Page 10 of Wrecker

Iwoke to the sharp scent of antiseptic and something tugging at my arm. My lashes fluttered open under the glare of bright fluorescent lights, and for a second, I had no idea where I was. The drop ceiling above me didn’t provide any clues. All I knew for sure was that my mouth felt dry and my shoulder ached.

Then the fog cleared enough to remember what had happened.

I’d been trapped. Buried.

Panic slammed into my chest like a fist.

I bolted upright, moving too fast for my injuries—whatever they were. Pain flared in my shoulder, sharp and throbbing. I gasped and looked down at my arm, heart hammering as I found an IV line taped to the inside of my elbow.

I reached down with fingers trembling to touch it, but a rough hand closed over mine before I could.

“Don’t.”

That single word from a deep voice froze me.

My gaze jerked to the source, and my breath caught. A man sat beside the bed, one hand still wrapped gently around mine, his touch steady but firm. His dark brown eyes were vaguelyfamiliar, which made no sense when there was no way I’d ever met him before. This guy was too memorable for me to have forgotten.

“You’re okay,” he said, softer this time. “You’re safe.”

My lungs finally expanded as I took him in. The taste of ash lingered on my tongue, and my chest burned. So did my throat, none of which was a surprise considering what I’d just gone through.

Even sitting, I could tell he was tall. And muscular.

His dark hair was messy and had streaks of dust in it, so did the scruff on his cheeks, and his dark jeans, black boots, T-shirt, and leather vest.

I finally realized why his eyes had seemed familiar—they were the last thing I saw before I passed out.

“It was you.”

“I’m the one who found you, yeah.” He leaned forward, and I caught a hint of black ink on his chest.

His thumb brushed lightly over the back of my hand, and it sent a shiver down my spine. Not from fear, though. I’d just had a building literally fall on top of me, but I still felt the pull of attraction toward this man. That was how strong it was.

“I…” I glanced around. “Where am I?”

“You’re in the clinic at the Iron Rogues compound. You’ve been out for a few hours, but our club doctor assured me the cut on your head isn’t in a spot that would usually lead to a concussion.” My brows drew together at his answer, and he lifted his other hand to smooth the line that popped up in my forehead. “Don’t worry, baby. Blade will be back to check on you soon. I sent him a text when you started to wake up.”

“Good to know, because I think I only caught about half of what you said.” I shook my head with a weak laugh. “What’s the Iron Rogue compound? Is my doctor really named Blade? And why am I not at the hospital?”

“You seem sharp as a whip to me, so I wouldn’t be too worried.” He lowered his arm to tap the front of his leather vest. “I’m part of the Iron Rogues MC. The compound is where our club is based, in Old Bridge. It’s the safest place I could bring you for medical attention since Blade has this clinic set up to take care of just about anything that could’ve been wrong with you. The property is surrounded by a gate that’s manned, and a lot of my club brothers are here. Lets me focus on you without havin’ to worry about anyone sneakin’ up on us.”

I sank back against the pillows, more of the tension easing from my body at his explanation. “You pulled me out of the wreckage of that garage and watched over me ever since?”

“Damn fucking straight,” he growled. “Wasn’t gonna leave you alone when you were vulnerable.”

Heat bloomed in my chest, chasing out the last of the fear. No one had ever protected me like that before. Not since my dad had been alive.

The door creaked open, and a man stepped into the room.

“You’re awake.” He crossed over to us and clapped his hand around my rescuer’s shoulder. “Good. I was starting to worry I’d have to stick Wrecker with a sedative if you didn’t come around soon.”

“Wrecker?” I echoed, glancing at the man still seated beside me.

“Reid.” His eyes stayed locked on mine. “Club name’s Wrecker. You call me Reid.”

The other man, who I assumed was Blade based on the stethoscope around his neck, snorted at Reid’s correction, earning himself a quick glare from Reid.

Blade ignored him as he switched to full doctor mode, pressing the cold metal against my back and asking me to take a few deep breaths.

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