Page 31 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

Our doctors insisted Brae and I stay in the hospital for two days just to ensure they hadn’t missed anything.

They still had a hard time believing we weren’t seriously hurt.

After seeing pictures of what her Challenger looked like, so were we.

I knew Brae was upset that her precious car had been totaled.

And I didn’t blame her. For a cage, I liked it.

I promised we’d find her another one. She said she was getting another no matter what.

The police had come early the following morning after our admission.

They asked us questions, but we had little to tell them other than about hearing the honks and seeing the lights before being hit.

The lead officer stated that there had been numerous witnesses, and they all pretty much said the same thing.

They all reported that a man jumped out of the totaled van, got into a nearby car, and then sped off.

We didn’t tell him we already knew that.

Apparently, it happened so fast that there wasn’t even a clear description of what the man or the car looked like.

People were stunned, and the traffic cams in that area didn’t help.

Crusher had verified the same thing. The man was dressed in an oversized coat and had a hat pulled low over his face.

The car with those tinted windows hid its driver and was easily lost without a license plate.

The color, make, and model were very common.

Literally, thousands of them were in the city daily.

Whoever did it either got extremely lucky or they planned it.

The policemen took our information and vowed they’d keep us apprised.

They became highly anxious to solve it when they discovered the DA’s main prosecutor was in the car.

Both left her with their cards and instructions to call if she had any questions, day or night.

Eli wasn’t happy when she spoke to him to let him know she had to take time off. She did it over the phone, and I made her put it on speaker. We’d done it the morning after the hit-and-run. Even recalling it over a day later still made my blood pressure rise.

“Braelyn? It’s awfully early. Is there a problem?” he asked stiffly.

“Good morning, Eli. Yes, there is a problem. I’m afraid that Loki and I were hit in my car last night on our way home from dinner.

We’re both in the hospital, so I’m calling to let you know that I won’t be in to work for a few days.

Once I know more, I’ll let you know. I’ll have to take some time off to recover fully. ” She made her tone matter-of-fact.

I couldn’t tell his true reaction by his voice. To me, he came across as more surprised than concerned. I wished we were face-to-face to see how he took it.

“Wait, what? You were in a wreck, and you’re in the hospital? Why didn’t you call last night? Give me an hour, and I’ll be there. Tell me which hospital.”

“There’s no need for you to come here. They’re limiting visitors, and we’re sleeping a lot.

We were fortunate, and neither of us was seriously harmed.

The car is totaled. I’m covered in bruises and cuts and will have to take it easy, but we’ll make a full recovery.

I hate leaving you in the lurch, but I’m caught up with my work, and there’s nothing due on any of my cases for several days.

I hope I’ll be able to resume work, even if it’s remotely, soon. I’ll let you know.”

He’d tried a couple more times to convince her to let him visit, but she redirected him. After ending the call, I watched for him the rest of the day, but he didn’t appear.

We were discharged yesterday evening and went to the Pagans’ compound to stay.

I was still working to get Brae to return to Tennessee with me.

She was right on the cusp of agreeing. Betty had gotten a list of items Brae wanted from her place, and I told her and Rage to bring all my stuff.

They packed up our belongings and brought them to the compound, so we didn’t need to deal with stopping after discharge.

I was thankful. We were still moving slowly and hurting, though I felt better each day. When I saw the array of bruising on Brae’s body, I wanted to hit something. She’d been upset and cried when she saw the shape I was in. I reminded her we were alive, and that was what counted.

We were staying with Rage and Betty at their house. Betty fluttered around, attempting to baby us. It was nice yet not necessary. However, we indulged her as much as we could. Both of us knew it was out of panic that she could’ve lost her daughter.

It was close to dinner time. Brae and I were in the living room, relaxing and watching a movie.

Rage was in the kitchen with Betty. She’d run us off when we offered to help her.

I didn’t know if Rage was much help. When I went to get us more to drink, I caught him kissing Betty while pinning her to the counter.

I teased them, which made him laugh. Betty shooed me off with a threat of no dinner.

The front door opening had me turning to see who it was.

Like our compound, most people walked into homes without knocking, and we rarely locked doors inside the walls.

