“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take care of the thug for you,” she chokes out around my grip.
My brow furrows. What the hell does that mean?
Before I can ask, I hear the rumble of a motorcycle. I turn and watch as Rowan’s bike turns onto the street, nearly spinning out as a vehicle chases him. My heart leaps into my throat as the black SUV gains speed, coming along Rowan’s side and slamming into him. I let out an inhuman noise as Rowan’s bike falls to the ground and drags him along with it.
I release my mom’s throat and run to him, disregarding the black SUV and my mother. I hear the screech of tires and the sound of more motorcycles as I reach him. I look up and see more Sovereign Sons members pull onto the street. I drop to my knees, the concrete biting into my skin and check Rowan’s pulse. It’s strong, but his body is beat up. His left side is covered in cuts and road rash. His leg is pinned beneath his bike. I try to push itup, but it doesn’t budge. I’m vaguely aware of men yelling, but I only have eyes for Rowan.
“Please, don’t leave me,” I choke out as I stroke the hair out of his face. “I’m so fucking sorry. Please!”
A hand on my back makes me swing around and land a slap on Axel’s face. He’s shocked for a moment but then turns around to call for help.
“It’s okay, Everly,” he murmurs softly. “I just want to help him, okay?”
I nod my head numbly and watch on as Axel and Cane haul Rowan’s bike off him. I sob as I see the cuts on his leg. They lift Rowan and take him toward my SUV, I run after them, opening the back for them. They lay him down and Axel tells me to get inside. He hops in the driver’s seat and rushes us toward the hospital.
The whole way there all I can think about is how my decision just hurt the man I love and that I hope he’s going to forgive me.
32
ROWAN
I wake up in the hospital emergency room and wince at the bright lights when I try to open my eyes. I turn my head and find a sleeping Everly with her head rested on my bed. I sigh in relief at the sight of her. I don’t know what the hell she was thinking running off to see her mother like that. She could have talked to me, but she snuck out instead.
I won’t lie, I’m upset, but I’m so damn thankful that she’s okay, and that overrides any anger I feel. I move to sit up and wince at the pain I feel all over, and I do mean all over. I feel pain from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I went down hard with my bike, and it drug me for a little bit.
I pull at the side of the blanket that Everly isn’t lying on and take inventory of my body. My left leg and side are covered in bandages, and my left arm has a few scrapes. Luckily, most of the damage avoided my tattoos that I’ve spent years getting. I reach my hand up and feel the cut on my forehead and the goose egg that’s there. I must have bumped my head pretty hard if it knocked me out.
I didn’t even think when I realized that Everly had snuck out, though. I called my dad and mom to come watch Hazel and then called all the guys. I didn’t wait for them, though. I probablyshould have. It would have ended better for me, but not for Everly.
The SUV that ran me off the road was there for her. I was just a happy coincidence for them. I think her mom planned her kidnapping; I just need to talk to the guys to prove it.
I shift my legs over to the side of the bed and attempt to push myself up, grunting with the effort.
“Rowan?” Everly rasps from behind me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I groan. “We just need to get back to Hazel,” I say as I attempt to get up again.
Everly runs around to my side of the bed and moves under my arm, helping me to stand. “Take it easy, the doctor said nothing is seriously injured but you have lots of cuts and bruises and a concussion.”
“I’ve had worse,” I mutter as I move to get dressed in the clean clothes that are sitting on the counter. That’s one perk of the club; the guys will always take care of you.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Rowan,” Everly chokes out, making me whirl around.
Tears fill her eyes as she watches me wearily. “Why did you do it?” I ask. “You could have just told me.”
A few tears escape and she wipes them away. “I don’t know, I just wanted answers, and I didn’t think I had to worry about her. I regretted it before I even got there but I was too determined to turn around. When I saw you coming towards us and the SUV chasing you down,” she chokes out. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
I move towards her, wrapping my arms around her and ignoring the bite of pain I feel from the contact. “I’m okay, darlin’. I’m just so glad you’re okay.”
“You’re not okay!” She cries into my chest. “You’re hurt because of me. I did this to you.”
“You didn’t do this to me. This life did it. I’ll be just fine, though, and we’ll figure out your punishment later.”
She pulls back and frowns at me with tears in her eyes. “Punishment?”
I smirk at her. “Don’t worry. We’ll both like it.”
I feel cool air across my bare ass and then hear a throat clear behind us. “You good?” Grayson asks.
