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    Gagging, I begin to choke causing my breathing to become even more strenuous. I feel his arms rest on either side of me in the bed without touching me.  
    “Please, breathe, baby. Inhale,” he whispers gently. “Exhale... Inhale… Exhale.”  
    I take my strength from him, following his commands to get my breathing under control. One breath at a time that is how you survive. When you can’t handle looking so far ahead, think only of one more breath. I feel the wetness of my tears as they escape my swollen eyes and fall down my swollen cheeks.  
    “We gotta clean you up. Doll is gonna help you. After that, Doc will tend to your wounds. She came last night, stitched your head and checked you out.”  
    “What time is it?” I croak out on a choke.  
    “Two in the afternoon,” Shooter replies in a matter of fact tone, devoid of all emotion.  
    “Axel,” I whisper.  
    “Baby, he’s fine. Remember, your mom and aunt have him. They don’t know what happened, just that you are exhausted and need to rest today.”  
    I nod my head. The pain in my body consumes my thoughts as I sit here covered in vomit and unable to see.  
    Push through it, Tessie , I coach myself. I survived, right? He didn’t kill me. Hurt me, yes, but I’m alive.  
    “I gotta pick you up, Tessie. Doll’s gonna help you undress. Doc says the swelling will go down, and then you’ll be able to open your eyes and see. Until then, Doll will handle dressing and undressing you. I promise I won’t be in the room. No men, baby. You’re safe now.”  
    His concern for my modesty and security is evident as he has yet to harshly touch me or make a sudden movement. My emotional reserve is empty; as a result, I find my calm in Shooter, nodding my head in understanding.  
    After a bath, with help from Doll, Doc Kelly checks my wounds. She applies some goo to my eyelids to help keep my eyes moisturized while the swelling continues to go down. My nose will have a nasty bump and may possibly need to be reset later, but until the swelling goes down, she can’t tell for sure without x-rays. I have vaginal and anal tears that will be uncomfortable as they heal, but much like having a baby, they will be fine in time. Moreover, my concussion will have lasting effects for a while, but eventually, the headaches will go away.  
    Yes, they all offered to take me to the hospital for treatment if I would feel more comfortable, but that is not going to happen. For me, that would mean answering questions, which would be talking about it and remembering it. I just want to forget. Move on. Wait for the next hit from life.  
    Mercy could have stepped in to save me last night, yet she didn’t. It is more than obvious she has no plans to cut me any slack in the future, either.  
    Doc Kelly continues to check me over, spouting off healing times and instructions. She belongs to Head Case. She met him in med school, only he went into mental health while she went into emergency medicine. How they became affiliated with the Hellions, I do not know. She doesn’t share, and I don’t ask. Honestly, I don’t care who treats my external wounds. I have to find a way to get healed and get home to my son. I survived my attack; this is just yet another bump in the road, right?  
     
     
     
     
     
     
    When Tripp calls a sermon, every patched member is in attendance. Boomer is prospecting after my nomination last year, so he is standing outside the cave. I hold no officer position; therefore, I sit in one of the seats along the wall of the tiny space. Tripp takes his seat at the head of the table with Rex, our charter VP, at his right.  
    The gavel slams down as Tripp calls the meeting to open. He doesn’t hold back as he begins, “Tessie was attacked at Ruthless last night.”  
    While gasps and swears fill the air, Rex sits in his chair unmoving, his face never changing as the words sink in throughout the club members that weren’t part of the clean-up last