Chapter 24
Trigger
“Tyler!” I hear my wife scream in terror and pain as I pull up outside the convenience store, and I quickly jump off my bike and shout, “Pixie!” as I rush over to the mouth of the alleyway, and the scene before me sends me into panic.
The fucker is kicking my passed-out wife’s stomach and so much fucking blood stains her thighs and absolute gut wrenching fear fills me.
Fuck no, please…
I roar out, getting his attention, and the slimy fucker grins, blood coating his teeth, proving Ash fought back like my strong girl, and I hear Doc rasp, “Fuck,” but I ignore him as I sprint towards the soon-to-be dead man.
His eyes widen and he quickly looks around before going to grab the gun on the floor but before he can grab it I tackle him to the ground, landing on top of him and he grunts at the impact before I slam my fist down on the fuckers face, once, twice, three times, knocking him out as Doc shouts, “Tyler the baby is coming,” and I look at him in shock, my fist in the air ready to hit the fucker again and panic hits me seeing him in between my passed out wife’s legs, Ashley’s head lolled to the side.
No, no, no, no…
I shove the fucker back down, letting go of his top and rushing over to them before kneeling, and I look to see my son's head, and I choke back a sob.
“Asher, what do we do?” I ask with a tremble, and he rasps, “I-I need Rose, I need Tank.”
“I’m here,” Tank says, skidding beside Doc. His eyes well up with tears as he takes in the situation, then turns to me and demands, “Get behind your wife, brother.”
I listen and move behind Ash. Gently I lift her up and lie her on my knees, but she doesn’t even make a sound, and panic grips me as brothers rush past us to grab that fucker.
“How is she still giving birth if she isn’t conscious?” I question with fear for my wife, for my son.
“The body's contractions are involuntary muscle actions that do not stop if consciousness is lost, brother,” Doc chokes, “It is extremely rare and dangerous.”
Fuck…
I press my lips against Ashley’s head, noticing the bruising instantly along her temple and I tense as my brothers help guide my son out, ten fucking weeks early, my tears falling hard and fast.
“He’s here,” Tank announces after a few minutes.
I look up at him to find him giving my son CPR, and my body shakes, my tears falling as Doc curses, “Fuck, she’s had placental eruption….
“What does that mean?!” I snap and he states, “That we need to get her to the hospital now!” before he looks behind him and I notice Willie and Alan watching with terror, and he snaps, “Bring the fucking van to the entrance of the alley now, we’ll be quicker than an ambulance, hurry!”
They quickly scramble as Ace kneels beside me, gripping my shoulder and Stone kneels next to Tank, and my eyes go to my son, who still isn’t breathing, and all I can think – this is all my fucking fault.
I lean against my knees, my bloodied hands linked as I stare at the floor, ignoring everyone in the waiting room, waiting for news not just on my son but also my wife.
When we arrived at the hospital, Rose was waiting and took my son straight to the neonatal unit while Doc and Tank rushed off with Ashley, and my dad guided me to the waiting room, explaining that Mama would stay with the kids, ensuring Cole doesn’t suspect a thing.
I can hear Brittany sniffling, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
If she dies, I will follow her. There is no doubt about it. I couldn’t live knowing the pain I put her through, and it took everything in me to quiet the urges I had to kill myself. I can’t fucking live without her, I can’t.
I squeeze my eyes tighter as the blood etches my mind and my heart physically hurts.
“Trigger?” I hear and I slowly look up as Rose and Stone rush over to me.
She kneels while Stone sits down beside me, gripping my shoulder, and I choke, “Just give it to me, Rose.”
“He’s okay,” she whispers, “he weighs just over three pounds but is so very strong. Tank managed to get his heart started and no side effects of his birth is present, he’s okay, Trigger,” she grabs my hands not caring about the blood, “He has a feeding tube in and is on oxygen which is normal… Do you want to see him?”
I nod instantly, knowing Ashley will want one of us with him, and Rose smiles as she stands, then pulls me up, and Stone gets up with us, and we all walk towards the door, a lump forming in my throat with pain and worry.
“He does have a few wires attached to him, but don’t be alarmed,” Rose says softly as she passes me some wipes, and I nod numbly as we walk through a set of double doors, wiping away the blood.
She doesn’t normally work with preemie babies. She’s training to be a pediatric cardio nurse, but fuck if I’m not grateful that she stayed with my son.
