by Harley Wylde
“Get bored,” she murmured.
“I won’t be bored. I’ll be with you.” I winked at her. “Besides, I’m sure we can find some Christmas movies to watch. Want me to turn on the TV?”
She nodded and tried to focus on the screen across the room. I flipped on the TV and went through the channels until I found something I thought she might like. It was one of those sappy romantic Christmas movies. She only watched it a short while before she fell asleep. I angled the recliner so I could still hold her hand but lean the chair back too and see the TV. I let the movie keep playing, on the off chance she woke up before the ending.
Another started after the first one. While it wasn’t my usual type of movie, this wasn’t about me. It was about MaryAnne and what she needed or wanted. Even though she dozed off and on, I played things I knew she’d enjoy for the moments she was alert. She watched a bit of the second one before sleeping a little more. The nurse stopped by and assured me it was normal for her to doze off and on. My stomach rumbled but the cafeteria was closed. I shot off a text to Riley, hoping he was available.
Any chance I can get some food before my stomach eats itself?
He sent back a thumbs-up. Be there in thirty.
I didn’t know what he was stopping to get, and I didn’t much care. As long as it filled me up, nothing else mattered. MaryAnne woke again, her fingers lightly squeezing mine.
“There she is.” I smiled. “You keep falling asleep. How do you feel?”
“Hurt,” she said and licked her lips. I got her cup and handed her another ice chip. I wasn’t sure when they’d give her more medication for the pain, or if that’s what was in one of the IVs.
“Want me to find a nurse?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll be okay.”
“The officer who came the other night stopped by. I told him about you getting attacked on our walk.” I glanced at the open doorway, hoping she wasn’t so loopy she couldn’t take the hint. “Think it was a club whore, but I can’t be sure.”
She nodded and I knew she understood.
“Riley is bringing me some food, but you’re at the mercy of the hospital staff right now. I have a feeling you need a special diet, at least the next few days. I don’t think they’d appreciate me feeding you fries and a greasy burger, or ordering a pizza.”
Her lips twitched and she smiled a little. “Pizza sounds good.”
“Then our first night home that’s what we’ll do. Order whatever pizza you want.”
“Ruining Christmas,” she said, her throat still a little scratchy. I offered her another ice chip and kissed her brow.
“Little Bit, you could never ruin Christmas. It’s far enough off we should make it home from the hospital in plenty of time. Need to get you healed up a bit first.”
“How’s everyone?” she asked.
I felt like an ass for not even checking on my brothers, but I knew they were in good hands with Bones. I shot off a text to him asking about Philly, Poison, and Brick, then showed her the response.
Too hardheaded to die. They’ll be fine.
She smiled and laughed a little only to wince. I’d imagine any jostling she did would pull at the stitches and cause pain for at least a few days. We watched the movie until Riley arrived. He handed me a sack from the diner, and I pulled out a container with a big ass burger and what looked like a double side of fries. He’d even gotten me a bottle of soda from somewhere.
“Thanks, man. Didn’t want to leave her, but my stomach was demanding to be fed.”
“No worries.” Riley reached over to take MaryAnne’s other hand. He glanced down at the IV needle stuck in the back of it. “Glad you’re doing okay. You had everyone worried.”
“Worried me too,” she said.
“She was under anesthesia and seems to be a bit groggy still. She’s dozed off a few times since I’ve been in here with her.” I shoved a few fries in my mouth and nearly swallowed them without chewing I was so hungry. I chased them down with some of the soda. “Would you make sure the animals are okay? Keep them fed and watered while I’m gone?”
Riley nodded. “I have no fucking clue how to take care of your bird, though. Damn thing about took off my fingers when I put him back in his cage.”
I smiled, remembering how even Hatter had tried to save MaryAnne. Hatter, Archimedes, and Rascal all going after Blaire had ensured their place in our home forever. Of course, I’d already planned to keep them, but they’d more than earned a spot in the family.
