Page 58 of Unbreakable

Arizona

Thefirstfewweeks after everything went down in the club were gut wrenching. Hearing the doctor describe the magnitude of both Jace and Hank’s injuries tore both me and Vee to pieces. We nearly lost Jace that night, to be honest we actually did three times, once in the ambulance and twice on the table. How he didn’t sustain any brain damage is a miracle.

I’ve been at the hospital every day with him, only leaving to go home and change when Ash comes to sit with him. I was jealous at first with the way she doted on him, afraid she had plans to add him to her harem of men. She must have felt it too, because she immediately pulled me to the side, and made sure I knew she felt nothing for him more than what could be compared to that of a sibling bond.

When I left today, I came back to an empty room and fell to the floor sobbing hysterically, thinking he’d passed. That’s where Bash found me when he came back into the room to get some of Jace’s belongings that were left behind. I was in such a rush to get back I never checked my phone and didn’t see the message he’d sent. Apparently, a mysterious benefactor had paid for all of Jace’s care, as well as to have him moved into a private room.

Bash said they wouldn’t tell him who it was, but I overheard a couple of the nurses gossiping about it when I was getting snacks from the vending machine and heard them say the last name I never expected to hear, Gallant. I felt the blood drain from my face in shock. It must’ve still showed my surprise when I walked back into the room.

“Are you okay?” Bash asks me, genuine concern etched across his face.

“Yeah, I just overheard who paid for Jace’s room and care. I know who it is.” I drop into the chair, after verbalizing my confession.

“Who was it? I want to thank whoever it is for doin’ this for my cousin.” he tells me, before clamping his lips shut, and it’s then I realized what he said.

“Your cousin! Jace is your cousin?” My voice starts to rise in anger, surprise, hell I can’t even say exactly what has me feeling so shocked, betrayed…

“Fuck, we weren’t plannin’ to announce it yet, but yes. He was interested in joinin’ the club and we knew somethin’ was off. Earl had been suspectin’ a mole, but we had no proof, so when he came to me about joinin’ we jumped on it. No one knew him, and it made him the perfect choice to try and find out what we couldn’t.”

I stop before opening my mouth, taking my time to think about what I was going to say and choose my words wisely. Bash and I had come a long way with our friendship, and I didn’t want to take a step backwards.

“So, this was a secret from everyone, not just me?”

“Yes babe, only three other people knew, Earl, Sam and Javier.”

I move over to where he is seated in the chair by Jace’s bed, sit down in his lap and wrap my arm around his neck. “I get it, club business. Vee and Ash talked to me about it, and said there would be times if I dated a club member where they wouldn’t be able to share anything with me and I would need to learn to accept it. So, this is me learning to accept it, the same as I’m hoping you’re learning to accept that you’re not older than me, just a little more seasoned. And Bash, I happen to like a little season.” My body begins to shake in response to his laughter, which goes on for a bit before he finally calms down enough to talk.

“I’m not there,” he says and my heart bottoms out. “But I’m workin’ on it.”

Just at that moment, there’s a knock on the door and Vee pushes the wheelchair in the room with a grinning Hank sitting in it. “‘Bout damn time!” he exclaims as I hastily stand from Bash’s lap.

“I heard you were breakin’ free today.” I tell him, as I walk over and give Vee a hug.

“Yeah, ready to get back to the clubhouse and my own bed.” Hank says, with Vee cutting him off before he can say anymore.

“I already told you that wasn’t happening. You’re going back to my place where I can take care of you until you are completely healed, which the doctor said would take another four weeks.”

“Shit, ain’t goin’ to complain about that, beautiful woman takin’ care of me. I’m gonna need help with all the bathroom stuff too.” he says with a grin, and I can’t believe what I’m seeing with my own two eyes, Vee is blushing.

“So your arm is going to be okay, no limitations with use later?” I ask, hoping the answer is no.

“Nah, Doc said with some physical therapy I’ll be good as new.” I smile, happy for the news. Now, if this lug lying in the bed would just wake up, everything would be perfect.

Jace woke briefly after his surgery, called out for me Bash said, and slipped back into a coma, one he hasn’t woken up from again. I haven’t been back to school since the shooting. I asked the charge nurse if I could use her fax machine and faxed a letter to my counselor, letting her know what happened and I would need to withdraw from my classes.

“Okay, well, I need to get to the club, you need anything before I go, Arizona? I’ll be back later tonight.” Hank and Vee are giggling amongst themselves, and I have no doubt it's directed at Bash, as he leans into me, placing a kiss on my cheek. I shake my head no and he turns, taking off out of the room. Never looking back.

“He’s comin’ round, ‘bout fuckin’ time. So you got him and the prospect, you tryin’ to make a, what’s that Ash calls it, harem, that’s it. You tryin’ to make a harem of your own?” Hank asks, stealing glances Vee’s way.

“Idiot, she needs another man, and last I heard she’s still not talkin’ to the neighbor. It’s time to get you out of here and in bed.” She reaches for the handles to the wheelchair and spins him around.

“Now ya talkin’ babe. You gonna join me?”

”Shut up, Hank. I’ll talk to you later babe, you need anything you call me okay. I’ll leave this asshole and come running.” She tosses me a wave and wheels Hank out the door and down the hallway. I walk over to the door, shutting it, before walking back over to the hospital bed, pulling the chair closer and sitting down, taking Jace’s hand into mine.

“You need to wake up. I need you. You can’t let me leave never knowing if you’re going to be okay. I want to know you’re going to lead a happy, healthy life, having women falling at your feet. Do you even realize how amazing you are, the woman you finally make your Ol’ lady is going to be one lucky bitch. I wish I could stay, that my life wasn’t fucked for me without any effort of my own. Since you’re asleep I can tell you now, you’ll never remember. Jace Collins, I fucking love you. You worked your way into my heart, listening to me when I said I could only be friends, never pushing for more but giving me your all. I feel like a hypocrite when I get jealous of the women who fall at your feet, I even thought something was happening between you and Ash.” I chuckle at that part, as I reach my hand up and wipe away the tears that have begun to trail down my cheeks.

“Don’t worry, she set me straight real quick. I think her actual words were, ‘Gross he’s like my brother, I think I’m going to vomit’. I never expected to feel so strongly about you, but you aren’t the only one, this is where the hypocrite part comes into play. I have feelings for Bash, I can tell he does for me too but he’s hung up on this age thing, he told me you two talked about sharing me.” I’m stopped when I hear a knock on the door, then it slowly opens, the nurse stepping inside. She’s middle aged, with some slight graying noted in her hair that’s pulled back into a tight ponytail at the base of her skull.

---