Chapter Twenty-Four
Sheridan
HOSPITALS ARE THE worst place ever if you ask me.
Since getting pregnant with Leo I’ve spent more time in the hospital than anywhere else it seems. Now, after my mother and those skanks kidnapped and beat me, I’m back once again.
Though, I hope I won’t have to stay here like I have in the past. I’m more than ready to go home and I’ve only been awake for an hour.
The doctors are still running tests and waiting for results to come back in.
At least that’s what they keep telling me.
All I know is I’m alone in the room and they’re not allowing anyone to come back and sit with me.
That just makes this entire experience even worse because I’m alone and bored as hell.
If I had my phone, I could at least read or watch something that’s not on TV.
There’s never anything on TV when I try to sit down and watch something so I gave up watching shows and movies that aren’t streamed on some app.
“How are you feeling?” Dr. Matthews asks, walking in my room even though there’s really no reason for me to see her right now.
“I’ve been better. It’s more of an ache than outright pain though. What are you doing here?” I question her, confusion filling me as I look around the room.
“They want me to check on the incision from your surgery. I heard you were hit there. We both know it’s essentially healed completely, but I do agree with them about me checking it out for you. Just for your peace of mind,” she answers me while stepping up close to the bed I’m currently laying in.
Dr. Matthews lifts the hospital gown I was changed into at some point while I was still knocked out.
She examines the area around the incision and presses down around the bruising covering my skin.
It’s sore but doesn’t make me scream from the pain.
I only flinch one time from pain and that’s when she hits a particularly dark bruised area with a knot under the skin.
I can’t even remember what I was hit with in that area of my body.
My mother, Jess, and Foxy used anything they could get their hands on when they were tired of using their fists.
Plus, objects allowed them to inflict more damage. At least that’s what my mom told them.
“It appears to be superficial wounds. I don’t foresee any problems for you as you continue to heal.
You’ve got about two weeks left before your next appointment with me.
I’ll take another look when you come to the office.
As usual, if you have any problems before then, give me a call and I’ll see you immediately.
Is your back okay?” Dr. Matthews asks even though she’s not my doctor for that issue.
“Yeah. They kept me tied to a chair at one of the houses I own. I was tied pretty tight and had no choice but to sit completely straight. Sometimes that helps with the pain and muscle spasms,” I answer her honestly because it is the truth in my situation.
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few weeks, Sheridan. Give your baby boy a long hug when you get home. I’m sure he misses his mama,” she says before leaving the room so I’m all alone again.
I close my eyes because I’ve already read every poster on the wall and I’m sick of staring at the same four walls and closed door. I can’t get comfortable in the bed because it’s hard and lumpy. This is not good for my back.
“Little Fairy!” I hear Axel shout from outside my room and my eyes snap open.
I can’t help but smile and laugh because I knew it was only a matter of time before he lost control and forced his way back to me. Axel is not a patient man and I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did if I’m being honest.
“Sir, you can’t be back here. If you don’t leave, I’ll be forced to call security,” I hear someone admonish him. That’s not going to stop Axel from finding me.
“I’m in here,” I call out, my throat still sore as I try to swallow. They really haven’t allowed me to have anything to drink because they don’t know if I’ll need surgery.
The door of my room opens seconds later and Axel fills it completely with a doctor standing behind him.
In seconds, Axel’s at my side and pressing his lips against mine.
We don’t break apart until someone clears their throat behind him.
Looking over his shoulder as Axel buries his face in my neck, I see the doctor that’s been overseeing my care since I woke up.
“Sir, you’re not allowed in here yet,” he says, trying to assert some form of authority over Axel.
“I’m not leavin’ her side. You’ve got her in a room all alone while you wait on results or whatever the fuck is goin’ on.
There is no reason at all why she can’t have someone in here with her.
I know my girl and she’ll be bored as fuck layin’ in a bed with nothin’ to do and nothin’ on that TV in the corner.
Try to kick my ass out and I’ll make sure you don’t have a job by the end of the fuckin’ day.
Let her dad back here too,” Axel states, his voice muffled against my skin as the doctor pales with each word said to him.
“Right away,” he says before racing from my room while I start laughing.
“Nothin’ funny about this situation, Little Fairy,” Axel says, removing his face from my neck and looking at me with worry in his eyes.
“Yeah, there is. You come in here and threaten the doctor and I thought he was gonna piss himself. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did out there,” I tell him, copying my thoughts from minutes ago.
“I wasn’t here. They forced me to leave the hospital because I spent four fuckin’ days full of rage with no outlet.
All of my time was spent with Leo. Rooster wouldn’t let me out to search for you and I only went to the clubhouse when they called church.
Even then I was the last to know,” he informs me as we wait for my dad to be allowed back with us.
“Worst four fuckin’ days of my life, Little Fairy. ”
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t any better for me if that makes you feel better,” I say, knowing he’ll get upset because I’m joking at a time like this.
“Not funny, Sheridan. You scared the shit out of all of us. We had no clue where you were. Then your dad took off on his own while most of us were tryin’ to grab a few hours of sleep.
All you need to know right now is none of them will ever bother you again.
Foxy and Jess will be headin’ to the police station once the women are done with them.
That cop is no longer a threat and Brick found the asshole who hit you that day.
He’s not a problem for you either,” he tells me just as my dad walks in the room and gets his first look at me.
I can’t imagine I look very good right now. I’m more than ready for a shower to clean the grime and blood off my skin. A nurse did the best she could to help me, but there’s only so much a sponge bath can do.
“None of you are gonna get in trouble, are you?” I ask, looking between my dad and the man I love.
“Nope. Don’t worry about it, Little Fairy.
We took care of everythin’,” Axel assures me, his voice low and gentle before he turns to my dad.
“Mr. Russell, you know I love your daughter. I’ve loved her since the second I met her in high school and I was stupid and didn’t tell her then.
I should’ve claimed her years ago instead of not wantin’ to ruin my friendship with her.
With your permission, I’d love to claim her as my ol’ lady and ask her the most important question of our lives. ”
“There isn’t another man in this world I’d ever give my blessing to, Axel.
I’ve known you’ve loved my daughter since the first time you followed her home.
You could never hide how you feel for her when you look in her direction.
The only two who had no clue were you and her.
Your parents and I thought we’d be planning a wedding right out of high school,” my dad says as I start laughing because I can imagine that being true.
Axel turns to me and I watch as he gets down on one knee while reaching into his cut.
He pulls out a ring I’ve seen before. It was our senior year of high school and the ring was sitting on his dresser in the box.
I know it’s custom made and there will never be a ring in the world like it.
Axel designed the ring himself. I only know that because Marcus told me about it when he found me outside.
I was upset thinking Axel was about to propose to some other girl I didn’t know about considering I knew everything about the guy who stole my heart in a matter of seconds.
The band of the ring is platinum with small diamonds and purple sapphires.
There’s a large diamond in the very center of the band and four more purple sapphires on each side of the diamond.
The center diamond is shaped in a heart and is flawless.
On each side of the diamond is a small skull as if it’s holding the gem on its head.
I’ve always loved this ring because it absolutely fits everything Axel is about in this world.
The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if he could have incorporated a bike into it somehow.