Chapter Ten
Keaton
N ORA’S GONE. I can’t believe my best friend will no longer open her eyes, hold her son and love him, or be there when I need her the most. Dillon robbed all of us when he pulled that trigger and the bullet ripped through her chest. The doctors and nurses did everything they could to save Nora, but it was too late.
She died in that parking lot with her head in my lap as I screamed and cried for her to stay with us.
Bridger will no longer have his mom to protect him and I won’t have the one person in this world who has always been there for me no matter what I’m doing or going through.
No matter what she’s been going through.
Even at the end of her life, she tried to protect me from the truth of how bad things really were between Dillon and her.
It wasn’t until I saw him with my own eyes that I realized the truth of their situation.
Now, I want to find that piece of shit and beat the fuck out of him with my bare hands.
To make him feel even a fraction of the pain he caused my best friend while they were together.
To feel the pain Bridger will be filled with when he gets older and learns the truth about what happened to his mom.
The cops were in the hospital with me when the news came from the doctors about Nora’s death.
They spoke briefly to them about the situation and what happened.
I told them what I witnessed happen from the second Dillon pulled into the parking lot and why Nora was planning on leaving him.
Bridger was either in his car seat next to me or in my arms the entire time.
One of the officers called a CPS worker and they told them for now I was allowed to keep Bridger because of plans Nora already put in place before her death.
It’s like she knew this would be the final outcome of her life and took steps I didn’t know about to protect her son when she couldn’t be there to do it herself.
So, I now have custody of Bridger until I can meet with the lawyer and a CPS worker to figure out how to move forward so Bridger is taken care of in the best way possible.
Memphis actually showed up when I was still at the hospital and remained out in the hallway with Bridger so I could go say my final goodbye to Nora.
I held her cold body for a minute before promising her I’d love and protect her son with every beat of my heart and ounce of my soul.
I sat in the silent room with her and sobbed for the life she was robbed of having.
For her son who would never truly know or understand how much she loved him and the kind of woman she was.
I sobbed for myself because I don’t know how to move forward as I mourn losing her and trying to take care of Bridger.
Finally, I cry so hard I can’t breathe for Dillon.
These aren’t tears of sadness, they come from the pure rage I feel when I allow myself to think about what he’s done today.
If I find him before the cops do, I’ll gut him and make him wish he never met Nora.
I’m not normally a violent person, but this stupid fuck took one of the best women in the world and turned her into nothing more than a shell of her former self before killing her so she couldn’t leave him.
Once I left Nora’s room, I took the phone from Memphis. Jagger called to find out what was going on because Memphis had no idea when he jumped on a plane and left the tour once he got my message. He simply realized how badly I needed him and told everyone he had to go.
“Keaton, what’s goin’ on?” Jagger asks me as I lean heavily against the wall outside of Nora’s room. Four words is all it takes to break me again and I start to sob uncontrollably. Jagger doesn’t say a word or push me for an answer.
Finally, I take a deep breath and try to stop crying long enough to regain the slightest bit of composure so I can answer Jagger’s question even though I don’t honestly know what’s really going on.
“Nora, was killed,” I finally whisper the words as my voice breaks and I have to fight not to sob again.
“Her ex killed her right in front of me. Shot her in the chest. Um, they couldn’t save her.
I was too late and couldn’t make the calls to save her life.
I’ve been given temporary custody of Bridger until I can meet with the lawyer so Dillon doesn’t get him.
I have to plan the funeral once her body gets released.
I don’t know what I’m doing or have to do. ”
“Fuck,” Jagger whispers as Memphis wraps an arm around my shoulders and holds the car seat with his other hand.
“Okay. You take all the time you need. Memphis can stay with you so he can help get things ready for Bridger and plannin’ Nora’s funeral.
You know we all loved her, Keaton. You need anythin’, you call me and I’ll make it happen.
Do you want security in place while you’re home? ”
“I don’t want the guys from the club, Jagger.
They can’t know who I am when I’m not Ruby.
This is my home and I want to be able to live as Keaton.
I think I’ll be okay. They’re trying to find Dillon, the last I was told before the cops left the hospital.
There was another witness there as well and she’s already given her statement.
She’s the one who called for emergency services.
Um, everything is kind of out of focus and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now,” I tell him because I know the Knight’s Rebellion MC is here in town and he wouldn’t put anyone on me but them since he knows them and the work they do.
“Okay. I’m gonna call the cops so I can get a better idea of what’s goin’ on, Keaton.
I want to know when they find that monster and when he’ll be at trial.
I know you’ll have to be there to testify against him.
This won’t come back on you for any reason as Keaton or Ruby.
I’ll let everyone know what’s goin’ on here and Memphis can keep me updated about everythin’ else,” Jagger says before hanging up the phone and I hand it back to Memphis.
“Let’s get out of here, Sweetheart. You need to be home and take a hot shower. You’re covered in blood. Those clothes are gonna have to be thrown out. There’s no savin’ them,” Memphis says, removing his arm from my shoulders and lacing our fingers together.
Memphis leads me from the hospital and out to my car.
He took a ride share from the airport. Once I’m in the passenger seat of my car, he locks Bridger back into the base of the car seat in the back and climbs into the driver’s seat.
Without a word, he starts the engine and we leave the hospital.
Memphis stops at the diner for food because he’s tired after a long day of traveling to me and I’m in no shape to cook for us.
With food in the back next to Bridger, we head to my house.
Memphis makes me shower while he puts Bridger to bed after feeding him a bottle so it’s one less thing I have to worry about doing.
For the longest time I sit in the shower and let the water rain down over me. I sob as I curl up in a ball and hold myself together in the only way I know how right now. That’s how Memphis finds me when I don’t get out of the shower.
“Sweetheart, I know you miss Nora and you don’t know what to do without her. You’re gonna freeze to death if you don’t wash and get out of the shower, though. Can I help you?” Memphis asks me, making me look up at him with tears still streaming down my face. I simply nod my head in response.
Memphis removes his shirt and socks before he climbs in the shower with me.
After helping me stand up, he proceeds to wash my hair three times before he declares it clean from the grime of the day.
Then he puts conditioner in and massages it before grabbing my loofah and body wash.
With my body soaped up, Memphis moves me back under the water so I can rinse the conditioner out of my hair and soap from my body.
The second I’m free of soap, Memphis shuts the water off and wraps me in a towel.
“Not gonna dry you off, Sweetheart. Already feel like I’m takin’ advantage of you or somethin’.
We’ve never crossed that line and we won’t do it now either.
You’re my best friend and I love ya like a sister.
Right now, you need my help and I’ll do whatever you need.
So, please, dry off and get some warm clothes on so I can dry your hair for you.
I’m already worried about you gettin’ sick,” he tells me before placing a kiss on my forehead and leaving me alone in the bathroom.
Without looking in the mirror like I normally do, I dry off and wrap my warm robe around my body.
Walking into my bedroom, I grab a pair of large sweatpants and one of Memphis’ hoodies to wear.
He walks in my room with our food and a baby monitor.
One of the few things I have here for Bridger.
Memphis makes me eat something while he brushes out my long hair and then grabs the blow dryer from the bathroom to finish drying it all.
When he’s done, Memphis tucks me into bed and climbs on top of the blankets next to me when I beg him not to leave me alone.
I cry myself to sleep as he holds me loosely in his arms.
***