“Your girlfriend was able to provide enough information to initiate warrants and bring all those corrupt cops and businessmen down. They had one hell of an operation going on in that department in Connecticut. Conner was responsible not only for beating people down but killing several along the way that wouldn’t cooperate. Never mind all the smaller corruption charges and illegal documents being passed through the town hall. They’ll all be spending their lives behind bars,” Danny told Flex and Hill.
“That’s a good thing then. Hopefully Autumn will be able to get past all of this. It was touch and go since we got her in the ambulance,” Hill said to him.
“I just wanted to do what I could to make this process easier for all of you. You and your brothers need to only worry about taking care of your woman. I’ll have the agents get rid of the media too after the doctor gives a little report to shut them up so they can do their story,” Danny said.
“We’d appreciate that,” Flex said and shook Danny’s hand before he walked away and toward the federal agents. The group of them then headed out of the room. A look around the place and he could see the true concern and care. When an older woman and four big men walked into the waiting room, he wasn’t sure who they were, but then Molly and Bridget gasped, got up, and the woman met them halfway and embraced.
“These are our sons. Autumn’s men,” Molly said and introduced her to Autumn’s Aunt May and her sons. She hugged each of them and smiled as she looked at them.
She squeezed Aldreck’s hand. “Autumn will pull through. She’s Mighty Mouse, that one. Don’t let her size fool ya. She’s strong.”
Just then the surgeon walked into the room. They moved closer to talk to him and get the update with everyone listening in. She wasn’t out of the clear, but they were hopeful.
“She needs a lot of rest, and we’ll handle the other effects of this as the days come,” he said.
“Other effects?” Bridget asked.
“She has a long recovery ahead of her, emotionally besides physically. She’ll be here for a while to ensure the internal bleeding is under control. Her spleen was damaged badly. Tests so far don’t indicate any tear. Other organs were bruised because of the extent of the damage done to her. We’ll keep running tests and handle any complications. I’m keeping her in the ICU to have round-the-clock monitoring. Removing the knife was priority, and as she rests, other things swell and we will need to focus on those one step at a time.”
“So she isn’t in the clear yet?” Manderine asked.
“No, but like I said, she seems strong, and with each day she’s resting, her condition will improve.”
“Okay, doc, thank you,” Flex said.
“Can we see her in the ICU?” Aldreck asked.
“Just a few at a time and not long. She’s heavily sedated, so she won’t be conscious. There are a lot of tubes and things, so it could be upsetting,” he added.
“You men go. Go see your woman, whisper into her ear, and tell her you love her and that you’re here. She’ll know. She’ll feel you,” Molly said to them.
“Follow me,” the doctor said, and Flex, Hill, Manderine, and Aldreck followed the doctor to the ICU unit. What he said kept repeating in Flex’s head, but it didn’t matter. The second he saw her lying in the bed, so small, so battered, he covered his mouth and his brothers reacted the same way.
“Holy God,” Hill whispered and stepped closer to the bed. He looked at her, then lowered down and kissed her hand. Her shoulder was all bandaged up, her face bruised all over, eyes swollen, lips split and swollen, a lump on her forehead, her neck black and blue. She was a mess.
“Thank God she killed that fuck. Thank God,” Manderine said.
Flex stepped closer and put his arm over Aldreck’s shoulder. He put his arm over Manderine’s, and Manderine put his arm over Hill’s. They were linked together and Hill held her hand.
“We’re right here, baby. You keep fighting so we can be together forever and have nothing but love and happiness every day for the rest of your life. Keep fighting, woman. You got this,” Hill whispered, and Flex felt the tear escape his eye and his heart ache something terrible.
Autumn could hear talking, and beeping sounds, and then came the pain. “Oh,” she moaned.
“Oh God, don’t move, baby. Everything is okay. You’re in the hospital,” Aldreck said to her. She couldn’t open her eyes. She tried to speak and then coughed, and it hurt.
“Okay, let us get through and help her.” She heard a female voice.
“Hello, Autumn. My name is Betty, and I’m your nurse here at the hospital. I’m going to slowly help you sit up and maybe get some water for that throat. It will be sore, but you’re healing well.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and then she felt the caress to her arm.
“It’s okay. We’re all right here with you,” Hill said to her.
The nurse helped her with water, and it hurt so much to swallow. Then a man came in and introduced himself as the doctor, but she couldn’t open her eyes.
“I want to check those eyes to make sure there’s no other damage. It might hurt a little,” he said and pushed one open and shone the light in it. She tightened up. “Okay, they’re doing okay, and the swelling has come down a lot. I won’t bombard you with information. Your men have everything covered. I’m happy that you finally came to. We’ll give you some time with your men and then check your injuries again. I’ll be back shortly,” he said.
