Page 70 of Viper
He’s awake.
I feel a hand gently stroking over my stomach as the baby moves, the deep sleep I was in slowly fading as voices murmur, Jaylen’s chest rumbling against my ear, and I relax further into him.
I wasn’t dreaming, he’s really awake…
“Fuck it’s good to see you awake, brother,” Blade rasps.
“I second that,” Fury adds.
I keep my eyes closed, enjoying Jaylen’s warmth.
“It’s good to be awake,” he mutters, his chest rumbling, “My fucking head is killing me though.”
“Well, what do you expect after having fucking brain surgery?” Fury sighs, “You’re lucky to be alive.”
“Apparently, according to Dr. Andrews, I nearly died three times,” Jaylen replies as he continues to stroke my stomach while he tightens his arm around me.
“Yeah, Lake was the EMT called to the crash site and had no idea it was you,” Blade admits, making Jaylen tense underneath me. He continues, “Randy and Fury saw it all happen, and Fury began CPR, but as soon as Lake was on scene, she shoved him out of the way and continued until she got your heart started again. You crashed again in the rig, and she was the one in the back with you.”
“Fuck…” Jaylen croaks, his arm tightening before I feel his lips against my head.
“She did so fucking well, brother,” I hear Psycho murmur, “She kept it together until they took you through the back.”
“Did she relapse?” he asks with a whisper, and I try my hardest not to react as Blade admits, “She did,” and I feel wet drops on my cheek.
“After they updated her on your condition, she went to the bathroom and I’m so fucking sorry brother, I didn’t get to her in time, she’d already scratched her scar open,” Blade admits with sorrow, “I found a temporary doctor but turns out he was a prick so Dr. Gren managed to get her friend Katie to help Lake. Her thoughts about cutting haven’t disappeared, brother.”
“Dammit!” Jaylen curses, and I sniffle as I slowly look up at him, and our eyes connect.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, and he shakes his head and cups my cheek as he demands, “Don’t ever apologize again, do you hear me?”
I nod as my tears fall, and he gently leans forward and presses his lips against mine in a soft kiss, and I lay my head back on his chest as he mutters, “Every appointment, I’m going to be there, you hear me, and you’ll keep seeing Katie until the thoughts go.”
I sniffle and admit, “They have now that you’re awake.”
“But they’ll return,” he whispers while his brothers watch on, and I tense, but he continues, “You’ll let your guilt fester, your regret, and the urge will come back, and I won’t let it. We’ll getthrough this, shorty. Through all the hurt and pain, none of it matters except for you, me, and our daughter.”
I sniffle but nod.
We have so much to talk through, everything that had happened before the crash, but right now, I’m just going to enjoy being in his arms.
I look out the window and I frown, noticing it’s dark, and I ask, “How long was I out?”
“Four hours,” Jaylen admits, “Those fuckers have been here for about half an hour.”
I look at Blade and ask, “Shouldn’t you be at home with your twins?”
He smirks and admits, “Nope, Luna demanded I come here.”
I snort, not surprised. That woman is essentially the mother of our little girl group and is absolutely amazing, with the kindest of hearts.
I’m grateful she became my friend.
“What happened to my bike?” Jaylen asks, and I tense.
I don’t want him back on that thing, ever. He nearly died!
Fury answers, “It’s at the shop, Venom and Randy are working on it as we speak, so when you’re cleared to ride, it’ll be ready.”
