Page 31 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door (Never Just One #4)

Harper

B ear doesn’t let go of my hand the whole journey to the hospital.

Nor does he mind that my other hand clings to Wolf’s, that my focus is on him alone.

He murmurs words of comfort as they wheel Wolf into surgery, and he does the talking when words fail me as the kind nurses and doctors look me over, checking that the baby is okay.

He fights my corner when the police try to interview me, insisting there is a lawyer present.

After all, I killed a man tonight.

Viktor is dead. He’s finally gone.

The police are trying to determine whether it was a case of self-defense. My lawyer, Mira’s brother Ted, is confident that no charges will be brought against me, that it is a clear case of self-defense, and several witnesses attest to that fact.

I wish I were as certain of my innocence. But I know the truth. I could have shot Viktor elsewhere, incapacitated him without killing him, but I didn’t. I wanted him dead.

The worst part? I don’t even feel guilty. I’m glad he’s gone. If I could kill him all over again, I would.

I focus all of the fear and worry I feel for Wolf into my anger against Viktor. The doctors say Wolf will survive, the surgery was successful, but he’s still not awake yet. The bullet collapsed his lung, and had it been a few inches lower, it would have hit his heart. He’s lucky to be alive.

If he died tonight, it would be because of me. He’s in here because of me. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive myself.

I am grateful for Bear’s comforting presence through all of this.

Hawk is with Jenny. I wouldn’t have him anywhere else.

I am so glad that he chose to protect her over coming for me.

He knew that was what I wanted without me ever having to ask.

Of course, Bear and Wolf love Jenny, too, but they knew Hawk would be best suited to rescue her tonight, and that we may need Bear’s medical knowledge.

I know that with Hawk there, Jenny is unafraid and well protected.

Hawk’s already ten times the father Ryan ever was.

Knowing my daughter is safe and unaware of everything that’s going on tonight takes one less worry from my mind.

I can’t wait to be with all three of my men together again. To be held by them and know that we are all safe. That we survived this.

It still doesn’t feel real that Viktor is gone.

“How are you feeling?” Mira asks, handing me a lukewarm cup of coffee from the hospital cafeteria. It tastes like dirt, but I take it gratefully.

“I’m exhausted. Both physically and emotionally.”

“That’s understandable,” she says, holding out another cup for Bear.

Bear takes it, his other hand still firmly holding mine. “Thank you,” he replies, and Mira nods, her eyes narrowed slightly.

I can tell Mira is wary of this big, burly man that I’ve fallen in love with.

It’s the first time she’s meeting any of them, and I desperately want her to like him, but Bear is on edge, worrying about Wolf and me.

He doesn’t necessarily give the best first impression as is, looking far more intimidating than he is with his shaved head and tattoos, let alone now when he’s tense and sullen.

I’d have thought he’d be the easiest one to introduce to people, but he’s not his usual, jovial self.

He’s barely said two words to Mira other than asking how, as my witness protection officer, she allowed Viktor to find me in the first place.

The pair exchanged some tense words and have now fallen into frosty silence, where they mostly ignore each other.

The coffee is an olive branch of sorts, Mira’s acknowledgement that Bear is simply protective of me.

“Harper, why didn’t you tell me? If I’d known, I would have—”

“You would have made me start over again, and I didn’t want that. Not to mention how complicated it would be with Ryan. I was tired of hiding, and I finally had a life I wasn’t willing to leave behind.”

Mira smiles softly. “I’m glad to hear that.”

At that moment, a nurse appears. We look up, eager for information.

“Is it Wolf? I mean Logan. Is he awake?” I ask hopefully.

“Sorry, no, not yet. It’s your other friend, the woman who came in with you all, Susan. She’s asking to see you.”

The last thing I want to do is see Susan. She may have redeemed herself by saving my life, but she was the one who gave up my daughter’s location and fed Viktor crucial information. I’m not sure if I can forgive her.

“Come on. We should go and see what she wants. She saved your life. I think she’s at least earned the right to explain herself to you,” Bear reasons. So the big softie is still in there.

Mira looks surprised at his diplomatic response. “I agree with Ezra,” she says.

Yet another thing I know my best friend and men will clash over is her refusal to use nicknames.

She believes they’re stupid. She also keeps calling the Shadow Pack a gang, something that I’ll need to stop her from doing in the future if I want them all ever to stand a chance of getting along.

I know she just has my best interests at heart, that she’s worried the men and the club are bad news, that they’ll bring trouble into my life, but I’m confident that with time, she’ll come around, especially once she gets to know them and sees what I see.

