Page 66 of Saving Chains

With my lips still on her warm skin, I roll my eyes to the side to Pres, he stands at the bottom of her bed, his shoulders tense and his face full of concern. I direct my gaze back to the peaceful look on her beautiful face.

“Just wanted to see how she was doing.” He walks around to the other side of the bed and takes her other hand. “Any change?” He leans down and kisses her head.

This is hurting him, I'm not blind to that. “No. Not as far as I know, anyway.”

I feel Pres’ eyes on me and briefly I glance back at him, just to acknowledge that he’s spoken. “There’re things we need to talk about, son.”

“Not now.” I grumble, keeping my eyes fixed on her.

“Yes, now.” My gaze shifts sharply to my father-in-law to be, my Pres.

“No. I don’t want to fucking know about club business, nothing you can say right now will interest me.”

“Chains…” Pres warns gently.

“Do not Chains, me.” I cut him off and I’m on my feet before he even has the chance to give me the whole ‘responsibility to your club’ chat. “Luna is lying in a coma because of those fuckers. Your daughter. Why the fuck can’t you just focus on her for now, because that’s what I’m doing. She’s my priority right now. Do you really think I don’t want to make them pay?” I push back the tears that are threatening to spill over. “I watched her nearly code out on the floor. We stood right here when a team burst in and brought her back to life. She…” I point to her still form, “...she is what matters. Not the Savage Souls and not fucking Mac. Right now, I can’t function. I can’t fucking think straight.” I release her hand and lift mine to my head, pulling my hair in pure emotion and frustration. “I…I just need her to wake up, Pres.” I swipe the back of my hand across my eyes. “Until then, I can’t handle club business.” Moving towards the window, I press my hands to the windowsill and lean on them looking out. The world looks so extensive from here. The air in the room is stilted, no one is speaking, just the sound of heavy breaths and the machines monitoring Luna to break the tension. I press my forehead to the glass, allowing the coolness to seep through my agitated state.

I let out a breath and go back over to her after having my little rant.

“Have you finished?” Pres asks.

“I’m not sure there’s much more I can say.” I sweep the silky strands of hair from her forehead and bend over and press my lips to her head, letting them linger for a moment longer. “I love you, sweetheart.” I stand back up and look between Pres and Reaper. “I need a minute.” I push through the open door before he or anyone else can stop me, completely ignoring the guys that are sat in the waiting room and jog towards the stairs. I need coffee and a smoke. I don’t care which way around I get them, I just need them, and quickly.

The plastic cup warms through the chill in my hands as I hold it, a chill I’ve had since everything happened and my girl almost died. And yet here we are, a week later, and we’re still waiting for her to wake up. I lean forward putting my head into my hands, rubbing my eyes with my fingers. My knee bounces; an obvious sign of my anxiety. Lifting my head up again I let it fall back on my shoulders, closing my eyes as I blow out a long sigh. I’m so scared that she won’t come back to me, I can’t lose her. As my eyes pop back open, I lift my head back up and drain the, now cold, coffee and throw the cup into the trash can, I need a smoke.

A hand on my shoulder has me whipping my head around ready to kick someone’s ass for even thinking of touching me. Someone has a fucking death wish. I see Reaper, and instantly calm.

“What’s wrong? Has she woken up? What the fuck’s going on?”I ask panicking.

“Calm your tits,” Reaper puts his hands out in front of him.

“Don’t fucking sneak up on me then. You’re lucky I didn’t pull my gun on ya.” My heart is racing because of that stupid fucker. “So what’s going on?” Urging him to spill.

“I left Pres with her. I thought I’d come and see how you’re doing.” His gaze roams my face as a small frown creases his brow. “Dude, you look tired. You need to get some sleep; you’re not going to be any good to her like this.”

“I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere. Not until she’s opened her eyes, anyway.” I study the empty cup on the table, not that it’s going to help matters but it saves me looking at Reaper and letting him see my real feelings.

He sighs loudly from the side of me. “Whatever, but you know you can’t hide from me. I’ll get us coffee.”

“I’ll be outside having a smoke.” Without waiting for a reply, I stand and make my way through the people in the canteen. Judgmental eyes follow me as I push through. Wear a cut and suddenly you’re a wanted criminal. I mean, yeah, I get the criminal thoughts – hell, I am one, but fuck everyone. I don’t need anyone’s approval. I force a smile as a little old woman stands aside for me and I almost jog through to the exit doors.

As soon as I’m outside I pull a ciggy from my box, wedge it between my lips and light it up, closing my eyes again as I take a long drag, enjoying the peace while I can.

I’m almost halfway down my smoke when Reaper finds me again. As he places both cups on the ground, I hand him a smoke.

“He doesn’t mean it you know?” I study his face as he stands back up, my brows lifting with his random comment, and I wait for him to carry on, “Pres. He doesn’t mean to sound like he doesn’t care about her.” I carry on puffing on my smoke and look out into the distance. “He keeps his feelings in a box, you know that,” he pauses, “all I’m saying is don’t read too much into what he says. The club is his way of dealing with everything…”

“Are you his therapist?” I ask, blowing smoke through my lips.

“I’m just saying. You know what he’s like, he doesn’t know how to deal with shit.”

“Look, I know that….” I take another small drag before flicking it away. “I know he loves her, I do, but I also know he’s a hard-headed fucker, we all are, but where Luna is concerned, I’m not.” Swapping nicotine for caffeine, I grab my paper cup from the ground and sip on it, “I don’t care a shit if that makes me a pussy.” Lifting the paper cup back to my lips I sip on my caffeine, hoping it can get me through the rest of the day. I doubt it though.

“If there’s one thing that you’re not Chains, and that’s a pussy. I’ll challenge anyone to test that theory.” A small smile tugs at my lips, “What if she doesn’t wake up?” My voice cracks as emotion thunders through my body. “My life is nothing without her in it, Reap. I may as well be back in the joint if she doesn’t pull through this…”

“She’ll wake up,” he pats my shoulder in comfort, but it’s not comfort I really want. It’s reassurance that I’m not going to lose her. “She's stronger than that.”

“Whether she comes through this or not, Savage Souls better fucking find somewhere to hide or better still, leave town. Or even crawl back under the rock they came out of, because I’ll fucking hunt them down and kill every fucking one of them. I mean it, Reap.”

---