Dealing with the Devil (16 page)

The soft laugh that bubbled from her chest broke the tension between them. “I want that too…but there’s something else, Gabriel.” She sighed heavily. “I
need
my patch. After all this, I have to be a Devil.”

Archie tensed. “Lucy, if this entire experience has shown us anything, it’s that this life in the MC is too dangerous. I can’t do it. I need you both to be safe.”

“What this should have shown you is that we have the power to do good in this world.” Lucy wasn’t going to back down. “Everyone around here thinks the Devils are criminals and thieves. Probably because that’s what it used to mean to be a part of the MC. But it doesn’t have to be that way anymore.” She stroked Gabe’s cheek gently. “We can do good in this world. Let’s fight for those who need it most. Women like your mother, Gabriel, and children like you.”

Archie felt as if he’d been stabbed in the gut. He sat up. Lucy’s words were a blow he wasn’t expecting but now that it was out there, he couldn’t ignore the thoughts spinning in his head. What if there had been a man like him around when Archie was young? What would it have been like if his mother had a place to go where she knew she’d be safe from Erik? Life would have been very different for the both of them. “How would we do it?”

“If we revamped the bar, we could turn it into a safe haven. Instead of using the boarding rooms for sex and debauchery, we’d open them up to people who need them.” Lucy smoothed Gabe’s hair tenderly. “No more wild, crazy parties. No more weeklong benders. We make the Devil’s Own into something we can all be proud of.”

“It’s going to take a lot to convince the club,” Archie warned. They’d likely lose some of their members…it wouldn’t be easy. But he trusted his wife above all else. “I’m on board. Whatever it takes, Luce. I never want to worry about something like this happening again.” Archie smiled as Lucy pressed a tender kiss to his lips. He could feel the joy flowing off her in waves. “When we get back home, I’ll call a vote.” There were other reasons he wanted the entire club assembled. “It’s never been done but I am going to move we waive the wait period and make you all full members. Hunter, Mort, and Kyle were instrumental in all of this.”

“That’s a great idea,” Lucy smiled but it was interrupted by a yawn. The exhaustion was still weighing on her but her stomach was protesting the lack of food. “I think I heard rumors about crackers and applesauce? Do you think you could get me some? I’m
starving
.”

Carefully slipping from the bed, Archie shook his head. “I’ll get you some real food. Bea said there was a restaurant somewhere around here. I’ll take a walk over and pick up whatever you want. Anything you’re craving?”

“I would probably sell my soul for a cheeseburger right now…” Lucy chuckled. “Anything with meat and cheese and extra pickles would do it, though.” Pulling Gabe down for another kiss, she grinned. “Thank you.” Once Gabe slipped from the room, Lucy eased her way into the bathroom, using the IV pole to steady herself. There were dark purplish stains marring the delicate skin beneath her eyes, she looked drawn and pale, and that was only her face. Lucy’s dark hair was frizzy and flying in every direction. She groaned at the sight. Perching on the edge of the toilet seat, Lucy did the best she could to tame the beastly curls. She splashed a bit of water on her face, reveling in the coolness. She felt like a whole new woman.

When Lucy stepped out of the bathroom again, Danny was hunched over in a chair with his face in his hands and Cecelia was crouched beside him. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight. “Danny?” Her brother launched himself into Lucy’s arms. He hugged her so tightly that he nearly knocked the wind out of her. “Oof!” Lucy gasped.

“Hey, be careful!” Cecelia chastised and slapped Danny’s shoulder to get him to give Lucy some space to breathe. “I tried to get him to wait but he was making such a damn fuss, Bea snuck us back.” She glared at Danny disdainfully, though there wasn’t any malice behind it. “We just wanted to check and make sure you were okay. Now that we have, I’m sure we should let you get some rest. Right, Danny?”

Lucy laughed softly, “It’s okay, Cece.” Danny was still holding on tight and she stroked the back of his head the way their mother used to do. “Hey, Danny?” She pressed softly.

“Hmm?” Danny asked, raising an eyebrow to glance at her.

“When was the last time you washed that shirt?” Lucy made no bones about grimacing at the smell of it. “You smell worst than the dumpster behind Marge’s on trash pickup day.”

