Page 77 of Rascal

“Tinker, is Mia Charlotte okay?”

“Yeah, shaken and scared, but she’s fine.”

“Hallie protected me. The mean Hallie kept trying to hurt her,” Mia Charlotte explained.

“Bear is on his way; I called him first,” Bishop called.

“Good call.”

I brushed Hallie’s hair away from her face. “I don’t like Hallie’s pallor.”

“Ambulance is coming, Prez. Looks like she put up a fight.”

“Leave the other bitch where she is. She’s no problem of ours. The cops can deal with her,” I said.

Bishop and Tinker didn’t argue, and I didn’t expect them to.

Hallie

The hospital’s bright lights stung my eyes.

“Lights,” I whispered. Moments later they dimmed, and King’s worried face popped into view.

“Hallie, I can’t believe—”

“Don’t start!” I ordered weakly. “Mia Charlotte is alive.”

“Thanks to you,” Chance stated, and I glanced around the room. Aside from Rascal, King, and Chance, there were Shee, Celt, Wraith, Bone, and surprisingly, Bear.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“You saved my baby girl. Whatever you want is yours; I’ll never repay that debt,” Bear replied.

I sneered at Chance. “Wasn’t it my fault that Mia Charlotte was in danger in the first place?”

“No. I lashed out, and I’m sorry,” Chance apologised.

“Why are you all here?” I demanded, unsure what to do with the apology.

“It’s a club thing: a brother, old lady or kid is hurt badly, we all turn up to support them,” Chance explained.

“Again, why are you here?” I repeated.

King laughed and shook his head. “Told ya!”

“Babe, you’re with me, and my old lady,” Rascal said.

“Yeah, I don’t think so, not after what I’ve gone through. That’s way too quick,” I retorted.

Rascal’s face froze. “Do you love me?”

“Yup, I did before, but that didn’t stop you thinking that I’d stabbed you now, did it?”

“Okay. I see. We’ve some work to do,” Rascal stated.

Unamused, I rolled my eyes and stared at everyone who was smirking. “Where’s the bitch?” I asked.

Their faces sobered. “In ICU. You literally bashed her brains in. Kira’s got swelling on the brain, and doctors are saying she’s going to have brain damage. Plus, you did a number on Kira’s face. Nobody will mistake Kira for you again,” King said.