Page 25 of Flyboy's Nightingale
I throw the door open and stumble out, still getting used to them. When I put pressure on my hand it smarts, letting me know that today isn’t the day to continue. Avery’s words rebound in my head.
“You can use the crutches but don’t push it. We don’t want a setback.”
“Prospect, grab my chair!” I shout.
“Thought the lady said you didn’t need it anymore?” he questions me.
“What she said, jackass, was that I could use the crutches but not to overdo it. Seeing as I just got done with therapy, and my hand is in pain, using them now would be overdoing it,” I snarl, totally over this fucker questioning my every move.
He holds his hands up in surrender before doing as I asked him and getting me my chair. I sit in it, reaching down to turn the wheels, making my way over to the group of ladies. The words I hear from my very own Nightingale lights the fire that I thought was put out by the accident.
“They're going to drag me back this time, and I won't make it out. I just fucking know it,” she moans, looking around wildly.
The women gather around her, all of them telling her that’s not true, we won't let that happen. Something about her body language tells me that she's not hearing them. Unable to continue listening to her sob, I move forward, frustrated when I can’t get to her.
“Move,” I demand, shocking everyone there. They all turn to me shocked by my words before moving away from Riley.
When I get a good look at her the anger bubbles free. “What the fuck is going on here?”
Riley looks up at me, tears streaming down her face, with a look of complete shock and fear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.”
Her words are hoarse, stilted and laced with so much fear that I’m not even sure that she is seeing me and not someone else. I roll closer to her, reaching out and cupping her face before I even try to speak to her.
“Riley, baby. What’s going on? Why’re you so upset?” I whisper.
“I can’t be here. I’m so sorry, Flyboy. I never should have stayed as long as I did. I need to leave,” she mumbles over and over just before she stands and tries to leave.
Gently, I grab her wrist, stopping her movements, she turns looking down at me. She watches me, tears racing down her cheeks unbridled. “Please, I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“Oh, Riley. You are never any trouble,” I tell softly. I tug on her wrist a little, pulling her into my lap, ignoring the slight pinch of pain from my injured leg. “Talk to me, baby. What’s going on?”
She looks down at her hands that are twisting in her lap. “Flyboy, please. I truly can’t drag you into this.”
“How about we go inside and take a break. We’ll talk about this later,” I murmur against the side of her head.
“I can’t go in there. There are too many of you. I just can’t.” She shakes her head.
I look around, seeing that everyone has cleared out giving us space. Reaching down with my left hand I grab a hold of the left wheel, pushing it back and forth while holding on to her leg with my right one. A thought hits me. “How about you press your face into my neck and not look. I’ll wheel us into the club and into my room. That way, you don’t ever have to know who or how many people are in there.”
“What about your leg? I’m too heavy to be sitting here to start with,” she mumbles quietly.
“I’m all good.” I smile wide at her. “Are you ready to take a ride?”
Riley gives me a hint of a smile before placing her face in the crook of my neck. I take a deep breath to prepare myself for rolling through the yard and into the clubhouse when Coin comes out the front door. I hold my hand to my lips in a sign for him to keep quiet, and then wave him over to me. I point to the handles and he gives me shit eating grin before heading over to us. Coin quietly pushes me into the clubhouse and down the hall to my room. Once we’re in my room, I shake his hand giving him a nod before he turns and leaves, closing the door behind him.
“Alright, baby, we're in my room. Let's get you comfortable and then I’m going to take a shower.”
Riley pulls away from my neck, looking at me sweetly before sliding off my lap. When she’s standing before me, I take in her appearance. She is as beautiful as ever. Long dark hair falling in pieces from the messy bun she always wears on the top of her head, down her long slender neck, to her large breasts that I know are going to be larger than a handful, her waist flares out, perfect for my hands. I bring my eyes back up her body, taking in the fact that her clothes seem to hang off her as if she's lost quite a bit of weight.
“Riley, baby, what’s going on? You look as if you haven’t slept in months. Hell, you look like you’ve lost half your body weight.” Reaching out, I run the tips of my fingers down her arm, holding her hand.
She sits heavily on the edge of my bed, covering her face with her hands. “Flyboy, please don’t ask me questions that I can’t answer. Truly, I don’t want you or the club involved in anything to do with me.”
I roll closer to her, running my hands up and down her thighs. “I’m already involved, baby. There’s nothing you can say to change this. Please, I can help you. We can protect you from whatever it is that’s putting this much stress on you.”
“That’s just it. Don’t you get it? If you help me, if you or your men are involved, there will be consequences that none of us could ever imagine.” The look on her face tells me that there is way more going on here then I could’ve ever guessed from this petrified woman in front of me.
“How about this? I’m going to go and shower. You get comfortable, and then we can just hang out.” I start, being sure not to make any demands. “Then when you’re ready, we’ll figure out the next step.”
