Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Katrina
The smell of antiseptics in the past few days is something I seem to be getting used to as I sit next to Dagger’s hospital bed. He’s been in and out of it as the meds pretty much keep him knocked out.
Fear of losing him keeps a hold of me far too tightly. Boxer and Grinder haven’t been far from me as I’ve refused to leave Dagger’s side. The nurses hadn’t wanted me to stay with him, but I wasn’t leaving. Not after I could have lost him.
The guys didn’t tell me everything that happened, but I knew enough.
He’d been shot in the stomach, by a miracle, the shooter missed everything vital.
When he’d gone down, he’d hit his head pretty hard, ending up with a concussion.
He’d be here for a week, from what the doctor said.
So until he went home, this was where I’d be as well. I wasn’t leaving his side.
Boxer and Grinder pretty much refused to leave as well.
They took turns going to get rest and bringing me food and clothes.
I’m thankful to them for being there for me.
I know Dagger’s brothers would all do the same as them, they’ve offered to get me things, but the only thing I needed was for Dagger to wake up and be lucid.
I had so much to tell him. Mostly, I wanted to tell him how much I love him and need him.
I reach for his hand, careful not to disturb the IV line taped to his skin. His fingers are warm but still. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor has become my lullaby, a constant reminder that he’s still here, still fighting.
“Katrina, you need to eat something,” Boxer says from the doorway, his voice gentle but firm. He’s holding a brown paper bag that smells like burgers and fries. My stomach growls on cue, betraying my attempt to appear strong.
“I’m fine,” I lie, not looking away from Dagger’s face. The stubble has grown into a proper beard during his time here, making him look rugged even in his vulnerable state.
Grinder appears behind Boxer, his massive frame blocking the fluorescent hallway light. “Dagger would be the first to tell you to eat something. If not for you, then for the baby. You gotta take care of both of you for him,” he says quietly.
He’s right. Dagger would. I’ve eaten something, but it was never much.
I nod and take the bag from my dad. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’.”
Opening it, I start to nibble on the fries.
After a few minutes, they leave me alone once again with Dagger.
“You need to finally wake up, Van,” I tell him between fries.
I set the bag aside and take his hand in mine again.
“I’m so mad at you for getting shot. For nearly leaving me.
But more I love you so freaking much, and I can’t bear the thought of you leaving me alone.
Leaving us. Our baby needs you. I need you. ”
“I need you too, baby,” Dagger croaks out.
My heart leaps into my throat as I snap my head up. His eyes are barely open, but they’re focused on me. Those deep brown eyes that always seem to see right through me.
“Van!” I gasp, squeezing his hand too tightly before quickly loosening my grip. “You’re awake!” Tears stream down my cheeks as my breath hitches. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. God, you scared me.”
He tries to smile, but his lips are dry and cracked. I reach for the cup of water with a straw on the bedside table, holding it to his mouth.
“Small sips,” I instruct as he drinks greedily. “You’ve been pretty out of it the past three days. Never really fully awake.”
“Three?” His voice is raspy, barely above a whisper. He glances around the hospital room, taking in the machines, the IV, the sterile white walls. “Fuck,” he growls, nostrils flaring, fury burning in his eyes. “The son of a bitch better be dead.”
I suck in a breath as I knew who he was talking about.
Though they didn’t tell me much, they did tell me it was Vin who shot him.
Vin, who I found out was my man’s brother and the one behind everything that’s happened to my studio.
I also knew because I demanded to know that he was indeed dead.
Dagger had killed him at the same time Vin took his shot.
“He’s gone,” I whisper, my voice catching. “You made sure of that.”
Dagger’s face relaxes slightly, but the anger doesn’t fully leave his eyes. He shifts in the bed and winces, his hand instinctively moving to his bandaged abdomen.
“Don’t move,” I caution, placing my hand over his. “The bullet missed everything important, but you’ve got stitches and a concussion.”
He grunts, settling back against the pillows. “Worth it.”
My tears start falling again. “It wasn’t worth it. Not to me. You could have died, Van.”
His gaze softens as he looks at me. “But I didn’t. I’m right here, Katrina. Told you I wasn’t going anywhere. “
“I was so scared,” I admit, wiping at my cheeks with the back of my hand. “I thought I was going to lose you and . . . all I could think about was how much I love you and didn’t tell you.”
“I know you love me, baby,” he says, bringing his hand up to swipe my tears away. “It’s in your eyes when I’m inside you. It’s in the way your eyes shine when I’m holding you. I didn’t need words to know how you feel. But you should know words don’t express just how much I love and adore you.”
My breath catches at hearing those sweet words. The tears I thought had finally stopped come flooding back, but this time they’re happy tears.
“You do?” I whisper, leaning closer to him, careful not to touch his wounds.
“Since the moment I first saw you, and you made me laugh.” He shifts again, and I can see the pain flash across his face despite his attempt to hide it. “The baby, are you two okay?”
I nod, placing my hand on my stomach. “We’re both fine. Just worried about you.”
A knock sounds, and a nurse enters the room, clipboard in hand, a smile plastered to her face.
“Mr. Delgado, I see you’re finally awake.
I was coming in to check on you. Since you’re awake, I’ll grab the doctor so he can go over your injuries.
But first, I need to check your vitals and change your bandages. ”
I reluctantly move aside to give her space, but Dagger grips my hand, not letting me go.
“She stays,” he says, his voice stronger now, the alpha tone I know so well returning.
The smile vanishes as she nods. This nurse has had me leave the room the other times she’s changed his bandages. I didn’t like her, but I hadn’t complained. ”Of course,” the nurse says, her tone clipped. “But I’ll need you to step back just a bit.”
I reluctantly release Dagger’s hand and move to the foot of the bed, not wanting to be too far from him.
The nurse works efficiently, checking his blood pressure and heart rate while making notes on her clipboard.
When she reaches for the bandage on his abdomen, I watch her face carefully, noting the lustful glint in her eyes when she takes in the skull dagger tattoos that stretch across his chest.
“Your vitals look good,” she says, applying fresh gauze. “Doctor Roberts will be in shortly.”
After she leaves, Dagger reaches for me again. I take his hand, relief washing over me at his warm touch.
“Don’t like her,” he mutters, his eyes following her retreating figure.
“Me either,” I admit, settling back in the chair beside him. “She’s kicked me out every time she’s changed your bandages while you were asleep. It’s luck that she’s always off shift when visiting hours are up, she’d probably have called security to make me leave.”
“That wouldn’t have happened.” He might not think it, but I’m sure of it.
Dagger nods to the bag of food, “You need to finish eating, baby.”
I roll my eyes and grab the bag. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“And I love you.” He grins.
Smiling at him, I take the burger out and take a bite, tasting the food for what seems like the first time in days.
I don’t know what I’d do without Dagger. It’s like I’d be a shell of the person I used to be before him. With him, my world is beautiful. I have family in a way I haven’t before. He gave me that, and I’ll love him til my last breath for giving it to me.