Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
TEXAS
H er heart stopped.
She died.
He’d killed her, and now he was dead, and I couldn’t make him pay.
She just wanted to help people.
She wanted to heal.
He’d made her body shut down.
He took her breath. Her pulse. Her light.
In those moments, I’d wanted to go with her.
In those moments, my heart had cracked before it shattered.
I’d felt it hard, so hard it took me to my knees as I gripped my head and choked on a cry that rent the night air.
People shouted. So much commotion. So much noise.
She was so still. So quiet.
I couldn’t look at her. We’d failed.
We’d lost her.
Someone dragged me to my feet, moving me back, wrapping an arm tightly around my shoulders.
“They got her breathin’, brother. They got her breathin’.” The person shook me. “Get on your ride. We’re followin’ the ambulance to the hospital.”
Numbly, I nodded.
They got her breathing, but would it stay that way?
I ground my teeth together for letting that fucking thought enter my mind.
She would be okay.
She had to be okay.
Somehow, I managed to make it to the hospital. Yet, as I stood outside the building, I couldn’t bring myself to enter.
The ache in my chest wouldn’t give in.
The stabbing pain in my gut wouldn’t rest.
And my goddamn eyes kept getting wet so I had to roughly wipe at them.
Groaning to myself, I shifted to the side and pulled out my phone. Dodge would want to know. Had someone called him?
“Texas.”
I turned at Griz’s voice.
“You comin’ in?”
Clearing my throat, I nodded and waved my phone at him. “Just callin’ Dodge.”
He tipped his chin up at me. I didn’t like the way he was appraising me. “See you in there.”
Nodding again, he went to go through the doors, until I called, “Griz.”
He turned back.
“Do you know how Zara is?”
Maya’s family had been through so fucking much.
Griz looked grim. “Julian’s rounded up her posse. They’re bringin’ her in.”
Jaw clenched, I nodded once more. She had her women with her. That’d be good enough until she could have her man.
“Texas—”
“See you in there,” I said quickly and turned my back on him. I didn’t know what he was going to say, but I couldn’t risk finding out right then because if it was anything deep, I’d crack. I pushed the call button on Dodge’s number and lifted it to my ear, facing away from the doors.
“Kid, it’s four in the fuckin’ mornin’. You drunk again?”
“Dodge—” I clamped my lips together when just his name got caught in my throat.
I heard rustling on the other end and then he said, “Talk to me, Texas. You all right?”
I hummed under my breath.
“Where are you?”
I scrubbed at my face and cleared my throat. “Ballarat.”
There was a pause, and then he asked softly, “Is Maya all right?”
Clenching my teeth, I closed my eyes and shook my head. He knew what I’d planned. He knew I wanted Maya as mine, if she’d take me… if….
She’d stopped breathing.
She could have been gone from me.
They got her back… but did it stay that way?
I was too fucking scared to find out.
“Dodge,” I managed to get out and then groaned in frustration.
Fucking hell, I couldn’t even manage a damn conversation.
I was a fucking pussy.
A jolt shot through me when a hand clamped down on the back of my neck. I lifted my gaze and found Griz there with his hand out. Dropping my head, I handed the phone over to him and closed my eyes, clenching my jaw.
“Dodge, it’s Griz. There was a situation where Maya’s ambulance got taken over. The guy… fuck, he injected her with somethin’. She stopped breathin’ for a while. They got her back before they headed to the hospital. We’re here now, headin’ in to see how things are.” He paused for a beat. “Yeah, I’ll let him know…. I’ve got him, don’t stress…. See you soon.”
She’d stopped breathing. Her heart stopped beating.
She’d been lifeless.
“Texas.”
I opened my eyes to take my phone back and pocket it. “He comin’?”
“Yeah, brother. He’s on his way.” He shook me a little with his hand still on my neck. “She’ll be good.”
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “Yeah, ’course she will.”
Please make that right.
His hand fell away. “We headin’ in?”
My body locked. A pain in my chest formed.
Tyres squealed behind us, and we turned to see Julian’s vehicle skid to a stop out front. The doors opened, and Zara, Maya’s mum, was there along with Deanna, Ivy, and Malinda. Julian raced around the hood to get to Zara’s side as she lifted her gaze and it landed on us.
