Chapter 47
Chapter
Forty-Seven
Six hours. We’ve been sat in this waiting room for six fucking hours without any news. Nitro was waiting for us outside when we got here. He’d hung back as they raced into the emergency room with her. He’d watched as they swung open the doors and a nurse jumped into the back, straight onto the trolley. He’d watched that nurse pump up and down on my woman's chest as they wheeled her straight through a set of double doors where he couldn’t follow.
He sat me down when I got here and said that Doc had told him to pre-warn me. It wasn’t looking good for her.
I look around the waiting room; brothers from London, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Glasgow, ol’ ladies, girlfriends. There must be nearly a hundred people in this room, sitting in complete silence waiting for news on my girl.
I’d tried so hard to push her away, but she’s made such a huge impact in these people's lives. Some of them are here for her and her alone, others are here for me. They know how I really feel about her. Despite me denying it at every opportunity, they all knew. They all knew that she was mine. Even when she wasn’t.
I lean forward, resting my arms on my legs and scrubbing my hands over my face. The wait is killing me. I need to know what's going on, I need to know if she’s ok.I see a pair of black boots stop in front of me, I lift my head to see my Prez looking down at me. “Let’s go grab a smoke.” I nod. I don’t smoke anymore but fuck do I need one.
He passes me his packet, and I stare at it for a minute contemplating the hit it will give me. Knowing how much Marissa hates smoking, I shake my head. I don’t want her waking up to me smelling of the stuff. Hearing a noise, I turn to see Knucklers and Juggler, followed by my brothers from the London Chapter. We stand around in silence while most of the brother’s smoke. They are here for me; their support means everything to me right now. Nitro steps closer to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“The prospect called. The police have left the warehouse. They’ve trampled over every inch of the place but found nothing. Data and Brick are headed back over there to see if they can find anything that the cops may have missed.” I look over at Knuckles who gives me a chin lift in acknowledgement.
“Brot…”
“I need to head back to Manchester tomorrow, I can’t leave our clubhouse unattended for too long. Brick is gonna stay and help you guys’ figure this shit out.”
“No.” Shaking my head I look at Nitro then back to Knuckles. “I appreciate it, the fact that you all rode down here when I needed you the most, when she needed you, but I can’t ask you to leave any of the brothers here. You?—”
“It's done. You didn’t ask. You need help, Wrath. You need to be with your woman. Let the boys do the hard work. You can get your revenge when we find out who’s responsible.
A few minutes later we’re headed back into the waiting area. As I step into the room Maria rushes over to me and wraps her arms around me sobbing. I pull her into me and let her cry, Doc her ol’ man is back there with my girl, so she is out here alone. As I let Maria cry into my chest, I look around the room, every person is sat in silence, the only noise is coming from Maria sobbing into my chest and Georgia-Rae crying into her knees as her brother Ice sits with his arm around her. I glance over and see Nitro watching them, there may be nothing going on between him and Georgia but its fucking crystal clear from the look on his face that he wishes it was him with his arm around her.
Footsteps bring me back to the room and I see Doc walking toward us with another Doctor in scrubs. As he enters the room, I step toward him and Maria, realising he’s there, runs to him. He doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around and that one action has jealousy bubbling away inside me.
I hear everyone begin to stand around me as I step closer to Doc. He turns to his colleague who gives us a weary glance. His grey hair and lines around his eyes making him appear even more tired and for a brief minute I feel for him. He isn’t young so this must be a heavy day for him. He glances around the room and then looks directly at me.
“She’s alive.” Everyone around me cheers, but I don’t, I see the look in his eyes. He’s worried.
“Guys, please,” I call out and everyone begins to quieten down as I turn back to her Doctor.
“She isn’t out of the woods yet. You should know that we did have to revive her twice once on the way in and once on the table. Her injuries are extensive, she has a pretty significant head injury. The next forty-eight hours are critical.”
He watches me, giving me a minute to process the information, but I don’t need to process, not yet anyway.
“Doc, her other injuries?” I ask him.
“Erm.” He inhales and closes his eyes like he’s trying to remember everything. “Several cuts and bruises covering almost every inch of her body, all at varying stages of healing. Exposed skin on her wrists. A badly sprained left ankle, broken right wrist. She has several broken ribs. There was an abdominal bleed which we have repaired, and—” he stops, casting a quick glance at Doc, who gives him a nod. He turns back to me. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your partner was sexually assaulted. Providing all goes well, she will heal physically, but the mental scars will take a lot longer to heal. I’ll provide the details of one of the best therapists I know. I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you right now.”
I step forward and grab his arm, giving it a squeeze. “She’s alive, and despite everything else. That is the best news you could have given me. Thank you.”
He gives me a nod and turns to walk away. “Wait,” I yell after him, he stops, turning to give me his full attention. “When can I see her?”
“Normally, we don’t let anyone through to recovery.” He pauses and looks down at his watch. “If she makes it through the next twelve hours without any issues, then I’ll move her to a side room so you can be with her.”
“Thanks Doc.” He gives me one final nod and then walks away. I’m on information overload, and I can’t take anymore; my knees buckle, and I drop to the floor. Maria rushes to me, and I look at her, my eyes foggy with tears. “She’s alive, for now she’s alive.” Relief floods my system, and I sob right there on the waiting room floor in front of my family.