Page 38 of Bound by Destiny
Pounding comes to the door. “Emery! We’re going to the hospital! Pops is out of surgery.” Quick as a flash, I’m up and tossing Jacks his jeans. When he zips them it’s with a groan.
“Now I gotta ride with this.” He points down to his dick. I race over and kiss him on the lips.
“All good things come to those who wait.”
The pounding comes again. “I’m coming!” I yell, giving Jacks a kiss and we’re out the door. We pass Micah on the way out, but the embarrassment isn’t there like it was before when Jacks kissed me. No, it all feels right and not like I’m betraying anyone.
Wrapping my arms around Jacks, for the first time in a very long time, I feel at peace, having come to my senses about the man in front of me. Now, if only we can have the man in the hospital wake up and come back to us.
16
Jacks
Emery intertwinesher fingers with mine as we walk down the stark white corridor. We need to seriously talk about what is going on between us. One moment she’s twisted and torn, the next she’s straddling me. Not that I minded that part, but I meant what I said. Once we go there, there is no going back for us.
She’s mine—end of discussion.
I don’t want to doubt this new Emery, but suspicion runs through my mind. Only a few days ago, she was talking about being confused and not knowing a direction to go. Putting myself out there isn’t easy. After Lisa tore my heart out by choosing to be with another man, I’d closed myself off to ever loving another person. The heart is a fragile thing. No matter how tough someone is the heart can shatter in the blink of an eye.
Every single time I put myself out for Emery, I fear that she’ll turn her back on me. But that’s not going to stop me from being with her. In my mind, she already is mine, I just need her to catch up with the program.
Austyn and Ryker lead the way as the smell of bleach or sanitizer runs through the place. I have never met a human being who says ‘Yes! Let’s go to the hospital.’ And that is so not me. My sister used to watch a doctor show where there was always someone dying, every single time she watched. She would cry for them, and eventually it got to the point where I told her to stop watching the shit if it made her sad. She didn’t listen, but she never does.
Emery’s hand trembles in mine letting her fear known. Hell, I’m scared too. Pops is the glue that holds this club together. Yes, our President is our main man, but Pops is the one that we’ve stood up for so many years. He’s been in this club since he was a child and his father ran the show.
He’s touched everything in that club. Not one thing doesn’t have a memory with Pops in it. The shop is covered in him. He’s been a huge influence in so many lives, and I never got to tell him thank you. Just a simple two words, but I’ve never said them to him.
Pops is the one who taught me about the history of the club and when I thought about prospecting, he’s the one who took an exceptional amount of time talking with me. He’s always been there, in the background giving support and having our backs.
Losing him will be a blow to everyone, one I don’t know if anyone will be able to bounce back from completely. There will be a huge void inside all of us without him. It will shatter parts of us we didn’t think possible, and rebuilding that strength will take a fuck of a long time.
Thinking this way doesn’t help the situation, but I’m the type of man that likes to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario. It’s exactly what I’ve been doing with Emery, wanting to put her where the hurt wouldn’t be harsh. It’s a losing game I never should’ve tried in the first place.
In life, there is hurt. In life, there is pain. In life, there is defeat. But there is also happiness, caring, and family. Even if getting to the latter you have to deal with some of the negative, it’s there.
With Pops being shot, it puts into perspective how life can be taken in the blink of an eye. Yes, I’ve taken lives. I’ve protected my brothers and club without remorse.
Seeing it happen to one of us though, is a kick in the gut. One that reminds me to grab it by the balls and hold on tight. Just like I’m doing to Emery’s hand.
Yes, we need to talk and we will, but I’ve fallen for this woman and she will know it, see it, and understand it fully.
“Mom!” Emery calls out, releasing me and running to Angel, whose arms are opened wide for her daughter. They collide, mumbling something between them. Austyn does the same with her mother as I approach. Cooper lifts his chin up at me, while his arm wraps around Bristyl.
“Here’s the deal,” Princess says to everyone. “He’s in very critical condition. Where the bullet sliced is an important artery. They’ve repaired the damage, but he lost a lot of blood. He’s had several blood transfusions while in surgery. But that’s not the thing that’s really bad.”
Princess heaves in a breath letting the difficulty of the situation show, making it all so much worse. “He had a heart attack while he was on the operating table.”
Emery gasps, falling directly into my arms, and I hold her tightly.
“He ended up having two blocked arteries and as soon as the doctors finished his neck, they went directly to his heart. The problem lies with him not having oxygen for periods of time, and it could cause problems with his brain. The doctors put stints in his heart and repaired what they could, but Pops’ heart is bad.” She coughs, holding back her emotion. “It was unknown to us, but Pops has had a heart condition for a while now, but didn’t want to tell any of us.”
Emery’s body shakes and I pull her close to me, her head resting on my chest as I absorb all of her fear and grief. The tension in the room grows by leaps and bounds. I can feel the tear in the unshakable foundation of Ravage begin to tremble, shake, and crack. Pops is everything, and no one will take this well.
“Now the good news,” Princess says, getting our full attention back. “He handled both the surgeries well, or as well as a man who was shot and had a heart attack. The doctors are optimistic, but personally, I think they’re blowin’ smoke up my ass.”
This is not good.
“Ma’s in there with him. He’s not responsive.” Her words catch in her throat. “Right now, all we do is wait.”
