Crow had already called the cops at this point. Since we were tight with the Little Creek Police Department and a few other departments in the surrounding areas, they didn’t ask questions. When they got there, Crow went with Rage and I went with Riley. They took JP’s body away and told me they would be in touch. Not that I gave a fuck. If it were up to me I would’ve told them to burn the motherfucker and dump his ashes into the garbage. But that wasn’t what my mother would have wanted and I couldn’t shit on her memory like that. So I gave them my info while the EMTs were getting Riley on the stretcher and into the ambulance.
While sitting there waiting for the nurse to get me whatever information she could, I remembered there was almost the whole club sitting there waiting with me. Stana was chewing on her nails while Crow was rubbing her back, and the rest of the guys were doing the same thing I was. The entrance to the hospital slid open and in swooped a hurricane of a small woman—that woman being Lydia—demanding to know what was going on with her son. Her whole body was stiff but she showed nothing but the strength of a determined woman. Snake was next to her, shaking his head while she was at the nurse’s station making a scene. I heard a gasp next to me and realized Stana just figured out that Rage is her half brother. Shit, that was going to be another big mess.
“You realize that man over there that has been pestering you with questions might as well be his brother, right? All of these men are his brothers and you haven’t given them one inkling of information about him. Is this really the policy you hold here?” She was pissed. Understandably so since she didn’t have any answers yet.
“I understand, ma’am, and while I appreciate the bond your son has with these men, I am legally not allowed to give information out. Now that you are here let me go find out how he is doing.” The poor nurse scurried away like a disciplined child while Rage’s mom huffed and turned to sit with the rest of us. She went to sit on the other side of Stana and Snake stood like a sentry next to her. There was definitely something more going on with them.
As soon as she sat down, a nurse came down the hallway pushing a wheelchair holding Riley in it. Damn, I was so relieved to see her. I knew she wasn’t hurt like Rage was but the thought of her hurting at all and not being able to do anything about it was the worst form of torture there was. Everyone got up at once to go and hug her. I waited my turn, rather impatiently, but when I finally got her in my arms it was like coming home after a hard day and seeing the smile on her face. I smashed my mouth to hers in a bruising kiss. I didn’t care who saw, I just knew I couldn’t go another second without kissing her.
She gave back everything I was giving her and opened her mouth for me. Sliding my tongue along hers was everything I never knew I needed. Her nails were digging into my skin and she let out a little moan. I went to put my arms around her back to pull her into me when she let out a moan of discomfort. I pulled away and looked at her but there was a shadow in her eyes that wasn’t there before.
“You okay, baby?” I asked. She nodded but her eyes were glassy as if I caused her pain. I didn’t notice anything wrong with her back but maybe JP did something to her that I didn’t notice. She whispered the word “later” so I took her hand and we went to wait with everyone else.
About half an hour later, the nurse finally came back out and called for the family of Declan Myers. It was strange hearing Rage being called by his actual name. It wasn’t something I was used to hearing. Lydia got up and went to the nurse but the nurse looked around at all of us only standing a couple steps behind her.
“Whatever you need to tell me, you can tell me here. They are his family just as much as me. Now get on with my son’s surgery.”
“Right. When the bullet hit his shoulder it hit an artery and he lost a lot of blood. That needed fixing up and he needed some blood as well. His shoulder will need some time to heal, but as long as he takes care of it properly he will be fine. He is being moved to a room now and you all will be able to visit him soon. We are going to keep him overnight for observation. Although visiting hours are over we are going to allow you to see him, but only for a short while. I will come back and let you know when it is time.”
Everyone was a little bit more relaxed now that the nurse had assured us Rage would be fine. Though the longer I sat here, the more I thought. I thought about what it meant that I loved Riley. I thought about what it meant that she was willing to die for me tonight. She was willing to take herself and Reese to the grave as long as it meant other men she barely knew didn’t die. I would make sure she knew she was loved every single day if it meant doing
