Page 41 of Denial

When we get outside, Hope goes over to the first van with a group of girls and women. She assures them they’ll be safe and that no one will harm them. I watch as she exchanges some words with Bronx before Deegan gets in the passenger seat of the van and they take off once Hope closes the door. Killer and I step up on either side of her and escort her to the SUV we’ll be riding in back to the compound. King stays close, but doesn’t get inside the vehicle as Hope sits in the middle of her dad and me. I grab her hand and lace our fingers together and watch as Killer holds her other hand. He’s not ready to let his daughter out of his sight or get too far from him. I watch as King stares at Hope for a minute before he heads back into the warehouse to finish dealing with the mess that’s been created here. Nothing will point back to the club if we can help it and there’s nothing the men won’t do to ensure Hope isn’t incriminated in a crime against the three men she killed.

It's not long before Hope falls asleep between her dad and me. Killer stares at his daughter for a minute before looking at me.

“She feels safe and protected. That’s the only reason she’s able to sleep right now. I know my daughter and know if she didn’t feel that way, she’d be wide awake despite the exhaustion fillin’ her. You’re the reason Hope’s able to sleep right after leavin’ that hell hole. Don’t ever take it for granted, Jinx,” he states, his voice barely above a whisper so he doesn’t wake her up.

“I won’t ever take a single second of my time with Hope for granted. None of you ever have to worry about that shit. I love her and will spend the rest of my life showin’ her on a daily basis just how much I love and cherish her. She’ll be treated like the queen she is and I will always make sure she has what she wants and needs,” I promise Killer, my dad, and grandpa as we get closer to the compound where I hope Doc is waiting to check all these women and girls out before we can figure out what to do next.

“I’ve called Shy and let her know what we have comin’ in. She’s gatherin’ everyone so they’re ready to help everyone and Doc just showed up. He’s preparin’ his room to be able to help everyone. The ol’ ladies are in the kitchen cookin’ up a storm and gettin’ rooms ready for the girls. They’ll have to stay in the hall with the Phantom girls and Prospects, but that can’t be helped. Annabell is makin’ the Phantom girls share rooms so there’s more space for everyone,” Slim informs us as we pull up to the compound and he parks the SUV as close to the door as he possibly can.

“Not leavin’ my girl’s side for any reason. Whatever needs to happen, count me out until I know for sure Hope is okay and she doesn’t need to go to the hospital. I believe at least half of the girls and women will end up goin’ there for one reason or another,” I state, not letting anyone argue with me as I open my door and get out to pull Hope into my arms.

Killer gets out and doesn’t even attempt to remove his daughter from the SUV. We head inside and I get to Doc’s room to find it empty so far. No one else is in the clubhouse as I go inside and lay Hope down on one of the gurneys he’s got inside. Doc busies himself drawing blood, setting up an IV and hanging fluid from the pole attached to the gurney.

“I’m gonna test her for everythin’, Jinx. I’m gonna need her to be stripped down and cleaned up so I can examine her to make sure none of this blood is hers. Can you handle that while I turn my back to give her some privacy?” Doc asks me as he finishes taping off the IV going into Hope’s hand.

“Of course. If you wanna grab me some water and a cloth, I’ll get her cleaned up until she can take a shower,” I answer, already moving things out of my way so I can strip my girl down to her panties and bra.

Doc hands me a gown to put on her once I’ve got her clothes off before he makes his way over to the sink where he grabs a bucket from the cupboard above him and places it under the water he’s turned on. I work quickly to strip her out of the soiled clothing and put on the seat next to me. Laying the gown over her body, Doc makes his way back over to set the bucket and cloth on the tray next to me so I can clean her. With his back turned once more, I clean her up and get the gown on her fast because I know others will be entering the room.

Hope woke up a few minutes ago to the chaos in the medical room Doc has at the clubhouse. He’s already sent a ton of girls and women to the hospital and some of Slim’s members are staying with them. They’ll help deal with the cops who show up and make sure the girls are comfortable. For some of them, the men in this club are the only ones these girls have seen in a very long time. Now, Doc is working on everyone else as he waits for the blood tests that have been picked up by one of his nurses to be run at his clinic. Currently, he’s on the phone getting the results that have already come in so he can properly treat his patients.

“Jinx, can we get out of here to give up some room to one for the others?” she asks me as Killer and Gwen walk in the room followed by my mom, dad, and grandpa.

