Page 46 of Bound by Destiny
Deke chuckles and the feeling of dread slowly falls to the ground. “True.” That’s all he says, nothing else about kicking his ass or anything. I know I have shock written all over my face because Deke says, “This close to havin’ my cut, Emery. It’s how it works, but he hurts you—cut or not—I’ll turn him into dirt.”
To this, Jacks laughs and sits back down, my brother going over to his woman who winks at me. All this winking is driving me nuts. Did they all eat lemons before they came?
“Heard you this mornin’,” Cooper says with a sexy grin, and I feel my face flame up. My brother, father, and mother are all sitting around me, and I really don’t need them to hear any of this. Not that I’m embarrassed, but who wants their family to hear about their sex life? Even as I glare at my cousin, he keeps talking. “Thought I was gonna have to come in and make sure Emery could breathe the way she was screamin’ so loud.”
Jacks punches Cooper in the shoulder as he laughs, and everyone around us follows. It feels good to laugh. Good to have that comradery feeling again. Even with this set back in life, we are still a unit and we just have to wait for Pops to wake up.
By afternoon, the waiting room is completely full with the Ravage MC, their ol’ ladies, and a shit ton of kids.
Mazie is something else. Without even blinking, she walks right up to Jacks and throws her arms around his neck, hugging him. Jacks returns it. “Mr. Jacks?”
“What’s up, munchkin?”
Her arms cross over her chest, and a stern look comes across her face. It’s cute as hell. “My daddy said that you have a girlfriend now and won’t dance with me anymore.” I can’t help hiding my amusement. “You’ll still dance with me, right?”
Jacks leans down and pulls little Mazie on his lap. “Absolutely. It was a highlight of my night, munchkin.”
She smiles wide, hugs him again, jumps down and stomps over to her father, her arms now crossed as Rhys looks down at her. “I told you he would still dance,” she practically growls, and the entire room bursts into laughter. Her attitude—lord knows she got it from her father.
It’s how we spend the afternoon, making a shitty situation better because we are together. Part of me can’t help but wonder where Micah is, but I don’t ask his parents. I don’t know how he handled everything I said to him, but hopefully, it will help him as much as it did me.
Ma comes bursting into the waiting room, not even stunned to see the turnout here in support of her and Pops. Tears roll down her face, and instantly I think the worst. We all jump up and move to her, Princess getting there first and wrapping her arms around Ma.
Then Ma smiles. “He’s awake. He’s awake and remembers everything.” Relief like no other leaves me. “The doctors say everything looks good, but they are keeping him for a few more days to make sure. But he’s awake.” Ma’s sobs rack her body as GT comes over to her and hugs both Ma and Princess tightly. A mother and her two kids—there is beauty in that, being a witness to something so pure.
I lean over and kiss Jacks on the lips, then hear my brother clear his throat behind us. With a smile, I mock glare at him.
This is good. Really, really good.
Two by two, we are able to go in and see Pops. It takes hours, and Pops doesn’t stay awake for all of the visits. The doctor said that even though he was asleep for so long, he wasn’t really sleeping and his body is exhausted. No one dares wake him or feel the wrath of Ma. She takes caring for Pops to the ninth degree. It’s what I love about them. Seeing them together after so many years and still being so fiercely in love.
Visions of my future flash before my eyes. Jacks, children, growing old together. It’s what I want. What I crave with him. Instead of words, I wrap my arms around my man and hold on.
“Emery, you ready?” Princess asks, and I hold Jacks’ hand to the room. Nurses and doctors are littered around the place. Bells and buzzers are going off everywhere. It feels like chaos, but an organized way because each person seems to have a role.
The door is slightly ajar as I step in first followed by Jacks. Pops has wires coming out of everywhere and hooked up to too many machines to count. The beeping continues in here and I wonder how he can sleep with all of this going on.
His eyes are closed, fingers intertwined on top of his stomach that is covered by a white blanket. As much as I want to see him, I feel the urge to leave and let him sleep, but selfishly I really want to see his eyes open so I know for sure.
“What’s wrong?” Jacks asks when I stop.
“Maybe we should just go so we don’t wake him.”
A throat clearing catches our attention. “Nonsense, Emery. Get over here,” Pops says, and I rush to him, afraid to hug him with all the wires. Instead, I grab his hand and squeeze. He’s alive. Tears well in my eyes, and I don’t stop them from falling.
“Now, darlin’. It’s okay.” Pops’ cold hand grips mine tightly, and I soak it in hoping to give him some of my warmth. This place seems to suck the heat out of everything.
I breathe out deep, pulling myself together. The man doesn’t need to see me breaking down when he’s recovering. Pops glances behind me. “Well, what do we have here?” A ghost of a smile tips his lips.
“How ya feelin’?” Jacks asks, knowing what Pops meant.
Pops holds up his arm that I’m not attached to. “Been better, son. Been better.”
“You’re good, ol’ man, but need to tell us when shit’s not right with you. No one knew of the heart.”
Pops’ eyes close briefly. “Didn’t want y’all worrying.”
“Too damn bad,” I tell him, giving him as stern of a look as I can. “Ma’s already sending out the cavalry to get healthy foods for you.”
