I already knew how I’d do it. I’d thought about it before.
Bram came storming by and blocked my way by standing in front of me. “You’re not leaving, Charlotte. You’re hurt.”
“I’m always hurt!” I exploded.
He and I winced at the same time. My loud words seemed to inflict pain on both of us, just for different reasons.
Bram, the Haven’s Rebels president, looked at a loss for words and I felt a little bad.
I wasn’t his problem. They didn’t need to be dragged into this.
I took a step to go around him.
Bram put up a hand to stop me. “Fine. No hospital.”
I glanced up at him, meeting his greenish hazel eyes. We stared at each other. I was searching for deception. He just looked like he was waiting to see what I’d do.
Hands gently cupped my upper arms and a head rested on the back of mine. “Lottie, please,” Roe whispered.
Oh, Roe.
I closed my eyes slowly. “I don’t want to drag you down with me,” I whispered back, which was an easier way to speak.
“Then you stay here,” Roe whispered. “Because if you leave, I will follow you.”
Don’t say that.He, Wyatt, and Reid would be better off without me in their life.
“Please, Lottie.” The pleading in Roe’s voice put cracks in my resolve.
Damnit.
Tears flooded my closed eyes. Before they could spill free, I turned and buried my face in Roe’s chest. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t know why I was apologizing, exactly. It just felt necessary.
Roe’s arms quickly scooped me up bridal style. “It’s all right.” And he carried me back to the dining room.
The old Rebel, who I learned was a paramedic named Bobby, gave me medicine for pain. Too strong to be the kind you could get over the counter at a pharmacy. It made me very tired. Everyone was quiet as he stitched up my side. Mentally numb, I lay on the table facing Roe, who was sitting in a chair pushed up to the table. He held one of my hands and used his other to run his fingers through my hair near my ear.
Reid, Wyatt, and Bram sat in different chairs that had been pushed away from the table to give Bobby room to work on me. Wyatt sat behind and to the left of Roe. Reid was sitting by my feet, and Bram was by my head.
Unable to keep my eyes open any longer, I let them close. I was about to drift off when I heard Bram say, “She’s asleep again.”
“That’s expected,” Bobby said as I felt him tie off another suture. “She’s been through a lot and the drugs I gave her have kicked in by now.”
“Looks like Levi is still keeping the club well supplied,” Reid commented, his tone full of disdain.
“Only the club medic, Reid,” Bram said irritably. “And last I heard, you three are frequent customers of Levi.”
Roe sighed next to me. “We only buy weed from him.”
“And selling it, too,” Bram added, sounding fully pissed off now. “Did my daughter buy from you?”
Wyatt let out a curse.
“I never sold to Lottie,” Roe said.
“But you’ve gotten her high,” Bram shot back. It was clear he was trying to pick a fight, and I was just about to step in when Reid spoke.
“Don’t take your shit out on him,” he snapped. “You need to be pissed at someone, you do it with me. We all know I can take it.”
