An hour after we arrive, Dillon comes from the back and Levi and I rush to his side. “She’s having some x-rays, a cat scan, as well as an MRI done, we’ll know more once we get those results back. I’m not going to speculate and give you a diagnosis without having all the information to give you an accurate one. Right now, it’s a waiting game, but I deeply feel like she’s going to make a full recovery.”
“Waiting, great that’s my specialty,” I mutter. Levi smacks my shoulder to let me know I need to hold my shit together. What the fuck ever.
Levi
I’m having a hard time keeping myself in check and now I have to worry about Carson’s ass as well. He’s fixing to blow, and when he does no one will be able to control him. He isn’t usually one to react without thinking things through, but right now all rationality has left him, and his emotions have taken over. Wasp and Tic walk through the front doors and I look to see if the rest of the crew is behind him, when I notice they aren’t I raise my eyebrow in question and he comes up to me and says, “They’re hunting,” and I know that this means they have my back in the only way that matters at this point. I see Glory come rushing into the room, she’s in some pajamas that if this situation wasn’t so serious I’d be cracking my ass up at her attire. Her top says, ‘Chocolate keeps me sane’, and the bottoms have a bunch of cows that look as if they’re shitting little pieces of chocolate candy bars out. Not far behind her are Ariel, Emory and Marcus. He’s holding two sleeping children in his arms as he keeps up with the women.
“What the fuck happened?” Ariel yells out. Glory has tears streaming down her face, and Emory looks like she’s in shock. She’s pale, shaking and honestly, I’m a little worried about her, but I know her man will take care of her, so I turn my attention back to Ariel and answer her question.
“We were at the clubhouse and Carson went home to check on her because he couldn’t reach her by phone and found her attacked in the hallway. She was laying on the floor with bruises and gashes on her body. She was out cold and didn’t rouse the entire time we were with her. I’m not sure what’s going on back there, or if she ever woke up, but Dillon’s told us what he can.”
“Dillon?” she snaps at him.
“She hasn’t woken up yet, but she’s getting some tests run right now. There’s nothing more that I can tell you other than that.”
“Bullshit, go back there and get us answers,” she says, pointing towards the back. He rolls his eyes at her, then kisses hers and Devon’s heads before walking away. He pushes through the doors and Ariel turns to us, “Who did this?”
“We don’t know for a fact who, but we have our suspicions.”
“Talk to me,” she demands, and we walk over to the chairs and we all huddle together, we lay everything out on the line for her family. Wasp and Tic have even joined us and have not given any indication we’re saying anything that goes against the club. They even add key pieces here and there and by the time we’re done, all the women are crying. Glory is wrapped in my arms and I wish I had the power to take her hurt away from her. We sit for hours waiting on Dillon or her treating doctor to come out and let us know what’s going on. I’m lost in my head, revenge at the forefront, but worry for my girl is stronger than even that. Switching back and forth between worry and anger is giving me a headache. I close my eyes and lay my head back in an attempt to relieve the pressure behind my eyes.
I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know I’m being shaken awake.
“Brother, the doctor just walked through the door.” I rub my eyes as I get up from my seat and walk over to the rest of the group, so I can hear what the diagnosis is. The doctor doesn’t begin explaining until I join them.
“Miss Masters has sustained a head injury, she has some swelling of the brain from the many hits inflicted upon her. She also is covered from head to toe in bruises, she has two broken ribs, a fractured wrist and one broken finger. She has gashes on her wrist and ankles from where she was tied up. She wasn’t able to defend herself, so we know they aren’t from protecting herself. We had to place her in a medically induced coma, once the swelling goes down we will begin to bring her out of that. Right now, the next forty-eight hours are critical”
“Will she have any brain damage?” Glory asks.
“We won’t know for sure until she wakes up, as of right now, her brain activity looks good, so we’re extremely hopeful at this point.”
“When can we see her?” Carson asks.
“Once she’s settled into a room we will send a nurse out to get you. In the meantime, you can go up the elevator to the third floor and go into the ICU waiting room.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I say, then walk with the group into the elevator. It feels overcrowded with the angst and worry clouding the air. Wasp and Tic don’t come with us so I’m hoping maybe they’re checking in with the guys and getting a progress report. I walk like a zombie to the elevator and Carson and I push the button that will take us up to the appropriate floor. We walk into the waiting room and each grab a seat. My knee is bouncing and my head is in my hands and I’m lost in my own head and my thoughts are running rampant. I look up and see Carson looking at his watch and he gets up and paces then slams back down in his chair and checks the time again.
“I wish they’d hurry the fuck up, I wanna see our girl.” Before I have a chance to respond, Rainey’s family comes running through the door, since they left earlier and went down to the cafeteria for coffee, and each of the women have tears streaming down their faces.
“How’s my baby?” Glory asks us.
“We haven’t heard anything yet,” I respond to her question.
