Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) (12 page)

"Baby, you're just confused. We can talk about this later."

"NO! Robert, I am not confused. You punched me and you’re responsible for that pool of blood on the floor. Now go home, pack up and GET THE FUCK OUT!"

Chace looked at Robert. "I think I will give you a Police Escort to Shane's house…NOW."

Robert just stared back at Chace. Then he watched as the paramedics wheeled Shane out with Ace and Buddy following behind him.

Declan sat in his office thinking about Shane. He hated not being there with him at his fight. Now he was sitting there worried sick about him. Finally he decided that while he may hate Robert, he loved Shane and if Shane was dumb enough to love Robert then he needed to just shut up and accept it. Declan got up, grabbed his car keys and walked out the door. He needed to see Shane and apologize.

S
HANE WANTED TO BE
alone. Once the nurse was finished checking his vitals and asking questions, Shane asked Ace and Buddy to give him some space. They knew how upset he was about Robert, so they consented to leave for a cup of coffee. The nurse walked back in with some painkillers for Shane.

“Here you go. These will make you feel better.”

“I don’t need drugs.”

“Well, I will leave them here for now. I am quite sure that once the doctor begins stitching you up, you WILL need them.”

The nurse walked out. Shane didn’t really care about anything. All he felt was anger and hurt. He wanted to go home, crawl into bed and die. Robert really used him, he probably never really loved him; it was all about the money. Shane never heard the door open, then suddenly he heard someone speaking. The doctor had walked in and was washing his hands and grabbing some gloves as he spoke.

“I’m Dr. Martino, the nurse told me you were in some sort of a fight and she believes you are in need of some stitches.”

“Yes.”

The doctor turned, took one look at Shane and blurted out, “Oh my God, you’re Shane Hart.”

Shane turned his head and looked at the doctor who was smiling from ear to ear.

“I am.”

“You have no idea how much I love you. I mean, you’re my favorite fighter. I’ve seen all of your fights. I was so excited, I finally got tickets to your fight and was supposed to be there tonight. I ended up covering for my buddy because his mom is ill and he needed to fly home.”

“Sorry you missed it.”

“Hell, I didn’t miss it. I took my break and watched it in the lounge.”

“That’s great.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not being very professional, am I? Let’s take a look at you.”

The doctor looked Shane over and then took off his gloves and walked back over and stood at Shane’s side.

“Mr. Hart, I saw your fight and you weren’t hit in the back of your head. What happened?”

Shane didn’t really want to tell the doctor the truth about what happened. So he lied.

“I went to change and I guess I got dizzy and fell down. I hit my head on the bench. My trainer found me.”

“Do you still feel dizzy?”

“No.”

“How long were you out?”

“Not long.”

“I will have the nurse page a plastic surgeon for you. It shouldn’t be too long before he arrives. I’m also ordering a CAT scan.”

“I want to get the fuck out of here. Can’t you just stitch me up, so that I can go home?”

“It’s protocol to call in a plastic surgeon when the stitches are on the face or hands.”

“Please. I just want to go home.”

“You may want to go home but I recommend you stay the night.”

“NO!”

“Mr. Hart, you took some serious blows to the head. I’m quite sure that you have a concussion and I want a CAT scan to make sure nothing else is going on in that head of yours.”

“Alright, you stitch me up, I will consent to a CAT scan BUT, I am not staying the night.”

The doctor walked over to the door and called the nurse to come in. She came in carrying a tray with four syringes on it. The doctor picked up one of the syringes and headed back over to Shane.

"This is just to get you a bit numb to lessen the pain while I'm stitching you up."

Shane didn't say anything he just laid there, he felt so broken.

"Hartless, how you doing?"

Shane couldn’t turn to look but he half smiled.

"I'm ok, Buddy."

The nurse’s eyes almost fell out of her head. She had heard of the famous fighter, Shane 'Hartless' Hart but she had never set her eyes on him. He was hot. She couldn't wait to go tell the other nurses that she got to touch him.

"How is my boy doing, Doctor?"

"He has a thick head. He refused to take painkillers. Your boy has quite a few stitches in his head from that nasty fall he took after his fight. I'm sending him for a CAT scan."

