***Maci***

 

My brain is so fuzzy, it’s a struggle to open my eyes and escape from my sleep. The first thing I feel when I wake up isn’t pain. I feel powerless. Everything happening around me is out of my hands. There’s nothing I can do that allows me to get a grip on things. It’s like oil. Spreading everywhere while my control slips. Fear grips me while I fight like hell, fight whatever this is. Then suddenly the pain hits and it makes my head throb.

“Lay back down, gorgeous.” I hear Xerox’s voice soften before I feel a gentle touch on my shoulder. “That’s it.”

That’s it. Those words echo in my head. Except they were voiced by a different person and with a sneer. They were the last thing I heard before the sharp sting in my neck…everything is fuzzy…panic sets in. Flashes fill my brain with what happened before those words were said. Fight or flight slams through me as a scream rips from my lips as my arms swing, my body moves, and my ass hits the floor. Hard.

“Goddammit. Why do you always have to hit my brown eye, huh?” Xerox. That’s his voice that makes words laced with a hint of anger flow through the air.

I’m safe. He did come for me. When those two guys grabbed me and Nancy and pulled us into that alley, I kept telling myself that he would somehow know they took us. That he would be there.

“Come closer and I’ll gladly shut that blue one too,” I mutter, and add. “damn baboon.” Internally, I’m smiling.

This is exactly what I need instead of the soft treatment he gave a moment ago. Xerox scoops me up and places me back in bed at the exact moment a nurse enters the room.

“What did you do?” The nurse scowls as she checks my IV and vitals.

The dirty looks she gives Xerox indicates the question was for him, not me.

His left eyebrow raises. “Hey, she punched me in the eye and jumped off the bed, even wants to shut my other one too.”

“I like it when my guy has blue eyes…I keep trying to change the brown one but it only stays blue for a very short time.” I wink at the nurse when she gasps at my words.

“You know,” the nurse addresses me as she throws her stethoscope around her neck. “Couples who have those kind of heated discussions tend to flame between the sheets. I don’t want any fire in this room. Get my drift?”

Shit. Did she just…?

Xerox snorts but his face flashes to serious with his next breath. “A quick fuck in the hospital isn’t something I’d do to my Old Lady. Get my drift.”

I shake my head. “Oooookay. I think you need to leave.”

The nurse puts her hands on her hips and clearly waits for Xerox to leave the room.

“I meant you, ma’am. No offense, but my man isn’t leaving my side.” Okay. I sound pathetic. Like a girl clinging to her man.

The nurse gasps and stomps all the way out of the room. I have to swallow. Dammit. My fingers tremble and I’m getting slightly nauseous. My emotions are clearly an added impact on my body, and yet I’m more worried to look Xerox in the eye after I went all clingy girlfriend.

Fingers slide underneath my chin, tilting my head so our gazes lock. Instead of letting him guide my head, I rip it away. A growl rumbles through the room as I feel both sides of the bed dip. Shit. His hands are on both sides of my head while he leans in close. I have no other option but to face him.

“There’s nothing that makes my dick harder than to hear my woman voice her thoughts, claiming me the way you did just now. Don’t ever hide your feelings or your face from me.” He keeps staring at me. His pupils are starting to fill up, swallowing everything and only displaying the black swirl of desire.

“Remember now,” I breathe. “No fire in this room.”

“Darlin’,” he brushes his nose along mine, “we’d burn down the whole damn hospital if we’d flame up these sheets. But I need for you to rest up. Those fuckers injected you with some kind of drugs. They’re still running tests. And you took quite a beating defending yourself…”

He pushes off the bed and shrugs a hand through his hair.

“Nancy…” I whisper.

Xerox’s gaze hits the ground, his shoulders sag. “Yeah.”

“I couldn’t do anything. They dragged us into that alley…I didn’t even get a chance to help him…they…” My throat closes up. Dammit.

I close my eyes and I can still see it happening. I was kicking and trying to free myself. His grip slipped and I got a few good punches in before he clocked me in the eye. Spinning, my gaze went to my left and I saw how that guy threw Nancy to the ground and fired his gun. It was unreal. I was so shocked it made me freeze up for a second. That’s when I heard the guy talk and the sharp sting in my neck. Then everything faded away.

Xerox shakes his head. “I should have been there. I should never have…”

“Yeah, well…shoulda, coulda…backtracking doesn’t get us anywhere else but where we are now. So, like I said, you’re not leaving my side. Somehow, I knew deep down you’d come for me. And if something would have gone terribly wrong, then you’d be there for my brothers. That’s what gave me the strength…”

He steps closer and leans back in. “Darlin’ you already possess every fucking bit of strength your body can hold. You’re the strongest woman I know, and I’m damn proud to call you mine.”

His lips brush over mine when I hear the door open.

