6. ‘Heartbreaker’
SIX
‘HEARTbrEAKER’
DELILAH
Watching Rebel catch Kon, I pull my phone out immediately calling 911.
“911 what’s your emergency?”
“Hey, it’s Heartbreaker, we need an ambulance at the high school in Principal Knolls’s office. Also, get ahold of Dr. Giannopoulos and tell him it’s his son, Kon.”
Then I hang up and run over to Rebel and the boy. She’s on her ass with him in her lap. Looking at him, I notice he’s pale, sweaty, and trembling. I turn toward Principal Knolls and stare.
“You didn’t let Kon eat lunch, did you? How long has he been in that office?”
She turns as pale if not paler than the boy and steps back, arms coming up. Then I hear Natalie’s voice.
“She purposely pulled him in right before his lunch period and then when he told her he felt dizzy, she told him a lesson he needed to learn is every action has consequences. He stuck up for some kid she was berating earlier. She was being a big shot at Manuel’s expense. Kon recognized that Manuel is like his younger brother, so he told the principal to leave Manuel alone, he didn’t do anything wrong. So, when she went to the bathroom I gave him a cup of water, but she doesn’t allow me to keep food in my desk and has actually searched it. I’m so sorry, Heartbreaker, I’m going to run and get some juice, be right back.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been so pissed off in my entire life. All the women in our club grew up rough. It’s made us the women we are, but in my past life I was a whore, literally. Fought tooth and nail for what I wanted and needed. And that bitch was ripping Kon a new asshole because she lost face in front of high school kids. Guess the little I’ve been around this kid; he’s gotten under my skin for some reason.
“You bitch. How the hell did you ever become principal when you don’t have a heart at all, especially to deal with kids? I know you were informed that Kon is a type 1 diabetic, so what you did was malicious and purposeful, so you better start praying to whatever you pray to that he’ll be okay. Now get me some cool towels or whatever. And some ice. Move your ass, now!”
Before she moves, I head back to Rebel, who’s loosened Kon’s top two buttons. Without thinking, I reach over and rip his shirt open then lift his torso up so I can get it off of him. His T-shirt is soaked and his face is now flushed. I move down to his shoes, removing them, along with his socks. Lastly, I loosen then pull his belt completely off. By this time Natalie is back with apple, grape, and orange juice in little bottles. I scream for her to give me the one with the most sugar. She quickly looks at them all and then tosses me the apple juice, which I break open and hand to Rebel.
“Dribble a little over his lips and put some on your finger to rub on his gums. If he takes it, keep dribbling it on his lips.”
Rebel immediately does as I tell her. Hearing footsteps, Catherine returns with a grocery store plastic bag of ice and some wet paper towels. Grabbing the towels, I place a few on his forehead and then wipe up and down on his arms and toss it to Natalie to pass on the bottoms of his feet. Then I grab a few ice cubes and try to place them on his wrist, but they keep falling off.
“Shit. Rebel, sister, don’t know what else to do. Does he have an insulin pump? See if you can get a read off of it. Natalie, did he bring a book bag with him, if so, check for a meter. Catherine, didn’t you tell the nurse what’s going on? For fuck’s sake, call her and get her ass down here now.”
I lean down and gently shake Kon’s shoulders, calling his name. Nothing. Then I switch it up and called him stud muffin, which Rebel sadly grins at. Back and forth Rebel and I call his name, then the nickname, and after about four or five times he moans. Rebel starts screaming his name, telling him to wake up. That’s when I hear the sirens. Finally, the real medics are here. Hearing boots to the floor not even a few minutes later, along with wheels, I turn just as they hit the door. Two guys rush in and start assessing him. Rebel is giving them as much information as possible. Principal Knolls is standing off to the side wringing her hands. Natalie comes up next to me, eyes wet, which no way I can take.
“Sister, knock that shit off. The kid is going to be fine now that the EMTs arrived. Thanks for the help, Natalie. You did real good.”
She turns and hugs me so tightly I can barely breathe, but I don’t say a word. Instead, I reach over and hug her back. Then I hear Rebel scream the kid’s name and tell him never to scare her like that ever again. We turn to see Kon’s eyes are open and he’s looking around, confused. We both move closer, just as the one EMT tells Rebel they gave him a shot of glucagon, which is used in severe cases. That’s when I hear the desperate, loud male screams coming down the hall and feet hitting the floor. Turning, I see Atlas almost fall into the doorway, and immediately I’m moving because I see his knees buckle when his eyes take in Konstantin. I barely make it before his legs totally give out. I try but he’s so not a lightweight, and we both go crashing to the floor. All you hear are our moans and groans until we hear a weak laugh.
