CHAPTER 21
RYKER
The pain hits me first. It spreads out from a point in my torso and radiates through my chest. I suck in a breath and squeeze my eyes shut even tighter as I let out a groan filled with pain.
A hand squeezes mine and then a voice reaches me, “Titus?”
I know that voice. I love that voice.
“Teach,” I barely get the word out because of how dry my throat is.
“Titus,” her voice breaks.
I manage to peel my eyelids open and look at her. Tears stream down her face while she perches on the chair next to the hospital bed. I hate seeing her tears.
“Don’t cry,” the words come out rough.
Her hands fumble for a moment before she reaches for a cup of water. She brings the straw to my lips, and I take a grateful sip.
“Go slow,” she says the words softly.
When I pull away, I give her a small smile. “You don’t have to whisper,” I tease her.
She freezes and then shoots me a scathing look. All I can do is chuckle, but that makes me groan in pain. “Shut up,” she grumbles.
“Are you okay?” I don’t even try to keep the worry out of my voice.
I look her over and check her for any injuries. I don’t see any, but that doesn’t mean anything.
She grips my hand and squeezes. “I’m fine,” she rushes out. “What about you? How are you feeling?”
“I kind of feel like I got hit by a truck,” I admit to her honestly.
More tears stream down her face and her grip tightens to the point of pain. Not that I’ll tell her to let me go anytime soon. Hell no.
“Come here,” I hold up my arm, the action making me wince slightly.
She shakes her head fiercely. “No way,” she tells me. “I’m not climbing into bed with you.”
“You should,” I tell her.
But she doesn’t. She moves the chair impossibly close, like it will be enough. It won’t be.
She shakes her head again and by the stubborn set of her jaw, I know I’m not going to get anywhere. Not right now at least. It won’t stop me from trying again later.
“What’s the prognosis?” I ask her with a groan as I settle back against the bed fully.
“You’re so fucking lucky,” she says, her tone almost filled with awe. “There was minimal damage. No organs were hit. They did have to go in and retrieve the bullet, but other than that you’re expected to make a full recovery.”
A smile spreads across my face and I nod. I remember the moment, right before the bullet hit, when I took a step to make sure she was completely shielded. It makes me wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t taken that step.
I’ll never know and it doesn’t really matter.
I did take it. I did protect my woman.
“Dad killed Bobby,” she says the words with a layer of grief that only makes me love her more. I watch her face closely and she squeezes her eyes shut for a moment. New tears find their tracks over her cheeks when she does.
When she opens her eyes again, the fear and the pain there is so raw and absolute that my heart stops for a second. She swallows hard and I know what she’s going to say before it leaves her lips.
“I was so scared that I was going to lose you, Titus,” her words are a confession.
“No way,” I tell her, steel threaded in my words, “I’m not going to leave you like that. No fucking way.”
She looks at me and something breaks in her expression. I know she’s still worried, I know the fear is still fresh, but I also know she believes me. At least, she wants to.
It’s enough for now.
Ezra slumps over where she’s holding my hand. Her tears hit my skin and my heart fucking clenches. It hurts like hell, but I bring my other hand over and gently stroke her hair, completely ignoring the bite of pain.
“Ezra,” my voice is gentle and she slowly raises her head to look at me. “You’re safe now.”
I hate the words, but I say them anyway.
She nods and her shoulders slump in relief as my hand falls back down to the bed. After swallowing hard she says, “He said he didn’t tell his boss. But we don’t know who that is. It’s not over,” her words are insistent.
“For you it is,” I insist.
“Looks like it,” she agrees and her eyes dart to the side as if she’s unsure if she should meet my gaze.
“Here’s the thing,” my voice is still weaker than I would like it, “you might be safe, but I’m not letting you go.”
Her eyes snap up to meet mine and I realize not all of her worries were about the bullet wound. It was also about this moment.
The moment when she’s safe.
The moment when she doesn’t have to stay.
Did she really think I wouldn’t ask her to be mine and stay by my side forever? Can she really believe that I would accept anything other than yes as an answer?
“What?”
A single word from her lips, but it’s filled with so much disbelief that it stings.
“I’m not letting you go,” I tell her plainly.
No artifice; just truth.
“You’re mine and I’m yours.” The tears in her eyes are different now; they glint with a joy which makes me feel like I could conquer the world even from a hospital bed. “I’m going to make you my Old Lady. I’m going to marry you.”
