Page 27 of Her Possessive Bikers

A tear rolls down her cheek. She quickly wipes it away, but I catch the tremor in her hands.

"Dad had a way of making people believe they were worth something." She whispers.

"He saved my life, Indy. Not just by giving me a home, but by showing me I deserved one."

The pain meds start to kick in, making my thoughts fuzzy around the edges. I watch through heavy-lidded eyes as Indy disappears down the hallway. The soft padding of her bare feet on hardwood echoes back to me.

She returns with an armload of blankets and a pillow, dropping them beside my bed with a quiet thump. "How's about a sleepover?" She says with a grin.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor," I mumble, fighting to keep my eyes open. "I can manage."

"Right, because you've done such a great job of that so far." She spreads out a thick comforter, creating a makeshift bed. "Besides, what kind of paramedic would I be if I let my patient crash and burn on my watch? You're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Your dad liked that about you." The words slip out before I can stop them, clouded by medication and exhaustion. "Always taking care of people."

She pauses in her nest-building, looking up at me with those familiar hazel eyes. "Yeah, well, someone has to keep you idiots alive."

"We're not all idiots." I try to sound offended but can't fight the smile tugging at my lips. "Just most of us."

"Mmhmm." She settles onto her pallet, pulling a blanket over her legs. "Get some rest, Kyler. Doctor's orders."

"You're not a doctor," I point out, my words slurring slightly.

"Close enough, now go to sleep." She orders.

The pain meds swim through my system, making the room tilt and spin. My tongue feels loose, thoughts floating like clouds across my consciousness. Indy's presence on the floor beside me feels both too close and too far away.

"Hey Indy?" The words tumble out before I can catch them. "You think... you think someone like me would ever have a shot with someone like you?"

She shifts on her makeshift bed, the blankets rustling. "That's definitely the pain pills talking, Kyler."

"No." I struggle to prop myself up on my elbow, ignoring the pull of stitches. "I mean it. You're just... you're something else. Smart. Beautiful. Kind." My free hand gestures vaguely in her direction. "Way out of my league."

"Kyler-"

"I know what people see when they look at me. The quiet one. The outsider. Not good enough for the president's daughter." The words spill out like water through cupped hands. "But I'll prove them wrong. Show you I'm worth taking a chance on. One day."

She sits up, moonlight from the window catching the concern in her eyes. "You should rest. These meds are strong-"

"I've never been more clear about anything." My head drops back to the pillow, too heavy to hold up anymore. "Even if you don't believe me now."

"Go to sleep, Kyler," she says softly, but there's something in her voice I can't quite read.

"M'gonna show you," I mumble as darkness creeps in around the edges. "Just wait and see."

The last thing I register before drifting off is the soft sound of her breathing from the floor below, steady and reassuring in the darkness.

16

INDY

The sizzle of bacon fills the kitchen as I whisk eggs in a bowl, adding a dash of cream and fresh herbs. After what all Kyler went through last night, I figure the least I can do for him is make him a proper breakfast. The medicine he needs to take shouldn't be done on an empty stomach.

He fared well during the night, but I know he was in pain. But he handled it like a fucking champ. I probably would have been okay to get some sleep, but something kept me up, checking over him like a mama hen.

Footsteps creak on the stairs behind me, and I turn to greet him. My words catch in my throat.

Kyler stands in the doorway, shirtless, a pair of grey sweatpants hang loosely on his hips. His dirty blonde hair loose around his shoulders instead of in its usual bun. The bandages I applied last night cover parts of his torso, but they can't hide the defined muscles underneath. Various tattoos peek out between the gauze - nothing excessive like some of the other club members, just elegant line work that complements his frame.

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