“There’s some containers in the fridge with fruits and veggies. Cut up a little of each for Hatter and give him a handful of his bird food. You’ll have to wash his bowls each morning too.”
“Where do you keep the cat food and dog food?” he asked. “And the bird food.”
“Everything is in the bottom cabinet near Hatter’s cage. Archimedes is used to going out every morning, at least once during the day, and again before I head to bed at night. If I had a fenced yard, you could leave him out for a bit. It’s cold but not cold enough he couldn’t run around for an hour.”
“Don’t worry about your furred and feathered family members. We’ll see they have everything they need,” Riley said.
“They saved me,” MaryAnne said. “They attacked Blaire.”
Riley grinned wide. “Then they deserve the very best. I’ll get extra treats for them. I don’t want to tire you out, and I’m sure your man over there would rather have you to himself. Y’all call or text if you need anything.”
Riley waved and headed out. I finished my food and took MaryAnne’s hand again while we watched TV. Eventually, we both fell asleep. Didn’t help much. The nurses were in and out about every hour or two checking on her. I wasn’t sure who was crankier the next day. Me or her. Either way, I’d be glad when I could take her home. I fucking hated hospitals.
Chapter Twelve
MaryAnne
Eight miserable days of nurses constantly checking on me. My wound had bled through the stitches the first two days and set back my recovery, which meant more time in that horrible room. I knew they were doing their job and wanted me to heal. I wasn’t really upset with them, but the constant in and out at night when I’d tried to sleep had annoyed me after the first night. Not to mention the food was terrible. It didn’t have much of a taste, and I’d had to force myself to eat it. But now I was free!
A nurse wheeled me out to the truck. Patriot had pulled it up outside the hospital doors. I was more than ready to get out of this place. The doctor had been impressed with how well I was healing once they’d stopped the bleeding. I’d felt like telling him after all I’d been through, one little stab wound was no big deal.
Patriot lifted me into his arms and set me down on the passenger seat. He reached across and buckled me in before shutting the door. The nurse gave me a wave before heading back into the building. Patriot had Christmas music playing on the radio and I reached over to turn it up a little. Now that I was outside again, and no longer confined to the bed, I felt in the holiday spirit once more.
“Ready to go home?” Patriot asked as he got behind the wheel.
“So ready!”
He grinned and leaned over to kiss me. “Missed sleeping next to you, Little Bit.”
He wasn’t the only one. Even though he’d been in a recliner next to my hospital bed, it hadn’t been the same. Getting to hold his hand and having him wrap his arms around me were two very different things.
“Let’s go see what Archimedes, Rascal, and Hatter have been up to. I bet they’ll be happy to see you.”
“And you,” I said.
I sang along to the carols on the radio, feeling more like myself. My leg still hurt if I put weight on it, and I knew I couldn’t overdo it. But at least I’d get to go home. There was a huge difference in being in my own home, around my own things, with our furry family members, and being in the hospital on that hard bed with the smell of antiseptic burning my nose.
The gates to the compound op
ened and Shay waved as we pulled through. The clubhouse looked packed for the middle of the day and a strange feeling settled in my stomach when Patriot pulled into a spot out front of the building.
“I thought we were going home?” I asked.
“We are. Have to make one little stop. You can sit at a table and have a soda. I won’t be but a minute.”
Before I could protest, he got out of the truck and walked around to my side. He carried me into the clubhouse and when I saw everyone there, even the old ladies and kids, my jaw dropped. Someone had put a tree up near the bar and strung lights all over the place.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I have a surprise for you. The day you went to the hospital, someone else did too.”
My brow furrowed. How was that a good thing? I looked around the room, trying to figure out who else had been hurt. Philly had a bruise at his temple and a black eye. He gave me a slight wave and I smiled back. Had he been in the hospital too? Was this a welcome home type of thing?