The nurse’s voice from before fills the room. “I said no…”

“Suck it,” Xerox growls against my lips.

“Pretty sure that she just said I can’t.” I wink at my man…and shit, that hurts. “Ouch.” I bring my hand to my face.

“Move.” The nurse slaps Xerox on his biceps. “Let me see you before the doctor comes to check on you. I’ve informed him you were awake, so he’ll be here soon. He can order something for the pain.”

“No,” I snap. “No more drugs.”

The nurse shrugs her shoulders. “The doctor will be the…”

“I said no. I’m my own freaking boss, and I’m fine. In fact, I’m ready to get out of here, get myself a nice hot shower, and get into my own bed…well, my Old Man’s bed, and get a few hours of sleep.” I seethe at the annoying nurse.

“Well, sounds like someone feels better,” a voice from the doorway states as all our heads turn.

“Doctor Webbers,” the nurse greets with a sweet tone.

The man in his late fifties steps into the room. His hair is a salt and pepper version of Elvis’ hair. With a strong jaw and his appearance he looks more like someone you would find in a garage fixing cars, trucks, or motorcycles, instead of spending his time in an OR fixing…uhmmm…people.

“Jake,” Xerox greets the doctor as they shake hands.

“Xerox. I finished your bike this morning. When are you going to swing by?”

Wait…what?

My eyes widen as the words automatically stumble from my lips. “So, you do fix bikes and people?”

Both males in the room chuckle.

Shit. “That was supposed to stay inside my head.”

The nurse leans in and whispers, “Dr. Webbers has that kind of effect on people.” 

This time she doesn’t seem so annoying and I reward her with a smile. I’m the one who’s been cranky while she was just in here doing her job, putting me first and looking after my needs.

“Okay, let’s check out your other girl,” Jake says, strolling over to the left side of my bed.

Cranky spiking back into my system. “His other girl?” I growl.

“My bike, gorgeous,” Xerox tells me with a smirk on his face. “My bike is my other girl.”

“Call it a bike then, dammit,” I snap.

Jake raises his eyebrow. “Bad time to mention he named her Gloria then?”

“What?” I growl, yet again. “She’s got a freaking name?” Holy shit. I’m jealous about a bike? Seriously, Maci? Ugh, get a grip.

“We’ll discuss it later,” Xerox snaps.

“No, we won’t.” I glare at him. And that takes some effort because my face hurts and Jake is poking me, well…checking me, but it feels like poking.

After a moment, and some more poking around, Jake seems to be done examining me.

I try to put up my sweetest voice and address Jake. “Can I go home now?”

Jake grabs the file that was lying at my feet and glances over some papers. “If Xerox will keep an eye on you, then yes. But only if you stick with your own advice; get in bed and get a few hours sleep.”

I release a deep breath, glad to hear I can get out of here. I feel icky, my head throbs, as well as my hands…like I said, a hot shower, a bed, and some hours of sleep. That’s what I need.

It takes some time to get everything set and it’s close to midnight before we finally arrive at the clubhouse. Xerox opens the passenger door and lifts me out of the truck.

“I can walk on my own, you know,” I grumble, while making no attempt to remove myself from his grip. Instead, I snuggle tighter against him and nuzzle his neck.

“I know, gorgeous, I know. Indulge me for a day or two, okay?” I hear his voice rumble through his chest.

The door of the clubhouse opens. There’s no music, or other people, around for that matter. It’s completely empty. Well, except for Barlow, who opened the door for us.

“Where is everyone?” I ask while glancing over the room.

Xerox places a kiss on my head. “Everyone turned in early. I told Corban to make sure no one’s alone.”

“What about Barlow?” I wonder, as he walks toward the bar where a lone bottle of beer is waiting on him.

“He’s on watch. Don’t worry about him. And your brothers are taken care of too. Let me spoil you for tonight so we can face tomorrow well rested. We’re gonna need it.” Xerox pushes the door to his room open with his back before he turns and walks over to the bed.

My ass hits the mattress as Xerox walks back to close and lock the door. “I’m gonna run a bath for you.”

“No…thanks. I think I’d go for a quick shower instead. I’m so damn tired.” I sigh as I strip out of my clothes.

Xerox stalks over to the bathroom. Another breath later, I hear water running. I make my way over and see he’s already naked underneath the shower.

“Come here, darlin’.” His hand goes around my wrist, giving it a slight pull to guide me flush against his delicious body.

His fingers are the softest of touch when he takes care of me. I feel safe, treasured, like I can leave everything to him. I gladly surrender to the trust and love he surrounds me with. It’s like a dream that’s over way too soon when I find myself between clean sheets, washed up and dried off, tucked into bed. Strong arms move my body so I’m being pulled flush against him. I feel Xerox’s lips on the top of my head as I drift off to sleep.