Page 77 of Devil's Own: Roughneck

“Rough,” Gee whispers. I help her back into her panties before zipping up. Then we grab our shit and head for the closest airport. Waite is stopping by our hotel to check us out before meeting us. We’ll return as soon as possible, but my brother and his wife, some of our closest friends, need us right now.

The rest of the men and their wives are already waiting for us. We charter a flight from the Gatlinburg airport right into Lexington, and an hour after takeoff, we land. The group of us order as many rideshares as it takes to transport us to the hospital where they deal with high-risk pregnancy emergencies. There are probably other hospitals in the city that do, but Reap’s not taking chances with his family.

Gee calls Aja’s number to get floor and room, although we’re required to stop at the front desk before heading to the elevator. My stomach begins churning from the antiseptic mixed with spoiled milk smell that hospitals always seem to have. It’s disgusting, and it’s made worse because I’m worried about my friends.

Reaper stands in the hallway. He’s an imposing man even with his head dipped, looking at the floor with his hands on his hips, his body strung tight—that’s the posture of a man who would do anything to help his family but, at present, is absolutely helpless.

“Reap?” Gia says softly, and he turns to us. His eyes are gutted. She speed-walks over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, holding on for dear life, and I watch as one of the strongest men I know breaks. He buries his face against her shoulder and sobs.

My wife brushes her hand over the back of his head like she’s consoling a small child. I thought I loved her before, but seeing her like this—I realize the depth of my love is unfathomable.

She doesn’t try to get him to speak. She simply holds him, waiting. Finally, he says, “Her family is in the waiting room with Aja.”

Gia nods, staying silent.

“Her blood pressure has been off for a while. She’s been monitoring it. This morning, it skyrocketed. I called an ambulance and got her to the hospital. They get her on some meds to bring it down—” Another sob rips from him. “Then it shot back up again. She had a fucking seizure. They were running tests. The girls are lethargic. They fly her up here. More fucking tests. Can’t they get the babies out? They’re testing the twins to see how developed their lungs are. Will they survive being born this early? What do I do? Who do I choose, my wife or my daughters?”

She hugs him tighter.

“Fucking Dusty is making me promise that I save the babies. No matter what happens to her—” His voice cracks. “How do I raise the babies without her? She’s my world, myfucking world.”

“You won’t have to,” Gee finally says. “We have to believe that. We have to put that out into the universe. She’s going to be okay. The babies will be okay. You and Dusty will raise the two most beautiful girls in the world together.”

He sobs again.

“Let me hear you say it,” she demands.

“Dus and I are raising our girls together.” He says the words, but he doesn’t believe them. There’s not even an ounce of passion in his statement.Goddammit!I want to help, but I don’t know what to do.

“Mr. Carr.” Someone in scrubs approaches them, and he spins. “We’re prepping Dusty for surgery. We’ve been unable to get her blood pressure under control. The babies will be taken right to the NICU.”

“Can I be in there?” he asks, hopeful.

“I’m sorry, but due to the severity of the situation, you won’t be allowed.”

“The severity?” he asks with almost a shout. “You mean in case my wife dies on your table.”

The nurse or doctor, whatever she is, doesn’t disagree. She simply watches him sympathetically.

“He understands,” I finally say because I’d rather have the bitch head back to take care of Dusty, and he whips his head up as if he didn’t even realize that I was there. “You stay here with Gee. I got her family, man.”

Gia reaches out to squeeze my hand as I pass them. Cut stands and walks over to me when I enter the waiting room. The rest of the brothers and women made a beeline for the waiting room to give Reap some privacy the moment he spilled tears. A strong man like him breaks—he doesn’t need a bunch of people watching that, no matter how much we care about him. Aja joins Cut, giving me a quick hug.

“I hear you’re a married man now,” she says.

Despite the reason we’re here, I smile a stupid grin. “I’mdefinitelya married man now.”

“Congratulations again, brother,” Cut says. “I still wish we’d have gotten the chance to celebrate.”

“It’s fine. Gee doesn’t give a shit about cutting our weekend short if it means being here for our friends, man.” I reply, and they both nod knowingly. “We’ll plan on doing something closer to home to celebrate withallof you.”

Cutter cuts a glance to his wife and dips his chin almost imperceptibly. He gets it. Aja and Dusty are tied at the hip they’re so close. I don’t know how the woman is keeping herself together now other than she’s been looking after Dusty’s family for Reap.

“Got news,” I say. “Need to talk to Dusty’s family.” Cutter and Aja move out of the way, allowing me to approach her family. “Hey, Dr. Brand.” Technically, both of her parents are Dr. Brand, but her father’s practice is right next to Dusty’s. A gorgeous redhead walks into the waiting room right before I start to spill, heading straight for us. Dr. Brennan-Ellis.

“Dr. Brand,” she says to Dusty’s father, then, “Dr. Brand,” she says to Dusty’s mother.

“Dr. Brennan-Ellis,” her mother says, standing to give her a half-hug.

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