Page 42 of Remy

“Of course. I got her,” she says. I pull her into a hug and thank her for everything she’s doing for me and Charlie. Without Kiki, I don’t know what the fuck I’d do.

I walk over and kiss Charlie goodbye, and she turns, waving her little hand at me. I can’t believe that she’s mine. I can’t believe I’m a dad.

I head out to my bike and climb on, taking off as soon as I have my helmet on. Instead of heading straight there, I take the longer route. I need a minute just to breathe. I need a minute to get my head straight. This is all happening too quickly for me.

Once I feel a little more centered, I head to the hospital. I park the bike and head inside to Tianna’s floor and down to her room. When I step inside, Locke turns to look at me. We’ve all been taking turns staying with her in case she wakes up.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hey. How is she?” I ask, nodding toward Tianna, although I already know the answer. She isn’t any better.

“She’s the same. Doc was just in a little while ago.” I nod my head as he stands and stretches his back.

“Thanks for staying,” I tell him.

“You know we got your back, Remy. You’re my best friend.”

“Appreciate that,” I tell him as he walks toward me and pulls me into a hug. I hug him back before he pulls away and leaves the room. I walk over and take his seat, pulling it closer to her bed so that I can reach out and grab her hand.

“Your daughter is somethin’ else. Tianna. That girl is as wild as they come,” I chuckle. “I didn’t know this is what it would belike. She’s all over the place, touchin’ everything and just gettin’ into stuff. She seems to really like Gunner, though, but that’s probably because he’s done this shit before.”

“I don’t really know what I was expectin’, but this wasn’t it. How the hell anyone can do this alone is beyond me. If Kiki weren’t there right now, I’d rip my damn hair out,” I laugh a little.

I talk to her some more. I tell her about trying to change Charlie’s diaper and get her dressed. I tell her how much I need her to wake up and help me with this shit. I make it a point to tell her that I can’t do this alone. I need her. I need her here with me and Charlie.

I don’t know how much she can hear. I don’t know if she even knows I’m here, and that fucks with my head. Is she even in there anymore? Am I holding on to nothing?

“I know you’re fightin’ in there, Tianna. I know there has to be some part of you that wants to come back to us. I need you to focus on that. Focus on comin’ back to me and Charlie because I don’t fuckin’ know what to do without you,” I admit to her. “Even though we weren’t together, you were still here, yeah? You’ve never left my goddamn heart, and I’m sure as hell not gonna let you now.”

I lower my head as a few tears fall down my face. I reach up and wipe them away quickly. I’m not supposed to cry. I’m supposed to be the stronger one here. I’m the one who has to hold it together for all of us. She doesn’t need me here crying like a fucking child over something I can’t control. No. She needs me to fight for her right now.

I sit back and just look at her lying there. She’s here, but she isn’t, and knowing that rips me apart inside. What if she truly doesn’t make it? What kind of life am I facing then?

Back then, it was easier to get over her, or at least try to get over her. It didn’t work that well, but she also wasn’t lying in a goddamn hospital bed either. She was alive. Out there, living her life, or so I thought. She was out there breathing, and that was good enough for me at the time.

I crack my neck from side to side as the nurse walks in. She smiles, checks her wires and shit, and then leaves again. I blow out a breath when my phone rings. Sliding it out, I see it’s Hodge.

“Yeah, Hodge. What’s goin’ on?”

“You want good news?”

“Is there such a thing?” I ask. He laughs.

“Yeah, there is. We’ve picked up Brad’s trail, brother. We’re gonna hunt him like goddamn bloodhounds.”

“No shit? Where?” Now, I sit up a little straighter.

“Not too far from his cousin’s place. He has another house under an alias, but it’s all come back to him. You want a prospect up there?”

“Fuck yeah. I’m not missin’ this shit for nothin’.”

“Heard that, brother. When he gets there, you head back here, and we’ll go over the plan,” he tells me. I agree, and I hang up, grabbing her hand again.

“You hear that, darlin’? We got a lead on that motherfucker. Do you know how badly I’m gonna make him pay? Everything helet them do to you, I’m gonna do to him. He’s gonna feel every fuckin’ ounce of pain you felt. You just rest and get better,” I tell her. She doesn’t move, not that I expected her to. She lies there, motionless, but I can’t stop the excitement, the thrill that runs through me, knowing we’re closing in on him.

I sit back and wait on the prospect to show up, and when he does, I head the fuck out. I’m so ready for this. I’m ready to end that motherfuckers life for what he did to her, to me, to us.

I ride hard and fast back to the clubhouse. The guys are already outside waiting for me when I pull in and climb off my bike.

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