Danny visibly relaxed and chuckled throatily. “Well, at least I know you’re going to live. If you have the strength to nag me about my laundry, you’ll have the strength to hold on.” Gently, he helped Lucy back to the bed and arranged the blankets around her, as if he were tucking in a small child. “By the way, where the
fuck
is Archie?”

Lucy caught Danny’s hand and held it tightly. “I made him go get some food. He’s been here the whole time, I promise.” Her thumb slid over Danny’s knuckles as she attempted to soothe him. “He’s a good man, Danny. I love him and he loves me.” A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as Danny sighed in exasperation. “We’ve known Gabe since we were kids. You know he’s going to make an excellent husband and father.”

“Yeah…” Danny murmured several curses under his breath before his eyes widened. “Wait, a
father
?” He stared her down.

“Yes, and you’re going to be an uncle.” Lucy smiled at Danny’s incredulity.

“You’re
pregnant
?” Danny’s breath caught in his throat as Lucy nodded. There was half a second where his expression was blank; then his face darkened and he looked positively murderous. “I’m going to kill him!”

Lucy laughed despite the gravity of the situation. Danny’s overprotectiveness knew no bounds. “Gabriel is my
husband
.” Her expression softened. “It’s been just you and me for so long, Danny. Won’t it be nice to have family holidays and picnics and birthdays all together? You’ll have a little niece or nephew to spoil. Trust me, this is a good thing.”

Danny didn’t look convinced but Lucy looked so joyful that he couldn’t stay sour. “Well, if you’re happy, then I’m happy…” He sighed, “But I
still
want to kill him.” Gazing at her with a sloping grin, he added, “Could I maybe just rough him up a little bit?”

Lucy narrowed her eyes at her brother; clearly, that was a ‘no’. Danny looked appropriately sheepish as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. She glanced over at Cecelia who was doing her best to stay out of the way. “I’m so happy to see you, Cece. I was so worried.”

Cecelia felt a sense of relief wash over her when Lucy reached out. Stepping to her side of the bed, she hugged Lucy tenderly. “Hey, I’m just as tough as I look,” Cece teased. Brushing a strand of her blue hair to cover the scar Sofía had inflicted on her, she stole a glance at Danny. “We may have busted out but
you
saved our asses,
hermana
. And you don’t have to worry about shooting Sofía. Jules said they’re giving you a freakin’ commendation or something for aiding an FBI investigation.” Cece chuckled. “Though I got to admit, I’m a little pissed I didn’t get to shoot her myself.”

Lucy smirked. “Sorry, I beat you to the punch.” Hugging Cecelia again, Lucy realized that glances were being exchanged between Cecelia and Danny. Those looks told her there was something more roiling beneath the surface. Her smile widened. “Did you two come here together?”

“No,” Cecelia replied tartly, as if the question was ridiculous.

“Yes,” Danny interjected, talking over Cece.

Lucy smirked and raised an eyebrow at the two, who were now engaged in a silent battle of wills. “Well, I’m just glad you’re here…” Cece and Danny. Well that was something Lucy never expected. Cece looked like she was about to deck someone when Lucy interjected, changing the subject. “Is everyone else is okay? Jules and Candy? Adela?” When Cece nodded, relief washed over her; it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Life was just about complete with Gabe stepped through the door with a cheeseburger.

Lucy eagerly helped herself to the first good meal she’d had in weeks. Cece kept watch while Danny and Gabe talked quietly. It was obvious Danny was being bullheaded but Gabe wasn’t backing down. Lucy knew Gabe and Danny would eventually come to an understanding…but tensions were still running high after they’d all been through. What they all needed now was a good night’s sleep. “That was delicious,” Lucy announced. “But now I need to get some rest, and so do all of you.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Archie argued. “Not when I just got you back.”

“I’m not going anywhere either!” Danny huffed, his arms crossed defiantly over his chest.

Lucy let out an exasperated sigh. Both of the men in her life were acting like jerks. She glanced at Cece who was leaning against the wall. “A little help?”

“I’ll take this one.” Cecelia put herself between Lucy and Danny, her eyes narrowed dangerously at him. “You heard your sister.” He opened his mouth to argue but she pressed a hand to his chest to quiet him. “Standing here watching her sleep is a waste of both your time. Bea will call if you’re needed and you can be here in a minute flat.” Cece shook her head. “There’s a motel across the street. Come on, we’ll get a room.”

