I held up my hand to stop him from saying anything else as I fought to keep myself from vomiting all over him. I swallowed several times and took in a few slow breaths to get my nausea under control. Finally, I was able to say, “I don’t need to know the details.”
Before he could reply, a nurse walked into my room. “Hi, Mrs. Black. I’m Bridget, your nurse for the day. How are you feeling?”
My brows furrowed at the name, but I caught the slight shake of Splint’s head and refrained from correcting her. “I’m in a lot of pain, and he’s trying to make me puke,” I said and pointed an accusatory finger at Splint.
His cheeks flushed and he stumbled over his words in his rush to explain. “I-I was just explaining her injuries to her and, um, what we thought happened to cause them.”
Nurse Bridget nodded and turned her attention back to me. “I’ll bring you something for pain and something for nausea. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, not unless you can tell me if Copper is out of surgery and doing okay.”
“I’ll see if I can get an update on your husband for you. I’ll be right back.”
“Husband?” I asked as soon as she left the room.
Batta shrugged. “I told them you were Copper’s wife so we could get updates on him.”
“Ah, thanks, I think.”
When my nurse returned with my pain and nausea medicine, she also brought the news I desperately needed to hear. “Your husband is out of surgery and in recovery. They were able to remove the bullet and repair the damage. He’ll be in recovery for a while, and then he’ll be moved to the ICU.”
“Thank you,” I rasped as tears ran down my face.
She finished putting the medicines in my IV and gently patted my hand. “You’re welcome, Mrs. Black. You try to get some rest, and I’ll check on you in a bit. Press your call button if you need me.” With that, she left the room, and I drifted off into a drug-induced sleep.
The next time I woke, Leigh and Judge were in my room. I shifted and cleared my throat. “How is he?”
Leigh was on her feet and beside my bed before I finished my question. She brushed the hair from my face and gently cupped my cheek. “He’s in the ICU, and they say he’s stable. He hasn’t woken up yet, but I think that’s because of the medicine they’re giving him.”
“I want to see him. Please,” I begged and tried not to cry. I needed to see him with my own eyes. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, and I would be waiting patiently for him to come back to me.
Leigh smiled. “You can’t get out of bed yet, but before you go getting worked up, I have an idea. Jonah, hand me my phone.” Leigh touched the screen a few times, and the sound of ringing filled the room shortly followed by Bronze’s voice.
“Hey, Bronze, Layla wants to see Copper, but she’s still on strict bed rest. I thought a video chat might pacify her, at least for a little while,” she said and passed the phone to me.
“Hi, Bronze. How is he?”
“Hey, Layla, you doing okay?”
“I’d be much better if I could see him,” I told him honestly.
He blew out a slow breath and nodded his head. “Yeah, okay. Listen, he lost a lot of blood, so he’s really pale, and he has a lot of tubes and wires. I just want you to be prepared to see him like that, because I wasn’t.”
I couldn’t stop the tears, but I squared my shoulders as best I could and nodded resolutely. “I’ll be okay. Please, let me see him.”
The screen changed, and my breath was stolen from me once again. Bronze was right; he was pale, far more so than I expected. He had a tube down his throat helping him breathe, as well as numerous other tubes and wires coming from underneath his blankets.
“Will you move me closer to his head?”
When only his face filled the screen, I began pouring my heart out, and I didn’t care that everyone in my room, as well as his, could hear me. “Copper, baby, I need you to keep fighting. I’m okay, and Annabelle’s okay. She had the babies, and Leigh says they’re doing good, too. Your family and your club are here waiting for you to come back to us. I’m waiting for you to come back to me. I love you, Copper, and I need you by my side. I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to. I love you so much.”
When Bronze started to move the phone, I asked, “Can I stay with him like this until I fall asleep again?”
“Of course, Layla. I’ll leave the phone right where it is.”
“Is that okay, Leigh?”
“Absolutely. Jonah, will you run down to the gift shop and see if they have a charger for my phone?”
“Sure thing, Mom. Be right back.”
And that’s how I spent the next three days of my hospital stay. When they finally removed my chest tube, I was on my feet and headed to the ICU before the doctor even left the room.
“Mrs. Black, I understand you’re anxious to see your husband, but if you’ll give us just a few minutes, I’ll have one of the nurses bring a wheelchair to take you upstairs,” the doctor offered.
I gestured over my shoulder with my thumb at Batta and Judge. “Can one of them carry me?”
The room erupted in laughter as my nurse pushed a wheelchair into my room. “There’s no need for that. I knew you wouldn’t wait long and have had this baby parked outside your room since my shift started this morning.” She patted the seat, “Hop in, and I’ll take you upstairs.”
She wheeled me to a set of elevators that opened up inside the ICU. “These elevators are for patients only. Since you’re technically still a patient, I thought it would be easier to take this route and bypass the waiting room filled with your friends and family members.”
“Thank you. I do want to see them, but I want to see him first.”
“That’s what I thought. Real quick, you’re still my patient, and I’m responsible for you. I have no problem with you staying up here with your husband as long as you promise to stay in this wheelchair and call me if you need anything.”
