The Biker's Fate Chapter 458

The doctor left, and Merrick was by my side again. "You still feeling good?"

I nodded. "How bad does my face look?"

"Don't wanna talk about that right now," Merrick said.

"It's that bad?"

"Baby, you're beautiful. Nothing will ever change that, but it means I have to explain how many hits that asshole got in before I found you, and I don't really want to go there."

"Who killed him?"

"I did."

I burst into tears and he stretched out on the bed and pulled me against him. "You crying because he's dead or because I shot him?"

"I'm crying because you saved me and made it so he can't hurt anyone else."

"Are you okay with that?"

"Yes," I hissed. "I love you. I was a twatwaffle to you and you still saved me."

His body shook, and I knew he was laughing.

"Don't laugh at me. I'm injured."

"Twatwaffle?"

"Scientific term for bitch."

"Baby, we both had culpability in the argument. We've apologized, it's done. Now it's time to get you home and we'll figure everything else out once you're feeling better."

"You still want me to come home with you?" I whispered.

"Jesus, Rem, did you think I'd change my mind over some dumbass argument?"

"Yes, kind of."

He kissed me gently. "I love you. Nothing's gonna change that."

"Promise?"

"Yeah, honey, I promise."

"Can we get a new sofa?" I asked.

"You don't like my sofa?"

"No. It's leather. I hate leather."

"Why do you hate leather?"

"Because it's all squeaky and shit," I said. "I want to lie down on a couch without hearing it."

"Okay, honey, we can get a new sofa."

"Thanks, Tweety."

"You're welcome Eeyore."

His phone buzzed and he checked his screen and swore.

"What's wrong?"

"The rabid bitch stabbed Alamo in the stomach. It's touch and go. They think she nicked his liver."

"Oh my god, Merrick. Is Jasmine okay? You should make sure."

"Don't know, honey. But she's surrounded by family, so gonna let them take care of her. You are my priority."

With him holding me, I fell asleep and didn't wake up again until the next morning when it was time to be fitted with a cast.

Jasmine

"Where is he?" I demanded, rushing into the emergency area of the hospital.

"They just wheeled him up for surgery," Badger said, pulling me in for a hug.

I pushed him away. "What happened? All of it, Knox McKellar. Don't filter."

"Gonna fuckin' filter a little bit, Jazz," he warned, and filled me in.

"The bitch is here too? The one who stabbed him?"

Badger nodded.

"What's her name?"

"Nadia Popov," he said.

I nodded and headed to the elevator.

"Jazz, where the fuck are you going?" Badger demanded, jogging to catch up to me.

"I'm not telling you, unless you'll agree to be my lookout."

"Fuck me, Jasmine. No."

"Then, kindly walk away, Badger."

"Jazz."

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside.

"Alamo's gonna fuckin' kill me," he complained as he walked into the elevator with me.

I smiled without mirth as I tried to keep my composure. I needed the muscle memory of my southern upbringing to lead me where I needed to go.

Arriving at reception, I stepped to the desk and smiled.

"May I help you?"

"Yes," I breathed out softly, hoping for a worried tone. "My friend was brought in and I'm worried sick. Would you please tell me which room Nadia Popov is in?"

"Let me look."

Badger hung back, which I was glad for, since he was wearing his badass biker gear and looking scary as hell, even if he was adorable.

"She's under guard, ma'am."

"Oh, my word," I said, placing my hand on my chest. "Is she in danger?"

"I can't say. I'm sorry."

"Is there a waiting area on her floor? I just want to know if she's okay."

"Ma'am, I am bound by the rules of this hospital."

I crossed my heart. "I promise I won't bother anyone."

She sighed. "There's a common waiting room on the fourth floor."

I gave her prayer hands. "Thank you so much."

Turning on my heel, I headed back to the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor.

"What's your play here, Jazz?" Badger asked.

"You're gonna find her room for me and figure out how to get me in."

"Fuck me," Badger rasped.

"Not my type, buddy, but thanks for the offer."

The doors dinged open and Badger pulled me aside gently as we stepped out. "Need you to think about this, babe. It's not a good idea."

"You have no idea if it's a good idea or not."

"You goin' after this bitch while she's in a hospital bed isn't a good idea."

I shrugged. "Who said I was going after her?"

"Jazz."

"If you're not going to help me, go ahead and leave, buddy. I'm good."

"I'm not fuckin' leavin' you, Jasmine, and you know it. Alamo'd have my fuckin' head if I did."

I raised an eyebrow. "Then, help me."

He shook his head as he sighed. "Follow me."

I grinned in triumph and followed him.

Badger pointed to a chair in the hallway and whispered, "Sit there for a sec."

I sat and pulled out my phone, so it looked like I was doing something useful. At least forty-thousand minutes went by and still no Badger. Security and real police officers roamed the floor, one of them even winked at me as he walked past, and I dropped my head again in an effort not to make eye-contact with anyone.

Jesus, where was he?

I saw him just as I was about to abort the plan and he handed me a slip of paper, but kept walking.

412.

I had no idea where he was going, but I didn't ponder it as I made my way toward room 412.

"Officer Hernandez, there's a phone call for you," I heard as I approached the room.

A uniformed police officer walked away from the door and I knew I'd hit pay dirt. I sped up my steps and slipped into the room, making sure no one else was inside, then made my way to the bed. Nadia Popov was reclined on the mattress, handcuffed to the rail, so I leaned over her. "Hello, Nadia."

Her eyes flew open. "Who are you?" she rasped.

"I'm the woman whose man you cut." I sneered down at her and wrapped my hand around her throat. I had no intention of killing her, but I was a little taken aback by how much I liked knowing I could. "I would call you a cunt, but since there's nothing warm nor deep about you, we'll just go with bitch. I'm going to make sure you go to prison for a very long time. Maybe there you'll learn how to keep the woman code and work out some of your depraved ideas of what men should be allowed to do to them. I hope you rot in hell right alongside your brother."

With that, I walked out as fast as I could just as Nadia screamed bloody murder. My heart raced as Badger reached out from a hallway and pulled me to him. "Time to go."

I stayed close to him as we tried not to run to the elevators and stepped inside. Once on the surgery waiting room floor, we headed to our family and I took deep, gulping breaths as we sat down.

"I forgot she could still use her voice," I whispered.

"Yeah, but don't worry about it," Badger said. "The cameras were disabled and won't be back up for another"— he glanced at his watch "—ten seconds."

"How…never mind, I don't want to know," I said.

He nodded and sat down beside me as we waited for information on Alamo.