Page 71 of Rune
“After I dropped Chip at a hotel.”
“That was smart. Did you see the guys? Would you be able to describe them?”
“They were all in black and had bandanas over their faces.”
“Alright. That’s fine. We’ll still try to figure it out. Did they say anything?”
Her brows pinched. “One of them said that they weren’t supposed to hurt me… yet.”
“So there was someone else in charge. Did they say any names or anything else that might be helpful?”
“They didn’t say much. It was over so fast.”
“Do you think it was those brothers?”
“No. Chip said he spoke to them and they were offended that he thought they would try to shoot up innocent women because they were mad at him.” She paused, looking uncomfortable.
“What is it?”
“Chip was wondering if maybe this wasn’t about him. Or me. If maybe it was about you.”
“About me?” My knee-jerk reaction was to insist that no, there was no way. The thing was, though, there was a way, wasn’t there? I had a past. The club also did as well.
“That maybe they thought we were, um, dating. And they wanted to use me against you.”
“I guess that’s possible,” I agreed. “We’re gonna need to do more digging about that. But right now, I really want to make sure you’re okay. This is Spike,” I told her, half-turning to gesture to the tall, black-haired biker. “Is it okay if he looks at you?”
“He’s a doctor?” she asked, brows lowering.
“Played doctor plenty in my time, love, but, no. I just know a thing or two.”
“I could take you to a hospital,” I offered. “But you’re going to get questioned there.”
“No. I mean, if I have to, okay. But I don’t want to.”
I moved out of the way so Spike could take my place.
“Mind if I get a look at that hand first?” he asked.
Carmen slowly moved her protective hand away and held the bad one out.
Something was broken.
It was swollen and bruised to high hell.
I could practically hear her thoughts as she looked down at it, a little whimper escaping her: she needed her hands to work; what was going to happen to her business if she couldn’t do any of the cleaning?
“Alright. I’m gonna press a little, but feel free to cuss me out if I hurt you,” Spike said. He was gentle, though, as he pressed and prodded at the top of her hand. “Okay. Your turn now. I need you to try to move each finger individually,” Spike instructed, then watched Carmen’s efforts. “I know. I suck,” he said when she finished and her lower lip wobbled. “But one more thing. Can you try to make a fist for me? Don’t force it if it really hurts, but do the best you can.”
Carmen narrowed her eyes at him, then slowly curled her hand. “Yeah,” Spike said as he watched her fist. “Looking like you broke the second and third metacarpals.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“See how they go slightly the wrong way? That’s a break.”
“You’re sure?”
“Broke mine more than a few times?”
