by J. M. Walker
“How come?”
“Because Jaron asked us to take care of both you and Brynn. His girls.” Cyrus nodded once. “They’re this way.”
As we continued down the hall, I kept thinking over Cyrus’s words. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised that the twins had my parents’ numbers. Looked like they took Jaron’s request and ran with it.
When we neared a room at the end of the hall, I could hear voices. My dad’s deep one along with my mother’s higher pitched voice. They were talking to someone.
Once I stood at the entrance to the room, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. A part of me kept thinking that my daughter actually wasn’t here, and that Price still had her but when everyone glanced my way and my eyes landed on her, a sob broke free from my lips and I ran toward her.
Piper
She was back in my arms. My daughter. I didn’t know I could love someone as much as I loved Jaron. Not until I held Brynlee in my arms for the very first time. What would have made it better was if Jaron had been there, but he was making up for it. He loved her. I could see it. With the way he looked at her, spoke to her, interacted with her. She was his world and this second baby, would be as well. We were his life.
Please, Jaron, fight to come back to us. We need you.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” Mom asked, running her hand over Brynlee’s head.
“Now that I have my daughter back, I’m better but…” I still couldn’t stop thinking about Jaron and how he was fighting for his life.
“Jaron’s strong.” Mom kissed the side of my head. “I’m glad you both are safe. We’ll keep praying for Jaron.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, my eyes welling.
Brynlee was sleeping against me, with her soother in her mouth and her stuffed pig in her arms. She was safe.
I had learned that after the guys found Jaron at the motel, Greyson brought Brynn to the hospital to get checked out. Thankfully, she was completely fine, and Price never hurt her. The hospital staff cleaned her up from the blood she was covered in. My mom had told me that she brought a change of clothes for her, so she wouldn’t have to stay in the bloodied clothes. I still couldn’t believe Price had left her that way. I knew he was beyond evil but it made me wonder why he didn’t just take her with him instead.
We were now sitting in the waiting room that was supposed to be for family members only but held most of the Hell’s Harlem members that were from this area. The hospital staff only said once that they had to leave. When the guys stood and stared at the young male nurse without even saying anything, the nurse left rather quickly. It had been amusing and something I never expected to see.
When my mom left my side to join my dad, Sammy and Cyrus sat on either side of me. I realized then that it had been something they did quite often. Even if we were standing, Cyrus was usually on my left and Sammy on my right. I never noticed the routine until now.
“Thank you,” I blurted.
All heads turned my way. I looked out at the faces before me. Most I had seen before and met at least once.
Jaron’s parents were off to the side.
My parents were beside them.
They had been talking amongst themselves before I spoke.
Clearing my throat, I shifted in the hard seat beneath me. “I just wanted to thank you all. For being here for Jaron.”
“We’re here for you too, darling,” Tray said from the other side of the room. His hand was clasped in his wife’s. Zillah smiled at me, her eyes sad.
A shuddered breath left me. “I need to see him,” I said low enough for only Cyrus and Sammy to hear.
“I know.” Cyrus stuck an unlit smoke behind his ear. “Sammy.”
“Not leaving her,” Sammy muttered, stretching his legs out in front of him.
“Fine. I’ll talk to the doctor and see if I can get more information on…yeah.” Cyrus cleared his throat, leaning over and kissing the top of Brynn’s head. “I’m glad you’re home safe, little one.” He stood, signaled for Cheesy and Locke to follow him and they left the room.
“I’m going to kill Price,” Sammy muttered, crossing his arms under his chest.
My head whipped around but he never met my gaze.
“Greyson has tried keeping our noses clean. Jaron did what he had to do in jail to survive but still remained out of trouble as best he could. Price has gone too far this time and if Grey and Jaron won’t…” Sammy’s jaw ticked. “I’m going to take care of him, so Jaron doesn’t have to. He needs to behave for you. His family.”
“Sammy, you—”
“He’s done a lot of shit, Piper. A lot. Things that he needs to die for. I have no idea how he even became mayor in the first place. Clearly, he’s paid off everyone to cover his tracks, but he doesn’t know that I know people too.” Sammy looked at me then. “I’m going to uncover all of his dirty little secrets and make him fucking pay for hurting you and Jaron. For hurting the other girls and women. I will avenge you. All of you.” His head turned back to the front and I realized then that the conversation was over.
Before I even had a chance to respond, a man dressed in white, came into the room. He was looking at a clipboard in his hands. He was young with dark hair and features, but you could see the lines in his face from the stress his job had given him.
“Mrs. Mercer?” he finally asked, looking up then. His eyes widened a bit as he saw all of us sitting or standing around in the waiting room.
“Yes?” Eve stood up, keeping her hand locked in her husband’s.
The doctor frowned, looked down at his clipboard and back at us. “Piper?”
Eve gasped.
My eyes widened. “W-What?”
“Are you Piper?” The doctor asked me.
“I am.” I stood, holding Brynlee tight against me. I could feel all eyes burning into me over the doctor referring to me as Jaron’s wife.
“I’m Dr. Rainn. Will you step out into the hall with me please?” Dr. Rainn asked, looking past me.
