“I wore gloves for all the nasty parts,” I told her. That was all of it, really. No grit in the wounds. Or bleach eating away at healing skin. “How’re you feeling?”
“Sore,” she admitted. “I have some nasty bruises to show you later. But put me down so we can get the introductions over with.”
Sugar was already staring at the window of the car, where Mack had his big block head out, sniffing the air.
Sway lent a hand, taking Molly as I walked Mack, and Dylan came with us, leading a curious and excited Sugar around until we were all relatively sure the dogs weren’t going to fight, then slowly getting closer. Until they were all wiggling and trying to drop down on their front legs to play.
Satisfied they were all worn out and introduced, we made our way back to the hotel, got some food for ourselves and the dogs, then we all loaded up into the various cars, trucks, and onto the bikes.
Thankfully, the trip to L.A. was only about an hour, and the dogs could once again get out to stretch their legs and spend more time together.
“Do you think Mack and Molly will be okay here while we go and—” she started, only to trail off when a new car pulled into the driveway along with all the others, minus the guys who’d headed back to Shady Valley.
My hand went automatically for my gun as the girls all stiffened up. Until I saw who was climbing out of the driver’s seat. “It’s Crow,” I said, relaxing. Another car pulled up next, and out exited Judge.
Then the passenger and backseat doors open and eight women were suddenly making their way toward the house as well.
“Oh, my God,” Dylan said, eyes round as the other club girls squealed and rushed outside to hug their sisters. “I thought we were going to have to track them down.”
“Guess getting rid of Roach’s last few guys was easy work,” I said. “They found them for us. Go on. Go say hi.”
Dylan sucked in a steadying breath and moved outside.
Her steps were slow and uncertain, like some part of her expected some (or all) of the girls to turn on her, pointing fingers, and blaming her for what happened to them.
But as I watched, all I saw were hugs and happy, relieved tears.
“Rook called,” Saint said, moving in at my side to watch the women out the window.
“Did he find something on the electronics?”
“No. I asked if he could focus on the treatment thing for us instead, since he had a long road of nothing to do. Plus, he’s used to dealing with medical places from when his mom was still really struggling.”
“There can’t be anywhere for all these women.”
“Not one place, no. But he found beds in five separate ones.”
“How soon?”
“Some today. Others, tomorrow. I figure the ones detoxing the hardest go in first. Then, three days from now, we’ll know everyone is getting the care we need, and we can finally head home.”
I was more excited about that than I’d expected.
Dylan in my room. Nothing to distract us from spending as much time together as we wanted. Nothing hanging over our heads. Enjoying each other. Making plans.
I couldn’t fucking wait.
Dylan - 3 days
“This is nicer than I expected,” I admitted as Colter, Syn, and I walked down the road toward the main street of Shady Valley. Colter was walking Mack, I was walking Molly, and Syn was walking Sugar. Because of their bond, sure, but also because of his bum arm and all of us knowing that she was well-behaved on a walk, so he wouldn’t have to worry about needing both his hands to steady her if something spooked her.
I was still getting to know Mack and Molly. It was going to take weeks, if not months, for them to decompress and fully come out of their shells. And by then, we’d also be dealing with a litter. But only a small one. The vet said it was likely because she’d already had a litter not long ago. But she was only carrying three puppies. I had a feeling Syn might want to take one.
We’d have to find good homes for the other two. Because as much as I suddenly wanted to haveall the dogs, I knew we were living at the clubhouse, and having three large breed dogs was already a little much, considering there were several other dogs in and out of the club. And, well, Cat and the Rotties weren’t fans of each other.
“What is?” Syn asked.
“I don’t know. Being here, I guess,” I admitted. “This town. It’s not a town that, you know, looks great when you first come through. But it grows on you. I actually found myself kind of missing it while we were away.”
