She giggles and cuddles into me, pressing wet little kisses on my cheek.
Bambi smiles as she cleans up the kitchen. “We’re making some muffins and cookies for everybody while we’re here. Just a little something.”
Maverick sniffs the air, making Scarlett laugh.
“Smells amazing. What kind?”
“Raspberry chocolate chip cookies and lavender blueberry muffins.”
I pass Scarlett to Maverick, then pull Bambi into a hug.
“That sounds perfect. Thanks for doing that.”
She smiles up at me, and Maverick clears his throat behind us.
“I’m gonna head back out. Do what I said, brother.”
I nod and turn back to Bambi. She has a frown on her face as I pick her up and sit her on the counter.
“What’s going on, Goose?”
I run my hand over my face and lean into Bambi. She runs her fingers through my hair and then I pull back to look at her.
“We found Tiffani’s other hand this morning...”
She gasps and I can see the tears forming in her eyes.
“It was outside the gates... along with Zane.”
Bambi turns to me as she bursts into tears. I pull her into me as I let her cry.
“He’s in ICU right now and I think you need to see him, babe. Willow can take the stuff out of the oven.”
She nods as I wipe the tears from her face. Bambi jumps off the counter and wraps her hands around my waist. Holding her, I grab the keys to her car and pull her out the back door.
I carefully sit her in the passenger seat and walk over to get in the driver's side. Mad Dog and Thor are already waiting at the gate as the Prospects pull it open.
Mad Dog goes first and I follow behind in the car. Thor pulls up behind us as we drive to the Medical Center.
––––––––
BAMBI IS SILENT MOSTLYuntil she breaks down crying just minutes from the Medical Center.
“I can’t fucking do this anymore, Goose!”
I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. “What can’t you do, baby? You need to talk to me.”
“All of this! Everybody I love is getting hurt. I can’t handle anymore, Goose. This is just too much. It’s all hitting me at once. Too many triggers are happening.”
I sign to Mad Dog and Thor to pull over. Pulling Bambi into me, I hold her as she cries.
“I know it’s hard, but Zane knew this could happen. As for Lilah and Willow, we do everything we can to protect them. And I promised to always protect you too, right?”
Bambi looks up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, except there’s a sadness in them right now.
“But you can’t protect me from a broken heart, Goose.”
“What are you talking about?”