Chapter 19 #2
Thankfully, Izzy was there to soften the blow and stay with Portia while my father and I sped to the hospital. I’d been around some form of violence all my life, but seeing Nick so pale and weak last night hit me in a way I didn’t expect.
“Don’t you know by now he’s too stubborn to let getting stabbed in the gut take him down?” Samson jokes, but his face was just as ashen as mine last night as we sat in the hospital waiting room anticipating the doctor’s news after Nick’s surgery.
“Did you forget I’ve been slashed on the Brooklyn docks, beaten to shit by a New York cop, and took a bullet in Miami?”
“I’d like to forget those things, but saying it out loud makes it all the more real.”
“Fuckin’ crazy times,” Samson adds. “But this guy always comes out on top. Takes more than that punk Pierce to take you down.”
Nick does some air boxing and winces.
“Stop moving around,” I say. “You do remember twenty-four hours ago you were stabbed and hemorrhaging on an operating table, right?”
“Just sayin’, I got through all that with no sweat, and I can rest in my own house much better than here. For fuck’s sake, they woke me up to give me a sleeping pill.”
Samson and Nick do more shit talk until it’s obvious Nick is exhausted.
“You rest.” Samson and Nick fist bump. “And do what the doctor tells you.” Then Samson looks at me. “If you need anything, call. Lisbeth will be giving you a call later.”
“Thanks.”
After Samson leaves, I fluff Nick’s pillows, then I rearrange the water pitcher and plastic cups on his tray. Organizing always calms me, but of course, Nick sees right through it.
He grabs my wrist. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say way too fast.
“You know I’m gonna be fine.” He shifts on the bed and grimaces. “Just gotta take it easy for a few days.”
“Exactly, and maybe you should be doing that resting here in the hospital in case there are any complications.”
“There aren’t gonna be any complications. Even the doctor said I’m gonna make a full recovery. Apparently, you don’t need a spleen.”
“You lost a lot of blood too. I just think staying here another day wouldn’t hurt.”
“Forget it. I already had the nurse contact the doctor, and if I don’t hear from him, I’ll call him myself, ‘cause there’s no way I’m spending our first Christmas together in the damn hospital.”
Nick is used to being in control and getting his way, so being confined to a hospital bed is the equivalent of being in hell.
“Let’s just see what the doctor says.” I want him home too, but it is much easier keeping my secret for another few days if I don’t have to see him all day.
“Plus, I miss Portia. No fuckin’ way I’m letting her spend Christmas without me.”
“I know, she misses you too.” I give his pillow one more fluff. “Why don’t I go to the nurses’ station and see if they’ve heard from your doctor.”
“Wait.” Nick holds on to my hands. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you, and it can’t wait any—”
“Shit, you’re still lying in bed.” Cobra’s voice booms through the room. “What a pussy.”
Python and Mamba follow behind Cobra, and their size, bulk and leather fill the room. “Merry Christmas, man.”
“Shouldn’t you guys be with your families?” Nick asks.
“Had to see for ourselves that you were doin’ all right,” Python says.
“Hospital wouldn’t let us up the first night ‘cause we ain’t family.”
“Not true.” Nick accepts their fist bumps.
Cobra wraps his muscled arm around my shoulder. “Hey, babe, how’s our patient doin’?”
“Good, but stubborn.” I throw a look to Nick. “Wants to go home.”
“Shit, yeah, I get it.” Python rounds the bed. “Last year I took a bullet from a pissed-off rival. The doc took out the bullet then wanted me to stay for observation. Some shit about getting an infection, but I told them to fuck off and that I’d observe myself.”
“Yeah, he came back to the clubhouse and warded off any infection with gallons of booze,” Mamba adds.
“See, and you think I’m bad,” Nick defends.
I shake my head at their antics. “Yeah, guys, really not helping.”
Mamba inspects all the machines behind Nick’s bed. “They sure do have you hooked up to a lot of shit.”
“That’s what happens when you take a blade to the gut.” Nick laughs around his words, then winces.
“Doc said most of it’s gonna be disconnected later since my vitals are so good.” Nick grins at me. “Another reason I can come home.”
Python points to his IV. “Hope they got you hooked up to the good stuff, brother.”
“Let’s just say it takes the edge off.”
I point toward the door. “I’m going to go check with the nurse. See if they heard from your doctor.”
I head down the long corridor, and my mind spins with what Nick was about to say before the Serpents showed up.
His face and voice sounded so serious. Too serious.
Even though his attitude yesterday was so different, we’ve had so much friction between us the last few weeks.
My mind automatically heads to a dark place, especially with what I have to tell him.
I know he’d never tell me what went on out in the desert with Graham Pierce, but I’ve been around long enough to put the pieces together. The last time we separated was to keep me away from that life, and although he seemed excited to be home for Portia, what if he wants a break after the holidays?
What if living together isn’t working for him? We’d never actually lived together, and everybody knows living day-to-day is hard.
What if he only wants a relationship with Portia and not me?
Damn what-ifs.