The Biker's Fate Chapter 358

"Sir, if you're not family, there's nothing I can do. I'm sorry." Leslie, the head nurse, didn't sound sorry. In truth, her tone sounded a tad more like, "Stop bothering me, you biker scumbag or I'll call security."

"Please, he's my—"

"'Brother,' yes I know." She punctuated her sarcastic tone with air quotes.

Before I could continue my attempt to soften the heart of Nurse Ratchet, I heard a familiar, but perhaps not so currently friendly voice behind me.

"What the heck did you animals do to my husband?"

I turned around to see Willow, Dash's new bride, barreling toward me, her fists balled at her side.

"Willow, Dash was in an accident—"

"Stick it, Sparky! I know that however he got hurt, whatever the story is, whatever you macho jerks decided is best for us little ladies to know, the truth is he's only in the hospital because of your gosh darn motorcycle club!"

I'd never seen Willow, the preacher's daughter, like this. She never swore, and even this upset, she kept her words clean, although, she got her point across.

She turned calmly to Leslie and asked, "May I see my husband, please?"

"Yes, of course, he's right this way," she said, and began walking Willow towards Dash's room. I started to follow, but Willow turned on her heels sharply, her eyes fixed on me, but addressing nurse Leslie.

"Not him. In fact, no one wearing a cut or motorcycle… costume of any kind is permitted in this room."

As pissed as she was, her "costume" remark showed her true innocent self and it was fuckin' adorable. It was all I could do to keep from smiling. On the other hand, my heart was breaking for her. She must have been terrified as well as pissed. And she had every right to be angry. With me, the club and even to Dash. At some level, every one of us knows that the women we care about worry about us every time we ride off. We were assholes for making them go through that, but riding was a part of who we were and our women knew that.

My phone buzzed and without looking at it, knew it was a text from Poppy.

CALL ME NOW

Shit.

Since I wasn't gonna be let back to see Dash, I stepped to a quiet place in the waiting room and called Poppy, and even though I knew what was coming… I wasn't fully prepared for what was coming.

"Why is Dash in the hospital?" she bellowed without so much as a hello.

"Babe—"

"Goddammit, Devon, what the hell is going on?"

"Poppy, I—?"

"Was he hurt by the same people that hurt Badger?"

"What do you know about what happened to Badger?" I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

"I know more than you think, Devon. Wives and girlfriends talk y'know, and we're not stupid."

I sighed. "I've never thought you were stupid, Poppy."

"Then you either think I'm a child, or I can't be trusted with information regarding the club."

"Neither of those things are true either, Poppy, it's just that I can't—"

"If you tell me one more time you can't tell me about club business, we're through," she said with a tone that I'd never heard. There was a steely resolve in her voice that let me know that this wasn't an idle threat. There was something deeper hidden within her words.

"Poppy, it's not a trust issue. I would put my life in your hands before anyone else. I love you, and the last thing I want to do is keep secrets from you."

"Then, why can't you tell me what's going on? It's obviously something bigger than normal club business and people are getting hurt. I'm scared Devon, and I don't even know what I'm supposed to be scared of! You say you love me, but you're keeping me at a distance."

"It's because I love you that I'm protecting you from what's going on!" I shouted in frustration.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me!" she yelled loud enough, I had to pull the phone away from my ear. "I'm the one who's angry here! I get to do all the yelling right now!"

She was right and I knew it. The first code of the club was silence, but it was unfair to keep her in the dark. I did love and trust her with all my heart, but that meant nothing if I couldn't let her in. On the other hand, the stakes had never been higher and it had never been more important to play things close to the vest, but this was Poppy and I didn't want to be guarded or secretive with her anymore.

"Baby, I promise I will fill you in on everything when this is all finished. I can't really talk right now, and don't want to do this over the phone."

"I swear to God, Devon, if you are trying to placate me or—"

"I'm not, I promise. I'll tell you everything next time I see you. Right now, all you need to know is that Dash was hit by a drunk driver, is pretty banged up, but is going to be okay. I promise this had nothing to do with what's going on with the club."

"But something is going on," she said, clearly fighting back tears.

"Yes, something's going on," I said.

"Something dangerous, right?" she whispered.

"Yes, something dangerous, but we're being very safe, I promise."

"If you're being so safe then why is Dash in the hospital?"

I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was my fault. How could I admit to her that my shitty judgement led to my brother lying in a hospital bed? How would it make her feel to know that I wasn't there for him? And how could she ever believe me when I told her that I'd be there for her?

"I promise you, I'll explain everything next time I see you."

"Will that be at my graduation ceremony?" she asked.

"I'm trying, baby," I said.

"That's not really an answer, is it?"

"It's the best I can do right now," I replied.

"It's clear where your priorities are, Devon. I understand completely," she said flatly.

"Goddammit, Poppy, I'm trying here. What exactly am I supposed to do? I have to be there for my club, and there are even bigger things in motion beyond the Dogs." I sighed. "That's all I can say right now. I need you to trust me."

She said nothing for at least ten seconds before responding with a curt, "Fine."

"I love you, Poppy."

"You can prove that to me by not ending up in a bed next to Dash… or in the morgue."

And with that, she hung up. I couldn't blame her for being angry and worried, and I hated that I was putting her through this. On the other hand, she knew club life and should be understanding of the position I was in. Not that any of this mattered as much as saving these girls that were about to be sold like cattle and protecting the club. I had to put everyone else's well-being before my and Poppy's needs, and just hoped she'd be able to trust me in the meantime.