Page 54 of Gatling
Kelsie
I blinked awake to the sterile white glare of a hospital room. The warmth of someone’s hand stroked my knuckles in a slow, soothing rhythm. Turning my head, I saw Noah seated beside me, his face drawn with exhaustion. He looked like he’d aged ten years since the last time I saw him.
“Hey there, butterbean,” he said, his voice hoarse. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” I said in an equally hoarse voice. My throat felt as dry as a desert. “Fuzzy, too.”
“Horse tranquilizer will do that to you.”
A pause settled between us. Noah sheltered my hand in his palms and heaved a heavy sigh.
“How long have I been out?” I asked.
“Two days. You were on the verge of hypothermia.”
“And you've been here the whole time, haven't you?"
Noah nodded, fixing me with a tired look. He must have been out of his mind with worry when he realized that I’d been kidnapped.
“The doctor said you’re going to be okay. You’re being kept for observation, but when you’re conscious, you can go home.”
“Myhome? Oryourhome?” I dared to ask.
Noah shot me a withering look.
“We will discuss it later. You’re supposed to be resting, taking it easy. Arguing with your brother just causes more stress you don’t need right now. By the way, if you thought I was unbearably overprotective before, you will hate me after this. I’m going to besucha pain in the ass. You have no idea.”
I breathed a faint laugh.
“I could never hate you.”
Noah’s eyes softened and he touched my cheek. Another pause settled over us, heavier this time.
“Tell me what happened,” I said. “After…after I was taken.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. It took a moment or two to compose himself before he cleared his throat and started talking.
He told me everything. A biker showing up on his doorstep to fetch him. Ryker, bleeding, covered in pepper burns so badly that he could barely breathe. Still fighting like hell to get me back. And the Blackjacks rallying for a rescue mission.
“I can’t say that I’ll be getting a bike of my own and becoming one of the gang any time soon,” Noah admitted. “But I do owe them. So…maybe I’ll buy them a beer, or invite them over for dinner sometime.”
“That’s gracious of you,” I said.
“Well, if it weren’t for them, you would still be in that bunker.”
That was unsettling to think about. The air felt heavy with that realization. Noah was the first to break the silence.
“The doctor said the baby is okay, too, by the way.”
My breath rushed out with relief and my hand strayed to my stomach automatically.
The baby. She’s okay.
“I was going to tell you. I swear.”
Noah gave a non-committal hum, but it sounded tinged with a note of skepticism.
“Does Ryker know?”
