Chapter Twenty-Two
Oaklynn
O MEN WAS KEPT in the hospital overnight. They wanted to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn’t have any head injuries that weren’t obvious from the various tests and images they’d taken when he was brought in by ambulance. He’s in pain from the road rash and trying to hide it regardless of who’s in the room with us. One of the nurses tried to get me to leave so she could give him a sponge bath and change the bandages covering his body and he lost his shit on her. Told her that I was his woman and that I’d be the one to take care of him. A different nurse could change the bandages in a professional manner while I was the only one who would bathe him and clean him up. The nurse didn’t even bother trying to hide her disappointment or anger at being called out by him as she stomped from the room and let the door close hard behind her. Soon, a different nurse walked in. This one was older and made me feel comfortable with her seeing any of Omen’s body naked. She kept everything professional and talked to me the entire time she was in the room. Omen relaxed once she left and his parents and Homicide came in the room.
There was talk about Rooster meeting with the President of some club a few towns over. It was mainly going to be about the fact that his members are after Omen for some reason and how they’re going to fix the situation so everyone is satisfied with the outcome. At the same time, there are protocols in place and this club hasn’t followed a single one of them. I might not know much unlike the ol’ ladies of the club, but I have heard that fact mentioned more than once since being in the hospital waiting to be brought into Kellan’s room to see him.
When I first laid eyes on the man who has captured my heart, I had to stifle a cry and my legs almost gave out on me. If it weren’t for Jace and Rooster holding me up, I’d have been on the floor. Despite them cleaning out his wounds and taking care of him, Omen was still covered in blood. His clothes had been cut off of him and there was bruising on his exposed skin surrounding the road rash. I know I didn’t see all the damage done to his body and it killed me to know someone did this on purpose. I almost lost him before anything ever really happened between the two of us. Our daughter almost lost her dad before he could watch her grow up, get married, and start a family of her own. So many people love Omen and we almost lost him.
Now, I’m angry. I want to find the asshole who did this shit and take them out. To hurt them as much as they’ve hurt every single member of this club. Especially Marie. While I was heartbroken and completely destroyed to see Omen lying unconscious and broken, I can’t even begin to imagine what his mom was going through seeing her son like this. Yes, I understand all of these men understand what they’re getting into when they join the Dirty Slayers MC. At this point, this isn’t club related as far as I’m concerned. Someone has it out for Omen and I don’t know why. I’m not sure he knows the reason why this happened to him.
I’ve been at his side and now that he’s sleeping again, I want to get out of his hospital bed and go out in search of the asshole behind this. I know I’ll be stopped the second I leave this room. Rooster, Jace, and Homicide might have had to take me outside because I went off while in the waiting room when they were still trying to figure out the extent of the damage that had been done to him. I yelled, screamed, and shouted about going out in search of the asshole so I could rip his body limb from limb. Yes, I’m fully aware of the fact that I wouldn’t actually be able to rip someone limb from limb, but it was what I needed to say in the moment. Since then, they’ve been keeping a close eye on me and no one lets me get too far from everyone. Melissa knows what I’ve been trained to do, even if it’s been years since I’ve done any kind of training.
Carefully, I sit up in the hospital bed and slowly move until I’m standing next to Omen. He doesn’t move a muscle as he remains asleep, his body needing the rest to heal. Plus, I’m pretty sure they’ve given him pain medicine so he’s not in constant pain. I’ve heard road rash is horrible and extremely painful. I don’t want him to be in any kind of pain. However, I also know Omen won’t take them the second he feels he doesn’t need them any longer. He’ll suffer and push through as most men do.
“How’s he doing?” Marie asks me, her voice a whisper as she makes her way back in the room with us.
“He was so angry at the nurse who tried to make me leave him earlier. I’ve never seen him so angry. I was just laying with him in bed, but I don’t want to hurt him. So, I got out so he can sleep like he needs to. Has Rooster heard anything more from that asshole?” I ask her as Marie walks over to check her son over like only a mother can.
“Not that I know of. He’s keeping all of this close and not letting too many people know what’s going on. This isn’t only club business. This is Rooster being a dad to Kellan and losing his fucking mind because we almost lost our boy today. I know this shit all stems from Darian and Meisha too. They admitted to having members from that club come after my son. Darian told them lies about him to get him away from you. Now, he’s paying for it worse than we ever thought possible,” Marie answers me as we both watch Omen sleep in the hospital bed.
