Page 18 of Dusty and Dented (Fallen Angels MC #2)

D agger went down to the kitchen and tossed a bag of popcorn into the microwave, then checked the cabinets for cookies.

Andy hadn’t said what kind, so he would bring up whatever they had.

If they weren’t to her taste, he’d ask Sandy, one of the mamas who helped keep things around here from becoming a total pig pen, to add them to the next shopping trip.

That was mainly a prospect job, but the mamas had found that if one of them didn’t go with whoever was the prospect, then they ended up not getting half of what they wanted or getting the wrong stuff.

But Dagger wouldn’t have to worry about that until, and if, Andy wanted something specific.

He took the popcorn from the microwave, opened and dumped it into a bowl, then grabbed the grocery sack he’d stuffed the cookies and drinks into and took it all up to his room.

He couldn’t help but look forward to letting her curl against him as he discovered what went on next with these kids.

He shook his head as he climbed the stairs, wondering for a moment what his brothers might say if they knew what he was watching, and that he was enjoying it, then decided it didn’t matter.

He was trying to make Andy feel better, not his brothers.

They could think whatever the fuck they wanted, and he wouldn’t let it change how he dealt with her.

Besides, hadn’t she said Panther had watched them with her?

Reaching the bedroom, he knocked to let her know he was back then opened the door. He froze just inside when he realized the room was empty. He scanned the room, looking for anything out of place or missing that might give him a clue where she went.

Her bag was open on the bed and the bathroom door was closed.

He was about to knock on it to be sure she was in there when he heard the shower turn on.

He took a deep breath and let some of the tension he’d been holding flow out with the air.

Twice coming back to find Andy wasn’t where he’d left her had sent a spear of something he didn’t want to think too hard about through his stomach.

He set the food down, picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

If he was fast, he might get the app downloaded and ready by the time she finished in the shower.

He listened for the shower to shut off while he worked with the TV, then glanced around the room.

What could he do to make her more comfortable?

He opened the mini fridge next to the bed and realized while it still had a good stock of beer, there was no water or any of the soda he knew Andy preferred.

He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Hunter to go get a case of water and a case of her soda, and to bring them to his room once he had them.

He’d just shoved his phone back in his pocket when the shower shut off.

The open bag on the bed told him she’d probably grabbed clothes, but he called out anyway, not wanting to scare her.

“I’m in here.”

“Thank you!” Her voice was muffled by the door but still clear.

“I’d like to have Freud take a look at you, if you don’t mind.”

“Who’s Freud?” she asked, opening the bathroom door.

“He’s our medic,” Dagger looked at her, planning to just make it a glance so she would know he was talking to her, but when he spotted her in a pair of tiny shorts and a loose t-shirt that almost covered them, he found it hard to look away.

“You have a medic?”

He didn’t know if she was thinking the question that he heard hanging, unspoken, but he heard it—if you have a medic, how did my brother die?

Panther had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and by the time the shooting had stopped, and they were figuring out who was hit and who was okay, Panther was already gone.

He didn’t answer that. He couldn’t explain it to satisfy her, so he left it alone.

“We do. He’s got his limitations, but there’s a lot he can do. I’d like him to take a look and make sure you’re as okay as you think you are. I want to be sure there’s not something I should be taking you to the hospital for.”

She stared at him for a moment, her expression closed off to the point he had no idea what she was thinking.

“All right,” she said after a moment.

She stepped into the room and looked around. “Is he already close or can we start the movie while we wait?”

“Let me find out real quick.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the medic.

“Hello?” Freud said as he answered.

“Hey,” Dagger said back. “Where are you?”

“At the club house why?”

“I have Andy, Panther’s sister. Did you hear what happened today?”

“I did. Is she okay?”

“We think so, but I’d like you to take a look at her, just to be safe.”

“Sure, when you think y’all get here?”

“We’re up in my room now.”

“Then I’ll be right up.” Freud disconnected without saying goodbye.

Dagger shoved his phone back into his pocket as he turned back to Andy. She’d sat in the recliner, her shoulders slumped and her hands lying limp in her lap as she watched him, waiting.

“He is downstairs. He’ll be up in a minute or two, then we can watch the movie uninterrupted.”

Andy didn’t say anything, but nodded.

Dagger turned and sat on the edge of the bed. Knees almost brushing against hers

“Are you okay?”

Andy nodded. “Yeah, just tired. I don’t know if I’ll make it through the whole movie, but it will feel good to start it and let it do its magic of giving me something else to think about.”

He wanted to open his arms wide, to let her bury herself against his chest. He wouldn’t even mind if she felt like crying, as long as she came to him.

Who was he kidding, he would mind if she cried, but he would let her, as long as she let him be the one who was there for her.

The one she went to when she needed a shoulder to cry on or an arm wrapped around her.

There were a lot of things he didn’t want to deal with, but would if she would just look up at him with those big brown eyes as if he was the only thing in the world she needed.

