“Is she all right now?”
“Yeah. She’s, uh, in a relationship with both men.”
Dove blinked. How did that work out? Sure, both men were handsome, but how did they not get jealous? Did they all share one bed, or did they take turns sleeping in hers? She shook her head. It wasn’t any of her business, and truthfully, she didn’t care what Allis’ love life entailed. All she wanted to know was how Allis had moved past the trauma.
“Do you think she’d come back and visit with me?” she asked.
“Of course. Allis is a great person. I’ll talk to North and see when she can come back.”
Dove studied the man before her. He seemed toughened, as if the world around him had erased all tenderness from him long ago, and in some respect, he reminded her of her father. Both men had an exterior that seemed…brittle. Her father had pushed himself because of the death of his wife. So what pushed John Draven?
“What’s going through your pretty little head?” he asked, pinning her with his electric- blue eyes.
“What’s it like to be in a motorcycle gang?”
He pursed his lips. “It’s a family. I rely on my club brothers to have my back, no matter what.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“It can be. But it’s not like you see on television. We don’t ride around shooting people and being badasses all the time. We’re just a club that watches out for our town and each other.”
“I like that,” she murmured. Her father’s men had been her family. They’d taken care of each other. But oh, how the memories hurt her heart. Suddenly a yawn hit her, and she raised a hand to try to hide it. Draven ran a finger down her cheek.
“Why don’t you sleep?”
“I don’t know why I’m so sleepy all the time,” she said, even as her eyes began to close.
“Your body needs to heal. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here beside you.”
“You and Cade,” she corrected with a small grin.
“That’s right. Me and Cade.”
That was the last thing she heard as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Five
The next morning, Draven hunted down Dr. Blake. The man was in the cafeteria paying for coffee. As their eyes met, a sneer formed on the good doctor’s face as he watched Draven intently.
“What can I do for you?” he asked, forgoing pleasantries.
“I want you to discharge Dove today.”
“No, I’m not going to do that,” Dr. Blake retorted. “She has been severely abused. She needs around the clock medical care—”
“Which she’ll have,” Draven said quickly. “Look, I’m not asking for your permission, I’m telling you. Write up the papers. I don’t trust this fucking hospital as far as I could throw it, and I’ll be damned if she stays here one more night.”
Dr. Blake glared at him. “People like you think you’re so high and mighty, as if the rest of us need to bow down to you. You don’t scare me. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am to kiss your ass.”
Draven took a step toward him and glared down at the doctor. Much to his satisfaction, despite his tough words, he saw alarm flare on Dr. Blake’s face.
“Get the papers. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself inundated with mysterious problems. Slashed tires, busted car. Even your home won’t be safe. Hear me?”
Dr. Blake swallowed nervously. He gave a jerky nod of his head.
“Seems to me you’re a monster that’ll keep her under your thumb,” he whispered angrily before stepping around Draven’s body to march off. Draven stared at his retreating form for a long time before heading back to Dove’s room.
* * * *
Right after breakfast, Allis came to visit. North Tabion was with her, and he asked to speak to Draven and Cade alone while Allis visited with Dove. When both men hesitated, Allis gave a gentle, soothing smile.
“I promise I won’t leave her side,” she said.
With a touch of reluctance, they followed North out of the hospital room.
Allis gave a little chuckle as she settled into the newly vacated chair next to Dove. “I know it might seem smothering, but be glad they’re here watching over you.”
“Did North watch over you?”
Allis nodded. “And Givon. I had a man hunting me. Well, technically, two at the same time.”
“Jesus,” Dove muttered.
“It’s all right now,” Allis replied. “Things worked themselves out. How are you doing, Dove?”
“They say I’m getting better faster than they’d predicted, and Dr. Blake says I should be able to go home a few days sooner than he first thought too.”
“That’s good, isn’t it? But I wasn’t really asking about how you’re doing physically. I meant mentally.”
“Oh.”
“I can help you find someone to talk to.”
“You mean a shrink?”
Allis nodded.
Dove bit her lip. “Did you talk to one?”
“No. But I had a few more issues going on, and I had Givon and North looking out for me.”
