by K. J. Dahlen
Mountain nodded. “Sir, I love her and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. I would die for her and I would kill for her. I told you that once and I meant it then, same as I mean it now.”
Dominic stepped back and nodded. Turning to Leon, he smiled. “I think I will be seeing more of you in the near future, old friend.”
“You will be more than welcome any time as long as you respect their rules.” Leon nodded. Then he chuckled. “I find myself in the same position and it blows. Our Peaches was taken away from us when she was five. We spent sixteen years searching for her when she was returned to us. I wanted to keep her safe for the rest of her life but she wanted to live her life. She found a very good man and is building a good life with him.”
“Then there is hope that I will get to know my daughter eventually.” Dominic nodded. But first, I have some things to take care of back home.”
Izzy nodded. “The last time I saw Roxi she was working near the Pier as a stripper.” She shrugged. “That was a couple of years ago though.”
“I will find her this time.” Dominic assured her. “I can’t promise to let her go without some measure of penalty but I can promise not to kill her.”
“That’s all we can ask.” Boone nodded. “You know I almost feel sorry for her.”
“Why is that?” Izzy asked.
“She had something good and she threw it away, now she has nothing. No family, nothing. Family is the most important thing a person can have. Real family that is. People like Mike aren’t real family.”
Izzy went to her bother and hugged him close.
Dominic watched and felt something deep in his soul begin to heal. Something he thought had died when Janet died in his arms and he knew his baby was gone.
He looked over at Stephan and noted the bored look on his face. Well, he thought, he won’t be bored for long. He had a lot to make up for and Dominic was going to make it very difficult for him to earn back the trust he broke. “Come along Stephan, we have to get back to Chicago,” Dominic called out. He grabbed Izzy up in a hug. “I hope you will call me even if it’s just to talk.”
“I will and now you know where I am, please come back often. I would like to get to know you.”
“Just say when and I will be here,” he promised.
“Then you should know I plan to make this woman my wife next week.” Mountain wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Dominic grinned. “Then you’ll need her birth certificate. I can bring it back with me.”
Izzy laughed.
Dominic turned and nodded at his men.
Two came to stand behind Stephan.
Stephan stiffened when he seemed to realize what was happening but he didn’t fight it.
One of the men reached for the weapon in the holster behind his back and Stephan was escorted to the door.
Then Dominic walked toward the door.
When the door was closed behind them, Izzy turned to Boone. “I’m sorry about your mother.”
Boone shrugged. “Maybe I would feel something if she hadn’t just thrown both of us away like we didn’t matter. Maybe I would actually care if she had shown us just a little love over the years but she couldn’t bother then, so why the hell should I bother now?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Two days later, Mountain, Izzy and Boone sat in a waiting room of the Albany hospital waiting for Dr. Ethan Bright.
Boone looked over at Mountain and asked, “Why exactly are we here again?”
“Because I want to find out exactly what is wrong with you,” Mountain replied in a firm tone. “I think someone has been lying to you for a long time now, lying or just not getting you the care you needed. Either way, its neglect and I think it needs to stop. This may not be the doctor you need to see but he can recommend someone who can help you.”
“Help me do what?” Boone asked.
“That’s what we’re here to find out.”
Just then, Boone’s name was called and all three got to their feet.
In the office, Dr. Bright searched their faces and asked, “What can I do for you?”
“Eight years ago this young man was shot,” Mountain explained. “The bullet lodged in his back and he was paralyzed. Two years ago, he fell and since then he’s had severe pain in his legs. He hasn’t seen a doctor in all this time but I think there is something going on and it’s high time, he found out what that something is.”
Dr. Bright looked over at Boone and asked, “Was the bullet ever removed?”
Boone shook his head. “From what I remember it was too close to my spine. The doctors I saw then didn’t want to mess with it. But that was eight years ago.”
“Well then, let’s begin by getting a better picture of what’s going on.” Dr. Bright called in his nurse and recommended getting Boone down to x-ray.
Three hours later, they were right back where they started. When Dr. Bright came into the exam room, he had a smile on his face. “Young man today is your lucky day.”
“How is that?” Boone frowned.
“I got the x-rays from the night you were shot and compared them to the x-rays we took today. Apparently, when you fell two years ago the jolt you took, dislodged the bullet embedded in your spine. The bullet never penetrated the spine but there is still some damage there. It didn’t move far but far enough we can operate and remove it.”
Izzy gasped. She took his hand and held it tight. “Is there a possibility that he could walk again?”
Dr. Bright sat down and studied his notes for a moment. When he looked over at them he said, “It might take some time and some work on his part but I think there is a real possibility he could walk again.”
Boone crushed her fingers in his excitement. He turned his head and stared at her, then excitedly glanced over to the doctor. “How soon can you get the bullet out?”
