“Yeah.” She says quietly. “Just hurts to breathe.”
“But you can breathe right?” I panic, looking her over.
She laughs and immediately winces. “Don’t make me laugh.” She frowns.
“I made you laugh?” I ask, feeling very confused. I didn’t do anything to make her laugh. Is this the drugs kicking in?
“Your face.” She smirks. “You look cute.”
“You’re making fun because I’m worried about you?” I ask.
She nods her head and I can tell she’s being careful to not laugh again.
“How’s Lauren?” She asks.
“Still waiting for her to wake up.” I look over at Lauren still sleeping. Grim holds her hand whilst stroking her hair. I’m so thankful that we have them back safe and sound.
I want to punish every single Devil member, luckily for me we have some locked up in our warehouse for me to play with when I get Natasha out of here.
“I can’t believe she came out there.” Natasha shakes her head.
“She loves you, she wanted to save you and the rest of the women.” She seems confused by what I say, so I fill her in on everything.
“I’m glad he’s dead.” She frowns. “The world is better off without him.”
All three of us think about that for a minute until a moan from beside Grim has us all waiting in anticipation. We’re all watching Lauren as he head moves from side to side.
“Brandon?” She asks.
“Thank fuck.” My brother sighs and jumps onto the bed, lying beside Lauren.
Natasha squeezes my hand tears rolling down her cheeks. Kissing her on the forehead and breathe her in.
Twenty-four hours later and Lauren and I are free to go home. Well, to the clubhouse. Devlin has told me lockdown is over but everyone wants to see us. It’s still hard to breathe, although it’s easier than when I first arrived at the hospital. Devlin takes notice of when I can have my pain killers and has been a star in while I’ve been bored in the hospital. I am fully capable of feeding myself but he wanted to help me, so I let him. Just little things like that have made me feel well and truly looked after.
When Lauren woke up, it took her a while to come around properly. The Doctors thought that’s because she was given a lot of drugs. I still can’t believe that she put herself in danger like that but Lauren is an amazing woman and as soon as Devlin told me why she gave herself over to Strike I wasn’t surprised. Lauren wasn’t only trying to save me but the rest of the women connected to the club as well. She’s spoken to me a little about how she feels killing her ex, Andrew. Secretly, I think she’s silently mourning Andrew because before she realised he was The Devils member, Switch they were a couple. Whether Lauren cheated on him or not doesn’t really matter, she was still with the guy.
Lauren and I hold hands as we walk into the clubhouse. The music is low and I can hear the chatter of everyone. I’m automatically relax and I realise it’s because I’m home. These people are my family and this is where I belong.
Drew and Elise are the first to run up to us but before they even get close Devlin blocks their way.
“Be careful.” He warns them but he still doesn’t move.
“Dev, I’m not going to squeeze her to death. I know about her ribs.” Drew argues.
“Let them pass Devlin.” I laugh.
With a loud sigh Devlin moves out of their way but still stands closely to my side. He watches the girls closely as they gently hold me, their tears bringing on my own. Lauren joins us, Elise and Drew are able to hold her tighter than they can me.
“I’m so sorry.” Drew cries.
“It’s ok.” I insist.
“No.” She shakes he head. “I could have stopped him taking you.”
“Drew,” I argue. “There’s no way you could have stopped them, but we’re safe now.”
“Finally.” Lauren breathes a sigh of relief.
“I put both of you in danger.” She hangs her head in shame.
“Don’t you dare.” I growl. “You have nothing to be sorry about and I don’t want to hear this self-pity a second more. You had nothing to do with it, you couldn’t have stopped them and we’re safe now.”
Devlin laughs beside me and I give him a funny look. “Tough old lady.” He says laughing.
Drew and Elise join him and we meet the others who have waited to see Lauren and I. All the old ladies are here and glad to see us safe. Nelly is much like Elise and Drew and won’t stop crying even though we’re both here with them. Tech, her Old Man, puts an arm around her to try and settle her. Their two year old son Bobby wriggles in his father’s arms as he tries to reach Nelly. She reaches for him and when she holds him, Bobby stretches his arm and caresses his mother’s face, Nelly stops crying and kisses him on his chubby cheek.
“So, I hear Bomber is here.” I whisper over to Elise.
Her smiling face fades and a frown covers her features. “Yeah.”
“Why the long face?” I ask, taking a much needed sit down on the closest sofa.
Elise joins me. “He’s tried talking to me, but with you and Lauren gone, I didn’t think it was right.”
“But now we’re back.” I tease her.
I take a long deep breath and cringe from the pain shooting through my stomach.
“I don’t know.” She bites on her lip.
“What’s the deal with you two?” I ask.
Ever since we were taken to the US Kings of Rebellion clubhouse and saw the way Elise and Bomber interacted, I’ve been so curious. Now that he’s here, I’m wondering if we will see something develop.
“We were close as kids but then his dad joined the American charter. I didn’t know then that he was actually going under cover at The Devils and I definitely didn’t know he had taken Bomber inside with him. There was something there, even at the age of fifteen.” She looks happy as the thinks about their shared past. Young love, how sweet.
“Now you can reconnect.” I smile at her, but she frowns again.
“We’ve hardly spoken. Between you and Lauren missing and Scrappy making sure Bomber is kept well away, I don’t think anything will happen.” She sulks. I can tell how much she likes him by how down she looks.
“Don’t worry, you have me back now.” I wiggle my eyebrows, making her laugh.
“You ok babe?” Devlin asks, he’s standing above me, looking concerned.
“I’m ok, just needed to sit down.” I try to reassure him.
“Come on, you need to go to bed.” He holds out his hand and as much as I want to refuse him because he’s telling me what to do, I know I need to rest up.
I take his helping hand and groan as I stand. Shit that was sore. Devlin fusses over me, making Elise smirk from the cuteness.
“Devlin, I’m ok.” I tell him.
“Go and rest.” Elise adds.
“We’re not done with this conversation.” I remind her as Devlin helps me away.
“What conversation?” Devlin asks as we make our way through concerned members.
“Bomber.” I reply, preparing myself for Devlin and him telling me to stay out of it.
“That won’t happen.” He laughs. “Scrappy won’t allow it.”
“You knew?” I gasp as we make our way to his room.
“Everyone does.” He shakes his head. “Scrappy doesn’t trust him, never has.”
“Because of him being with The Devils?”
“Not just that. He’s very protective of Elise.” Devlin tells me as he helps me down on the bed.
I sigh in content, this bed feels good. Devlin joins me, smoothing my hair.
“I’m so glad to have you back.” He whispers.
“Me too.” I kiss him softly, careful to not press too hard on my stitches. “So, am I your old lady?”
I know he asked me before but it wasn’t totally official and after hearing him call me it in front of everyone today has left me feeling weightless.