It doesn’t take long before Marie starts fussing over him even if he doesn’t know she’s doing it. She pulls his blankets up and straightens them so he doesn’t get cold while avoiding all the wires and tubes that are connected to his body. There aren’t too many, but more than typical. I think they still have him on a heart monitor for some reason so the leads are all over the place along with the IV. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to climb in bed with him. But, I couldn’t stay away either. Marie and I remain at his side until calling hours are over. Omen doesn’t wake up again, but we’re assured it’s normal and what he needs right now. The pain medicine is keeping him asleep too. Marie leaves when calling hours are over with the rest of the club. Homicide and Jace are the only two who remain behind. They guard the door to his room so no one but staff can get close to him in his vulnerable state.
***
T he night seemed to last forever. I didn’t get much sleep knowing only two men were left behind with us. Yes, I know both men would give their lives to protect Omen. However, that would mean my best friend losing her husband and the man she’s loved most of her life and that I’d lose my other best friend. Everyone has something, or someone, to lose in this situation and I couldn’t bring myself to sleep while I helped keep watch over Omen. Again, I’m not sure what I could do to protect any of the three men, but I wasn’t able to sleep and risk something happening to them while I had no clue what was going on.
CeCe messaged me when Rooster and Marie picked up Amanda to take her to their house for the night. Thankfully, I’ve been pumping and have plenty of breastmilk ready for others to feed her if I’m taking a nap or shower when she wakes up hungry. She hasn’t been eating quite as much as before, but it’s still every few hours that she’s waking up to nurse before I keep her awake for a little bit. Amanda loves tummy time and I know Marie and Rooster will make sure she gets it while they have her. CeCe was honestly amazing, texting me all day long with updates that included sending me pictures of our little angel.
“I’m ready to get the fuck outta here,” Omen grumbles at my side where he remains in bed.
“I know you are. The doctor should be in here very soon. Nothing happened overnight so I don’t see any reason why they’d keep you here longer. Your parents are gonna bring some clothes for you to change into. The doctor told them to make them loose and light weight. I’m thinking probably sweatpants or shorts and one of your tee-shirts. Your dad took your cut home with him last night too. He’s gonna bring it back with him. Jace managed to get it off your body before they loaded you in the ambulance. He knew they would cut your clothes off you. I’ve got the bag with the rest of your stuff in it,” I tell him, leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss against his cheek that’s rough from his beard.
“Oaklynn, I know we said we’d take things slow and I’m still good with that when it comes to sex. However, this shit has shown me one thing and that’s that life is way too fuckin’ short and I don’t wanna wait anymore. I know you love the cottage and have made it a home for Amanda and you. I have a home on the compound. I want all of us to live there. To make it a home where we’ll raise Amanda and any other kids we have. I’ve never taken another person back there. The only two women who have stepped foot through the door are my mom and Kimber when they decorated it for me. It’s still got the bare minimum and I want it filled with your touch. To have Amanda’s toys scattered all over the place. Can we make this happen?” he asks me, his voice more of a pleading tone than anything else. “I barely spend any time there, but I want that to change. I don’t need the parties and shit at the clubhouse anymore. I’m too old for that shit.”
I think about it for a few minutes. While I love having Omen in the cottage with us when he’s not working, it’s different knowing this house would be our home. A sanctuary for the three of us that we fill with love, memories, and everything else to make it a home and not just a house. Despite Omen spending time there, it doesn’t feel like it’s our space. It feels like it’s my space and he just visits.
“Yes, Kellan. Amanda and I will move in with you. We’ll make it happen over the next few days. You need to rest and continue healing. That’s the only thing I want you worrying about,” I tell him with a smile on my face to soften the blow of reminding him about his need to heal over anything else going on.
“I know, Baby Girl. I promise I won’t do anythin’ I’m not supposed to. Can’t wait for the doctor to get in here so I can ask him about work,” Omen says and I already know that’s going to be a damn fight. With the road rash and sprained wrist, he’s not gonna be able to work for a few weeks at least. I’ve been searching the healing time of everything and that’s what I have a feeling the doctor is going to tell this stubborn as fuck man at my side.
Rooster and Marie enter Omen’s hospital room with Amanda in her papa’s arms. She’s asleep and cuddled against his chest as he brings her directly over to Omen. Without hesitation our daughter is in her dad’s arm and I watch as she snuggles into his side. I grab the bag from Marie’s hands when she holds it out for me. Digging around inside, I find the sweatpants they packed for him because I know he’ll want them on as soon as possible. However, I also know the doctor will want to change the bandages and check to ensure an infection hasn’t started to set in overnight.
