"Son of a fuckin' bitch." Logan hisses through clenched teeth.
Scooping Grace up into my arms as carefully as possible, I hold her naked body close to me, shielding her as much as possible. "We need to move, now! Grace said there was a bomb in the house. Go! Go! Go!" I shout. When the three of us clear the basement, we are met with Quinn and Gabriel walking in from outside. "Out now!" The urgency in my voice has my men not wasting any time running out the door. We barely make it off the steps of the porch when there is an explosion, and I can feel the heat on my back as the force of the bomb brings me to my knees with Grace still in my arms. Thank fuck Grace is still passed out. It's also then that I realize my boys, Logan, Gabriel, Reid, and Quinn have used their bodies to shield Grace and me by forming a circle around us.
I'm picking myself up off the ground, and quickly stride towards Demetri's truck when Lisa jumps out of the back seat of the SUV with her pistol raised and fires off a single shot just over my left shoulder. Momentarily stunned, I look over my shoulder and see one of Ronan's men laying on the ground about twenty feet behind us with a bullet between his eyes.
"Let's go!" Lisa orders and without another word I file into the truck behind her as my brothers mount their bikes and we hall ass.
"Hospital?" Victor asks from the driver's seat.
"No. Hospital means cops. No way am I dealing with that shit and handing Ronan over to them. He's mine."
I look at Bennett, "You said the shot in her shoulder was clean. Does she need a hospital?"
"No. I'm going to call Emerson and make sure she has the supplies we'll need once we get back to the clubhouse."
"Jake?" Grace croaks interrupting us.
"I got you, Little Bird. I got you." Stroking her hair I try soothing her.
"I'm so cold." Grace begins to shiver in my arms.
"Shit! Lisa, look in the back for something to cover her up with."
Reaching into the very back, Lisa shuffles around and comes back with a small blanket. "Here ya go, Jake."
Using the blanket, I try carefully to tuck it around her without jostling her too much. Every little movement I make causes her to wince in pain. Even her eyes are so swollen she can hardly open them.
"Lisa, babe. Hand me my medic bag from back there too." Bennett tells his wife. Passing him his bag, he unzips it and produces a needle and a vile. At my questioning look he mutters, "Something to help her sleep. We have about a forty-five-minute drive. No need for her to suffer if she doesn't have to." Thank god he doesn't go anywhere without being prepared.
When we arrive back at the clubhouse, Emerson is already waiting for us outside when we pull up. When I step out of the SUV with Grace in my arms, she doesn't ask any questions as she follows behind me into the clubhouse up the stairs and down the hall to my room. I called ahead of time to make sure Remi would be preoccupied somewhere else upon our arrival. She doesn't need to see her momma in her current condition. Walking into my room, I carefully deposit Grace down on the bed and Emerson immediately gets to work assessing her. A few seconds later, Glory comes bursting in. When she gets her first glimpse of Grace she breaks out into a sob and covers her mouth with her hand. Quickly pulling her shit together, she squares her shoulders and asks, "Emerson, what do you need me to do?" Emerson starts to bark out orders at Glory and she wastes no time jumping into motion. When I see Lisa walk in the room, I stride over to her and put my hands on her shoulder.
"We got things covered in here, sweetheart. Go be with your old man. You both have had a hell of a twenty-four hours and right now he needs you and you need him." Lisa is about to protest when I cut her off. "I know the momma bear in you wants to help, but right now being a wife comes first. Now go." I urge and kiss the top of her head.
An hour later Emerson has stitched the gunshot wound, and she and Glory have given Grace a sponge bath to clean off all the blood. Emerson also puts some cream on her back and assured it would help with the pain and healing of the lashes caused by the belt. Glory has been periodically placing ice-packs on Grace's face to help with the swelling around her eyes. Through all this, she has yet to wake up from the shot Bennett gave her in the truck. Now we wait. Thankfully we don't have to wait long because another twenty minutes later Grace begins to stir. Her movements have Me, Emerson, and Glory by her side in seconds.
"Jake?"
