Page 42 of The Queen of Nightmares

Once the door closed, much softer than it had been opened, I turned over the way I had the last time I had woken. Jack was already looking down at me. I could see that I didn’t have to tell him, but the words slipped out anyway through my tight throat.

“He took a bullet for me, Jack. I’m so sorry. He covered me with his body. It’s all my fault.”

“He did what any man in the club would do, little Queen.”

I shook my head. “No. It’s my fault that they were even shooting. I started it by shooting Oogie and killing him.” I closed my eyes, remembering the scene. The way the blood had poured from his chest as everyone stood in stunned disbelief. “I just didn’t think about what I was doing. He tossed your cut in the dirt, and suddenly, my gun was in my hand. I just…pulled the trigger, and then he was on the ground.”

“You thought I was dead.” He said softly in the deep, gravelly voice I loved. I shook my head.

“No. I knew you weren’t dead. I tried to tell everyone, but no one believed me. They were walking around, sad and angry. I just wanted you back.” I blinked up at him. “They said they searched the whole compound, but the only sign of you alive was an empty cage. Where were you? How did Daisy find you?”

He huffed out a breath. “That’s something else we are going to need to talk about.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “Later. But to appease your curiosity, there was a pit under the room where the cage was. There was a trap door hidden in the floor. Daisy and I were thrown in there before they left for the meeting.”

I gasped in horror. “You were in a hole in the floor for two days? How did you escape?” Then I thought of something else. “Did you have any food or water?”

He grimaced. “Unfortunately, they left us with nothing before heading out to the meeting with the other clubs. I don’t know if they would have given us food or water once they returned, but,” he lifted his arm, indicating the IV fluids. “This is the first drink I’ve had since that shitty coffee at the maze.”

I scowled. “That’s not funny, Jack. How did you get out?”

He sighed and ran his hand over my hair carefully so as to not pull either one of our IV lines. “Daisy was unconscious for an entire day with a bit of a head injury.” He didn’t elaborate, but I could just imagine what had happened to her after seeing her appearance at the compound. “Once she came to, I had to lift her up to push the hatch open. We’re just really fucking lucky it wasn’t bolted shut. I guess they hadn’t thought anyone could escape.”

“You lifted her?” I asked as I looked him over, noticing the way his arm was bandaged and the stiff way he held his torso.

“I had to get back to you.”

ChapterThirty-Two

THE QUEEN OF NIGHTMARES

The nurse wasn’t happy when she came into the room. She scowled the entire time she separated our lines. I was incredibly grateful when Helen came in a few minutes later with a huge smile on her face and an announcement that my IV could come out.

Once I was freed, I put my own clothes back on, then sat back in a chair to watch as Jack was fussed over. He growled when he was informed that he would have to ride in a wheelchair or he wasn’t leaving the bed at all. He only gave in when I promised I would ride in his lap. That earned both of us another glare, but neither one of us cared.

Once he was situated, I carefully climbed up onto his lap. I attempted to keep most of my weight on his thighs and off his chest, but with a heavy hand to my middle, he pulled me snugly against him, all while ignoring the shrill protests of the nurse. She finally huffed out an angry retort and stomped out of the room. As she passed Helen, she told her she didn’t want to have anything to do with us and that she could take over. Everyone breathed a little easier after that.

Helen was all smiles as we passed the patched member who had been standing guard at the door. As she wheeled us down the corridor and to the elevator, I glanced back to see the biker following us closely with a clearly relieved expression.

After a short elevator ride to the next floor, we got off, Helen easily pushing the wheelchair with our combined weight in it. I knew she had to be as excited that Doc was awake as we were. If Doc didn’t pull his head out of his ass and ask Helen out on a date soon, I was going to kick his ass.

I didn’t have to guess which room Doc was in since there was another patched member standing at the door with his arms crossed. When he saw us, he dropped his arms and stared at Jack as if he thought he’d never see him again. There was disbelief, relief, and regret written all over his features. He stepped forward to meet us.

“She swore you were alive, Prez.” He shook his head. “We should have known. A bastard like you wouldn’t die that easy.” He held out his hand, and Jack took it in a firm hold. “Glad to have you back, Prez.”

I smiled but pretended not to see the glassy sheen to the biker’s eyes as Jack grunted a response. He stepped back and reached for Doc’s door, holding it open for Helen to push us through.

I heard the beeping machines right away, but Doc’s pale, tired face was the first thing I saw. When he turned his head and saw Jack sitting there, alive, for the first time, a smile curved his lips, and his eyes lit up. I slowly slid from Jack’s lap, careful not to jostle him, ignoring his reaching hand.

“Get back here.”

I ignored his growl and stepped back, keeping my head down.

“Red.” Doc’s soft voice had me reluctantly leaving my examination of the tiled floor. I hesitantly glanced up at Doc. “Get over here.” Jack sighed but didn’t argue.

With a stifled sob, I stepped toward Doc’s outstretched arms and carefully wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry, Red. You’re my sister. I would die for you.” Doc’s words were soft as he spoke into my hair. I breathed out a ragged breath, so grateful that he was alive.

Jack was wheeled forward until he was right up against the side of the bed so he could reach out his good hand to his brother as I straightened back up. “Thank you,” he said as they grasped hands firmly.

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