Running a hand down his face, he looked toward the door. No one was coming, and he heard the chaos coming over the line as the hospital was taking in more emergency cases.
None of the brothers talked to him. Butch stayed sat beside him playing some game on his cell phone.
“I’m sorry,” Zero said.
“I don’t care. We’ll handle whatever you’ve got to throw at us.”
Closing his eyes, he rubbed at his temple, needing to know Prue was okay. This was going to take time. She needed to make a full recovery, as otherwise he failed Trevor.
Four hours later, the doctor appeared to give him the news.
“She’s a lucky woman. The bullet didn’t penetrate her heart or sever any major arteries. I extracted the bullet with ease. We’ll keep an eye on her for the next couple of days in case of infection.” The doctor nodded at all of them before leaving. Zero had already filled all the paperwork for her. Relief swamped him at the news. He wasn’t going to lose her like he’d lost Trevor.
“Do you want to see her?” the nurse asked.
He nodded, following her down to the ICU. “Why is she here?”
“To keep her under observation. We’ll keep an eye on her all through the night and move her to a ward tomorrow morning.”
Zero moved to her bedside. There was a tube inside her mouth, and she was hooked up to other tubes and drips. He didn’t know what all the machines did, but they must be helping her in some way. She was breathing on her own, which he was thankful for.
The nurse left him alone as he stared down into Prue’s pale face. Reaching out he stroked her red hair away from her face. She was such a beautiful woman. He’d always found her striking, and he struggled to look away from her whenever he was in her company. Why was he suddenly thinking about her beauty? It was wrong with her lying in a hospital bed. “Hey, honey. You’ve got to fight this and live. Live for me. I promise, I will not fail you again. You’re not going anywhere. I’ll take care of you and love you.”
He leaned down, kissing her temple.
She didn’t respond. Her face pale making her red hair stand out even more, Prue was a beautiful woman, and he was surprised she wasn’t taken. Any man with any sense would snatch her right up. He would, given half a chance.
“I’m sorry,” he said, brushing his lips against her temple once again.
Prue stayed silent, sleeping.
She’s only sleeping.
He needed to remember she was only sleeping and there was nothing else wrong with her.
Staring around the hospital room, Zero didn’t know what he was going to do. After a few minutes he left her side going back toward the main reception of the hospital. He was tired of being near the hospital. In the last few years he felt he’d lived more at the hospital than the clubhouse. The Skulls had dealt with their fair share of enemies, each one hurting a member at one point. They had even lost some of their own men because of those enemies. What was Alan going to do to him or The Skulls? Cutting the thoughts off, he made his way out of the hospital. He hadn’t brought his bike and ended up climbing on the back of Butch’s bike. Blaine was staying at the hospital to take care of Prue while Zero was due back at the clubhouse for the meeting. Butch waited outside, standing beside his bike. Nash and a few others had stayed behind.
“Don’t get any fucking ideas. My ass is my own,” Butch said, pointing at his bike.
Rolling his eyes, Zero held onto his friend while his thoughts were with Prue. She was a teacher and took care of young children, first grade he believed. Shit, what the fuck was he going to do? Prue shouldn’t be dead or even fighting for her life.
They arrived at the clubhouse. On the way inside he saw Sophia waiting up with her daughter. Her gaze landed on him then turned to Nash. He saw her cheeks were heated, but her smile held all the warmth for her husband, not for him. Once Nash was inside, Sophia didn’t look back toward him. She didn’t give him any clue as to what she thought.
She’s not looking at you because she doesn’t want you. This is her answer.
Hating the kick to the gut he experienced he entered Tiny’s office, sitting at the table in the middle of the room. The other members made their way into the room.
His thoughts returned to Trevor’s death ten years ago. No matter how hard he tried, Zero never got away from the memories. They haunted him wherever he went. No man should have to take his friend’s life. If Alan lived, why did he wait ten years to take him out?
Two down, one to go.
Zero wasn’t afraid of death and hadn’t been for a long time. Providing he took Alan out with him, Zero would welcome death with open fucking arms.