“Not yet, Sweet Girl. We have to wait for Doc to talk to us before he decides what you need to do movin’ forward. I know you aren’t in pain and the injuries he can see right now are essentially superficial. We just don’t want to miss anythin’,” I tell her, leaning over and pressing my lips to her cheek as Killer and Gwen step up to the gurney across from me.

“Baby Girl, you’ll be out of here soon enough. For now, just relax and let Doc do his job,” Killer says, his voice gentle and soft with his daughter.

She lays her head back and closes her eyes until Doc makes his way over to us once he’s done with his phone call.

“So, Hope, I’ve got some news. I’m not sure if you want everyone to stay here with you or not,” Doc says and panic fills me with what could be wrong with my Sweet Girl.

“They can stay. They’re all family,” she says, her voice alert as she opens her eyes and grabs my hand tight, squeezing our fingers together.

“Hope, you’re pregnant. It appears to be relatively early in your pregnancy, but the test is definitely positive,” Doc states and I immediately look at Hope to see tears in her eyes.

“Are you sure? I’m on birth control and we’ve still used condoms,” she says, darting her eyes up to Killer as he smiles down at her. Definitely not the reaction I was expecting from him.

“I’m sure, Hope. Nothin’ is ever truly a hundred percent effective. And if you’ve been on antibiotics it can stop your birth control from workin’. I’m not even gonna suggest the options because I know how you all live. Just know I’m here to talk or discuss anythin’ you want to talk about. Both of you,” Doc says, turning his eyes to me as I keep my eyes locked on Hope.

“Um, should we have one of those imagin’ things done? You were just kidnapped and held in a cage, Sweet Girl. Not to mention those assholes beatin’ you,” I ask her, fear filling me with the thought of something happening to our baby before we even knew he or she existed.

“An ultrasound. Yes, I want you to have one done immediately to be sure there’s nothin’ goin’ on,” Doc says as he looks at our family with a serious expression. “Why don’t you go take a shower and get somethin’ to eat. Do not move around more than you have to. Jinx, stay with her at all times. Especially in the shower. Call me immediately if she experiences any pain, dizziness, or anythin’ that doesn’t seem right. As soon as you’re done eatin’, we’ll go to the office and get you an ultrasound done.”

“Thank you, Doc,” Hope says as she begins to sit up in bed and I help her.

Doc takes out her IV and places a Band-Aid over it as our family leaves and I help her out of bed. I’m handed a second gown to put on her backwards so she’s not flashing her ass to everyone in the clubhouse. Lifting Hope up into my arms, I carry her from the medical room to find my family and Hope’s waiting in the hallway for us.

“Baby Girl, we’ll be waitin’ in the common room for you guys. Take it easy and don’t linger in the shower. We’ll have food waitin’ for you when you get down here. Don’t think we won’t be havin’ a talk about this, Jinx,” Killer says as he leads Gwen from the hallway and we make our way upstairs to my room where I help Hope get in the shower after making it warm enough she won’t be cold, but cool enough that it’s not going to boil her skin off her body.

I get Hope cleaned up and dressed in a pair of loose sweatpants and one of my tee-shirts. After brushing out her hair, she tosses it up into one of those knots on the top of her head. I carry her back down to the common room where we take a seat at the table with our family to eat something. Everyone else is moving around the clubhouse to help the women and girls still on the compound. The second we’re done eating, we all load up in two SUVs and head for Doc’s office with him leading us there.

Hope and I are the only ones to go in the room for the ultrasound. Doc doesn’t want a ton of people in with us and no one complains at all. I honestly believe they’re here for moral support in case something is wrong. Doc does an internal ultrasound and explains what we’re looking at. Everything looks like nothing to me, but he still points things out.

“Things look really good, guys. I don’t foresee you havin’ any problems movin’ forward in the pregnancy. I’m goin’ to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins but you need to get into an obstetrician as soon as possible. I know Annabell and Savannah have both used Dr. Craven. She’s my daughter,” Doc informs us as he presses a few more buttons on the machine and lets us know he’s printing out some pictures for us to have.

“Jinx, are you okay with this?” Hope suddenly asks me when we’re alone in the room.

“I’m okay, Sweet Girl. How about you?” I return, still not sure how to feel about us having a baby.

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