Page 4 of Rigid

The look on his face changed to concern. “Are you alright?”

“I’ll be…yeah. I’m uhhm. I’m fine.” I nodded, more to convince myself than to reassure him. “Is she uhhm…”

A flash of memory came to mind, and it wasn’t something I ever wanted to see again. Panic shot up my throat, choking me from continuing. I fought against it, wiped my tears, and looked up. I needed to know. “She didn’t uhhm. Is she alive?”

He reached for my shoulder and gave a nod of reassurance. “I just left the hospital. She’s alive, yes.”

“She’s not going to die?”

“She’ll recover fully. That’s what the doctor said, I can promise you that.”

Emotion washed over me, and I blubbered for an instant. After regaining what little composure I could, I wiped my eyes with the heels of my palms. “Thank you.”

He released my shoulder. “I’m going to leave the room, and as soon as I do, you need to make that call.”

“But, she’s okay? Right?”

“She looks like hell, but I promise you, she’ll be okay.”

“Why. Why uhhm. Why are you helping me?”

“Because you’ve got something I need,” he said.

Then, he turned around and left the room.

ONE

Sandy

Lex and I were best friends and co-workers. Her boyfriend, Cholo, was a fully patched member of a local Motorcycle Club, the Filthy Fuckers. Contrary to popular opinions about bikers, he was kind, sweet, protective, and loyal. Considering her success with him – and my lack of success with men in general – I decided to meet a friend of his, another patched member of the club.

With a bucket of iced Budweiser at my side and my chair pointed toward the front door, I eagerly waited for them to show up. When they finally walked in, I stared in disbelief.

Hell, anyone would have.

My potential date was handsome, outwardly cocky, and had the muscular structure of a running back. Short of the kutte he wore, he looked like he could be a tattooed model for a clothing company.

“Oh. My. God.” I picked my jaw up from my lap and rapped my knuckles against the table. “Is that him?”

Lex glanced over her shoulder and then looked at me. “Yep.”

Cholo nudged his buddy and motioned toward where we were sitting. As they walked in our direction, I couldn’t help but notice my date’s undeniable swagger. Confidence radiated from himf, and he didn’t have to speak for me to realize it.

He wore it like a crown.

I pried my eyes from his handsome face and gave Lex a quick look. “Is he an asshole?”

“No. He’s just. I don’t know.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Intense.”

“Intense?” My eyes darted back and forth between him and her. “Like, in a good way?”

Her mouth twisted to the side. “Uhhm…”

It didn’t matter. I’d already made up my mind. With looks like that, he could be a little bit of an asshole, and I’d somehow find a way to accept it.

He stopped at the edge of the table and looked me up and down. He raked his fingers through his closely cropped hair, and then hooked his thumbs on the edges of his front pockets.

His blue eyes met mine. “You Sandy?”