Shaker (Blackwings MC Book 5)

by Teagan Brooks

  I didn’t wait. I didn’t speak. I didn’t think. I just did. I fired one shot at Lois, a small, dark hole appearing on her forehead. I quickly turned to fire at Preston to find him already on the ground with a matching bullet hole on his own forehead.

  Dropping to my knees beside Keegan, I placed my fingers against her neck and prayed for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. “We need an ambulance and the police at the Hastings estate. The senator’s stepdaughter has been shot,” I heard Kellan saying behind me.

  “I need help, man!” I yelled. He dropped his phone and knelt beside me. “Hold pressure on her stomach. I’ve got her chest.”

  We stayed like that, desperately trying to stanch the blood that continue to pour out of her limp body. Her breaths were becoming more and more shallow while her skin grew paler with each passing minute. “Where the fuck are they?” I bellowed.

  “Right here. Please move aside so we can help her,” a paramedic said.

  “We can’t let go. She’s already lost too much blood,” Kellan explained.

  The paramedic gathered some items and moved in beside me, sliding his hands underneath mine. I noticed another paramedic doing the same thing with Kellan. As soon as our hands were free, we took a few steps back. I couldn’t take my eyes off Keegan.

  “Place your hands on your head and slowly turn around. Then, lower yourself to your knees. Both of you,” a booming voice called out.

  I whirled around with my hands in the air. “You have got to be fucking kidding me right now!” I roared. “My wife is dying, and you’re trying to arrest me?!”

  “I won’t ask again,” the cop yelled.

  “Shaker, cooperate. They’ll get it sorted,” Kellan pleaded.

  “Fuck that!” I turned to check on my wife, and white-hot pain surged through me from head to toe. Every muscle in my body contracted and felt like it was on fire. I fell to the floor convulsing, trying to figure out what had happened to me.

  What felt like an eternity later, my muscles relaxed, and my brain started to come back online. I was still on the floor, now on my stomach with my hands cuffed behind my back. My eyes searched the room, but there was no sign of Keegan, other than the profuse amount of her blood staining the floor.

  I fixated on the large pool of blood in the center of the room. My wife’s blood. Too much of my wife’s blood for her to be alive. I closed my eyes and choked back the sob trying to force its way out.

  “Get him up and get him to the station,” an unfamiliar voice said.

  “No! Please! Let me see my wife! Where is she?” I asked as I frantically scanned the room for Keegan.

  “They took her to the hospital,” Kellan said quietly from my side.

  “When did they take her?” I asked, still feeling like I was in a fog.

  “Right after they tasered you for resisting arrest,” he answered.

  “No!” I roared and futilely yanked against the handcuffs. “I have to get to the hospital. You have to let me go. You have it all wrong!”

  The cop snorted sardonically, “Like we haven’t heard that before.”

  “Let them go.” Relief filled me at the sound of a familiar and friendly voice.

  “And why would I do that?” the cop asked.

  Luke entered the room and flashed his badge. “I’m Luke Johnson. This is part of an open federal investigation in which I am the lead agent. In other words, because I said so,” Luke retorted.

  “I can’t just release two murder suspects,” the cop said.

  “Release them now, or I’ll have your badge,” Luke barked. “Did you even ask them what happened before you cuffed them?”

  “I didn’t have the opportunity to ask them anything. That one there,” he said, pointing to me, “became aggressive and resisted arrest.”

  “Oh, really? Or was he distraught over his wife’s condition?” Luke questioned. “Uncuff. Them. Now.”

  The cop huffed and gestured for his partner to release us. As the cuffs were coming off, Luke said, “I have a car waiting downstairs to take you to the hospital. I’ll meet you there when I finish up here.”

  “Thanks, Luke,” I managed to choke out as Kellan and I ran toward the waiting car.

  I called my mother on the way to the hospital. If anyone, other than Keegan, would be able to help me keep my shit together, it was my mother.

  “I called Phoenix and filled him in. He’s going to get Ranger, and they’ll be on their way,” Kellan said.

