged to.