Page 123 of Manny

Riot takes my phone out of my hand. “I’ll do that, but we need to get to the truck out back. Nevada, JJ, and Chains are pullin’ up anytime now.”

“I want to go with him!” I know I sound like an errant child, but I don’t want to be separated.

“That’s not gonna happen, Lace,” Riot says. “We’ll meet the ambulance at the hospital.”

I know he’s right, but I don’t want to hear it. This is bringing up too many memories, too many awful things that I thought I’d buried forever. That’s the thing; past trauma always finds a way back to haunt you. You’re never really free of it, the pain lives on no matter how much older you get.

It all happens so quickly. The back door flings open and Casey and two other EMTs come in with a stretcher and start firing questions at Hustler and Bandit. I stand, not caring if the stupid shooter is still out there. I’ll take my chances. They lower the stretcher and do what they need to do as Riot holds onto my shoulders.

“Please, Casey, please do everything you can,” I whimper.

She gives me a soft smile and starts dictating orders to the others, asking Hustler questions as she assesses the wound. It all happens so fast, I barely get a chance to touch his cold, clammy face when he passes by. I feel Riot let go and his arms are replaced by Bandit’s. He holds my back to his chest, cradling me. “We’ll meet them at the hospital,” he mutters. “They’re gonna do all they can, angel, okay? None of this is your fault, don’t ever think that.”

“But she came after me.” My words are barely audible. “She wanted me.”

“And he protected you, which is his job,” Bandit says.

I turn in his arms, my tears flowing freely. “I can’t lose him. Wecan’t lose him.”

Bandit’s eyes meet Riot’s behind me, then settle back on me. “All we can do right now is pray, sweet girl. Manny needs us now more than ever, got me?”

Mateo and Cash stand close by, as Bandit’s eyes lock with Mateo’s. The mafia don speaks. “You saved my life. For that I owe you, anything, anytime, when this is over.”

Bandit rubs his chin, his eyes narrowing like he might just have an idea. “Gonna hold you to that.”

Mateo nods. “You got it.”

“Let’s get gone,” Cash says. “Mateo and his men can stay at the clubhouse, cops gonna arrive any second, and we need to get the fuck out of here with that body unless we wanna start answerin’ questions.”

“I’ll stay here and deal with it,” Hustler says, turning to Audrina, he adds, “You need to go with the boys to the clubhouse.”

She shakes her head. “What about you and Asher? I can’t leave you here.”

“We’ll be fine,” Nevada says; Asher is his real name. “Gotta stay and help, need to get out of here.”

Cash nods. “Gonna leave Hawk, Nevada and Jett to clean up and stand guard. The rest need to move on Shade before the cops get wind, gonna have to explain the shooting somehow, but it’d be better if she turned up dead.”

“There’s nowhere that bitch can hide,” Mateo warns, and I see the warning in his glare.

“Do as I ask, Audrina,” Hustler tells her. “I don’t want you here where it’s not safe.”

It looks like Nevada wants to step in, but he holds his tongue. “Mom?”

“I want to be with Lace, at the hospital,” Audrina replies, her eyes flicking to Nevada’s. “Most of the club will be there.”

Hustler looks like he’s considering it, and I wonder if the two of them realize they’re acting like an old married couple, not two people who work together. He turns to Nevada.

“You askin’ me for permission?” Nevada balks. “Look like you’ve got it handled.”

“I was lookin’ for Cash,” Hustler grunts.

“She’ll be safe at the hospital,” Cash says. “Manny needs all the support he can get.”

Hustler looks like he thinks that’s a bad idea. “The hospital it is, but stay with Riot and Bandit and do not move from that hospital waiting room until I get there.”

“I think she’s a grown woman capable of makin’ that distinction,” Nevada interjects. “Right, Mom?”

Audrina pats Nevada on the shoulder. “He’s just looking out for me, for all of us.”

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