Page 6 of Reacher
Stitch nodded. “She’s on her way, with that no good husband of hers.”
Hell. Even I knew by now that there was bad blood between Ice and that prick. It was part of the reason he rarely visited her.I’d been around long enough to hear all kinds of things, and I knew Ice hated him.
We made it up to ICU, and Reacher strode up to the desk there.
“Checking in on Damon Silver. I’m his next of kin; Jacob Anderson.” He was his next of kin? I turned to look at Stitch curiously.
“It’s a club thing. As our President, he’s next of kin for all of us. We’re family, and we spend almost all of our time together, so why risk him and the rest of us, not being allowed to visit in hospital? And you know… make decisions and shit.” Wow, what an enormous amount of pressure on one man’s shoulders.No wonder he was always so cranky.Idly I also wondered who was his next of kin, if he was everyone else’s.
“Okay, Mr Anderson. I had to check that out, but I’m sure you understand.” The nurse was brisk and business-like, and Reacher, orJacob, nodded just as briskly in response.
“So… what’s his condition?”
The nurse was checking something on her computer, reading out aloud.
“He was found with multiple stab wounds, and almost bled out. He’s in a critical condition right now, I’m afraid.” I heard cursing from most of the bikers crowding around us, and could almost feel the palpable shock surrounding them at this news. Stabbed? Who the hell would have done that?
“Stitch, get onto this. I want to know fucking everything.” He turned back to the nurse. “Is he conscious? Can we see him?”
She frowned deeply, rechecking her screen.
“I can maybe get you in there in a bit to sit with him for a while, but just you, and I’m afraid he’s not conscious. He’s in a medically induced coma right now.”
My stomach clenched, and I grabbed Reacher’s hand, squeezing it tightly at the horror that I saw reflected on his face.I could feel the stunned tension in his body, wishing I could ease it somehow.
“Jesus. Is he gonna make it?”
The nurse looked way too serious.
“The injuries themselves were not too severe, they missed his major organs, and only minor surgery was required to repair the damage. The problem was the blood loss, because I’m afraid we don’t know how long he lay there, before he was found.”
My god. Poor Ice. How horrifying to be stabbed and left alone to die.
Ryder and some of the others were cursing up a storm, and the nurse fixed them with a glare.
“This is an intensive care unit, people. You can’t all stay, and those of you who do, had better curb the foul language. Other visitors to this place are in their own personal hell already.”
Everyone looked suitably spanked, with several quiet apologies coming her way, and Reacher backed away from the desk, thanking the nurse.
“Jesus.” I stepped into his arms and held him, letting him feel comfort from me, as well as helping him save face; by looking like he was comforting me, rather than the other way around. There were six bikers left in the room.
I recognised Ryder, obviously, but there were several I didn’t know very well. Another I knew was Torch, and he looked like he wanted to go and find the culprit, and carve him up. I wondered why he was called Torch. Actually I wondered where all of their road names came from. They had meaning, I knew that much, but what could Reacher’s mean? He reaches for things? He reaches people in need? I had no idea, and now was not the time to ask, I was certain of that.
Reacher felt so tense and frustrated, and I wished I could do something to help. Even if he pissed me off more often than not,I was starting to care for him, and while I knew that was a danger for us both, I just couldn’t help it.
“Need anything?” I whispered to him, pressing my face into his neck, so only he’d hear me. A shudder ran through him, and he sighed heavily.
“Answers,”he muttered finally, and I wished I could give him that. This whole experience had been pretty sobering, but the lowered inhibitions remained. I still wanted him, and I still wanted to risk it, even though I knew I should be running the other damn way.
“Blowie in the bathroom?” I whispered, my lips right against his ear, and he cursed, his arms tightening against me.
“Dammit, Ally, you do this to me now?”
His voice was almost as low as mine.
“It might help ease some of your tension.” I grabbed his hand, pulling away from our hug.
“Will you take me out to get some air please, I’m getting a bit lightheaded.”
