by E. C. Land
“We lost Ace. The women are good. Cleo was taken but we got her back.” My throat feels like it’s on fire the more I keep talking. Since the accident back when I was in the service, I’ve had a hard time speaking. Usually, I don’t talk unless I have to or need to get a point across. My main form of communication is through sign language. The doctors suggested it when we learned how damaged my vocal cords were.
“Motherfucker! Tell me you got the asshole that did this shit to us,” Gadget growls, wincing when he tries to sit up.
“Lay the fuck back down, man.” The words feel like sandpaper. “We got the bitch. Crazy ass shit and when you get out of here, I will tell you. Now, chill the hell out.”
“Fuck, Drag, sorry to make you talk so much. Use your signs instead,” Gadget says.
Nodding, I sit back in my seat, staring at the monitors my brother is hooked up to. It’s a life changer when you see someone who is a part of you, not just in spirit but as a whole, attached to all this shit. Gadget’s my twin and more than that, my only living family. We lost our mom to a robbery gone wrong when we were teens and as for our pops, we don’t even know who he is.
“Can you shoot a text to one of the brothers? I need to know what the hell happened, to know it wasn’t my fault, ‘cause right now, I feel as if it's my damn fault. I didn’t see this shit happening. I missed something somewhere and I need details,” Gadget mutters.
Pulling out my phone, I do as he asks, thinking I should probably do as Doc said and let the nurse know he’s awake. Though I’m sure Gadget wouldn’t want a bunch of doctors and nurses in here until he finds out what’s happening.
My phone pings and I look down to see the response. Looking back up at my brother, I sign, Twister is coming. Give him thirty minutes. He’s got Izzy at the doctor’s office. Till then, I’m gonna let the nurses know you're awake. Doc’s orders, and I’m not going against that woman.”
“Fine,” Gadget agrees with a groan. He goes quiet as I step out of the room to go to the nurse’s station to let them know he’s awake.
Looking around, I try to spot Doc, the woman whose been our object of desire for the last two years. The first time we saw the woman, both my brother and I knew she was the one for us. We knew she’d be able to accept the two of us together. And that’s the thing about him and me, we need a woman who can handle not just one of us, but both, a woman who can understand we aren’t just two separate people but twins who share the same soul. We feel what each other feels, no matter what it is.
Shaking my head as I move back to Gadget’s room, I find him surrounded by nurses giving him their attention. I’d laugh if it didn’t hurt so bad. You’d think the man was being tortured by them touching him, but I get where he’s coming from. These women aren’t the ones with the touch he wants on his skin.
No, that would be Doc or— Doctor Connors.
“Look, I’m fine. Can you all back the hell up? If you wanna do something to help, take these wires and shit out of me,” Gadget snaps.
“Sir, I’m sorry, we can’t do that.”
“Then I suggest backin’ the fuck up. I don’t need three damn nurses touchin’ me. Get my doctor in here then, dammit.”
“Please calm down, sir. I understand you’re upset and probably confused right now. We’re just trying to help.”
“Confused, seriously, bitch? I’m not confused about anything, now, back the hell off me.”
“I suggest you do as he says and go get his doctor now,” I say, the words sounding harsher than I mean. All three nurses turn toward the sound of my voice. Since being in the hospital with Gadget, none of them have heard my voice. One of them begins to speak but I hold my hand up and point to the door. “Do as my brother says or I will be having words with your supervisor.”
With my threat, they all run for the door.
“Fuck, Drag, why do women have to act the way those three did? It makes me wonder if I ever want to find someone.”
You and I both know why you reacted the way you did. It’s not because of the way they’d been fawning over you, rather it wasn’t the right woman doing it, I sign, my throat killing me.
“Yeah, man, you're right. Maybe it’s time we did something about that.”
You’re right, it is time. Time for the two of us to step up our game and claim our fuckin’ woman. Doc needs to know she’s ours, I sign, nodding my head.
The two of us grin at each other as he takes in everything. Nodding, he doesn’t say anything as he leans back in the bed and waits for the doctor we’re both ready to claim.