“No. You can tell me here,” I insisted. “This is Jaron’s family.”
“Fine.” He looked back down at me. “Jaron was shot twice. Once in the abdomen and once in the shoulder. His right kidney was severely damaged and had to be removed. His liver, stomach, and intestines were also hit. The wound in the shoulder didn’t hit anything vital and both surgeries went well. But he has a long road ahead of him as we now have to worry about infection—”
“But he’s alive?” Eve asked, coming up to my side.
“Yes, ma’am. He is alive. You can see Jaron now, but I will warn you, he isn’t awake.”
I nodded, looking back at Jaron’s parents.
“Let me take Brynn,” my mom said, coming up to me. “I know you just got her back a few hours ago but…”
“No, I…I know she’s young, but I don’t want her to see her daddy like that.” Or for her to see me break down. “Thank you, Mom.” I looked at my dad who was still sitting by the far wall. “And Daddy.”
He nodded once.
“We love you, sweetheart.” Mom took Brynlee from my arms and kissed my cheek. “Now go see Jaron. He’s going to need you.”
I nodded, petted a hand over my daughter’s head, and went up to Jaron’s parents. “We aren’t married,” I said, grabbing Eve’s hands. “I promise you that. We would never get married and not invite you.”
She threw her arms around me, knocking me back a step. “I know. Jaron did tell me he was going to marry you one day.”
I leaned back, finding Eve’s red rimmed eyes staring down at me. “He said that?”
She gave me a soft smile. “You were kids. We had gone to see his Aunt Brogan and Uncle Coby and the rest of you. It was the first time he had seen you in a couple years. He told me…” She laughed lightly, a lone tear rolling down her cheek.
Greyson placed a hand on her shoulder.
“His words were, ‘I’m going to marry her, Mama. And I’ll follow her around the world until I convince her to
say yes.’”
“He…” I swallowed past the hard lump that had suddenly taken up residence in my throat. “Really?”
She nodded. “You must have been talking about traveling or something. But that’s what he said. I never really believed him but now…” She shook her head. “He has you down as his wife and you’re not even married yet. God, I never realized…I just…He’s so much like his father, it’s unreal. He’s a stubborn one and can be a jerk at times, but he loves you. He loves you so damn much, Piper. Go see him. Our boy needs you. God, does he need you.” She cupped my cheek. “Take care of him.”
I nodded, swallowing hard.
Following the doctor, he led me to Jaron’s room. I tried to expect the worst, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw before me. A large tube was down Jaron’s throat. The doctor explained what it was for but the only thing I could focus on was how Jaron looked. Tubes were sticking out of his arms. The machines that he was hooked up to, beeped and controlled the life inside of him.
Jaron was usually strong and sure of himself. Now he just looked weak and like he was barely holding on.
My knees buckled beneath me when an arm wrapped around my middle.
I jumped, staring up at Cyrus.
“Eve said you were in here. I know I’m not supposed to be, but I also knew you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
I nodded, words lost on my tongue.
I couldn’t handle it. He was right. Jaron didn’t deserve this. Neither did his parents. And neither did I.
I pulled out of Cyrus’s grip and rushed to Jaron’s side, falling to my knees. “Oh Jaron. I’m so sorry.” I kissed his cheek, pushing my face into the crook of his neck. He was back. But at the same time, fighting for his life.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Cyrus, I can’t do this.”
“You can. He needs you to be strong for him.”
But I wasn’t sure if I could.
I had never seen Jaron lose it. Even after everything that had happened to us, he never reacted or allowed me to see that side of him. Not until Brynlee was taken from us, had I truly seen him break.
Cyrus pulled up the chair behind me, gave Jaron’s arm a gentle squeeze, and left the room. As soon as Jaron and I were alone, a breath left me. I didn’t know what to do or say. I had heard of people being in a coma and their loved ones talking to them, but Jaron wasn’t in a coma. He just hadn’t woken up from surgery yet. But I needed him to. I needed to see his gray eyes as he told me he loved me. I needed to feel him as he whispered dirty words and sinful truths into my ears.
Slipping my fingers between his, I brought our joined hands up to my mouth and kissed the back of his knuckles. “I love you, Jaron,” I whispered.
Just then, Greyson and Eve entered the room.
It was a blur of emotions as Eve cried for her son and Greyson tried to console his wife while keeping his own feelings in check.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed but when I was once again alone with Jaron, he moved. I gasped, shooting to my feet.
His eyes remained closed, but his brow furrowed in the middle. He started struggling, the beeping of the machines becoming faster.
“Nurse!” I screamed, watching Jaron shift and move as he was probably trying to figure out what the hell was going on and why that damn tube was down his throat.
Several people filed into the room, yelling instructions to each other and trying to calm Jaron down.
I was pushed back. A young nurse came into my line of sight, her lips moving over words I couldn’t hear.
Jaron was struggling, fighting the nurses and doctor.
Pushing past the nurse standing in front of me, I placed my hands on Jaron’s shins. “I’m here, Jaron. Stop fighting them so they can help you, baby.”
His body seemed to relax a bit after that.
