“Sit before you fall down,” I instruct, noticing him rubbing his temple. “I can do this.”
Falling off a building will take it out of you, I think to myself, the last few hours seem to be catching up with him as he obeys without argument. He sits on the chair, leaning back his head, and closing his eyes for a moment. I leave him be as I strip the bed while wishing I was wearing rubber gloves, then, after washing my hands, remake it. I avoid looking at the mattress as I do.
But as I’d told him, where I was kept just two nights ago had been far worse. Well, quite a lot anyway. Even with clean sheets, I’ll be sleeping fully covered tonight.
“Finn?” Once I’m finished, I crouch at his side, taking his left hand in mine. “Are you alright?”
“What?” He comes to, giving himself a little shake. That he’s feeling bad is clear, when he grimaces. “My head aches. Everything aches.”
It’s no wonder, given what he’s been through.
“Lie down for a bit.” I pull at his hand.
Again, there’s no argument as once more he leans heavily on me as he moves from the chair to the bed. It’s apparent from the careful way he lies down that he’s hurting, a lot. Once again, his eyes close.
I watch his chest rise and fall, the motion strong, but slow. He’s asleep.
When a knock comes at the door, I go and open it. Seeing it’s Swift, I ease out into the corridor, putting my finger to my lips. “He’s asleep.”
“He’s a crazy bastard.” Her eyes roll, but I can see admiration there as well. “I came to see how you were doing, Cat. I know this isn’t great, and we’re all doubling up, hell, three in some rooms. But if you prefer, Road can stay here, and you can sleep in my room.”
The thought I’d be anywhere but with Finn tonight hadn’t crossed my mind. “I need to be here.”
Her eyes soften and I see admiration. “Good. He needs someone with him. He probably hit his head again today, you know about concussion watch?”
“I’m a nurse,” I scoff. The thought had already occurred to me. Especially once he’d mentioned a headache.
“How’s Stormy?” It’s Preacher coming along up the stairs now.
“Sleeping,” I tell him, or he was before the sergeant-at-arms just barked.
Preacher looks at Swift who raises her eyebrows and shrugs. “Can’t wait for him, Preach. He’s just a prospect. He’ll understand.”
I don’t know what they’re talking about but am thankful when they both move off.
Finn hasn’t been woken, he’s lying on his side. I check he’s comfortable, then go to sit in the chair, leaning my chin on my hand and just watching him.
Finn’s always described himself as an asshole, and sure, there are things about him that can’t make me argue with that. But there’s more to him, he’s an honourable man.
He’d never force me. Even if I wanted to jump his bones right now, I wouldn’t be able to. Not until I know that I’m in the clear. But I know he’ll be patient with me.
My main fear isn’t that I won’t make it back to some semblance of the woman I was before. No, what scares me most is that the bastards left something inside me. An STD which can’t be cured, or, heaven forbid, a pregnancy.
Unbidden tears start rolling down my cheeks. I didn’t deserve what had happened to me.
But if Finn hadn’t come into my life, I’d have died when Weston hadn’t returned to release me.
My hands clench as I hang onto that Finn’s not to blame for what Gun did to me. I owe my life to my man.
We’ll get through this.
Finn seemed so sure.
Wiping away the wetness from my eyes, I stand, go over to him and wake him. He grumbles and growls but is compliant when I check his eyes.
“Fuckin’ nurses,” he objects, but he winks at me.
38
Stormy…
During the night Cat wakes me regularly. My complaints are automatic, fuck knows my body needs rest. Her actions show how much she cares.
They also serve another purpose.
Not normally one to dwell on anything, tonight my brain taunts me. I’m plagued by nightmares in which I’m falling, dropping without anything to hold on to, everything happening in slow motion. Each time as I drop through the air, I see Cat with a gun to her head. I’m screaming in my head, knowing I won’t be able to get to her. Then, thank fuck, she’s put on the light and is staring into my eyes.
When I fall back asleep, the dream plays on repeat. Each fucking time I’m too late to save her. Each time I’m soothed back to sleep with dulcet tones and a warm hand caressing my forehead.
I wake, refreshed with a woman in my arms. Not any woman, but Cat. Still caught in the vestiges of my dreams I check her for injuries then the events of last night come flooding back.
Fuck. That had been close. I’d thought my number was up.
“You’re awake,” she murmurs softly. “How are you feeling? How’s your head?”
At her mention of it, I raise my hand and massage a bump on my skull. “Better than it was.” Fucking fantastic actually. She’s in my arms when there were moments I’d thought she’d never be there again. I refrain from asking her how she’s feeling, I’ll leave her to just do what comes to her naturally.
I hadn’t lied, I’m far from in working order. Even if I wasn’t, she needs time to heal. My nose starts to twitch, I sniff the air. “What’s that smell?”
“Brute brought some breakfast up for us. Coffee and an egg and bacon muffin if you’re up for it?” She chuckles softly. “They ordered in. You could hear Cowboy from up here when they asked him to cook. That kitchen and over my dead body, as well as a few fuckin’ rats were phrases repeated quite a lot.”
And I slept through that? It’s unlike me not to keep one eye half open at night. Still, after falling off a roof, I might have needed it.
I groan as I replay her words and think of the implications. “Prospects are going to have to clean that shit up.”
“Count me out if there are rats.” She shudders. “I’ve had enough of them to last a lifetime.” She has, both of the animal and human kind.
As I gingerly ease myself up, yeah, the headache is all but gone, and reach for the muffin, I realise there’s a hell of a lot of noise coming up from downstairs. Voices that I don’t immediately recognise.
“What’s going on?”
“Visitors, I think. Snatcher poked his head around the door and said you’re to go down when you’re ready.”
I’m surprised he didn’t insist on waking me up. If visitors have descended, prospects will be run ragged and I was deemed one of their number yesterday. Even disabled as I am, I’m determined not to be found wanting. Who could they be? Colorado, belatedly come to help us? That’s our nearest chapter.
If so they’re far too late. From the fire I saw burning yesterday, there won’t be much left of the other clubhouse.
I need to get a move on, have a question for her first. “How are you, Cat?” I don’t refer to that fact I just woke up with her arms around me.
“Better now you’ve woken up. I was worried about you.”