I grinned when I saw it was Wrath and Jalisa.

His woman came rushing over to hug mine.

Then she surprised me by kissing my cheek.

Her kiss made her old man growl, causing Jalisa to giggle and roll her eyes at him.

“We came for dinner. I swear, you have to get your mom to let me help when she does this, Brae. She always turns me down,” Jalisa complained.

“Good luck. She ran Loki and me off, too. I don’t know if she would’ve taken my help if I were unhurt,” Brae admitted.

I shook Wrath’s hand and told him hello. Within moments, Rage popped out of the kitchen to join us. Right behind him was Betty.

“It just needs to finish cooking. Give it half an hour or so. You two know where stuff is if you want something to drink. Help yourself. Brae, Loki, do you need anything?” Betty asked.

“Mom, we’re fine—no need to wait on us. We’re primarily sore. Moving around helps,” Brae assured her.

We were in the middle of telling the newest additions about our day when Rage received a text. He took his phone from his pocket and put on his reading glasses. His puzzled expression changed to an angry one.

“What is it, Rage?” Betty asked in concern.

“It seems we have a visitor at the gate requesting admittance. Or more like demanding.”

“Who?” Wrath and I asked at the same time. I wondered if Eli had tracked Brae down and had the guts to show up here. If so, why did he wait until she left the hospital to do it?

“It’s Hayes. He’s demanding to see his mother and sister.” The growl was evident in Rage’s tone.

Betty’s eyes widened, and she put a hand over her mouth.

Brae frowned and asked, “Why would Hayes be here? He hasn’t stepped on this compound or come to see Mom or me for three years.

He said he’d never have anything to do with us again if Mom didn’t dump Rage and we both stayed away from the Pagans.

We told him it wasn’t happening, so he cut us out of his life. ”

“Tell whoever is at the gate to let him in and direct him here,” Wrath told his dad.

Rage tapped out a text. It was a tense few minutes until a knock on the front door came.

Rage had Betty stay in the family room with us while he went to answer it.

It was a minute or so before he returned.

Following him was a man close to my age.

He didn’t look much like Betty or Brae except for his eyes.

He was handsome and stood six feet. He was more athletically built than we were.

He wore a dress shirt, a tie, dress pants, and shoes.

He must’ve come from work, though I didn’t recall anyone mentioning the kind of work he did.

His face was twisted in an unhappy expression.

I saw him look first at his mom and run his gaze over her before finding his sister and doing the same to her. He noted I was holding her hand. He checked me out and, undoubtedly, seeing my tattoos, thought I was another Pagan. He gave me a dismissive look. Betty and Wrath stood up.

“Hayes, what a surprise. Won’t you come in and have a seat? Dinner is almost ready. You have great timing. I’d love it if you’d stay,” Betty said. I heard the hope in her voice.

“Mom, it’s been a long time. I’m sorry I didn’t call ahead. I wanted to speak to you and Braelyn, but wasn’t sure if you’d see me.”

“Of course, I’d see you. Have a seat. Can I get you anything?” Betty asked.

Hayes reluctantly sat in a chair across from Brae, me, Wrath, and Jalisa. Betty and Rage retook the chair they’d been sharing, and Wrath retook his. I noticed how the frown on Hayes’s face worsened when he saw his mom sit on Rage’s lap.

“I don’t need anything other than to speak to both of you.”

“What about?” Brae asked.

Hayes shifted his gaze around the room at those of us who weren’t his family. It was clear he didn’t want to talk in front of us. After the silence stretched for a few moments, he answered.

“I’d like to talk to you and Mom alone, Braelyn. It’s a family matter.”

Before Betty could say anything, Brae did.

“Then you’re in luck, big brother. Everyone in this room is family. You know Rage and Wrath. This guy is my man, Loki. And that there is Jalisa. She’s Wrath’s old lady. Things have changed since you saw us last. A lot can change in three years.”

I knew Brae well enough to detect the challenge she was putting down.

She dared him to defend why he had cut them off for three years, but was here now.

Or to have him object to the rest of us staying.

I relaxed and watched. I saw no reason to step in unless he got ugly or she began to tire herself out.