Freedom to Ride (Ravens MC) (19 page)

“
Please Nate. Everything will be fine. He’s locked up now and can’t hurt us again. Don’t let him win. When I saw you running in the door I just knew everything was going to be alright. As long as I always have you by my side.” 

He took in a shuddering breath as he stared intensely into her eyes when the door opened and they were interrupted by a cheery looking doctor walking in.

“Hello Deanna. It’s good to see you finally awake, you’ve been asleep for hours. Your fiancé here has been very worried about you and refused to leave your side. I’m Doctor McGrath. How are you feeling?”

Deanna was startled by the
‘fiancé’ comment and she looked to Nate, who looked a bit sheepish.

“
I’m okay. I actually feel a little numb. I take it I’m on strong painkillers?”

“
Yes you are. You’ve got quite a few injuries I’m afraid. Thankfully nothing life threatening. You’ve got a stab wound to the stomach which luckily didn’t hit any major organs. You also have a broken wrist and nose, a fractured cheekbone and lots of cuts and bruises. You lost quite a lot of blood from the stab wound and cuts which is why you lost consciousness when you first arrived. We had to give you a transfusion. You’ll feel very weak for a while, but with plenty of rest you should be up and kicking in no time. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“
No, that’s fine. Thank you doctor,” Deanna replied as he smiled and left the room.

After a few moments of silence, Deanna looked to Nate with a playful expression.

“Fiancé, eh? When did that happen?”

Nate smiled.
“After we got here the whole club descended on the place. When we tried finding out what was happenin’ they wouldn’t tell anyone who wasn’t family. So I told them I was your Fiancé,” he winked, making her chuckle. However she quickly stopped when she felt the tug on her stitches. Bloody hell that hurt.

“
It’s nice. Really nice actually. I like the sound of it,” she smiled at him and he smiled back but his face dropped and he asked seriously.

“
Babe. I’ve got to know. Did he touch you in any way?”

Deanna knew what he was asking.
“No. I know how it looked but I think he just wanted to watch as he cut into me.” Nate looked like some of the burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he gripped her hand tightly.

“
How’s Gavyn?” she said.

“
Concussion and a deep cut but otherwise he’ll make a full recovery. He’s fuckin’ annoyed that Lee managed to get one over him - as am I.”

“
At least he wasn’t badly injured. I couldn’t forgive myself if anyone did because of me. Tell me the truth. Do I look a mess?”

He leant over her.
“You’re still beautiful. Nothing that bastard could do to you would ever take that away. He has taken chunks out of your glorious hair, but it’ll grow back.”

Deanna was too tired to think much about that, she always knew Lee hated her hair so she wasn
’t surprised when he’d attacked it. However, thinking back she remembered why he had hated it so much.

“
Nate. I need to tell you something that Lee told me about my dad.”

“
Your dad? What did he say?”

“
Well, he . . ,” Deanna cut off when the door opened again and Cameron and Ethan walked in, both their faces a little shocked to see the extent of her injuries.

“
Hiya gorgeous. How you feelin’?” Ethan said as he came forward and kissed her on the forehead, trying to be careful not to touch any of the cuts on her face.

“
Hi you two. I’m feeling okay, thanks to the drugs pumping through me. Thank you for what you did. All of you,” she said as she looked from Ethan to Cameron and then finally settling on Nate, who squeezed her hand in reply.

“
We’ve just spoken to the doctor who told us your injuries aren’t too serious. Hopefully you’ll be out of here in no time,” Cameron said.

“
Great. How’s Holly?”

“
Missing her mummy. I’ve just spoken to ma. She’s desperate to come and see for herself that you’re okay. Megan is climbin’ the walls. She’s dying to get hold of Lee. Apparently he ruined her Ann Summers party,” Ethan said making Deanna smile.

“
She can get in line,” Nate growled, still consumed with anger at the fucker.

“
Actually, I’ve come to let you know,” Cameron interrupted. “I interviewed Lee Walker this morning. That man is a total nutcase and not happy he was interrupted. He’s been ranting and raving, causing problems down at the station. He mentioned something about your dad, Deanna, that I couldn’t understand though,” Cameron said puzzled.

“
I was just about to tell Nate. Lee explained why he came after me in the first place. Apparently my dad had an affair with his mother. He said that when my dad met my mum he dumped Lee’s mother, leaving her heartbroken. She committed suicide. He planned his revenge for years and claims he eventually confronted my dad. That’s why he disappeared. He knew things about my dad that makes me believe him. You have to find . . . I need to know what happened.”

“
It’s alright Deanna, I’ll question him further. You deserve closure after everything he’s done. Are you ready to tell me what happened?” Cameron said.

Deanna nodded and started to explain everything that occurred after Nate had left the compound, including all the details that Lee had spoken of. She also made sure they were aware that Lee had known about their night out and also that he had followed Vanessa to Glasgow. When she got to the part of Lee ripping her dress off, she could see the internal struggle in Nate as his whole body tensed with anger. Ethan placed his hand on Nate
’s shoulder, trying to provide him with some support.

When she finished, Cameron thanked her.
“I’ve got to get back to the station. I’ll also contact Yorkshire Police and request details on your father’s disappearance. I promise I’ll do everything I can to get answers for you.”

“
Thanks Cameron,” she said as he left, the men shaking his hand.

“
You up for some more visitors? I know all the lads are desperate to see you,” Ethan said, concerned with how still his brother was. He knew Nate was struggling and filled with guilt. 

“
I’d love that. Thanks Ethan.” He smiled as he left to make a phone call. She looked to Nate whose eyes were swirling with emotion.

