“Thanks, Doc,” I say as I hang up the phone. I think he said it best. Thank fuck she’s going to be okay physically. Emotionally, her healing will take much more time, but we have all the time in the world to let the emotional dust of her past settle. I turn on the radio and let Black Stone Cherry soothe my soul for the rest of the ride.
Just thirty minutes outside of Upland, my phone rings. Seeing Ratchet’s name scroll across the screen, I know I need to take this call. Not wanting to wake Dani, I pull over into a park-and-ride a few minutes later and return the call.
“Hey, boss man, just wanted to let you know that we cleaned the place up. All’s well here. Not a trace of us to be found. How’s Dani?” he asks cautiously.
“Good to hear, Ratch. Make sure that place burns to the ground, but try to avoid setting a wildfire this time,” I say with a chuckle. The last time the club had to take care of business in the mountains, pyromaniac Ratchet didn’t watch his handy work and caused about ten million dollars' worth of damage to a rich housing addition. He thought it was hilarious to watch those rich fuckers losing all their shit because he had to cover up a murder. He’s fucked in the head sometimes. “Dani fell asleep as soon as the rubber hit the pavement. Hasn’t woken up since. Doc’s gonna look at her as soon as we get back.”
“Sleep is what she needs. I’ll call ahead to the clubhouse and make some of the guys hit the road for a long ride so she isn’t overwhelmed when you get back. Don’t want her to bolt again.”
“No shit. We need to keep her calm and in the clubhouse. Her name hasn’t been cleared yet. I don’t want to get her back just to be shipped back off to Cleveland to be questioned about her parents.”
“Truth, man. Voodoo might be able to help with her missing person’s report. He found a computer and a bunch of shit you probably don’t want to see stashed in the bedroom of the cabin. He’s got it packed up in a cage and is already on the road. He said he’d let you know what he found later.” Relief flows over my body. We might still be able to clear her name so she can get back to living. Thank fuck.
“Sounds good, man. Have him text me instead of call. Once I get her back to the clubhouse, I want to get her checked out, fed, cleaned up, and tucked into my bed before the crew swarms her. I know they’ll mean well, but she needs to work through some shit.
“You got it, boss. I’ll let you get back to driving, but good luck once the hellcat wakes up. Watch out for her claws,” he says before hanging up. Jumping back into the truck, I look over to check on my sleeping angel. Two brown eyes stare back at me.
“Hi,” her faint voice whispers to me.
“Hey, angel face, did you have a good nap?” I ask gingerly.
“Yes,” she responds. Even though her answers are short, at least she’s talking.
Turning the key in the ignition, the truck rumbles. “We’re just outside Nealey’s Corner. Do you need anything to eat or drink before we get back, beautiful?” She quietly ponders the question before requesting a Coke and some French fries. “Anything you need, angel. And I mean anything. All you have to do is just ask.” She straightens up in her seat as I pull into the McDonald's just off 15. I order Dani’s request and get a sandwich combo and drink for me in the drive-thru. Once we get our food, I hand the bag to Dani and she passes out our orders between us.
She pulls her legs up off the floor into her chest and rests her carton of fries on her knees. She delicately picks up each fry, studying it before putting it into her mouth. Reaching into the drink tray sitting between us, I grab the chocolate milkshake out of the container. I thought she might want something frozen to ease her throat. Just as soon as the thought crosses my mind, I slam down the blast walls to block out the visions of her screaming my name for help; the; the rage I feel cannot be contained, and I punch the steering wheel. She jumps in her seat, sending her fries scattering on the seat between us. Fuck, why did I do that? She’s scared enough as it is. She tries to shovel them back into the box, but I offer her mine. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you. Eat mine.” She sheepishly looks at my outstretched hand before slowly taking them from me and moving back into her corner of the truck. She polishes off the rest of my fries and finishes both drinks.
“Thank you,” she mumbles. The food must satisfy her just enough as she drifts back off to sleep.
Pulling up into the dusty dirt road of the clubhouse, I notice Ratchet was true to his word as most of the bikes that typically line the front parking lot are missing. I pull my truck into the back lot behind the clubhouse and shut off the engine. I shoot a text off to Doc to let him know we got here when I realize I should probably tell Dani that he’s gonna check her over. “Baby, Raze called the club’s doctor to examine you. Are you okay with that? He brought his nurse, Nancy, along with him if you’d feel more comfortable with a woman present.” She meekly nods yes. She starts to unbuckle her seat-belt as I jump out of the driver’s seat to help her. She has the door open before I make it around the truck, and I catch her by her waist as she tries to jump from the truck. She tries to walk on her on but as she limps along, I can’t stand that she’s in pain. Picking her up off of her feet, I carry her in my arms into the clubhouse. She protests at first, trying to wiggle away, but soon gives up. Her body relaxes against mine as I carry her up the stairs into my room.
Doc is standing in my room looking through his a medical kit as Nancy spreads a sheet on my bed when I walk through the door. I carry Dani over to the bed and sit her down on the outstretched sheet. Nancy helps get her situated as I move out of the way for Doc.
“Dani, my name is Donny, but you can call me Doc. I met you before, but I doubt you remember me since they drugged you with enough tranquilizers to put a horse to sleep,” he says to introduce himself. “I need to examine you before you get cleaned up to see what I am working with. Are you okay with that? You likely already know that I may need to ask you some questions as I examine you that are quite personal. Would you rather I have Nancy handle that portion of the exam?”
Dani’s eyes lock onto mine, looking for reassurance, before answering his questions. I nod my head to ease her nerves. “I’m okay with being examined, but I’d prefer Nancy, please. ,” she answers and Doc walks to the bedside, ready to begin the examination. I begin to exit the room before she speaks again. I’m not ready to hear her answers to the questions I know Doc is going to ask her or see the marks on her body that rat bastard inflicted on her. “Hero?” she asks quietly.
“Yes, angel?” I reply as I turn back toward her.
“Please stay,” she pleads with tears falling from her eyes. Every one of those tears chip away at my heart even more. I can’t deny her simple request for lack of the impending rage of seeing her injuries. I need to stay calm for her.
“Of course I will, angel.” A tiny smile forms on her lips when I walk toward the bed and sit on the side with her.
Doc asks her to strip down to just her bra and panties so that he can examine the sources of her bleeding. As she peels away each layer with Nancy’s help, every bruise and cut sends rage coiling inside of me. Knowing Doc is seeing my girl sans apparel bothers me, but I’d rather have her patched up and healing than care about him seeing her like this. She shouldn’t have had to go through this. I fucking threw her to the wolves when those fucking fake cop bastards took her away. I didn’t even take the chance to hear her side of the story and instantly branded her a murderer, sending her straight into his dungeon of terror. No, what she endured was completely my fault for not trusting her to tell me the truth and my only hope is that she can forgive me someday. Dani covers her body as Nancy deposits her clothes into a paper bag that I know Doc is keeping for evidence in her case. Doc gingerly examines her body and indicates the cuts that will require stitches. Each time he touches one of the cuts with his gloved hands, she winces from his touch and the pain. He apologizes each time, but I know he doesn’t mean to hurt her. While getting down onto his knees to examine her ankle, Dani abruptly grabs my hand.