Page 30 of Tripp

“I have to get back upstairs. If you hear anything or need me, just call the nurses’ station.”

“Thanks, baby. I’ll try to come see you before we leave.”

I looked down at my watch. Only ten minutes had passed since I’d last looked at it.

This was fucking insanity.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“How did this happen? There has been no sign of that bastard, and all of a sudden—bam. There he is! She was going to work; she should have been fine. Only gone for a few hours?—”

“Pops!” Phoenix came in, his face pinched in worry. “How is she?”

“I don’t know yet. Waiting for them to finish her scans.”

Trace moved to stand beside Phoenix. “I talked to Dani Lynn and Shelby when I dropped Stel off. Casey told them and I quote, ‘He knows. Can’t let him get her.’ She panicked when she didn’t see Penny at the playground.”

“He’s after my kid!”

“I don’t know, man.”

Something—my mama would say it was the devil—woke up inside me. He’d not only hurt my girl, he had threatened my child.

“I’m going to kill that motherfucker!” I turned and punched the nearest wall. My fist went through the sheet rock. Once. Twice. Arms wrapped around my chest, pulling me back.

“Old man, don’t get arrested today. Deep breaths. Keep your shit together.”

“He’s dead. You hear me. He hurt her; he’s fucking dead!”

“You’ll get no arguments from me.” That’s my boy.

“Everyone needs to calm down. This is a hospital, not an MMA ring!” Gabe barked out. “I know you’re pissed, man. I do get that, but think, man. You have to do this the right way. Don’t make me arrest you.”

Phoenix still had his arms around me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and raging anger.

“Pops, he’s right. Stripes aren’t a good color on anyone.”

I knew he was right, but honestly, I didn’t give a shit right now. I was going to hunt this motherfucker down and peel his skin off of him.

“When I find him, I’m going to give him the beating of his life. The last one will look like a fucking party,” I muttered, seething.

I patted my kid’s hands, and he reluctantly let me go.

“As soon as I know how she is, I’m out.”

“Come on, Pops, think about this now.”

“Tripp, no.”

“Don’t tell me to think. Or no! He hurt her. She’s lying on a fucking table right now having scans done so they know just how bad she’s hurt. I should have buried him in a deep hole the last time he hurt her. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Edward’s family. Tripp?” a tentative voice rolled through the room.

My head snapped around toward the open doorway. A nurse wearing pink scrubs looked us over.

“Is she okay?” I moved through the bodies blocking me.

“She’s back in the ER bay. She’s asking for you.”

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