“Damn, Dad, I’m the one who should get that girl. Go figure, I pass out and you land a hottie on top of you. Well, Rebel, what do you say? I am his son. I’ve been told I look like a younger him.”
Then I hear Rebel’s laughter ringing out loudly and I finally take a breath, just as my body feels like it’s underwater. Then suddenly I can’t catch my breath and I’m dizzy. Someone is hitting my cheeks, telling me to stay awake, but the darkness already has a hold on me and I’m gone.
What the hell is going on and why do I feel high? Oh shit, please God, don’t tell me I fell off the wagon yet again. I go to raise my hands to my head then I hear a voice I’ve feared, hated, and started to trust all at once in my ear.
“Heartbreaker, don’t you dare pull that fuckin’ IV out again. You’re okay, sister, relax. Someone call a nurse. Hey, all’s good. Nurse will be here in a minute or two. Want a drink of water?”
I nod and hear noise, then a straw as it’s placed on my bottom lip. When I open my mouth, my eyelids raise, and to my surprise it’s none other than Shadow holding the cup with ice water in it. Damn, it feels great on my throat. How did I end up in here? I think to myself as my eyes take in the room. It’s packed with Shadow and her man, Panther, Tink and Noodles, Glory and Yoggie. Pushed off in the corner are Squirt and Presley. Well, shit, was I about to die or something? Half these men I’ve barely said a word or two to. When I catch Squirt’s eyes, she makes a fish face at me with her huge green eyes sparkling. With Presley by her side, she’s blossomed. The door opens up and a young woman comes in with an iPad.
“So, a little birdie told me my patient is awake. Oh, there she is, look at those beautiful eyes. Hello, gorgeous, I’m Maria, your nighttime nurse. I’m gonna ask everyone to step out for a, holy son of a biscuit.”
Her eyes get big and when I shift it makes total sense, as her eyes are glued to Shadow. Everyone waits for it but, damn, Nurse Maria shocks everyone.
“I gotta tell you, that is fucking awesome, pardon my French. Would it be okay to take a closer look? Don’t want to invade your private space.”
Shadow looks confused for a second or two then grins huge.
“Sure, Maria, look all you want.”
Maria walks toward Shadow then starts leaning to the right then the left, back and forth, inspecting the full tattoo on our enforcer’s face. When she stands back, she looks ecstatic.
“Where did you get that work done? I’ve been wanting one, but didn’t really know anyone in the area. My nephew does it out West but that’s not going to happen. I love that tattoo and it fits you somehow, and I don’t even know you. Like I shared, I’m Maria. You are?”
As Shadow introduces herself, the room relaxes. I close my eyes and just listen to the conversations start back up, along with the laughter. These people dropped everything to be here for me. Oh shit, my eyes pop open and I ask loudly.
“How’s Kon?”
The room instantly goes so quiet, I swear if someone dropped a pin, I’d hear it. I’m watching their faces for some kind of reaction when Panther makes his way to my bedside.
“Heartbreaker, thanks to your quick thinking, he’s in the hospital but is going to be fine. They are checking his pump because Konstantin told his dad and his endocrinologist that he didn’t receive any warnings from the pump. So they are not taking any chances. I know Rebel is with them so maybe once you’re checked out by Maria, we can get you up to see him. That kid is something else, even stood up for that principal lady, after all the woman did today. Told his dad he shouldn’t have gotten involved and maybe he could have spoken to the principal in her office. She’s been suspended until an investigation can be done. Atlas has to be a proud dad. I hear his other two boys are just as great.”
“Thanks, Panther, takes a load off my mind. I was worried I did something wrong and messed Kon up. And if they allow it, I’d love to go up there and see with my own eyes he’s okay. Again, appreciate the peace of mind.”
Maria walks around Panther and announces everyone out. Then she does her work, and damn, is she good. Stats, questions about how I feel, and what exactly happened. Told me she’ll report to the physician on duty and they will decide if I stay or go. I let her know I’d rather go home and she said she’d tell them that too. She saved the best for last and it made my evening.
“I heard Shadow’s husband telling you about that young man. Dr. Giannopoulos is one of our favorite physicians on staff. I’ll get a wheelchair so you can go up there and make sure young Giannopoulos is okay. I’ll give you no more than forty-five minutes though. And no exerting yourself. Do I make myself clear?”
Nodding, I reach for her hand and squeeze it.
“Thank you so much, Maria, it means the world to me. I’m beyond worried about the kid, so seeing him will help to put my mind at ease. Can I go now?”
She laughs, gives my hand a squeeze, then stands up and walks out the door. Everyone starts to pour back in immediately. Before I can answer the hundred questions thrown my way, she’s back with the wheelchair. She claps her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“Okay, this is how this is going to work. I can’t say they will let all of you up there but that’s their decision, not mine. This young lady needs to be back in no more than forty-five minutes. If she’s not, I’m calling security about a gang of troublemakers. Got it?”
