Page 27 of The MC’s Surprise (Bikers and Babies #4)

Sierra

T here was an uptick in calls from the crew, saying they were being harassed and followed by officers who were determined to pin something on them.

Whatever was going on with this other crew, the Dirty Devils were being blamed for it.

Wraith had to set their bikes and helmets up with cameras, which seemed to stop the cops from actually charging them with anything, but it made the whole crew restless and I could tell a few of them were losing their patience.

Thankfully, none of the harassment seemed to come from the community.

Just the officers. It made me hopeful that my plan was working, even if just a little.

The cops even showed up to the blood drive.

They didn’t approach or give blood. They just sat in the parking lot and watched us.

Most of the community members who showed up to donate probably figured they were hospital security or something, but a few of them looked more wary around the guys after they noticed them.

They almost seemed like they were waiting for the worst to happen because the cops were hanging around.

It was irritating, and I had to fight to keep myself from confronting them.

I did my best to ignore them, and the drive ended up being a huge success.

Kennedy donated during her report, reassuring people that the staff was kind and gentle, and she barely felt a thing.

She sat next to Tank, interviewing him on his experience and on why he and the crew wanted to do this blood drive.

Tank’s reply was eloquent and polite, and I gave him a high five when he was through.

I spent most of the day handing out snacks and putting people at ease.

The hospital staff did most of the work.

It wasn’t until the day was almost done that I noticed Vegas hovering as far away as possible from the donation van, or the bloodmobile, as the hospital so affectionately called it.

They set it up so they wouldn’t have droves of people coming in and out of the hospital who didn’t need to be there.

When I headed Vegas’s way, I actually saw a flash of panic cross his face and he was doing a terrible job of masking it when I stopped beside him.

“You okay?”

“I, uh– Yeah. I’m fine. How are you?”

He was acting strange, and I couldn’t figure out why. “Is it the cops? They haven’t come over or said anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. And we’ve only got an hour left. If they were going to start something, they probably would’ve done it already.”

He nodded quickly, but otherwise didn’t reply, his gaze moving to the bloodmobile and skittering away again. It worried me how upset he seemed and I didn't know what to do to help him.

“Is something wrong?”

“He’s afraid of needles,” a feminine voice answered with a hint of teasing. When I looked over my shoulder, Mel in bright blue scrubs was headed our way, a teasing grin on her face. “He’s always been a big baby about getting the flu shot.”

“Shut up, Mel,” he growled, his arms crossed tightly over his chest in what I recognized now as a defensive gesture. He was scared.

“Oh, that’s too cute,” I commented before I could think better of it.

Vegas’s gaze whipped around, and he scowled at me.

He obviously didn’t appreciate being the focus of this conversation, but it was cute.

He was an adult and still afraid of needles.

It made me want to hug him to ease his fears a little.

Mel ignored him, turning to me instead. “I wanted to say thanks for setting this up. We always need more blood, but it's so hard to get people in here to donate. I donate several times a year and it's still not enough. And no matter how much I beg, I’ve never gotten Vegas to donate. He’s O neg, we need his blood.”

“You sound like a vampire,” Vegas complained.

“And you sound like a toddler. It’s just one needle. Think of all the people you could be helping.”

Mocking him wasn’t helping. He didn’t seem any more inclined to donate when she tormented him.

If I’d known, I would’ve asked Prez to do it with him so he wouldn’t have to do it all alone.

Prez had been the most collected of the bunch all day.

I glanced around the parking lot, taking note of who had a bandage already on their arm and who didn’t.

There was only one crew member left who didn’t. I patted Vegas’s arm lightly.

“Wait here a second.”

Vegas

I watched as Sierra dashed over to where Rooster was hanging out by the bikes. Like me, he was about as far as he could get from the bloodmobile without crossing the street. She grabbed his hand, dragging him away from the bikes and over to where I still stood by our nagging Little Sister.

“Wha– Sierra–” Rooster stammered, stumbling over his feet as he tried to keep up with her. She was shorter, but much more enthusiastic, while Rooster was practically digging his heels in to keep her from moving him closer to the donation bus.

She stopped next to me, putting Rooster and me shoulder to shoulder, then gestured to the bus. “You’ll go in together. Melissa and I will be right there with you.”

