Page 79 of Tuck & Roll

“That fucker is dead when we find him.” Tuck was so enraged he was damn near shaking.

“Calm, brother. Kylie needs you levelheaded right now.” Race clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a slight shake. “You good?”

Tuck took a deep breath and let it out slow. When he thought he had his shit together, he nodded his head. “Yeah. Good. Let’s go.”

Race and Darren parted and allowed Tuck to enter the house. As he entered the bedroom he saw Kylie was sitting up in bed with her back against some pillows at the headboard. Bacon was sitting next to her, talking to her in low tones with her nodding her head. The first thing he noticed was the deep purple bruising along her cheek and around her throat. He clenched his jaw so tight he thought he might break a tooth. Oh yeah. Chet was a dead man.

The moment she spotted him in the doorway, her eyes rounded in surprise. Her face crumpled and she started sobbing immediately after.

“Kylie Jo. Baby.” Her heart wrenching sounds tore at his gut. He climbed into the bed from the other side, kicking his boots off as he went. He curled an arm around her, pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head. “Please don’t cry. I’m here now and I’m going to take care of you.” She only sobbed harder. “You’re gonna make yourself sick if you don’t calm down.” He smoothed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.

Fuck. It hurt to look at her. He’d had his fair share of injuries in bar fights and knew the amount of pain she must be in. If he could take the injuries upon himself, he’d do it in a heartbeat to spare her the pain.

Bacon gave her hand a squeeze and a reassuring smile. “She’s in good shape despite what that asshole tried to do to her. As you can see, she’s got a nasty bruise and some swelling on her face that she’s been putting ice on and her throat’s going to be extremely sore for a couple of days until the swollen tissue goes down. The cut on her neck wasn’t bad. It’s already stopped bleeding.”

Not wanting to add to Kylie’s distress, he forced himself to pretend he was calm despite the need riding him hard to get up and tear shit up. “Does she need to go to the hospital?” Tuck tried to wipe away her tears, but couldn’t keep up. He decided to let her get it all out and in her own time while he held her close.

“No. I think she’s going to be all right. She just needs some rest and she needs to try keeping talking to a minimum. She’ll know what she can handle.”

Tuck turned his attention to Bacon. “She tell you she’s pregnant?”

“Yes. From what she told me the only place the asshole hurt her was her face and neck. He never touched her stomach. I believe the baby’s fine. She can always follow up with her doctor if you guys are worried.” He put his stethoscope and blood pressure cuff back in his medical bag. “And congratulations, by the way.”

“Thanks, Doc. We’re pretty excited about it.” Tuck kissed the tip of Kylie’s nose when she leaned her head back to look up at him. Her tears and sobbing had subsided and turned to quiet sniffles and a few hiccups. His woman had been through so much lately. He’d always known her to be a strong person, but even strong people had a breaking point and this incident with Chet appeared to be hers.

“You are excited?” she whispered. Her voice was so rough and scratchy it was all Tuck could do not to flinch.

“Over the moon, baby.” And he truly was. When Taylor told him she was pregnant he’d experienced instant panic, then doubt and finally anger at realizing she was trying to trap him. The thought of having a baby with Kylie made his heart feel full, like he was finally getting everything he’d always wanted, but was too scared to hope for.

A knock at the open door drew their attention. Race, Darren and Bellamy stood in the hall just outside the room. “Can we come in?” Bellamy asked. Kylie nodded her head and waved her forward. “Damn, Kylie. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been better,” she whispered.

“I didn’t get to tell you earlier, but congrats on the baby.” Bellamy smiled, her eyes darting between himself and Kylie.

“It’s all good, Bellamy. I was an asshole earlier and I’m thrilled about the baby,” Tuck informed her. “And I plan on begging for Kylie Jo’s forgiveness when we have a private moment.” Then to Kylie he added, “There’s a few other things I need to say, too.”

“All right then. Looks like you’re in good hands, so I’m outta here.” Bacon gathered his bag and rose from the bed. “Take it easy and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” The first part was aimed toward Kylie and the second part toward Tuck.

“Thanks, Bacon.” Tuck shook the man’s hand. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for Kylie.”

Bacon grinned and nodded his head. “I’d say anytime, but I really hate when the women get hurt. And Kylie, tell him the rest. He has a right to know.”

What the hell was Bacon talking about? Tell him the rest? The rest of what?

“We’ll walk you out.” Race grasped Bellamy’s hand and helped her up. “We’ll check on you tomorrow, darlin’,” he told Kylie.

Bellamy laughed. “I guess we’re going. Get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow.

With Bellamy’s hand in his, Race followed Bacon out the door. “You need to come by the clubhouse the next time we’re having a hog roast. You haven’t been around much lately.”

Tuck missed the rest of their conversation as they disappeared down the hall.

“You’re stayin’, right?” Darren asked Tuck from where he stood at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Yeah. I’m stayin’.” It would take a nuclear bomb to get him to leave Kylie’s side right now.

Darren nodded his head. “I’m gonna go lock up and hit the sack. If you need anything, holler.” He started to pull the door closed behind him, but Tuck stopped him. “Darren?”

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