As everyone chuckles, I’m already swinging my legs over the bed. I wait as the IV is moved to the smaller pole on the wheelchair, then Maria helps me up and into the chair. Squirt steps up and giggles.
“I’ll push your wheelchair there, grandma, just hang on tightly.”
With that, she takes off like a bat out of hell. The force has my hair slightly blowing back and it actually feels good on my skin. I’ve hated hospitals since my last overdose when I flatlined. I do everything and anything I can to stay the hell out of these places. Though this is a nice hospital and Maria is great, still don’t like them. We’re waiting for the elevator to arrive, when I hear Noodles challenge the other men to see who could make it to the floor first using the stairs. Like a group of boys, they all take off for the stairs when a nurse walking by tells them this is a hospital not a school gym. They immediately shut up but continue to the stairs. At that moment the doors slide open and all of us women and Presley, who stayed back with Squirt, get in. I’m feeling anxious and not sure if it’s from Kon’s situation, that bitch of a principal, passing out and being brought to the hospital, or that slight need I’m having for something I swore I’d never do again because if I do, my club will take my kutte and my ink then kick me to the curb. I can’t lose these women; they are my lifeline. So deep in thought my head jerks up as Squirt takes off toward the room we were told we’d find my answers in. Arriving at a door that’s shut, I lean forward and softly knock. I hear a muffled, “come on in,” and Presley pushes the door open. As Squirt wheels me in, I see the rest of the prospects Dani, Dottie, and Kitty, along with Wildcat and Dr. Malcolm, and finally Rebel. When she sees me, she jumps off the bed and rushes toward me, bending down and hugging me. When I look up, I see Taz and Enforcer in the corner before my eyes stop on Kon. His eyes are on me and it hits me, he looks beyond exhausted. The poor kid. When he spreads his arms open wide, I immediately stand up, grab the IV bag, and walk toward the bed. I lean over and he closes his arms, holding me tightly. I can feel his body trembling so I tell him to hush and not upset himself. That makes him even more emotional, so I lean back and put my hand to his cheek. His eyes go wide at my touch and that’s when I understand his feelings. Probably besides family, he and his brothers don’t have many women in their lives. Boys need a mom or mom figure around them. Damn his mother to the bottoms of hell. I wipe a tear then another away, as I notice my club sisters start to move toward the door. That’s when this kid breaks my heart and my heart falls in love. The love of a mom and son, even though he’s not mine and never will be.
“Heartbreaker, I’ve been waiting. Are you okay? ’Cause everyone kept telling me all was good. I fought falling asleep because shit, Rebel, come here too, please.”
He waits until Rebel goes on his other side, sitting on the bed—which doesn’t have a lot of room—so I pull the chair up close, never letting his hand go. Rebel grabs his other one, which cause more tears to fall down.
“I wanted to thank both of you from the bottom of my heart. Besides my yia-yia, or as you say here in the States, grandma, aunts, and a few close family friends, I’ve never had a woman who really don’t know me go to the lengths both of you have. Being a kid with type 1 diabetes, I’ve gotten used to hospitals and doctors and have seen the worst of people. I’m grateful to see the best in two people I don’t know. Don’t take what I said as I’m saying my dad ain’t great because the three of us are beyond blessed with him as our parent. One day, I’ll tell you about the bitch who gave birth to us. I’ll never forget what you ladies did for me, and maybe one day I can be there for you.”
With that, he drops his head. I look at Rebel and she nods, so the two of us lean over as close as we can get and hug on Kon. Not sure who’s crying harder when I hear three voices at the same time. Atlas and two young men.
“Dad, is Konstantin okay?”
“Why are those two women hugging on him?”
“What the hell is going on in here? Rebel, hey feisty, is my boy okay?”
With that I hear Kon chuckling at first then he lets out a kind of a hoot.
“Look, Dad, in less than an hour I have two of the hottest biker chicks, not only in my bed but hanging on tightly to me. Better wake up, father of mine, or this redhead on my left is going to find someone who is willing to do the work. This redhead on my right will need my permission before she lets anyone catch her. She deserves only the very best man out there. Since you’re hanging your star on Rebel and I’m just too damn young for her, I’ll take on the job and make sure I vet and approve all her male suitors. That’s what you old folks call it, right? Looking at her, shouldn’t take too long before some muscle-bound moron wins her heart, which will surely break mine.”
That has every single person let out a relieved chuckle or giggle. With that right there, my anxiety disappears and my heart has a new person to love. Well, actually three because got to include Kon’s two younger brothers.