Page 21 of Grizzly's Pride
“Grizzly, wait,” Tank said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m riding to Grace Medical with them,” he told Tank. “You take care of everything here.”
Grizzly knew the cops would be here soon. One of the customers in the bar probably called the coppers on their way out. As the most senior member of the MC, Grizzly knew he should stay back and deal with the cops, but Piper was his first priority.
“I trust you’ll be able to handle the police on your own?” Grizzly asked. “Because I’m needed elsewhere.”
Tank looked at the waiting ambulance.“She took a bullet meant for you?”
“That’s right,” Grizzly said. Why was he wasting time?
“She’s a keeper. I hope she survives, Grizzly. Don’t worry. Leave everything to me,” Tank said.
“Thank you, brother.” Grizzly squeezed Tank’s shoulder before joining the paramedics in the ambulance.
He watched them like a hawk during the short ride to Grace Medical. Grizzly could see they did all the best they could for Piper, but what she truly needed was to be operated on by a surgeon. The next thing he knew, they arrived at their destination.
Piper didn’t regain consciousness, and that worried him. He watched nurses wheel her gurney away. Grizzly wanted to follow her to the ER, but they wouldn’t let him.
Dazed, he stared at the closed door. Someone, a kind nurse, eventually steered him away and led him to an area where a doctor could tend to his injuries. The doctor who extracted his bullet and bandaged him up recommended he get some bed rest, but Grizzly felt restless.
After agreeing to take some painkillers, Grizzly wandered to the waiting room for news of Piper. He would stay here all night and morning if need be.
Logically, he knew he should get some sleep before his body gave up on him. But that wasn’t possible because he needed to be here in case a nurse or doctor came out to update him about Piper’s condition.
Piper had no one except him. The least he could do was stay up for her. Grizzly didn’t remember dozing off. Someone shook his uninjured shoulder. He grunted and opened his eyes, hand moving to his gun. Then he remembered he left it at the roadhouse. Grizzly hoped Tank would retrieve it for him.
“Easy,” murmured King. King sat in the uncomfortable orange plastic chair next to him. Grizzly glanced out the windows, surprised the sun was up.
“I heard from Tank,” King said.
“I trust Tank did his job?” Grizzly asked, rubbing at his eyes. King handed him a steaming cup of coffee, which he gratefully accepted.
“The police are mollified for now. We managed to convince two witnesses who would agree to tell the cops the Black Dogs started the fight and our men only defended themselves,” King replied. “I’m surprised you let Tank take the lead.”
“Tank’s capable enough, and I’m needed here,” Grizzly said. A tinge of anger entered his voice and he reeled himself in. “King, I’ve given everything for the club. Piper’s important to me.”
“This entire mess happened because of her,” King said. Grizzly opened his mouth, ready to come to Piper’s defense, but King held out a hand. Grizzly quieted and waited for what King would say next. “I also heard from Tank that she took a bullet for you. Not many women would do that for their man.”
“She’s not just any woman. If Piper lives through this, I intend to make her my old lady,” Grizzly said.
King only nodded, as if he expected that answer. That surprised Grizzly because he thought his Prez would chew him out for his actions the night before.
“I’ve also got a present for you. Never say I don’t appreciate your loyalty or your years of service, because I do,” King said. He pulled out a small piece of paper from the pocket of his cut and handed it to him. On it was an address written in King’s messy handwriting.
“What’s this?” Grizzly asked, studying the paper. The address was a town a couple of hours’ drive from Grace.
“Where Rage is currently holed up and licking his wounds,” King answered.
Grizzly whistled.“How did you get by this information so quickly? Whizz?”
“Nah, from an unlikely source. Rat,” King said.
“Wait. What?” Grizzly furrowed his brow. Why would Rat give up his own man?
“I know what you’re thinking. It could be a trap, but Whizz also found out something interesting. He’s gotten word from an informant that lately, Rat’s not happy with how Rage operates,” King said with a shrug.
“So, Rat basically wants us to do his job for him?” Grizzly asked.
