“Just give him a little scare. Make sure he doesn't do it again. Normally I'd turn this over to the police but Mrs. Kramer is willing to pay us for it.”
Isaac shook his head. “Even though we need the money, this doesn't feel right. We barely know Mrs. Kramer and we've never even met Mr. Kramer. I don't think we should start lending our services out like mercenaries.”
“You're overreacting,” Mason said, his fingers resting on the gavel. “She's a member of the community and needs our help.” Mason picked up the gavel. “Everyone in favor of helping Mrs. Kramer?”
The Black Widow MC raised their hands in unison except for Isaac. It was good for him to be cautious but I'd never turn away from a damsel in distress—especially one that is being beaten by man.
Mason pounded the gavel into the table. “Now that we have that settled. Mrs. Kramer says her husband likes to hang out in the back of the coffee shop after it closes. Sometimes he has his buddies with him so we need to show up in force. Now I want it known that we are not to use lethal force. Got it?”
Everyone nodded. Slade cracked his knuckles and grinned. That man was a boxer in another life.
Mason smiled. “Good. We meet back here at nine.”
“I'll meet you there. I have some things I need to do first,” I said.
Mason hammered the gavel. “Dismissed!”
Chapter Fourteen
Grace
Working with rage at the hospital was not very good for the patients or the nurses. I yelled at the patients and was very short with the nurses. My date with Tanner last night had tapped a well of anger that I never knew existed in me. I was so stupid for agreeing to go out with him in the first place. Just because he was so damn hot didn't mean I needed to drop my panties for him.
I hid in the locker room to get some peace and quiet. I was beginning to scare people. I never wanted see Tanner again. Never wanted to hear his voice. Never wanted to see those dark eyes. I'd be better off without him.
Nurse Fiona strolled in. “How was your date last night with Tanner?”
I bounced my head against the locker over and over.
“That bad, huh?”
I nodded. “He was like every other guy I'd dated. Why am I always attracted to the bad guys.”
Fiona rubbed my back. “It's because they live dangerously and don't give a shit about anyone or anything. You'll find Mr. Right soon enough.”
“That's just a dream, Fiona. Mr. Right doesn't exist. All we can do is find someone we can stand just enough to marry them.”
“Feel better, Dr. Holmes. I'll see you on the floor.” Fiona left and I pounded my head against the locker one more time. I deserved the pain.
I walked down the third floor hallway and passed Dr. Green. He didn't even make eye contact with me as he passed by. At least something right was going with my life. I looked in on one of my patients that had two broken legs from a hit-and-run.
Afterwards I roamed around the halls, trying to forget that last night ever happened. Then I saw him appear out of nowhere—Tanner with his deliciously shaved hair walking right towards me. I shook my head because it must have been a phantom. But he was still there.
“Can I talk to you, Grace?”
My eyes were on fire with animosity. “What do we have to talk about?” I replied, my voice rising. I wanted to kick him right in the balls like I did with Dr. Green.
“Can we speak somewhere more private?” Tanner asked, looking around at the people watching us.
“I don't want to hear anything you have to say.” I had to stare at the floor and will myself not to cry. Not in front of him. Don't show him how weak you are!
“I need to apologize about last night.” Tanner inched his way over I backed away.
“There's nothing you can say that will make up for what you did. You are who you are, Tanner. That won't change. Not even for me.”
Tanner began to respond but I turned on my heels and walked away. My eyes began to water. I didn't want to look back. He couldn't know how much I cared. I ran to the nearest bathroom and locked myself in a stall, breaking down into a crying mess. The tears flowed down my cheek and stained my scrubs. Tanner was a bastard and didn't deserve me. He deserved a whore like that girl with her arms around him from the bar. I repeated that in my head a few times and wiped away my wet cheeks. I couldn't let this get to me. I needed to be strong and move on.
I went back to my locker and did my best to fix my puffy eyes with makeup. I didn't want everyone to constantly ask if I was okay. My earlier chant of never seeing Tanner again somehow summoned him to the hospital. This time I wouldn't say anything to myself and just forget that he ever existed.