TAT Box Set

by Emjay Soren

  “Did he wake up yet?”

  “No. Nobody called me like they said they would if he did.” I say, looking over my shoulder. I bite my lip, instantly regretting it.

  They see me flinch and both of them look at me with worry. “Jen, you should be at home resting. I swear we will call you.” Chad says, but I am already shaking my head no.

  “I need to be here.” I say in way of all the explanation I can give them. I hug them both, one armed before I leave the room and turn the light off. There is still light from the hallway and the TV, but they need to rest as much as I do. Noah is waiting for me at the nurse’s desk when I come out.

  “Where were you?” He asks.

  “Shame and Chad are in the waiting room with Drake. They haven’t left.”

  He nods, obviously aware. “We have all been here. I left to bring you back.” He says and looks at Lucy. “You ready sweetness?”

  She smiles and slaps his hand out of shyness from his sweet talking her.

  “Watch out for this one.” She says and eyes Noah which makes us both laugh.

  “Don’t I know it. He’s a scoundrel.” I say as we follow her to the door which is locked.

  “Only one at a time Mr. Beckett.” She says and looks to him pointedly.

  He nods and kisses her on the cheek, making her blush again. I swear he owns this little old lady’s heart.

  “Text me if he wakes up.” He says to me before hugging me. “Try to rest if he is still asleep.”

  I agree and follow Lucy through the door.

  “He might wake up for a few minutes, it’s the pain though because he’s restless not alert. If he does that don’t be alarmed, just press the call button and I will be there lickety split.” She say’s before showing her badge to two of Drakes men who sit outside his door.

  “Wood pony.” She says, but the guy just smiles before looking to me.

  I roll my eyes annoyed. “She said it already, I’m sure she can vouge.” I say.

  “I need ID regardless ma’am.”

  I show him my ID, understanding the need for the security based on who he is, but there was no way I looked like the Jenny Pope in my driver’s license picture.

  He eyes the photo and then me when I snap. “I had work done.” I sneer. “Obviously I look like this for the same reason he is in there. Now, I have fought one asshole in the last twenty-four hours, I will do it again.”

  I am squaring up to fight this guy when Lucy smacks his arm.

  “Stop being a bully and let her see her man.” She says, weaseling past him and swiping her card to unlock his door.

  When I walk in the room, it is still a shock to my system. He is pale, sleeping to the tune of monitors as they beep… beep.. beep... I watch the machines that show me he is alive, and weep.

  Lucy squeezes my shoulder, but says nothing as she slips from the room.

  Cal

  I wake slow, like fog clearing and the beeping nearby flashes me to a hospital a few years back as we waited on Noah to wake up. I try to sit up, but the pain everywhere stops me. I see a mass of red hair hanging over her face and I calm seeing my firefly. Everything rushes back with an astonishing clarity and the beeping now is from my racing heart as I recall who the fuck I tried to kill.

  Rapist.

  Scumbag.

  Filthy fucking cocksucker fuckstick mother fucker!

  I see her startle, then cry out from pain as she looks to the monitor then me.

  “Caly?” She says and it undoes me.

  I feel the tears in my eyes when I saw her beaten and bruised face, the split lips and handprint on her throat like the mother fucker branded her.

  “Hey you…” I say, my throat like sand paper. “Water?” I ask as she looks around the room.

  “I don’t think there is any baby. Hold on.” She says, then presses a button on the side of my bed. A sweet woman who sounds elderly answers.

  “Yes, what can I do for you Jenny?” She says and I realize I must have been out a while if they know her by name.

  “He is awake Lucy and needs a drink.” She says as she stands beside my bed now. Her hand gently stroking over the side of my head. I try to lift my arm to touch her and see some contraption with pins holding it together in some metal halo thing. Fear grips me when I realize it is broken, badly and it is my dominant hand.

  This break is a career killer.

  “My hand… Jen?” I question, fear tackles me but the pain in my abdomen halts me. I look down to the spot the fucker stabbed me and I begin to wonder how fucking close to death I am.

