Page 95 of Shadow

The second the doctor informed me she would survive and could have visitors I never left her side. The hospital was even gracious, bringing me a cot to sleep on. My world was recovering one day at a time, and I refused to leave her side. My family visited often, along with the Diamondback brothers. Though the threat to Joan was over, Kansas still had a brother stand guard at the door.

“If you don’t get me the hell out of here, I will tell Hope that you only want to eat her delicious dandelion chocolate chip cookies for the rest of your life.”

I cringed. “That’s mean, woman. Those things are nasty.”

“Then get me the hell out of here!”

“Zeke, don’t you know it’s not polite to piss off an injured woman?” my sister Faith said, walking in with Hope and Joy.

Looking behind them, I asked, “Where is everyone else?”

Since Joan could have visitors, all of my sisters along with Ari were constantly taking turns sitting with her, talking with her, feeding her. Even the Diamondback brothers still stopped by occasionally to check up on her. While I wasn’t sure she remembered, Joan did get to meet my brother Balthazar before he and the other Golden Skulls left for Tennessee. Before he left, my brother welcomed her to the family and told me to watch his new sister better.

Asshole.

“Ari and the girls are at the farm getting everything ready for Joan tonight,” Faith happily said.

“And Charity?”

Hope’s head snapped to Faith.

Faith’s eyes widened looking at Joan, who bit her lip, looking at her hands.

My sister Joy took a step back, grinning from ear to ear.

Narrowing my eyes, I asked again, “Where is Charity?”

“Okay,” Faith sighed. “Before you blow up and go all Brother Dearest on us, just know that Charity is technically an adult and capable of making her own decisions.”

“And don’t forget that Joan is still recovering,” Hope jumped in quickly, adding, “You don’t want her to relapse or bust a stich or something.”

“Oh please,” Joy chuckled. “She is the only safe one in this room.”

“You shut up,” Hope whispered. “You’re not helping.”

“Where is Charity?” I asked for the third time, slowly getting to my feet.

“She’s on her honeymoon.” Faith muttered.

“I’m sorry,” I growled. “Did you just say honeymoon?”

“And Nevil is now a prospect for the Diamondbacks,” Joy giggled, taking another step back.

“Jesus, Joy,” Hope snarked. “Not the time!”

“What? Zeke promised Balthazar he’d keep an eye on us. He needs to know.”

“Not about that!” Faith yelled.

“You can’t tell me what to do!” Joy yelled back, which caused Hope and Faith to gang up on Joy. The yelling and snippy comments flowed when I heard Joan chuckle. Looking down at my woman, she was holding her stomach, trying hard to contain her laughter but failing miserably.

“It’s not funny,Joan.”

“Yes, it is,” she chuckled, wiping her eyes. “As much as you try to contain them, they run roughshod over and you let them.”

“I do not!”

“Well, Joan,” the doctor smiled as he walked in with a nurse who was pushing a wheelchair. “I see you are happy to be leaving here today.”

---