Chapter Twenty-One #2
Lock doesn’t leave my side for a single second as more guys show up and take seats in the waiting room.
When I’m done at the desk, I don’t bother sitting.
There’s no way in hell I can sit right now.
I’m too messed up seeing Keaton so lifeless.
I’ve seen her crying, scared to death, nervous, and in one of her most vulnerable moments when we had sex.
Seeing her hang limp in my arms is a sight I never want to see again in my life.
I’ll do everything in my power from now on to remain at her side and protect her from every evil thing in this world.
“She’ll be okay, Ice. Keaton is strong and I don’t have a doubt in my mind that she’ll wake up and be pissed as hell Dillon managed to get the jump on her,” Lock tells me as I look around the waiting room and see Wren rushing in the doors with Bridger in her arms. I quickly make my way over to them and lift Bridger from her without hesitation.
Bridger cuddles into my chest with his cheek against me.
He wraps his tiny fingers in my shirt and I rest one hand on his head and rub the other one up and down his back.
He grounds me in a way I’ve never experienced before and I know without a doubt I’ll do everything I can to remain in this little boy’s life for the rest of mine.
“How is she?” Wren asks, worry creasing her brows as she remains close to me.
“I don’t know. She was unconscious when they took her back.
I know for sure her wrists are messed up, there’s a large bruise in the center of her forehead, a gash near her temple, and she’s got a split lip.
I’m not sure if there’s any other injuries,” I answer her, letting my eyes move to the doors they wheeled her through.
“We’re not goin’ anywhere, Ice. This woman is obviously important to you and that makes her important to the rest of us.
I’ll be here for anythin’ you need and will watch Bridger for as long as you need me to.
He’s a really good baby and the twins love him,” Wren informs me as she looks at Bridger with affection in her eyes.
He’s already wrapped her around his little finger and I can’t help but smile because he did the same thing to me that day on the side of the road.
After a while, Judge makes his way in the hospital and immediately pulls Wren into his arms to kiss her.
She accepts the kiss and returns it regardless of who might be watching the two of them.
I envy their relationship and want it with Keaton.
I know she’s the one for me and I’ll work every single day to prove it to her.
“Can you give us a second, Love?” Judge asks her when he breaks the kiss.
“Of course. I’ll go see if I can find some decent coffee and water for everyone,” she tells him, walking away after handing him Bridger’s diaper bag.
Judge moves in closer to me so no one else overhears our conversation as a few more of our guys step in to prevent anyone from getting too close to us.
“Dillon was pronounced dead at the scene. He shot himself in the chest somehow. Arnold has already ruled it a suicide and is closin’ everythin’.
He obviously can’t stand trial for Nora’s murder and the assault and kidnappin’ of Keaton can’t be handled any differently since he can’t stand trial.
He’ll want to talk to Keaton when she wakes up and is ready to share what happened so he can close out the files,” he informs me as I release the breath I was holding because there is no other outcome there could have been at this point.
“That’s good,” I tell him as I look down at Bridger and find his eyes fluttering closed a few times. He’s tired and fighting it. That’s what he was doing last night when I got up with him. “I’m sure Keaton won’t have a problem talkin’ to Arnold. I’ll be there with her though. I hope he knows that.”
“He knows it. I already warned him,” Judge says with a smile on his face.
“Plus, she won’t have to look over her shoulder now when she leaves her house,” I say as I look around and see the waiting room filled with men and women from the club.
Over in the corner I spot Agony talking to a young woman.
She looks way too young to be someone he wants to fuck.
Before I can think too hard about the situation, the door leading to the back opens and the same doctor who met us outside enters the waiting room. I immediately make my way over to him.
“How’s Keaton?” I ask him, not releasing my hold on Bridger as I feel men surround me in support.
“She’s doing okay. We got her wrists cleaned up and bandaged.
She didn’t need stitches because the wounds were mainly superficial.
Whatever bound her rubbed against her skin and that’s what caused the bleeding and irritation.
The gash on her head has ten stitches in it.
We just got the images back and there’s no injury to her brain.
I’d say she more than likely hit her head on something and that’s what made her lose consciousness.
She’ll need to keep both injuries dry for the next several days.
I’m going to admit her for observation. We are giving her fluids right now and I’m still waiting on some of her bloodwork to come back,” the doctor tells me as he looks at the group of men and me.
“When can I see her?” I ask him, shifting Bridger slightly in my arms so I have a better hold on him.
“You can see her when I find out what room she’ll be moved to,” he answers as Wren walks up to our group and stops next to me. “Two of you can see her at a time. I’m not sure when she’ll wake up again, but rest is really important for her right now.”
“Thank you,” I say as he nods at me and walks back through the doors separating me from Keaton.
“That’s good news,” Wren says as we all move toward the seats and I finally sit down with Wren and Judge on one side and Lock and Fury on the other. None of us talk as we all wait to see Keaton.
I keep Bridger in my arms even when Judge goes out to grab his car seat.
They got it out of Keaton’s car when it was brought back to the clubhouse and put it in Wren’s SUV.
At least that’s what I was told by Tristan on the way here.
That’s about the only thing I heard the entire ride.
We all remain in the seats as people come and go, giving us a wide berth, as their loved ones are either admitted to one of the floors here or discharged to go home.
No one speaks to us and we don’t talk to anyone else.
I get lost in my head about Keaton and I know I don’t want to wait long to officially make her mine in every way possible.
I want her as my wife and ol’ lady. If she adopts Bridger as her son, I want to adopt him with her.
I’ll be this little boy’s dad and love every second of it.
I’ve always wanted to be a dad and have a family of my own.
For now, I’ll have to see where Keaton’s head is and go from there.