“True. But I’m serious. I want one recruit on each of you.”
“Bloody hell, is it that bad?” she asked.
Hatch nodded. “Yeah, it’s that bad.”
“I’ll make sure Payton brings her gun,” she said.
“I want you carryin’ too,” Hatch said.
She sighed. “I’d rather not.”
“Don’t give a shit.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
He kissed her temple and smiled. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just call the boys down. Then you can help me carry food to the table.”
“Got it.”
The subject of safety was dropped, and dinner was filled with laughter and fun and of course, Maisie’s crack and cheese was delicious. By the time I fell into bed with Doc, I was exhausted, in the best of ways. I couldn’t wait for my shopping outing the next day with the Dogs’ women.
* * *
Doc
“I’ll see you later,” I whispered, kissing Olivia awake.
“What time is it?” she grumbled.
“Almost eight.” She groaned and I chuckled. Jesus, she was cute when she was sleepy. “Go back to sleep. You’ve got at least two hours before you have to get up.”
“Okay.”
I kissed her again and then left her to sleep, making my way downstairs. Hatch was in the kitchen, coffee mug in his hand, checking his phone. “Hey, brother.”
He gave me a chin lift. “Coffee’s in the pot. Pea’s awake, so we can head over anytime.”
I grabbed a cup to go and took off for the hospital. Dr. Gina Gardner, Clutch’s wife, and resident Burning Saints’ physician met us at the nurse’s desk.
“Hey Eldie,” Hatch said. “You remember Doc?”
Eldie was what the majority of the bikers called her...a nickname which was short for ‘lady doctor,’ and she took it all in stride.
She shook my hand. “Yes, hi. It’s good to see you again, Dr. Brooks.”
I smiled. “You too. So, what are we up against?”
She led me to a computer and typed in her credentials, then stepped back so I could read the extent of his injuries. He had a brain bleed, which could have been much worse had he not been wearing a helmet, but it was enough of a concern that they’d put him in a medically induced coma for a few days. Two broken ribs, aortic aneurysm, collapsed right lung, deep right thigh puncture, broken left femur, broken tibia and fibula, broken left and right ankles and his pelvis was broken in three places.
“Shit,” I breathed out. “He’s gonna need more than I originally thought.”
“Yes,” Gina agreed. “I’m so glad you’re here. I have an idea where to start, but I honestly don’t know where to finish, and the thought of that man in there not making a full recovery makes my stomach churn.”
I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You got this. He’s a fucking Viking, Gina, remember that. He’s made it this far, he’s gonna pull through the rest.”
She nodded, blinking her tears away, and I gave her a minute to compose herself and turned to Hatch. “You got anywhere to be?”
