Cain had managed to get Alex away from the goons on the bikes, but they had to stop in Baton Rouge. The bleeding had mostly stopped, but Cain’s arm and side were killing him so they stopped at a Walmart and while he waited in the car, Alex bought him a new shirt along with a first aid kit and a bottle of Tylenol to help him deal with the pain. The wounds may have only been superficial, but she could tell he was hurting. A few miles down the road they stopped again. Throwing his vest over his shoulder to hide the blood, they used a restaurant restroom to clean him up, butterfly bandage the gouge in his arm and side closed, and then wrap it in gauze. A new shirt made him presentable, even if he did walk and sit with a leaning, stoop-shoulder appearance. They had a simple meal before the long push to Dallas and Cain downed a half-dozen of the Tylenol.

 

The rest of the drive proved uneventful and as the drugs began to take the edge off his pain, he slept for a time. A couple of hours later, when he woke up she was holding his hand. As he struggled up out of sleep, he became aware of Alex’s hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze as he smiled.

 

“You saved me,” she said. He couldn’t see her face well, the glow of the instruments providing the only illumination, but he could see that her eyes were wide as she looked at him occasionally.

 

“I would do anything to protect you…you and our baby,” he said softly. “Anything. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

 

“I looked when you were sleeping. It was on silent. I forgot to turn the ringer on after you called. I didn’t know you were calling. I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“How did you know?”

 

“We caught a couple of Bulls sneaking around in our territory. They were bragging how they knew about you and how you were going to pay the price for us screwing them. They had left hours ago. I caught the first flight I could to try and beat them there. I had to save you.”

 

“How did they know about me?”

 

Cain rocked his head from side to side against the seat back. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything. They have been one step ahead of us the entire time. There must be a mole in the club. I can’t believe one of the brothers would sell us out to the Bulls, but somehow they know every move we are going to make. A war is coming and a lot of innocent people could get hurt.”

 

“My parents?”

 

“I don’t know. Nobody knows. A few brothers remember when we got squeezed. I didn’t know this, but we used to bring in our guns in through Houston. About the time your parents died we had to move it to New Orleans. That’s all anyone knows. Nobody knew about the Hounds killing anyone, especially a cop. I’m not saying your grandparents are wrong, but nobody knows anything about it. I’m sorry.”

 

He watched her as she drove. She was so beautiful and strong. He wanted to make her his, but he was afraid that she was lost to him forever.

 

“You will take me back to New Orleans when this is all over and get out of my life?” she asked, not looking at him.

 

“If that is what you want.” He wanted to beg for a second chance, but couldn’t. He had done all the begging he would with her.

 

“I will stay in Dallas until you deal with the Bulls. But then I want you to take me home. Do I have your promise?”

 

“I will. You have my word.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

He forced a smile. “I will do anything for you.”

 

***

 

They arrived at the Hound’s clubhouse just before dawn, having driven through the night. Cain had called ahead and the Hounds’ “private” doctor was waiting when they arrived. While Alex watched, the doctor stitched Cain up and shot him full of antibiotics and something else that she said would help with the pain and let him sleep. By the time Alex got Cain home, the drugs had taken effect and knocked him on his ass. She had to help him into his apartment as he was barely able to stand on his own. Cain’s apartment was a one bedroom and he mumbled something about putting him on the couch so she could sleep in the bed, but she dumped him into the bed anyway.

 

She tugged his boots off before she kicked her own shoes off and crawled into the bed beside him, both of them still fully dressed. He was barely aware of her movement beside him before the drugs took him again and he drifted away into sleep.