“Dillon!” Ariel cries, and he hands her Devon, kisses them both on her forehead and walks off hopefully to get us some answers.
“She’s going to be fine,” Emory states as she too sits down. I don’t know how much more I can take of not laying eyes on Rai before I completely lose my shit. Dillon comes back in the room shortly after leaving, “They’re getting her ready now, but she can only have two visitors at a time. I told them that the guys will go to her first, I know you all are anxious to see her for yourselves,” he says looking at her sisters and mother, “but she needs them right now. You will all get your chance to see her, but it won’t be tonight. Let’s head home and we can come up first thing in the morning.” The women eventually agree after some fussing and moaning, but I’m happy that Dillon and Marcus understand our predicament and that we need to be the ones to be with her first.
Chapter 10
Rainey
Love isn’t an afterthought, it’s every breath you breathe in…
Beep. Beep. Beep…that’s the sound that first catches my attention. Everything hurts, and I can’t seem to open my eyes or speak. I hear voices surrounding me and I try to hone in on what is being said, but my head is pounding and all I can manage to do is give into the darkness that is overwhelming me.
“Why isn’t she waking up?” I hear, and know right away it’s Carson’s voice.
“She needs time, her body needs time,” and I know that’s Dillon.
“Come on, Rai, open those beautiful eyes, baby.” Levi! Why can’t I open my eyes or respond to them? I want to tell them I’m here, that I’m okay, that I miss them and I’m scared. What’s happened to me? I breathe deep and smell antiseptic, am I in a hospital? Why would I be here? I feel myself begin to freak out and alarms start sounding. “Get a nurse! Now!” I hear panic in my man’s voice as it trembles when he hollers out, I want to tell him to calm down, but I can’t manage to calm myself down. I hear feet running, a door opening and Carson screaming for help. Multiple sounds enter the room and I hear orders being said and something cold enter my veins and sleep once again claims me.
“I need you to come back to us,” I hear whispered near my ear, I want to reach out and bring Carson closer to me, but my limbs feel heavy.
“I’m here,” I whisper back. Is that my voice? Why does it sounds so funny?
>
“That’s it, baby, keep trying, don’t give up,” he says to me.
“Never,” I respond.
I hear a beep, then a voice sounds, “Can I help you?”
“Please let the doctor know she’s waking up,” he says back.
“Right away, sir,” then there’s a click and I feel him run his hand through my hair.
“Welcome back, baby. Can you open your eyes for me?” I try, but they’re so heavy, I begin blinking and finally manage to open them to slits. Lights! It hurts.
“Too bright,” I manage to croak out. I feel him get up then come back and sit on the bed next to me. He grabs my hand in his and I try my hardest to squeeze it.
“Lights are off now, baby. Try again,” I do, everything is blurry, but I can see his shape sitting next to me.
“Hi,” I say.
“God, it’s good to see your eyes open,” he replies. I smile at him the best I can, but it feels like a struggle to get my lips to move more than I already have.
“Levi?” I question.
“Just went to get us some coffee, he’ll be back in a few minutes. I’ve already texted him to let him know you’re awake.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, your sisters and mom should be here soon too.” I groan, because I know I’ll never get any peace and quiet once they arrive. “Be nice, they’ve been just as worried about you as we have.” I know he’s right, whatever happened to me must’ve made everyone nervous and worried for me, but I just want some time with my men…alone. At least until I can get my brain to fire on all its synapsis’ and I can understand what exactly happened to me. I hear the door slam open and look over and see Levi standing there and a huge smile appears on his face.
He rushes over to me and leans over me. “Thank God you’re alright,” he says, placing a kiss on my cheek, forehead, nose and then finally my neck. He breathes me in and I can feel the goosebumps come up on my skin and I can’t help the giggle that lets loose. “Best sound I’ve ever heard,” he says, and I smile at his remark.
“I missed you too,” I tell him.
“You have no idea,” he says, his head still buried in my neck.
“I have an idea,” I say, and just before I can ask them what happened to me, a doctor and nurse come strolling into the room.
“Miss Masters, it’s good to see you awake,” the doctor says cheerfully. I need some of what he’s on I can’t help but think. He begins to list my injuries and I’m caught off guard by them. Something really bad must’ve happened and I am stumped as to why I can’t seem to remember.
“Why can’t I remember?” I voice out loud.
“That’s to be expected, I’d like to run some more tests and check your vitals. Would you like your men to stay?”
“Yes, please.”
The next couple of hours are spent with me getting a CAT scan, MRI, and other bullshit I can’t even explain. By the time it’s all said and done I’m so exhausted I can barely manage to keep my eyes open.
“Sleep, baby. We’ve got you,” Carson says, and without another word said between us, I’m asleep and all is good in my world.
Carson
As her breathing evens out and she falls into a deep sleep, Levi walks back in. He was gone with the brothers, we’ve taken turns hunting while she sleeps.