Footsteps drew my attention and everything in me went still. A young girl and an older man approached. A small wrapped bundle lay in her arms. My gaze shot to Patriot and he hunkered down next to me. “Ready to meet our daughter? She was born the night you were hurt. They kept her a few days to make sure she was all right since she was a week early.”
Tears blurred my vision as I looked back at the girl with that sweet baby in her arms. “Are you sure?”
The man, who I figured was her father, gave me a nod. “We’re sure. Your generosity to strangers, giving our family and others a wonderful Christmas, proved to us you have a good heart. My daughter and I prayed with Reverend Burson. We’re certain the baby belongs with you and your husband.”
I held my hands out and the girl placed the baby in my arms. She was so tiny, and so perfect! I felt the tears slip down my cheeks as I ran my fingers over her. “Thank you. Thank you so much. We will love her and give her the best life we can.”
The man nodded and the young girl smiled. “We’ve signed the papers. The baby is yours. All we ask is that you don’t tell her she’s adopted unless it becomes necessary. There’s no reason to cause the child pain over thinking her mother didn’t want her.”
“I understand,” I said.
The girl leaned over to give me a hug and whispered in my ear. “Thank you for giving her a home.”
I cried some more as they left, and I stared at the miracle in my arms. Patriot ran his hand over her hair. It was nearly the same shade as his. Our daughter opened her eyes and blinked at me.
“Delilah and Phoebe put together the things we’d need the first few nights,” he said. “I know we never got a chance to pick out nursery furniture or get the room set up the way you wanted it, but we can redecorate later if you don’t like it.”
“I don’t care. We have a daughter! Isn’t she wonderful?”
Patriot kissed my temple. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Her hair has so many shades of red and brown. It looks like yours.”
“What do you want to call her? The birth certificate hasn’t been sent in yet. They were waiting to see what we wanted to name her.”
“I bet her hair looks like fire in the sunlight,” I said. “What about calling her Blaze?”
Patriot bit down into his bottom lip and I saw the humor flashing in his eyes. “Blaze? Are you trying to give us a rough road? Sounds like the perfect name for a hellion.”
“If she’s anything like her daddy, she’ll have the spirit to match her hair.”
Patriot kissed me again. Soft and slow. “Love you, Little Bit. We can name her whatever you want. I think Blaze will be perfect.”
“Blaze Cara Caffee,” I said softly. “I already love you more than anything.”
“Best get your wife and daughter home,” Wizard said. “As soon as you both sign these.”
He set some papers on the table, and I saw other signatures. I didn’t bother reading anything. I knew Wizard wouldn’t have us sign something we shouldn’t. Patriot and I both scrawled our names on the documents, then bundled Blaze up and took her home. We’d need a baby seat, but since the house wasn’t very far down from the clubhouse, I kept her in my arms and Patriot drove at a crawl.
Archimedes met us at the door with a happy woof. Patriot stopped to scratch behind his ears and greeted Rascal and Hatter. The animals seemed curious over Blaze, but I didn’t let them get too close. Mostly because I wasn’t ready to share her yet. Even Patriot hadn’t tried to take her from me.
He led me upstairs and showed me the nursery. They’d put it next to our room, and someone had painted the walls a pale lavender. A white crib, changing table, small dresser, and rocking chair had been put together, and the crib even had bedding. The room was bare except those things, which meant we still got the chance to decorate it the way we wanted.
“I don’t want to put her down,” I admitted.
“Little Bit, you walked to the truck carrying her, and walked into the house and up the stairs. You need to get off your leg before you end up hurting yourself.” He shook his head when I kept staring at our new daughter. “Hold on tight.”
I gave a squeak as he lifted me into his arms, with Blaze clutched in mine. He carried us downstairs and set me on the couch. Patriot put on an animated Christmas movie and stepped out of the room. I heard him letting Archimedes out the back door, and then he sounded like he was talking to Hatter.
