Page 76 of Always Yours

The city was run by five families, and everyone had their own land and side of the city that was theirs. My father had tried to take over them all. He wanted it all for himself; to have all the power.

He killed and took people who were supposed to be untouchable. Wives, children. It wasn’t long before we had found another warehouse used to hold women and children for leverage against members of the five families.

Everyone was returned to where they belong. I think the whole city was ready for a fresh start and to take back what was theirs.

There wasn’t any need for war between the families since my brothers gave everything my father took back to those who he had taken from.

There was so much shit to go through, which kept them all busy for the time being. My eldest brother, Enzo, was taking over our territory. Everyone felt it was his time and his right as the first born.

I couldn’t wait to get back to my own home. The rebuilding of the clubhouse was going on and I knew that everyone was working hard on it.

With how many people we had in the club, I didn’t think it would take long to repair it.

I felt a twitch in my hand that had my thoughts come to a halt, and I looked up to see Derek trying to wake up.

I move in closer as his eyes start trying to open.

“Derek, baby. Please wake up,” I whisper.

“Lil…” he mumbles out.

I turn to grab him some water with a straw and, when I turn back, his eyes are open and he’s looking at me in relief.

I put the straw to his lips, and he takes a couple sips.

“I’ll tell the doctor he’s awake,” Tyson says, running out of the room.

“My Lily,” he says softly, and he gives me a light squeeze on my hand.

“I’m here, Derek. You’re awake,” I say as tears fall down my cheeks.

“How long?” he rasps.

A few weeks. You were taken from the club when the bomb went off, and then I had been looking for you since. When we found you, I thought you…. you… I almost lost you,” I say with a sob.

He lifts his hand to my hair. “I’m here now. I tried so hard to stay with you. I wasn’t ready to leave you behind.”

“You were supposed to wake up, but you haven’t in the last couple weeks. I wasn’t sure if you would ever wake up,” I tell him.

“I could hear you. I fought so hard to get back to your voice, but I think my body just wasn’t ready,” he replies.

The doctor walks in with Tyson right behind him.

“Well look who is awake. How are you feeling, Mr. Knight?” the doctor asks as a nurse comes in to start checking his vitals.

“Like my body weighs a thousand pounds and has just run a marathon,” Derek replies.

“You had a severe case of pneumonia. It has affected your lungs, so there won’t be any marathon runs for you. You will need to keep physical activity a minimum. You may have respiratory troubles for the rest of your life, but we won’t know more until you have had more time to heal. You are looking at months of recovery,” the doctor tells him.

“When can I go home or be transferred to a hospital close to home? No offense, but I miss my grandkids,” Derek says with a small chuckle.

“You will probably be in the hospital a couple more weeks. You likely will have trouble just getting up and going to the bathroom right now. It will feel like you walked a mile just to get that far. We can get you transferred sometime in the next couple days. You must have some friends in high places because we were told to transfer you once you woke up. A private jet is ready to take you with a nurse and a doctor,” the doctor says smiling.

“Kingsley,” Derek and I say at the same time.

The doctor nods his head. “We will get everything started. Make sure you are well enough for transport,” he states before leaving the room.

“Thank fuck we are going home. I miss the fuck out of Camilla,” Tyson says while walking over to his dad.

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