Her bottom lip trembled, but she bit down on it. Her feet ate up the concrete, and I thought she’d head straight inside.
Instead, Zara was coming our way, and her eyes were locked on me. “What are you doing out here?”
I drew in a breath through my nose and fucking prayed I didn’t show too much emotion in front of her.
“We’re headin’ in now. Just called Dodge to let him know,” Griz answered.
Zara shook her head. “Texas, you should be in there.”
Why?
What for?
She wouldn’t want to see me.
I fucked that up.
But if I had the chance, I’d do anything to win her over. To show her I wasn’t the man she’d seen with other women on too many occasions.
Show her I’d finally woken up to see what was right in front of me.
But she didn’t need me right now.
“Babycakes, how about we go in?” Julian curled his arm around her shoulders.
She glanced at him and nodded before she looked back at me. “Talon called me. Said the doctors told him she was going to be all right.”
The pain in my chest lessened as my eyes widened.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything because the relief was like a rush to my head, and I feared what I’d say.
Yet it didn’t matter because Zara watched my reaction.
She gave me a watery smile as tears formed. “She’ll need help to recover from this.”
I nodded.
“You’ll help, right?”
Another dip of my head.
Zara reached up and patted my cheek. “Good.” With that, she turned and made her way in with her posse following.
Griz hooked his hand around the back of Deanna’s head and kissed her quickly. “Be in soon, darlin’.”
With a small, soft smile, she nodded and followed Zara in.
Griz shifted closer to me and elbowed me in the ribs. “You ready?”
With a sigh, I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Yeah.” Slowly, I followed him into the waiting room, which was nearly full with members of the Hawks and their family.
Cody, also known as Coyote in the club and Maya’s brother, stepped in front of me. The bastard took one look at me and tugged me into a hug. “You steppin’ up?”
I unglued my teeth and whispered, “Yes.”
He pulled back and patted my shoulder. “’Bout time, brother.” Channa, Coyote’s woman, moved close with a soft smile, and Coyote hooked his arm around her neck, curling her into him. He tipped his chin up at me. “She’s gonna be all right. Mum and Dad are in there with her now.”
I nodded. Griz squeezed my shoulder and walked off to his woman’s side, who sat with Ruby and Drake, Maya’s younger siblings, and Nancy, their grandmother.
Even when we’d lived in different areas, Coyote and I had always been close. I didn’t realize he’d seen what I was feeling for his sister. I didn’t think, in the last half a year, that I’d shown my hand too much. Obviously, I had, and hearing him accept where I wanted my future to go with his sister meant a hell of a lot.
I just had to win Maya over. Show her she was more to me than anyone else. Show her she wasn’t just Coyote’s sister…. She was more. She was someone I wanted to spend a long fucking time with.
Coyote glanced over my shoulder. “Fuck.”
“What?” I clipped and turned to the doors.
“Mr Nareen.” Drake jumped up from his seat and ran over to the guy standing just inside the doors. Drake waved his hands around as he talked to the guy, who nodded. He then smiled sadly and ruffled Drake’s hair, but Drake pushed his hand away.
“Who’s he?” I asked.
Coyote sighed long and loud before he said, “Someone.”
Turning back to him, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Coyote?”
He winced. “Dad told me Maya went on a couple of dates with one of Drake’s teachers. Drake must have told him what happened.”
Maya had been going on dates.
My blood boiled, but I curled my hands into fists to control the rage. My reaction was more over the surprise of Maya dating, but I had no right to react.
She hadn’t been mine.
She didn’t know.
Was I too fucking late?
Was she really into this guy?
A teacher?
Christ, why was my chest hurting again?
I was a fucking fool for not noticing what was right in front of me earlier. A fucking fool for giving Maya her first kiss and ignoring that damn spark that shot to my groin over it.
But back then, she’d been too young, and I’d been too stupid and thought with my dick too much.
Now I’d lost my chance.
She was with someone.
How many dates had they been on?
Were they serious?
Had they kissed?
