Chapter 22 #2
I wince. One eye is purple and swollen shut.
There’s a cut on her cheek that looks like something sliced through it.
And those are only the injuries I can see.
God knows what else they did to her. I want to kiss her so badly, but I’m worried about hurting her.
When I tell her this, in true Bee style, she won’t be denied.
She takes control and presses her lips to mine.
We only pull apart when the child she’s carrying whimpers.
I’m gutted when I see the fear in his eyes.
And fuck, when Bee introduces me as her Old Man, I’m not sure I can describe the feelings that run through me.
It’s clear that the boy has bonded with Bee, but what surprises me is the protective way she’s holding him—although it shouldn’t.
I saw how she was with Shea, and from what I understand of the Crow MC, they’re protective of children, no matter if they’re blood or not.
It's no hardship for me to pinky promise the boy that he’s safe and we won’t hurt him, just like I mean every word when I agree that if he doesn’t have a family, Bee and I will take him.
I know from the brotherhood that you don’t need to share blood to be family, and if it makes Bee happy to be his mom, that’s fine with me.
I’m surprised when Cai drives towards home and to a hospital outside of Feannag, but when I see all the Crow MC cuts and Bee’s parents, I understand.
Still unconscious, Bee and Noah are whisked away, and Cai and I are left to answer questions. Questions we don’t have answers to.
Eventually, Cai whistles and holds up his hand. “You need to wait and speak to Cahir and Bee. They have the answers you want. Until then, is there somewhere we can clean up?”
Until that moment, I don’t think it registered with any of them that we’re covered head to toe in blood.
“Of course.” Bee’s mom, Maggie, steps forward. “Come this way. I’ll show you where you can clean up, and I’ll get you something to change into.”
I don’t have a clue how she seems to know where to go or how she even has access to the staff changing rooms, but I’m too exhausted and worried to ask.
When I get out of the shower, I find sweatpants and a T-shirt on the sink. I have to put my boots back on, but at least I’m clean.
Cai and I join Bee’s family in the waiting room. I sink onto a chair, and I rest my head on the wall as exhaustion overwhelms me. I’m aware of someone sitting beside me, but I keep my eyes closed. I’m really not in the mood to talk to anyone.
“So, you’re the one whose bike she was on.”
Opening my eyes, I turn to look at Bee’s dad. “I am.”
He scowls. “That’s it? My daughter goes missing for years, and that’s all I get?”
“Yep.” I nod. “You need to get the rest from Bee. She had her reasons. But I won’t have you bullying my Old Lady. Spice will tell you what you need to know when she’s ready.”
“Your Old Lady?” He raises an eyebrow.
The room falls silent as all eyes are now on us.
I should probably be worried, but I find I really don’t give a fuck. Bee’s mine. Mine to love and protect, even from her own family.
I sit up straight and look her father in the eye. “That’s right. My Old Lady. Mine to love. Mine to protect, even if that means protecting her from her family.”
His eyes narrow for a few seconds before he chuckles and holds out his hand. “Fair enough. I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier. Name’s Dog. This is my Old Lady and Bella’s mum, Maggie.”
I take the hand he holds out and shake it before turning to Bee’s mum. Maggie is sitting on the other side of Dog, worry written all over her face.
I give her a nod. “Ma’am. Thank you for the clean clothes. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself before.”
She waves her hand as if it’s not a big deal and smiles. It’s then that I see my Spice in her. This is what Bee will look like in about forty years.
“Thank you for looking after my girl.”
“No thanks necessary,” I reassure her. “I’d do anything for Bee.”
And I would. No doubt about it. I’d move heaven and earth to make sure she was safe and happy.
It seems to take forever before we’re told that Bee has been moved to a private room.
She has cracked ribs, a fractured cheek, and multiple bruises all over her body, including her kidneys. She’ll be sore for weeks. They put her on antibiotics to prevent infection, but she’ll make a full recovery.
All in all, the news is a huge relief, considering what could have happened.
“Come on,” Maggie says, taking my hand. “You can wait with us in her room.”
Thank fuck she said that because I was ready to throw down if they thought they could keep me from her.
Bee is still asleep when we enter her room, and I allow her parents to see her first. Dog settles in the armchair next to Bee’s bed with Maggie curled in his lap, and I know they’re in for the night.
I press my lips to Bee’s uninjured cheek and whisper, “Sleep, baby. Love you. I’m going to check on our boy, but I’ll be back.”
Straightening, I turn towards Bee’s parents. “I’ll be back soon. I’ve got to check on the boy who came in with Bee.”
“We’ll be here,” Dog assures me. “He was taken to the children’s ward.”
It takes me twenty minutes to find the children’s ward and explain to a nurse who I am.
“Ah, yes. Rea said you’d be checking on him. I’m on the night shift, and I’ll let the day nurses know. Come on. Let me show you where he is. He’s asleep. They’ve got him on strong painkillers and antibiotics, so we expect him to sleep all night.”
Noah is in a room by himself, the walls painted with a riot of cartoon animals. It’s a cheery room. Bending over him, I notice straight away that he’s been washed. Running my hand over his small head, I ruffle his curls gently, but he doesn’t stir.
“Let us or one of the Crows know as soon as he wakes up. He’ll be scared and will need one of us to reassure him.”
The nurse’s face softens, and she smiles. “Of course. I’ve got Ms Davies’ room number under his name. We’ll take good care of him, I promise.”
“Thank you.” I run my hand over his hair one more time, reluctant to leave him.
I’m not his parent. Yet. So I can’t sit with him.
If I’d known the clout my woman’s family had with the hospital, I’d have pushed to stay or at least moved him into her room that night.