Wild Blaze (Back Down Devil MC 0.5)(10)

Heather looked at him. “What?”

“When are you coming back here?”

“I’ll make my rounds.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Brody said.

He let Heather go. She took a couple stuttering steps and Brody smiled. Damn, that kind of power was nice. But what was even nicer was Heather’s ass in the white pants she wore. He made fists and waited until Heather was out of sight before he walked to the prospects.

“Here,” he said to Lane. “Got you some coffee.”

Lane took the cup and raised an eyebrow. “What did you do to it?”

“Nothing. It’s hospital coffee. I’d rather drink piss.”

“Yeah, me too,” Jack said.

“Is that so?” Brody asked. “Heard you threw up a few times yesterday.”

Jack lowered his head.

Lane laughed.

“You two *s shouldn’t have let me sleep,” Brody said. “I’m here to watch over my brother. Our brother.”

“You were fine,” Lane said. “We walked the hospital for hours and found nothing. I think whoever did the bombing made their point and are gone now.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Brody said. “But that’s a club issue. Right now, we have to hope Erik finds a way through this. Both of you get the f*ck out of here and get some sleep. I’ll call Miller for more bodies.”

Brody walked away and grabbed his cell. He made a call to Miller to relay all the information he had so far. Miller didn’t really do much of the same because there wasn’t much to be discussed at this second. Miller’s mind sounded like it was going in to a thousand different directions. He mentioned something about drugs that caught Brody off guard. The chief of police, a good friend to Back Down Devil - Chief Jerry - had made a tip call to Miller about some dealings going on in Frelen.

Great, drugs.

That’s the last thing the town and the MC needed.

But that was the story of their life though. That old saying when it rains, it f*cking pours. That’s just how it went. When the days were good and quiet, the beer cold, the whiskey smooth, the * delicious, those were the days they all took care of. But most of the days were filled with the makings of war.

Brody ended the call and walked to Erik’s room. He put his hand to the door like he’d done before and closed his eyes. Just once, he wanted to save someone. Not himself. Fuck himself. That was a hopeless battle. But just to save someone.

“Uh, excuse me?”

Brody turned and the nurse was there again. Her eyes, her lips, her hair, pulled back but would look so much better let down. It all struck Brody like a burning match.

“Hey,” he said.

“Are you okay?” the nurse asked.

“Fine.”

“You can go in there, if you want. There’s no restriction. Plus, I’m here.”

“I’m good,” Brody said. “Just… paying respects.”

“Praying?”

Brody smiled. “Never understood that. Asking something of someone you never met. Someone that floats around and is supposed to help out but leaves strings of hell all around waiting to be pulled.”

The nurse swallowed hard. “Sorry.”

She started to move and Brody attacked her wrist and hand again, pulling her. He reached out and took a chance to touch her face. It was a bold move, one that Heather jumped back from. But it wasn't that she didn’t want him to touch her, it was what he’d find if he did.

She stepped back and Brody went toward her. “What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing?”

Just trying to save someone, once.

Brody’s eyes were on her. Right on Heather. He couldn’t do dick for Erik. He could only help Ana and old man Ronnie so much. But Heather. She was different.

“You’re hiding something, sweetheart.”

“My life isn’t your business,” Heather said. “I’m a nurse. Who the hell…”

Brody shook his head. “You’re attacking me. I didn’t do anything.”

“Don’t touch me,” Heather said. “Don’t even come near me. I’ll have you kicked out of here.”

Heather shook her hand free of Brody’s grip and started to run down the hall. Brody waited a few seconds, head nodding. He’d seen this act all before. So many times. He looked back to the door to Erik’s room.

Nothing to do there.

Miller was sending in some more prospects to watch the room and hospital.

Brody started to walk and then caught himself in a jog. He took the corner of the hall and put on the brakes as he skidded a few feet. Heather stood against the wall, her head back, eyes blinking fast.

“Too afraid to cry?” he asked.

“Who the hell are you?” Heather asked. “Go away.”

“What if I don’t? What are you going to do?”

Heather looked at him. Her eyes were welled with tears. This time when he reached out, Heather didn’t stop him. He wiped away a tear before it could hit her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” Brody said, “but I know the look. I’ve lived it.”

“What look?”

Brody reached and took out his gun. Heather gasped but didn’t freak out. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen a gun before.