Page 8 of Falling for Fang

“She’s really sweet. All the guy’s wives are sweet. They just kind of adopt you into the family.” She said smiling as she saw a message pop on her phone. “The guys are headed back here.”

“Omg, I must look horrible. Can you help me to the bathroom and brush my hair for me please?” I said panicking about him seeing me looking all pale. She shook her head.

“I’ll help you to the bathroom and then I’ll braid your hair so it’s out of your way. If Fang hears you degrading yourself, he will have a fit.” Sophie helped me by undoing my IV from the line long enough for me to go to the bathroom. When I was finished, I got back into bed, and she attached it back. She pulled a brush and a hair tie from her purse and French braided my hair gently. It felt so much better. I’d love to wash it, but I can’t do that right now. We turned on the television to watch the news and they were showing footage of my building burning. It was horrific. They flashed to the aftermath and there was hardly anything left of it. I started bawling and Sophie turned the tv off.

The guys came in at that moment and Fang freaked out. He ran over to me and put his arms around me.

“What’s wrong baby?” he asked as Sophie looked up at the tv and back at him. Then he realized I had seen what was left of my business. Sophie came over and gave me a hug.

“We are going to leave you two alone but just know you have people. We will help you get back on your feet.” She said softly as Gears led his wife out of the room.

“What am I going to do? I sunk everything into my business. I was just starting to save a little. I have no way to pay my bills after next month. I have just enough money put aside for two months of my household bills. That’s it. I don’t know how much the insurance company will pay out and I’ll never be able to replace that building with it.” I buried my face in his chest and sobbed. He sat on the bed and pulled me into his lap rubbing my back.

“I’m too heavy to sit in your lap.” I mumbled under my breath. He growled and held me tighter.

“Nonsense, you are perfect, and I love all of your curves. You will be okay. I have a suggestion. You may feel like it’s too soon but I’m going to suggest it anyway.” He gently put me away just enough to see my face. “I have been living in the clubhouse in one of the rooms since Katherine and Rider got married. I gave Kat the house we grew up in. I am going to have a house built on the property, but I wondered if I could stay with you and help with the bills while it’s being built.”

“I don’t even know how I’m going to pay my half after the end of next month.” I rubbed my head which was starting to hurt again.

“Have you eaten anything?” he asked me gently massaging my temples. I nodded and laid my head down on his chest. “Ok baby. Let me see about getting you something for the pain and I’ll stay the night with you. Hawk is covering and doing interviews for me at Trixie’s.”

“Thank you.” I whispered. A nurse came in and gave me something in my IV that made me sleepy. She said something to Fang about being in my bed and he responded rather gruffly but stayed where he was.

8

Fang

When I came in the girls had clearly been watching the news. I messaged Gears and asked him what they had seen. After he spoke with Sophie, I understood why she was distraught. I wanted to surprise her with the barn being equipped as a Clinic/Shelter. There was a huge loft area upstairs that we decided we could easily close in and make a three-bedroom apartment out of it for us. That way my house money could go towards the barn being fixed up for both. I wanted her to be with me and I knew it was soon but maybe if we get the business side up and running, I can have time to convince her to move in with me on the property.

I closed my eyes and we slept. I knew if Doc came in to check on her, he would wake me to give me an update. She was breathing a lot better. She still had a slight cough, but they said that was to be expected and should go away in a few days.

Doc came in around five in the morning and checked her stats. He chuckled when he saw me in bed with her. I flipped him off. She was sleeping soundly and if me holding her helps that then so be it.

“When can I take her home?” I asked him quietly. Doc sighed looking at her.

“I’d like her to stay one more night for observation. Smoke inhalation is nothing to take lightly. If she is still breathing well in the morning you can take her home.” Doc said before leaving to finish his rounds. I would ask Sophie to bring her some fresh pajamas and undergarments later, so she didn’t have to stay in the hospital gown. I figured she would sleep a little longer and I didn’t want to wake her trying to get up, so I pulled the blanket back up over us and closed my eyes. A little while later Undertaker and Annie knocked on the door poking their head in.

“Baby, you have visitors.” I whispered in her ear. She reached up and rubbed her eyes and opened them. “Can you give us like five minutes so she can go to the bathroom. These gowns leave nothing to the imagination.

“You bet; we will step into the hall just let us know when it’s safe to come back in. Annie brought her a nightgown, clean panties and some fuzzy socks to keep her feet warm. I’ll set the bag on this chair.” Undertaker winked and then closed the door behind them.

“How would you like a quick sponge off in the bathroom and then we can get these clean clothes on you?” she blushed and nodded her head. “Ok, Doc took the IV out but said you had to stay one more night. Let’s get you squared away.”

I got up and then picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. I sat her down in front of the toilet and stepped outside the door for a minute. When she said she was done I went back inside with her fresh clothes and put them on the counter. I took a washcloth and got it wet, put some body wash on it and helped her clean up. Sophie had braided her hair so that was ok for now. I’d wash it for her tonight if she wanted. After I toweled her off, I helped her put on the clean clothes and get back into the bed. Then opened the door so they could come back in and visit.

“Thank you for bringing me some clean clothes to wear. I feel so much better not wearing a peek-a-boo gown.” She giggled and so did Annie. I didn’t like her wearing a peek-a-boo gown either. Too many chances for others to see what’s mine. Annie squeezed her hand.

“Hey little lady, don’t you worry about anything. We are all going to help you get opened back up. You are too good to the animals in the community for them to lose you.” Undertaker said firmly as he smiled down at her. “You’re with this knucklehead now so you are one of us and we take care of our own. You just focus on resting and feeling better.”

I have known Undertaker all my life. He was the president of the club when I first patched in until his wife got sick. When he stepped down, he tapped Axle as his replacement and just stood in as an advisor. When Annie showed up, we started to see the guy we used to know, the one that was fun-loving and mischievous.

Their son Mattie was also a huge blessing to him. His first wife was not able to bear children, but Annie got pregnant from a one-night stand that he didn’t remember and now they are expecting a second child. She was a sweetheart and she kept him feeling young. I wondered if Cara would want kids. I wasn’t getting any younger.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I have to find out first if the insurance is going to pay and how much they will pay. I may have to just reopen the clinic and start saving to add on another shelter.” She looked so sad when she said that. I knew she loved working with animals. Truth be told, I enjoyed being around them too. I think we could start annual fundraisers and of course I have plenty of money in the bank. Maybe I could convince her to let me be her partner. The clinic would be all hers and I would run the shelter with her help and the help of volunteers.

“Baby, we will figure it out. We are also going to have the Adoption Day at the compound on Saturday. We will have a cookout with hotdogs and hamburgers. The ladies are getting sides and desserts figured out. It will be a community wide picnic and Pet adoption. There will also be a few bouncy houses and games for the kids. We will take donations to rebuild the shelter.” I told her as her eyes got wide and tears filled them.

“I have only been here one day, right? How did you organize this so quickly?” she asked me, surprised.

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