Page 66 of Reaper's Revenge

“Will do.”

As we get to the base and head inside, Ares and Dane are there by the waiting area. They both look like shit. I make a call to stores to send us some sweats and trainers over as I’m back in my bloody clothes, too. I leave Marie in the waiting room and take the boys through to the staff showers to get cleaned up. When we get back to the waiting room, there’s a commotion going on. Nurses are running everywhere and screaming and shouting, and one nurse is holding Marie by the shoulders and not letting her through the double doors. When I walk in, Marie just looks at me and sobs. “It's Ray.”

I shove past everyone, and Dane’s hot on my heels. Ares gets in between the nurse and Marie and hugs her while we follow the commotion. As we push into Ray’s room, a bedpan comes flying across the room. She’s stood in the corner screaming as she throws things with her good arm, and the room is chaos. She’s flipped the table, and the chair that was at the side of the bed is now near the door, along with the bin and the bedpan she’s just launched. A doctor is standing in the doorway, shouting for security and a sedative.

“Back the fuck up.” I yell as I push through into the room. “Ray, it's okay.”

Her voice comes out wrecked. “They won’t tell me what’s going on, where he is, what's happening. I need to know where he is. Dad, please?” She sobs as she drops to her knees, and I run over to her, scooping her up in my arms as Dane helps her up from the other side and hugs us both.

We stay like that till she calms down, and I turn to face the doctor, “Tell her what’s fucking going on with her husband.”

“She doesn't need any more stress, the babies—” The doctor starts, but I interrupt him.

“Tell her what’s happening right the fuck now, or I will fire your fucking ass and find someone who will.” The doctor looks confused till security arrives.

“White Knight, Black Queen, Black Rook.” One of them nods.

“Sirs, ma’am, what do you need?”

The doctor pales as he realises who we are.

“Sorry, sir, of course.” He nods. “I will retrieve his chart and update you.” He scurries out of the room.

“You can stand down, gentlemen. Thanks.” They nod and leave the room, and Dane pulls us both tighter.

I hold her as tight as I can, and when I finally let go, she looks up at me with her beautiful blue-grey eyes and sighs.

“You called me Dad.” I take a deep breath.

“I did.” She half smiles at me.

“I love you, Squirt.”

“Love you, Dad.”

The door pushes open, and Dane steps back as I wrap my arm around her, and we turn to look at the doctor. “He's still in theatre; he's stable, for now, but if he survives, he's going to have a long recovery ahead of him. We're doing everything we can, and someone will be along to update you as soon as we know anything different.”

She scrubs a hand down her face, “If I lose him… I left him… What if he thinks I don't want him?”

“I told him everything. His stupid arse wouldn’t stay home. He was still looking for you. It was the only way I could get him to be patient.” Dane tugs her out of my arms. “Back to bed, dickhead. You threw yourself out of a three-story building while fucking pregnant. You should have been born a cat.”

She smiles as he shoves her back to bed. There's a knock at the door, and as it opens, Ares and Marie are standing there. Marie runs straight to the bed and hugs Ray that hard. I think she’s gonna pass out from lack of oxygen.

I drag her a chair next to the bed, and she sits in it. Ares is still hovering near the door. “If anyone wants a coffee…” Dane and Marie nod.

“I think I need a tequila, the whole fucking bottle!” Ray grimaces.

“Well, you can have water and pretend it's tequila. How about that?”

“Fine.” She grins at me.

“Ares, can you give me a hand?” He nods and steps back out of the door. We head to the staff room, as the vending machine coffee sucks balls. “You okay?”

He sighs and shakes his head. “What the fuck do I say to her, Cade? I mean, I wouldn’t blame her if she hates me. I mean… I fucking hate me.”

“This is Ray, mate.” I clap him on the shoulder, “She’ll probably punch you. You'll take it as you deserve it, then you'll be fine.”

“Really?”

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