Going Full Throttle

Chapter 52

"This is fucking bullshit," Tyler grumbled. He slumped in his wheelchair with his fist propping up his chin. His newly casted ankle jutted out in front of him on a leg rest. Forced into a chair, the poor thing looked as pouty as a neutered dog.

"You don't have any more of those drugs do you?" Fitz asked the nurse as we all chuckled.

The nurse shook her head as she prepped Tyler to leave. "No," she smiled politely. "That was just an emergency dose. Now he has his prescription that should control his pain."

"Oh no," Fitz said seriously. "I meant for me."

"Dane," Tyler groaned to his friend. Taking the cue, Dane stepped forward and slapped Fitz on the back of the head. The satisfying smack as Fitz rocked forward made Tyler finally smile a little.

"Okay," the nurse sighed as she looked around. "I think you are ready to go."

"Great, pass me my crutches." Tyler braced his hands on the armrests and tried to push himself up.

"Tyler," I warned. The nurse had already repeated herself a million times that he had to be taken out in the chair.

Tyler cocked his jaw and huffed. "Is there press?"

"A few," Rohan nodded. "We've only given them the bare minimum about your status. Essentially just that you were fine."

"Good," Tyler nodded. "Where are they? I don't need a picture of myself in this lame chair."

Dane and Rohan both shot him sympathetic frowns. There were only a few reporters outside the hospital but they were right at the exit. They had already gotten some really unflattering pictures of me as I left during Tyler's surgery to shower and change my clothes.

"Great," Tyler muttered.

The nurse pushed Tyler out of the recovery wing of the hospital and toward the exit. Dane, Rohan, Fitz, and I all followed behind them. I hadn't been sure what the relationship between the Goon Riders was like before. Tyler's accident had clarified everything for me, though. I didn't think he even realized the depths of their brotherhood but those men definitely cared for Tyler. They'd sat with me all night while we waited for Tyler's surgery. They even encouraged me to go to the hotel quickly to take care of myself, knowing that's what Tyler would have wanted.

The reporters that lazed around the exit jumped up when Tyler was rolled out. They rushed forward to ask questions but Tyler held out a hand for them to stop. I wasn't sure if it was out of respect or fear of his stormy mood, but they listened.

The nurse stopped the wheelchair in front of our rental vehicle and Rohan passed Tyler his crutches. Tyler braced them in front of him and huffed slightly as he pulled himself up to stand. I resisted the urge to help him, knowing at this point it was a pride thing. Once he stood with the crutches supporting him, he turned to the reporters.

"Tyler, how are you feeling?" one asked, holding their phone out to record his answer.

"Fine," Tyler nodded. "I'll need a few months of rest and rehab then I'll be riding again." A small, proud, smile quirked my lips at his confidence. Even injured his tall straight spine and lifted chin was the image of a determined man.

"Tyler," another reporter stepped forward. "What does this mean for your place in the Goon Riders since you can't finish the tour?" I stiffened just as Tyler did. The question cracked his resolve ever so slightly.

"Tyler's place with the riders has nothing to do with one tour," Dane interjected confidently from his side. "He's our founder and regardless of what he does, he will always be a leader for our team and the sport in general."