“What about a possible pregnancy?” the doc asked in a very quiet voice.
Matteo’s expression shifted to fury but then his gaze darted to me.
I shook my head vigorously but I couldn’t be sure I wasn’t pregnant. I’d been on the pill for over a year when Maddox kidnapped me. Of course, I didn’t have them with me. But I didn’t want to consider it now. I’d take care of this problem when I was home.
The relief in Matteo’s face was overwhelming. He touched my arm. “Soon you’ll be home and forget this ever happened.”
I nodded, but I felt shaky and cold. Up until this point, I’d managed to put up a mask of control but it was slipping quickly. I barely registered as the doctor removed the bandage to check on my ear. “There’s the option to reconstruct your earlobe. I know one of the best plastic surgeons in New York who’ll gladly treat you.”
“As if your dad and I will give him a choice,” Matteo muttered, hitting his palm with the blade of his favorite knife.
I shook my head. “It stays the way it is. Only make sure it doesn’t get infected.”
Matteo met my gaze, obviously confused. Maybe he worried I suffered from PTSD, but I didn’t think that was the case.
“I want a reminder.”
“I hope you don’t consider keeping the tattoo as well,” he joked in a dry voice.
I shrugged. “How bad is it?”
“Bad,” he said.
“There are options to remove a tattoo.”
“I know,” I said. I hadn’t even dared to peer over my shoulder yet. Later would be time to face the horror.
The doc covered the tattoo with bandages and Matteo threw a blanket over my shoulders then we sat in silence, waiting for the fight to be over. I could see in Matteo’s face that he wanted to return and be part of the bloodshed. I was thankful he stayed with me. I didn’t want to be alone right now.
My mind drifted to Maddox, who’d risked everything to save me. Calling my father and tell him about the clubhouse was suicidal. He’d told me he loved me. I didn’t trust my own feelings. Could true love be born in captivity?
I watched Marcella being dragged away by Vitiello’s brother, the knife lover. Her eyes flashed with panic as they settled on me, and she shouted at her father to spare me.
I smiled wryly. The look I saw on Luca Vitiello’s face was one I’d seen many years ago, He’d come to maim and kill, not spare anyone. Certainly not me, and not Gray either. I didn’t deserve mercy, and I never wanted it. My gaze darted to my brother hunched behind a sofa. I didn’t care for my life, but I’d get Gray out of here alive even if I had to kill Luca and his men.
I made a mad dash for the sofa and landed on the floor beside Gray. He was bleeding from a bullet wound in his upper arm but otherwise looked unharmed. I checked the wound, ignoring his wince as I prodded around in his torn-apart flesh. The bullet was lodged inside, which wasn’t a bad thing considering it prevented worse bleeding. There would be time to remove it later.
Gray held a gun in his left hand but knowing he strongly favored his right, now injured arm, he might as well be unarmed.
“You got ammo?”
He nodded. “Four more shots.”
That wasn’t nearly enough against the army we were up against. It wasn’t even enough against Luca fucking Vitiello out for blood.
“Okay, listen to me, Gray. I’ll try to distract them and fire every bullet I have on them so you can save your sorry ass.”
His eyes widened. “I won’t run off like a coward. Dad needs my help.”
“Earl ran off upstairs to save his own ass, leaving you here to deal with Vitiello and his army. He doesn’t deserve your worry.”
Gray shook his head. “I’m not a coward.”
“No, you’re not. But you aren’t a fool either, and staying here is foolish. We can’t get out of this alive, not with the numbers against us. But you know all the secret pathways out of the woods. If anyone can get away from here, it’s you.” Gray kept shaking his head. I grabbed his cut. “Fuck. Mom needs you. If Earl and I die, then she needs you.”
That seemed to get through his thick skull.
“Get out of there, White,” Luca called. I assumed he meant me, considering that Earl had run upstairs to hide.
I gave a nod toward Gray. “You run toward the back door as fast as your legs carry you when I give you the sign, understood?” I wouldn’t be responsible for his death.
“Understood,” Gray muttered.
“Good.” I pushed to my feet and began firing at everything that moved. Luca and another man I didn’t know sought cover outside but kept firing at me. Amo Vitiello hid behind the overturned pool table but he too shot at me. I ducked behind the sofa, glad for the metal sheets Gunnar had attached to the underside a few weeks ago in preparation for a possible attack.