21. What A Mind Fuck
Chapter 21
What A Mind Fuck
MEGAN
I ’ve had an uncomfortable feeling gnawing at my subconscious for a while, but like most people, I tried to ignore it. At first, I thought it was because of my pregnancy and the natural fear of bringing a new life into this world…this dangerous fucked up world. Now, I know my uneasiness was based on something more horrible than I could have imagined.
I’m not sure how we got here, but Naomi’s father put a hit on Hunter, and now he’s lying in a hospital bed, helpless, with various tubes running in and out of his body.
What a mind fuck.
As the life slowly drains from Hunter’s body, I can feel another life growing inside of me.
“Megan,” Lars reservedly addresses me, standing in the doorway of the hospital room—my mind so clouded with despair that I didn’t even feel his presence.
The two of us haven’t exchanged more than a few words since Hunter was savagely shot at the club. He’s been avoiding me mostly and I understand why. Lars takes Hunter’s attack personally, but he shouldn’t. Hunter assigned him to my security detail that night. There is nothing he could have done to help Hunter, but it doesn’t matter; he still blames himself. I don’t have the time or the temperament to soothe his feelings of guilt right now. All I care about is the man I love lying helpless in this bed.
“What are you doing here, Lars?” I ask cooly.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“I’m asking you what you’re doing here?”
“I just wanted to check…to see how the boss is.”
“He’s the same as yesterday and the day before that.”
“What have the doctors said about his condition?” Lars shifts uncomfortably between both feet and then bows his head. “It’s been three days. When will he wake up?”
I remind myself that Lars has known Hunter much longer than I have and is truly concerned about his welfare. I’m being a bitch for no reason, or, as Hunter would probably say, “not being helpful.”
“They don’t know, Lars, but I can tell there’s growing concern for every additional day he spends on the ventilator.”
I gently stroke Hunter’s forearm as our child moves inside of me. The small fluttery movements remind me that I haven’t eaten much today except for a few saltine crackers a nurse was kind enough to bring me.
Lars steps inside the room.
“We need to talk, Megan.”
I rub my fingertips against the back of Hunter’s thick knuckles, hoping he can sense my presence.
“About what?”
“Maybe we can step outside first?”
“For privacy?” I scoff.
“Well–”
“Hunter is in a coma, and I’m not getting out of this chair. Just say whatever you have to say right here.”
Lars sighs. “The Boss was very organized and always had contingency plans in place for most situations, except he didn't account for feelings.”
“Feelings?” I reply impatiently. “What are you talking about, Lars?”
“In case of an emergency, I think it was always his plan or intention that Vaughn and Christian would handle the business, but they are not in the right headspace to do so. The shooting happened right under their noses while they drank with DiAngelo's security. They feel incredibly responsible for what happened, so all they're thinking about is—retribution.”
“What's your point, Lars?” I'm getting annoyed by this conversation. I don’t care what those two are thinking about. It’s of no consequence to me. Hell, the shooting did happen right under their noses. Maybe they should feel guilty.
“You need to return to the Blue Whiskey and run it.”
“Gage can run it. It’s his actual job to manage it, remember?”
“Gage has Hunter's back, that’s true, but I'm not really sure about his management style. Even the boss was wondering about it lately. People listened when you were in charge, Megan. I think they respected that you used to do their job.”
Funny, that’s not how I remember it.
“Lars, I’m not leaving this hospital. What part of that do you not understand? I'm pregnant, Hunter is in a coma, and it's my job to advocate for him because he can't advocate for himself. Between you, Gage, Vaughn, and Christian, somebody should be able to run the damn business.”
Lars takes a few more tentative steps towards me.
“All I'm suggesting is that you have a conversation with them because what I do know is that The Boss is not going to want to wake up and hear that his business is in shambles. He'll never forgive any of us for that.”
While I’m irked that Lars is bothering me with this save-the-business conversation, a part of me understands what he means. Hunter has had to fight for everything he has in this world, and it would crush him if he woke up and most of it was gone. While his health should be the primary focus, I must also consider other things. I hate to admit it, but maybe Lars is right.
“I just don't want to leave him. What if he wakes up alone? He may be frightened not knowing where he is.”
Or I could simply be projecting my own fears onto him.
“I’ll stay with him while you're at the club, and when you're here, I'll be at the club. We can work together, Megan. I failed him once, but I won't fail him again.”
I stare up silently at Lars and study the look on his face. It's a pained one. Maybe I must consider that other people feel just as emotional about Hunter as I do.
“You’ll call me if there's any sudden change in his condition?”
“Immediately.”
“I’ll let the nurse the nursing staff know you'll be here in my place.”
He nods. “I’ve got him.”
I stand and bend over close to Hunter's ear and whisper, “I need you to wake up, Hunter. I need you to fight. The baby and I love you.”
I wait for some sort of sign that he can hear me. A finger tap. An eyelid flutter. But there’s nothing. I guess miracles like that only happen in the movies.
When I arrive at Blue Whiskey, it’s ninety minutes before opening, yet there’s barely any staff. The only person I see on the floor is Gage.
“Megan,” he greets me in a surprised tone. “How's Hunter doing?”
“There hasn't been any change,” I answer somewhat dismissively. “Where are the servers, Gage?”
