Page 9 of Dylan's Dad
“How? We were in the house, not outside. How could he have known?”
“I’ve tried explaining that to him but he’s taking it hard. He feels like he failed you. Anyways, so what are you thinking for after your call with Reaper?”
“Can I call Doc after? He told me he could have his friend come give me an exam.” I cringe. “I just want to get it over with and put this behind me.”
“Whatever you want, Darlin, but you don’t need to rush this. If you are not ready that’s okay too.” Stallion's concern was evident in his eyes as he spoke those words. I reached out and placed my hand on top of his, offering a reassuring squeeze.
"I appreciate your concern, Stallion," I said softly. "But I don't want to keep dwelling on what happened. Getting the exam done will help me move forward."
He nodded, his expression filled with a mix of relief and admiration. "Alright then, I'll make the necessary arrangements for you to see Doc's friend after you're done with the call."
As we ate breakfast together in comfortable silence, the aroma of bacon and coffee filling the room, Stallion's presence brought me a sense of comfort I hadn't expected to find amidst this chaos. His protective instinct was apparent in every gesture, every word spoken.
When Reaper's call finally came through, Stallion raised his phone to his ear and then pressed a few buttons before, "Hey, Brother. Yeah she is right here, hang on."
Stallion extends the phone to me and I take it. "Reaper?" I watch as Stallion collects the dishes and leaves the room.
"Hey there, Little Flower. How are you feeling?"
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before responding. "I'm doing okay, considering everything. How about you? How are things on your end?"
Reaper let out a heavy sigh, his voice coming through the phone with an air of weariness. "Well, it could be worse. Just glad to be getting out of here soon. I need to be there and handle this situation and see that you are okay for myself."
"I appreciate your concern, Reaper," I replied, my voice filled with gratitude. "Having you here will definitely bring some peace of mind."
There was a slight pause on the other end of the line before Reaper continued, his tone softer now. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there when it happened. I should've been there to protect you."
"It's not your fault," I reassured him, my heart aching at his guilt. "None of us could have predicted or prevented it. It was just a terrible situation."
"Still, I wish I could've done something," he murmured, his voice filled with regret. "But I promise you, Little Flower, I won't let anything like this happen again. I'll make sure you're safe."
His words brought a sense of warmth and security, calming the storm inside me. "Thank you, Reaper."
We talked for a bit more but his phone time is limited. I am starting to get anxious about him getting out and finally being in the same room as him.
After ending the call with Reaper, I handed the phone back to Stallion, who had returned to the room. He gave me a warm smile, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and determination.
"I'm glad he called," Stallion said, pocketing his phone. "Reaper may be a tough son of a bitch, but he's got a good heart. He'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
"I can see that," I replied.
"Doc's friend Natasha should be here in a little bit. Doc assured me that she is kind and a good nurse."
Just as Stallion finished speaking, there was a knock on the bedroom door. Stallion went to open it, revealing a petite woman with a warm smile and a medical bag in her hand.
"Natasha, this is Lola," Stallion introduced me.
Natasha walked over to me, extending her hand. "Nice to meet you, Lola. I'm Natasha," she said kindly. "James filled me in about what happened and I want you to know that I'm here to help in any way I can."
I shook her hand, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Thank you, Natasha. It means a lot. Wait, James?"
"Doc." Stallion answers.
"Thank you, Stallion. Would you mind stepping out while I do the exam?"
Stallion nods at Natasha then turns to me, "I'll be right outside, Darlin."
I watched as Stallion left the room, closing the door behind him. Natasha set her medical bag on the bedside table and pulled out a pair of gloves. She turned to face me, her eyes full of compassion.