“I promise,” I told her, and I meant it. I wouldn’t do anything to risk being taken away from Copper’s side.
She left after she wheeled me into his room and parked me as close to his side as she could get me. I reached forward and took his hand in mine. “I’m here,” I whispered.
And that’s where I stayed until he woke up.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Layla
Five days had passed since Copper was shot, and he still hadn’t woken up. The breathing tube had been removed, and everything looked good on paper; but, his eyes hadn’t so much as twitched since I’d been by his side, and that worried me more than anything.
Did I hold enough pressure on his wound? Should I have tried to breathe for him before the paramedics arrived? Would chest compressions have helped him? Every moment I was awake, I replayed the events of that day over and over trying to figure out what I could have done differently.
With my head resting on his hand, I started to drift off to sleep while I imagined his fingers sifting through my hair.
“Your thinking is making me tired.”
My head shot up so fast I damn near knocked myself out of the chair. “Copper!” I shrieked and started pressing every button I could get my fingers on.
He closed his eyes, and I lost it. “No! Nononononono! Stay awake. Please, please, please,” I wailed.
His eyes shot open again, but before I could breathe a sigh of relief, two nurses came running into his room.
“He’s awake,” I screeched and pointed at the wide-eyed man staring at the three of us.
“Bring it down a few notches,” he said and squinted his eyes.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Black?” the nurse asked the first of many questions and proceeded to check everything she could possibly check on him.
I tried to be patient, but I was nearing my breaking point when the nurse finally left the room.
“I’m sorry,” we both said at the same time.
“Come ‘ere, Locks,” he rumbled an
d patted the bed beside him.
With zero hesitation, I carefully crawled into the hospital bed with him and promptly turned into a sobbing mess. “I thought I lost you. He shot you, Copper. In the chest. There was so much blood, and we couldn’t get you down, and—”
“I love you,” he said, effectively shutting me up.
I raised my head so I could see his eyes. “I love you, too.”
He grinned, “I know. I heard you that day in the warehouse. And I’ve heard you say it since then.”
“What else have you heard?”
“A lot, but why don’t you hit me with the highlights in case I missed something,” he suggested.
“Okay, here goes. Asp shot you. I shot Asp. Annabelle went into labor. The babies are in the NICU. You fell on me and broke my ribs. A nail punctured my lung. Aim is still in police custody. And, I think that’s it.”
“How are your ribs?” he asked.
“Splint said they were cracked but not completely broken, but they still hurt like a motherfucker if I move wrong,” I told him honestly.
“Well, then, you should probably take it easy and get some rest,” he said with a yawn, and before long, we were both asleep.
When I opened my eyes and saw Phoenix sitting in the chair that had been my home since I was allowed to leave my hospital room, I startled, which caused Copper to jolt. He let out a grunt of pain while I clutched my ribs and tried to take slow, easy breaths.
“Shit. I didn’t mean to scare you. Can I do anything to help?” Phoenix asked.
“No,” we both groaned.
Phoenix walked up to the side of the bed and grabbed Copper’s hand. “Heard you were finally awake, but I had to see it for myself. You had us worried there for a minute.”
“Yeah, I can admit getting shot in the chest scared the shit out of me, too,” Copper said honestly. “How are Annabelle and the babies?”
Phoenix smiled. “They’re all doing great. The twins are still in the NICU, but Annabelle’s already been discharged from the hospital.” He paused for a moment and rubbed his chin. “She’s been asking about both of you. I was able to hold her off while she was still in the hospital, but now that she’s been released, she’ll be stopping by in between feeding times.”
“What’s the problem?” Copper asked.
“She doesn’t know about Layla and Aim, yet, and I’m not—”
A throat cleared from behind Phoenix, startling the three of us. “Sorry to interrupt, but it sounds like my timing is perfect,” Aim said with a grim look on his face.
“How so?” Copper asked.
Aim stepped into the room and ran his hand through his hair. “My little girl is sick. Has been for a while, and she needs a bone marrow transplant. We’re on the registry, but we haven’t found a match yet, and family members have a better chance of being a match, and—”
“You need us to get tested?” I asked.
“Please,” he said with a desperation so great I felt tears sting the backs of my eyes.
Phoenix clapped Aim on the shoulder. “We’ll tell her when she comes down. I know she won’t have a problem with being tested, but I don’t know if they’ll let her since she just had the babies.”
“Let me do what?” Annabelle asked.
“Doll face,” Phoenix said and ushered her to a chair. “Everything okay upstairs?”
“Yes. Let me do what?” she asked again.
Phoenix blew out a breath and opened his mouth to speak, but I couldn’t let him bear the brunt of the bombshell she was about to receive by being the one to tell her.
With no preamble, I sat up and extended my hand to her. “I don’t believe we were formally introduced. I’m Layla East, your half sister.”
She blinked, looked at my hand, turned to Phoenix, then back to my hand, and finally said, “Well, that explains a whole fucking lot.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened, Copper snorted, and I just stared at her. She pointed at Phoenix, “You’ve been acting weird for the last few weeks.” Then she turned her attention back to me, “And you look almost identical to my daughter.”