"I'm here, Little Bird?" I say taking her hand in mine and bringing it to my lips.
"Where am I?"
"You're at the clubhouse. Emerson is here, and so is Glory."
"How bad is it?" she asks, and I know she's referring to her injuries.
"What do you remember, baby?"
"Everything," she sighs breathlessly. "Besides the ride home, I remember everything."
When I see silent tears fall down her swollen cheeks, I wish with everything I am that I could take away the memory and pain of what that sick motherfucker did to her.
"He didn't break me this time. He tried. He wanted me to break so bad, but I didn't. I'd rather die than have him take back what I fought so hard to get."
"I'm so proud of you, baby." I choke past my own emotions while Emerson and Glory are no longer able to hold theirs back and they both quietly sob. Wiping her tears away, Emerson transforms back into doctor mode when she asks a question I dreaded, but knew was coming.
"Grace, I need to ask you a question."
"Okay."
Releasing a deep sigh, she asks. "Were you raped? When you arrived here at the clubhouse, you didn't have any clothes on besides your panties. When I removed them to clean you up and put fresh clothes on you had a small amount of blood in them. I did not examine you. I wouldn't do so without your consent."
Grace stares at Emerson for a beat like she's trying to put the past events together. "I…I don't know."
24
Grace
When Emerson asks the question that had popped into my head moments after I came to and found myself bound and most my clothes gone I wish I could have instantly said no. The truth is any number of things could have happened while I was knocked out. At the moment the throbbing and piercing pain radiating from my back and my shoulder are the only focal points registering. My eyes shift to Jake who has stood stock still this whole time. If possible, the man before me grows taller, and he starts to pace the floor with his fists clenched at his sides doing his best to hold in the building anger written all over his handsome face. And it guts me.
I give my attention back to Emerson. "I don’t think so, but I can't give you a definite no," I tell her. My mouth is feeling dry and I try to reach for the small glass of water sitting on the bedside table. Emerson helps by handing it to me. Slowly I sip through the straw and wet my dry, scratchy throat.
"When I get my hands on that motherfucker I'm going to make his death slow and torturous," Jake growls then proceeds to put his fist through the wall beside the bedroom door. Seconds after there's a sharp, hard knock on the door. Jake rips it open, damn near pulling it from its hinges and answers with a harsh, "What?"
Calmly standing in the hallway is Logan, utterly unfazed by Jake's rage. Glory comes to sit beside me on the bed. Taking my hand in hers, she comforts me as I watch Logan talk to Jake in hushed tones. Jake eventually gives him a firm nod, then pivots making his way to my side. "Babe," he lets out a heavy sigh and closes his weary eyes. Opening them, he settles his loving eyes on mine. "I'll be downstairs with the men. I promise I'm not going anywhere. As soon as Emerson finishes with her examination, someone will get me. This is the only time I'll be leaving your side tonight, Little Bird." Leaning forward Jake kisses my forehead before softly pressing his lips against mine, letting himself linger there for a second longer before standing and leaving the room.
Pulling in a deep breath, I silently thank Logan for showing up when he did.
"Honey, it's okay that you can't remember. Is there a possibility you've started your cycle?" Emerson asks.
I try to remember what today's date is so I can gi
ve her an accurate answer. It's then I realize I'm past my cycle date.
"Grace, is there a possibility you could be pregnant?" Glory gasps.
I continue to stay lost in thought. We haven't used any protection since the first time Jake and I made love. Holy shit. I could be pregnant. I lick my lips suddenly feeling very thirsty again. I look from Glory to Emerson, both eagerly waiting for my reply. "Can you do a pregnancy test? Today?" I ask Emerson.
"We can do that. I want to be sure, so let's draw some blood, and I'll take it to the lab myself. One of the techs there owes me a favor, so I'll get a great turnaround time." She explains as she preps my arm to take some of my blood.
"If you are comfortable with me doing it, I can go ahead and exam you right here once I'm done with the bloodwork," Emerson explains.
"Yes. I need to know."
After walking to the bathroom to wash her hands, Emerson comes back and finishes prepping herself and me. The examination, although a little uncomfortable, was over as quickly as it started.
