Page 62 of Bastard

“You’re in the hospital, shit head. How much blood did you lose?”

I rolled my eyes but also kind of smiled at the affectionate ways she insulted me. “I know I’m in the hospital. But where?”

“You’re still in Tampa, Dorothy.”

“And Sam?”

“Samantha will be right back. She just went to get coffee.”

The door opened but it was a nurse and my doctor. They were glad I was awake and gave me a quick exam. Apparently I was very lucky. Knife managed to miss all the important organs. I lost a lot of blood but they patched me back up. I was just getting that good news when Sam returned with two cups.

Her eyes went round.

“Hey babe.”

She shoved the Styrofoam cups at Georgia and pushed her way past the doctor. “Never do that again!” Then she hugged me.

It felt so good I didn’t mind that it hurt.

“We’ll give you some space,” the doctor said gently.

“Don’t hug him so hard, darling. You’ll pop his stitches,” Georgia chided as she left too.

Sam glared at me. “Do you know how terrifying it is to get a phone call saying the man you love has been stabbed and is on the way to the hospital?”

Probably pretty terrifying. “It was shitty, I bet.”

“So shitty. I haven’t been able to do anything except panic ever since.”

“The doc says I’ll heal up just fine.” I’ll have a few new scars to add to my collection, but scars were better than death.

“Can I…can I come up there?” She waved at the bed. I still had a few things on my arms monitoring things and pumping me full of liquids, but if I wiggled a little to the side she should fit.

“Get up here. Takes a lot more to get rid of me.”

Sam frowned, then climbed up, curling into a ball that carefully avoided my abdomen. “Abel, Teddy, and Storm are all okay too. They said only the Chubbies were arrested. Everyone else was released. And they told me to tell you ‘Knife will make it but just barely. Good job.’ I don’t want to know, do I?”

“No. You do not.”

There was a knock at the door. Agent Steel stuck his asshole face inside. “Can I come in?”

Sam tried to move but I held her tighter. She wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. “Sure. It’s a free country.”

He stepped in and closed the door. His eyes darted to Sam and back. “Hello. I’m Special Agent Steel. I’ve been working with Jace for many years now.”

I couldn’t see Sam’s face, but she sounded like she was scowling. “And you’re the reason he’s in the hospital.”

Steel, to his credit, looked ashamed. “Jace said I was taking things too far. He was right.”

Damn straight. “So you landed your white whale after all.” He got the outlaw MC and the corrupt billionaires. This should make his career.

He lowered his head. “All because of you.” His eyes darted back to Sam. “And you.”

“But will it stick? I hear the Feyereisens are making bail.”

Steel’s lips curled up into his version of a smile. “There’s been a new development.”

“Oh, please do tell.” If it was bad news I might just bust these stitches killing everyone.

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