As she goes over the care of the bandages and things, I feel Crusher standing close to my back. I look over my shoulder to see he’s standing right behind me, so close I can feel his breath against my skin. Beast is standing by the door watching us.
“Do you mind?” I ask Crusher, annoyed.
“I need to know how to take care of you, Hellcat.”
“I told you I will take care of myself, been doing it for a while now.”
“You need someone to help you until you’re better, and that’s me,” he answers.
“Doesn’t look like you’re doing such a great job right now,” Beast speaks up from across the room.
“Did someone ask what you thought?” Crusher asks.
“No, but she’s standing there in pain and instead of helping her, you’re yelling at me.”
Crusher’s body goes rigid at the rebuke, I know, because suddenly he pulls me back against him and takes my weight. His warm body slowly heats my back and I find myself relaxing against my will.
“Why don’t you fuck off? No one wants you here.” Crusher responds to Beast and the nurse looks up at me and shakes her head. She’s judging me, but I shake it off. Everyone does. I learned a long time ago that people will think what they want. The key is to pretend you either don’t give a fuck, or pretend you earned their dislike and enjoy it—for that reason alone I give her my fuck off smile.
“You’re treating her like your woman,” Beast starts again. This time my heart kicks in with fear and I pull away from Crusher…no.
“Not my woman, but definitely property of the Savage MC, fucker.”
I ignore the way the distinction makes my heart feel as if it’s being squeezed in a fist. I don’t want to be any man’s property. I don’t even know why his reply should hurt, but it does.
“Will you two…” I begin only to have Beast interrupt me.
“Why doesn’t she have clean clothes then? Are the Savage pussies too busy to make sure their property doesn’t have to go home in clothes they’ve been shot in? Where’s her flowers or balloons, something to show she’s at least a good piece of club pussy?” Beast asks and I flinch.
The nurse shakes her head and gives me that look. The look I’ve gotten my whole life. The look that broadcasts one word. Whore. I got it when I married Michael with the whispered word gold-digger thrown around. I got it in the emergency rooms the few times Michael allowed me there for treatment. He took great pleasure in telling the doctors how I had a drug problem and he would find me on the streets having been beat up by some john. He loved weaving lies that put him in the best light. I got that look every time I climbed up on the stage to dance and take my clothes off. None of those times hurt as much though as the nurse’s.
“Do you want to start something with me, motherfucker?” Crusher asks, but really I’ve kind of had it by then. I grab my papers the nurse thrust at me, I take the small bag of items I saved from the hospital supplies, and put my papers down in it. I hold the bag in one hand and the flowers in the other and hobble out. A wheel chair would have been nice, but Nurse Ratchet hasn’t mentioned one yet and I’m tired of waiting.
“Woah, Hellcat…”
“Thank you for the flowers, Beast.” I say stiffly as I pass him.
“You can come back with me hummingbird, you’ll be welcomed there.”
Crusher growls and picks me up before I can respond. It’s all I can do to hold onto my flowers and not drop them to the floor. He shoots Beast a look and stomps out with me in his arms.
Chapter 8
Crusher
I take hold of Dani, pulling her into my arms and stomp out. If I don’t, I’m going to kill that mother-fucking-son-of-a-bitch. When I walked in and he was touching Dani’s face, I wanted to break his hand. It’s bad enough that she chose him over me that night. It fucking pisses me off that he’s had his dick anywhere near her. It sure as fuck ain’t happening again. It sits sour in my stomach that she let him anywhere near her.
“What the fuck were you thinking letting that son of a bitch touch you? If you need dick that bad, I can give you mine…” I break off my tirade when I hear a large crash. I look down at her, then down to the floor. I see a broken vase, scattered flowers, and water all along the hall in front of us.
Dani’s elbow swings into my throat, it’s not powerful because of the angle, since she’s in my arms, but it is hard enough that my hands lower her quickly to the ground.
“What the…” I gasp and massage my Adams-apple before continuing. “What the fuck?” My voice sounds like freaking Mickey Mouse, while I catch my breath.