“Mrs du Plessis, is everything okay?” Hawk’s worried voice had him smiling.
“Prez, it’s me.”
“Jesus! Fuck Jag, it’s good to hear your voice brother. How are you feeling?”
Jagger gave a shrug but stopped mid-shrug because it hurt. “Like I got hit by a train, Prez.”
“You got hit by a round from a high powered sniper rifle, brother. I would think equating it to being hit by a train would be correct. Fucking glad you made it through my brother.”
“Me too, Prez, me too. How are things that side? Anything I should know? How’s Rider doing?”
There was a short silence before Hawk started explaining and Jagger knew by his tone of voice there were things he wasn’t telling him. Most probably because the phone wasn’t secure.
“Things are tense around here, Jag. The shooter got away and the pigs are here constantly trying to pin it on one of us. It such a load of bullshit. Rider’s not doing well at all. If it wasn’t for that little girl of his we would have lost our brother as well. Because of the investigation into the shooting and the autopsies we haven’t determined a date for the funerals yet. Hopefully you will be out of the hospital by then.”
Shit, he didn’t know about that. “I don’t know when I’ll get out of here, Boss. Ouma said the doc was saying I’ll be here for another seven days or so. I’m hoping for less than that. The minute I’m not pissing blood anymore I’m out of here.”
Hawk suddenly laughed.
“Brother, you forget your woman is a doctor and there’s no way you’ll be able to get anything past her. She’ll take one look at you and she’ll know. On the other hand her being a doc might get you out of there earlier. She can take care of you at home. She did tell me you’re not going to be on your bike for a while.”
Jagger nodded to himself. He expected that. “I don’t mind being in a cage for a while as long as it’s not forever. Scar handled it, I can as well.”
Changing the subject felt right now that he had a sort of idea what was happening at the club.
“How are my construction projects doing? Is the fence finished yet?”
“Buzz, Crash and Banger has taken your projects over for now. Both cottages are complete and ready for their occupants and they’ve moved forward with three more cottages, just the way you planned. The fence is taking a bit longer because of the damn pigs sticking their noses into our business but we’re hopeful that it will be done by next week. Patrols are running smoothly and much more efficiently since you divided us into teams. You have nothing to worry about, brother. We’re handling shit while you’re away. All you need to do is work on getting better and come home. We miss your ugly mug at the table.”
The last bit let him know that there were things happening that required them to be at the table more often.
“I’ll do that, Boss. I don’t like lying here cut off from everyone.”
“Brother, I know you want to be here but right now we need you to heal. Crash will visit tonight and will bring photos of the work they’ve completed so you can set your mind at rest. As soon as the doc allows us to visit I’ll be there brother, you can count on it. For now take it easy, rest, heal and before you know it you’ll be home. I’ll talk to you soon, Jag.”
His prez ended the call and Jagger knew by what he had said that Crash will be bringing him an update regarding the fucker who killed Penny and Bakkies and shot him. He remembered sending Radar and Sassy off to find the bastard before he was shot. He would be able to ask Crash later but not in front of their grandmother as she didn’t know about the shit going on with the club. She was under the impression they were ‘boys’ riding their bikes together. And he wanted it to stay that way.
Laying his hand on the sheet covering him he let the phone slip from his grasp. Smiling at his Ouma as she came back inside he gave her a wink.
“Dankie Ouma. (Thank you Granny)”
She shook her head at him but she was smiling.
Her smile was the last thing he saw before he fell asleep.
The next time he woke it was Sunny sitting in the chair reading one of those bare chested romance books. He’d bet money she got it from his Ouma.
“Sunny.”
Her name had scarcely left his lips before she was up and out of the chair, her arms gently closed around his shoulders as she hugged him.
“I missed it, missed you waking up and being aware of what’s going on around you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, baby.”
He had his arm around her and held her to his chest, breathing her in and finally believing that she was alive and well.
“God, little doll, I thought I had lost you. I was so fucking scared.” He whispered against her hair.
“I’m here, Ry, you saved my life. You took the bullet that was meant for me and almost died. Don’t you ever do that again. I was so worried I was going to lose you. The doctors and nurses here are sick and tired of my questions and demands. But I’m not stopping until I can take you home.” She lifted her head and looked right into his eyes. “I love you Ryan “Jagger” du Plessis and you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”
The words slammed into him and his own eyes widened and he felt his heart thumping wildly in his chest. She loved him. His little doll loved him.
“I love you Sunny, so fucking much. I want you with me always, but there’s still shit about me you don’t know.”
She pressed a finger to his lips and smiled.
“Shut up. I know everything I need to know. If you want we can discuss whatever is bothering you at a later date, but not now. Not when you’ve just told me you love me for the second time.”
Jagger frowned as he tried to remember if he had told her he loved her before.
She laughed and pressed a soft kiss to his mouth.
“It was the morning after your surgery and you were still very groggy from the sedation. You said only two words, ‘Sunny, love’, and then you were under again. And I knew, I knew you loved me and I knew you would fight to come back to me. And you did.”
