2. Madeline
Madeline
“But why can’t it be pink or teal? What has the color black ever done for guns for it to be considered the mandatory dress code for gun deals?”
My heart was racing faster than I ever thought possible, while I spoke every thought that came to my mind.
“My love, why don’t you go to the waiting room?”
I shook my head. Nope. I was not leaving, even if seeing that amount of blood made me want to faint and swear off wearing red for the rest of my life.
I focused on his non-injured arm. Until Vince started rubbing my side.
“No, stop that,” I took his hand off my waist. “ I’m comforting you , remember?”
Holding his hand and stroking his thumb. “Where’s that doctor? They said five minutes? It’s been ten.”
A rush of white panic went through me again. Why were they taking so long?
“I got blood on your dress.”
“I don’t care. I hate this dress anyway.”
“Is that so?” he moved my hand to his shoulder, before holding my waist again.
I nodded, “I hate red.” I glanced at his bloody arm. “And I really, really hate crimson.”
The door opened. Immediately, I’m disappointed to see Nikolai and not the doctor. Then, I saw how angry he was.
“Nik, practice your breathing exercises.” I pointed at him, “the last thing I need is you in here too, having another heart attack or your medication increased.”
He forced a fake reassuring smile to calm me down. But I refused to look away until he listened to me.
Turning back around. My other hand going to Vince’s cheek. Of all nights for some random thug to try to stab him.
“So, we found?—”
“No, absolutely not,” I shook my head, speaking over Nik, “We are not talking about it. Not while half his arm is cut open. He’ll get worked up. The blood will start rushing faster and he’ll die .”
I held onto Vince’s shoulder tighter.
The door opened again. Finally, the doctor was back. The medical tray she was holding sent an immediate wave of anxiety through me.
Vince moved his hand down my back, pulling me to his side.
“My love, hey, trace my tattoos for me. It always calms me down.” He kissed my cheek, turning his body to keep his arm out of my view.
I nodded, running my nail over his shoulder, slowly tracing the tattoo down his arm. Leaning my forehead against his cheek.
“Hey Maddy, your cousin Greyson is here, says it’s important.”
Sighing loudly.
“Go, I’ll be here when you get back.” Vince gently touched my chin. “I promise.”
It better not be like earlier and his promise of no blood, because he had failed to keep it twice. Though the second time, it wasn’t his fault.
Glancing at the doctor again. “I’ll only be a minute.” I kissed his cheek twice before turning, looking between Nikolai and Bastion.
“Don’t you two dare leave this room.”
Bastion held the door open for me. I swear to God if Greyson had summoned me over something petty, I’d slap him.
Walking down the hospital hall. Greyson and Uncle Cole were standing in the waiting room.
“It’s unlike you, Maddy, to not answer your phone.” Uncle Cole didn’t even wait for the door to shut.
“I left it in the car, I think. What’s so important?”
“This,” Greyson tossed me his phone, “You’ve taken the night off to be with the Crows. While we are dealing with this!”
He could not be serious.
One minor miscommunication, caused by their own actions. Glaring at him and his unruly hair. I stepped forward, slapping him hard.
“These are called consequences. When you make a commitment and fail to keep it.” Backhanding his other cheek. “My advice is to apologize to them. Take a moment to be humble and learn a lesson of respecting the time of others.”
Shaking my head. Unbelievable. How could he justify sending those empty-worded threats? This is exactly how things escalate so quickly.
Taking a deep breath.
“Now, Uncle Cole, don’t forget Zeke’s birthday next weekend. Greyson, I’m making an appointment for you to get your hair cut. No cousin of mine will walk around town looking like an uncared for, palm tree.” I handed him his phone back. “I’ll send you the time and place, understood?”
He nodded, still holding his cheek as he took the phone off me.
“Good. In two days, you both will apologize to me for wasting my time. And Greyson, do not send me white roses again. Any color but white. Actually,” I paused, “or red. That color is offensive to me at the moment.”
Leaving the door open as I walked out. If the circumstances had been different and they had woken me up for that, I might have just stabbed him.
Lucky for him, I have a deep disliking for knives tonight.
“Nik, give me that fucking needle. I won’t let this glorified paper cut upset her all over again when she gets back.”
Unbelievable.
I pushed the door open fully. Lucky for Vince, the doctor tapped my shoulder and asked to get past me before I could yell at him for being off the bed. This is exactly why I have to supervise him.
“I don’t care if half the people in the strip club have overdosed. You aren’t leaving.” I turned the dressing room light off walking into the bedroom.
Vince was sitting up in bed, tapping the back of his phone.
It had taken an effort to get him home from the hospital and stop him from going to the strip club once he heard what happened.
“You can’t step in and take over every time things get hard. Give Rome a chance to prove to you he can handle this.”
Climbing on to his bed, I crawled to his side.
“Have some faith in yourself, okay?” I took his phone off him. “You’ve raised him well. If he really needs your help, he will call.”
Vince’s love for his siblings was admiring. If he could protect them from every small little inconvenience in this world, he would. They had no idea how lucky they were to have that type of love.
Finally he nodded, laying back down and wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me back to his chest.
“Nope, not happening, move your arm,” I sat up slightly, “I’m not sleeping on your sore arm all night.”
“Fine.” he rolled me over. “You can have my side.”
Brushing my hair away from my neck, he kissed my cheek. “I’m sorry about tonight.”
My throat tightened. Carefully taking his hand and kissing his knuckles. Before holding him tighter.
He was the only good thing about my life.
I couldn’t handle losing him. I wasn’t even sure how I’d handle the changes that were coming when I was married.