Chapter Forty-Eight
Once again, it was left to Christopher to sit with a daughter because his woman was admitted to the hospital as well. Megan had a concussion, a stab wound, bruised ribs, raised blood pressure, cuts, and contusions.
So far, Rebel was expected to make a full recovery. She, too, had a concussion and a collapsed lung. Mammalian diving reflex or diving response was mentioned to Christopher, something that likely helped her to survive. That, and her not being underwater for very long.
Until she remembered what happened and started to cry. Rule broke her fucking heart, which made Christopher hate him a little more.
As daybreak swallowed dawn, Father Wilkins convinced Christopher to let him see to Rule. He allowed the priest’s intercession, so he could concentrate on his wife and daughter.
Rebel’s hand moved, and Christopher’s gaze flew to her face.
“Daddy?”
Standing from his chair, he took the two steps to reach her bedside, bent, and kissed her forehead. “Hey, baby.”
“Where’s Momma?”
“Your ma fine. She restin’.”
Tears pooled in her blue eyes, mirrors of Megan’s and Big Joe’s. She turned her head toward the window. It was dark again. Nearly twenty-four hours had passed. “She left for home already?”
Rebel didn’t know her ma saved her. When she awakened in the ER, Christopher had been so glad, and then so angry at her pain over Rule, he hadn’t filled in the blank spots in Rebel’s story.
“Your ma in another room, Reb. Rule…Rule…” His jaw clenched. He wanted to throw up. “Rule and her got into a fight.”
His girl stared at him, then her watery eyes widened. “She saved me?”
Christopher nodded. It was the only thing he could do, after seeing the footage from Axel, Ransom, and Ryder’s phones.
“Your ma a fighter. She doin’ fine. You her baby girl. She’d go to war for you.”
Rebel sniffled, and his heart shattered into little pieces.
The boys didn’t want to leave, so they were in other rooms in the private wing.
Christopher knew some of the hospital suits didn’t appreciate their special privileges but fuck them.
Not only did the club pump a lot of money into Hortensia General, but him and Megan personally.
The Triplets were in one room with Diesel.
Bunny and Digger promised to look out for them.
CJ was in his ma’s room, sitting in a chair, near her bed. Ophelia took Gunner.
“Where’s Rule?”
Rebel’s soft voice broke into Christopher’s musings.
“Still fuckin’ alive for now.”
Lips trembling, she tipped her head back. “Don’t hurt him, Daddy. Just…just help him.”
Rule was his girl’s weakness. Even after his betrayal, she still wanted mercy for him.
“Reb, outta all the fuckery comin’ at us from every fuckin’ way, I ain’t standin’ for it comin’ from my own fuckin’ house. My own fuckin’ sons. I ain’t havin’ you and your ma and your lil’ sister scared to fuckin’ walk in your own fuckin’ house for no fuckin’ reason.”
“But it’s all my fault,” Rebel cried. “I turned Rule like he is. I was so mean to him when Momma was pregnant and I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. If he knows we love him, he’ll come back to us—”
Sitting heavily in his seat, Christopher rested his elbows on his knees. “Even if I let him live, he ain’t ever livin’ under my roof again.”
Rebel covered her face with her hands. The IV line running from the back of one hand reminded Christopher of how close he’d come to losing her.
“How about a lil’ music?”
Talking only upset her. She needed peace. Rebel and CJ enjoyed music as much as their ma. As much as Big Joe always did.
“Music is okay, I guess,” she said hoarsely, lowering her hands to her sides.
“Tomorrow, I’m gonna have you moved to your ma’s room.”
“We can be together,” she said with a faint, but oh-so-sad smile. “You can be with us. Do you think Jo is healthy enough to be with us?”
“Your sister fine. She a small baby and still need rest. Let’s just get you and your ma put back together.”
Christopher pulled his chair closer and sat in it, then pulled up a song on his phone. As Butterfly Kisses began to play, he held his baby girl’s hand, grateful she was still alive.