Rely on Me - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,11
up luggage when I took my cell off airplane mode. I received a text that made my heart drop through my stomach. Needles told me Ace has been shot. She’s the youngest member of our club, our Prez’s daughter. She’s just about to turn one. She’s my fucking goddaughter.
Now I’m sitting in the back of an Uber, about ready to strangle this fucking asshole. I’ve told him he needed to step on it more times than I can count. I don’t feel bad about leaving Benita and Flora back at BWI Airport. I gave them enough cash for a taxi and gave them the address to the club. They can figure out how to get there.
God, poor Ace. She needs to be okay.
She has to be.
After some horrific trauma, I’m standing in the lobby of Shock Trauma. It’s one of the most prestigious hospitals here in Baltimore. Anything from horrific car accidents to gunshot wounds come here.
I spot Needles and Judge in the lobby. They’re leaning against the wall standing side by side. “Where is she?” I question, heart pounding in my chest faster than it ever has before.
“In surgery. Gamble’s in that waiting room with Hart and Butcher.”
“Where’s the rest of the club?” I question.
“They’re out hunting,” Needles hisses, fury in his eyes. His statement tells me everything I need to know. They have some sort of clue who’s behind this and they’re out tracking them down.
I follow the signs through the hospital to where the surgical unit is and find two waiting rooms across the hall from each other. There’s a nurses’ station between the two of them, and not too far off is a pair of double doors that say, ‘authorized personnel only’. Gamble’s pacing through the one waiting area, while Hart sits with his face in his hands. He looks exhausted, terrified, worried, and I can’t imagine what else.
Gamble’s eyes land on me and she comes to a complete halt. Butcher stands up from where he’s sitting and walks over to me, extending a hand and brings me in for a hug. “Good to have you back home, brother.”
I return the hug, “Would be better if this was a nightmare.”
I pull away and Butcher nods in agreement.
“Mammoth . . .” Gamble’s face is red and blotchy. Tears come down slowly as she collides her body into mine. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. Hart gives me a look, but he’s not aggravated like he usually is. Gamble and I are close, but it’s only because she was Dog’s woman and we were best friends. The two of us both loved Dog. He was my brother, and her lover. Since his death we’ve become closer than ever. As friends of course.
“Do we know anything yet?” I ask her, keeping my tone soft and reassuring.
She shakes her head against my chest.
“Alright, well we’re in the best place we can be. She’s with the best doctors here.”
“I feel like I should’ve rushed her to Hopkins . . .” She admits, tearing herself away from me. “What if she dies, Mammoth? What if my little girl doesn’t make it through this?”
Placing my hands on her shoulders, I look into her eyes. “Don’t freak yourself out. You don’t know anything. Don’t think the worst yet. Okay?”
“Can you blame her for thinking that way?” Hart asks. His tone is filled with anger and fear.
“Hart, why don’t we go grab a coffee?” Butcher suggests. The old timer of the club knows Gamble is one to hold in her feelings. She only confesses to me from time to time, usually when we’re alone.
“I’m fine,” Hart tells him, keeping his ass in the chair.
“All due respect, it wasn’t a suggestion. Let’s give the Prez a moment to herself.” Butcher tells him.
Hart’s expression is a reply enough. He doesn’t want to leave, and even though he’s Gamble’s ol’ man . . . he ranks lower on the totem pole than Butcher does. So, he’d best go with Butcher.
Reluctantly, Hart rises from his seat and goes off with Butcher. I glance back and see they’re half-way down the hallway.
“What’re you thinking?” I ask, knowing she’s keeping it together right now for Ace.
“You don’t want to know what I’m thinking.” Gamble admits, her hands shaking from how emotional she is right now.
“You know you don’t have to hide anything from me. You and I don’t keep secrets.” I gently remind her, hoping she’ll feel comfortable enough to open up to me.
“Do you really want