Page 134 of Starting Over

“What happened?”

“She had a headache, so she went to lay down. She’s been getting them a lot lately.” Beck hiccupped against my shoulder. “Cash went to get her for dinner, and she wouldn’t wake up. Something’s wrong.”

I looked around the room filled with bikers. Cash sat on the floor, his head resting on his arms that sat across his knees. King sat on one side, quiet. Gunner sat on the other.

My eyes locked with my little brother, and I mouthed,he ok?

King just shook his head. Turning to check on the others, I saw Maureen sitting with her arms around Grace. Once Maureen and I had officially gotten together, Grace realizedMaureen wasn’t after King and allowed herself to get to know my woman.

Rachel was the first resident of Diamond Creek Grace met when she moved to Nebraska. There was no question this would hit her as hard as it would my little girl.

The whole town loved Rachel. She had grown up here with my daughter, Blade, and Ryder. I looked around the room, trying to locate Ryder. I found him in the corner, huddled with his wife Ellie.

Ryder’s face held no expression. He sat in the chair like a statue. No pain. No sadness. No emotion.

If anything happened to Rachel, there wasn’t a person that lived in this town that her death wouldn’t affect.

“Do you know anything?” I asked, looking over at Cash once more. He sat with his head against the wall now. His eyes closed, as if that could keep the pain away.

“No. They haven’t told us anything.”

I locked eyes with Maureen. She had told me she would be at the clubhouse today, trying to teach Hash how to bake. It didn’t surprise me she was here. She had gotten close to everyone at the clubhouse.

We all sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours before the doctor finally came in.

“The family of Rachel Masters?”

We all stood, expecting to hear the worst, but praying for hope.

“When Miss Masters came in—”

“Rachel. Her name is Rachel,” Cash croaked, his voice consumed with anguish.

The doctor nodded. “When Rachel came in, she was unresponsive. We ran numerous tests, which included an ECG and MRI. Given her medical history—”

“What medical history?” Cash asked.

The doctor paused, looking around the room at everyone there.

“Is there a Ryder Thomas here?”

“That’s me.” Ryder stepped forward.

“Mr. Thomas, you are listed as next of kin—”

“What the fuck?” Cash yelled.

We all stood by silently. It was a tense situation that had the potential to light up like a powder keg. Cash and Ryder were always at odds over the relationship Ryder had with Rachel.

“Mr. Thomas, maybe we should talk in private.”

“No. Tell me here. What medical history?”

The doctor looked at Cash. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Ryder since the doctor said he had been listed as her next of kin. Anger and rage poured off him. King and Gunner stood by his side, ready to lock him down if need be.

“As I was saying, given her medical history of an inoperable brain aneurism—”

“How long?” Ryder rasped, his voice tight with emotion.

---