Page 95 of Imperfection is Beauty

Fiona piped up then, “If you have a kit on you, I should be able to assist. I’m the prior owner of Kalani.”

My mother and father had come in while hearing the story, and right now, my mother was using wipes on my hands to clean them.

Once the cops left and the lawyer got the call that our house was a crime scene the rest of us settled in to wait.

Another commotion sounded at the doors and then I saw Grenade.

Carefully, I removed my mother's hand from my forearm and then headed for him.

He saw me coming and then wrapped me in a hug, “How’s our girl doing?”

Patting him on the back I pulled away and then said, “She coded twice on the table. She’s being worked on now.”

Tyne had a piece of paper and then showed it to me. I read the words, ‘Who do I need to kill?’

I locked eyes with Tyne and said, “She's already resting in hell. Kalani ripped her throat out.”

“Who did it?” Snake asked.

He was someone I feared. The man never showed fucking emotion, I didn’t know how he did it either.

“My ex-wife.” Was all I said.

Van sat down next to me and asked, “How’d she get in?”

I buried my face in my hands and said, “I forgot to lock the door and set the alarm. Won’t ever make that fucking mistake again.”

Just as I said that we all heard, “Family for Scarlett McKinney?”

Everyone who was there made their way over to the nurse. It was the woman who put her hand on my chest and stopped me.

“Hi, I don’t believe I need to ask who's her closest relative. This man almost got thrown out of the hospital for refusing to leave her.” Then she looked at Grenade and said, “There’s no mistaking y’all’s characteristics.”

At my back, Snake growled, “Get the fuck on with it.”

The nurse paled, swallowed, and then nodded; Ms. McKinney made it through surgery. Unfortunately, she coded twice, but we were able to get her back both times. The bullet nicked her spine and lodged itself in her right kidney. Unfortunately, the kidney couldn’t be saved. As for her spine, we won’t know if there is any lasting damage and if she will need more surgery. She is in recovery now, and then she will be moved to the ICU. The next twenty-four hours are critical. Once she is moved to the ICU you can see her.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”

An hour later, thankfully, the owner of the hospital happened to be a huge fan and she was moved to the VIP floor. Thankfully the room was big enough to hold everyone that showed up.

Sure, they were shoulder to shoulder, wall to wall, but it was enough.

My ass was planted in a chair at her bedside, my hand wrapped around hers, and as Grenade leaned back in his chair, I locked eyes with his, then I growled, “Don’t ever doubt the man I am again.”

He looked at me with a confused look, “The fuck you mean?”

“I was raised right. No way in hell would I ever ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage over the fucking phone.”

My dad chuckled, “That’s my boy.”

“You already had it. You didn’t need to ask for it. And I know you're about to ask how you earned it. Takes a man with a hell of a lot of balls to threaten me. No one in this room has ever gotten away with it but two. Snake, and my heart that’s lying in this bed.”

That was when I heard the best thing I’ve ever heard, “Marcus?’

I shot out of my chair and locked my eyes with hers.

Thank fuck. I didn’t realize how much breath I was holding in, and when I smiled at her, I let out a heavy breath, "You're awake.”

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