  I clapped him on the shoulder to say thanks, and he winced. I jerked my hand back and saw blood staining my fingers. “Shit, Kellan. You got hit?”

  “Yeah. It’s not a big deal. I’ll have it looked at after we find out how Keegan is doing,” he said.

  I shook my head. “No, brother, you’ll have it looked at as soon as we get there. Keegan is probably already in surgery, and we won’t know anything for a while.” I felt like shit for thinking it, but in a way, Kellan getting shot gave me something to focus on until there was news about Keegan.

  When we arrived at the hospital, Kellan was immediately taken back to a room. I stopped at the desk and asked about Keegan. I was right; she was in surgery, which meant she was still alive. I made sure my phone number was attached to her chart and told the woman where I could be found. I also asked her to call me when my mother arrived, and yes, I shamelessly name-dropped.

  Her eyes widened at the mention of my mother. “Yes, Mr. Marks. I will call right away. I’m going to call my supervisor and see about arranging a private waiting room for you while your wife is in surgery. Is there anything else I can do to be of help?” she asked.

  “That will be all for now. Thank you,” I replied and tapped the counter twice. I didn’t care for this part of the wealthy lifestyle. Everyone was overly eager to get on your good side and seemed to be constantly kissing your ass. However, in the current situation, I would take anything I could get if it would help Keegan.

  I walked back to Kellan’s room to find him being stitched up by a guy who looked far too young to be working in a hospital, much less to be a physician. “How is she?” Kellan asked when he saw me enter the room.

  “She’s in surgery. That’s all I know,” I muttered. I jerked my chin toward his shoulder, “How’s the arm?”

  “It’ll be fine. It was a clean through and through. When the doc is finished sewing me up, I’ll be good to go,” Kellan replied, sounding bored.

  A few minutes later, I heard a commotion coming from the other side of the door that led to the Emergency Department’s waiting room. I grinned, “Sounds like my mother has arrived.”

  The doctor’s head shot up, and he looked me over, “Who is your mother?”

  The door opened, and she answered, “I am.”

  “Mrs. Marks, it’s a pleasure to see you again, though I hope unpleasant circumstances are not the reason for your visit today,” the doctor babbled. See? Constant ass kissing. My mother was on the board of directors for the hospital and also donated an obscene amount of money to the hospital each year. Of course, everyone in the place knew who she was and would try to please her in any way they could.

  My mother gestured toward Kellan, “Obviously, that is exactly why I am here.” She turned her attention to me, “Are you all right, sweetheart? How is Keegan?”

  I pulled my mother in for a hug. “I’m okay, physically. Keegan is in surgery, but I don’t know, Mom, it was bad,” I choked out, not bothering to fight the tears welling in my eyes.

  “Oh, baby,” my mother soothed. “She’s a strong girl, and this hospital is home to some of the best surgeons in the country. We’ll wait, and we’ll pray, and we’ll stay strong for Keegan.”

  We were taken to a private waiting room when Kellan was discharged from the Emergency Department. Luke arrived not long after we had gotten settled. He offered to take our statements later, but I needed the distraction. Time was crawling at a snail’s pace, and it was only a matter of time before I lost control of myself.

  W
e were almost finished talking to Luke when Phoenix and what looked like the majority of the original chapter of the Blackwings MC arrived. Ranger came stomping over and interrupted without giving a single shit. “Where is my grandbaby?” he demanded.

  “She’s still in surgery,” I replied.

  He nodded and eyed Kellan. Jerking his chin toward his shoulder, he asked, “What happened to you, Prospect?”

  “I was shot, sir,” Kellan answered.

  “Defending my granddaughter?”

  “He shot Preston while I shot Lois. Preston got a shot off before he went down,” I answered for Kellan.

  Ranger nodded and turned to Phoenix, “No disrespect, but you need to patch this boy in. He’s saved my granddaughter a few times over now. As far as I’m concerned, he’s more than earned it.”

  “I agree with Ranger, Prez. No disrespect here either,” I said.

