Reign (Sin City Outlaws #1)(49)

He walks backwards while explaining, “They’re taking her to the hospital now. I think she’s just banged up, probably spooked, but nothing too serious.”

The doors to the ambulance shut. That’s my cue. Climbing into my truck, I follow the ambulance. I’m not letting her out of my sight.

***

At the hospital, I have to sit in the waiting room because I’m not family. I also don’t want anyone to notice me waiting for her, so I don’t force myself into her room either.

Across from me sits Alessandra. Every time I look at her, she quickly looks away. So far, she’s the only one who notices it’s me. Inhaling a sharp breath, I look down and rub my hands together anxiously.

The clock ticks above the coffee pot loudly, my foot tapping against the linoleum floor impatiently. Is there something wrong? Is she worse than I thought?

Standing up, I wring the back of my sweating neck.

“Fuck!” My voice booms furiously.

Alessandra jumps in her seat.

The doors open, and out steps a doctor and Jillian. She has a fresh bandage on her lip, and her ankle is in one of those boot things. I want to stand back and wait until the doctor leaves, but I can’t. Just waiting here is killing me as it is.

“Is everything okay?” I step up to them, my forehead sweating.

Turning, she smiles at me, and my chest constricts.

“Yeah, she’s fine. Little banged up, and she’ll be sore for a few days. However, a bubble bath and those muscle relaxers will help with that.” The doctor points to the paper in Jillian’s hand.

“Thanks again, Dr. Mathews.”

He nods and walks back into the ER.

Silence fills the air. I’m trying to read her body language, her attitude, to see if she’s still pissed at me for handcuffing her to the bed and leaving her, or that my club went after her, but I can’t figure it out.

“Hey, are you okay? I came as soon as I found out. Your dad is blowing up my phone.” Alessandra steps in front of me, and it pisses me off. It’s taking everything I have not to pick her up and set her aside.

Jillian shifts her gaze from me to Alessandra. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to go home.”

“You want me to take you?”

“I’ll take her,” I butt in, not asking but telling. Alessandra’s eyes burn intensely as she gives Jillian a hesitant look.

“You sure?” She tries once again, but before the words are out of her mouth, Jillian is nodding.

“I’ll be fine,” Jillian assures her. Alessandra gives me a death glare, and I give it right back.

“I’ll call you later, Jill.” Her eyes never leave mine as she walks away. Finally.

Awkward silence sets in.

I’m not sure what to say or do. Do I bring up the fight, or do I let it go and focus on her?

She looks up at me, her eyes a little glossy, and I realize she’s not just upset with me, but hurt. I brought that pain, and I actually care. In fact, it pains me to know that I did it.

“I’m sorry,” I state on an exhale, the apology catching me off-guard. Her sadness dims, and I can’t contain it anymore; I grab both of her arms, pulling her close.

“I screwed up. I know that. But when it comes to you, I’m a goddamn mad man.”

“I’m sorry, too,” she whispers.

“You don’t need to be sorry for anything, Jillian,” I mutter into her hair.

“I do. I was that insane jealous girl, and I went nuts assuming that because you slept with me, that we were together. If you can’t tell, I’m kind of new to this, too.”

I smirk. Her innocence, and the way that bottom lip trembles, is going to be my demise.

“In your defense, all chicks are insane.” Her body wracks with laughter, tears sliding down her face.

I thumb the apple of her cheek, the tip of my finger soaking up the wetness. Slipping my thumb down, I rub it on her bottom lip. Her mouth parts, and teary eyes look at me with hunger.

I want to taste her sadness, feel it against my skin. Sadness isn’t something I feel; it was weeded out of my core when I was made president of the club.

Kissing her lips, the coldness of her tears presses against mine. Licking her bottom lip, salt and something sour fills my mouth. Cold, wet, salty, and sour. It sounds depressing.

“I’m taking you home,” I mumble against her damp lips.

“Okay.”

“I’m staying, and that’s not up for debate.” I’m not sure what my uncle is fishing up, but I apparently know nothing of it, and I’m not going to chance them coming after her again. If it means they see me here, then so be it. I’m starting to think my brother Lip was right when he told me my club was corrupted, refusing to be a part of it. In a club, there should be order, respect, loyalty, and most of all brotherhood. But out of all twenty of our members, I only trust three.

That’s not a brotherhood.

***

I help Jillian into the big truck, and we head off.

“You got a script to get pills?”

“Yeah, but I don’t take medicine. I don’t need them.” I arch a brow, shocked. Everyone I know would either be selling those damn things or snorting them. As surprised as I am, I think she should take them. I’ve been in a wreck before, and her body is going to wind up so tight she won’t be able to breathe.