Page 107 of Tuck & Roll

“Hey! Darren! Stay with us, man! We need you to hang on. Don’t go to sleep,” Tuck pushed. The sound of motorcycle pipes could be heard in the distance and getting closer. “Hear that? The brothers are coming and they’re going to be pissed as hell if you don’t hang on. How can they chew your ass for leaving them out of all the fun?”

The motorcycles shut off outside and that’s when he heard the sirens. “I hear the ambulance. It’s down the street, buddy. Hang in there.”

“I’m hangin’. I’m hangin’. Gotta see if you get a boy or a girl.” Darren grinned, pain straining his eyes.

Tuck was more worried than he’d ever been. Between the gunshot wound and the knife still stuck in his side, Darren had lost a lot of blood. His breathing was shallow and his face was even paler than before. He was struggling to keep his eyes open and Tuck figured the only reason he continued to fight blacking out was he worried how it would affect Kylie.

“Kylie. Go unlock the front door for the brothers and send the paramedics back once they get here,” he instructed her.

“Okay.” She leaned down and placed a kiss on Darren’s cheek, then jumped up and ran for the door.

The brothers entered the kitchen and quickly assessed the scene. Chet was dead on the floor, his head turned at a weird angle and Darren next to him with a knife sticking out of him.

“What the fuck happened?” Race swore. “You two take off and take matters into your own hands without your brothers to back you up?”

“Hey. Been shot down here,” Darren grumbled weakly from the floor. “And stabbed.”

“Pussy.” Jed squatted next to him. “Thought you were a tough SEAL.”

“Fuck you,” Darren whispered and flipped him off right before he passed out.

18

For the second time that tonight, Tuck was at the hospital. Just a few floors up from where he had Kylie in the E.R., Taylor was enjoying her new baby. Whether she was enjoying Michael and her parents being there wasn’t his concern. What was his concern was whether or not Kylie and the baby checked out as healthy and whole after everything that had gone on earlier with Chet.

“Miss Mason,” the doctor who had been treating her came back into the room. “Everything looks good. Although you have a bruised face, there was no real significant damage done. You’ll just need to ice it and take regular strength acetaminophen as needed. As for the ultrasound, your little one looks just fine. All in all, I imagine being kidnapped and held at gunpoint could have turned out a lot worse. I’m glad to see that you’re going to be okay.”

“Is she okay to go home now?” Tuck held Kylie’s hand as he asked the doctor.

“Yes. The nurse will be in with some paperwork, then you are free to go.” The doctor shook Kylie’s hand, then Tuck’s before exiting the room.

“Thank God. That was good news.” Tuck stood next to Kylie’s bed, feeling like his heart was once again beating.

“I told you I was fine.” Kylie squeezed his hand. “When I get released, we’re going to wherever everyone’s waiting to get news on Darren, right?”

“Yeah, baby. We’re going to go check on Darren. I owe him big time for watching out for you and dealing with Chet.” He would never be able to repay his friend for taking Chet out.

As promised, the nurse came in and went over some paperwork with Kylie, then gave them directions to where they could check on Darren’s condition. They rode the elevator up to the floor where he was having surgery and found the waiting room easy enough. The room was packed with brothers, making the room seem even smaller than it normally would.

“No word yet?” he asked the room at large.

“No. Not yet.” Maverick shook his head. He and Jackson had had their hands in their pockets and their heads bent together talking about something until he asked about Darren’s condition. Both father and son wore matching grim expressions as they got a good look at what Chet had done to Kylie’s face.

“Come over here and have a seat, Kylie Jo.” Tuck guided her toward an empty seat, then took the one next to her. He settled his hand on her leg, needing the physical connection, reassuring himself that she was safe. He’d never been so scared in his life as when he found out Chet had taken her.

Race soon joined them, taking a seat across from her. He perched on the edge of his seat and reached over to squeeze her hand. His mouth turned into a thin line as his eyes did a quick inventory of Kylie’s injuries. “The doctor clear you?”

“Yes. I just came from the E.R. Tuck insisted I get checked out. I told him I was fine, but he wouldn’t believe me until he heard it from a medical professional.” Her grin and semi-tease fell flat.

“That’s debatable considering the side of your face is bruised,” Race grumbled and shook his head. “Can’t believe Chet was able to get his hands on you again. It’s a good thing Darren ended him because there’s a room full of brothers who would like nothing more than to get their hands on him.”

“Really, Race. I’m good.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “And if I’m being completely honest, I’m glad Darren did what he did. I have no doubt that once I gave him the money, he was going to kill both of us.”

Race leaned back in his chair, his thumb at his chin and his finger at his temple. One corner of his mouth hitched up. “Gotta tell ya, doll. Whatever you’re doing to keep the club’s secrets safe is impressive. The only downside was that we couldn’t access any of your information that might have led us to where Chet might be holding you.”

“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. I need to come up with a way for you guys to get into my computer without making it vulnerable to outsiders.”

“That would be appreciated.” Race’s half grin bloomed into a full-blown smile.

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