  Phoenix laughed, “I was planning on calling for a vote on him as soon as your damn dust settled, Shaker.”

  “Oh, well, okay then,” I mumbled. Ranger nodded in agreement.

  Luke cleared his throat, “I need to get back to the office. I think I have everything I need from the two of you for now. I’ll need to get Keegan’s statement when she’s awake and ready. Jacquelyn, may I speak with you for a moment?”

  My mother gracefully rose and followed Luke into the hallway. A few moments later, she returned sans Luke and said, “There is a small issue that requires my attention. I will be back as soon as possible. Call me if there’s any news.” She kissed me on the cheek and disappeared with her head of security, Ronan, on her heels.

  “She’s up to something,” I said, more to myself than anyone else.

  I found a seat and dropped my head into my hands. I had no idea how long we would have to wait before we heard something about Keegan. I let out a heavy breath and tried to rein in my emotions, but I was struggling.

  A soft hand landed on my shoulder, and I turned my head to find Harper sitting beside me. She reached over and clasped my hand in hers. Then, she repeated the words I said to her right after we escaped from the hidden house in the hills. “Not yet. If you lose it, I’ll lose it, and we can’t do that right now. Got me?”

  Squeezing her hand, I whispered, “Got you.”

  I have no idea how long we waited before the door opened, and a male voice said, “Family of Keegan Marks?”

  Ranger and I were on our feet and in front of the man in a flash. “How is she?” we both barked out at the same time.

  I’ll give the man credit; he didn’t so much as flinch in response to our gruff tone. What unnerved me was the unreadable mask on his face. “Let’s step out into the hall,” he said and didn’t wait for us to agree or disagree.

  He started talking about her injuries and what they did to repair them. He was talking and talking but only a few words registered to me—two gunshot wounds to the chest, one gunshot wound to the abdomen, collapsed lung, fractured sternum, couldn’t save the kidney. He kept going and going, and I couldn’t take it anymore. “Just tell me if she’s alive!” I bellowed.

  He blinked stupidly and slowly said, “Yes, she’s alive. She’s in critical condition, but she is still with us.”

  I sagged in relief at his words. Ranger’s big paw landed on my shoulder, “Go have a seat, brother. I’ll finish up with the doctor.”

  “No. I want to see her,” I stated.

  “You can, as soon as she is moved to a room,” the doctor replied automatically.

  “No, I want to see her now,” I demanded.

  “Sir—” he started to protest.

  “My name is Mr. Marks,” I said. “Mr. Jacob Kingsley Marks.”

  “As in?”

  “Yes, as in those Marks. Now, may I please see my wife?” I asked desperately.

  “We usually have the family wait until the patient has been moved to a room, but I think we can make an exception in this case. Please follow me,” he said.

  Ranger stayed in step with me, and I didn’t question it. After all, he was her only living blood relative besides her younger sister. Yes, I was her husband, but if it hadn’t been for the fucked up circumstances, we wouldn’t be married.

  The doctor led us through a set of double doors. I was immediately accosted with the harsh chemical smell only found in hospitals. Machines were beeping, phones were ringing, and people were buzzing about. It was almost too much for me to stand at that moment. Then, my eyes landed on Keegan.

  She was so pale and so still. She had tubes and wires coming from her face, her arms, and from underneath her blankets. I gingerly placed a kiss on her forehead and slid my hand underneath hers. Ranger followed suit, kissing the top of her head, then smoothing his hand over her hair.

  “Keegan, baby, if you can hear me, you have to fight. I need you. Gabriella needs you. And Ranger needs you. So, you have to stay strong and fight to get through this,” I choked out.

  “He’s right, sweetheart. I just got you, and I’m not ready to give you up,” Ranger croaked.

  They let us stay with her until it was time to move her to a room. Ranger and I returned to the waiting room and updated everyone. I called my mother as she requested, but she didn’t answer her phone. I knew she wanted to know about Keegan, so I called Ronan’s phone. No answer. What the hell? I frowned at my phone in confusion.

