I should jump in there before the doors close.I should take her hand and assure her she’s going to be okay.I should be the brother I was raised to be.
Instead, I stay completely still and watch as the ambulance rolls down the road.Della could die.The venom could fucking kill her, and if that happens, she’ll die thinking I fucking hate her.
“Don’t know what’s going on with you and your sister, but when I told her she needed to stay awake, she said it didn’t matter,” Shadow says, interrupting my thoughts.
I let those words sink in, regret rolling through my veins.
She thinks she doesn’t matter, and that’s on me.
Turning my head, I meet Shadow’s gaze.“I tried to talk to her when she got home last night, but she wasn’t having it.”
I don’t know why those are the words that come out of my mouth.It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if we had spoken.We probably would’ve fought, and she’d still be sitting in the back of the ambulance thinking she’s nothing but a burden.
“Maybe you should wait until she gets back here before you two do any talking,” he suggests.
“Yeah,” I sigh.“That might be good.Think you can go and look after her for me?I don’t want her to be up there by herself.And I doubt she wants me up there in her business.”
“Yeah,” he says..“I’ll just need to head to the clubhouse and grab my truck beforehand.Just in case she gets discharged.Don’t think it’s wise to put her on the back of my bike.”
“I’d tell you to take Della’s car, but I have no idea where her keys are.”I glance over at my truck.“Take mine.The keys are under the mat.”
“Maybe her keys are in her car?”
I shake my head.“She keeps that thing locked tight.”
“That’s the way it should be.No woman should leave her shit open for anyone to get into.”He pauses for a beat.“I’ll follow and be there for her.Give you updates.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it,” I rasp.
I’m just finishing up for the day when Shadow pulls in front of the main house.He steps out of my truck and tosses me the keys.
“How is she?”I ask, shoving the keys into my pocket.
He stares at me quietly for a moment, then blows out a ragged breath.“I don’t know where you get off calling that woman mousey, but she’s still fucking mouthy.”I quirk a brow but don’t say anything.“They’re keeping her for observation.She’ll probably be discharged tomorrow at some point.”
“Okay, but she’s fine, right?I shouldn’t worry.”
He clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.“She’s going to make it, but you should probably worry about how the hell you’re going to handle her when she comes home.”
I release a heavy sigh.
That’s easier said than done.
ChapterThirteen
Amelia
The motor whines on the mechanical bull, and the crowd roars as some poor bastard named Chad clings to the saddle like his dignity depends on it.I gotta give him credit, though.Out of all his friends, he’s lasted the longest, closing in on a whopping eight seconds.I just hope for the sake of his date, he can go longer in the bedroom.
“Table four needs another round,” Jess calls over her shoulder.
I suppress a groan.It’s been nonstop since happy hour, and it doesn’t appear to be winding down anytime soon.Once word spread that the mechanical bull was fixed, everyone and their mother decidedtonightwas the night they’re gonna learn how to ride.
I’m exhausted, and I still have another two hours on the clock.Grabbing a shaker, I toss in some ice and start pouring.The bull throws Chad, and the crow erupts in a chorus of dramatic moans as he hits the mat.Luckily, he finds his footing, and the showboat takes a bow.
Rolling my eyes, I laugh.It takes me a good ten minutes to catch up on everyone’s orders, and when I finally do, the door swings open once again.But instead of finding a rush of people eager to ride a bull, I see Maddox standing in the doorway, looking worn.
His hair is a mess, like he’s spent the better part of the day running his fingers through it, and his flannel is half-unbuttoned, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing inches and inches of ink.His jeans have dirt on them, and his shoulders appear to be slumped in defeat.