With a reassuring smile, she tells me, "I saw no signs of trauma that would suggest any forced penetration. I don’t believe there was any sexual assault. So, I'm going to run to the hospital. I shouldn't be gone but a couple of hours tops."
Shifting to find a better position in the bed, I lay on my side. "This is crazy," I remark. I could be carrying Jake's baby and nothing about the thought scares me. If anything it makes me happier than I can imagine. It makes me love him even more. It also makes me think about my parents.
"I'll see you in a little while, Grace. Take a couple of these for the pain." She hands me some over the counter pain medication. "I won't prescribe anything stronger until we get the results back. In the meantime, try to rest." Slipping her bag over her shoulder Emerson slips out the door leaving only Glory and myself in the room.
"He killed them, Glory. My parents. He killed both of them." The weight of everything starts to catch up with me, and I cry. Not for myself, but for my parents. They did nothing but love me and want the best for me and he took them from me for that very reason. Stretching out beside me, so we are laying face to face, my best friend holds my hand.
"They still walk beside you, Anna, and they are so proud of you, honey." She squeezes my hand in reassurance. She's right. I feel them with me every day.
"You want me to go get Jake?" Glory questions.
"Stay just a little while longer. Maybe you could sing to me? I haven't gotten to hear you sing in a long time," I smile remembering all the times we sang some of our favorite songs while using our hairbrush as a microphone. Our only audience was each other. I never could carry a tune, but Glory has a soft angelic voice. When she sings, it has this way of soothing the soul. You feel it bone deep. She smiles, and I close my eyes and wait. When she starts to sing The Scientist by Coldplay, I lose myself in the soothing, fluid sounds of her voice.
Sometime later I wake to feel rested. Blinking sleep from my eyes, I notice Glory is no longer next to me. With slow movements, I roll onto my back and start to push my body upwards to sit against the headboard when I feel Jake's arm snake around my middle. Placing my hand on his, I turn my head and look beside me. "Hey," I smile down at him as he watches me.
He clears his throat, then shifts placing his head onto my lap. "You were sound asleep when I came back up so I laid beside you the best I could with touching you. I must have fallen asleep myself. How are you feeling?"
"Much better now that I'm home and you're beside me." Raising my hand, I run my fingers through his hair. He looks exhausted. "I love you, Jake."
My soothing touch causes his eyes to close as I continue to stroke his hair. "And I live and breathe for you." He releases on an exhale, which brings a smile to my face. "Where's Remi?" I softly ask.
"With Glory. Would you like for me to go get her, babe?" Pushing himself up, he sits against the headboard as well but keeps contact with me by holding my hand in his.
"Please," I reply. I'm sure by now my daughter has attempted several times to check on me. Leaning across the bed, Jake cradles my face in the palm of his hand and lowers his lips to mine. "I love you so much, Grace." Lightly burying his face into the crook of my neck we have a moment. A moment to appreciate each other. A moment to be thankful.
Climbing out of bed, Jake walks out of the room and quickly returns with a visibly upset Remi. Opening my arms, she climbs on the bed and tucks herself into my side and lays her head against my uninjured shoulder and starts to do something she doesn't often do and that is cry. Remi is not a crier. Never has been. So for her to be this upset, it rips at my heart. "Shh, Peanut," I rub her arm and hold her tight. She doesn't speak. My daughter is my whole world. I lift my eyes to Jake, who is standing by the door. I motion for him to join us by patting the mattress with my hand. Sliding himself close to my other side, Jake raises his arm, and I carefully tuck myself into his side as he protectively holds me as I embrace my daughter—As he embraces his family.
A few minutes later someone knocks on the door. "Come in," Jake announces not wanting to budge. Emerson pokes her head in and peeks before fully stepping inside ."Oh, would you like me to come back a little later?" she asks her question directed at Jake.
"No, come on in, sweetheart," Jake assures her. She places a small bag on the dresser beside the bedroom door. "I have the results from the blood work," she looks directly at me. A knowing smile passes between us giving me the answer I've been waiting for. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she digs into her bag and produces what looks like a small computer. Attached to it is what looks like one of those ultrasound wands they use in a doctor's office.