“I’m supposed to go home with John. And Cade.”
“Oh,” Allis said. “Is that what you want? I can help you find a better situation if you want.”
“No,” Dove said, shaking her head. “I feel safe with them. I don’t know why, but I know that I can trust them.”
“Believe me, I understand. And you can, Dove,” Allis stressed. She put her hand on top of Dove’s and squeezed. “Draven is a good man. North relies on him a lot. And I don’t know Cade, but his actions so far show he’s caring.”
“When I was in that darkness… I thought I was going to die there. At first, I wanted to, but… Something had me fighting back. I was so scared, Allis. I don’t like the dark now. I make John leave the bathroom light on at night. That makes me really messed up, huh? Maybe I do need a shrink.”
“You’re not alone anymore,” Allis told her.
The words brought tears to Dove’s eyes. “You have no idea how much I need to hear that.”
“I think I do,” Allis whispered. Her dark eyes were soft, caring. Dove felt in that moment that the other woman truly did understand what she was going through.
* * * *
“North, this is Cadence Vanaker,” Draven introduced.
“Call me Cade,” Cade said, holding out his hand.
North eyed it for a moment then shook it. “We didn’t really get to talk the last time I was here. I just wanted to introduce myself and welcome you to our club. How long do you think you’ll be visiting with us?”
Cade shrugged. “I can pay club dues, and I’m a fairly decent shot. I’m yours for as long as you need me.”
“Okay,” North said. “I don’t think we’ll be needing you to shoot anyone, but you never know.”
He gave a wide smile to show that he was joking. At least, Cade hoped he was joking. He’d really hate to bust the Red Wolves over something stupid, but he knew about the ongoing feud with the Demon Devils.
“Can you turn a wrench?” North asked.
“Sure,” Cade answered. “I can help out in a garage.”
“We don’t have a garage yet, but I’m beginning to take in repair work to bring in some cash. Which reminds me, Draven, you’ve had a few people wanting to book you at the shop.”
“I see a new tat below the elbow,” Draven said, nodding at North’s arm.
North held up his arm to show off the crescent moon and stars. “Branch did it for us.”
“Us?”
“Me, Giv and Allis all got the same one.”
“Givon got a tattoo? I’ll be damned. So Branch took his cherry, eh? Just wait, he’ll be back for more. They always do.”
North laughed.
“I’ll make sure to stop by the shop soon,” he promised.
“Shop?” Cade asked.
“Tattoo parlor,” North explained. “Draven’s a wicked artist.”
Cade knew about the shop, of course, but he acted like it was a big surprise. “I hope me being here with Dove is okay,” he said to North, changing the subject. “I think she could possibly be in danger.”
He saw North shoot Draven a quick look before turning back to him and crossing his arms.
“I’ll be honest, Cade,” North said. “You’ve come at a really messed up time. Givon and I are trying to figure out who was behind Michael Hiller, behind these kidnappings. I was hoping to turn over the club reins temporarily to Draven, but seeing how you’re both in protective mode over Dove, that seems to be a moot point.”
“Why don’t you let us investigate?” Cade asked. He watched North Tabion carefully, trying to gauge his reactions.
“Givon won’t stand for that,” North said. Cade thought it was interesting that the man didn’t include himself in that statement.
“He’s the sheriff,” Cade pointed out. “His hands are tied by law. Ours aren’t.”
North cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “True. But he’d be pissed if he found out.”
“We can keep it between us,” Draven added.
Cade shot him a surprised look. He had thought he’d be fighting him every step of the way on this little endeavor.
“Okay,” North said and bent his head closer. “I think the Demon Devils are involved. If there’s any way of infiltrating them or gathering Intel, then do it. The sooner this chapter in our lives is closed, the sooner Allis, Dove and the other victims can rest.”
“You think those other girls are alive?” Draven asked.
North shrugged. “What I know for sure is Hiller definitely killed one and tried to kill Allis. The others… God help them if they survived. Maybe if we can get Gray Dog talking, we can find out what happened to them.”
“Okay,” Cade said.