“Welcome home, Blaze. You’re going to be loved so much,” I said to the baby in my arms. She yawned and closed her eyes.
“There’s formula and bottles in the kitchen,” Patriot said as he set a cup of hot cocoa on the table next to the couch. “Looks like someone bought a bottle warmer too. It’s plugged in on the counter.”
“They thought of everything,” I said.
“Phoebe said she put some outfits in the dresser upstairs. She washed everything so it’s ready for Blaze to wear. They wanted to give us a few days to settle in with her, and give you more recovery time, so there should be enough for at least three or four days of clothing changes.”
“We have an amazing family, don’t we?” I asked.
“We do. Those men and their women would do anything for us, same as we’d do anything for them. And they’d give their lives to protect the kids in this club, including Blaze.”
I reached for my cocoa, then hesitated. What if I spilled any on Blaze? It would be hot enough to burn her delicate skin. Patriot reached over and plucked her from my arms.
“Hey!”
He smiled. “Sorry, Little Bit. You can’t hold onto her forever. I get a turn too. Drink your cocoa and we’ll watch the movie. You can have her back in a little while.”
I sipped my drink and leaned against his arm. As much as I loved the movie, my gaze kept straying to our daughter. I couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. And she was ours! My vision blurred again, and I knew I was close to crying. It seemed like everything I’d wanted was within my grasp. Patriot had married me, loved me, and now we had a baby.
“Our lives are perfect, aren’t they?” I asked.
“Yeah, Little Bit. They are. Might have had a rough road to get here, and I have no doubt more shit will head our way, but we have a remarkable future ahead of us. All three of us.”
“What about Blaire’s husband? What if he comes after us? And what about her?” I asked.
“Blaire has been handled. I didn’t ask Kraken for the specifics, but he’s assured me she won’t be a problem. As for Walter, I should have told you. Officer Bowers let me know they found Walter Wilcox. He’d holed up with some friends. They have him in custody again. Even if they go searching for his wife, they won’t find her. Wizard will make sure it looks like she left town.”
“So no Blaire and no Walter,” I said. “What’s left?”
He pulled out his phone and showed me the screen. “Well, in about ten more hours it will be Christmas Eve. I think what’s left is our first family Christmas, and
a lot of happy memories to make.”
“I don’t know how you were still single. You’re pretty amazing,” I said.
He kissed me again. “Had to wait on the right woman to show up.”
When he said things like that, I completely melted. It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t only sexy and smart, but he had to be the kindest man I’d ever met. And so protective! I didn’t know why Titan had asked Patriot to come get me that day, instead of one of the others, but I was glad. Without him, I’d have remained lost and never become the woman I was today. He’d healed me, but more importantly, he’d loved me and shown me I was worthy of a man like him.
“I think she’s asleep,” I said. “Why don’t we put her to bed?”
He stood and went to the stairs, pausing to wait for me. I moved slowly as I climbed to the second floor. I let him put Blaze to bed and made my way to our room. I’d kill for a real shower. The nurse had put a waterproof bandage over my stitches before I left so I could get good and clean when I got home. I stripped out of my clothes and let the water warm. Steam billowed from the space and I stepped under the spray.
“I’ll never get tired of this view.”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Patriot removing his boots and clothes, his gaze locked on my body. “Neither will I.”
The man was a work of art. Between his tattoos and his muscles, I would gladly stare at him all day. He stepped into the shower and I reached out, my hands pressing to his chest. I traced the ink and pressed a kiss over his heart.
“I can’t seem to resist the temptation of you all naked and wet,” he said. “I told myself last time I would wait until we made it to the bed. I’m not even going to bother lying to myself anymore.”
“Then don’t wait.”
He skimmed his hands over my hips. “What about your leg?”
“Guess you better find a way to not pull my stitches. Think you’re up for the challenge?”
“Oh, yeah.” He smirked and rubbed his cock against me. “Definitely up for it.”
“That was so terrible it was kind of funny.”