Page 78 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“He’s conscious.” Rosa comes in, timidly for her. Her eyes are red-rimmed, but she’s keeping it together. “He wants to speak to you, Red, and then Twister, Crash and Fox.”

“He’ll be alright though, won’t he?” Hammer asks.

Rosa’s mouth twists. She looks at me, and I raise my chin. Unless she’s being given more positive news, it’s time that they heard.

“He’s in a lot of pain. He’s been refusing morphine, but he’ll soon be getting that. He can’t breathe well, so he’ll be ventilated. It’s…” she chokes up, and we all give her a minute. She clears her throat, and her voice strengthens. “It’s unlikely he’ll wake up.”

“Fuck!” Hammer breathes out, while others sit stunned trying to process.

“The kids?” Cobra asks. “If this is true, Rosa, shouldn’t they…?” He can’t bring himself to say,see their dad for one last time.

I make the decision for Rosa. Young they might be, but they’d want to be here. “Call Titch, get him to bring them.”

She nods at me gratefully. I only hope Brick can hold out. Fuck me, eight years old, this is one hell of a lot to lay on them. But even at that age, if it had been my dad, I’d have wanted the chance to say goodbye to him.

It’s a setback,I tell myself, following the directions I’d been given to Brick’s room.He’s beaten this so long, they’ll give him some meds and help him.But when I enter and see him, all hope is swept away. He looks fuckin’ awful. The only time I’ve seen worse was when I saw my father’s dead body. The weight loss I’d noticed but disregarded is more evident. He looks shrunken lying in the hospital bed as if the effort it’s taken for him to hide his illness for the last few months has all at once caught up with him. Every breath he tries to take in is a struggle. His brow is creased in evidence of terrible pain, and I suspect it’s only sheer determination that keeps him from giving in.

He doesn’t acknowledge my presence but continues to scrawl his signature on something. When he’s finished, he collapses back and holds out his hand to Rosa. They clutch hands while he fights for breath. Then, with an effort, he opens his eyes and fixes them on me. They look dull, not bright and sharp as I remember.

He speaks to me, but his words are meant for both me and Rosa. “I’m not going on a ventilator. I’ve signed a do not resuscitate order.”

“Brick, love—”

“Rosa.” Fuck, how he gets the strength he’s put into those words, I’ll never know. “I don’t want to drag this out. A few more days as a vegetable ain’t gonna help anyone. Let me go, girl. Let me go.”

Rosa’s eyes meet mine; I try to telepathically send strength back. It’s hard hearing, but Brick’s right. If the end is coming, why prolong it?

I see her struggle, trying to find some argument that would let her keep her husband a while longer. She’s fighting internally with herself, but knowing Brick so well, ends up not arguing with him. Pain is radiating off her as she straightens her back, then, plastering a fake smile on her face, she turns back to her man, leans over and kisses him. “You always said you’d know when it was your time.”

“Never wanted to leave you, darlin’. This wasn’t the way I planned it.” Brick tries to raise his hand, but his strength seems to have gone.

“I know.” She chokes back a sob. “Darlin’ husband, I know.”

She sinks into a chair, leaves her hand in his, and rests her head next to him. He half turns his head so his lips can nuzzle her hair, but his eyes land on me.

“It’s time Red. Time for you to step up.” It’s an effort for him to get the breath to speak.

I raise my chin and broaden my shoulders.

A few more attempts to get air, then he continues, “You’ve got this, Brother. I’m leaving my club in good hands.”

I don’t argue, don’t say I’m not ready. Now it’s come to this, I think that I am. I’m also aware he’s got others waiting, and not much time. So, I keep it simple.

“Shiny side up, Prez.”

“Always,” he gasps. “You keep the dirty side down.”

His free hand lifts, only an inch or two, but it’s obvious what he wants. I go to clasp it in both of mine, his grip is weak.

I’ve no more words, just put what I can’t say into my expression, then I take one last look at the man I’ve been proud to call Prez before I leave him and his wife together.

I don’t know what he said to Twister and Crash, but they return to the waiting room, and stand for a moment with their arms around each other. Fox is equally distraught when he emerges. Then Titch turns up with two scared-looking boys. As he disappears with them, I realise it’s time to step up and abide by my promise to Brick.

Rosa, if she wants it, will always have a place in our club, and those boys won’t lack for a father figure. They’ll have all the damn members setting them on the right path. It’s all I can do for my soon-to-be-fallen brother.

Rosa, Tom and Trist don’t appear again, but when Titch comes out, he sends Hammer in. One by one, the brothers disappear for a few minutes. When the last, Joker, comes out, all his normal levity is gone.

“He couldn’t speak.” Joker leans up against the wall as if needing its support. “Why’s he not fighting?” He turns and slams his fist into the drywall, tears openly falling down his face.

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