Page 21 of Cryin’ in the Wind

In the parking lot, she found his bike sitting behind her car, Cypher astride it, though the engine wasn’t running and another bike beside him. She waved.

“Give me just a sec to put this in my car, then we can go.” She hit the button on her keys to open the trunk, then set her briefcase inside and closed the lid. Dropping her keys in her purse she went to Cypher who was holding open one of the boxes on either side of the rear wheel.

“You can put your purse in here. And you’ll need to wear this.” He handed her a helmet. Lauren handed over her purse and took the helmet. He put her bag in the case and secured it while she was still staring at the helmet trying to figure out how it went on. “Here, let me help.”

With deft fingers he helped her slip the helmet over her head and fasten the strap that went under her chin.

“Now put your left foot here,” he pointed out a narrow peg behind where his leg, “and swing your other leg over just like you were getting on a horse or a bicycle. You can put your hands on my shoulders if you need to brace yourself.”

Lauren did as he instructed, finding it easier than she’d anticipated.

“Now wrap your arms around me and hold on tight.” Cypher said.

She wrapped her arms around his middle, and they seemed to shoot forward. Lauren couldn’t help but squeak in surprise at the sudden movement, but that didn’t last long. Cypher maneuvered the motorcycle with an ease that spoke of lots of practice. He was as comfortable on the bike as she was behind the wheel of her car. That helped her relax a bit, but she still held herself tense for a while, afraid the other cars on the road would do something stupid and they would end up hurt.

He’s been doing this a long time, he knows what he’s doing. Besides. Cypher wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. He’s working to protect me, she reminded herself. Then she forced herself to relax a little at a time. She didn’t need to clamp her legs around his hip so tight, so she relaxed her thighs, then her back, then some of the tension in her arms, without loosening her grip around his middle.

The trip to the hospital took about twenty minutes and soon Cypher pulled into the parking lot, where to her surprise there were at least a dozen other motorcycles, all lined up, side by side at a slight angle and facing outward. She didn’t have a chance to say anything before Cypher swung the bike they were on a round and walked it backward into line with the others before killing the engine.

He had her climb off before dismounting himself and stowing their helmets. As they walked inside, Lauren couldn’t help but glance back, wondering what people would think when they saw the row of motorcycles waiting for their riders. Would they assume there was some threat or vendetta? Or that one of them had gotten hurt? The one thing she was sure no one would assume was the actual reason they were all there.

It took them a few minutes to get to the maternity ward, but because she had privileges there and sometimes came in to see her own patients or for consults, she was able to navigate them to the maternity ward without having to stop and ask directions.

When they reached the waiting room, Lauren was surprised. Though why, she couldn’t say. She’d seen the bikes downstairs and knew there were a bunch of them here, though it wasn’t nearly all of the club. But they seemed to fill the room. There were a few faces she didn’t recognize, but they stayed off to one side, as if they weren’t part of the group, and they likely weren’t. Elizabeth likely wasn’t the only one in labor.

“How is everything?” Cypher asked as they joined the group sprawled in chairs and standing around. The large men seemed to dominate the room, though they filled less than half of the seats in the space.

“No news yet. Which I’ve been assured is good news,” one man said. Lauren thought his name was Wrath, but she couldn’t be sure.

“It is,” she said. “Did anyone say what stage or how far she’s gotten?”

“Far enough that they admitted her. They’ve said a lot of things but not being a chick, most of it’s gone over my head.”

Lauren nodded once, not sure what else to say.

“You all remember Lauren, right?”

Faces nodded around the room and a moment later Lacey hurried up to her, and flung her arms around Lauren in a brief, tight hug. Lauren scanned the room while she held on to the girl, spotting Jenna, Roadkill, and Joker all seated around the room.

“Ms. Lauren, you came! I wasn’t expecting to see you.” She looked from Lauren to Cypher and back again then, as if Lauren could see her brain working, she saw the realization hit the girl. “Wait. You came with Cypher?”

“I did.” Lauren was careful to keep her tone gentle and careful, not sure how the teenager would take the news of her seeing someone in her life. The girl looked back and forth between them again then went to Cypher and poked him in the belly with one finger. “You better not hurt her. She’s amazing and I don’t want to lose Ms. Lauren because you fucked up.”

Lauren watched Cypher, wondering how he would handle getting orders from the teenager.

He lifted one brow at the girl.

“Not that I intend to hurt her, or anyone, but what would you do if I did, Squirt? You’re just a slip of a girl.”

“I might be little, but Zach says I pack a real punch.” Lauren knew they’d been teaching her to fight. Not boxing or MMA but enough so she would know how to defend herself and be more confident. The lessons had gone a long way to rebuilding the girl’s self-confidence.

“But I don’t have to do anything to you. All I have to do is cry about it front of Hex and he’ll make sure you regret whatever you did.” Lacey gave him a smug smile.

Cypher threw his head back and laughed. It took him a moment to catch his breath then he held his arms open. “Come here, Squirt.” She went willingly into his arms and hugged him tight. While they held on to each other Lauren heard him say, “I’ve got no intentions of hurting her, but if I do, I’ll take my punishment like a man, all right?”

She leaned back and watched him with narrowed eyes for a moment then nodded. “I can live with that.” The girl gave Lauren one last hug then went back to sit between Joker and Jenna.

“She’s got the whole club wrapped around her little finger, hasn’t she?” Lauren asked with a smile.