  “I will be right there and let the Doctor know honey.” The nurse says.

  Jen looks at me, calm and loving like the rock she is. “Your hand will be fine. They have a surgeon coming tomorrow to fix it.” She leans down to kiss me but stops short.

  “I want to kiss you, but my lips hurt.” She says, but kisses me sweetly on the cheek.

  “What did he do to you?” I ask when a sob breaks free. It hurts like hell to cry, but I can’t hold back the fear at seeing her perfect face broken and bruised by that son-of-a-bitch.

  “Shhh, don’t worry Caly, I’m ok.” She tries to soothe me, but nothing can. I am stuck in this bed connected to shit I can’t define and in more pain than anything ever before…and all I want is to hold my girl.

  “Look who decided to wake up.” A guy in a white coat says as he walks through my door. My eyes on Jen, I don’t give a fuck about me. “Mr. Dorian, I am Doctor Lockhart. I assisted on your surgery…’ he drolls on and on about the damage from the stab wound, but I only care about the basics.

  Hole in my stomach.

  Bled a lot.

  Fixed it.

  I just wanted Jen. Being the arrogant prick that I am, I interrupt his monologue in medical terms I know nothing about. “Can you help her please. I need her right here beside me.” I say and pat the opposite side of the bed, knowing the good hand won’t be holding her any time soon.

  “Well, not just yet. Let’s make sure all your vitals are good and get you comfortable first.” He smiles and I get it, he means well.

  But, as I stated. I don’t care about me.

  Only her.

  “I fucking hurt, I need a drink and I need her close. I can’t make this shit any clearer to you Doc.” I say and they all collectively gasp.

  “Cal…” Jen says, alerting me without being a bitch that I am in fact being an asshole. “Let him make sure you’re okay and stop with the dickery.”

  A slow smile plays on the nurse’s lips at her tone, but I laugh even though it feels like I am dying when I do. “Dickery?” I ask, laughing again before wincing from the excruciating pain.

  “Creative, gets the point across…” Says the Doc and I realize I am being dickish.

  “Sorry Doctor…? I forget his name and stumble trying to find it in my foggy brain.

  “Lockhart.” He says with a comforting smile as he checks all injuries. “You’ve sustained a stab wound through the lining of your stomach which we were able to close. We have a surgeon coming in the morning that your publicist found. He is the best in the business and has worked with other artists. Everything else is minor. Seven stitches to a bite on your calf as well as a rabies shot to avoid infection from the bite.”

  In all that one word stuck out. “My publicist?” I ask and look to Jen, begging her to tell me what the fuck he was talking about.

  ‘Later.’ She signs behind the Doctors back. I immediately try to sign back, failing miserably as more pain erupts up my arm. It crushes me in a way nothing ever could and I look to Jen, more tears in my eyes. “How will I talk to him…” I say when the realization that though it could affect my career… my hand being broken will hinder communication with my son.

  “We will figure it out.” She says with a sweet smile as well as in ASL. “I am sure there are ways baby.” She says.

  “I take it your son is hearing impaired?” Doctor Lockhart asks.

  “Yeah, I need my hand…�
� I groan as I try testing movement in my fingers at the least, causing some serious pain.

  They dope me up and agree to let me have water, a Gatorade and some broth then tell me to try and rest. “Rest?” I ask Jen once they leave. “I’ve been asleep for a fuckin day.” I bitch, knowing I sound like an entitled bastard.

  “You were out of surgery around three this morning when I left my room to come wait up here. You really haven’t slept that long Caly.” She says, but I look at the cute tight black Capri things she wears when she works out, matched with the black tank top and what do you know. Old dickery aint injured all.

  Now, I know I won’t be getting any nookie here, but I need her beside me. “Come here Red.” I say and pat the bed beside me. I kiss her the minute she settles in. Injuries or not I was going to touch my girl regardless.

  “What’s your damage?” I ask her, looking at the various bruises and cuts. I look to her arm in the sling.