“
Honey. Can you help me into the bathroom? I’m desperate for a wee.”

“
Sure baby,” he smiled, thankful to be doing something for her, as he gently lifted her from the bed and walked her into the bathroom.

After she finished she stood with Nate
’s help to wash her hands and caught sight of herself in the mirror over the sink, what she saw making her gasp.

She looked hideous, like something from a horror movie. Her face was covered in loads of small cuts, her nose and eyes were swollen and blue, which explained why her eyes were sore and blurred. But it was her cheekbone that looked worst as it stood out prominently in her face. Her lips were also swollen to twice their normal size with the bottom lip split open. Thankfully she
’d worried about her hair but it didn’t look too bad. She’d imagined it to be hacked to pieces.

Tears ran down her face as she continued to look at herself, stinging her cuts as she started to sob, her mind filling with awful memories. Nate wrapped his arms around her waist as he held her trembling body.

“Sshhhh baby. You’ll heal and everything will be back to the way things should be. Together, with the club and family around you. This doesn’t change anything.”

She eventually managed to calm down and breathe deeply.
“Thanks honey. But I still look like something from a Chucky film,” she grumbled, trying to make light of the situation.

He laughed as he picked her up and carried her back into the room, carefully laying her back on the bed and arranging the covers around her.

“I’m so tired,” she said yawning.

“
Get some sleep babe. I’m sure you’ll wake up when the whole club arrive,” his voice was lighter, making her feel that things would be okay.

“
Thank you Nate. I love you . . .”

“
I love you too Deana. I always will,” he said, kissing her forehead as her eyes drifted sleepily shut with a gentle smile on her lips.

Chaos descended on the hospital. The whole club arrived, causing outrage among the nursing staff. Thankfully they all came to an agreement as each member came into her room individually giving her kisses and hugs telling her to get better and then leaving.

Megan broke down sobbing when she saw her best friend so injured, screaming and shouting that she wanted to kill the bastard. Alice was also shocked and broke down when she saw her daughter-in-law to be, she hoped, so beaten. Deanna thanked her for helping to save her life.

However what did stay in Deanna’s mind was a comment Alice made. Alice had sworn that just before the police arrived she thought she’d seen the man escape from the compound, but when she saw the same man brought out in handcuffs later she realised it couldn’t be true. Alice believed that her terrified mind was playing tricks with her as it was so dark. Deanna mentioned Alice’s comment to Nate who shook it off telling her not to worry. But deep inside, he couldn’t forget it.

Before Alice brought Holly in the next day Megan helped Deanna cover up some of the worst injuries on her face. Deanna hugged Holly fiercely, finding it hard to believe that the biological father of her gentle daughter was such a monster. However when she looked at Nate, who was watching the reunion with a tender expression on his face, she knew Holly had the most perfect daddy she would ever need.

Deanna was healing fast, the doctor announcing she was strong as an ox, declaring that she could leave the hospital very soon. They had all been thrilled and decided to plan a welcome home party at the clubhouse with all the families invited.

Nate spent as much time with Deanna in hospital as possible, Logan taking over running the club temporarily. Deanna secretly believed that Nate was filled with regret and guilt, not wanting her out of his sight, and no matter what she told him she knew he had to fight his own demons in the way he thought best.

Finally, the day arrived when she was to be discharged from hospital and she stood excitedly waiting for Nate to arrive, her doctor just having left after checking her injuries which were healing quickly.

Her body was still sore and she had an appointment to see a plastic surgeon for the cheekbone fracture, but when she looked in the mirror she wasn’t as horrified as when she’d first seen her face. Nate had been right, time would heal, but she knew it would take longer for the scars inside to mend. Deanna still struggled to comprehend that her daughter’s biological father had killed her own beloved dad.

Deanna had got angry when she
’d spoken with Nate, angry and confused as to why Lee’s mother would selfishly commit suicide because she was heartbroken, leaving her child alone. Nate had actually managed to calm her down explaining that some people were just not as strong and maternal as her.

She
’d also confided in Nate that Lee had purposely got her pregnant by drugging her and damaging the condoms, ensuring he had her trapped. But she really couldn’t feel too much anger at this as she wouldn’t have had Holly, and that didn’t bear thinking about.

“
Mornin’ baby,” Nate said as he walked in carrying a bag of clothes for her to change into.

“
Hi honey,” she replied, kissing him and then walking slowly into the bathroom to get dressed, Nate following closely behind.

“
Can I help you?” she asked playfully as he tried to take her gown off.

“
I thought you’d need a hand, babe.”

“
Yeah right. You just want a quick grope, don’t you?”

“
No. How could you think I would take advantage of you in your state?” he said, trying to act outraged, but a smile was playing around the corners of his mouth.

Deanna giggled as she lifted her arms and Nate pulled off her hospital gown carefully, but when she tried to wrap her arms around her waist hiding the wounds Nate stopped her.

“No, baby. Let me have a look.”

She felt self-conscious standing there in her underwear with all the livid cuts and a bandage covering her stomach. She
’d noticed the last time the nurse removed the bandage that the stab wound had thankfully just missed her tattoo. She was happy Lee hadn’t taken that away from her.

She sucked in a gasp as Nate crouched down in front of her and leaned forward to kiss each wound tenderly, kissing her tattoo last. He lifted his glistening eyes up to her as they filled with misery, before burrowing his face in her stomach, his whole body shaking. Deanna reached down, running her fingers through his hair soothingly.

“Are you okay Nate?”