When he finally calmed down, the nurses and doctor removed the tube from his throat and continued making him as comfortable as they could. His wounds were checked, the machines were silenced, and further instructions were given to each other. But no matter how much they spoke, I couldn’t hear anything but the pounding of my heart.
***
(Jaron)
I was alive.
That much was clear anyway.
But my body hurt like a bitch. Time was lost on me, so I didn’t know when it was or even what day it was. I tried thinking back to the moment at the motel with Price. He was shady as fuck, popping off one of his own guys before shooting me, just to make a point. Truth was, he didn’t scare me. No. Instead, I had been terrified for my daughter. I didn’t want to call out Price on his bluff over the shit he had said about training her. Add to the fact that he had wanted Piper, something inside of me snapped and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in the hospital.
My parents had visited briefly once they found out I was awake. My mom cried. My dad choked back his own emotions. It was hard but warranted.
“How did you and Brynn end up in that motel room?” my dad asked me.
“Price’s men put us in that room. I must have passed out, but I woke up for just a second and saw them standing over me.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to ward off an incoming headache. “Price came into the room after them and shot one of the guys. I don’t know why he did it. With him, it was probably for no reason at all.”
My mom looked up at my dad. “Greyson, stop.”
Dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. But even though he had his wife close, I could still see the rage trembling through him. I saw it and felt it.
Nothing else was said about what happened. Instead, Brynlee was brought to me.
“Dada,” she cried out.
I hugged her close, kissing her little nose. She was beautiful. Just like her mama.
“Where’s Piper?” I asked my parents.
“She went to get some food with Cyrus and Sammy. She hasn’t eaten much while you’ve been here,” Mom said softly.
I must have passed out again because when I woke next, Piper was curled up in a nearby chair and too damn far away.
Everyone who visited was as quiet as they could be so Piper could sleep. The rest of the crew would come see me later, but my dad had said they were all there, waiting.
“Piper,” I croaked, my voice hoarse. I had been through a lot. Beaten within an inch of my life. Bitten by that fucker in jail. Shot. But waking up to that tube down my throat, would be something I would never forget.
Reaching for the Styrofoam cup, I took a sip of water and cleared my throat. “Piper.”
She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. They landed on me, sending every nerve ending in my body on high alert.
“Come here,” I demanded, a little too rough.
When she didn’t listen, my blood boiled through me. She sat there, staring at me.
“Piper,” I barked. “Get your ass over here and into my arms.”
She rose from the chair but still stood too far away. “I considered leaving you,” she finally said.
“I would have left my ass long ago,” I told her. “But you didn’t because you are a good fucking woman. Now come here.”
“I was going to take Brynlee and leave.” She looked down at the floor, wringing her hands in front of her. “But I didn’t because I love you too much.”
“Piper, please.” My voice cracked and I didn’t fucking like it. Her words hurt. I got it. I understood. But it didn’t make it any easier to hear her say it.
“This was before you came home.” She met my gaze then. “I never told you because once I had you back, everything seemed right. It was perfect. We struggled and I’m sure we’ll continue to struggle but I wouldn’t want to struggle with anyone else.”
“Piper,” I whispered.
She closed the distance between us and threw herself around me. Finally.
I latched on to her, pulling at her clothes, trying to get her closer but no matter how close we were, it would never be enough. I hadn’
t been gone for long, but it was long enough.
Piper’s body trembled against me, her shoulders shaking with her soft cries.
Fisting her hair, I captured her mouth with mine. Her tears coated my tongue, making my tastebuds tingle.
“Jaron,” she whispered, sniffing.
I pulled back, cupping the sides of her head and covering her face with soft pecks. “I love you, Piper. You’re the beginning to my end. The calm to my wild. The sanity to my crazy.”
She smiled, covering my hands, a soft breath shuddering through her.
“You have given me the greatest gifts a man could ever ask for. I’m sorry. For everything. For all of the pain I’ve caused you. But I’m not sorry for getting rid of Brody and I’m not sorry for going after Price. I know my temper gets in the way, but I promise, it’ll never be geared toward you, baby. Ever.” My hand moved to the back of her head, my fingers tightening in her hair. “I know that we’ve struggled but there’s no one else I’d rather do this with. Even if we need to go get counseling, take a trip, or just fuck it out, as long as it’s with you, I’m down for anything.”
A breathless laugh left her. “I didn’t leave because I knew then that I didn’t want to spend my life with anyone else.”
A sly smirk tugged at my lips. “Oh, I know.”
Her cheeks turned pink, her smile widening. “How are you feeling?”
“Now that our baby girl is home and you’re back in my arms, I feel fucking perfect.” I laid back down, pulling her into my arms until she was lying down beside me. The bed was small, but we made it work. “I’ll feel even better when I have your pussy choking my cock though.”
“Once you’re released, baby,” she whispered.
I looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, her breathing becoming deep and even. She hadn’t slept well since this whole thing started. I let her rest, finally letting out a breath of relief.
While Piper slept, I inched my hand beneath her top and brushed my fingers over her stomach. We would have to make an appointment for her to get checked out and make sure that the baby she was carrying was strong and healthy. Especially after all of the stress.