The Butcher (Ruthless Sinners MC 10)

I wanted to run, but there was something in his tone that paralyzed me with fear. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I could only stand there and stare back at him like a frightened child. After several moments, Matteo caught my eye. He gave me a beseeching look, imploring that I say or do something, but no words came. Angered even more by my silence, DeLuca’s face grew red, and he roared, “I said go!”

I glanced back over to Matteo, trying to muster my courage, and then I did the only thing I could do. I ran for the back door. I’d only taken a few steps when I heard a click and considered stopping, but my freedom was right there within my reach.

So, I went for it.

I honestly thought I could make it.

I was wrong.

Moments after that click, I heard the gunfire, then felt something hit my back, and I lurched forward. It threw me off step, but I kept running—until I was hit a second and third time. I’d heard the gunfire. I knew I’d been shot, but I hadn’t felt the searing hot metal pierce through my skin. I hadn’t felt it rip through my muscle and bone, but the damage had been done.

I dropped to the ground, then clawed at the floor, trying to drag myself out of the room. Unfortunately, I didn’t get very far.

My wounds were just too much for my body to overcome. The adrenaline coursing through my veins started to fade, and shock took over. I saw my life flash before my eyes, and then everything went dark.

I thought that was it.

I thought my life was over.

And then, I heard his voice beckoning me to hold on. I was in such pain, such utter agony, that every inch of me hurt, but there was something about hearing his soft, alluring voice that helped soothe me and made me believe that I could hold on a little longer. But even with him urging me on, it wasn’t long before I blacked out again.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke, I was strong enough to open my eyes and take a look around. I saw that I was on a hospital gurney and had an IV in my arm, but I could tell right away I wasn’t in a hospital.

This room had unpainted concrete walls with no windows, and there were no doctors or nurses, just an older man with long, braided gray hair and a thick, burly beard. He was rummaging through the various cabinets and drawers, and after several minutes of shuffling about, he started over to me with a needle in his hand.

I had no idea who this man was or what he was doing with that damn needle, so I tried to back away and implored, “Please don’t.”

“Whoa, easy there, doll.” He placed his free hand on my shoulder. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just trying to help.”

“Who are you, and what do you want?”

“The name’s Doc, and I don’t want anything. I’m just a friend of Billy’s.”

“Billy? Who’s Billy?”

“What?” His brows furrowed as he asked, “You don’t know him?”

“No.” My eyelids were growing heavy, and my voice was strained as I mumbled, “I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“Seriously? I thought... It doesn’t matter. He asked me to come help you out, and that’s what I did. Took the bullets out and patched you up. I had a hell of a time, but got it done.” Doc held up the syringe, then injected it into the port of the IV as he explained, “This here is an antibiotic. You got a fever which means you got an infection. Not that I’m surprised. You had a pretty rough go of it.”

“Hm-hmmm.”

“Gave ya something for the pain, too. That’ll help ya get some rest.”

I wanted to thank the kind stranger for helping me, but all I could manage was an incoherent, “Hm-mmm-hmm.”

“That’s it.” I felt him pat me on the shoulder. “You get some good rest, and I’ll check back on you later.”

I heard him walk out of the room, and I desperately wanted to get up and follow him. I simply didn’t have the strength, so I did the only thing I could. I succumbed to my exhaustion and fell back asleep.

BILLY

“It’s been THREE days.”

“Yeah, it might be another three before she wakes up, maybe more,” Doc replied with a shrug. “You never know with situations like these.”

“But you said she’s improving.”