“I don’t remember saying that to you, I’m sorry.” He tried hard to remember but it was a blank.
Those beautiful blue eyes glimmered with laughter and tears. “I don’t care if you don’t remember because I heard it and Tito heard it too. So I know I wasn’t imagining it.”
Sitting back down in the chair she took his hand in both of hers and just held it. Jagger stared at her, he couldn’t get enough of looking at her. She was here, next to his bed and she was alive. It was more than he expected to find when he woke up. Only now could he admit to himself that he thought he had failed to protect her from the shooter. The relief was fucking immense and it was if a weight he hadn’t been aware he was carrying fell from him.
His heart, his life sat next to his bed holding on to his hand and all was right with his world.
On that thought he again fell asleep.
When he woke Crash stood next to his bed and by the pinging coming from his phone he was playing a game.
“Sammy, you’re going to ruin your eyes staring at the fucking screen all the time.”
His brother almost dropped his phone and Jagger grinned when he finally had it secure in his hands.
“Jesus, Ry, I thought you were sleeping.” He semi-growled.
“I was, but now I’m awake. And if you have anything to say I suggest you do it quick because I’m like a fucking old man right now. I fall asleep in the middle of conversations. Ask Ouma and Sunny, they will tell you.” Jagger grumbled.
Crash laughed. “It’s the meds they’ve got you on, bro. It’s apparently heavy as hell and Sunny said it’s a good thing because the more you sleep the more your body heals. Never knew I’d be thankful we have a doc in the family but now I am. Even if she’s an animal doc.” He winked. “But then we know what an animal you are so it’s all good.”
Jagger started laughing but grabbed his side and stopped instantly. It fucking hurt.
“Fuck. Don’t
make me laugh, little brother. Shit’s a bit scrambled inside me right now.”
His brother instantly looked worried. “Should I call the nurse to come and have a look?”
“No, I’m good. I just have to remember not to laugh and not to move too quick. Slow is good right now.” Jagger reassured him.
“Okay, I get it. Slow it is.” He looked towards the door then came closer to the bed and dropped his voice. “Prez gave me a message for you. It’s on my phone. I’m going to plug the headphones in before I play it for you. We’re going to have to be quick before Ouma or Sunny comes back.”
Jagger nodded once and Crash didn’t hesitate. He set his phone up quickly then slipped the headphones on for him.
He silently listened as his president gave him an update. Rider killing the bastard wasn’t good, it wasn’t good at all. But it was done. The only move they had was to go forward. He knew he wasn’t given an extensive update because there wasn’t time but it was enough.
Enough to settle his mind from worrying that the bastard would still come after Sunny.
Crash had just slipped the headphones back into his pocket when Sunny came into the room. She had a look on her face that told him she wasn’t happy about something.
“What’s the matter, baby?”
She snorted through her nose and shook her head.
“They have a new rotation of nurses on the night shift and one of them wanted to come in and give you a bed bath. I said no, Tito handles it every morning. She tried to tell me you’ll be more comfortable if she gave you one tonight and that I’ll have to wait outside while she was busy with you. We were having words when Chris and the sister on duty shut her down. The bitch had apparently looked in on you earlier while you were asleep and told the other nurses that by the time you left here you were going to be hers.” She gave a pissed of growl. “I’m bringing you a damned ring tomorrow and you’d better wear it Ryan du Plessis or I’m going to…to, I don’t know what, but I’ll do it.”
Grinning wide he lifted a hand and beckoned her over. She reluctantly moved right up next to the bed.
“I’ll gladly wear your ring but you don’t have to worry, Sunny. My dick belongs to you, you know this.”
“Eeeuw, man!” Crash complained. “I’m leaving, this lovey dovey shit is turning my stomach. I’ll be by tomorrow, bro. Have a good night and don’t let the naughty nurses play with your ding-a-ling.” Laughing like it was the biggest joke ever his little brother quickly left the room.
“He thinks he’s safe. But I have a long memory and he’s going to pay for that comment. Naughty nurses and your ding-a-ling my ass.” Sunny snapped angrily.
It was a lot of work not to smile because he so wanted to. His old lady was jealous and it made him feel about ten feet tall.
“Like I told you, Poppie (little doll), you don’t have to worry about some stupid nurse and my dick. It’s yours. Unfortunately while I’m lying here I can’t even say only you will touch it because I have a fucking catheter stuck in it. Just the thought of hands on me makes my fucking skin crawl.” And then a thought struck. “Fuck, baby, what happened to my piercing?”
Sunny finally grinned. “The doc took it out when they took you into surgery. She gave it to me for safe keeping.”
“She?”
“Yes, your urologist is a lady. She’s one of the best in the country so I’m very happy they called her in to help you. She’s going to be around for a while as you heal and go through the scans to check that your kidney functions as it should. But don’t worry, she’s old enough to be your mother.”
The little shit grinned as if it was a huge joke. Little did she know, it used to be his worst nightmare. He had to tell her about his past and soon.
He was still thinking of a way to tell her when he once again fell asleep.