Rooster and I shared a panicked look, and I was going to refuse until Melissa added, “Whoever doesn’t go through with it will look like a chicken.”

I groaned internally. She wasn’t wrong. The guys were starting to stare, and I didn’t want to look like a chicken shit over a damn needle in front of them.

They’d mock me for the rest of my life. Rooster seemed to think the same thing.

We both reluctantly headed toward the bus, and when Melissa told the donation staff Rooster and I were donating together, they sat us side by side across the aisle from each other.

Rooster’s face was pale as they did the intake, his eyes so wide you could see the whites of them. I hated needles, but I didn't think I was as bad off as him. At least, not until they brought out the massive needle to do the donation. Then the panic officially kicked in.

“Is that– Does it have to be that big?”

The nurse smiled reassuringly. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I’ve been doing this for years, and most of my patients don't even feel it.”

“I don’t like the word most. Why most? What happens to the rest of them?” Rooster babbled, scrunching himself down in his seat as another nurse approached with her own needle.

“Close your eyes,” Sierra demanded. I followed her instructions without question, mostly because I was worried I’d throw up if I didn’t. Rooster took a little more convincing, but Sierra’s voice was soothing as she reassured him it would be over before he knew it.

The nurse hadn’t been lying. I felt a slight pinch, and the needle wasn’t comfortable, but it didn’t hurt and as long as I didn’t open my eyes, I felt okay. After a few minutes, I even let myself relax a little.

“Hey, V?”

“Yeah, Rooster.”

“I, uh– If I pass out, don’t tell the guys. Alright?”

My brow furrowed, and I glanced over at him right in time to watch his eyes roll into his head and his body go slack.

“Oh shit! Rooster!”

Before I could leap out of my seat, Melissa pressed her hand against my chest to stall me. “Relax. It happens. He’ll be okay.”

The nurse who was standing nearby immediately pulled the needle out, reclining his chair until he was more flat.

He looked pale and there was sweat on his temples, but the nurses didn’t seem worried and they gave him a minute to come to on his own.

While we were waiting, my own donation bag was filled, but I was too worried about Rooster to notice the nurse pulling the needle out and bandaging me up.

She handed me a cookie and a juice box and told me to wait a little while before moving.

I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew Rooster was okay, so I didn’t argue with her.

Rooster woke up a few minutes later, sucking in a sharp breath and sitting up suddenly. His nurse put her hand on his forehead, gently lowering him back down.

“Take it easy. Just relax. You’re okay. Hard part is over.”

He let himself be pushed back down, looking around warily. “What happened?”

“You passed out,” I answered.

Rooster groaned, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Shit, seriously? I’ll be tormented for life now.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Relax. It won’t leave this room.

” I shot a warning gaze to Mel, who was the only person I could see telling other people, but she looked concerned and she didn’t even complain when I narrowed my eyes at her.

She just held up her pinky to Rooster, promising to keep it to herself.

Sierra looked close to tears, moving closer to Rooster’s side. “I’m so sorry, Rooster. If I’d known it was that bad, I never would’ve–”

Rooster shot her a goofy grin, waving away her concern. “Neither did I, sweetheart. I mean, yeah, needles freak me the hell out, but I never thought I’d actually pass out. If I’d known, I would’ve skipped today entirely. It’s fucking embarrassing.”

“Language,” the nurse scolded, sitting his chair up a little so he could take the treats she offered him. Rooster shot her a sheepish grin, dutifully drinking both juice boxes she handed him and eating his cookie.

Sierra still looked really upset, and I didn’t want her crying again, so I beckoned her closer, putting my arm around her waist and tugging until she joined me on the chair. I rubbed her arm, soothing the guilt a little, and offered her the rest of my cookie.

“You’re supposed to eat that,” she pointed out, leaning her head against my shoulder. I shrugged.

“Not a huge fan of sweets. Well… Most sweets anyway.” I shot her a lecherous look, effectively banishing her melancholy mood, as she burst out laughing.

It was a lame come on, but I wasn’t trying to get in her pants right now.

I just wanted to make her feel better, and dirty jokes seemed to do the trick. She was fun like that.

When we finished up and were finally released, Rooster and I shot each other looks.

“Not a word about this,” I said firmly.

He nodded. “No one needs to know.”

Because if the crew knew either of us was afraid of needles and needed hand holding to get through this, we’d never hear the end of it.