  “Broken shoulder blade, but it’s a minor fracture and was dislocated. Broken nose, but another hairline fracture so they won’t need to set it. The rest is superficial.” She says, before blowing me what looks like a painful kiss. “Dude hit like a pussy.”

  I chuckle even though it kills me. “Stop making jokes Red.” I look down toward her thighs, feeling those tears again. “He didn’t…?”

  He hands cup my face, turning me to look at her. “No. No there was some tearing from his hands, and he was trying…but you saved me Caly.”

  I use her good hand to pull her into me as close as I can get her, tears falling down my face that I cannot control. “I was so scared I was going to lose you. Once he stabbed me and I knew he had a knife…” I cannot keep talking for the fear at the thought he could kill her.

  She tells me about fighting him off and doing everything she could to get someone’s attention when Bright yelled to her.

  “Yeah, they came to us as we finished loading up and I took off. Fuck… my shit is still at the Aloha.” I say it off handedly, but hope someone took my stuff. My gear were my other babies.

  “Tayla has it and your jeep.” She says, and I swear I heard her wrong.

  “Tayla Livingston?” I ask for clarification.

  “Yes, and just so you have all the facts before you flip out on everyone. She was with Axe so that your parents, Mya and Jace could be here.”

  “Jen, that is going to mess Axe up…” I am pissed, but not at Jen. I get that everyone was in a panic and of course my folks should have been here… “Why not ask one of the girls or Ral?”

  She nods calmly, but it’s a trick. “Well, because they have all been camping out here waiting on word about you. Nobody has gone home or slept and when they have they are exhausted. Believe it or not, Tay was on point last night and has been working with Brian all day to make sure this nightmare has some order to it.”

  I try to process what she says, but right now I don’t care. “Who has Axe now?” I ask as I try to raise the bed so I can shift.

  “Jace and Krissy.” She says and I calm down knowing my brother and his wife are solid with Axe. “Mya is in the waiting room with Sully, Chad, Noah and Shame. I need to go tell them you’re up.”

  “Text them.” I say, holding her closer to me. I don’t want her to leave yet.

  She looks at me like I am the inconsiderate one and I look at the marred beauty before me. “I thought I lost you Jen.” I say, pulling her pained lips to mine.

  “I thought I lost you.” She says with shiny tears in her eyes.

  “I told you last night, but I had planned this whole thing to sweep you off your feet before it went to shit. I love you Jenny, so much. I’m talking the forever kind. More babies, better house, marriage. I want you with me forever.”

  I realize as I say it, that the ring is at our house in my safe and that I just threw a lame proposal out there with no ring. “I have a ring for you…” I say, but it sounds lame.

  Her hands go to her mouth as tears fill her eyes. “Seriously?” She asks as she jumps from the bed. “Caly…”

  “I am serious. Have been for a while Jen. I don’t throw I love you around or promise shit, but you’re it for me. I knew it at Christmas and through this whole thing. I told you I wouldn’t fight for you like I did with Tayla. I fought for you, on your side no matter how bad shit got, but with you I didn’t lose sight of who I am. I do it because I love you. Madly, Jen.”

  “Do I say yes?” She asks, and I look at her confused and a little scared by the question.

  “I fuckin hope so.”

  “I just didn’t know if you were asking or planning to ask. The ring… and you didn’t really ask…” She is fumbling over her words.

  “Will you marry me Jen? Knowing I have a ring in the safe I bought for you?” I ask her deadpan knowing this is us. Too damn real to be fake.

  “Well yeah I will marry you!” She squeals and plops beside me on the bed. I try to hide the pain it shot through my body, but she caught it.

  “Shit, sorry.” She says, flinching at the pain in her arm from the bounce.

  “Kiss me firefly...”

  Epilogue

  Eighteen months Later

  “Let’s go, dammit!” I yell up the stairs of the new digs, to my wife. We moved to a new house a few months ago that sat right on the Harbor. The windows that line the back of the house, reflect the rare sunset as it bounces off the water casting a purple haze on the walls.