She gasps and her eyes go so wide and round that she looks like a cartoon version of herself. “What are you even saying, Titus?”
“I’m speaking English, Teach, what is there to be confused about?” I ask her with a smirk, wanting her teasing, wanting her fire.
“I understand English perfectly well,” she sasses right back at me.
There it is. It’s exactly what I wanted from her. It tells me that everything is going to be okay. She won’t carry today around with her forever, even though it’ll linger.
“I’m going to make you my wife,” I repeat myself. “Then come the babies and the happily ever after.”
I settle back even deeper into the pillow and let out a contented sigh as if my words are the most obvious, and comforting, thing in the world. To me they are.
“Then come the babies and the happily ever after,” she parrots the words, but they’re filled with awe when they come from her lips.
“Yup,” I pop the p and peer over at her. I hate that she’s so far away. “For this part, I do need you to come closer.”
She starts to shake her head, but when she looks at my face, she stops. I don’t know what she sees there, but it has her standing up and perching on the edge of the bed.
I reach up and cup her cheek in my hand, my thumb moving over the soft skin right near her bottom lip. “Beautiful,” I breathe out the word as my eyes roam over her face.
For a moment there, when I was on my back as warm blood started to seep out around me, I was afraid I’d never see her again. That kind of fear is something I never want to experience again. I’ll do anything in my power to ensure that she’s always safe. Her and any kids we’re blessed enough to have.
“Titus,” her tone is an admonishment while she blushes softly, and her lips tip up into a coy smile.
“I love you, Ezra.”
For a moment, my words hang between us and then they land. I watch the impact like I’m experiencing a super nova.
Shock.
Relief.
Understanding.
Love.
Her face shows every one of her emotions. She doesn’t try to hide them from me; she never has.
“I love you,” she gasps out the words like she’s coming up for air.
A huge smile spreads across my face and her smile matches it. She blinks a few times and shakes her head in disbelief. My hand slides into her hair to cradle the back of her skull. When I pull her forward, she resists slightly, but I’m not having any of that.
“You have to seal it,” I rumble, “with a kiss.”
She rolls her eyes and lets out a huff of disbelief, but she still leans closer. The peck she gives me isn’t nearly enough, but she tries to pull back almost immediately.
I don’t let her go and hold her in place. The moment she moans into my mouth, I know I have her right where I want her.
My tongue slides past her lips as I deepen the kiss. Her hands grip the hospital gown covering my chest, but I can feel the way her movements are careful because she doesn’t want to hurt me.
“Say it again,” I murmur against her lips.
“I love you, Titus,” her words are breathless.
I swallow them down, loving how sweet they taste on my tongue. The last thing I want to do is pull away from her, but the door opens and my woman jumps back from me like she’s just been electrocuted.
All I can do is smirk at her wide eyes and flushed cheeks. She’s fucking adorable.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I look toward the voice to find a woman in a pair of scrubs half in and half out of the room, “but I just wanted to come by and check on you.”
“Oh,” Ezra starts to fuss, “please come in.”
She gets up off the edge of the bed and I’m not quite fast enough to catch her. The look she shoots me as she sits in the chair again is probably meant to be scary, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark considering her lips are still pink and plump from our kiss.
The nurse steps in but doesn’t come over to get vitals or anything. My eyebrows pull together and when I take another look at her, it tugs at something in me. A memory. A moment.
“You were there,” I start, “in the emergency room when I came in.”
She nods once and smiles. “I was. My name is Bridget. I’m not a nurse on this floor, but I just wanted to stop in and make sure you were awake and on the road to recovery.”
There’s nothing hidden in her words and the sincerity is clear to hear.
“I’m good,” I breathe out while holding my hand out for Ezra to take.
She slides her palm against mine with zero hesitation and we thread our fingers together like we’ve been doing it our entire lives. I love the warmth of her hand and how smooth her skin is. My scars and callouses are a stark contrast to her unblemished flesh.
“Thank you for being there,” I tell her honestly. “You really helped me feel like I was fighting even though it’s the people who was working on me who deserve the praise.”
“You’d be surprised,” she says with understanding, “the mind is powerful, and giving it something to focus on when everything is falling apart and the pain is hard to bare, really does help.”
One side of my mouth twitches and I’m not sure why. “You told me that if I have someone to hold onto, someone I never want to let go of, to think of them.” Ezra’s breath hitches and her fingers tighten on mine. “I thought of Ezra and knew I could make it, no matter the fight.”