“Fine,” I agree with a sigh, getting up from my seat and allowing the nurse to lead Bear and me to Susan’s room.

“Just shout if you need me,” Mira calls after us, already pulling out her phone.

She’s going to have a shit ton of paperwork and explaining to do as my WITSEC officer. I feel bad. I should have realized that this mess would land her in trouble.

***

Susan is propped up in bed, looking emaciated and pale without her makeup. She looks so pitiful, it’s hard to be mad at her. Her eyes light up as we enter the room.

“You came.”

“I did,” I reply curtly.

“How is Wolf doing?” she asks desperately. I no longer feel jealous, only pity for this woman who loves Wolf so obsessively that she would stoop to such lows to try to win his heart.

“He came out of surgery a little while ago. He’s going to be fine.”

“Oh, thank god,” she says, breathing a sigh of relief and slumping back into her pillows.

“Is that it? Can I go now?” I say, feeling annoyed at myself for thinking she’d want to see us for anything other than Wolf.

“No. No. Please, stay. I wanted to talk to you. To apologize. I didn’t know what Viktor was going to do.

I met him in a bar after I overheard you and Pam talking, and I found your pregnancy test in the trash at the clubhouse.

I was so angry, so hurt that he chose you, that he didn’t want me.

I was at a vulnerable time. I’d been doing drugs again, and Viktor gave me some, got me hooked on his shit, and told me there was plenty more where it came from if I helped him. I’m so sorry.”

“You told him how to get to my daughter. She’s five years old,” I say icily. Unwilling to forgive.

“I know, I’m sorry. I never thought he’d hurt her. I didn’t… I wasn’t thinking.”

“You need help, Susan. Rehab. And your obsession with Wolf has to stop.”

“I know,” she says, tears falling down her cheeks. I hope that she’s finally reached rock bottom.

“You need to stay away from the Shadow Pack. Do you understand me? We can’t forgive a betrayal like this,” Bear says. As VP, Bear will be the one to make these kinds of decisions while Wolf’s out of action.

She nods, sniffling. “Yes, I promise. I’ve already booked into a rehab facility. I’m going to do it this time, really. I’m going to get clean.”

“I hope you do, Susan. You saved Harper’s life tonight. We won’t forget that, but we also can’t forget that you helped our enemy and betrayed the Pack.”

“I know.” She hangs her head, looking forlorn and so miserable it’s hard not to pity her.

“I hope you’re able to straighten your life out, Susan. Thank you for saving my life,” I add, knowing that despite what she did, I wouldn’t be here now without her.

Leaving a crying Susan, we head to visit Paul and Katie.

Katie is lying in a hospital bed, her head bandaged, with Paul sitting by her side holding her hand.

One of the Shadow Pack members, Tiny—who’s anything but—is also there, standing guard over Katie.

From the way he keeps glancing over at her, it seems he’s quite taken by her.

She’s a beautiful woman, even with the bruises.

Paul immediately springs out of his chair when he sees us. “Harper, Bear, how are you? How is Wolf?”

We briefly explain Wolf’s condition, assuring him that he will be fine. We intend to visit him next. So far, the doctors have refused to let us see him. I won’t take no for an answer next time.

“I don’t know how I can ever repay you and thank you enough for what you did for me, for Katie,” Paul says, his voice thick with emotion.

Katie smiles at me shyly. I can tell that there are scars she needs to heal from that will take far longer than her physical injuries. I feel connected to her instantly. Bonded through the shared trauma of Viktor Volkov.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” I say to her.

“Thanks to you. As Paul said, we owe you.” Her voice is melodic and soft. “I feel awful that this whole mess happened because of me.”

I wave her words away, going over and taking her soft hand in mine, looking her in the eyes. “No. That’s not true. Before, I’d have said it happened because of me. But that’s not true either. Viktor is the only one to blame. No one else,” I say firmly.

Katie smiles gratefully at me. At that moment, there’s a knock at the door, and Mira appears.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I knew you’d want to know right away. Logan is awake.”

My heart skips a beat. I’m so overwhelmed with joy. I glance over at Paul and Katie. “Sorry, but I’ve got to go see Wolf,” I say.

“Of course,” they reply. I’m already halfway out the door, Bear hot on my heels.

Wolf’s awake. He’s alright. We’re going to be alright.

He’s sat up in bed, looking weary but handsome as ever. Alive and well. He smiles as we enter, just as happy to see us as we are to see him.

I rush to his side, kissing him as salty tears of joy run down my cheeks. “Don’t ever scare me like that again,” I say, smothering him with kisses.

“It’ll take more than a bullet to take me from you, Harper.”