Lucian says, “Oh, yeah, she also has a good-sized knot on the back of her head.” Lach uses those long fingers to palpate through my hair. I wince when he rubs over the goose egg.
He inhales deeply before sliding a rolling chair in front of me. “Do you have any other injuries?” He looks me up and down, turns to Lucian, then back to me.
I shake my head no, but Lucian says, “She has several older bruises,” and I whip my head toward him.
“Really? You’re just throwing me under the bus here, Lucian.” I sigh and turn back to Lach. “They are from a few days ago, and some are from last weekend.”
“Where?”
I point to my ribs and legs.
“Do you struggle breathing?”
“No.”
“Well, your ear will take a couple weeks, but it should heal. Same with your cheek and lip. Your back, I’d like to clean it up and bandage it. As for the other injuries, they will take time. The head, I’d like you to take it easy with. Head injuries can be nasty.” Lach looks over to Lucian now. “Nothing rough with her. Take it easy, she’s one big bruise. I also need to talk to you about Dr. Erickson.”
I get the feeling they don’t want me to know who they’re talking about, and I start to fidget again.
Lucian takes my hands, which seem tiny compared to his, and says to Lach, “I don’t know who that is.”
“Yeah, you do. The new veterinarian in town.”
“Oh shit. Uh, can we discuss it later?”
“No.”
“I can leave if you want me to,” I offer.
“No.” Lucian continues holding my hands. “You can’t know MC business, but Lach can understand that you take priority right now.”
“Judge, this is a time-sensitive matter. She’s going to need help soon. I can’t tell you everything because of patient confidentiality, but the club needs to step in.”
“Perez fucked up when he went after her,” Lucian says as he releases me and follows Lach to a desk set in the corner. “He fucked up worse when he stole. I’m not letting that go.”
“I don’t care about him. It’s the husband that I’m concerned about.” Lach’s voice lowers, but it’s still audible.
I shift and slide from the table, not wanting to overstep. When I reach the door, my hand barely turning the nob, I hear, “Sweet cheeks, you better keep your ass right there, or I’ll spank those juicy buttocks of yours.” His words stop me cold, and as I start to step back, the door flies open.
I jump back just in time for a guy to come barreling through. He has brown hair and tattoos covering his body up to his neck, and even one on his face. His eyebrow is pierced, and he raises it at me.
“Who are you?” He smiles as he eyes me up and down. I pull my cardigan tight around me as I step back into a wall of chest.
“Mine,” Lucian growls as his arm wraps around me, his hand settling on my stomach, which erupts with butterflies.
“No cavemen shit in my office, assholes. God, I pray I never get as bad as you, Judge. Just piss on her leg if you want to,” Lach interjects.
“Yuck, no,” I squeal as I push farther back into Lucian.
“Like I didn’t know she was yours, she’s wearing your fucking cut, Prez. Jeez, I wanted to give you the info I found before you locked yourself away.”
“What you got?” Lucian uses his free hand to take a file from the man who still smiles at me.
“I’m Mal, by the way.” He holds out his hand, and I’m about to reach for it when Lucian smacks it away with the folder.
“Don’t touch her.”
“Uh, Lucian, should I maybe find your room and go lay down for a bit while you talk to your men?” This is so confusing. I’ve never had a man act this way, not allowing others to touch me. Though every time another woman is mentioned, the green-eyed monster pops out of me, too.