  “Something wrong?” Phoenix asked.

  “I’m not sure,” I muttered. “My mother isn’t answering her phone, and neither is her head of security.”

  “Give me their phone numbers, and I’ll try to get in touch with them. You have enough to worry about right now.”

  Hours passed before I finally heard from my mother. She assured me everything was okay but said she wouldn’t be able to get back to the hospital until the next day. She had, however, had time to arrange for Keegan to be placed in a large private suite with two cots for Ranger and I. My mother was truly amazing. She also booked hotel rooms near the hospital for the club members. Only two questions remained, where was she and what was she doing?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Keegan

  Everything hurt. It felt like my entire body was one big bruise. My mind felt foggy, and something was scratching the hell out of my throat. I tried to open my eyes, but they wouldn’t open. I heard a rhythmic sound of something whooshing and whirring nearby. There were other strange sounds around me, but I drifted back into oblivion before I could give it much more thought.

  When I came around again, it seemed lighter beyond my eyelids. I tried again to force the little shits open, but they refused to cooperate. Why couldn’t I open my eyes, and why did I hurt so bad? I opened my mouth to ask just that, but nothing came out. I tried again. This time, a low moan was all I was able to produce. What was wrong with me? I started to get scared and tried to force my body to move. Instead of cooperating, my body was overwrought with a searing pain from my neck to my chest. I heard a female voice in the distance say, “She’s okay. I’m going to give her something for the breakthrough pain. She’ll settle down in just a moment.” She was right; the blackness consumed me moments later.

  A familiar cry brought pulled me from the darkness. “Sissy!” Gabriella cried. Wait. Gabriella? With every bit of strength I could muster, I forced my eyes open. It was not the greatest feeling in the world. They were dry and scratchy, and everything was blurry. I could see figures and shadows, but that was about it. “Slowly blink a few times, dear,” a soft feminine voice said. I knew that voice. Jacquelyn.

  I followed her instructions and blinked several times until my vision magically cleared. Jacquelyn was standing beside me with my baby sister perched on her hip. I opened my mouth to speak, but only a hissed whisper sound came out. “Don’t try to talk just yet, dear. Let me call the nurse and let her know you’re awake.”

  Seconds later, a nurse briskly entered the room and started checking things. She allowed me to have a few sips of water, and let me tell you, that was the best damn water in the wor
ld. She smiled kindly, “Are you in any pain?”

  “A little,” I answered. “What happened?”

  “You don’t remember?” she asked.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “I’ll tell her,” a deep, male voice said and stepped into my line of sight. Shaker. He stepped closer and picked up my hand, holding it between both of his. “Baby, you were shot, three times to be exact.”

  At his words, it all came flooding back. Lois. Preston. The pain hitting my chest. I shuddered and felt tears pooling in my eyes. “I remember,” I whispered. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me. “It was Lois Hensley. Preston was there, too.”

  He nodded. “I know. Kellan and I were coming through the front door when we heard the gunshots.”

  “Did you catch them?” I asked, hopefully.

  He rubbed the back of his neck, “Uh, yeah, I guess you could say that.” He glanced behind him and leaned in closer to my ear. “We killed them, baby,” he whispered and leaned back.

  “Oh, good. Thank you,” I said.

  He laughed, “Thank you, she says. That’s classic.”

  Jacquelyn cleared her throat, “I have a little wiggle worm here who has been waiting patiently to see her big sister.”

  Shaker smiled and took Gabriella from Jacquelyn’s arms. He met her eyes and asked, “Do you remember what we talked about?”

  She nodded firmly. “Yes, I do. I have to be very gentle, and I can only touch her arms or her face. I can do it. I promise.”

  Shaker nodded once and sat her on the bed at my side facing me. “Hey, Gabriella,” I said softly. “How did you get here?”

  “My long, lost fairy grandmother brought me here,” she said, smiling from ear to ear. “And guess what else! I have a long, lost grandfather, too!”

  “You do?” I asked, completely confused and wondering if it had anything to do with the medication I had been receiving.