Club Princess - Nicole James Page 0,56
forehead, brushing the hair back from her face and kissing her cheek. “My girl, thank God you’re all right. Are you hurt?”
She shakes her head, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “Daddy.”
He takes her grasping hand in both of his, and brings it to his mouth, kissing the back of it. “I was out of my mind with worry. I thought I’d lost you, too, Lola.”
“I’m okay, Daddy.”
His eyes meet mine. “Thank you.”
I nod.
He jerks his head toward his truck, currently being driven up to the cabin by a prospect. “Take my pickup. Get her out of here.”
I nod, and move toward the vehicle, but Lola lifts her arm weakly, her voice hoarse. “Trez.”
I pause with Lola in my arms, and look over to where Trez lays on the ground, Baja and the doctor kneeling beside him.
“Is he okay?” I yell across the distance.
The club’s doctor glances over. “Yeah, it’s a flesh wound. We got the bleeding stopped.”
Trez grabs the doctor’s upper arm, trying to rise. “Lola! Is she okay?”
“Yeah, we got to her in time,” I shout.
“Thank God.” With that he collapses back as raindrops start to sprinkle down.
Rock shouts across the yard. “Go! We got this.” Then he yells to the rest of the crew. “Let’s move out, boys. We don’t have much time before the law descends on us.”
I load Lola into the backseat of the crew cab, and head down the mountain. The rain pelts the windshield, escalating from a light patter to a driving torrent. I flick the wipers to high, but with the spray rising from the road, I can barely see. I slow down and flick my hazard lights on. I pass two squad cars heading up when I reach the base. I call Darko and warn him, then toss my phone in the console and glance back at Lola. Her eyes are closed, and I wonder if she’s passed out.
I make it to I40, and head west toward Albuquerque, knowing I can pick up the interstate north toward Colorado.
I spot an overpass up ahead, and contemplate stopping to check on Lola, but I want to put as much distance between that cabin and us.
The sound of a fit of coughing carries to me over the rhythmic slapping of the wipers, and I look in the rearview mirror. Lola is up on an elbow, looking like she’s ready to vomit.
I hit the brakes, and pull to the shoulder under the overpass. Coming out of the rain, it’s suddenly quiet in the cab, and I flick the wipers off, twisting to look back. “Babe, are you okay?”
She’s clawing at the door handle. “Let me out.”
I jump out, and dash around, yanking her door open, and helping her out. She clutches at me, unsteady on her feet. “Can you stand, darlin’?”
She nods, and takes in deep breaths, one palm on the side of the truck, and one clutching my hand tightly.
“My head was spinning, that’s all.” She looks up at me, the fresh air clearing her head. “You’re here. I thought I was dreaming it all.”
I smile, and nod, and she bursts into tears.
I take her in my arms, and she clings to me. “You’re safe now, baby girl. I’ve got you. It’s all over.”
“I was so scared. I was afraid they were going to move me again. I heard the roar of the bikes far away coming closer. I prayed it was the Royal Bastards.”
“It was.”
“Then the sound stopped.”
I nod. “We bailed, and took to the woods.”
She frowns, her eyes searching the ground. “They drugged me again, didn’t they? I remember one of them coming toward me with a needle again.”
I take her face in my hands, and make her look at me. “Do you know what they gave you?”
She shakes her head.
“Are you okay? There’s a clinic about five miles from here. I was headed that way, but the damn storm…”
“I don’t need a doctor.” Her hands fist in my shirt. “You came for me.”
“Of course I did.”
“But how did you know?”
“I rode back to the clubhouse, planned to tell Rock that I wanted to join the Durango Chapter, permanently. Walked into a shit-show. They were frantically planning an assault mission to get you back.”
She frowns again. “Wait. You want to join my dad’s Chapter? For real?”
“Damn straight.”
She stares up at me, and then clutches me. “I feel lightheaded.”
“I’ve got you, baby.” I hold her face in my hands, and press kisses all over it, murmuring softly between touches. “I thought I’d lost