Page 18 of Bound By Redemption
Austyn’s head nodded to Ensley. “You take care of that one. Leavin’ her and Remy in your hands. You fuckin’ hurt her, it will be your dick off.”
Austyn was very good with the big sister act, and it made me feel good that Ensley and Remy had someone in their corner while I wasn’t here.
“Never. Just wanna get to know my kid and Ensley better. Got no plans on hurtin’ shit. I’d rather cut off my arm.”
“Speakin’ of your arm.” Cruz’s deep voice came from behind us as we all turned to him. Austyn didn’t stop. She went right to him and wrapped her arms around his middle, just like she did when she was little. “Get the first aid kit.” Cruz nodded to me. “He’s got a serious burn on his arm.”
I heard Ensley gasp as Austyn jumped out of her father’s arms and came at me like a bull seeing red. She grabbed my arm. “Fucking hell, Micah!” she yelled loud enough for the people in the courtyard to turn and look at us.
Austyn ran into the clubhouse as Ensley came up to me. “Shit. Are you in pain? It looks horrible.”
I shrugged. “Nothin’ I haven’t been through before.”
“Come sit,” Ensley said, moving to the picnic table and patting the wood, the lights above shining. I didn’t sit.
“I’ll be just fine. It needs a bandage, and it’ll heal.”
“It’s between a second and third-degree burn, Micah. We may have to take you to the ER,” Ensley chastised, examining the wound.
Austyn came out with Remy on her heels, holding my mom’s hand. A smile lit my face at seeing Remy. Add in being with her grandma and it was perfect.
Remy didn’t think anything of it as she raced to me and wrapped her little arms around my leg squeezing it tight. So many emotions ran through me, and I could hear those around me speaking, but my focus was on the little human wrapped around me like a monkey does with its momma.
Not caring about my arm, I bent down and picked her up. Her little arms then went around my neck, her hair brushing the side of my face as she laid her head on my shoulder. Only with her in my arms did I finally feel like I could breathe for a split second. The adrenaline was still coursing through my body, but there was something about having Remy in my arms that gave me a comfort I had never experienced before.
I held her in my arms, closing my eyes and just enjoying this moment in time. A moment that wouldn’t seem like much to some but meant the fucking world to me. My baby girl. Mine. It was still hard for me to believe, but I did with my whole heart. One of her little hands started rubbing my neck, and she had no idea that her small touch made everything I’d gone through fade in the background. Every choice I’d ever made, good or bad, completely and totally worth it.
“Remy honey. I need to fix Micah’s owie,” Austyn said, approaching.
Part of me was pissed that Austyn fucked up the moment, but when Remy’s head popped up, her hand came to the side of my face, and sadness filled her eyes, my damn heart constricted so tightly I thought it might stop.
“Owie?” Remy asked with all the sorrow I wanted to wipe away from her.
“I’ll be just fine.”
“Big boom!” Remy blurted loudly, giving me a start. Damn sure wasn’t expecting that one. Fuck, been through a lot of shit, but my little girl making that noise did not sit right with me.
“Yeah. There was a boom. But you’re safe. Mommy’s safe, and Austyn’s safe.”
“Owee, Mikeeee. Itits otay…”
I heard a hiccup coming from my mother, telling me she was crying. Now I had three women to make sure were alright. “I’m gonna have Austyn and your mommy take a look at it and see what the damage is.”
“Gimmie tand,” Remy demanded, and I looked to Ensley. I didn’t know Remy speak and didn’t know exactly what she wanted.
“She wants to hold your hand,” Ensley translated. “It’s what Katie does when we fix Remy’s boo boos.”
I gave Remy a huge smile. “I’d love for you to hold my hand. It’ll be even better if you sit on my leg while they fix me up.”
Remy nodded and her thumb went into her mouth. It was fucking cute as hell. I sat on the bench and put Remy on my leg, wrapping my good arm around her.
After angling a bit, I heard a few gasps telling me it was pretty bad. Of course, I could feel that fact, but when you were conditioned to withstand serious pain, stuff like this was just a drop in the bucket. I still had feeling in the arm, so it couldn’t be a fourth-degree burn. I could feel blisters, so what Austyn had said earlier about it being between a two and three was right.
That shit was gonna take a while to heal, and I’d need antibiotics if it was too bad.
As the girls looked, I started talking to Remy. “Wanna have a sleepover?”
Remy’s eyes grew wide as she nodded her head.