It’s been two years in the making. Ready or not, Doc, here come the Brooks brothers.
3
Gadget
Fuckin’ hell, my entire body hurts. Closing my eyes, I wait for one of the pain in the ass nurses to page Doc. Our woman. I can see her plain as day in my mind. Words can’t even begin to describe her beauty. I knew the instant we saw her, she would be ours. It was simply a matter of time— a time which has finally come.
Dragon and I have patiently waited for her to come to us or make a move, but she hasn’t. It might be classified as a dick move but I know about her past, well, at least the part that is documented. Like the fact she has a son, Logan, who’s part of the afterschool program Dragon and I started with the club. We wanted to do something to get in good with the town and figured working with the kids, teaching them sign language, and letting them hang out with us would do it.
Logan doesn’t speak very much, preferring to use his hands to speak, the same as my brother. He’s a sweet kid, which I can’t imagine him not being with who his momma is. His dad, on the other hand, isn’t listed. But I know who he is, and I want nothing more than to have our woman tell us how she came to be married to one of the most ruthless members of the Dragons Fire MC. Records showed she’d been granted her divorce after she had him sent to jail for domestic abuse.
Shaking my head at the negative thoughts, I remember no one other than myself and Twister knows about her shit, and Twister only knows because he’s the one who ordered anyone associated with the club to be checked— man or woman. Considering all the shit the club’s gone through, we needed to know. Dragon doesn’t even know. He and I are closer than average twins, but if I’d told him this shit, he’d have gone off the handle and I didn’t need him sent to prison over something he couldn’t handle.
“Sir, I'm sorry to bother you. I know you asked us to get Doctor Connors for you, but she is stuck in the ER right now dealing with an emergency,” one of the nurses calls from the door. “She did, however, ask us to be sure to tell you to do as you’re supposed to,” she says, clearing her throat.
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Of course, she’d say that shit. Fine but only you, I don’t want y’all touching me. No offense or anything but you’re not my woman,” I mutter.
Since the shit that went down with Izzy and one of the other nurses in the hospital, I don’t trust any of them. I get you’re not supposed to judge them all by one, but damn if it’s not hard when three nurses come in here touching me like I’m the last piece of meat on the buffet.
“I understand, sir,” the nurse says softly, moving toward the monitors. “Umm, so everything looks good on the screen here but how are you feeling? Do you need anything for pain?” she stammers, not meeting my eyes. Something about her seems off. In fact, looking at her, I realize she’s not one of the three who came in here earlier. They must have been too scared to come back in. Thank fuck for small miracles.
“No pain meds right now. I’m good. Sorry for fussing at you,” I say. My apology must surprise the woman because she lifts her head in shock, like she figured I’m just an asshole. Which I am. Looking more at her features, something about her seems familiar. Glancing at Dragon, he nods his head signing, Do we know her?
I shake my head to answer him.
“Okay, well, if you need anything, please feel free to hit the call button. I’ll come check on you in a little while. Doctor Connors will be by wh
en she’s done in the ER,” the nurse says.
“Yeah” is all I say as I glance at her badge and see that her name is Jordan Brooks. What the fuck? That’s got to be a coincidence, right? Due to complications, our mom hadn’t been able to have any more kids after us. It was one of the reasons why our pops left. He claimed she’d been a failure for not being able to give him what he wanted, at least, that’s what he said when I’d tracked him down. I knew he had another kid with a woman he’d shacked up with, but I never asked what the kid’s name was. Considering Jordan has our last name and looks familiar as hell to both Dragon and me, I’d put money on it she’s our sister.
The moment Jordan steps out of the room, I voice my thoughts to Dragon. He nods his head in agreement.
If she’s our sister, what the hell are we gonna do? For that matter, who caused her to seem scared of her own shadow? he signs, moving his hands around quickly the way he does when his mind is running a mile a minute. If I didn’t know exactly what he was saying, I’d be lost.
