“He’s with the doc.” I lift my chin toward the hallway. “Trin said they turned your yoga studio into a hospital ward.”
Charlotte returns and hands me a glass of water and four Advil. Worry and exhaustion have left her pale. I pull her down next to me and curl a protective arm around her. “You should go home with Hope and get some rest. Carter’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
She shakes her head.
“Get used to this,” Carla says to Charlotte. “It never ends.”
Charlotte’s not in the mood to be fucked with tonight. Her face smooths into her lawyerly mask. “Aren’t you married to the doc who’s patching everyone up? You hardly seem to be in a position to judge anyone.”
Carla sniffs and stands. She spots Lilly by the bar and joins her. Poor Lilly.
“Z asked us to behave.” I slap my hand over my mouth. “Damn.”
Hope chuckles and sits next to Charlotte. “Surely there must be another crooked doctor between here and Union looking to make some extra cash?”
“It’s not like we can put an ad on LinkedIn.” Charlotte bumps Hope’s shoulder. “How would that read? Outlaw MC seeks unethical but competent doctor to stitch bullet wounds and other assorted injuries?”
“Excellent pay but no benefits,” Hope snickers.
Exhaustion and tension from the night seem to send them into a fit of giggles. After everything I’ve seen and done tonight, their laughter is the best medicine in the world.
Rock joins us and rests his hand on Hope’s shoulder. “Something funny, baby doll?”
“I think they’re just tired,” I answer. “Everyone responds to stress different. Laughing is their coping mechanism.” The corners of my mouth twitch. “Yours is threatening to punch me.”
“That’s not a stress response,” Rock growls. His expression softens as he runs his hand through Hope’s hair. “Are you all right? Did she say something to you?”
“Who?” Hope blinks up at him.
Fatigue overwhelms me. I should’ve done what Rock did and run upstairs to take a shower. Rinse the filth that followed me home down the drain.
I curl my hand around Charlotte’s and push myself to the edge of the couch. “I’ll get an infection waiting around for the doctor.” I stand, tugging Charlotte up with me. “I’m going upstairs. Doc should see Rooster before he sees me, anyway.”
Rock nods and holds my gaze. “That’s a good idea.”
Medical concerns are the last thing chasing me up the stairs.
I desperately need Charlotte’s sunshine to wash away the darkness of the night.
To burn all my sins away.