“If Givon says anything to me, I’ll pass it along to you two,” North said. “But don’t you dare get caught ’cause I sure as shit don’t want to have to explain this to Giv. Got it?”
Cade and Draven nodded.
“Now, gentlemen,” North concluded, easing back as a smile appeared on his face. “I’m going to collect my old lady and treat her to lunch. Call me if you have any updates.”
He turned and walked back into the hospital room, leaving Cade and Draven staring at each other.
“Where do we start?” Draven finally asked.
“Well, I suppose with our only witness. We have to find out if Dove saw anyone else while in that basement.”
“If she did, they’re coming after her.”
Cade nodded. “That’s why we won’t leave her side.”
He turned and walked back into the room, leaving Draven to follow.
Chapter Six
“At one point, I thought I’d like to be a doctor,” Dove murmured as she watched Dr. Blake check her vitals. A nurse changed the bandages on her wrists.
“I always tell people that choosing to be a doctor is like choosing to be a priest,” he said. “Or a nun. You have to make sure it’s your true calling before pursuing it.”
“Is medicine your true calling?” she asked. “You seem to be a very good doctor.”
“Oh, I’m a good doctor all right, but too many people think they want to be a doctor for the money. And I suppose for some, they certainly get that. But unless you’re a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, most of us schlep through sixteen to eighteen-hour hospital rounds for barely enough pay.”
“I thought being a doctor held a certain prestige.”
The nurse applied a thick layer of ointment to her wounds and Dove was glad to see that they looked a lot better already. A moment later, the nurse finished up and left the room.
Dr. Blake shook his head. “I wanted to be a surgeon so my training racked up thousands upon thousands in student loans, and working here at the General doesn’t really cover it all. I make rounds twice a month in two other towns to help cover costs. That’s why I always tell someone who asks what it’s like to be doctor that you have to absolutely love doing this, because most of the time, it’s long days and crappy cafeteria food.”
He smiled at her, and that helped take some of the sting out of his words. She’d never thought of being a doctor from that point of view.
“I was sick when I was a child,” she said. “I contracted Lyme’s Disease, and no one knew until months later. I was one of those unlucky kids where it didn’t go away but settled into my joints. I was in the hospital for a long time, and the doctors and nurses were very kind.”
“Do you have any PTLDS?” he asked her.
“What’s that?” Draven questioned, interrupting them.
“Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome,” he answered a bit stiffly. “For some people, the effects of Lyme Disease can last a long time. Lingering symptoms like fatigue, pain or joint and muscle aches can happen.”
“No,” Dove replied. “I’m cured now. But it forced my father to retire early from the Army. He said he never regretted taking care of me, but I think some small part of him did.”
No one had anything to say. Dove didn’t blame them. It was a completely random thing to throw out there, especially to strangers who didn’t really know her or her father.
“He was a big man,” she went on, unable to stop talking about him. Maybe she did need a shrink. “Tough but very gentle. When he left the Army, he formed his own private military company. He was gone a lot, but when he came home, it was always a huge celebration.”
She couldn’t stop the tears from forming because the memories were still raw. They still cut down to the bone. She wondered when she’d be able to think of him and not cry. Draven sat next to her on the bed and put his arm around her shoulders, so she laid her head on them and cried. It wasn’t a hysterical cry like last time, thank goodness. Instead, they just streamed silently down her face.
“Gentlemen,” Dr. Blake said quietly. “If you don’t mind stepping outside, I’d like to talk to Miss Aldrin.”
“Whatever you say to her, you can say in front of me,” Draven replied.
“Us,” Cade added.
“What I want to say is confidential,” the doctor stressed.
Dove grabbed Draven’s hand when he opened his mouth to argue back, shutting him up.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s just Dr. Blake.”
Draven shot Cade a quick glance, who gave a one-shoulder shrug. “We’ll be right outside the door,” Cade added.
“Okay. Thanks,” she said.
Cade grabbed Draven’s arm and half dragged him out of the door. As soon as the door shut behind them, Dr. Blake turned toward her.
“Dove, I want to make sure that you haven’t been coerced into staying with those bikers.”