She rolled her head against the pillow and lifted her arm up toward her face, but Manderine stopped her. “We’re right here, sweetie. Don’t touch anything. I’m so glad you’re awake.” Manderine kissed her knuckles.
“I can’t see you,” she said and tried to open her eyes and could see their serious expressions, but it hurt too much.
“Just rest those eyes, listen to our voices, and feel our touch,” Aldreck said and she did. She leaned back and listened to them talk to her, kiss her hand, her cheek, and nuzzle against her neck.
“I love you guys,” she said to them.
“We love you,” Flex whispered, and it sounded like his voice cracked. She knew she probably looked terrible. Was more than likely swollen and bruised.
“I look that ugly, huh, Aldreck?” she asked.
“What?”
“You guys aren’t kissing my lips.” She felt the swelling on them and licked and felt the cut. “That bad, huh?” she asked and felt the tears.
“We don’t want to cause more pain, sweetie,” Hill said.
“Let me see, maybe right here,” Aldreck said, and she felt his lips gently kiss the corner of her mouth.
She closed her eyes and absorbed the feeling. “More,” she whispered, and then Hill kissed her there, then Manderine, and then Aldreck.
“There’s a waiting room of people wanting to see you. Including your Aunt May,” Hill told her.
“Aunt May is here?” she asked and more tears fell.
“Want us to get her?” Flex asked.
“I feel so weak and so tired,” she said and leaned back against the pillow and heard them talking, telling her to rest, and then she fell back to sleep.
For the next week Autumn would wake for longer periods of time as her body healed. Every day Hill and his brothers would sit with her and catch those periods of time she would awaken and encourage her to keep fighting, to keep getting stronger, and to let her body heal. By week four she was being released from the hospital, and despite making her aware of the whole media craze and federal investigation on Connor and his associates, she was embarrassed by the number of people taking pictures of her and calling things out to her and wishing her well. By the time they got into the truck and headed home, she was tired once again. Flex was super protective of her and barked a lot at people bothering them or trying to get an interview. Aldreck would lie on the bed with her to rest and hold her close until Flex and Hill or Manderine would take his place. Then finally one afternoon, Autumn walked down the stairs and into the kitchen
where they were preparing lunch to take up to her.
“What in God’s name are you doing down here?” Flex reprimanded and hurried to her. He guided her to the table and a chair.
“I’m joining my men for lunch down here,” she said.
“You could have fallen down the stairs, gotten dizzy, or hurt yourself,” Manderine reprimanded her.
“You should have called us,” Hill said.
“You would have said no,” she said.
“Damn straight,” Aldreck said, and they all stared at her. Flex was breathing through his nostrils as she took his hand and placed it against her cheek and looked toward the window.
“Looks like a beautiful fall day. Maybe we can sit outside on that swing you have?” she asked and moved Flex’s hand toward her lips. She kissed his knuckles.
He lowered down to squat next to her, placed on hand on her cheek while she held the other one. “I don’t want you pushing yourself. You need rest, and lots of time to heal. When I see you in pain, I feel pain.”
She nodded. “That’s why I need to push myself a little bit more. So I can get through this, and make you all smile again, not frown, huff and puff, and snap at one another. We’re a family. I love you, and I need your help to get through this and you need mine to get through this. We’re alive, Flex. He didn’t win, we did. So what do you say? A little lunch and then some fresh air?” She held his gaze.
His blues eyes that used to tell so little, that once were guarded, showed emotion and love in them. “Whatever will make you happy, make you feel no pain at all.”
“Hmmm.” She slid her hand along his thigh and stroked him. “Making love to my men would make me happy.”
“Not happening until you can handle it physically,” Manderine said firmly.
She continued to stroke Flex as she looked at Manderine, Aldreck, and Hill. “My mouth works, and your mouths work. Perhaps we could improvise? Maybe come up with something?” she asked and then looked at Flex, leaned forward, and kissed him.
“I could use a little tasty snack after lunch,” Hill said.
“I think we can come up with something,” Aldreck added.
She released Flex’s lips and cupped his cheek.
“I had a feeling my soldiers could come up with something to help me feel better. Maybe we could start with dessert right now?” she asked.
“Goddamn, baby, you don’t need to beg, or ask me twice. Lunch is on hold,” Flex said and gently lifted her up into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen and back to bed.
She snuggled close, closed her eyes, and inhaled his cologne. She never knew what happiness was until now. Until her four men gathered around her on the bed, slowly removed her clothing, and began to caress, suckle, lick, and kiss her everywhere their mouths could reach. That happiness, that powerful connection, protective shield surrounded her, which only they could provide. She was finally home. Finally found what had been missing all her life, a happiness she thought she could never feel, and all because of these four men, and because she took a chance on coming to Cherry Hill.
THE END
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Epilogue
Finding Happiness Page 14