“I’m sorry, doll face. I only kept it from you because I was worried about you and the babies,” Phoenix said sincerely.
“I know that, big guy. What I don’t know is what you won’t let me do,” she said, clearly annoyed with having to ask again.
“Donate bone marrow. He was saying he didn’t know if the doctor would allow it since you just gave birth,” Aim said.
Annabelle’s forehead scrunched. “Why would I need to donate bone marrow?”
Aim flicked his gaze to me and nodded subtly before focusing on Annabelle. “Because my daughter is sick, and she’s probably going to die if we don’t find a donor.” He extended his hand to her, “My name is Amos Edwards, and I’m your half brother.”
Annabelle shook his hand, but didn’t utter a word.
He then turned to me and held out his hand. “Hi, Layla. It’s nice to officially meet you. I’m sorry about the way we met before. I was undercover and couldn’t tell you,” he said quietly.
“Yeah, I know that now. Uh, sorry about having you arrested and almost blowing your case,” I said and felt my cheeks flush.
He laughed. “Can’t say I wasn’t pissed when it happened, but it all worked out in the end.”
“Doll face, you okay?” Phoenix asked, and we all turned our eyes to Annabelle.
“I, um,” she started but closed her mouth. “I’m sorry. Let’s start over. What in the actual fuck is going on?”
“Maybe we should step outside,” Aim suggested.
“Don’t bother,” I snorted. “That one’ll follow us, and that one probably will, too,” I said and pointed at Phoenix first, then Copper.
So, right there in Copper’s hospital room, Aim told us his story, and then I shared mine. When we were finished, Annabelle filled us in on her past. And I could safely say, we had some fucked-up history.
“Where’s your daughter?” I asked.
“She’s here in the hospital, on the pediatric unit,” he glanced at his watch. “I actually need to be getting back to her.”
“Can she have visitors?” Annabelle asked.
Aim smiled. “Only family.”
Annabelle and I both stood. “Let’s go.”
“Not so fast, Locks,” Copper, who I thought was asleep, rumbled. “Stay with Phoenix.”
I rolled my eyes, but agreed. “Sir, yes, sir,” I said and kissed his cheek.
I started to turn away to follow Aim and Annabelle, but Copper circled my wrist and held firm. “Don’t be a smartass about me worrying about you. I love you, and I damn sure don’t want anything to happen to you.”
I nodded and closed my eyes for a brief moment. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. And I love you, too. I’ll stay with Phoenix, and I won’t be gone long.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Copper
The moment Phoenix and Aim left with Annabelle and Layla, Bronze and Badger entered my room. Bronze had been at my bedside almost as much as Layla had, but I wasn’t expecting to see Badger.
“Looking good, Copper. How’re you feeling?” Badger asked as he reached for my hand.
“Been better, but under the circumstances, I can’t complain,” I said honestly. Yes, my fucking chest hurt even with all the shit they were giving me for pain, but I was alive and my loved ones were safe.
Badger looked toward the door and motioned with his hand for someone to enter, make that two someones. “Copper, this is my Old Lady, Macy. And this little firecracker is Evelyn Carmichael.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise when my eyes landed on the woman Badger introduced as Evelyn. “She can’t be. Layla said she was in her seventies.”
Evelyn laughed, “You just might be my new favorite person, boy. Now, where’s my sweet Kayla, I mean Layla?”
“She just stepped out, but she shouldn’t be gone too long,” I told her, then gestured to the chair. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you. Wouldn’t mind standing, but this confounded hip’s making a weakling out of me,” she grumbled.
“How is your hip? Badger said you fell and broke it a few weeks ago?”
“It’s been a pain in the butt, literally. I made it all these years without ever breaking a bone in my body, but it figures when I finally do, I pick one that’s a doozy. But that’s enough about me. Tell me, how’s my girl? I’ve been so worried about her.”
“She’s had a rough go of it the past few months, but it looks like things are turning around for her. She’s going to be so happy to see you, but be careful with her. She has a couple of fractured ribs she tends to forget about,” I told her.
She grinned. “You’re telling the old woman with the broken hip to be careful with the young woman with broken ribs?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said honestly.
“I think I just might like you, Copper. Badger tells me—”
A shriek of delight interrupted Evelyn as Layla’s eyes landed on her. “Evelyn!!!” she squealed and darted for the woman.
“Broken bones!” I yelled. “Both of you have broken bones.”
With that, Layla slowed her approach, but embraced Evelyn in a fierce hug.
“Are you okay?” they both asked at the same time and then laughed.
“Oh, I’ve been so worried about you, sweetheart, but from what I hear, it sounds like you’re doing okay,” Evelyn said in a shaky voice.
Layla sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I’ve been worried about you, too. I was going to come back, but I got lost and then it snowed, and—”
“It’s okay, sweetie. Everything worked out like it was supposed to, and you’re safe now,” Evelyn said and patted her cheek.
“What happened? When you came back that day? Did he hurt you?” Layla asked.
Copper (Blackwings MC - Devils Springs Book 1) Page 19
