“What were they doing in an old house alone?” She asks.
I help Natasha into the wheelchair and Grim lays Lauren down on the hospital bed.
“They were kidnapped.” Is all I say.
“Are you going to help them or not?” Dad asks sounding pissed at the judgemental nurse.
She rushes away shouting orders at the nurses and giving the doctor a brief as they run away. Another nurse who seems friendlier than the previous one shows us to a private room where we can wait for updates on Lauren and Natasha. The room is a faded pale pink with childish pictures of animals and alphabet letters and it’s already pissing me off.
The nurse has obviously put us here for another reason which we find out ten minutes later when the police arrive.
“Shit.” Scrappy groans.
“Hello boys.” Officer dickhead grins.
Beside him stands a pretty little thing, blonde hair with bright eyes and big tits. I find it odd because I’ve never seen a pretty police woman before. Her partner gets out a little notebook and begins to tell us why we’re here, there’s no need, we all know.
“We’re here to have some questions asked on behalf of Lauren Ashford and Natasha Hopes.” He continues.
“Of course.” Grim replies and then goes back to clenching this jaw.
“What happened?” The police woman asks and Dad tells them the truth while the rest of us stand and listen. Obviously he misses out the fact that we were involved.
“So the house was empty when you got there?” She asks.
“Yes.” Prez answers.
“Why don’t I believe you?” Her dickhead college asks.
“I don’t know officer.” My Dad answers. “But I assure you that what I say is the truth and I want the men who did this caught because I see those two girls as my daughters and I want justice for what happened to them.”
At this he has nothing to say. The female officer looks at Dad in sympathy. “We will do our best to catch the people responsible.”
Eventually they leave but not before the fucker promises to come back and ask Lauren and Natasha some questions when they are able. As soon as we’re alone my dad is on the phone to the men he hired to do the dirty work and clean up.
“Is it done?” Is all he asks.
The men we hire for rare jobs like this are highly dangerous. These are thugs and they don’t mess around. We only use them when we know we are able to make their large payments because if we didn’t, we would have bigger problems than dealing with the Devils.
They used to specialise in tidying up after themselves and now they offer their services to only those they want to associate with. So we should be honoured that then even replied to us, never mind doing business, but we have to be careful.
Guaranteed when the police show up, there will be no sign of any Devil member, along with anyone’s blood or any type of DNA for them to collect. It will be clean but not obvious enough for them to know someone has been covering their arse.
We wait around for what feels like a lifetime, but in reality it’s only been forty minutes. Scrappy and Baby wanted to stay but Dad wanted them back at the clubhouse instead. I’m so fucking tired but I cannot and will not go to sleep until I’ve heard about Natasha.
There’s a light knock on the door before a man walks in, his white coat and clean looks obviously making him the doctor. He looks from me, Grim and Prez before asking who is here on behalf of Natasha.
“That’s me.” I stand.
He gives me a little smile. “I’m Doctor Wilson. I’ve just checked in on Natasha to see how she’s doing.” He takes a deep breath and my body tenses, what the fuck is he pausing for?
“She has obvious cuts and bruises to her face, we’ve had her bottom lip stitched up and we explained that it will most likely scar. Natasha also has some bruised ribs that luckily didn’t break. We’ve explained that she can easily treat these at home with some paracetamol or ibuprofen and plenty of rest. Her breathing will have to be shallow and we’ve explained the breathing exercises to her.”
I listen to his words and everything else he has to say but they don’t calm me. All I can hear is all these injuries that Strike gave to my women and regretting that I didn’t hurt him when I had the chance.
“Are you also here for Lauren Ashford?” He asks me.
“No that’s me.” Grim steps forward.
Doctor Wilson gives Grim a smile, it’s less welcoming than the one gave me and I take a look at my big brother and see why. Grim is looking tense and pissed, I get why but the fixed glare probably doesn’t help.
“Lauren has no injuries but she still hasn’t woken up. We’re expecting her to any time now as the drugs that were given to her are showing signs of fading. It’s a good idea to have someone sat with her when she does wake because she will be very confused and disorientated.”
“No problem Doc, I ain’t leaving her side.” Grim nods.
“I also need to talk to you privately.” The Doctor tells Grim.
“I’ll wait outside.” I offer, Dad following behind.
“Wonder what that’s about?” Dad asks.
“Fuck knows, but I need to see Natasha.”
“You love her.” He points out.
“Is it that obvious?” I laugh.
“Yeah son.” He laughs. “She will make a good old lady for you.”
I look over at him and give him a silent nod. Shit is too emotional right now.
“Ok then.” Doctor Wilson announces as he appears from the room, Grim closely following him. He looks less stressed, probably had to have some reassurance from the Doctor. I just hope it wasn’t bad news, those fucks could have done anything to Lauren while she was knocked out. The idea makes me sick with worry.
“If you follow me, I will take you to them now.” Doctor Wilson indicates down the long corridor.
“I’ll head back then.” Dad announces and places a hand on both mine and Grim’s shoulder. “Take care of those girls.”
Keeping the emotions away, we nod in return to Prez and watch as he leaves. Then I snap to attention when Doctor Wilson asks us to follow him. I can’t wait to see Natasha and see how she’s doing. I won’t leave her side ever again, she will probably get sick of the sight of me but I don’t give a shit. As long as Natasha is safe, that’s all I care about.
“This is their room.” The doctor announces as we indicates to a plain door to his left. “We thought it would be best for them to have a joint private room. After what’s happened, it’s probably safer.”
“Good idea Doc.” Grim nods and goes to open the door.
“Visiting time will end in two hours.” He lets us know.
Grim pauses and I turn to look back at the Doctor. “We won’t be leaving them.”
“I understand, but that’s against the hospitals rules.” He replies firmly.
I stop Grim from stepping towards the good Doctor and answer for both of us. “No offense, but we don’t care for the rules. Our women were kidnapped and hurt, we are not leaving them alone again.” I stare into his eyes. “Get that?”
I see him swallow. “I think that under these rare circumstances that we can bend the rules.”
“Good man.” I pat his shoulder and follow Grim into the room.
Grim quickly makes his way over to Lauren, and she’s still knocked out. It’s weird looking at her like that, sleeping and deadly still. I look over to the bed on the other side of the room and see Natasha sat over the covers with pillow plumped up behind her. Her face is free of blood and I see the stitches on her lip. She’s wearing one of those hospital gowns and she looks like hell, so why the fuck am I thinking I can see some boob from this view and wanting to see more?
“Hey baby.” I stroke her hair because I’m scared shitless to touch her anywhere else.
She’s holding an ice bag to what I’m assuming is her bruised ribs and she looks like she’s struggling to breathe.
“Are you ok?” I ask her, pulling up a chair and getting as close to her as possible.