Page 55 of Reconciling the Consequences

“Can’t do that, babe.” Kevin sighed.

“What the fuck do you mean you can’t do that?” she demanded, her mind racing.

“Kara, just get to the clubhouse. I’ll see you soon. I love you,” Kevin said.

“I love you too.” Kara sighed and ended the call. She turned to Marlie, who was throwing the Jeep into reverse.

“How bad?” Marlie asked as she backed down the driveway.

“He didn’t say. He said Derrick was shot, that he was OK and that he would be OK, and that he lost a lot of blood.” Kara sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

Marlie nodded as she pulled out onto the street and threw the transmission into drive, peeling out and heading down the street. “I knew shit was kicking up with the Psychos, but fuck,” Marlie muttered.

“They told me it was nothing they couldn’t handle,” Kara muttered.

Marlie made a grunt of annoyance.

“Your boyfriend was shot?” Stacy asked from the back seat.

Kara jumped and shouted. She turned in her seat to find her assistant holding on for dear life in the back seat, while Marlie raced them toward the clubhouse. “Stacy, shit! You damn near gave me a heart attack!” Kara shouted, holding her hand over her racing heart.

Stacy didn’t look startled, though—she looked nervous and unsure. “What happened?” she asked, pressing the issue.

Kara shook her head. “I don’t know. Kevin just said to get to the clubhouse. Fuck, Stacy.” Kara groaned. “You don’t know what you’re walking into. You should have gone home.”

Stacy shook her head firmly. “I’m staying.”

Kara eyed her assistant warily. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Stacy, because she did—with her life. Stacy was literally helping her go after her father. Over the years, she’d always been on Kara’s side whenever there was an issue with her father over the years.

But this was different. This was the world of the Ravager Knights, and Kara was still figuring out if she herself belonged in it. It was dark and gritty. People got hurt or killed. Things happened that didn’t happen to normal people.

Kara nodded once.

It wasn’t long before they were flying through the open gates of the compound. Marlie didn’t even come to a complete stop before Kara was launching herself out of the Jeep and into Kevin’s arms. “Easy,” he muttered, holding her tight.

She pulled away quickly. “Where is he?” she asked, looking up at Kevin, seeing the exhaustion weighing on him.

“Come on.” He sighed and grabbed her hand.

She followed him into the clubhouse, passing brothers and their wives. She met worried gazes while in a daze. She didn’t fully comprehend the situation yet.

Kevin pulled her through the main room of the clubhouse to the hallway beyond. They headed up the stairs and down the hall toward Johnny’s room but stopped two doors short of it at an open door.

Inside, a doctor was telling Johnny how to care for the wound, but all Kara could see was Derrick. He was propped up in a queen-size bed that looked too small for his large body. He was shirtless and covered in blood.

She barely saw the white bandage before she gasped and moved into the room.

Johnny whipped around when he heard her gasp. “Princess.” He sighed, moving toward her and trying to block her way to Derrick.

She stopped moving when she saw that Johnny was covered in blood too. She tentatively reached out for him, her hand shaking.

“I’m OK,” he murmured and pulled her closer. She gripped his leather cut as he leaned down to kiss her. “He’s OK,” Johnny murmured against her lips.

She pulled away from him and looked around him to see Derrick. He was watching her with half-lidded eyes. Kara ignored the doctor as she walked by him. She slowed to a stop at Derrick’s bedside, taking him in. His chest rose and fell slowly, his dark brown hair was a wreck, and his thick brown beard was matted with blood. There was a white bandage on his right bicep that contrasted with his tanned skin.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared down at him. “Hey, baby girl.” Derrick’s voice was raspy.

A sob broke out, and she quickly raised her hand to stifle it.

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