And that was how his days continued.
Wake up, chat with his family, chat with Tito who turned out to be the funniest gay guy he had ever met. He was comfortable around him, not so much some of the other nurses.
The second day after he finally woke up he was moved into the high care ward and could finally see some of his brothers. Hawk and Ice were the first to visit and both assured him they had everything under control at the club.
He couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital and actually started to look forward to the visits from his urologist as she was the one who would be signing him out. Doctor Cohen was nothing like he’d envisioned.
She was super short with a steel grey no nonsense hairstyle, black framed glasses and a very stern demeanour. From the first second she walked into his room he knew he would like her. She didn’t beat around the bush and explained his condition to him in language he could understand. At first he was worried when she said he would have to monitor his piss from now on. Any sign of blood and he was to come in immediately. Any pain or tenderness to his side, same thing. His kidney would heal but he needed to take care of himself and live a healthy lifestyle. Giving his club tattoo one look she had very earnestly told him no fighting as one punch to the injured kidney would put him right back in hospital.
He gladly informed her there would be none of that bullshit.
As expected he would not be allowed to ride his bike for a while but she did say it was a precautionary measure. The other advice was to hold off on putting his piercing back in and to wait on sex until she gave him the all clear.
What could he do but assure her he would do as she said? He wanted to go home so he agreed to all of it.
And finally, finally he left the hospital. In a wheelchair, granted, but he left it none the less.
He was going home in time to attend Penny’s funeral. He had missed Bakkies’s but he wasn’t going to miss this one.
According to Hawk it had turned into a massive event with clubs from far and wide attending. All he could think about was Rider. How was he feeling about it?
He and Penny had been very private and having her funeral turning into a club funeral must be a total mind fuck for his brother.
As soon as he got home he was going to call him to come over. Just the two of them, Delene and the dogs. Sitting on the veranda. Doing nothing and saying nothing.
His brother needed silence right now. He wondered if anyone had realised that yet.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Sunny
As everyone prepared for Penny’s funeral I was running back and forth to the sanctuary with more guards than needed but Jagger wouldn’t let me set foot outside the gates without them. So we compromised.
If he took it easy then I’ll accept the guards. It worked for both of us.
The reason I was running back and forth was Dayana. She wasn’t happy and let everyone know about it. The staff was wary of her now because she has become totally unpredictable.
She was calm and relaxed one moment only to suddenly become aggressive and confrontational. Totally unlike the cat everyone knew. It was no longer safe for Cherise to try and feed her on the days it was clear that she wasn’t at her best.
I knew I had to move back to the sanctuary but we had Penny’s funeral coming up and my man needed to be around his brothers to get through it. He was one of the men who had made an effort to get to know her and it was hitting all of them hard.
Penny had been the kind of woman one instinctively knew was a good person. She welcomed me into her home and became a friend. A friend I had only known for a very short time but it had been enough time to form a bond of sisterhood.
Ever since Jagger had been released from hospital Rider had been coming around to the cottage with his little girl to sit on the veranda with my man. They sat silently staring at the mountains in the distance, drinking beer, while Delene played with Radar and Sassy.
Today when I got ready to leave for the sanctuary I asked Rider if he would like me to take Delene off his hands for a few hours. The man had frozen in place and then shook his head violently. He didn’t say a word and I didn’t push.
Accordin
g to Chris he had yet to let her out of his sight. He took her with him where ever he went. We tried to understand and to some extent we did.
He needed her close because she was his last connection to the woman he loved.
Just thinking about it had tears forming and I blinked to clear my eyes. I had to concentrate on Dayana today and getting her over the trauma she had suffered.
It was going to take time to get her back to where she had been but as soon as I could spend more than an hour here and there with her I believed she would start settling.
I was going to have to talk to Jagger about moving to my cottage for a little while. Or at least until we decided on what it was we were going to do.
Where we were going to live.
In my gut I knew I would be moving into Jagger’s cottage.
But what about Dayana?
It was something we would have to discuss, but not right now.
We would get to it once the funeral was behind us.
For now I would travel back and forth every day with my guards in tow.
Jagger
Low grey clouds scudded across the sky pushed by a chilly wind that bit through his tee as he sat on his veranda sipping from a mug of green tea. Carefully leaning back against the cushions he sighed.
A grey day for a funeral. It was fitting as that was how everyone at the club felt about today.
Grey.
“You’re not supposed to sit out here in the cold without at least a hoodie to keep you warm.” Sunny snapped at him as she sat down beside him and dropped his hoodie on his lap.
He bit his lip to stop the grin threatening to break free; he knew it would piss her off, so he hid it.
“I’m not cold, Sunny.”
She huffed out an irritated breath.
“You need to keep your kidney warm and protected. You know what Doctor Cohen said.”
The smile broke free and his woman gave him the death stare. She was good at it too. Little did she know all it did was make him want to take her to their bedroom and fuck her for hours. Not that he could, not yet anyway, but soon, very fucking soon.
A Touch Of Grey Page 28