Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 247

Cloe POV

My body ached all over, as if I had just had a bad beating from Dad, and needed something to take relief from the pain, but couldn’t reach it. My mind was doing double time, trying to remember why I hurt so much, and then I got the smell of food, which smelled like Chinese takeaway. Opening my eyes and blinking a few times, I can see a worried Storm digging into food. Guess he has not eaten for a while. He always had a large appetite, burning up the calories fast being so large, and he was active, so getting him to sit still for long was a miracle. He would find himself stuck in this place with me, which was frustrating. At any moment, I expect him to get up, pace, do push-ups, or something. He hadn’t noticed that I was awake yet, too invested in his meal, and checking his phone.

“That smells good. Is there enough for me?” Storm’s eyes found mine immediately, as he almost choked on his mouthful. Storm put it down and came to me. He pushed the call button as he inspected my face, searching for something, but that tender smile never left his face as he looked me over. He made my stomach have butterflies with the look he was giving

The nurse arrived, tutted because I was awake, fiddled with the drip, and checked my vitals before leaving to get me something soft to eat. Jelly and ice cream didn’t sound as nice as those leftovers smelled, but I guess I will take what I can get. The nurse returned with the promised bowl and a cup of meds. I still would have preferred his leftovers; they smelled better than this. I am not a sweet-tooth girl; give me steak, pies, and chips anytime, and I am all yours.

“Painkillers, for you to be awake already, you must be in pain.” The nurse took my vitals before I could eat and left me with Storm. The sweet taste of the jelly hit my mouth and hit me like a starving lioness cub, latching onto its mother’s teat when she returned from hunting. I took another few spoonfuls of jelly before thoughts started to fill my mind.

“Is Grams okay? Did she get hit? Is she here?” I murmured out a number of questions as I pushed a mouthful of ice cream into my mouth, soothing the heat and moistening the dry abyss, worried about his answer, I tried, I really did, how I managed to move my body the way I did, was beyond me, the doctor said, I was stronger than I looked.

“Yeah, Great-grams is fine. You saved her life; she’s a bit bruised from falling on the floor and shocked by it all, but you covered her completely, and nothing reached her. Although she feels guilty that you got hit, and that you dived onto her as you did. She called you a silly girl protecting an old woman, as you did.” Storm replied as he typed away on his phone. That was a relief. She’s a lovely lady, regardless of her moments of frustration. That’s what her bitterness was most of the time, and none was really directed at me, once I recognised it for what it was worth, her small outbursts no longer annoyed me, more sympathy than hurt.

“The shooter, did you get him or her?” I wanted to know everything.

“Relax, all was taken care of. We are investigating how that shooter managed to get so close. Security had become a bit lax over the years, which happens when there are changes and things have been so calm for a while, and a few new guards might not have done their jobs. Don’t worry, we will increase security, so next visit you won’t be at risk. We feel it might be a grudge hit, and only Great-grams was the target. But time will tell.” Was that what he thought, that I was worried about my safety?

“It’s not my security I was concerned with, more for Grams and Gramps, they live there, and I doubt whoever that shooter was, knew who I am, or knew I would be there.” I was getting frustrated that Storm was so busy on his phone that he couldn’t look at me while talking to

“Who are you texting this late at night? Did you get yourself a new girlfriend at last?” His head raised to stare at me so fast, I thought he would get whiplash. The stunned look was priceless; you would have thought I just stole his last cookie.

“Firstly, you are my only girlfriend, and second, to Dad to let him know you are awake, and to pass it on to Mum. I know it was late, but Dad would have my hide if I didn’t inform him.” He sounded hurt.

Why?

“Do you think at some stage we can get my bike here? It’s hiding in the back shed out of Dad’s sight. If he finds it, Dad will destroy it, because he can.” I asked, out of all the things I wanted from that house, that was the only thing of importance. I had nothing of value, and everything my mother had left me had been taken by my sister and wasn’t worth fighting Mia or Dad to get them back.

“Give me the address and details of exactly where it is, and what type of bike, and can see what can be done.” I gave him my Dad’s address and the bike’s location.

“Where’s your room?” Storm asked, and I felt bad.

“The cellar.” It was a cold, damp room that could be locked only from the outside, no windows, but a trap door, that I found hidden at the back, that I could sneak out of, but have only done that twice; the threat of being caught wasn’t worth the risk, but it gave me an out for when I was ready to run away from home. I had pushed my bed as far away from the door as possible, in the hope that I’d wake before I was hit. On the bright side, it was cool in summer. The look on Storm’s angry face that flashed before me told me he was not happy before he managed to hide it.

“Will you be staying here with me till tomorrow, when I can get out of here?” I asked, glad that my injuries were not worse. Didn’t want to stay too long, and having a nurse at home was wonderful, gets me out of here quicker, and the doctor makes home visits. It’s amazing what money can do; it’s best to take the good and bad and focus on the good, or one could become paranoid.

“Of course. I will be here when you wake up.” His soothing voice and the meds taking effect soon had me falling into slumberland. the room and pain slowly disappeared, and I felt a kiss on my cheek, and a hand running through my hair, before darkness completely engulfed me.