Had he touched her?
“Brother, how about we step outside for some fresh air?” Coyote asked.
“No.”
“Um, Texas.” I felt Channa move closer, but I didn’t look away from that guy. “You’re going to burn a hole in the guy’s head with that glare, and people are noticing.”
Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded and walked back outside. The sun was rising in the distance. It was going to be a nice day, and yet, all I could feel was cold inside.
Fucking fool.
I’d left it too late, wanting my businesses set up and running before I could throw all my attention onto Maya.
Christ. I’d made the wrong decision and only had myself to blame.
“It ain’t anythin’ serious,” Coyote said when he stopped beside me.
“Okay.”
“Texas, it was only a couple of dates. He shouldn’t even be here. He ain’t family. Maya and him aren’t tight.”
It sounded like he left off the “yet” at the end of that.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” I told him. “All I care about is that Maya is all right. That she’ll get through this night and eventually put it behind her to be happy.” Glancing up at the sky, I held back the tears threatening to fall. “That’s all that matters.” It was. Nothing that I felt in that moment mattered. It all seemed insignificant when Maya was in a hospital bed after dealing with this nightmare.
Coyote’s hand landed on my shoulder. “All right, brother. All right.”
“Your family’s been through so fuckin’ much.” How did they deal?
“We have, but we have so many people at our backs, holding us up. If it wasn’t for the support from everyone, we might not be as strong as we are.”
I snorted. “Bullshit. The prez would carry you all.” He was a fucking good man. Like Dodge, my uncle who took Rommy and me in.
Coyote chuckled softly. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
We stood outside for a while longer and talked when we felt like it. Though, it must have been longer than I thought, because just after Channa walked out to get Coyote for his turn to see Maya, someone called my name.
To the left, I saw Ruin and Wolf walking my way. Ruin had his hand resting against Wolf’s back.
“Fuck, brother.” Ruin pulled me into a tight hug. He was another close friend who knew about my growing feelings for Maya, other than Dodge and Coyote guessing it. He pulled back and placed a hand against my neck. “You good?”
Clenching my jaw, I nodded. Ruin tipped his chin up in understanding. He knew from one glance that I didn’t want to talk about it or I’d crack.
I glanced at his man, a reality which was still mind-blowing. I never thought I’d see Ruin in a relationship, let alone with a guy; he’d never shown interest in men. But fuck, anyone could see they were smitten with each other. I got to see it more when I’d visited them at their place in Melbourne. “Wolf, thanks for travelling with Ruin. We all know he ain’t safe on the roads.”
Ruin snorted and mock punched me in the gut. “Prick.”
Wolf smiled, pushing his blond locks from his eyes. “I’m glad I’m not the only one questioning his skills.”
I grinned. “All skills or just with a vehicle?”
“That’s it. I ain’t standin’ here listenin’ to his shit.” Ruin started towards the doors with his hand in Wolf’s. He turned back. “You comin’ in?”
“Soon.” I wouldn’t fuck this up for Maya. If I saw that guy in there, and he went into Maya’s room, I didn’t know what I’d do.
Maya would always come first.
“See you soon,” Ruin called over his shoulder, and I grunted in return.
It wasn’t much later when a car stopped in the emergency area. The doors flew open, and Low and Dodge were there.
Fuck.
I ground my teeth together and looked at the ground, blinking rapidly.
“Tex” came from Dodge before he cupped the back of my neck, and my forehead hit his shoulder.
“Honey,” Low’s soft voice sounded from my side.
“Fuckin’ shit night, kid, but it can only get better from here.”
A horrid noise sounded in the back of my throat. I wasn’t sure. I still felt hollow, cold, and annoyed with myself for worrying about my own feelings when Maya had just been put through hell.
“What the fuck are you starin’ at?” Low suddenly snapped. “Yeah, keep movin.”
“Little bird, how about we keep from scarin’ the people to a minimum.”
“What? It was one person, and I didn’t like the way she looked at us.”
Straightening, I brought her into my chest, chuckling softly. “Thanks, Low.”
“I’ve got you, honey.”
“I know.” They were my family. They were there when I needed, like I would be for them.