“I don’t know, Drag, but I’ll tell you this, the moment I’m out of here, I’m gonna find out. If that woman is our sister, then all hell is gonna break loose. No one fucks with our family. No one,” I growl, knowing in my gut that Jordan is family. She shares our blood.
“You got that right, brother,” Dragon says rather than sign.
Neither of us say a word after that. Words weren’t needed.
Laying my head back against the pillow, I close my eyes and wait for the next shoe to drop.
“Damn glad to see you’re awake,” Twister says, walking in with Izzy close to his side.
“Hey Gadget, I’m so happy to see you’re awake. Sorry it took so long, but my appointment took longer than we expected,” Izzy murmurs, her hands cradling her stomach.
“You okay?” I ask. She and a few of the other ol’ ladies were pregnant and seeing her whole helps ease some of my guilt.
Smiling, Izzy nods, “Yeah, we’re okay. All of us girls are. We were more worried about you than anything.”
“I’m fine,” I say, turning my attention to Twister, our Prez. “What’s been happenin’?”
“Everything’s calmed down now. Stoney’s and Hammer’s charters are coming in for Ace’s funeral. We decided in church earlier, figuring you’d both agree to Ace having a patched members status. He would’ve received it anyway in a couple more months,” Twister states.
“Yeah Prez, Ace deserved the patch. Fuckin’ hate that he’s gone,” I say, nodding my head.
“What about the other shit?” Dragon asks quietly.
“We’ll discuss it when Gadget’s out of here. For now, know we’re at a standstill,” Twister growls out that last part.
“Fuckin’ hell,” Dragon mutters.
Fuck, I need to get out of here. If we’re at a standstill with the Dragons Fire MC, that could mean anything right now. Especially with two cartels involved.
Looking at Twister, I nod my head. He knows what it means. It’s time to tell Dragon what we found out.
This shit has to stop now. And for that to happen, we need to talk to the one person who might be able to help us more than anyone. Doctor Stephanie Connors. I only hope when we ask, she doesn’t push us away.
Even if she does, that won’t stop either of us for going after what we want. Her.
4
Connors
Taking a deep breath, I’m mentally and physically exhausted after the day. I ended up being in the ER longer than I expected. The moment they called a Code Orange, chaos ensued. A car crash injured several people, including children. Thankfully, we didn’t have any fatal casualties come in. However, we did end up with an emergency room full of injured children and two extremely pissed off moms, who we’ve had to place a police officer on to keep them from going after the man responsible for the accident. I honestly don’t blame them for wanting to rip the guy apart. He had no business being behind the wheel with how heavily intoxicated he was. Thankfully the children were gonna be okay.
Shaking my head, I send a prayer to whoever had been looking out for them. I don’t know what I’d do if it were Logan. Speaking of which, I glance down at my watch and realize my shift ended two hours ago and I need to get home to him. I was supposed to drop by Gadget’s room and check on him, and I should, but I need to get out of here.
I quickly call up to Gadget’s floor and speak with Jordan. She’s a sweet girl, barely out of nursing school and smart as a whip. I ask her to inform them I’ll come by in the morning and to behave and speak to the doctor working the night shift. Reluctantly, she agreed to relay my message.
Making my way to the locker room, I gather my things and head for the door, all the while kicking myself for not going back to check on Gadget. I mean, both he and his brother make me feel things and I can’t handle being around them both at the same time. I simply can’t do it. I end up feeling like a bumbling idiot with my thoughts going haywire.
Getting in my car, I put my stuff in the back and head toward home, knowing Emerson will have picked my baby up for me. She usually does. It’s one of the many things that sucks about being a single parent, having to rely on the only family I have to do the things I’m unable to do while providing for my son.
If not for Emerson, I don’t know what I would have done. Probably would’ve had to find a different job outside the hospital, but thanks to her being the best sister, I’ve been able to give Logan everything I possibly could. With Emerson’s schedule, she’s able to get off in time on days that I work and do the things I’d love nothing more than to be doing myself.
