Chapter 46
Hound Dg
I had wished so hard that I would see those beautiful hazel eyes once again, that I would hear her laughter, and see that smile once more.
When Mama told me she was awake, I couldn’t help but run. The amount of times they said they almost lost her, the rush of guilt and sorrow hit me like a train. I didn’t know what to do, and it wasn’t like I could dig up a grave and kill the motherfucker again.
I wasn’t going to take anymore chances or let Melody take those chances again.
What was done was done and now it was time to move on.
As much as I could, I cuddled with Melody in the uncomfortable hospital bed, knowing that we’d get yelled at by that little nurse.
My woman.
My little songbird.
All mine.
Melody chuckled even though her eyes were closed, I looked down at the smile she was trying to hide.
“What’s so funny?”I asked, trying to contain the smile that was coming.
“Something that the nurse had said. Ignore me. Just one of those thoughts that I can’t shut up.” She laughed.
“Okay, now you have me curious?”
She rolled her lips between her teeth, finally then looking up at me. “She said that my fiancé hadn’t left the waiting room.”
I remained quiet because I didn’t want to admit that in a moment of weakness an impulsive thought crossed my mind. Let alone that at that moment I was looking rough and to prevent anyone in the hospital from being alarmed anymore, I called her my fiancée as they tried to look up her medical records for a hint of my name.
I mean, no one in their right mind would say yes when they took one look at me and the brothers that trailed along. Especially to see a woman like Melody. Night and day difference
Maybe the impulsive thought was a dream, a wish, buried deep down until it was ready. I didn’t know; she was just the one for me and I knew I was never wanting to go looking again. Especially when she was worth everything in my life.
Pops was right, when you know you know. And for Melody Rae Hart, she was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and sure, call me possessive but I wanted her for myself, her body, her soul, her love.
“Baby?” Her small voice broke my thoughts.
“Yeah?”
“You're not laughing.” She started to get worried.
“I mean, I didn’t hear the joke.”
She shot up from the bed, rolling on her uninjured side, my hand draped over her waist. “Did I miss the transition from ol’ lady to fiancée? I mean I know my memory is kind of hazy, details come and go, but I hope that I would have remembered that part.”
I mean, did I have a ring? Not at the moment. She deserved something special. Something that was a reminder of her and just how unique she was.
“Well, it doesn’t sound like you would have said no,” I teased her.
“Why would I say no?” she teased right back.
There were so many reasons I wanted to defend why she shouldn’t, but she would fight right back and then win. “Well then I’ll take it as a yes.”
“You didn’t ask.” she sassed.
“Keep it up, songbird. You really think I’m not keeping count.”
Maybe not then, but I knew when it would a real answer.
Her cheeks blushed the reddest shade, reminding me of the color I’d like her other cheeks to be.
She fiddled with my shirt, tracing her fingers on my chest. “You never said if you won.”
I took her chin and tilted it up. “ We won, Melody.” She was a part of me, she was a part of the club. We protect our own, and now love even harder and maybe faster.
“It’s over?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” She released a breath that sounded like it had been trapped for a long time. “Will you tell me what happened?”
I shook my head, it wasn’t the place and it wasn’t something she needed to think about. I didn’t want any more nightmares to plague her. She needed to heal, be ready for the next chapter in her life, in our life.
But she teased right back. “What your old man mind can’t remember?”
“Careful, this old man can edge your ass until you beg for forgiveness for that.”
She giggled and she fell asleep resting her chin on my chest. Her soft snores were music to my ears.
Moments later, the nurse, Amelia, came in and stopped short. “I should tell you to get out of her bed, but I think she would put up more of a fight than you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m just checking her fluids and vitals.”
I nodded.
“She's a fighter, your woman.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“I didn’t ask, but are your guys okay?”
“We’re fine,” I whispered. Melody started to stir but settled with the smallest moan. It was selfish of me to think that she was having a dirty dream knowing that the next few weeks were going to be a bitch.
Amelia paused at the computer. “I meant your guys. None of them were in the ER”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sternly said, putting an end to any accusations.
“Greene told me enough, just wanted to make sure she had a strong support system and if one of them is injured. Just saying I can help.”
I was going to hurt Greene. “He shouldn’t have run his mouth.”
“Greene is a good man, he knows who he can trust. Just like I trusted him.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “When did you and Greene get buddy buddy?”
“When he’s saved me a couple times from… things.” Amelia stopped. “Plus he knew I spotted lies, but I went along with it. If you all need anything, a friend of Greene’s is a friend of mine.”
“A friend? Why would you do that?” My brows knitted.
“Because a group like that who would do anything for a woman like Melody, that’s worth protecting. Call it a bleeding heart. I know I would be thankful and do anything in return for people like that.”
Amelia turned, but there was a slight sadness in her cheery voice. I stopped her. “Thank you, Amelia, for being there for her.”
“Mia,” she said softly, turning back to look over her shoulder. “Hurt recognizes hurt, sir. I’ll be there for someone else’s healing.”
I thought what she meant to say was that she was there for someone’s healing except her own. She reminded me a little of Melody. I thought about her words the rest of the night while my own woman was sleeping in my arms on her own way to getting stronger.