Addy’s fingers skillfully glided over my flesh, peeling away the bandage. The bullet that hit me just beneath my collarbone, had been dangerously close to my heart. And to top it off, it got stuck on its way out of my body, but she’d been able to retrieve it, saving me from having to walk around with a piece of copper inside me.
She set about cleaning the reddened area. “The stitches are holding nicely, and once I give you the shot of penicillin, you should start to feel better soon.”
“What shot?” My eyes popped wide. I didn’t like the sound of this.
Addy never took her eyes away from what she was doing. “Of penicillin. It’ll work faster than the pills for this infection.”
“With a needle?” My question was asinine, but I asked anyway.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of needles.” Stone laughed, grinning like a fool when I glared at him for making fun of me. Wasn’t it enough that I was in the state I was? He had to make fun of the one thing I hated, making me feel like a pussy?
“I don’t like ’em.”
“But you’re inked up. You do realize a needle was used when you got those tattoos, right?”
“It’s different.”
“How?”
“Medical needles are bigger. At least with a tattoo, I don’t have to worry about the guy poking and prodding me, only to miss the damn vein.”
When he continued to laugh, there was only one other thing I could think of to say. “Fuck you, Stone,” I grumbled, shutting out the scene in front of me the same time I squeezed Zoe’s hand. She huddled closer, the warmth of her touch curbing the jolt of testosterone that shot through me. Not that I could do anything to him even if I wanted to.
“Leave him alone.” Addy chastised her husband for the teasing, and he stopped, shifting on his feet.
“We’re gonna go check on Ryder after this. You need to come with us, Zoe.” Stone’s tone had switched from teasing to stern, prompting me to open my eyes again to witness what it was he was tryin’ to do.
I didn’t want Zoe to leave, but I also understood she needed to see her dad, check on his progress, and let him know she was concerned for him. That didn’t mean I liked Stone’s underlying meaning. Fully aware of the man’s loyalty toward Ryder, I knew he was looking out for his friend’s daughter. What I didn’t like was that he was trying to pull her away from me when I was too weak to confront him properly.
I wasn’t stupid. He didn’t have to spell anything out. I saw it in the way he looked between me and the gorgeous redhead next to me.
“I… I don’t wanna leave Brick here by himself. I’ll call Braylen in a bit to see how he is.” Zoe clutched my hand tighter while keeping her eyes on the formidable VP of our club.
“I’m sure your father wants to see you,” he insisted.
“I know but”—she looked to me—“I’m afraid something will happen if he’s alone.”
“He’s not your responsibility.” Stone’s voice hardened, and before I could tell him to shove his attitude up his ass, his wife interjected.
“Honey, why don’t you call Kaden and see if he can come here for a bit while Zoe visits her dad?”
“Do I have to call him?”
“Why not? Don’t tell me there’s still an issue there because if that’s the case, you can move some things back to the clubhouse.” The whole time, Addy’s focus was on my wound and not her pain-in-the-ass man.
“I didn’t say that. I just thought he was busy.” Nice backpedaling.
“I’m sure he can rearrange his schedule.”
He pulled his cell from his back pocket. “Fine.” He walked out of the room to make the call and, for a moment, there was a sense of relief that I didn’t have to keep up any kind of airs in front of the two women. In front of another man, I had to at least try to appear like the tough man they knew me to be, which was fuckin’ hard in my sorry state. But with Addy and Zoe, there were no pretenses.
“Okay.” Addy lightly pressed on the corners of the bandage to make sure the gauze adhered to the area covering the injury. “Um… yeah, I have to….” Her words trailed off for a moment as she opened her bag back up and rummaged around inside, only to pull out a long-ass needle.
“Why don’t you just give me a lot of pills instead?” A sheen of sweat broke out at my temples, but I couldn’t contribute the perspiration solely to the fever invading my body. My mouth was drier than it was seconds ago, and my heart rammed against my rib cage.
“Sorry, but this is the best way.” She removed the cap and flicked the side with her middle finger. “I have to inject this into your butt cheek, and I’d rather not have my husband present while you show me your backside, but if you don’t think you can roll over on your side with only our assistance, I’m gonna have to call him back in here.”
I didn’t want Stone in here to witness me acting like a bitch, so I mustered as much strength as I could, and with Zoe in front and Addy behind me, I hoisted myself on to my side, the washcloth sliding off my head.
“It’s okay,” Zoe comforted, leaning in close until our foreheads touched. “Just breathe and it’ll be over before you know it.”
Addy tugged down the waistband of my boxer briefs and swiped something cool over my skin, making me flinch. “That’s just the wipe to clean the area.” One breath exited my lungs, then another. “Ready?”
“No.”
“I’ll count to three and then I’ll do it, okay?”
“No,” I repeated.
“The faster you get the shot, the faster you get better. And you know what that means?” Zoe angled her mouth toward my ear and whispered her next words. “The faster you can have your way with me.”
While her words were meant to excite me, I couldn’t focus on anything other than the woman standing behind me, ready to jab me in the ass with a sharp goddamn object.
Before I could say anything to Zoe, Addy started counting.
“One.”
Then I felt a sting as she jabbed the needle into me.
“Fuck! You said you were gonna do it on three.” Four heavy breaths left my mouth before she helped to straighten me on my back, flashing me a grin when all I could do was scowl at her.
“I never go on three.” She chuckled as I continued to frown at her. “Oh, lighten up. It’s all over with now. And…” She glanced toward the doorway before looking back at me. “Nice butt.” She winked at me.
“Don’t let Stone hear you say that.” My mood started to dissipate now that the worst of it was over.
“Never. Besides, I don’t wanna give the man a heart attack.”
On top of Addy being nurturing, funny, witty and beautiful, she was tough. She never hesitated standing up to her temperamental husband time and time again, putting him in his place when no one else could. But the attribute I was most thankful for right now was her being medically gifted, knowing exactly what to do for me to help me past this hump in my recovery.
I turned to look at Zoe. She hadn’t moved an inch from my side. I only hoped she didn’t think me less of a man because of my phobia.