Shade(234)
“I do, but this isn’t one of them.”
“You can’t fight the inevitable.”
Shade knew Viper was remembering his brother Gavin.
“No, but I know someone who can. I just have to find her.”
* * *
Shade watched Rachel as she carefully stepped down the steep path on the hill. When she got to the bottom, she looked up, coming to a stop as she saw him.
“Hi, Rachel.” He was leaning against the door of her car with his arms folded across his chest.
“Shade. What are you doing out here?”
He gave her a mocking smile. “Knox told me you used to come here every weekend. I knew, eventually, you would come by for a visit, so I had the place watched. Old habits die hard.”
“Evidently. What do you want?”
“I want you to fix Cash,” Shade said determinedly.
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not capable of fixing him, Shade. I don’t have super powers.” She brushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek. “Besides, I already tried.”
“Then try again.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You’re just going to leave him lying in that bed without trying?” Shade asked brusquely.
“I tried! What don’t you understand?”
Shade straightened away from the car. “Rachel, do you feel any better since you left town?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Then, if you’re going to feel like shit, why not stay in town near Cash? Even if you can help him deal with the pain, then wouldn’t it be worth it?”
“I don’t owe Cash any favors,” she responded stubbornly.
“Don’t act like you don’t care, or you wouldn’t have come back to town. No one says you have to move back into your brothers’ house.”
“Where would I stay?”
“You could stay with Cash’s grandmother. No one goes near that old bitch’s house.”
A slight smile touched her lips. “She’s not that bad.”
“Yes, she is. Well?”
“All right.” Rachel agreed to what they both knew she wanted to do, anyway.
“Good. She’s expecting you.”
Rachel rolled her eyes.
“I owe you, Rachel.”
“That’s the same thing you said when you asked me to go to work in the church store to help Lily. I would have helped Lily regardless, but it would have been nice if you would have broken up that fight before Cash opened his big mouth.”
Shade climbed on his bike, turning on the motor. “I paid you back when I helped Viper hold Cash back when Tate dragged you away. If he had gotten near Tate, he would have killed him. Welcome back, Rachel.”#p#分页标题#e#
Shade felt Rachel glaring at him as he rode away. She could hate him as much as she wanted as long as she stayed and healed Cash.
* * *
Rachel stayed by Cash’s side, although Shade would see her slip out the door whenever any of The Last Riders visited, avoiding talking to them.
Cash’s doctor gave them regular updates on his condition, and each time, he was less optimistic about Cash’s recovery.
“We decreased his medication, so he’s in more of a deep sleep versus a coma.”
Shade stood next to Lily as they listened to Cash’s doctor explain his condition.
“His spinal injury is quite severe, and we’re going to begin to wean him off the ventilator.” The doctor paused. “I do not anticipate him walking again.”
At his proclamation, several of the women began crying. Viper put his arms around Winter, Knox pulled Diamond closer, Shade pulled Lily into his side, and Evie turned to King. Everyone there stood stupefied at the doctor’s prognosis that the consequences of the wreck would be life-changing for Cash.
The Last Riders began making plans as soon as the doctor left.
“We can put him downstairs. It’s accessible with a wheelchair and has the exercise equipment and hot tub,” Viper stated.
“I’ll call Donna as soon as he’s out of the rehab center,” Winter said.
Each and every one of them discussing how they would help Cash heal and adjust to his new life was why Shade was loyal to The Last Riders. They stood together to face any challenge thrown their way.
“I need to go talk to Rachel.” Lily wiped her tears away as he released her.
“I’ll go with you,” Beth said.
Both women walked to Rachel who was standing at the edge of the group. Shade went to get a bottled water, waiting for Viper to come out of Cash’s room so he could go inside for a few moments.
Viper walked out, and then Shade motioned to Lily that he was going to go see Cash.
He went into Cash’s room, staring down at the brother fighting for his life.