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CHAPTER 14
HEIDI
My side feels as if it is on fire. Trick said it’s only a flesh wound, but I’m pretty sure he is lying to me. A flesh wound wouldn’t hurt this much, would it?
The white-hot pain spreading through my side is insistent as the car rushes through the traffic towards the Ancoats region of Manchester. Tall, red brick buildings—former mills left over from the industrial days of the city—rise into the skyline, familiar and comforting. Trick sits in the back with me, his arms wrapped around my shoulders, his lips pressed into my hair, as if he is scared to let go of me. I cling to him with as much desperation. I don’t want to let go of him, either.
He trusts the Fraser brothers, but I know very little about them other than the fact one is married to the sister of our VP in London and that Lucas’s wife is also Desmond’s daughter.
I watch them both warily, trying to concentrate as they make small talk from the front seat of the car, but all I can focus on is the fact that we could have died. Who would have taken care of Sophia then?
As the clubhouse comes into view, I’m surprised by how relieved I am. Here, we will be safe. No matter what sins Trick has committed in the past, his brothers will have his back, and in turn, Sophia’s. That is all I care about.
When the car jolts to a stop, Trick tightens his arm around me, squeezing my uninjured side, and his presence anchors me, preventing the hysteria I would be experiencing otherwise.
“You okay?” he asks me in a low voice.
“I’m really hoping the doctor has some top-shelf painkillers.”
Another squeeze as he presses his lips into my hair is the only response I get before the door opens on my side of the car and Howler ducks down. He’s holding his helmet, so he must’ve ridden from somewhere. Was he trailing us? I didn’t notice, but I hadn’t lifted my head from Trick’s shoulder the entire journey.
“Doc is inside waiting,” Howler says, not to me but to Trick.
“Good” is all he responds before Howler is reaching for me.
“I got her,” Trick says, his voice firm enough that it raises Howler’s brows, but he doesn’t argue as he steps aside.
Trick kisses my hair again. “It’s gonna be okay,” he tells me before he climbs out.
Gently, he helps me out of the car and then I’m swept into his arms bridal-style. Dizziness makes it hard to keep my eyes open, and I don’t try to until I’m lowered onto a bed in one of the side rooms.
The lights overhead are bright, making me squint, and lying this flat makes my head spin.
A man’s face looms over me, and I have no idea who he is, but I know Trick wouldn’t let someone touch me if they were going to hurt me.
“It’s Heidi, right?” I nod. “I’m Matthew. I’m a doctor. I’m going to have a look at what we’re dealing with and then I’ll get you cleaned up.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “You are a real doctor, aren’t you?”
His lips quirk into an amused smile. “As opposed to…?”
“I mean, you treat humans usually, right? You’re not a vet or something weird.”
His gaze lifts to meet Trick’s. “Uh… nothing weird, I promise.”
“He’s good, Heidi. Let him treat you.”
Trick’s assurance and the squeeze of my hand between his strong fingers is enough to soothe my concerns—for now, at least.
His attention shifts towards the door, and he lifts my hand, kissing my knuckles before he says, “I’ll be close by if you need me.”
I roll my head to the side, the mattress beneath me soft as I watch him cross the room, his entire stance radiating anger as he approaches Blackjack and Howler waiting by the door.
“Is this your first time?” the doc asks.
I frown, rolling my head back to him. “First time?”
“Getting shot.”
