Page 5 of Haze's Jewel
Somehow, I remain hanging upside down until the one biker I recognize, squeezes his bulky form into the passenger side of the jeep. He checks me to see the extent of my injuries by running his hands over my body. I realize immediately that he’s probably checking for broken bones. He’s all business and the grim expression on his face tells me that he doesn’t like what he finds.
His voice is a deep rumble when he speaks to me. “Can you tell me where it hurts?”
I speak but since I can hardly breathe the words are halting and unintelligible. I reach up with one bloody hand and clutch my chest, not daring to move the arm that got smashed by the branch. That’s when I realize that drops of clear liquid are dripping down onto my raised arm. It’s tears because I’m crying and didn’t even know it.
The big biker curses under his breath, grabs my arm and ties something he ripped off his body around the gash that I don’t know I missed. Then he yells, “We gotta get her outta here right fucking now! Where’s Rage?”
Someone outside the vehicle says, “He’s treating, Crow. Best keep her stable until EMS gets here with a backboard, Haze.”
His name is Haze. I remember that now. I start shaking my head as I reach out with my good hand to grasp Haze’s arm. I can’t breathe to the point where I don’t know how I’m still conscious. Even though his face is upside down in my field of vision, I can see understanding flash in his hazel eyes.
“I think one of her lungs collapsed and she’s losing a lot of blood,” he yells back. “I can smell gasoline, there’s a chance the jeep might blow. I’m making the executive decision to bring her out now, we can’t wait. Commandeer a vehicle so I can get her to the hospital.”
A gruff male voice responds, “You realize the battle is still raging, right?”
“Just trust me, Vapor,” Haze responds.
“You got it, brother. The sooner we get her free and on her way, the sooner we can get back to kicking Digger ass.”
Something about the way he says the word Digger with such disdain shocks me. Haze pulls out his pocketknife and opens it. “The Grave Diggers MC are the ones who set up the roadblock. They’re bad news. Don’t worry, we’ll try to steer clear of them once we get you out of your vehicle.”
I barely nod in acknowledgement because I’m getting really lightheaded, and the darkness is starting to close in on me again. When he slices through the seat belt, I don’t fall because he’s got one arm cradling me and the other comes out to cradle my injured arm. The moment he touches it, pain reverberates up and through my shoulder. The darkness slowly closes in as he pulls me from the vehicle. Feeling weak, I just go limp against him and trust his judgement in this situation.
I remember waking up at some point during the trip to the hospital. Haze has me cradled in his lap with his big hand clamped over the gash in my arm, which has clearly started bleeding profusely again. I’m so out of it that I don’t understand at first that he really has commandeered some stranger’s car and is bullying them into driving us to the hospital. The man trying desperately to save my life is arguing with the man behind the wheel to drive faster, telling him to put on his emergency lights because it will alert the police that there is good reason for exceeding the speed limit.
The other man flings back irritably, “I’m not damn a race car driver, so don’t be surprised if I lose control of the car doing ninety on the interstate.”
“You’re not going to lose control. Just pay attention to the road instead of fighting with me, and we’ll make it there in one piece.”
“Your lady friend is bleeding out all over seats. What are you going to do about that?”
Haze responds with forced calm, “Just contact my club tomorrow and our auto repair shop will deal with cleaning it up and replace your carpet if necessary.”
“I’m tired of all the damn criminals making life miserable for the law-abiding citizens of this town. Why can’t you guys give it rest for a few months?”
“There is no rest for the wicked. You know that, mister. Everyone knows that.”
They continue bickering back and forth about how the Savage Legion isn’t a one percent club and only one percent clubs like the ones who set up the roadblock engage in criminal activity. I can’t seem to keep track of the conversation because my mind wanders back to the accident that crippled my mother. After that, my life seemed to go on a downward spiral. Because my mom wasn’t working, I had to withdraw from all my college classes and get a job to try to keep up with the mortgage payments, that put a swift end to my scholarship. The house ended up in foreclosure anyway, and I had to go and stay with my father—much to the dismay of his new wife. I guess I should have been grateful he took me in despite her complaints, but then when they were both killed in the car crash, my stepbrother threw me onto the streets. Just another in a long line of shitty things that happened to me as of late.
Before I can get turned around, we’re pulling up at the hospital. The emergency room staff must have known that I was coming because they’re standing outside with a gurney and gently take me from Haze’s arms. The cool night air chills me to the bone. It’s what cues me that the sun has set. Laying there, staring up at the sky while they wheel me into the ER, the night sky is filled with twinkling stars and a full moon. It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen, and I pray it doesn’t end up being the last time I see a starlit sky.
I can’t seem to keep up with what’s going on around me or grasp the questions they’re belting out, one after another. Instead, my mind drifts to my mom who is still making a prolonged recovery at the assisted living facility. If I’m not real careful, I’m going to end up in the room next to her. The thought of that doesn’t sound so bad. We could recover together, and she can finally get that good quality time our busy lives never afforded us the opportunity to have.
Chapter 3
Annalese
I wake up with the sun shining through the window, remembering very little of being in the emergency room. I remember them drawing blood, taking x-rays, and being wheeled into surgery at some point but that’s about all. What appears to be bright midday sun is shining through the window. The rays are warming my face, and it feels amazing, as long as I don’t open my eyes.
I grope blindly for the button to push to get a nurse.
A big, warm hand touches mine, putting the fob into my hand. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”
“The sun hurts my eyes,” I croak out, barely able to make words. I hear footsteps walking away and then the light on the other side of my eyelids dims. When my eyes flutter open, it’s to find the handsome biker pouring me some water.
When he brings the bent straw to my mouth, I sip over and over again and it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I’m only thinking of my thirst when I should be wondering why this man is in my room.
“Is that better?” he asks quietly.