Omen doesn’t take his attention off of Amanda as she sleeps against his side. I know he wants to pull her up on his chest and hold her in his arms, but he can’t with all the leads and shit covering his body. For now, he’ll have to be content with her at his side with her hand resting on him. Amanda always touches Omen when he’s holding her while she sleeps. If she’s against his chest, she usually rests her hand right over his heart as if she truly knows that’s where it is in his body. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Rooster, it’s good to see you,” an older man says as he walks in the room wearing a white lab coat. “Marie, always a pleasure.”
“Dr. Constantine, I’m glad you’re the one takin’ care of our boy. Let me get his daughter out of the bed so you can do your job,” Rooster says, his voice soft as he moves to grab Amanda again before backing away from the bed and allowing Dr. Constantine to get closer.
“Omen, I’m not gonna ask how you’re doing because I know it’s not good. How is your pain level right now?” Dr. Constantine asks him, keeping his attention on him and only him as Amanda begins to stir in Rooster’s arms.
“It’s tolerable right now. The pain medicine is helpin’ for sure. I hate takin’ it, but I’m not about to turn it down while the pain is this bad,” he answers the doctor as I take our daughter from Rooster’s arms and head for the opposite side of the room with a blanket so I can nurse her while Omen is with the doctor.
“I’m gonna tell you this straight because I know that’s how you operate and what you’ll appreciate. You aren’t gonna be able to work for the next few weeks. You need to stay off your leg as much as possible while the road rash heals. And your wrist needs to heal as well. I know you work on building bikes and that can’t happen until your body has healed. Don’t push yourself too much, Omen. If you do, you could do more damage to your body that will take you out of work even longer. I know you’re gonna listen to me but still do what you wanna do. Please, don’t overdo things and take risks you shouldn’t be taking,” Dr. Constantine states as I continue to nurse our daughter and listen to every word he says so I can ensure Omen doesn’t do shit he isn’t supposed to be doing. I’m gonna be on his ass the same way he was on mine after the first attack on me from those two skanks.
“Are you sure it’s gonna be weeks, Doc?” Omen asks him, his voice harder than before as I look over my shoulder at him.
“I’m sure. You’re gonna have to give up control for the next few weeks and let others help you, Omen. Enjoy your new daughter and make memories with her while you heal,” Dr. Constantine answers him as I turn back and look down at our girl and remove her from my breast to burp her.
“When can I get outta here?” Omen asks, not saying anything more about the fact that he can’t do anything for the next few weeks.
“I’ll discharge you today as long as you won’t be alone. You’re gonna need help and to be waited on. I won’t put you on bedrest, but you aren’t to be walking around and doing things for yourself. You’ll be able to hold your daughter and go to the bathroom. Sponge baths for now as your road rash heals. Keep it dry and covered for now. I’ll see you again in a few days and we’ll figure out how it’s healing and where to go from there,” the doctor says, his words locking in my mind as I figure out everything I’ll have to do moving forward to help my man as he heals.
“Okay. I’ll listen because I know my woman isn’t gonna let me get away with pullin’ the shit I typically do. And she’ll be there for every appointment so she can hear what you tell me and isn’t hearin’ it second-hand from me,” Omen says as the doctor steps up to complete the examination before he releases the man lying in bed.
I turn around while nursing Amanda and watch as Dr. Constantine uncovers the road rash. It looks nasty and I can’t help but think again how lucky Omen truly is that he didn’t get hurt worse than he was. Tears fill my eyes as Amanda finishes nursing and I burp her once again. Rooster and Marie make their way over to me and wrap their arms around my daughter and me. Omen looks over from his spot on the bed and his eyes soften as he takes in the tears silently rolling down my face. Dr. Constantine finishes his exam and lets us know he’ll be sending a script for pain medicine and antibiotics to the pharmacy we’ll have to pick up when we head home. It’s not long before a nurse comes in to take off the heart monitor and remove the IV so he can get dressed. Rooster helped him get his clothes on so he didn’t hurt the injured areas of his body. In no time at all, we were on our way out of the hospital followed by most of the members of the club so nothing more can happen to Omen. I’m grateful and ready to be alone with my family after being in the hospital overnight.