Page 5 of Storm's Deliverance

CHAPTER TWO

STORM

Once showeredand dressed in my pink scrubs, I run down the stairs to find Drix stood waiting, his eyes pinning me as I move. He holds out a helmet. “Put this on. I’m taking you to work,” he orders.

I frown. “No, I’m driving my truck,” I counter.

“There’s been a pile-up on the freeway. You ain’t getting through that traffic in a truck. I will take you in, and Enzo will bring your truck in later,” he states.

I look at the time on my phone. I don’t have time to argue. “Fine.” I take the helmet and follow him out. He swings his leg over the bike, starting up the engine while I fasten the claps on my helmet. Once done, I jump on the back behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. He doesn’t say anything. This isn’t the first time I’ve ridden on the back of a bike, nor is it the first time I’ve been on the back of Drix’s. We are a biker family; it would be weird if we had never ridden on the back of their bikes. I had asked for my own bike, but my dad refused, saying something like, ‘it was stressful enough worrying about boys, let alone me falling off a bike and cracking my head open’. I gave up asking after a couple of years. Mom still stresses over Enzo now.

The warm summer breeze is calming as the early morning sun rises. I relax into Drix, closing my eyes as the sun warms my skin. Drix places his hand over mine, giving me a gentle squeeze. I grin. He gets it.

Swerving through the traffic, we make it to the hospital with ten minutes to spare. He kills the engine, and I climb off, removing the helmet. Shaking my hair out, sighing happily, I look down at Drix, who is smiling up at me. “What?” I ask, handing the helmet back to him.

“A biker’s daughter, through and through. You think your folks would let you get a bike now?” he asks.

I roll my eyes. “No. I could be a hundred, and they still wouldn’t let me get one.”

He smirks. “Well, maybe I can convince them? I could teach you,” he suggests. “It would make fighting the daily traffic easier.”

I shake my head. “Nah. Why learn when I can just enjoy the ride as a passenger princess?” I wink.

Drix’s eyes spark, his lips curving into a roguish grin. “You know, I’ve been told by a number of satisfied women that I give the best rides.”

I sigh and give him a bored look. “Nice, really classy.” I try to say it with disgust, but I can’t keep back the bubble of laughter.

“Tori.” I turn at the sound of Zeke.

“Why the fuck is he calling you that?” Drix asks.

I ignore him and lean up on my toes to press my mouth to Zeke’s. He gives me a brief kiss before taking a step back, his gaze darting everywhere. “Easy, Tori. We need to make sure we conduct some professionalism.”

I wince. “Sorry.”

I feel Drix at my back. “Er, Hendrix, this is Zeke,” I introduce.

Zeke holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Drix looks down at Zeke’s hand, then back to his face. “Drix!” I hiss.

He frowns. “You often make her apologise for her wanting to show you affection?”

I sigh and cover my face with my hands. So it begins. “We are in a professional workplace, man. I meant nothing else by it,” Zeke explains.

Hendrix crosses his arms. “Drix!” I hiss. His blue eyes land on mine. “Stop being a dick,” I seethe through gritted teeth.

His jaw set tight, he gives me a slight nod before cupping the back of my head and placing a kiss on my temple. “Enzo will be by later with your truck. Have a great first day,” he says, his eyes never leaving Zeke. I exhale a slow breath before turning to face Zeke, a slight wince in my expression.

“Sorry about Drix, er, I mean Hendrix,” I apologise, looking up at him. Everyone calls him Hendrix, but I’ve always just called him Drix. Mom says it’s because I couldn’t say his name when I was little.

Zeke looks down at me. “He likes you.”

I look over my shoulder as he rides out of the parking lot. “Pfft, we are like family. We’re close. He’s overprotective, but they all are. It’s just how our family dynamic is.” I shrug.

“Hhhm.” He looks at his watch. “Come on, I will walk you up to the unit. I’ve got rounds to get to.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and guides me inside the hospital.

The morning flew by.Nearly every bed was filled. I was restocking the gloves when Juliette came over and snatched the box off me. “Go take your break now,” she orders sternly.