“Will she be okay?” Please, say she’ll be okay.
“She’s not getting enough oxygen. We don’t know how long she’s been like this, so only time will tell.” Her sympathetic eyes meet mine. “She’s in a coma.”
“A coma? When will she come out?” My voice cracks at the thought of my life without Gia in it.
“That’s up to her. We’ll help her breathe, give her medication to neutralize the drug, but that’s all we can do. After that, she’s got to fight.” The nurse pulls a tube of blood and starts to fill another. “She’s lucky you brought her in when you did. A few more hours like this . . .” She shakes her head.
I bring her tiny hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. I’m so sorry, Gia. This is all my fault.
*
“You know we don’t want to leave you here, man.” Jonah’s leaning against the wall of the small hospital room, looking as if he needs a good night’s sleep.
“Yeah, I know.” It’s bad enough riding the guilt of finding Gia in a heroin-induced coma. I won’t be responsible for taking Blake from his pregnant girl or Jonah from his wife and baby. “It’s fine, really. You guys should go.”
“How long you staying?”
“They said they’re going to evac her to Denver.”
She’s asleep, her face the picture of peace except for the hollowed-out features. And even still, she looks beautiful.
“I assume you’re stickin’ around until she wakes up?”
“I have to be here when she wakes up.” I pull her tiny hand into mine. “She’s afraid of hospitals.”
A soft knock comes from behind me. I turn to see Blake standing a respectful distance away. “Cool if I come in?”
I nod and turn back to Gia.
“I talked to Hodgeson.” Blake walks around to the side of the bed to face me.
Lieutenant Dave Hodgeson helped Blake nail the guys who doped him earlier this year. He said he’d call and try to get some inside information on where the fuck Hatch is and what he’s running from.
I’m hoping he’s got some good information. Soon as Gia wakes up and gets settled, I’m going after the tubby piece of shit for what he did to her. The sooner we find him, the sooner I can kill him.
I swing my gaze to Blake. “And?”
“Dude’s on the run for homicide. Murder-for-hire type shit.”
Son of a bitch. My jaw locks down; anger and fear swirl in my gut. She’s been shacked up with a murderer. I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm, and force my mind to what’s important: her health. I need her to wake up, and yelling in her face for trusting a guy like Hatch won’t help. But what was she thinking?
“Who’d he kill?” Jonah’s question is laced with frustration.
“Dave couldn’t give me too many details. All I know is that it was a hit, apparently on a rival MC member.” He scratches his jaw and shrugs. “Guess those boys deliver their own brand of retribution. Cops would be doing Hatch a favor if they took him to prison. He’d be someone’s bitch, but I think that’d be a better alternative than having your eyeballs cut from your skull with a butter knife.”
My stomach twists with worry. These are the kinds of people she lived with, shared her life with? My God, anything could’ve happened.
“Dave mention where Hatch might be?” I’m thinking that tipping off the rival MC might do me a favor. It’d take care of Hatch and my hands stay clean.
Fuck! What the hell is my problem? That makes me no better than him.
“They heard he was in Vegas. Obvious choice would be Mexico.” He sets his eyes on me. “They’ll find him.”
I take a deep breath and hold Gia’s hand tighter between mine. I’m never leaving her side again, and I’d never allow her to be anywhere near Tubby. The cops and a notorious biker gang are after him; it’s best I let whoever gets to him first take him out.
“Thanks, B. Appreciate you making the call.”
He gives me a chin lift. “Of course. I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything.” He dips his head, motioning toward Gia. “Need to keep this girl safe. Fucker better not come back for her.”
“Ha!” Jonah coughs up a laugh. “I don’t know, bro. I wish he would. I’d love to give that dude a welcome-home beating.”
Blake chuckles. “No shit. I’m down if you are.”
“Me first.” My two words hang heavy for a few silent seconds while I contemplate what it would feel like to punish Hatch for my mistake. Fuck.
Caleb walks into the small room, his phone to his ear. “Right. Thank you.” He pushes end and puts the phone in his pocket. “Flight’s in two hours. We better go.”
They all throw out their own versions of well-wishes. Caleb steps up to the bed and puts his hand on Gia’s shoulder for a second before turning to leave. Blake follows behind him.
“All right, bro.” Jonah claps me on the shoulder. “I’ll overnight you some clothes and shit. Call me if there’s anything else you need.”
I nod but don’t take my eyes off Gia.