My eyes go to an incubator as we enter a quiet room full of beeping and I suck in a breath as I walk over to it, the name ‘Baby Davis,’ stuck on the side and my tears fall as my knees give out right next to it.
“Brother,” Stone says, clogged up as his hand grips my shoulder, and ever so fucking carefully, I put my hand through the little hole in the side and gently touch his warm, small hand.
He’s so fucking tiny…
“What have I done?” I say completely full of emotions, and Stone’s grip tightens on my shoulder as I sob, knowing this is all my fucking fault and Ashley will never forgive me.
I slowly rub my thumb along my bottom lip, and an hour later, I'm fully aware that I haven’t heard from Doc yet or Tank about my wife, as I watch my son slowly move his head.
“Did Ashley ever give you a name?” my dad asks quietly, beeping echoing around us, and I swallow back the emotions wanting to take over, not really knowing how to navigate all this.
I know she’ll never forgive me, yet I’m too selfish to let her go.
“Tyson,” I whisper, and my dad chokes back a sob as he grips my shoulder with shocked support as the door to the room opens, and I turn and lock eyes with my son’s, who are so much like my wife’s.
“Hey, bud,” I choke as Ice guides him inside and murmurs, “Your mama has gone to find some information on Ash.”
I nod and mutter, “Thanks, brother,” and he gives me a nod in return before his eyes go to my son.
He pulled me aside a few weeks ago and explained that he had encouraged Ash to come into the common room. He felt guilty because he should have gone inside with her, but he couldn’t have known that Hazel was going to forget her place.
“Dad…” Cole whispers, and I hold my hand out to him, and he walks over to me, his eyes on his baby brother.
This kid has been through so fucking much, and it’s all my fault. Everything is my fucking fault.
“I would like for you to meet your brother, son, Tyson Cole Davis,” I whisper as I pull him to stand in front of me.
“He’s so tiny,” he whispers, and I hum, and I rest my chin on his shoulder as the door opens again, and I see Doc walk in.
“He is,” I agree, “and he will need you to be the strong big brother I know you can be and help him get stronger. Can you do that?”
He nods and asks, “Can I touch him?”
“Of course you can,” I say, and give him a little push. He steps forward and slowly puts his hand in the gap, touching his little brother, as my dad moves to stand beside Cole, allowing Doc to take a seat.
“Just give it to me straight, Doc,” I demand quietly after watching Cole for a few minutes doting over his baby brother and try to keep my emotions under control now that he is here.
He doesn’t need to worry any more than he already is.
“She’s okay,” he confirms, and I slowly close my eyes. He grips my shoulder and murmurs quietly, “Her placenta had erupted due to the force of the kicks, and we had to surgically remove it.” He takes a deep breath, “Brother, there is a very high chance she may never be able to get pregnant again.”
My whole world tilts, and my breath stutters, and he admits, “If she were to get pregnant, if she wins against all the odds, she will be at extreme high risk.”
“Fuck!” I choke as I drop my head, and he whispers, “She’s in a private room. Do you want me to take you to her?”
I nod instantly, then look at Ice, who smiles sadly and whispers, “I’ll stay,” knowing I can’t leave my youngest son unattended, and I nod with gratitude as I look at Dad, who confirms, “I’ll bring Cole as soon as he’s ready, then take him home.”
“Thank you,” I say to both of them, and Ice mentions, “That’s what family is for, brother, now go see your wife.”
Five minutes later, Doc guides me into a room, beeping echoing, and my knees nearly give out at my wife, my beautiful, strong wife, looking so small in the hospital bed.
She has wires in her arms, her jaw and temple are bruised, and she looks fucking pale.
“She has extensive bruising on her stomach but should heal,” Doc mentions as I walk over to Ash, then states, “She’s not allowed to lift anything heavy for six weeks, and brother, I will be having a prospect outside of her door, so don’t fucking try anything stupid, she needs you.”
I nod, not surprised he can see where my mind is going as I take a seat and carefully lift up my pixie’s limp hand and press it against my lips as my tears fall before I sob for all the pain I have caused.
I hear Doc close the door, and I drop to my knees before Ashley’s bed, breathing becoming difficult, and I know I should walk away.
That I should let her live her life without me reminding her of what I did.
I know I should set her free because this is all my fucking fault, but I can’t, I can’t let her go even though I know she will never forgive me.
How in the fuck can I get her to stay with me without forcing her against her will?