“Can you come back tomorrow morning for a pre-op physical and blood work?”
“You bet.”
“If things check out, we can do the surgery tomorrow afternoon.”
Boone turned excited eyes to Izzy. “I will be able to walk again. I can have my life back!”
“Damn that sounds good.” She beamed at him.
“It won’t be as easy as you think,” Mountain interjected. “You’ll have to really work for every inch toward your final goal. There are going to be times when you’re screaming in pain and just want it to go away. Are you ready for that? There are going to be times when you don’t think you can take another step? Are you going to be ready for that?”
Izzy just stared at him like he was crazy. “Why are you telling him that?”
Mountain turned to look at her for a moment then gazed at Dr. Bright. “Because it’s going to happen. And that’s just the beginning, isn’t that right doc?”
Dr. Bright nodded slowly. “Yes, that will be just the beginning. You’ve been in that chair for eight years. Even after we remove the bullet, there is still going to be significant nerve damage that you have to learn to overcome. It will be a little like learning to walk all over again. You’ll take one step forward and two steps back at times but you have to remember, if you want this bad enough you’ll have it but it’s going to take time and real effort on your part. The medical staff can help you, your sister and friends can help you but we can’t do it for you. You have to be willing to reach down deep inside yourself and find the strength and the will power to get where you want to be. And that my young friend…is on you.”
Boone nodded. “I think you’re trying to scare me but it isn’t working. I can be as stubborn as Izzy. I can and will do this.”
“Good because you have seven months to get walking,” Izzy informed him.
“Why that time frame?” Boone frowned.
“Because I might need help walking the baby at night,” she explained while staring at Mountain. She hadn’t told him yet. She saw his eyes widen in surprise then she saw him smile.
He didn’t say anything just watched her
closely. His gaze went from her face down to her belly and his smile widened.
Boone on the other hand grabbed her and hugged her close. “You mean I’m going to be an uncle?”
“Yep.”
“And what does the dad have to say about that?” Boone wanted to know as he turned to study Mountain.
“The dad is more worried about what the granddad will have to say,” Mountain told him. “I think we should get married before we tell Dominic about his change in status.”
“Even without the baby, I would be proud to marry you.” Izzy framed his face with her hands. “I love you Talon Morgan.”
“That’s a good thing because we will be married and I believe marriage should last forever.”
“Me too.” Izzy kissed him. “Me too.”
Mountain grinned. “I wonder how Melora is going to handle being a big sister?”
Izzy chuckled. “It will blow her mind but I think she’ll be ok with it.”
“At least your kids will be close in age,” Boone suggested. “Yeah, you and Sam have more in common than you realize. You’re both fathers, then grandfathers, then fathers again. That’s just a little bit backwards, don’t you think?”
Mountain laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess it is but it’s so much fun too.” He checked his watch. “As much as I’d like to debate all of this, we need to go.”
Dr. Bright waved at them and went out the door.
“Where are we going?” Izzy asked.
“Back to the clubhouse. We have a wedding to attend.” Mountain held up his hand. “No not ours, but we all need to be there anyway.”
“Who’s doing the deed?” Boone asked as he turned his chair around and made his way down the hall.
“Gator and Reva but Reva doesn’t know it yet. That’s why you all didn’t know about it. Gator wanted to surprise her. He’s been waiting seventeen years for this day and he wanted to make it special for her.”
Izzy chuckled. “I don’t think she’ll mind. She is plain nuts over that man, even after all this time.”
Mountain pulled her into his arms. “That’s what I want for us. Being so crazy in love that will last a lifetime.”
“Good,” she whispered. “Because that’s what I want too.”
He chuckled in her ear. “Although my lifetime will be considerably shorter than yours.”
“Please don’t say shit like that.” Izzy smacked his chest. “Yeah, I know you’re older than I am but I want to grow old with you.”
“I want to watch you grow old with me,” he spoke quietly. “I know I’ve lived what seems like a lifetime already, but I’ve been lonely. I’ve never found another woman that seemed to be the other half of my soul. I thought I had that for a little while when I was with Carla but back then, I was stupid and walked away from her and the baby she was carrying. I hope someday, she can forgive me for that.” He gazed into her eyes. “Then when I first met you, I got the shock of my life.”
Izzy frowned. “I was a shock to you?”
“Oh yeah, I saw you standing there next to my daughter and I just froze. All my life I’ve been dreaming of a woman. I could never see her face but I could see her standing in the shadows, waiting for me to find her. As soon as I saw you, I knew you were that woman. I tried to hate you too. Blame everything that happened to Melora on you…” His eyes looked sad. “I tried everything to stay away from you but I couldn’t. That night when you came to me for the first time, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I should have turned you away, but I just couldn’t do it. I know I’m twice your age but that night I didn’t care. All that mattered to me was being in your arms and when I was it was like coming home.” He shrugged. “I can’t explain it any better than that. To me, you belonged in my arms. Your past doesn’t matter, only you matter. I called you my woman but you’re so much more than that. You are my life and I would do anything to keep you safe and happy.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. “My life was nothing until I found you.”