“Anything?” I ask him.
“A lead came in as I was leaving, it’s a good one brother. We’ll have those two bitches in our clutches by the end of the night.”
“Good,” I say, then look back at our sleeping woman. “That was too close, we almost lost her,” I say, but it comes out more as a painful whisper.
“Too fuckin’ close, I can’t wait to get my hands on those bitches. What the fuck were they thinkin’?”
“They weren’t, they’re selfish bitches and their end goal was us.”
“It’s been so many years man, what the fuck would have made their warped minds think we’d give a fuck about them? We’ve moved on, why wouldn’t they have?” I know these questions aren’t directed at me, this is him thinking out loud so I don’t reply, I keep my eyes lasered in on my woman.
“They need to be eliminated, she needs to be safe, she needs to not be looking over her shoulder at every turn.”
“They will be, brother, I promise you that.”
“She doesn’t remember the attack,” I inform him.
“Is that a bad thing?” he asks me.
“It could be for her,” I reply. He grunts, which lets me know he’s considering what I’ve just said. “Counseling?” I ask.
“That’s a given,” he states. I hope she’s on board, because it doesn’t sound like this is anything he’s willing to bend on. I just hope when she does remember, she doesn’t blame us for not being there to protect her.
“I can go to the bathroom by myself.”
“I know you can, baby, please let me do this for you.”
“Fine,” she mumbles, and I smile because I know she secretly likes us helping her. She’s independent, but times like these she knows she needs assistance, but even still, it hurts her pride to ask for and accept it. Levi got the call a couple of hours ago and left to help the brothers bring in the sisters of terror. I opted to stay here with our girl, even though I know her family would’ve preferred to be here by her side while I helped deal with the issue. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave her side, she needs one of us here, and Levi is the better choice to dole out justice.
“I’m done,” she says, bringing me back to reality. I walk over and help her stand up, she grimaces causing me to be pissed on her behalf. I help her pull up her panties and let her lean on me as we walk over to the sink. She washes her hands then dries them. “I can’t wait until I’m back on my feet and can do everything for my damn self.”
“I know you can’t, baby, but for now, lean on me and let me and Levi help you while you heal.”
“I will, I don’t like it, but I understand why I need to.” She’s so fuckin’ beautiful, I lean down and give her a kiss, trying to be careful. I don’t want her to endure any more pain that what she already is, so I have to remind myself every time I want to attack her mouth that I can’t.
“I miss us, the way you attack my mouth like you can’t wait to devour me.”
“It’s because I can’t wait, but I will until you’re healed and can handle the stress to your body. You are what matters here, we have plenty of time in the future to get down and dirty.”
“Fair enough,” she sighs, but I know she’s getting amped up to let me have it so I change the subject.
“Your sisters and mom will be coming any minute now, we have to control ourselves whether we like it or not.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. If there were any excuses, that would be the one you should go with.” I crack up laughing causing her to smile, the first one I’ve had in a long time and I enjoy every second her lips are stretched out giving me that joy, regardless of how temporary it may be. Once I get her settled back in bed the brigade arrives, and I have to look away from Rainey because she has an annoyed look upon her face.
“We’re here, the calvary has arrived!” Emory hollers out enthusiastically.
“Dear Lord, save me the theatrics,” Rainey huffs, causing her sisters to laugh hysterically. “What has y’all in such a chipper mood anyways?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
“The sun is shining, birds are chirping and our sister is breathing, what a fabulous day,” Ariel states.
“Glory be!” Emory exclaims and all the girls begin to laugh causing their mom to roll her eyes. This must be some inside joke none of us are privy to outside of the sisters.
“You’re all nuts!” Glory cries out, slamming her hands down on her sides. “The craziness doesn’t run in the family, gentlemen.” Hmmm…I have to beg to differ on that one, because I’ve seen Glory be pretty crazy sometimes.
“They get it honestly, Glory,” Marcus says, coming up behind his woman and wrapping his
arms around her.
“No truer statement was ever made,” Dillon says, copying Marcus and wrapping his own arms around Ariel’s middle, laying his head on top of hers.
“Oh hush, all of you,” she huffs out, this time Rainey and I join in on the laughter taking place in the room.
“Owe, that hurts,” Rainey says, wiping the tear from her face. “It hurts to laugh, y’all be good.”
“Never, sister dear,” Ariel gives her a pained look as if that hurts to even think about. This family is crazier than mine, and I couldn’t be happier than I am that I found them and am included in the crazy train that I find myself often riding with them. Hell, what am I talking about, my woman is sometimes the driver and I would beat down any tracks she needed me to so she could continue on being the crazy woman I fell in love with. Levi walks in the room and crosses his arms across his chest and leans against the wall. I’m the only one who notices him so I let him take it all in and bask in the light and laughter.
“This is a sight to walk in to,” he says, getting everyone’s attention.
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