Page 18 of Property of Doc

“But just in case, you need to know that I love you,” I reply.

“And I love you more, but it’s gonna be okay. Then, you can tell me when I’m holding you in my arms, Gretchen,” he insists.

Hearing he feels the same way has tears springing to my eyes which I quickly blink away. When I see that the SUV is closer, I press the pedal down even more, the engine screaming as I accelerate even faster than I was already going. “Hurry, please,” I whisper, momentarily forgetting that he’s on the phone.

“We’re all going as fast as we can, baby, you just keep driving.”

To quiet my jangling nerves, I start babbling. “I was actually going to stop by the clinic when I was done,” I say.

“Why?” he asks.

“Because it’s time to take back my whole life, Doc. I’m ready to start working again. The patients need to see that this was just a blip in my road, not my whole story. Remember, experience, strength, and hope.”

“You amaze me every single day, sweetheart,” he praises, making me smile even as the SUV gets closer in an attempt to hit me and bump me off the road.

Thank goodness I’m the kind of person who always puts their seatbelt on. I accelerate a little more and swerve just a little bit, so he misses me. “Take that, fucker!” I yell.

“What’s happening, Gretchen? Talk to me!” he demands.

“Whoever’s driving just tried to hit me, but I swerved over and they missed,” I reply. Glancing in front of me, I see a wall of bikes coming. “I think your brothers are here,” I say, as they split so I go between them then close up the gap before the SUV gets through.

“Thank fuck,” he whispers. “I’m almost there, stay in your car!”

“Planned on it, honey,” I tell him as I watch in the rearview mirror. “Do you want a play-by-play?”

I hear him chuckle then he says, “Absofuckinlutely.”

“Okay, it looks like they’ve got the vehicle surrounded and… holy shit, Abyss just yanked the driver out of the window while Rio did the same to the passenger!”

A knock on my window has me shrieking until I turn and see Mongrel standing there. He’s banged up but thankfully alive. Rolling down the window, I ask, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Rio wants me to drive you back to the clubhouse.”

“Don’t get out, Gretchen, just climb over the console,” Doc says, hearing Mongrel.

Shaking my head at his caveman ways, I make sure my vehicle’s in park then climb to the passenger seat, quickly putting my seatbelt back on while Mongrel gets into the driver's seat. Once the door is closed, he puts it in gear, and I lose sight of what’s happening behind me.

“Mongrel?” Doc asks.

“Yeah, Doc, I’m here,” Mongrel replies.

“Not sure how you got there that fast, but thanks for taking care of my ol’ lady.”

“I ran,” Mongrel says.

I look at him, seeing the gouged-up skin with blood still oozing down his arms and ask, “How?”

“Had to get to you, Gretchen,” he states. “Called Rio on the way and hauled ass.”

“But… but you’re hurt,” I stammer.

“Isn’t the worst I’ve ever had. Used to be a long-distance runner when I was in school,” he admits.

“When y’all get to the clubhouse, head to the medical room, Mongrel,” Doc instructs. “I’ll let Rio know I’m headed in that direction since it sounds like they’ve got things under control at the site.”

Mongrel chuckles. “Yeah, I’d say they do.”

“Gretchen, I’ll be there shortly.”