Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Sitting there on her bed, Dani looked so fucking small and scared. I wanted to kill someone for this, but I wasn’t sure who needed to die. Yet.
“All right, Danica,” Stitches said when he’d finished bandaging her arm. “Let’s get you to the hospital. I’ll take care of this, then you can join your sisters.”
“I need to see them before I go.”
“Not a problem, sweetheart.” I gave Stitches a sharp look. He had no business getting that familiar with her. “I’m sure there’s no getting either of them to leave until they’ve seen you anyway.” He smiled. “Come on. I’ll help you.”
“Like hell.” I shouldered Stitches out of the way and scooped Danica up in my arms. Finally. Finally. The band around my chest eased. Slightly. Seeing the blood on her shirt and how pale her face was still hurt, but I could breathe. Mostly.
I carried her back through the house until we found her sisters in the living room. Apple started crying again. Even Lemon’s lower lip trembled before she cleared her throat and scowled at Danica.
“You scared the fuck outta me, Dani. Don’t fucking do it again.”
Surprisingly, Danica smiled. “I’ll try my best, Lemon.”
Apple gripped Danica’s hand as she continued to cry. “I d-didn’t d-do it, D-Dani. I s-swear!”
“Honey, I know you didn’t. No one thinks you did.”
“Who would do such a horrible thing?” Apple sobbed.
“I’ll find out, Apple,” I said fiercely. “I swear it.”
She looked up at me, then at her sister. Lemon nodded and that seemed to satisfy Apple. “I believe you.”
“You better find that son of a bitch before I do.” Lemon was going to be a handful for someone.
“I’ll find him.”
Lemon nodded at me, then stood. Henry helped her out of the house while Deacon took Apple. The girls got into the back of the Bronco while Deacon got back in the front. Clutch was still in the driver’s seat. He started the SUV and took off.
Stitches opened the door to his vehicle and I slid in the back and situated Danica on my lap. I held on to her tightly, trying my best to be careful of her arm. She was stiff, but still clung to me, not meeting my gaze.
“Hey, baby. Look at me.” She shook her head, but I gently took her chin in my hand and tilted her head up to me. “I’ve got you. You’re gonna be OK.”
Tears flowed over her cheeks, and she shook her head. “No, Wylde. I don’t think I will.”
I hugged her closer, kissing her forehead. “Yes, you will. I won’t have it any other way.”
“Why are you here?” Her question was so soft I almost didn’t hear her. But I did. And I wasn’t sure I had the answer for her. Mainly because I wasn’t sure myself.
When I opened my mouth to tell her that, something else entirely came out. “Because I think I love you, Dani.” I shook my head, wanting to take it back, but the strangest thing happened. That fucking band around my chest… disappeared. Relief flowed over me, consumed me, and I knew it was the fucking truth.
“What?” Now, she met my gaze with bright, wide eyes. “What did you say?”
“He said he loved you.” Stitches, the asshole, sounded entirely too pleased with himself. “Because, like a fuckin’ dumbass, he’s been trying to deny it since he first stepped foot in that fuckin’ coffee shop. Now. Would you please put him out of his misery and tell him you love him too? If you don’t, let me know. I’ll take you on.”
If I’d been able to, I’d have punched Stitches in the taint. But I was in the back seat with Danica in my lap, and he was in the front seat driving.
“Asshole,” I bit out.
“We all have one, Wylde. You just happen to be everyone’s asshole.”
Chapter Eight
Danica
The visit to the hospital was a flurry of activity. Stitches had pushed everything through in a big Goddamned hurry, and I couldn’t say I wasn’t grateful.
My arm wasn’t broken. The bullet had somehow gone through the side of my arm through the muscle but had missed the bone. Still hurt like a mother, but not as bad as it could have. Stitches cleaned and sutured what needed closing, then rebandaged it. He also insisted on IV antibiotics as well as sending me home with some oral pills. The man was thorough and careful. The whole while he worked on me, Stitches berated Wylde like a naughty child for treating me the way he had. For the first time since I’d met Wylde, the man had absolutely nothing to say for himself.
Once we got back to the clubhouse, Wylde carried me to the room the girls and I had shared before. Iris and several of the other old ladies were with Apple and Lemon, as well as Deacon.