Page 167 of Golden Atonement

“You tell her the truth, brother. Have you gone to see your daughter yet?”

Slaughter shook his head. “No. I’m waiting for Julie to wake up.”

“Brother,” I said, leaning forward. “Your daughter is all alone in the NICU. Has been for months. She needs to see her father.”

“I can’t,” my brother whispered, shaking his head as a lone tear rolled down his face. “I can’t do this without her. She wanted a baby. Not me. I just wanted Julie. She’s all I ever wanted. I told her we could adopt. There are so many kids that need a loving home, but she wanted one of her own. Everyone told her that it was impossible, but she had to prove them wrong. Now look at my girl.”

“Chapman, look at me.”

Slaughter turned his head, his eyes red and swollen from the pain and anguish he was feeling.

“What are the doctors saying?”

“I’m sure everyone’s already told you.”

“Yes, they have, but I want to hear it from you.”

Slaughter sighed, then turned to look at his wife. “They said when the placenta fully detached, it caused an embolism that went straight to her brain. They say she felt nothing, but I’m not so sure. One minute she was awake, the next nothing. They managed to get the baby out fast, but she was so little. She was barely twenty-seven weeks old. I never got to see her. They rushed her out of the room. Julie’s doctors were able to gether heart beating again, but apparently the damage was already done. Every test they’ve run says the same thing. That my Julie is brain-dead. That the machines are the only thing keeping her alive. But miracles happen all the time, right?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, brother. They do.”

“The hospital administration wants me to take Julie off the machines. They say if I don’t soon, her body will start to deteriorate. Something about her organs being close to shutting down. But I know my girl, Reaper. She’s a fighter. She won’t ever give up.”

“Brother, listen to me. If there was anything the doctors could do, don’t you think they would have tried it already? From my understanding, Julie’s doctor even called in a specialist for her.”

“Dr. Robinette,” Slaughter muttered.

“Brother, I hate this for you. I really do, and I’m not telling you to give up hope, but you have a baby girl downstairs who’s ready to go home. She’s beaten all the odds, brother. The doctors say she’s healthy and thriving. She’s gonna need her daddy.”

“I’m a dad.”

“Yeah, brother. You are a dad.”

Slaughter leaned forward and whispered as tears streamed down his face, “You hear that, baby? You did it. I’m a dad now. We have a baby girl. You did it, Julie.”

“Mr. Moore?”

Turning in my seat, I stared at the pretty brunette wearing a white coat holding a medical chart in her hand. When Slaughter ignored the woman, I got up and introduced myself. “I’m Maxwell Doherty.”

“I know who you are, Reaper. My husband is with the Sons of Hell. You know him as Frank. My name is Claudia.”

“I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Claudia. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for Julieand Chapman. If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know.”

“Thank you for that,” the woman said, then whispered, “Can we talk out in the hall?”

Nodding, I said nothing, following the doctor out of the room, where I saw Savage, Whiskey, and Digger waiting.

“The girls are with Remi and the baby,” Savage quickly said. “We’re only here ‘cause Lidi called us.”

Turning to the woman, I asked, “What did you need to tell me?”

“There is no other way to say this, but it’s time. I got Julie’s latest test results back. Her body is shutting down.”

“Shit,” Whiskey growled, turning away from us before punching the wall.

“I’m so sorry, but I need to tell Chapman, and I’m afraid he will not take it well. One of you needs to make him listen or he’s going to watch his wife fade away in front of his eyes.”

“There is nothing more you can do?” Digger asked.

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