Alan Lynch was alive. The only man who would leave a message like that was Alan. One night on the anniversary of Alan’s death, Zero had gone to Prue, and in drink, he had told her everything about the past. She hated being kept in the dark, but she knew everything. He told her the truth from then on, never keeping anything from her. Prue was the first woman he was ever open and honest with, and not even Sophia made him feel that secure. Zero had told Prue what he did to Alan, the torture he’d inflicted on another person. She’d not judged him. Sophia was nothing like Prue.
Fuck, he’d almost kissed Sophia and gone over that line. Resting his head back against the truck, he kept hold of Prue’s hand. The sudden commotion at the clubhouse had taken him away from Sophia. Part of him was pleased at the interruption. He didn’t want to fuck up his place in the club.
They arrived at the hospital in ten minutes, breaking every speed limit. He followed them inside. A nurse pressed a hand to his chest, holding him back.
“Sir, you cannot go into the operating theater. You’ve got to stay in the waiting room.”
“She needs me.”
“You’re not a doctor or a surgeon. You will kill her if you don’t do as I ask.”
Nodding, he watched the blonde disappear through the clear doors, keeping him away. Heading back to the main reception, he signed in getting the necessary paperwork for Prue. He knew all of her details off by heart, both as Prue and as Lilly.
Staring down at his hands he saw they were covered in blood, Prue’s blood. Memories of Trevor lying in his arms and his cutting off Trevor’s air filled his mind. Shit, he was going to be sick.
Running to the bathroom, he spilled all the contents out of his stomach into the bottom of the toilet. Once he was done, he went to the sink, washing the blood, scrubbing his hands.
Butch walked in seconds later. Glancing at the door, Zero saw his friend was angry. His arms were folded over his chest. “You’ve got a lot of fucking explaining to do. I’m so fucking pissed right now.”
“None of the club was killed. We’re good.” Zero scrubbed his hands, eyes going blurry at whose blood he was washing off. Torturing Alan, he’d gotten a lot of blood on his hands and hadn’t cared.
Prue was not a criminal who deserved to die. She was a woman, a precious woman who should be left alone. He shouldn’t be removing her blood from his hands. It was too much for him to take in.
“The boys are all outside. Tiny is outside waiting for an explanation. You’re not going to get out of it, Zero. This shit is not how this works,” Butch said. “The girl means something to you, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, she does.”
“Who is she? What is she to you, and why do I recognize her?”
Scrubbing his hands clean, he stared at Butch, wiping his hands dry on towel. “She’s my best friend’s sister. I’m the one who is supposed to be taking care of her.”
“None of this is making sense. You’ve never mentioned shit about her.” Butch was not buying anything.
“I fucked up big.”
“Why? How?” Butch asked.
“He’ll not be telling you on your own,” Tiny said, entering the bathroom. The other man was large, dominating, and brimming with rage. “We find out she is safe, and then we’re having a meeting, and you’re telling us everything.”
“I can’t leave her alone. She’s in danger.”
“Far as the person is concerned, she’s dead,” Tiny said.
“I can’t risk it. I promised I’d keep her safe, and I’ve already fucked up.”
“Then Blaine can stay behind. He’s working on his shit with Emily and Darcy. It’s time for him to do something for the club. Don’t fucking question me again.” Tiny left the bathroom, giving him no choice but to follow instruction.
Following behind the two men, Zero watched Tiny talk to Blaine, who nodded. His brothers were there, looking out for him. Running fingers through his hair he felt guilt swamp him as he looked at Nash. Fuck. He’d been about to kiss his wife.
Shit, fuck, shit. Killer was there as well. They were going to wait for the doctor to let them know how she was doing before leaving. He took a seat, staring at the clear doors, begging for the doctor to enter and give him some good news and to put him out of his misery. He couldn’t accept bad news right now.
Two down, one to go.
What the fuck was Alan even doing alive? Zero had left him for dead.
You didn’t wait to see if he was dead.
Fuck.
Once he climbed on his bike, he hadn’t waited to see if Alan died or not. He didn’t care if he died himself or not, so long as Alan was no more. Once he’d set the match down, his thoughts had been directed toward Prue. For years afterward he kept returning to the city to see who was taking over from Alan. It was a surprise to see how many men came out of the woodwork to take over his place. None of the men were working for Alan or trying to take look for the man who got rid of Alan. Zero had fucked up, seeing as Alan was in fact alive.