He was saved from the impulse by a knock on the door. Dagger got up to check who it was before letting them in because even though he was 95% certain it was Freud, that other 5% wouldn’t let him just invite them in.

When opening the door an inch revealed it was Freud, Dagger pulled the door open and stepped out of the way.

“She’s right here,” Dagger said, waving one hand toward Andy.

She still sat in the recliner, but she’d straightened and didn’t look so depressed and dejected, though he could see darkness under her eyes.

Was that because she was so tired or was it something more?

He ushered Freud in and closed the door.

“Hello, sweetheart. It’s nice to meet you.

My name’s Freud. I’ll take my best care of you, and not in the least because I was very fond of your brother.

I’m sorry about what happened to him and that there was nothing I could do to save him.

” Freud stepped close enough to offer Andy his hand.

She shook it, then released it, letting her hand fall back into her lap.

“How about you move over here on the bed so I can get a better look at you.” Freud motioned one hand to the large bed as he stepped back and out of her way. “I heard about what happened this afternoon, but tell me what you remember.”

Dagger had heard this before. He’d asked the medic once why he did it, why he asked whoever he was working on to talk to him.

Freud had told him that it made the patient feel less vulnerable.

Talking, whether about what had happened or anything else, distracted them from someone looking, poking and prodding at things that were painful or embarrassing.

Knowing that was why he didn’t say anything or stop the questions.

Besides, she might remember something important, and if he was quiet, he might learn something.

He was fine keeping his distance and just listening until Andy leaned back and rolled away from Freud as she pulled up the back of the shirt she wore.

As the thin cotton inched up her back, it revealed what should have been her soft, smooth back.

But instead what it revealed was the dark purple bruise in the pattern that looked suspiciously like the bottom of a motorcycle boot.

Dagger clenched his teeth and forced himself to stay silent and standing where he was, instead of storming down to the basement and teaching Shadow and whoever his flunky was, a lesson. And giving them a few boot-shaped bruises of their own.

“ Oh... ” Freud laid gentle fingers along the edge of the bruise. “Someone got you good. Do you remember this happening?”

Andy shook her head but didn’t say anything. If she didn’t remember it then someone had kicked her after they knocked her unconscious. There was no reason to hurt her if she wasn’t fighting back.

Dagger flexed his hands, imagining what he would do to Shadow once he got down there and got to confront him. But that wasn’t now, and he didn’t know how long it would be, so he pushed back the rage slowly filling him and focused his attention on Andy. She was what was important now.

“All right.” Freud rubbed his hands together as he stepped back away from the bed.

Andy rolled on to her back. She glanced at the medic then her eyes scanned the room, stopping when she spotted him.

“You’ve got some nasty bruises, and possibly a bruised rib or two from that kick, but there’s nothing life threatening or really serious.

With those ribs and the blow to your head, you’re going to be sore for a while.

Not much we can do about that except deal with it.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain, but only in normal doses.

No upping the dose because it hurts more than you think a regular dose can handle.

” Freud gave them both stern looks. “As for the ribs, movement will hurt, but it will also help, if you’re not too rough.

Walk, move around, but no running marathons, no lifting more than,” he made a face, “let’s go with ten pounds for now.

You’ll heal fine but not overstressing it will make it heal faster.

” He glanced at both of them. “Any other questions for me?”

Andy shook her head, her gaze still on Dagger, as if she needed to see him to make sure he hadn’t left her alone with another stranger.

Freud turned to Dagger, one brow lifted as if waiting for any questions he might have.

“I’m good, doc. If anything comes up, I know how to reach you.” He patted the pocket where his phone rested.

Freud nodded once, then turned back to Andy. “Remember what I said. Rest, plenty of fluids, and if the headache gets worse, call me.”

“I’ll remember,” she said, her voice so soft that if Dagger hadn’t been watching, he would have wondered if it had been her speaking.

Freud turned to Dagger, who nodded. He’d been listening and if there were any issues, even if Andy didn’t want to admit them, then he’d be calling Freud. He wasn’t willing to take a risk with Andy. And he wasn’t going to look too closely at that determination, at least not right now.

Dagger walked Freud to the door, thanked him, and closed the door. When he turned around, he found Andy had scooted over to the other side of the bed. Now she lay curled on her right side, both hands folded under her cheek as she watched him with wide eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your back?” Dagger asked as he moved to the recliner where he sat and began unlacing his boots.

“I didn’t know it was there,” she said, tilting her head to keep her eyes on him.

It wasn’t like she felt like she needed to watch him, to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt her, but more like she watched him because she wanted to, because she couldn’t stand to let him out of her sight.

He just wished he knew why she wanted to keep him so close.

He looked at her without turning his head, hoping she would see that he didn’t entirely believe her.

“I mean I knew it hurt but not why or how it happened.”

“All the more reason to say something. It could have been broken and you could have ended up hurting yourself worse.” She stared at him for a long moment, then glanced away as if she wasn’t going to give in but also knew that neither would he.