Kelsey glanced back to see Sandy still stood over her. “I thought you were my doctor.”
“I was. Your sweet little husband got me kicked off your case. It doesn’t stop me from coming to see you.” Sandy gave her a wink. “I imagine he’ll be back to see you soon, and I’ll be kicked out.”
“I don’t want you to go.” Being forced to deal with Michael while tied down scared the life out of her.
“It’s not my decision, honey. I’ll talk with some people and make sure you get the best care.”
“What the f**k are you doing in here?” Michael’s voice boomed through the spacious room.
Closing her eyes, Kelsey tried to cut out the pain of hearing his voice.
“I’m talking with my friend. Back the f**k off. You may shout and get people to do your bidding, but I’m not most f**king people.” Sandy had her hands on her h*ps facing Michael.
“Don’t, please,” Kelsey said. She wanted some peace and quiet to deal with what had happened to her.
“She’s awake?” Michael asked.
“Yeah, dick-wad, she’s a-fucking-wake.”
“Please, stop fighting. I can’t deal with this.” Kelsey would have rubbed her temple if she could lift her hand all the way to her head. Everything was closing in around her.
“Don’t stress, Kels. I’ll tell Killer you’re doing fine.” Sandy touched her arm and walked off. Panicking at being left alone with her husband, Kelsey called back to the only woman connected to The Skulls. “What’s the matter, honey?”
“Tell him I’m sorry.”
“I will. Take care and get well. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll tell him.” Sandy left.
Alone with Michael, Kelsey struggled to look at him. After a few minutes passed he walked up beside the bed. She finally looked up at him.
“Hey,” he said.
“Why are you keeping my friends away?” she asked, wanting to see Tate but more importantly Killer.
“They’re not your friends.”
He reached out and stroked her cheek. She jerked her head away, biting down onto her lip to stop herself from crying out.
“I was so worried,” he said. His voice was devoid of all emotion. She knew he was lying.
“You’re wrong.”
“What?”
She stared at the man she called her husband and shook her head. “Tate, Killer, all of The Skulls are my friends. They’ve been there for me. Last year when this town was invaded by a psychotic murderer, Killer was there taking care of me. Why did you have to come back?”
“We’re married, Kels.”
“No, I was a convenience. Divorce me, and marry someone suited to you. Stop calling me Kels, and stop treating me like we really know each other. I don’t know you.” The tears were falling thick and fast. She was scared, panicked, and wanted Killer.
Kelsey wanted Killer’s arms wrapped around her, whispering how he felt.
“I didn’t call your parents,” Michael said.
“Good. Don’t.” There was no way she’d ever survive her life if her friends met her parents. They were all polar opposites. Her parents didn’t care about anyone but themselves whereas The Skulls clearly cared about their own. She’d seen the rough bikers at their worst and at their best. They were hard and partied hard, but they loved their family. No one hurt their family and got away with it. “I want to see my friends.” She wanted to see Killer.
“Do you really think I’m going to let that bastard in here to see my wife?”
Growling with frustration, she glared at him wishing she could hurt him with her looks alone.
It was useless. There was no way for her to get through his thick f**king skull.
“I want to see Tate and Killer.”
“No.”
Staring at the window, Kelsey forced herself to ignore him.
You f**ked up, Kelsey. People now think you’re insane.
“Are you going to ignore me?” he asked.
She was going to ignore him and anyone who tried to talk to her. Staring at the darkness of night, Kelsey thought about Killer and what it would be like if Michael had never come home. She should have told Killer. Her biggest regret was not telling him the truth. Her life would certainly be easier if Michael never came back.
****
Michael walked out of Kelsey’s hospital ward feeling like the worst bastard in the world. From the first moment he saw her, he’d been intrigued by her beauty, but he’d also been pissed by not getting back his money. Kelsey was a pretty girl, innocent in a way he’d never seen before. There was nothing between them, and he didn’t want to f**k her either. Her parents took and didn’t give him a f**king cent back. She asked for time to pay off her parents’ debts, and he respected her for it. Kelsey hadn’t been responsible for her parents’ debts. The truth was, he had to marry a woman to fit with his father’s will. The ultimatum had hit him within days of meeting Kelsey. The way he saw it Kelsey would be easy to manipulate into what he wanted. He liked the freedom of doing what he wanted.
When he first heard about the will his father left, he’d been angry. Then seeing an opportunity to marry a woman who wouldn’t make any demands from him had him grasping for Kelsey.
He liked the power of forcing her to do what he wanted.
Also, he liked being a married man. The gold-digging whores stayed well away. People didn’t mess with him, and it gave him the edge when no one knew where to look. He made sure no one knew about Kelsey. If they ever found out the true identity of his wife she’d be in danger.
His father had given him an ultimatum, and Kelsey was the only safe woman he could think of to marry. Besides the usual legitimate businesses, Michael had inherited something far worse, and he hoped to never let it touch Kelsey. He’d married her to gain his full inheritance, but he wasn’t prepared to have her death on his conscience. Michael hadn’t liked everything he inherited, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
The only reason he was in Fort Wills was because of his other business. While he was here he always intended to visit Kelsey and remind her of their bargain. Hearing about her involvement with The Skulls hadn’t helped matters. The last thing he needed was the club looking into him.
Glancing at his watch, he saw it was time to leave. If his business associates knew who Kelsey was, she’d be in danger. He was risking f**king everything to keep her hidden, his own life as well.