Page 17 of Crusher

“Please, now is not the time to act likethere is nothing going on between you or had gone on between you,take your pick. But give us credit for not being stupid, brother.Are you forgetting I know you? You all act like I’m the only onewho goes after what they want, it offends me.” The rest of ourfriends laughed at Speed’s statement, they and I both knew it tooka lot to offend our friend.

“You telling me that you aren’t going to giveme shit for going after your sister?” I didn’t have to wait longfor Speed to answer me.

“Why the hell would I be upset that one ofthe best men I know wants to be involved with my sister? Damn,Crusher.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe my thinking.And I wondered if I wasn’t giving my friend and brother enoughcredit. At least until he continued, “Now, if you hurt her, thatwill be another matter.” I couldn’t hold my grin back.

“Excuse me.” The lady’s voice had us facingthe door. “The doctor said to inform you gentleman that Ms. Monroeis awake and being moved to a private room. I will let you knowwhen she is settled.” She stopped, turned her head back and forthas if to check the hallway, then her voice lowered. “He also saidto tell you that if you keep the noise down, he would allow morethan two in her room at a time.”

“Not a problem,” was said by a few of us.

“Great, I will be back to tell you when youcan see her.” The nurse walked away.

“I’m going to call the Prez, let the clubknow she’s awake,” I said, pulled my phone out and stepped out ofthe room. Speed followed. I was sure it was to call Sami to updateher on her friend and to share what Devil had figured out.

As I walked down the hall waiting for Strokerto answer, it didn’t escape my noticed that for the first timetoday, I could breathe easy. I planned to enjoy the feeling forhowever long it lasted.

When I heard Stroker pick up, I startedfilling him in, “Hey, Dad. Got good news.”

ChapterEight

Carly

“Man, that one nurse was smoking hot. Think Ican talk her into taking my temperature?”

“Yeah, Moose, maybe she will use a rectalone, that way you could feel like you were back in the joint.” Iheard a thud outside my room and then male laughter followed it. Ismiled to myself.

“Damn it, Reed, can’t you boys go anywherewithout causing problems? You are going to get us thrown out beforewe even get to check on her. I’m getting to old for this shit.”Wild Bill had been saying that for as long as I could remember.

“If you fuckers don’t be quiet you aren’tgoing in the damn room. She’s been shot for fuck’s sakes.” My smileleft, who did Crusher think he was, bossy asshole.

“Seriously, brother, you need to tone it backor you are going to get blue balls before she lets you touchher.”

“Shut up, Flirt. At least I don’t have to tiemine down to get them to fuc—” That thud was just outside the door.“What did you do that for?”

“Because your assholishness is showing,brother. She doesn’t need that.” The door started sliding open.

“You can see through yours enough to seemine, eh?” Speed was first in the door, followed by the others whowere laughing.

“To think I thought you were good enough formy little sister.” Speed smiled at me and then winked. I wanted tobe annoyed, but his acceptance of me, felt pretty fuckingawesome.

“Can’t take it back now, others heard you, nogiving me shit later.” Crusher laughed, and walked to the side ofmy bed. “Hey baby, what’s the face for? You in pain? Want me tocall the nurse?” He reached for the call button on the rail. I justlooked at him, I have no idea what the fuck happened while I was insurgery, but it was like I woke up in an alternate universe called,hell. Why was he being so nice? Freaking weird.

“You touch that button and I will slap yourhand.” Wild Bill came to the other side of my bed and leaned in andkissed my cheek. I just shook the thoughts out of my head and thenlooked up at Wild Bill and smiled. When he raised up, he lookedover to Crusher and then shook his head and laughed. Crusher wasglaring at him. “Did I miss something while I was in surgery?” Ilooked between the two men. Someone better start talking was all Ithought as I watched the two men stare each other down. Holy crap,when Wild Bill was the first to break the stare I was a littleshocked. I mean, he was the biggest badass around, and yeah, Speedand the other Black Hawks were badasses, but Wild Bill had beenaround too long, he had perfected it.

“Not what you are thinking, girl. But I thinkyour brother should be the one to tell you everything that happenafter you blacked out at the gas station. Me and the boys are goingto head back to Haven. Got a little club business to take care of.You need us, you call. Hear me?” I nodded, and he bent back overand hugged me. Then he stepped back while Moose and Crank did thesame. Crusher grunted and turned and walked out. I looked at thedoor when he pulled it shut behind him and frowned. The other BlackHawk men were chuckling, even my newfound brother. Men, I wonderedif I would ever understand them.

“What is wrong with Crusher?” I looked up atReed who wore a huge grin.

“Ah, nothing for you to worry about. I thinkhe suffers from not wanting to share his toys.” Reed leaned overand hugged and kissed my forehead. When he stood back up the grinwas gone. “You take care of yourself, watch your back, and don’tever scare me like you did today. Call me if you need anything. IfI don’t see you sooner, I’ll see you at Ally’s birthday party.Speed said Sami was going to set one up for her. Me and Prez willbe down. Love ya, mouse.”

“Love you too, butthead.”

Wild Bill laughed and tilted his head to thedoor and they moved toward it, but as they walked by Speed, who wasstanding to the side, Wild Bill stopped and shook his hand. When hereached the door that the others had left open when they’d left, hesaid over his shoulder, “Don’t forget, she was ours first,” then hewas gone.

Speed walked to the side of my bed and pulledup a chair, the others came to stand on the other side and aftersome whispered voices in the hall, Crusher walked back in.

“So, what went on. What do you have to tellme?” I was starting to get tired but I wanted to know everythingfirst.

“Jag, Flirt, Devil, and Coast are going tohead out. They just wanted to tell ya goodbye before they left.”They stepped closer to the bed, “And do it without touching you,”Crusher finished, glaring at the men as they smiled back athim.

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