Chapter 5: Chapter Four

When Merrie opened her eyes again, twilight peeked through the window’s lace curtains. Her wrist throbbed but the pain was minimal until she moved. Wincing, she took stock of the rest of her body, feeling like one big stubbed toe.

“Be careful,” Leo said, as he entered the room. He carried a lap tray that held steaming soup, crackers and a glass of water. “Dinner.”

Behind him, Braden followed, minus his hat this time.

She took the glass of water and drank it down thirstily. When she had finished, she handed the empty glass back to Leo.

“Can one of you help me to the bathroom before I eat?”

Braden nodded and stepped forward. Instead of helping her out of bed, he scooped her up and carried her to the hallway bathroom. For a moment, as she clung to his shoulders, her heart fluttered and her breath hitched. Her unexpected attraction toward Braden McClintock unsettled her and she made a conscious effort not to show how she’d reacted to his touch.

“This is an older house, so we only have two bathrooms,” he informed her. His gaze fell to her lips and lingered. When he raised his eyes once more, she saw a flash of answering desire before he hid behind his expressionless façade.

“So it’s a communal bathroom,” she said, breathless.

He nodded. “But Leo and I will share the one downstairs until you—”

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “Do both of you sleep on the second floor?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t let me disrupt your routine. I’m an unwanted guest.”

He gently set her down just outside the blue-painted bathroom, but didn’t let go of her arms right away. When she glanced up at him curiously, wondering why he still held her upper arm, she saw a fleeting emotion she couldn’t identify in his eyes.

“You’re not unwanted,” he told her. “I’ll stay right here and wait till you’re done then I’ll carry you back.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said softly.

“Leo and I want you to heal, not because we want you to leave.” He traced a finger gently around the cut on her face. Tenderness softened the hard angles of his face.

At his touch, her heart erupted with longing and brought forth a smattering of tears that she quickly hid by nodding and turning away. When she closed the door, she took a moment to breathe deeply and collect herself. She’d never had someone tell her something so sweet, not even her mother. It had made her feel…cared for.

When she finished, she opened the door. Without a word, Braden swung her up in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom. After he propped her up and made her comfortable, Leo set the tray across her lap so she could eat. Both Leo and Braden got chairs to sit next to her.

“We think we found the spot where you jumped out of the car and tumbled down the embankment,” Leo said. “You are one lucky woman.”

She swallowed a mouthful of soup. Her empty stomach rejoiced at finally having something to fill it.

“We also drove by the Demon Devil’s bar but didn’t see your car,” Braden added.

Anxiety shot through Merrie. “Are you crazy? They’re dangerous.”

“It’s okay,” Leo assured her. “We didn’t stop, just looked.”

“Merrie,” Braden said. “I did some research online about motorcycle clubs and the local ones around Destiny. For membership into a club, a person has to go through a trial period for a designated time, usually a year, in which they have to do everything the leader and the other members tell them to do. It’s a sort of ritual to show devotion to the gang.”

“Okay,” she murmured, wondering where the conversation was heading.

“These potential members are called prospects and for an outlaw gang, which is what the Demon Devils are, that usually means something illegal.”

“So what you’re saying… What are you saying?”

“That maybe you were a command to a prospect. A hazing. Or a way to show loyalty.”

Merrie thought about last night, thought about what the two men had said. Then she thought about being in her car, how the driver was someone different.

“I don’t know,” she replied. “Maybe.”

“If that’s the case,” Braden continued. “I’m concerned about the next woman that man, Axe, comes across.”

The thought stopped her cold and her spoon clattered back into her bowl. Ice formed in the pit of her stomach.

“I never thought of that,” she whispered.

“We want to take photos of you,” Leo said, holding up a digital camera. “We want to document all your injuries, just in case.”

She looked at both men and nodded. “Okay. I guess you both have seen me naked already.”

“In a purely medical way,” Leo assured.

She offered him a fleeting smile, although she didn’t feel any amusement. “Teasing. Remember?”

He winked at her, which lifted her spirits a tad.

“We also want to call the authorities in Cheyenne,” Braden said, after throwing Leo a strange look.

