Page 81 of Tempted
“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down! Thisisn’t like her.”
“I just left her a few hours ago. You don’tknow how women are. We take forever to get ready.”
“Not Raven.” I sit on the bed, tapping myfoot until I can’t take it anymore. “Fuck this shit. I’m going overthere.” My phone rings and I thinkfinally. But it’s nother. “Ron?”
“Prez…”
I don’t like the sound of his voice. My heartthumps in my chest and a million bad thoughts run through my mind.“What is it?” I demand.
“I…”
“Fuck! Spit it out.”
“Just…you need to get to St. Johns Hospital.Now.”
CHAPTER 17
***Gage***
Fear.
It’s a hell of a thing. I’ve seen it inpeople’s eyes when they see me in full biker gear; in the eyes ofcountless men as they stared down the barrel of my gun. I’ve neverexperienced it, though, not until today, but I’m getting a fuckingquick lesson. Heart-rending, soul-crushing, mind-altering fear. I’mscared shitless that I could lose my baby doll.
I rush to the hospital’s entrance, not reallyknowing how I made it here. The only sound I hear is the deafeningpounding of my heart. I can’t even tell if it’s beating too fast ortoo slow. My hands shake as I push the door and step inside. Ifucking hate hospitals. The smell, the people scurrying about, theanxiety and fear of people waiting around. The injured. And Ravenis one of them.Please, God, please let her be okay.
Ron jumps out of his seat when he sees me.Toni and Chrissy are next to him, crying and hugging each other.Chris is on the opposite side.
“What the fuck happened?” I growl.
“I don’t know, Prez. They were putting her inthe ambulance when we got there. Neighbor heard her screaming andcalled the cops.”
“Screaming?”
The room spins. My world tilts on its axis.She was screaming. Someone was hurting her and I wasn’tthere.I feel like I’m having a panic attack. I can’t breathe.I lean against the wall and run my hands through my hair. “Thedoctors…have you heard anything?”
“No. But I called Einstein. He should be hereany minute.”
I need to know something now. I march over tothe nurse’s station, and the woman there gives me a weak smile.
“Raven Alvarez…can you tell me anything aboutwhat’s going on?”
“Are you family?”
“Does it matter?”
“I can’t give out any information unlessyou’re related to the patient.”
“Look…please. I just need to know if she’sokay.”
She gives me a sympathetic stare and directsme back to the waiting area.
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Thank you.” I take the seat next to Ron anddrop my head into my hands. “Find Lonnie,” I instruct him.
She’s the only one they’ll talk to. I need toknow she’s okay. I need to know what happened. I need to know whohurt her. I need to kill him. I look up and Chris is staring at me.The message in his eyes is clear – this is my fault. Maybe it is.It could be anyone. This could have been payback for something I’vedone. What have they done to her? How badly is she hurt? How longdid she suffer before the cops arrived? God…did she cry out for me?Beg for me to save her? I wasn’t there.I wasn’t there.
I jump from the chair and pace the hall.What the fuck is taking so long? I should have heard somethingby now.
