“You don’t need Snake. You don’t want Snake. He’s not going to rock your world but cause problems.” Expelling a breath that made her lips pucker, she shook her head.
Later that night it was Snake’s name she called out when she found a less than satisfactory relief.
Chapter Two
After heading home for a shower, shave, and a bite to eat, Snake arrived back at the hospital to relieve Dick. It was early the next morning with no change in Judi’s condition. Looking around the room he saw how hopeless they all felt. None of them could do anything to help her or Ripper. The other brother was just about to leave when Devil burst through the door, Lexie and the kids following close behind him. Devil’s presence surprised Snake. He must have gotten up early enough for the kids to say goodbye.
“Where is she?” Devil asked.
“Prez, you got here fast.”
“They didn’t need us at Fort Wills any longer. Come on, I’m going to go and find my daughter.” He took Josh off Lexie, and the family started toward the main desk. There was no sign of Jessica, and Snake was pissed.
The little bitch had kneed him in the nuts last night and left him lying in the snow. Not that he didn’t deserve it. He’d taken things a little too far last night. He needed to learn to take his time.
“I’m heading out. Call if anything changes. Devil’s on the case now, so we don’t have to be,” Dick said.
“I’m sticking around. I want to keep an eye on things.” Snake slapped Dick on the back, heading back to the main reception area.
Several of the brothers were waiting around. Some of them were playing on their cell phones, and Snake noticed several of the patients walking through the door trying to be as far from them as possible.
“Anyone would think we got some disease or some shit,” Snake said.
“Nah, they’re just afraid we might fuck their wives,” Butler said, smirking.
“You’re still awake.”
“I’m still awake and here waiting for the news. It’ll kill Ripper if anything happens to Judi.”
“It’ll kill all of us, man. Judi’s ours. She’s club property.”
Butler nodded. “I know, but it’s different for us.”
“Why? ‘cause we don’t have our dick inside her?” Snake winced, holding his hand up. “Shit, sorry, lack of sleep and I’m turning into a fucking monster.”
“We don’t fuck Judi, but Ripper’s in love with her. We all love her. She means something to all of us, but we’re not in love with her. Kind of like Devil, if he ever lost Lexie. It would hit us all hard, but it would kill Devil.”
“Nah, nothing would ever affect the Prez.”
“Then you’re an idiot,” Butler said. “Prez would kill himself to follow Lexie. I remember the way he was when she was pregnant with Elizabeth and then Josh. He was so scared of losing her. It tore him up. Devil will die for her.”
Snake sat back thinking about the time Lexie was pregnant. It was hard on all of the club but especially for Devil. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” Butler stretched his legs out, locking his fingers behind his head. His shirt rode up showing the scars of his past drug taking.
“Do you ever miss it?” Snake had taken drugs in the early days of riding. He never liked waking up not knowing what he’d gotten into. Waking up next to a dead woman hadn’t helped him. The woman had died of an overdose over fifteen years ago. It had shaken him up so much, he never touched drugs again. He liked a drink, not drugs.
“I’d be lying if I said no. I sometimes think it would be easier to just start up. I wouldn’t remember shit like this. This is the hardest thing ever. Watching the people you care about suffer. Judi’s suffered enough, and yet here we are. It’s their first kid.” Butler stopped talking, and Snake saw his jaw clench. “This is what I hate the most. Waiting, watching, seeing others try to fight falling apart. It’s scary shit, man. What about you?”
“No, I don’t miss the drugs. It has been so fucking long since I took anything, I can’t even remember the high.”
“You’ve found your high in other ways, Snake.”
“I have?”
“Yeah, the fights you get into. Drinking. That cute little nurse you’re chasing around.”
“I’m not chasing a cute little nurse.” Snake tensed up, looking toward the main doors. When did she work again? The little bitch owed him for the bruised balls.
“No? You’re always looking toward the door. Last night, you were waiting for her, holding her helmet like a lovesick puppy. Face it, Snake. You’ve got a thing. The chase of her is giving you a high.”