Shaking my head to clear it, I pull into the driveway more than ready to see my little boy. Once my car is parked, I get out and make my way inside.
“Look, Logan, your mommy’s home,” Emerson calls from the kitchen without even looking in my direction.
Smiling, Logan runs toward me full speed, crashing into me giving me the biggest hug. Same as every day I work late. This right here is the reason I should take a month off for the holidays. He deserves everything I can give him and I want to be there to give it to him, not working constantly.
Pulling back, Logan looks up at me. Guess what I did today, Mommy?
“What’s that, baby?” I ask, smiling.
I glued leaves to paper and one of my leaves had a ladybug crawling on it. I told the teacher how cool it was and she agreed, and said they stand for good luck. Is that true? he signs enthusiastically.
“Wow, Lo, that is really cool. Did Aunt Emmy feed you yet or do I get to eat with you guys?” I ask, taking my shoes off.
Shaking his head, he signs, I wanted to wait for you, Mommy. After we eat, can you read more of Harry Potter’s book to me, please?
“Of course, I can,” I tell him as I take his hand and move toward the kitchen to see what the heavenly smell is. Checking the stove, I spot the mouth-watering baked spaghetti and garlic bread waiting to be devoured. It’s one of my favorites. Emerson does this thing where there’s a layer of sour cream and cream cheese between the noodles and sauce. Talk about a meal from heaven.
“Lo decided he wanted to help me make your favorite dinner tonight and even insisted on setting the table. Evidently, the afternoon program he signed up for ended up with a substitute that showed the kids some home etiquette and manners. He’s done nothing but talk nonstop about it,” Emerson says, laughing.
Sighing, I shake my head. Yet another thing I’ve missed in my baby’s life. He’s growing up and I’m missing it. I’m definitely going to speak to HR about taking a month sabbatical. I need it. And what better time to have it off than the holidays, from Thanksgiving through the New Year. I have the time, so I’m taking it. I’m tired of missing out on my kid’s life. I mean, it’s bad enough I don’t even know who the instructor is for his sign language program.
“Don’t make that face, Steph. You’re doing the best you can,” Emerson says sternly as she walks past me.
“M-M-a co-si-” Logan vocalizes, which he
doesn’t normally do unless he really wants it.
“I’m coming, kiddo. Hey, question for you. How would you feel if I took a little break from work to be home with you for the holidays?” I barely get to finish my question when he throws himself in my arms, nodding his head vigorously.
“I’d take that as a yes,” Emerson jokes.
“Well, it’s settled then. Tomorrow, I’m going to see about requesting time off. Maybe try and get from Thanksgiving to the first of the year.”
“Are you sure you’ll be able to?” Emerson asks, dishing out the delicious spaghetti onto our plates.
“I’ve got plenty of time built up. And if they have a problem with it, they can kiss my rear. I want to take some time to be with my favorite person.” Smiling, I ruffle Logan’s hair.
“Aww, that’s so sweet, sis, but I figured Logan was your favorite, not me.” Emerson and her damn jokes. I swear, she’s the corniest person I know sometimes. Laughing, I flip her the bird behind Logan’s head, not needing him to see the gesture. “Same to you, witch.” Grinning, she finally sits so we can eat, but first we say grace.
It’s something we were taught to do growing up and as we grew older it’s the only thing we kept up. Neither of us wanted to continue going to church, losing faith in a higher power after our parents died. Shoot, the only reason we even do grace now is out of habit and Logan loves it.
“Alright, Logan, would you like to say grace or do you want mommy to?” I ask him.
I want to, Mommy.
“Okay, then close your eyes and begin.”
Closing his eyes, he begins to sign, Dear Lord, thank you for this food, thank you for my mommy being home to eat with me, and my aunt for helping her. Please bless us with our savior and give us all happiness. Amen.
Tears sting my eyes at the words he signed. For being five, he’s very intuitive and observant. I must not be hiding my unhappiness from him. I mean, I’m happy enough being with him. He’s all I need, but the nights do get lonely.