“They called out.”
“Why?”
He raises an eyebrow as if my question is an odd one. “Because the owner was shot in the head here three days ago, Megan. They don't feel safe.”
“Bad things can happen anywhere at any time. It shouldn't stop people from coming to work.”
“Megan–”
“We can't run a nightclub if there's nobody in here to serve customers.”
The bartop is already spotless but Gage wipes it down as we talk, a habit I’m learning is common for him when he deeply considers what he will say next.
“Are we sure it's even a good idea to keep the club open right now?” he asks.
“You want to close the club?”
I hear heavy footsteps walking towards the two of us. Vaughn and Christian are descending the staircase with scowls on both of their faces. Each of them gives me a tight bear hug and has a seat at the bar.
“Closing the bar is not an option,” Vaughn says to both of us. “I was lax with security because I underestimated just how many enemies we have, but I won't make the same mistake again.”
I haven't said it out loud because I haven't had the time or opportunity to, but when I look down at my swelling belly (and feet), I finally find the nerve to say what I’ve been thinking since this happened.
“You won’t make the same mistake? I’d hope not because Hunter won’t survive another shot to the head.”
Vaughn’s expression tightens but I continue with my rant.
“Security is what you do for a living. You're supposed to be an expert. What do you mean you were lax about it? Why? There have been nothing but life-threatening situations at this club and at the apartment since I met Hunter. Were you lax those times, too? How many more lucky chances do you think Hunter has?”
Vaughn’s eyes drop to the floor. I don't mean to hurt him like this, but it's time for everybody to get a reality check including Hunter's friends.
“That's not fair, Megan,” Christian retorts, sitting on the other side of me
“What's not fair is that Hunter is on a ventilator, and we're all sitting here discussing the future of his business,” I say.
“Well, since you seem to be in the mood for difficult conversations, the reality is that Hunter's priorities have changed since you entered his life,” Christian counters.
“Are you saying I’m the problem?” I reply in disbelief.
“I’m just saying that things are different. He doesn’t always take Vaughn’s security recommendations or my legal recommendations because now there’s a new variable in his life: you.”
“So you guys suck at your jobs now because I'm around?”
“Megan, I know you're upset, and I know you're scared, and I get that you blame me for Hunter getting shot, but no more than I blame myself.”
Vaughn’s eyes grow glassy.
Shit, I’m sure this isn’t what Lars had in mind when he suggested I have a talk with them.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly backpedal. “I know you both love him, and I’m not here to blame anyone. I’m here because I just want to ensure that everything is fine when he wakes up.”
I stand up and pace the floor, explaining what needs to happen as the thoughts come to me.
“Gage, the club is not going to close. In fact, I want it packed in here. I want our DJ, servers, and a full kitchen staff because I want the club busy and making money so that Fabre doesn’t get any satisfaction from what he’s done. I don’t care what you need to do to make that happen. Just make it happen. That’s why Hunter hired you; he was confident you could do whatever needs to be done.”
Gage offers me an impressed look. “Okay, I’ll start making some calls.”
My eyes settle on Christian.
“Christian, I know you’re privy to all the details of Hunter's business in a way that I'm not. He wants me to live a soft life, make my art, and have his babies, but it looks like fate has other plans for me. If you have knowledge of any ongoing negotiations he was having, you need to figure out how to either continue them or put them on hold until he recovers. I can't tell you how to do that. I just know that it needs to be done.”
Then, my eyes turned to Vaughn.
“Vaughn, I know that your priority is probably finding DiAngelo.”
“It is.”
“What are you gonna do when you find him?”
“You know what I'm gonna do. The same thing Hunter would do if the roles were reversed.”
I pace the floor, rubbing the base of my spine, which has been starting to ache lately.
“That's a lot of energy you're expending on the messenger when maybe you should use that energy to deal with the person who made the call. I don't know much, but I grew up in this city, and I know enough to know that Fabre is the problem. He’s making a serious move by trying to get Hunter out of the way. I don’t think any of this was personal. So, I need you and Christian to figure out who or what Hunter was in the way of.”
“Damn, Megan,” Vaughn comments. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this side of you.”
“I’m more than just Hunter’s fiance or an art student who paints pretty things on a canvas. I’m carrying the reason why Hunter will wake up and come back to us. I may not know everything, but I know what’s important to him.”
Actually, I don’t know shit. I’m simply flying by the seat of my pants, but I’ve got to do something to light a fire under these guys. I can feel it all falling apart if I don’t.
“Let’s all agree to do the work needed to keep the business running and leave the vengeance to him.”
“But, Megan, we can’t just let this go unchecked, or every criminal in the city will come after us.”
“Hunter had a plan for Fabre. A long game. I don’t know what it was, and maybe he’ll have to readjust that plan when he wakes up, but it’s his plan, not ours.”
“Everything you're saying makes a lot of sense, but what about you?” Christian speaks. “I hate that you feel you have to take all of this on.”
“That’s the cool thing. For once in my life, I’m not alone. You all will help me.”
The three of them offer me a smile and agree in unison, “We will.”
And finally, I exhale the breath I’d been holding since I walked into the building.
I can't force Hunter to wake up yet, but I can fix this.