Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,86

finally managed to pry my lids open.

“You scared the shit out of me, man.” He shook his head slightly, raking his fingers through his dark hair. He studied my face, his unwavering attention making me uncomfortable.

“What happened?” I grumbled, my memory blank, only coming back in ragged shards.

“There was an explosion.” His eyes drifted from mine, closing, then quickly reopening seconds later. “Cutter—”

“Cutter was out there,” I finished for him. He’d been lying on the ground, but I had no idea how long I’d been out, or if the ol’ guy was okay.

“Addy is out there with Prez and Stone. Last Tripp said, he had a pulse, but it was weak.”

“Did someone call an ambulance or the cops?” The squeal of the sirens sounded closer.

“We didn’t, but obviously someone heard the blast.”

Kaden helped me into a sitting position, and before I could lean against the back of the couch, Morgan jumped into my lap, throwing her arms around me and hugging me so tightly I thought for a moment she was gonna cut off my air supply.

“Oh my God,” she cried. “I thought you were gonna die.”

“I’m fine.” I reached behind me to untangle her arms, but she wouldn’t relent, and because I’d scared her, I let her cling on to me for a little while longer. When she finally pulled back, tears drifted down her cheeks. “I’m fine,” I repeated, flashing her a tight grin.

“What if you have internal bleeding or a concussion?”

“I’m sure I don’t.” I couldn’t be sure I wasn’t afflicted with either of what she mentioned, but I wasn’t gonna worry her more with my uncertainty. Besides, Addy would look me over soon enough I was sure.

“What’s going on? Was that an accident or did someone purposely blow up that van?” I didn’t have any answers for her, and even if I did, I still wouldn’t tell her.

“I’m sure it was just an accident, Bean,” I responded, and it was probably the first time she didn’t chastise me for calling her by her nickname. She hugged me once more before pulling herself to her feet. I followed quickly afterward, surprisingly stable on my feet. “You stay inside, okay?” I leaned down so we were closer to eye level. “Do you hear me?” Her head moved up and down, a few more tears falling to join the others. I signaled for Maddie to come over, and as soon as she was near, she threw her small arms around my waist, hugging me tightly like my cousin had done seconds ago. “I’m fine,” I told her too.

“I’m so happy you’re okay.” She released me and took a step back, looking up at me, then to Morgan, her tentative smile falling quickly after forming.

“Can you stay with her?” At this point, I wasn’t sure which one of them I was talking to, and I didn’t clarify, just as long as they remained inside the clubhouse while I tried to find out what was going on. I looked to Kaden. “Let’s go.”

Once outside, I saw several paramedics hovering around Cutter, who was still lying on the ground, motionless. Addy stood off to the side, Stone and Marek next to her, all three of them looking on with worry, but it wasn’t long before Addy noticed me and rushed over.

“How are you?” She ran her hands over my head and down my body, but instead of answering her, I glanced over her head to her husband, shocked by what I saw, which was him not paying attention to his wife fawning over me.

Which could only mean one thing… shit was dire.

“I’m fine.” Mumbling those two words had already gotten old, all while being grateful I meant them at the same time. If I’d been any closer to Cutter when the blast happened, I could very well be uttering a different thing, or not being able to utter anything at all.

“Is he gonna be all right?” I asked, pointing toward the ol’ guy.

“I don’t know. I’m used to dealing with gunshot or stab wounds with you guys. Explosions are new to me.” She was silent for a few seconds. “Fortunately.”

“Yeah, fortunately,” I repeated, consumed with the possibilities of the casualties if that bitch had managed to talk Cutter into letting her bring that minivan past the gates.

A flurry of activity erupted when the bomb squad showed up, preceded by several cops, and unmarked cars, who I could only assume were FBI or some form of other governmental agency. Peering over at Marek