Page 110 of Atlas
“You’re not strong enough,” Anita says, panic creeping into her tone.
“I don’t care.” My voice hardens, breath catching on every word. “I’m not lying here while Rue is fuck knows where, alone. Scared.”
“About time you woke up,” comes Kasey’s sarcastic tone. I shift my eyes in her direction as she approaches the bed holding a coffee. “Enjoy nap time?”
“I have to find her,” I repeat.
“Yeah, you do,” she says firmly. “I’ll let Axel know you’re heading home.” And she takes out her mobile and steps out the room.
“Atlas, I really don’t think this is a good idea,” Anita begins.
“I didn’t ask,” I snap, shifting onto the edge of the bed and pushing to sit. I groan as pain rips through me. “Fuck,” I hiss, and Anita steadies me, her hands on my arm. Everything around me spins and I briefly close my eyes. When the dizziness subsides, I take a breath and pull the tape off the drip in my hand. I carefully slide the needle out and throw it on the bed. “Get me back to the club,” I order. “Now.”
Chapter Twenty – One
Anita
The second we pull into the compound, Atlas disappears straight into Church, slower than usual but still stubborn as hell. He’s barely been out of a hospital bed, but he’s already throwing himself into strategy.Typical.
Tom slips his hand into mine, anchoring me, his thumb tracing small circles across my knuckles. “He’ll be okay,” he murmurs, trying to reassure me.
I shake my head. “You heard what the doctor said. They haven’t ruled out a bleed on the brain. He shouldn’t even bestanding, let alone charging into their little war room.”
Tom draws me in gently, brushing his lips against mine, his voice a soft murmur against my skin. “I love how much you care about these guys,” he says. “Even when they drive you insane.”
Before I can reply, my phone rings.
My heart sinks the second I see the name on the screen.
Damien.
I let out a frustrated breath. “It’s him.”
Tom’s hand tightens in mine. “Answer it. Ignoring him will only cause problems.”
I hit speaker and lift the phone, already dreading his voice. “Now isn’t a good time,” I snap, trying to keep my tone controlled.
His smug voice cuts through instantly. “I suppose you’re in a flap over lover boy.”
My whole body goes still. Tom’s arm slips from around me as he steps away, already heading for Church to inform the guys.
“What?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“The biker,” he clarifies, laughing like this is some kind of joke. “Last I heard, he wasn’t in a good way.”
My stomach lurches. I follow Tom across the room, watching him tap on the Church door and duck inside.
My voice hardens. “And what the hell do you know about that?”
His chuckle makes my blood run cold. “Jesus, haven’t you figured it out yet? I’ve had his bitch for nearly twelve hours.”
I stop dead. The air leaves my lungs in a rush.
No.
No, no, no.
I step into Church blindly, the men all turning to look at me as I place the phone on the table. “You have Rue?” I say, every word scraping out of my throat.