Danny wrestled against his instinct to never let Lucy out of his sight again. But the thought of getting a room with Cece was enough to pique his interest. As badly as he wanted to deny it, he was exhausted and it would be better for both of them if he let her rest. “I don’t like this, but it looks like I have no choice.” Walking around the other side of the bed, he pressed a kiss to the crown of Lucy’s head. “When you’re feeling better, we’re going to have a talk about you two ganging up on me.”

It would be a very short talk indeed. Danny had always needed Lucy’s guiding hand to keep him on the straight and narrow. Maybe now that Cecelia was in his life, she wouldn’t have to work as hard. Lucy could only hope. Hugging him once more around the waist, Lucy smiled. “I love you, Danny.”

“Love you too, Lucy,” Danny echoed. He turned and slung his arm around Cecelia as they slid from the room. Although Cece pushed his hand away the first time, when he reached for her again, she just rolled her eyes and let it happen.

As soon as Danny and Cecelia were gone, Archie settled in a chair beside the bed. “I’m never going to let you out of my sight again.”

“That’s going to make trips to the bathroom uncomfortable for both of us,” Lucy teased. Slipping her hand into his, she smiled gently. “I just want to make sure you take care of yourself too. The Devils need their President at his very best and so do I. Promise me you’ll get some sleep?”

Archie scrubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. A good night’s sleep, a hot shower, and a shave sounded fantastic. Once Lucy was home, he planned on sleeping for a week with her tucked at his side. For now, though, he’d settle for a nap in a hospital chair. “I will,” Archie brushed his lips gently over hers. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I love you.”

Although the starchy hospital sheets and thin blanket were not the most comfortable, Lucy was far too tired to care. “I love you too,” She murmured, moments before sleep claimed her again. Archie was not far behind, resting his weary head against his palm. Despite the hustle and bustle of the emergency department, they only managed to catch a couple hours of sleep. It was definitely time to go home.

* * *

The following morning, Lucy was discharged from the hospital on the promise that she would follow-up with her doctor once she got back to Errol. She said a tearful goodbye to Bea and Julia, both of whom elected to stay in the city. Bea was overjoyed to be back working in the emergency room and Julia felt it was her duty to help Steve solidify his case against Sofía—whether he wanted her assistance or not. Gabe made preparations for one of the prospects to take his bike back to Errol; it wouldn’t do to have his pregnant wife on the back of his Harley for several hours. Lucy needed rest and that meant trusting a prospect with his most prized possession. Well, second most prized now that he had his wife back.

While Gabe was preoccupied with giving Hunter instructions about his motorcycle, Lucy snuck to the stairwell. Bea let it slip that Sofía was being housed in a wing reserved for violent criminals, located on the fifth floor. When Lucy reached the ward, she found it was practically deserted except for a singular nurse, an aide, four security guards, and a janitor. While the guards chatted quietly about football, Lucy slipped into Sofía’s room and closed the door behind her.

Sofía’s shoulder was bandaged tightly and she wore a sling to keep it immobilized. An IV hooked on the opposite side along with a pump gave Sofía pain medication on demand. Formidable as she usually was, Sofía looked small and weak, her skin pale with anemia. She lay limply in the bed, staring out the window into the hazy midmorning sunshine.

“You can come closer,
mija
.” Sofía’s voice was soft and raspy. She gently rattled the metal handcuff at her wrist. “It’s not as if I can come after you like this.” Coughing slightly at the dryness of her throat, Sofía licked her parched lips. “Could I have a sip of water?”

Despite Lucy’s reticence to get any closer than she had to, she grabbed a pitcher of water from the bedside table and poured a glass. Offering it to Sofía with a straw, Lucy watched as Sofía drank thirstily. Once she finished, Lucy set the cup down. Folding her arms over her chest, Lucy cleared her throat. “I wanted to tell you, I forgive you.”

There was only silence as Sofía’s grey eyes locked with Lucy’s onyx ones. “Why?”

“I honestly pity you, Sofía.” Lucy’s voice remained level as she walked around to the other side of the bed. “You wanted equality and respect…but the way you went about it was utterly wrong,” Lucy inhaled sharply. “You can’t keep people prisoner and expect them to love you because of it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you think Magdalena left? Why do you think she
never
talks to you? Why do you think my mother cut you out of her life? It was never about the club, Sofía. It was always about
you
!”