Page 78 of Jack

They shoved us into a corner to get us out of the way of other visitors. A sea of black leather with a double set of gold wings on the back apparently strikes fear into the hearts of regular people. Normal people? The faint of heart? Who knows what they’re called? Others? That might be a better word. I don’t know. Thinking about it hurts my brain. Shallow, they’re definitely shallow. We’re good people. We love deeply and fight hard for our own. If‘others’can’t look beyond the sea of black to realize it, that’s on them, not us.

We’re shut in here, out of their way, closed off from the rest of the world. It’s suffocating. It’s why I’m standing in this corner, leaning against the window sill. It’s supposed to feel open here without the walls. It’s not. The glass stops the air. Glass doesn’t stop bullets, though. Glass shatters. I hear it now. It’s deafening. I’ll hear it for the rest of my life. I hate glass. I hate everything.

I glance toward the door. I can’t move the rest of my body. My body’s numb, yet it still hurts. My eyes drift back to the man less than two feet from me. Jay lifts an eyebrow and shakes his head. He doesn’t have to worry. I’m not storming down the hall to the nurses' station to yell at them for the millionth time. I’m not supposed to move at all.

Hospital staff threatening to call security didn’t stop me from yelling and screaming at them. Security threatening to throw me out and call the cops didn’t stop me. The Sheriff’s threats to arrest me didn’t stop me. My club President ordering me into this corner tested my limits. Jay’s words stopped me.

“Lily needs you here.”

Lily.

My angel.

Needs me.

So, here I stand, numb, hurting, silenced, yet screaming into the darkness. Here, I wait.

The windows aren’t floor-length. Jay leans back against the four-foot-high wall. His head sometimes rests against the glass. I wanna smack it away. Because glass breaks. I can’t move, though. The numbness holds me in place.

My cousin is my strength and support tonight. I’m no fool, though. He’s also Dad’s muscle. Jay’s strong. He’s resilient. I’ve never seen anybody who can think through a fight like he can. Most men only think about swinging and swinging hard, so you come out the winner. Jay sees moves before they happen. Jay’s dangerous. His help’s needed tonight, for me, for Dad, and for everybody in this building.

Rodeo stands shoulder to shoulder with me on my right. Bankz and Hendrix are next down the line. There are no windows behind them. Worley Bird and Big Papa lean against each side of the doorway. Dad walks the room, comforting Mom, Nana, my sisters, niece, and nephew. I’m not getting out of this room unless Dad says so. I’m outnumbered and outmuscled. I’m stuck in the corner. My head rests against glass that breaks. I’m numb and hurting. She’s somewhere in this building, unconscious and fighting.

My eyes pop open when I feel the room shift. Everyone’s on their feet, staring at the door. Jay taps my arm and motions to the door with his head. He and Rodeo take my arms and guide me toward the doctors and nurses. No one smiles. Not a good sign. My family surrounds me when I step in front of the lead doctor. Why are there so many doctors and nurses behind him?

“Mr. McLeod.” My eyes snap to his. “I’m Doctor McCormick.”

“Lily?”

“Miss Harman is out of surgery and in recovery.” He still doesn’t smile.

“She… she’s okay?” The universe throws me some hope.

“She’s stable and resting at the moment,” Doctor McCormick replies. “After recovery, we’ll move her to ICU.”

“ICU?”

“Yes, Mc. McLeod. We need to monitor her very closely for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. We have Miss Harman in a medically induced coma,” he explains.

“Coma?” I don’t think I like this doctor. “You put her in a coma!” I roar.

I take a half step before arms wrap around mine. Dad moves Mom back and our family back a few feet. I see red, and it covers Doctor McCormick. I want Lily awake and talking to me. This man put her in a coma? I’m going to put him in one, but it won’t be medically induced. Jay can’t stop me this time.

The small hand on my chest does stop me. Big blue eyes stare up at me. I know her. I think.

“Don’t,” Jay firmly orders. He leans close and speaks right into my ear. “Don’t move. Don’t hurt her.”

The brave little woman stays between me and Doctor McCormick. She swallows hard but doesn’t move.

“Jack.” Her voice is familiar.

I blink, take a deep breath, and push my anger back into the darkness. Her face comes into focus.

“Finley?”

She drops her hand from my chest. “Yeah, Jack. It’s me.”

“You’re here? How.”

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