“I know you can. And I’ll be there as much as you need me. Duke, you are not alone.”
Duke heaved a sigh. “Okay then. Let’s go.” Resolve burned in his eyes.
Several minutes later, I pulled up to the New Day psychiatric inpatient clinic. I started walking up to the front door when I noticed Duke was still at my bike, staring down at the ground and frozen in place.
I walked over and put my arm around his thin shoulders. “Brother, you got this. All you need to do is take that step.” Closing my eyes, I sent up a quick prayer that this worked. “I know it has to be hard, but I got your back. And this place specializes in treating PTSD in veterans, and other war related injuries and illnesses.”
Duke squinted up at me. “Really? But how am I gonna pay for this?”
I gave him a squeeze and pointed him toward the door. “It’s all taken care of. And I know you have it in you. Just take the leap with me.”
Pulling back, tears formed in Duke’s eyes. He straightened his shoulders and took the first step to a better future. After getting him settled in his room, I talked to the doctor and the rest of the staff, and gave them a rundown of his current situation. I let them know his next of kin would be me, and if they needed anything to call.
I walked back to his room where he was putting away his stuff. “Hey, Duke, you’re all set. If you need anything just holler, okay? I’ll visit as much as possible,” I told him. Hugging him, I whispered, “Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll get you through this storm.” I felt him nod before he backed away.
I headed out, knowing for the first time he was safe and had a chance at a better life now.
14
Dom
When I walked back into Jules’ hospital room, she was sitting there laughing with Smokey. Looking around, I noticed Storm wasn’t there anymore.
“Hey,” Jules said, beaming at me. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Hey, baby.” I kissed her forehead and sat on the bed beside her. “Where’s Storm?”
“Smokey just walked her back to her room. She had some more testing to be done.”
“Really?” I was surprised she’d allow that.
Smokey smiled. “Yeah, dude, she let me be near her. She hasn’t let any of the other guys close.” He beamed at that fact. “I mean, I couldn’t touch her, but at least she didn’t see me as a threat.”
I tossed him a smirk, “Well, you are a little puny,” I joked. “Why don’t you beat it and let me talk to my girl for a minute?”
“Sure.” He walked toward the door. “I’ll go back to my post.”
“Thanks, brother.” As he shut the door, I smiled. Maybe he’d be the one to get through to Storm. It looked like he was already making progress. I grabbed Jules’ hand and squeezed it.
“What’s up?” She laid back on her pillows, stifling a yawn. “Missed you,” she mumbled.
I brushed her hair back from her face. “You’re exhausted.”
“I’m okay, I promise.” She could barely keep her eyes open.
“We can talk about it later.” Her lids drooped. “You need some rest.”
“No, no. It’s okay. Just tell me,” she pleaded.
I took a breath, deciding to start with Storm. “Okay, well, I was talking to the doctor, and he seems to think Storm would do better living with us when she gets released from the hospital. It won’t be for another few weeks, maybe more. After she’s had inpatient treatment.”
I knew Jules assumed I’d stay at her apartment for a while after she was released, but when I’d said I wasn’t letting her go, I meant it. I planned to move her into my place. I just hadn’t worked up the courage to tell her yet.
She sat up in the bed, suddenly alert. “Oh, Dom I was thinking the same thing! I was going to talk to you when you came back.” Looking down at her hands, her voice shook. “She doesn’t have anyone. We have to help her.” I brushed a stray tear from her cheek.
“Jules, baby, don’t be upset. She’ll be okay.” I scooted closer to her. “I have something else I want to talk to you about.”
Jules eyed me curiously. “What is it?”
“Well, you know my vet buddy, Duke, I told you about him?”
“Yeah,” she said softly. She knew I held a special place in my heart for him.
“Well, he helped me find you. I don’t think I told you that, but he did. He was behind the dumpster when those bastards took you.” I gritted my teeth, trying not to think about that.
“What?” She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes and I brushed them away.
“Yeah, he saw it all. Anyways, I owed him a huge solid, from even before that, and he finally called me. Baby, he wanted help. He doesn’t want to be on the street anymore. So I took him to the New Day clinic. They can help him and give him a second chance. Because if anyone deserves it, Duke does.”
“Dom, you’re such an amazing man.” More tears rolled down her cheeks. “I thank God every day that I have you.”
“Same here, baby.” I brushed the back of my hand down her face. “I want you to get some sleep, okay? I need to go meet with the brothers.” Laying her back into bed, I arranged her pillows and tucked her in. “Want me to see if your mom wants to come in?”
Taking a deep sigh, she shook her head. “Not right now. Will you let her know I’m going to take a nap? Maybe she could come back in like an hour or so?”
“Yeah, baby, I will.”
I kissed her. I think she was asleep before I got to the door. Walking into the hall, I saw her mom. “She’s napping now, but why don’t you sit with her?” I
