CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Starlet
What happens nextis a blur of activity. Iron Norsemen swarm the woods. I hear people calling our names…Brick. Starlet.But I can’t answer. All of my energy is dedicated to Brick and keeping pressure on my shirt that I took off and covered his wound with. After he shoved the pistol in my hand, he passed out again. Now he’s feverish and breathing all wrong.
“Jesus Christ.” Shorty explodes into the clearing first, followed by Eagle and Axe. “What happened, sweetheart?”
I point to Silver’s lifeless body.
“Let’s get them to the clubhouse, now!” Eagle lifts me by the arms and unceremoniously pitches me over his shoulder. “Axe and Shorty, take Brick to the truck. I’ll get Doc Evans right away.”
I’m flung on the back of Eagle’s bike, then he climbs on in front of me. “Hold on, Starlet.”
We arrive at the clubhouse and Eagle ushers me inside. “Angel, get her a double shot of something and meet me in the conference room.” Eagle digs his cell phone out of his vest pocket and dials a number. “Get over here, Doc…” His voice fades as he walks away.
“Starlet…” Angel is in front of me offering me a shot glass filled with amber liquid. “What happened out there?”
I swallow the whiskey. “Silver showed up at the cabin. He shot Brick in the right shoulder, close to his chest, and I’m afraid.” I’m fighting the sea of tears behind my eyes.
Angel takes the empty glass from my hand and sets it on the table. “Listen to me, Starlet. You’re a survivor and didn’t come this far to let that bastard, Silver, win.” She gives me a good shake.
I look up at her, wishing I had the strength to agree, but I don’t. I’ve been stripped of everything again, courage, happiness, faith, and maybe even Brick’s love. If he dies, I’ll die. It’s that simple. I don’t want to be here if he’s not.
“Come with me.” Angel drags me down a long hallway and opens a door. “Look, Starlet. This room is usually locked, but take a close look while you can.”
I do as she asks, taking in every detail—from the adjustable exam table, the overhead exam lights, sink and counter, glass front storage cabinets stocked with everything a doctor would need, an AED, and other equipment necessary to preform medical procedures. “What is this place?”
“It’s a pet project Eagle started putting together when he first bought the property. There’s so many underprivileged kids out here, he wanted to provide a free clinic for them.”
I’m speechless—there must be hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment here.
“Dr. Evans is Eagle’s partner. He’ll take care of Brick. And if it’s beyond his ability, we’ll transport Brick to the hospital.”
Something the Devil’s Crusaders would never allow—gunshot wounds require a call to the local police department. I’ve witnessed my father put a bullet in the head of one of his brothers for getting shot in the stomach during an attack from a rival MC. “Silver attacked us, there’s no evidence to implicate the club.”
“Hey…” Angel pulls me into her arms. “The Iron Norsemen don’t live that way, sweetie. We care about our family.”
I want to believe her, but the opposite has been ingrained in my mind and heart for so long. Snitches get stitches—that whole philosophy has ruled my life. Injured men can talk, dead men can’t.
Suddenly there’s people everywhere. Axe, Shorty, and Bean carefully place Brick on the metal exam table. Another man rushes in dressed in a white lab coat and wearing exam gloves. I watch helplessly as he cuts Brick’s shirt off, revealing his injured shoulder.
I cover my mouth with both hands and wheeze out a cry of shock.
The doc throws me a look. “Who is she?”
“Brick’s old lady,” Shorty answers.
“Get her out of here,” he orders.
Shorty and Angel waste no time wrestling me out of the room. The door is shut and locked behind us.
“He’s a strong kid,” Shorty says reassuringly. “And too stubborn to die from a bullet.”
I let the old man give me a rib-crushing hug. I need all the support I can get, and Brick is very fond of Shorty. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He steps back. “Eagle wants to see you now.”
The three of us go to the conference room where Eagle is waiting with six other brothers. The room falls silent as I step inside. Silver’s body is lying on a tarp in the corner. The proof I need to know the threat is really over. He’ll never hurt me, Brick, or anyone else again. I edge closer just to get a better look. There’s a smug expression on his face, like he never knew the bullet was coming.