"Shane, you did well out there in the cage. I didn't get to tell you before but I'm so proud of you, Kid."

"Thanks, Buddy."

"It will all work out, Kid."

"I'm fine, Buddy."

Buddy knew Shane was suffering but Shane never let anyone see it. He always suffered in silence.

Declan arrived at the hospital. He spotted Ace flirting with a nurse.

"How's Shane?"

"Suddenly you care?"

"Don't be a dick, you know how I feel about Shane."

"Yeah, well you have a funny way of showing it, Dec. I know you had an argument but he needed you and you didn't say a word. You…"

"I'm here now."

"Last I heard, they sent him for a CAT scan."

"Someone from the Club is calling, I better take it."

Declan answered the phone. Ace continued to flirt with the nurse.

Chace walked Robert into Shane's house and followed him around while he collected his belongings. When Robert had finished packing the last of his things he turned to Chace and said, "You know I never loved Shane, I was just using him. If he wasn't so pathetic he would have figured that out long ago."

Chace was infuriated now. He was ready to pummel Robert.

"Robert, you're lucky I haven't beaten or arrested you by now. You had better get the hell out of my sight. Don't push me."

"Or what, is the big, bad cop boy going to hurt me?"

"This is your last chance to leave on your own."

Robert picked up his bags and began to walk out. Chace grabbed his arm.

"Stay the fuck away from Shane or I promise you…"

Robert dropped his bags and punched Chace in the face. Chace twisted Robert's arm behind his back and pushed him up against the wall.

"I warned you."

Chace reached for his handcuffs and cuffed Robert and then he pushed him down on the couch.

"You can't do this."

Chace ignored Robert. He dialed his phone.

"Lou, its Chace. Can you send a car over to 1415 Mountain Road; I was just assaulted."

Chace smiled over at Robert while he finished his conversation.

Shane was impatiently waiting for the doctor to come back and release him from the hospital. Word must have gotten around the hospital that he was there because his room had been overrun with hospital staff passing through. Shane heard the door and looked up. Declan was standing there.

"Shane…"

"Dec, I don't want to hear it, ok."

"I'm…"

"Mr. Hart, it looks as if…oh I'm sorry I didn't realize you had a visitor."

"Declan was just leaving."

Declan nodded at the doctor and then walked out.

Shane pulled the sheet back and dropped to the floor onto his bare feet.

"I can leave now, right?"

"Your tests results are back. Everything looks alright but you do have a concussion. I really wish you would stay the night."

"Deal was, I have a CAT scan and I get to leave."

"Fine but let me give you my cell number. You can call me if your condition deteriorates. Would you like me to send in a nurse to help you dress?"

"I'm dressed."

"You can't leave like that. There's press everywhere not to mention its pretty cold out there. Wait here, I'll be right back."

Shane groaned and sat back down. All he wanted to do was go home.

"Kid, the doc said you can go home."

"Yeah, he said he'd be right back, Buddy."

"Ok, I've got the car coming around back for us. There's a media circus out there."

"Thanks, Ace."

Dr. Martino came back in carrying a pair of sweats, a t-shirt, boxers, socks and running shoes. He placed them down on the bed.

"I always have a spare set of clothes in my locker."

Shane looked up at the doctor. He felt bad now that he had been a prick when the doctor had only been looking out for his best interest. Shane smiled.

"Hey, thank you. I will have them washed and returned to you in the morning."

"I'm not worried about it, Mr. Hart."

Shane extended his hand and shook the doctors.

"Call me Shane. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome."

"Buddy, can you make sure that Dr. Martino gets two front row seats to my next fight and dinner and drinks on the house."

"Done."

"Oh, that's not necessary."

"You took good care of me and giving me your clothes isn't part of the job description. Thank you, doctor."

"Luke."

"Doctor, how long will it be before Shane can get back to training again?"

Shane knew Buddy was going to have a hundred questions and he wanted to get home. He pulled on the t-shirt and then dropped his shorts and started changing right there. He lived with Ace in college and Buddy had seen him change before. He didn't think it would matter, Luke being a doctor and all. But as he pulled on the boxers he looked up and caught Luke staring at him and Ace and Buddy watching the expression on Luke's face.