Page 53 of The Bikers Redemption

“I’m okay, Mom. I promise,” he says, his voice coming out croaky.

His eyes lock on mine, and we connect. “Water, please.”

The nurse pours him a glass of water, adds a straw, and brings it to his lips. “Little sips, Harley.”

He drinks, lies back, and shuts his eyes briefly before he opens them again and looks at me. “Serena.”

Carolina turns to me, her eyes now full of tears but smiling.

“Come here, baby,” he says.

With no hesitation, I run to his side and get up on the bed so I can kiss him.

I pull back, and his thumbs rub away my tears. “What day is it?”

“It’s Thursday. You’ve been out for over six days.”

His eyes widen. “Wait, I remember… I was in a dungeon.”

I nod. I’m about to open my mouth when behind me are cheers. I turn and find my brothers all entering the small space with Wave leading them inside the room.

“You’re alive,” Wave states, walking over to the bed clutching Carolina’s shoulders before he shakes Harley’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re awake, brother.”

“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to leave. The doctor is on his way, and Mr. Santana needs some rest.

“Come on, nurse…” he looks at her name badge, “… Betty.” He smiles with a wink. “Surely, we don’t have to leave right now?”

She purses her lips. “I’m sorry, sir, but you all need to leave.”

“Oh, come on, sweetheart. Surely, you can give us some time with our president,” Tom asks.

Feeling sorry for the nurse, I get off the bed and face the boys. “Maybe go wait outside in the waiting area. I’ll come and get you once the doctor has seen him.”

Tom looks over at Harley, and Harley speaks up, “I’m good, boys. I’ll see you soon.”

Wave turns to the men. “Come on, let’s give him some room. We’ll be back later.”

“Thanks, Wave,” I say, turning around and sitting on the chair beside the bed.

The doctor walks in, and I move so he can examine Harley.

“Mr. Santana, I’m glad you’re awake. You lost a lot of blood from your wounds. On your left, there was a piercing into one of your major blood vessels. We were able to repair it, which is good news. The other positive is that it didn’t pierce your vital organs.”

He continues to examine Harley, and I chew on the inside of my lip as I listen to the injuries and how we could have lost him with all the blood he lost.

Sitting there in silence, I look over at Carolina, still holding Harley’s hand. I’ve never had a mother to care about me like Carolina does Harley, and I’ve always seen Carolina as my own.

My father has been trying to contact me all week. He’s just found out what had happened because the messages he left sounded urgent. He mentioned he had spoken to Luca and was disappointed in me.

Can you believe it?

Disappointed in me?

If anyone has a right to be disappointed, it should be me in him for selling me to cover his damn debts. Just the thought of it has me cringing.

I’ve tried to call Luca to tell him I willneverevergo back to him and that I’m planning on getting divorced, but the message on the phone says it’s disconnected. Even when I’ve tried to call his righthand man, Sebastian, I’ve still received no answer. I don’t know where he is or with who, but I know now he is definitely the one who tried to kill Harley.

I have no idea what’s next.

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