Page 16

Locke

I’m semi-conscious as we pull into the driveway. I heard the shots but have no fucking idea what’s happening. I can see a commotion outside the clubhouse, and it hits me. Sara was here. Sara was after Kiki.

“Hurry!” I yell as much as I can. The guys step on the gas, and we spin the tires as we head up the driveway. That’s when I see blonde hair splayed out across the grass, blood covering her light blue t-shirt. My heart beats harder in my chest as I pull the handle and fall out of the SUV. Remy scrambles around and helps me to my feet, but I’m unsteady after what I’ve been through.

“Kiki!” I scream as I try to make my way to her.

“You need to go inside, Locke. We’ll get her,” he says. I shake him off and stumble, falling once more but pushing myself to keep going until I fall on the ground next to her.

“Kiki? Baby? Look at me,” I tell her. She doesn’t move, and that scares the fuck out of me. I shake her shoulder as Duke tries to scoop her off the ground.

“Don’t touch her!”

“Locke, she needs to see Doc now. More than she needs you, brother.”

“Don’t hurt her,” I tell him as he scoops her into his arms. I see Gunner looking grim as he looks between me, her, and Hodge. They take her in as I climb to my knees and lower my head. I should have listened to her. Why the hell didn’t I listen to her? I should have gotten out of there. I shouldn’t have fucking been there!

“She’s gonna be okay,” Remy says.

“You don’t fuckin’ know that. I can’t lose her, Remy. I can’t do it again,” I tell her as tears burn the back of my eyes.

“You ain’t losin’ her. We’re not losin’ anyone today, goddamn it. Let’s get you inside.” He helps me to my feet. I struggle, but I still manage to walk inside.

“She’s strong, yeah? She made it through Spike, so she can do this, right?” I ask him more for myself than anything else.

“Yeah, you’re right. She’s gonna make it through this just fine.”

“Yeah. She’s gonna be fine, Remy. She’s gonna be fine.” I have to repeat the goddamn words in my head, or I might go insane.

Everyone is scattered around when I see Tina with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Come here,” I tell her loud enough she hears me. She turns her head and then rushes into my arms. I hold her as best I can, knowing she’s worried about her friend.

“She’s gonna be fine,” I tell her.

“We need to get you fixed up, too,” I hear Gunner’s voice. I nod my head and release Tina as Remy helps me down the hall.

“Let’s get you in here,” Remy says as I shake my head.

“I need to see her.”

“Let Doc do his thing, Locke.”

“Fuck you! I said I need to see her!” Remy looks over his shoulder where I see Gunner standing. I hadn’t seen him there before now, but he nods, and Remy leads me to the spare room. I walk in as the Doc looks up from what he’s doing.

She’s still. So fucking still, it scares me. My throat is too dry to swallow, and my chest aches at the sight of her.

“She hit her head pretty hard. She’s in and out of consciousness. Concussion, I’m sure of.”

“And that?” I ask, nodding toward her side.

“Went straight through. She was lucky. I don’t think anything vital was hit. I’m more concerned about her head,” he replies. I nod my head when he motions for me to leave the room. “I’ll meet you in the room.”

“I’m not leavin’ her.”

“You need to get stitched up, and let me look you over,” he says as I shake my head.

“I said I’m not leavin’ her,” I growl a little louder now.

“Fine. Come lay next to her.” I can do that. I stumble over to the bed and lay down next to her, turning my head to keep my eyes on her while Doc does his thing. Gunner stays on the other side, looking between the two of us. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to.

I reach for her hand, pulling it into mine. I keep her hand wrapped tightly in mine as Doc gets to work on me. I don’t care what he does to me; all I can see is her. She’s here. She’s fucking here, breathing.

“She’s going to be fine,” Doc reassures me. I still don’t look at him.

“You’re pretty lucky your damn self. I’m sure your ribs are bruised, possibly broken. These wounds are deep, but I don’t think they hit anything. This would be easier if we were at the hospital so I can get images.”

“No hospital,” I tell him, keeping my eyes glued to her. I’m watching her chest rise and fall as she sleeps.

“It would be helpful, Locke.”

“I said no. Fix me here.”

“I’m doing the best I can. You lost a lot of blood.”

“Don’t care, Doc. I’m not goin’ anywhere.” He gives up arguing with me and finishes stitching me up.

“The bullet to your shoulder may have torn some muscle, Locke. That will require surgery.”

“Nope. Still not leavin’.”

“You might not gain full use of that arm if you don’t,” he warns. I turn to look at him and give him a nasty fucking look. I don’t care about that, not right now. I care about her. I want to be here with her.

“Fine. That’s on you.”

“You sure about this, Locke? We need you at a hundred percent, brother,” Gunner tries reasoning with me.

“I’m good. Go take care of Hodge.” The Doc stands and leaves the room, leaving us alone.

“You sure about this?” Gunner asks once more.

“I’m sure. I wanna be here, brother.”

“Okay. Get some rest. I’m gonna check on Hodge, and then I’ll be back,” he says. I nod my head as I watch him walk out of the room. Then I turn my head and look back at Kiki.

“What the hell were you doin’ tryin’ to outrun a bullet? Fuck, Kiki. You scared the shit out of me. You can’t fuckin’ do that shit to me, yeah? Never again.” I know she can’t hear me, but I need to say it. I need her to hear me.

“You know I’ll never forgive myself for this shit, yeah? I got you into this mess. It’s my fault, baby. If anything happens to you … fuck, Kiki.”