Merrie realized she was having a hard time interpreting the enigmatic Braden McClintock. One minute she melted under his touch and the next he was formal and in control.

“Since there’s a possibility the Destiny Sheriff’s Department might not be completely trustworthy, we thought the police in a different city might help us out.”

“Us?” she whispered. “You can dump me on them, dust your hands of any further involvement. I’d understand, Braden.”

He shook his head. “I made a promise to keep you safe and until we figure all this out, Leo and I will take care of you.”

Tears gathered in her eyes again and she rapidly blinked them away. This might be one of those psychological problems that arise when a patient starts to develop feelings for her rescuers, but damn if she didn’t feel a spark for both men. Gratitude? A big hell yes but also something more, something…tangible.

“Thank you,” she said, clearing her throat.

Leo took the tray and set it aside while Braden helped her out of bed once more.

“Can you help me with the T-shirt?” she asked him.

A muscle ticked in his jaw but he only nodded. He grabbed hold of the shirt and carefully took it off her. Both Leo and Braden’ narrowed their eyes as they looked at her body. She turned to look in the vanity mirror.

Holy hell, she looked worse than she thought. Her chest, sides and abdomen were one big black and purple bruise. The rounded part of her right shoulder reminded her of a large, black plum. Stitches poked out like railroad ties on her shoulder and thighs. Scabbed abrasions covered the rest of her skin. This time, she couldn’t hold back the tears. Leo gently gathered her in his arms and she buried her head in his neck.

“Shh,” he soothed. “It’s going to be all right. You’re okay. You’re safe. You hear me, Merrie? You’re safe with Braden and me. We’re going to protect you.”

Even though she was naked, he held her tenderly, gently and made her feel protected and she thanked whatever divine intervention had led her to the doorstep of her guardian angels.

After she’d finally gathered her emotions, she posed for the photos. Leo took them in a way that managed to capture the horror her body had gone through while not showing her breasts or anything below the navel—for which she was grateful.

Braden helped her with the T-shirt then fluffed the pillow against her back as she eased back into bed. Even that little bit of movement exhausted her and she closed her eyes as she relaxed into the comfortable folds of the bed. The coolness of the sheets against her heated and swollen skin brought a measure of relief.

“Do you want some more pain medicine?” Leo asked her.

She cracked an eye to look at him. “I don’t want to get addicted to the stuff.”

“I think one more dose wouldn’t hurt,” he assured her. “You need a good night of rest and you’ll not be able to do that if you’re waking up constantly in pain.”

“I slept most of today away. Why am I so sleepy now?”

He patted her hand then held it lightly. “This is normal. Your body uses a lot of energy to heal itself.”

“Okay,” she said. Truth be told, she desperately wanted to dull the overwhelming ache pulsing through her body. She watched through half-closed eyes as Leo prepared another new syringe, drawing the medicine up through the rubber stopper then easing the needle into her arm. She’d never been a fan of needles or the slight sting as one penetrated her skin, but compared to everything else, she didn’t even feel it go in this time.

Braden moved her hair off her shoulder. When she turned her head to look at him, her vision swam. The pain med had already begun to kick in.

“Have a good night,” he told her.

She smiled at him as sleep enveloped her.

* * * *

Leo sat down heavily at the kitchen table and scrolled back through the photos he’d just taken of Merrie. They were horrible and his stomach clenched at the thought that the asshole was still out there and could potentially hurt another woman. What type of monster did this?

“You know anyone at the Cheyenne PD?” his brother asked, as he placed the tray containing Merrie’s dirty dishes on the counter.

“No,” Leo replied. “I don’t suppose you do?”

Braden shook his head. “No. I only know Givon and right now we can’t exactly trust him. Which sucks.”

“I know, but I don’t want this character Axe learning that we have Merrie.”

“I know.” Braden sat across from Leo. A frown furrowed his brow. “We’re her only protection.”

“I’m glad you found her,” Leo said softly, “and I’m glad you brought her to me.”

“She’s special. A lesser woman might have given up.”

“Our job now is to keep her on the mend and keep her safe.”

“Agreed.”

A deep understanding passed between them, and Leo knew without a doubt Merrie Walden was going to turn their lives completely around.