Mountain hugged her to him. “Come on, let’s get to this wedding so we can start planning our own. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”
Izzy stood there for a moment and just stared at him. “I hope you don’t want a big wedding.” She wrung her hands. “I know girls dream of white dresses and veils and huge cakes but that’s just not me. I’d rather be surrounded by family and friends and right now, I don’t have that many of either. I’ll marry you any time anywhere but I can’t do a huge wedding.”
“What do you want your wedding to be like?” he asked as they walked down the hall and kept their eyes on Boone way ahead of them.
“Just as simple ceremony with Melora as my maid of honor and Boone giving me away. You would be waiting for me and the words we would say to each other would come from our heart.”
“What about your father?” he asked softly.
“Yeah, well I didn’t know about him when I was planning this out in my head.” She chuckled. “I suppose it will be him and not Boone when I walk toward you.” She rubbed her forehead when they stopped at the elevator where Boone was waiting for them. “Damn, how did my life get so complicated so fast?”
By the time they got to the clubhouse, the dooryard was filling up with all sorts of vehicles. Most were bikes but there were a few cars as well. There was even a limo or two. What really surprised her was the line of men standing guard all around the fence line and clubhouse. There was a mixture of men she knew and some she didn’t know.
When they got inside, she understood why.
Leon and Calderone were in attendance as well as Dominic Marconi. A few other men stood around in suits and she had a feeling they had arrived with Dominic.
The inside of the clubhouse was decorated with grey and red ribbons. The altar sat in front of the tiger paintings on the wall as seemed to be custom for weddings in the clubhouse now. Rufus and Diablo resided over the newly wedded like sentinels to a happy future, on one wall while Cade the white tiger graced the other wall. Each table had a white tablecloth and the main table sported a bouquet of flowers hand-picked from the area Reva loved, her waterfall garden.
Gator was standing beside Sam, Deke and Iceman.
Mountain walked over to speak to the men.
Izzy and Boone went to join Dominic. “Hey, I didn’t think I’d see you this soon,” Izzy told him.
“I couldn’t stay away.” Dominic smiled. He embraced her and laid his hand on Boone’s shoulder. “My business didn’t take long and I was free to join you again.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a long envelope. “I thought you might like to have that.” He handed it to her.
Izzy stared at him for a moment then opened the envelope. Inside were several legal documents. One of which was her birth certificate. Another was a trust set up years ago. The amount of money in the trust astounded her. Her eyes widened. She scanned the document quickly then pushed it back into the envelope. Handing it back to him, she shook her head. “I’ll take the birth certificate but I don’t want your money.”
“Why not?” he asked while looking stunned. “I haven’t supported you all these years. I think it’s the least I can do now.”
Izzy glared at him. “I don’t want your money. I won’t take it. You told me you searched for me all these years and that’s all I needed to know.”
“But as my daughter you should have had a better life,” Dominic urged.
“My life wasn’t all that bad. I survived it,” she assured him. “I don’t want or need your money. That’s not how I work.”
“It’s how everyone works young lady.” One of Dominic’s men came over and joined them. “Everyone wants something, its human nature.”
“Benny, back off.” Dominic growled.
“Introduce me Dominic,” the other man insisted.
“Isabel, this is my attorney Benjamin Singer.” Dominic nodded at the other man. “Ben, this is my daughter Isabel, and her brother Boone.”
“When Dominic came to us and told us he finally found you after all these years, we were astounded and gladdened by the news. Years ago, he set up this trust in case you were ever found. It’s grown to an enormous amount and you can access the money anytime you need it.”
Izzy shook her head. “I have all I need or want already. I don’t want the money and I refuse to take it. I didn’t earn it, so it isn’t mine to take.” She moved closer to Boone and started reaching for the handles of his chair to leave.
Benjamin Singer grabbed her wrists. “Don’t be so righteous, it doesn’t really suit you.” He snarled. “You are his daughter the money belongs to you.”
“Take your hands off my sister, right now.” Boone growled.
“Ben, stop being an ass,” Dominic grumbled.
Suddenly, Mountain was standing there glaring at the man holding Izzy’s wrists. “Take your hands off my woman or be prepared to lose some teeth. I think gumming your food for the rest of your life might not suit you,” he gritted out.
Ben made a show of lifting his hands away.
Mountain glared at him for a moment then turned to Dominic. “What is going on here?”
Izzy stepped in front of him. “I was trying to tell Mr. Marconi that even though he claims to be my father, I don’t want or need his money. That’s when his attorney objected.”