  I watch as Axe runs down the steps before jumping into my arms and planting a kiss on my cheek. “What’s up boy? She coming or what?” I ask, still using ASL, though his hearing has improved greatly, he still struggles.

  We toyed with the idea of putting him in a school for the hearing impaired, but decided that we didn’t see him as disabled, we weren’t putting that stamp on him either. He was in first grade and one of the brightest in his class.

  “Yes, she says dammit in a minute.” He says, not signing and I laugh at the boldness.

  “Axe is starting to swear thanks to you.” I yell up the stairs again.

  “Can we take the Lam?” He asks like he always does.

  “Mom will make us take her Escalade.” I say with a sigh. I hear the squeaking of a newborn baby and look at my feet seeing my angel baby squirming. I bend and lift the car seat over my arm, lifting the blanket and staring at my precious girl. “Rylie Roo.” I sing to her, trying to keep her calm.

  Her little eyes don’t open, but she twists and stretches in response to my voice. I cherish those sounds or her little cries. I missed so much from Axe that I relished it with Rylie. Jen was still on maternity leave, but I steal this kiddo from her so she can rest. I do it for Jen, but mainly I am selfish and want to bond early with my daughter. So much so, that Jen keeps threatening to go back to the shop and work since I don’t share.

  I share when she tells me that because I love having us all here together and I am not ready for summer to end, school start as well as our tour… I just want to soak up the love.

  Rylie is two weeks old today and in a blink of an eye she will be eighteen. I want every minute I can with my children. I yell for Jen again, and in about five minutes, Me, the big and the little were going to bounce. She was being blessed tonight, seeing she is the star of the show she can’t be late.

  “Dammit Jen-” I yell, but stop when I see black heels step by step down the stairs. I still get blown away by her beauty and that she’s ours. Me and my kids need her as much as she needs us.

  I whistle low as I eye her body and every curve as she takes the stairs. It has been too long since I had my dick in her and seeing her dressed in the simple black dress, with pearls right over her ample tits? Fuck me.

  “You wearing those pearls to fuck with me?” I ask knowing my wife playing innocent is hot as shit simply because I know she is one nasty get down girl.

  “It’s symbolic.” She says, her eyes lighting up at the idea of teasing me. She comes in close and whispers in my ear. “When we get home, you can take this
pearl necklace off and give me another one.”

  Holy shit!

  “Deal, Red.” I smack her ass as we carry all the shit one needs for a newborn to the car. I think of the whirlwind that is my wife. We waited about six months before we eloped in Vegas with all our friends and family. I had six surgeries on my hand and months of physical therapy to have full movement in it. I didn’t stop playing though, I stayed at it and learned to play with what I had until I had full function again. My stab wound healed after a few weeks, my stomach muscles took longer though and the two recoveries sucked.

  But, they were worth it. I saved her that night and it did wonders for the ego.

  “Shame called and said to tell you he has the bracelet.” She says, referring to the little bracelet he and Cassa bought her. They were worried it wouldn’t be here in time.

  “He is too excited over this Godfather shit. He keeps acting like he’s Marlon Brando.”

  She laughs at that. “Bright is the same way. She wanted to throw this extravagant party in her honor. The socialite in her comes out in party planning.”

  We make small talk as we head to the church. All of our people come into view as we pull in the parking lot.

  “Tay!” Axe cheers as he bounds from the car and into Tayla’s arms. I watch them together, seeing this amazing bond between them. It’s hard to think who we were a few years ago or to think of the hell we went through.

  Now days, Tay was back in the fold and still our PR rep. After the accident, she took over and steamrolled anyone who got in her way. There was a lot of press and stories after the attack and when Spencer went to trial. Tay was a master and handled it with a grace none of us possess.

  She and Noah are not close by anyone’s standards, but they can finally be civil and in one another’s life for the sake of everyone else. She and I were always a dynamic team when it came to business and that didn’t change with Lexington Cherry either.