He leaned over me, swiping his big hand over my forehead. “You deserve the world, baby.” He gave me a sad smile. “I’m just not sure anyone deserves you. Someday, when you’re a mama, you’ll understand how I feel.”
A moment later, Max strode in to the room, balancing three coffees. He looked exhausted and stunningly handsome in the clothes I remembered him wearing last night. He handed a coffee to both my parents before he took the chair by my side as though he had every right to be there. “Okay?” he asked quietly, his dark eyes sweeping over me with concern.
“I’m okay. Did you ice that shiner?” I asked, shooting a brief glare at my dad. I couldn’t believe he’d actually hit him. Then again, knowing him, I absolutely could.
It looked worse today. Coupled with the scratches scattered across his face and neck, he looked like he’d been through the ringer.
He shrugged indifferently, which meant no. “I’m fine.”
I sighed in frustration but knew getting on his case wouldn’t do anything. “Did they pull my car out yet?” I asked, already wondering how much work I’d have to do to her to get her back running. I’d just gotten her back after working on her nearly every day since I’d been home. I loved that car.
“Yeah, and you’re never drivin’ it again,” Max declared.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I exclaimed in indignation.
“Part of the reason you’re injured so bad is because that car had no fuckin airbags and a lap belt.” He growled. “You could have been killed. Fix up the ’Stang all you want, but I’m putting you in a Highlander as soon as you’re up to driving again.”
“A Highlander?” I screeched, looking in frustration at my mom and dad in a foolish bid for support. My dad was watching Max with begrudging approval, which made my blood boil further.
Dear God, there were two of them.
“Don’t worry about the car right now,” Max continued smoothly. “Can you tell us what happened last night?” he asked, his tone noticeably softer.
“We are talking about it later,” I told him firmly. There was no way I was giving in that easily. “As for last night, I really have no idea,” I admitted. “This big SUV started following me as soon as I left the bar. At first, I thought they wanted to pass me, so I slowed down, but they only sped up. I couldn’t get to my phone, so I just hit the gas. When I hit the top of the hill, they hit me, and I spun out.” I swallowed hard, remembering the fear and utter helplessness of that moment. “I hit the guardrail and went down. I don’t remember anything after that. Do you think this has to do with what happened in Portland?”
“We don’t know,” my dad replied, “but we’re gonna find out. In the meantime, I don’t want you to worry.”
I nodded, feeling drained even by the short exchange.
“You need to rest,” Max surmised gently.
“So do all of you,” I murmured. “Why don’t you go home? Get some sleep? I’m fine here,” I assured them.
“So am I,” he responded easily. “I’ll leave when you do, which might be as early as tonight.”
I perked up a bit at that. “Really?”
“Really,” he confirmed with a soft smile. “Get some sleep.”
I sank further into the pillow, my eyes sliding shut.
Chapter 14
MAX
“Outside,” Sal snarled at me after Wren fell asleep.
I nodded, standing to follow him. I looked to Kat expectantly. I wanted to make sure Wren wouldn’t be alone.
“I’m staying,” she assured me with a soft smile.
Sal was pacing in the hallway when I closed the door behind me. I was ready for him to rail me again about my intentions with Wren, but his mind was elsewhere. “What the fuck is going on?” he demanded.
I leaned back, one boot on the wall, my arms crossed. “Not sure,” I answered honestly. “The Blue Devils have a guy inside Portland PD. They haven’t found the man who attacked her—no surprise there,” I muttered. “We still can’t be sure if the notes she was getting and that attack are the same person. She hasn’t gotten anything new, right?”
He shook his head, his jaw clenched. I knew he was as frustrated as I was—probably a little scared too. I knew I sure as hell was. When it came to Wren, I could admit that.
“We need a meet.” Sal nodded, already pulling out his phone, I assumed to text my brother.
“Catch me up,” I replied evenly, knowing I was risking invoking his anger and not caring in the least. I told her I wasn’t leaving, and I’d meant it.
He assessed me warily. “You want to stay with Wren.” It wasn’t a question.
“I’m staying.” I dared him to challenge me.
He blew out a slow breath, looking off to the side a moment before his gaze returned to me. “Fine. We’ll catch you up.” And with that, he strode away without another word.
I watched him go, knowing that to some, his reaction would seem cold, but I knew Sal, and that right there was progress.
When Wren was discharged that night, everything in me protested her not being with me, but I knew I’d have to work up to that. For now, the important thing was that she was safe. After telling her I’d see her soon, the confusion on her face making it all the more clear how much work I had to do, I left her in the care of her parents and headed home to catch a shower and change clothes.
Cole had caught me up on their earlier meet. There was still no new information, and that wasn’t fucking good enough. It seemed like I’d be making another trip to Portland.
****
“He’s dead.”
Gunner’s tone was low as he shared the news with me that Wren’s attacker had been killed. “Once you told me you wanted to go back down to Portland, I started digging around. Looks like he was killed a few days ago.” He looked up at me, a solemn look in his eye. “Car accident.”
“What the fuck?” Cole demanded. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
“Nope,” I agreed, my heart hammering in my chest. “Why the fuck haven’t the Devils told us about this?”
Cole eyed me thoughtfully. “You don’t trust them?”
“Right now, beyond the members of this club, I don’t trust shit.” I grunted.
“Last thing we need is a war with another club,” Cole muttered, sitting back in his chair. “Been through one of those before, not eager to relive it.” He was referring to the war the club had with the Black Riders when I was just a kid.
“I don’t want it to come to that,” I agreed. “But if we find out they knowingly held back information….” I trailed off darkly.
“We’ll be having more than words,” he growled.
“I need a fucking beer.” Gunner grunted, rising from his seat and striding off to the fridge we kept stocked.
“You look like shit,” Cole noted with his typical no-nonsense manner.
“Thanks.” I chuckled dryly.
He cocked his head to the side. “Sal have a good reason to clock you?”
“Depends on what your definition of a good reason is.” I shrugged, knowing Cole was just as protective of Grace as Sal was of Wren, sometimes more so.