"If you can, Grace would you scoot down and lay flat on your back for me?" Emerson instructs me while she flips open the computer top.
"Mom, are you going to be okay?" Remi question and moves over to allow me to lay back. "Yes, Peanut. I'm going to be okay." I assure her. Jake assists me by adding a second pillow under my head for more comfort. At this point, the only time my back hurts is when my movement pulls at the skin, but it's not as painful as it was several hours ago.
"Is someone gonna tell me what we are looking for?" Jake demands..
"This is a portable ultrasound. It's going to allow me to see images of the inside." Lifting my shirt to expose my stomach, she starts spreading the jelly on my lower abdomen. Emerson glides the ultrasound wand back and forth and applies a little firm pressure as she does it.
"And what are you looking for," Jake questions her again, his eyes fixed on the small screen.
I hold my breath.
"I'm looking for..." Emerson says slowly as she moves to another spot, "there," she stops. Emerson taps a key on the computer and the sound becomes louder.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Remi gasps beside me but doesn’t say a word as her face lights up for the first time in days. I look to Jake who's wearing a shocked expression on his face. Dragging his hand through his beard, Jake asks her, "Is that what I think it is?"
"That, guys, is your baby's heartbeat, and that right there," she points to a tiny blip on the screen, "is your baby. You are in fact pregnant. Now, I won't 100% say how far along you are but by the looks of things I would guess eight weeks." Emerson lets us listen to the rhythm of the fast heartbeat a moment longer before setting the wand aside and cleaning the sticky jelly from my skin. "Everything looks good. First thing tomorrow find an OBGYN and set up an appointment. Congratulations, guys! I'm beyond happy for all three of you."
"Momma, you're going to have a baby. Oh my gosh, I'm going to be a big sister. This is unbelievable," Remi gushes with excitement. "Please, please can I go tell Aunt Glory, I'm about to burst," she quickly stands and starts bouncing.
By this point, I've started crying again, only this time they are happy tears. "Yes, Peanut, you can go tell her." Before the words finish leaving my mouth, she's darting to the bedroom door but stops just as she's about to put her hand on the door handle.
Spinning aroun
d, she makes a beeline towards Jake and throws her arms around his neck. "Thank you," she whispers. Visibly overcome, I watch Jake struggle to hold his emotions in check until Remi runs out the door and Emerson quietly follows closing the door behind her.
"You know we have maybe thirty seconds before my best friend comes bursting through that door?" I laugh.
Jake remains quiet as he eases his body down the bed until his face hovers over my still exposed belly. The warmth of his breath brushes across my skin just before he kisses it. I listen to his shuddered breaths as he attempts to rein them in.
"I'm not sure how to put into words what I'm feeling right now. I feel like nothing I say would do justice to the immense joy and love I have for you at this moment," his voice cracks with emotions.
"You don’t have to say anything. You've shown me—you've proven time and time again you love me; love us. That is all I will ever need from you, Jake.
25
Jake
Wanting to give Grace some alone time with Remi and Glory, I decide to head out to the main room for a beer and see what my brothers are up to. My focus the past twenty-four hours has been solely on my woman, yet I know my boys have been working endlessly on tracking down Ronan. It chaps my ass the slimy bastard slipped through our fingers. Fuckin' pussy. But not even the fact that fucker got away can overshadow the news that I'm going to be a dad. My Little Bird is going to have my baby. Suddenly, a dark shadow crosses my heart because for the first time since hearing the news, I realize not only could I have lost Grace, but I could have lost my baby. It's a miracle the baby survived the beating she had to endure by that pussy Ronan. I look forward to having his blood on my hands. Saddling up to the bar, I take a seat next to Logan and motion for the prospect Grey to give me a beer. Lifting the bottle to my mouth, I down half the contents in one pull.
"How's Grace doing?" Logan asks from beside me.
UNBREAKABLE_The Kings of Retribution MC Page 18
