Page 16 of Ash

“I missed you, too.”

“Which makes the favor I’m about to ask so much harder.”

“Favor?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I had any other choice at all. But Razor and Flint are stuck at the hospital, and the other doctor our…friends…use isn’t available either.”

“You need a doctor?” she clarified.

“We need the next best thing. That’s you, baby girl.”

“What happened?” Her voice was wary, and I winced before telling her the truth.

“One of my brothers took a bullet. He needs medical attention.”

“A bullet?” she squeaked.

“The bullet went straight through, and he’s stable, but the wound needs attention, and no one here has enough medical knowledge to make sure it’s treated right so it heals properly and doesn’t get infected. One of our doctors will be here as soon as they can, but it could be several hours.”

“Um…I’ll see what I can do.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s one of your brothers. I want to help.”

“Damn, you’re amazing,” I uttered. If I hadn’t already been obsessed with her, I would have fallen hard and fast at that moment.

“So you’ve said,” she sassed with a giggle.

Chuckling, I teased, “You just might work off a few of those spankings I owe you.”

“Um…I…”

A laugh rumbled in my chest as I knocked on the doorframe and gave King a thumbs-up. “I’ll be there as fast as I can, baby girl,” I told her and headed to the garage where I’d parked my bike.

5

NORA

Inever thought I’d agree to treat a bullet wound that couldn’t be reported to the police, but I hadn’t hesitated to grant Eli’s favor. Not when one of his club brother’s lives was at stake.

I didn’t really think about what I was about to do until I was back downstairs twenty minutes later, headed toward the door with my first-aid kit in one hand and my cell in the other.

“You just got home from work. Where are you going?” my mother asked.

I shifted my position, hoping it would make it more difficult to see the kit. “Eli is picking me up earlier than planned.”

Her nose wrinkled as her gaze darted down my body. “You’re wearing that for your date?”

Hearing the rumble of what I was hoping was his motorcycle, I replied, “Yup,” and slipped out the door.

Unfortunately, my mother wasn’t going to let me get away that easily. She followed me outside, where her wide smile of greeting quickly slipped from her face when she saw Eli. Straddling his bike in black boots, jeans, a black T-shirt, and his leather vest, he looked nothing like the lawyer she’d been expecting.

“Nora Elizabeth Stoll, you get back here right this instant,” she demanded.

“Sorry, Mom. No can do,” I called back as I handed Eli the first-aid kit to tuck into his saddlebag. Then I popped the helmet he shoved at me onto my head and climbed onto the motorcycle behind him.

I’d never been on one before, but being wrapped around his muscular body made me an instant fan. I also appreciated how quickly we drove off because my mom hadn’t stopped yelling since she realized I was actually leaving with him. I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with her, but I had a bigger problem to deal with first—treating a bullet wound.

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