Bridgett smiles while looking between us. “I can see how much you two love each other,” she muses. “I’m glad I could help you.”
“I’m Ryker and this is my Old Lady, Ezra. If you ever need anything, come to the club,” I tell her, meaning every word.
“Thank you, but that’s not necessary. I was just doing my job.” She glances at the clock on the wall before giving us another smile. “I’ll get going. Don’t push yourself too hard, you were shot.”
“Sure,” I throw out the word, knowing it’s not going to happen.
Bridget pauses with her hand on the door and laughs softly. “Yeah, I don’t believe you at all.”
I bark out a laugh and then groan as I press a hand to where the pain sharply pulses. With an admonishing shake of her head, Bridget slips out the door.
“I think that was Whiskey’s neighbor,” Ezra tells me and I look toward her and take her in.
“When we were in the waiting room, he mentioned her and that he’d see if he could get some information on how you were doing.
He couldn’t because she was busy; now I know why. I’m glad she was there for you.”
I let that information sink in and nod. When I tug on her hand to get her to come closer, Ezra glares at me.
“Stop it,” she insists, “you were shot.”
“I was shot,” I point out, “but I’m not dead. Get in bed with me.”
“Nope. You need to rest.”
She sounds so resolute, but I can see the way she wants to curl up into my side. It’s her safe space and I think she needs it just as much as I do.
I don’t think I’ll ever say out loud how scared I was, but I can still feel the sensation lingering in my bones. I’m glad Lyons took the shot, and Bobby didn’t have the chance to fire again.
With a grimace, I force my body over to one side. It’s not an easy feat considering the bed isn’t nearly big enough. But we can make due.
“Please,” I plead with her without a hint of shame.
She looks at me for a long moment before huffing out, “Fine.”
Her movements are careful and slow as she gets into bed next to me. I can tell she’s afraid of hurting me to the point that she’s barely breathing. When I wrap my arm around her and pull her tighter against my chest, she finally allows her head to rest against my pec.
The sigh of relief that comes out of her ghosts against my skin while I gently trail her hair through my fingers. With a kiss on the top of her head, I really start to relax. She’s right where she belongs. In my arms.
And safe.
“How’s Opal?” I ask, the exhaustion easy to hear in my voice.
“She’s fine. A little shaken, but she’s fine.”
“Good,” I rumble while my hand moves to slide up and down her spine.
“I love you, Titus.” Her words are gentle and ferocious, “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“I’ll try, Teach,” I assure her.
When the door of the room swings open again, I’m not at all surprised to find Nana standing there along with Jackal and Mom right behind her. Their faces show just how relieved they are to see me awake.
Nana rushes into the room and she comes right to me. With a flick to the center of my forehead, she scolds me, “How stupid can you be, Ryker? Don’t ever scare me like that again.”
I chuckle, ignoring the way it pulls at my new wound. “I’m fine,” I try to assure her even though it’s obvious from the look on her face that she wants to argue with me about it.
But I am fine.
I have my woman in my arms and my family at my back.
Ezra tries to get off the bed, but I hold her against me. She doesn’t put up much of a fight; if it’s because she’s afraid of hurting me, then I’m totally fine with it.
“How are you feeling, really?” Mom’s worried face pops up over Nana’s shoulder.
I can see the tear tracks on her cheeks and it guts me. The last thing I ever want is for the women in my life to cry. I’m not strong enough to handle that shit.
“Like shit,” I admit which earns a chuckle from Dad, “but I’ll be just fine.”
Mom squeezes in close enough to run her hand over the top of my head while she gives me a soft smile. There are words unsaid between us and that’s just fine. I know what they are.
She’s glad I’m okay.
She was scared for me.
She doesn’t want to see me in pain.
It’s how she’s always been, and I never expected it to change, not even when I put the president patch on my cut.
“We’re glad you’re both safe,” Nana says and when I look at her, I can see the pride in her eyes.
Not just because I protected someone who needed it, but because I chose well when it comes to Ezra. I’m not sure there was much choice about it.
She’s mine. I’m hers.
It’s just that simple.
As everyone chats around us, I lean down and whisper in my woman’s ear, “You still owe me a blowjob.”
She gasps and then pinches my side without thinking about it. I jolt and then groan.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry.” She fawns over me with her words.
My eyes slide closed, but one side of my mouth tips up as I say, “Worth it.”