Page 14 of Viking

“But you can, right?”

“I don’t know, Vike,” she says. “Let’s get her to a bed where I can check her vitals and set up an IV.”

“Okay, I Kicked Meatball out and made up his bed. Thought she’d be more comfortable—”

“No. She stays in my room.”

CJ stops walking and glares at me. “And where will you sleep?”

“On the fucking couch. In my room.”

“Prez,” she warns.

“Either help me here or get the fuck out of my clubhouse.”

“Fine, but I’m not changing your stanky sheets. Meatballs were bad enough.”

“My sheets are clean. I don’t bring bitches back to my bed.”

She holds up her hands in a warding gesture. “Forgive the shit outta me.”

“Baby,” Blue warns and CJ gives him the same stare she threw me just a moment ago.

“Can it, Blue. You can call the shots wherever you damn well like, but when it comes to the care of patients, that’s my area and what I say goes.” She bursts into my room and frowns when she sees I wasn’t lying about the bed. It’s clean and even made with fucking hospital corners. She whips the top sheet and duvet cover back and tilts her chin toward the mattress. “Set her down, Vike.”

Within minutes, she has one of those brightly colored armbands nurses use for finding a vein. She listens to the little siren’s heartbeat and then presses a finger against her pulse and times it.

“What’s the verdict?”

“Pulse is good, strong, all things considering. What did you sedate her with?”

“Propofol.”

Calamity straightens. “Without ventilation, or close monitoring of her blood pressure, oxygen levels, kidney function, and other vitals?”

I fold my arms over my chest, not appreciating all these questions. “It was a small dose, and I was monitoring her ... closely.”

“In the back of a van?” She shakes her head and exhales loudly. “Where the hell did you even get Propofol? I mean, it’s not like your friendly neighborhood dealer has access. What the hell were you using it for?”

“Club business.”

“Of course.” CJ rolls her eyes and turns back to her patient. “She seems pretty out of it, Vike. Why sedate her at all?”

“She held a knife to Vike’s throat,” Meatball says from the doorway. I didn’t even know we had a fucking audience. I walk several steps and slam the door in his face. The brothers in this club are worse than a bunch of old biddies.

“That true?” Calamity asks with a smile.

I nod.

“I like this girl already.” She smacks her gum and turns her attention back to the patient. “Go take a seat, Romeo. She’s not going anywhere, anytime soon, and nothing’s coming to get her.”

“Yet,” I mumble. The fact is, she’s young. Too young, and I’ve essentially just drugged and kidnapped her, though she did try to kill me, so maybe we’re even.

“Blue said you found her washed up on the beach?”

I nod. “She may have ... witnessed some things the club wouldn’t want her to see.”

“And she’s still alive?”

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