Page 51 of Riggs
Cain walks up behind his daughter and regards me. "I need to thank you for saving my daughter; for getting her out of that house when you did. You risked your life to save hers. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
I shake my head. "You don't. I care about Piper. I care about all of you. You all have become my family. I'd do anything for you all."
Cain accepts my answer with a look of gratitude and pride. "Riggs is lucky to have found you, and we are damn lucky to have you as a part of our family."
Three hours later, an exhausted-looking doctor steps into the waiting room. Everyone jumps to their feet while holding their breath. The doctor tugs the surgical cap from his head. He gives us a relieved look. "He pulled through."
Wick, who is standing behind me, catches my fall as my knees buckle. He pulls me into his arms, and we hug the shit out of each other. The doctor waits patiently while we all have our moment of relief and gratitude before he speaks again. "I want you all to know Mr. LeBlanc is not completely out of the woods. He had major surgery. There is still a risk for many complications, including blood clots and infection. The first forty-eight hours will be his most critical. Mr. LeBlanc will remain in the ICU until those forty-eight hours have passed and he wakes up. We got the bullet out, repaired the damage it caused, and I am confident he will make a full recovery."
"When can we see him?" Abe asks.
"I'll allow two visitors at a time. You get fifteen minutes each. I'm sorry, but we don't allow overnight guests in ICU.
Once the doctor has left, I insisted Abe and Cain go in first. Fifteen minutes later, it's mine and Wick's turn. I knew by the look on Abe's face when he returned from seeing his grandson it must be bad. I wasn't at all prepared to see the man I love laying on a hospital bed hooked up to machines with a tube sticking out of his mouth. His chest and abdomen have wires hooked up everywhere, and there is a bandage covering the incision down the middle of his chest. Riggs looks so pale. Careful not to touch anything, I lean over and place a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth.
When Wick and I make it back to the waiting room, most of the men are getting ready to leave. Cain turns to me. "Abe and the rest of the brothers are heading back to the clubhouse. I'm going to stay here. I'm not about to force you to go home because I already know what your answer will be. I will ask that you let Wick take your back to Riggs' place so you can clean up, and maybe get a bite to eat. My brother would kick my ass if he found out I didn't take care of you."
I look down at my blood-stained shorts and scrub top. Cain is right. I should at least clean up and change my clothes. "Okay. I'll go with Wick as long as I can come back. I don't want to be away from Riggs." I look to Wick, and he nods agreeing to bring me back. I turn back to Cain. "We have a long night ahead of us. I have some leftover chicken fried steak and potato salad at home in the refrigerator. How about I warm that up and bring it back with me. Along with a thermos of fresh coffee?"
"I think you had me at the chicken fried steak, sweetheart. And we are going to need a shit ton of coffee," he smiles.
When Wick and I step outside the hospital, Everest is there waiting on us. He tosses Wick a set of keys then leads me to a black SUV. Wick opens the door for me, and I climb in. The ride to the apartment is a short one. Once we make it inside, Wick takes a seat at the kitchen table while I pull the leftover food from the refrigerator. Taking a plate down from the cabinet, I scoop a generous amount onto the plate, pop it in the microwave and heat it. Satisfied the food is hot enough, I take the offering along with a glass of sweet tea and place the plate on the table in front of Wick.
Patting his shoulder, I give him a warm smile. I read his lips when he says, "thank you." Wick tucks into his food as I brew a pot of coffee and finish preparing the rest of the leftovers. Finished with one task, I move on to the next; shower and clean clothes. I step into the bedroom and into the closet where I snag a pair of jeans and a t-shirt off the hangers. I make my way into the bathroom. I'm not shocked to see the mess of a woman staring back at me when I peer into the mirror. Bloodshot eyes, a swollen cheek. Along with a visible lump on my head from smacking it on the coffee table.
Not wanting to waste time, I strip out of my bloody clothes; ignoring the pain in my ribs and toss them in the trash bin. Turning the shower on, I don't wait for the water to heat before stepping inside under the spray, sucking in my breath the moment the cold water hits my skin.
Finished with my shower, I dry off, pull my hair up into a messy bun, and get dressed. I step back into the kitchen to find Wick has devoured his meal. He smiles and pats his tummy. I also notice he has placed the lids back on the food containers and poured the coffee into the thermos. He grabs the bags of food off the counter, and I grab the coffee. It's then I remember I don't have my purse. I make a mental note to ask Cain about it.
Wick and I arrive back at the hospital to find Cain sitting in one of the waiting room chairs with his head propped back against the wall, and his eyes closed. When I sit down beside him, his eyes pop open. "I thought you were sleeping. I wasn't going to bother you."
"I was only resting my eyes. Besides, I could never sleep through the smell coming from that bag you're holding. I'm starving."
The next morningI'm a bundle of nerves as I watch the clock on the wall. It's 7:43 am and visiting hours are not until 9:00 am. Just then a frazzled nurse bursts into the waiting room, bringing Cain and me to our feet. The first thought that comes to mind is something has happened to Riggs. It takes me a second to note the nurse looks more irritated than frazzled. "Mr. LeBlanc is awake. He's insisting on seeing Luna Novak. Now we don't normally allow visitors in before 9:00 am but, Mr. LeBlanc is threatening bodily harm if we don't comply. Although his vocabulary was much more colorful." Cain barely translates the last word before he doubles over his body shaking with laughter. I, too, am unable to hold back my giggle. When the noise escapes my mouth Cain rears back in shock. Few people have heard me laugh before. I'm finding myself more comfortable showing that part of me. Cain looks at me with brotherly affection.
I follow the annoyed nurse down the hall and into the room Riggs is staying in. When I cross the threshold, his head slowly turns in my direction, and his blue eyes meet mine. When a sob escapes, I cover my mouth with my hand. He holds up his hand and says, "come."
When I step up to his bedside, I take his hand in mine and press it against my face needing to feel the warmth of his flesh because the last time I touched Riggs, he was cold. The doctor steps into the room, followed by Cain, interrupting our reunion. Riggs gives him and his brother a pointed look.
Cain has the nerve to grin. "Don't give us that look. The doctor comes bearing good news," Cain tells us.
The doctor looks over the chart in his hand. "Your vitals look good this morning, Mr. LeBlanc. I was going to wait forty-eight hours before moving you to a regular room for the rest of your stay, but I think we'll make an exception just this once. That way you can have all the visitors you want."
"How long will he have to stay in the hospital?" I ask the doctor, and Cain translates.
"I'm going to say no more than seven days. How about we take it one day at a time. He will need someone taking care of him once he's discharged. Mr. LeBlanc will have limitations," the doctor finishes.
"I'll be taking care of all his needs, doctor. I'll make sure he does as instructed." Cain translates for me.
* * *
Six days later,I am helping Riggs change out of the hospital gown and into a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. As he sits on the edge of the bed, I slip the shirt on over his head and wait for him to put his arms through. Once the shirt is on, he gives me a crooked grin. "You know, I can get dressed by myself, Mon Tresor."
"I know, but can you please let me take care of you?"
Riggs' face softens with understanding. I almost lost him. Me helping him get better is like my therapy. I crouch down on the floor and begin lacing up his boots when Wick comes striding into the hospital room. "Hey, brother. There is a Detective Brooks here to see Luna."
I wonder what she's doing here. Riggs assured me the club wouldn't face any blowback from what went down at his grandad's house with Rex. Riggs didn't offer any details, and I didn't ask for further information on how they handled things. Riggs gives Wick a nod, and Detective Brooks strides into the room. She pulls a notebook from her bag and holds it out to me. I shake my head and sign, knowing Riggs will translate. "Riggs will translate for us."
