Page 52 of Karma
“Baby, stay awake for me,” Colt calls from the driver’s seat. “Don’t go to sleep on us. Not until we’re at the hospital.”
“Can’t. Breathe.”
“Dad, she can’t breathe,” Lucas says, his voice alarmed.
His fear feels like another knife plunging into her, and she wishes she could console him. Instead of consoling him, she moans when she bumps the seat as Colt hits the gas. Every little jolt feels excruciating, and she keeps squeezing Lucas’s hand to focus on something else. The one thing she can actually do.
“Her lung’s probably punctured. We’re almost there, baby.”
“Her lips are turning blue. Hurry, Dad! Hurry!”
Her fingers turn cold, and the numbness sets in. She can barely feel Lucas’s hand in hers anymore, and while she’ll welcome the break from the pain, she knows it’s a bad sign. It means there’s bleeding. Lots and lots of bleeding.
“Mom, keep squeezing my hand,” Lucas begs as more tears hit her face. “Please, squeeze my hand. You’re going to be okay.”
I’m trying, baby. I’m trying.As much as she wants to speak, she has no energy. Her chest aches, her sides feel like she’s being stabbed repeatedly with every small breath she manages, and her head throbs like someone inflates it with air. To top it off, she’s dizzy, and she feels nauseous.
“I need a doctor!” Colt shouts. “My wife is badly injured. She was beaten and stabbed. She can’t breathe!”
Way to get the cops called, baby.
“Oh, Jesus, Alexis,” a familiar voice says.
At least it’s Dr. West.
She’s pulled from the car, painfully, and Dr. West’s expression tells her just how rough of shape she’s in.
“I told you we need to stop meeting like this. Especially when it’s you on my table. Now, your husband can and will kill me, so I need you to do me a big favor. I need you to stay alive, okay?”
“Can’t. Breathe.”
“I need oxygen!” he shouts. “Colt, I’m going to do everything I can.”
Worry fills Colt’s face as he runs beside her on the gurney. “You stay with me, baby. You hear me? You are not allowed to die on me.”
Relax, baby. He’s the best. And it’s not like we haven’t been here before.
“Lex, can you follow my finger?” Dr. West asks as a mask covers her nose and mouth.
She wants to. She really does, but the darkness wins out, and she can’t fight it any longer. Everything quickly turns black, and Dr. West waving his finger in front of her is the last thing she sees before she’s out. Blissfully out.
Chapter Eighteen
Griffin’s Beach
Undertaker
Following Zane and Ky in a pickup, Undertaker rides beside Venom back out to the scene of the crime. It’s been two days, and Lex still hasn’t woken up after surgery to repair the damage from being stabbed and the internal bleeding. Only so many people are allowed in the room with her, and they need something to do besides sitting around and waiting.
Blood and vomit remain on the dirt and gravel, and Venom shakes his head. “What the fuck happened?”
“Where’d the house go?” Ky calls.
Depending on what’s in the shop, they figured they may need more than their bikes to bring stuff back to the clubhouse.
“Blew up,” Zane says as he hops out of the pickup. “He had it rigged. We jumped out and covered Lex, which may have hurt her more than helped her. I heard the click the moment I opened the front door.”
“Saved our lives, that’s for sure,” Undertaker says. “How’s Colt holding up?”
