Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(103)

Too much.

Your wife is going into shock.

Your baby is in distress.

Emergency C-section.

Remove the bullets and stop the bleeding.

All the dreams turned to nightmares.

The dream of Lauren.

The dream of Pea.

The dream of us.

It all hung in limbo along with their lives.





Chapter Thirty-Six





I was never afraid of dying. Granted. I never gave death much thought, figured it was just an end to a cycle but right now, death scares the fuck out of me. And still, not for myself, not because I’m afraid to die but because I’m afraid to live. Live without them.

For all I know, they could be gone.

You’ve taken three of my brothers, seems only fair I take three of yours.

Kitten.

Pea.

Bones.

Three lives.

Wu had his three bodies. It didn’t matter that only one wore a patch, they all belonged to the Satan’s Knights. They all belonged to me. Everyone I cared about, everyone I loved was fighting for their life right now while I sat here in a waiting room, helpless and wishing I’d chosen God over the Devil. You can’t pray to the Devil to save those you love. That crazy fuck gets off on this shit.

The hospital’s automatic glass doors opened and the Bianci’s came running in, stopping just in front of Jack. Maria lifted her hand to cover her mouth as she gasped, taking in the blood that covered my clothes, while Anthony stared at Jack expressionless.

“Oh, my God!” She wailed, her eyes diverting back and forth between Jack’s blood stained clothes and mine. She lifted her grief-stricken face, her eyes crazed with anger as they peered into mine. She reared her hand back and slapped me across the face.

Anthony grabbed her but she snatched her arm free and started to pummel my chest with her fists.

“You son of a bitch. Look at you!” She shoved her hands against my chest. “How does it feel to have your child’s and my child’s blood all over you?”

“I’m sorry,” I rasped, welcoming the sting to my face, wishing she’d inflict more pain. I deserved to feel it but knew it wouldn’t be enough. I’d never feel the pain any of them are feeling.

Anthony pulled his mother back.

“This isn’t helping.”

“Nothing he does helps, he’s poison!” She hissed, glancing over Anthony’s shoulder at me. “If anything happens to my daughter or that sweet innocent baby, so help me God, I’ll kill you with my bare hands!”

“Get a hold on your mother, Bianci,” Jack seethed. “You want to blame someone lady, blame me, not him. While that may be your daughter fighting for her life in there, it’s also the woman he loves. It’s his child, not just your grandchild, not to mention his brother who stood in front of your daughter.”

“Jack, stop,” I interrupted. I deserved Maria’s anger, her blame, every fucking word was true. I did this to the innocent girl next door that came out swinging. I did this to the baby she was going to give me.

“No, fuck that. You’re entitled to your grief, Mrs. Bianci but the way you’re feeling, so is Riggs. It’s his eyes that watched them fall to the ground. It’s his hands that tried to stop the bleeding and it’s his goddamn heart that is bleeding now. So you need to pass the blame, blame me, because I allowed this shit to happen,” he growled.

She wiped furiously at the tears that streaked her face before throwing her hands up in the air and shaking her head.

“I blame all of you,” she pointed a finger at her son. “Including you, goddamn it.”

“Maria, come on, let’s sit,” Adrianna tried, taking her mother-in-law’s hand and guiding her across the waiting room toward a row of chairs away from the one’s we occupied.

“What happened?” Anthony looked at me. “Why was she there in the first place?”

“She wanted to talk about the baby. I figured she needed something or hell, I don’t know I was just fucking happy she called and told her to meet me at the compound,” I explained, running my fingers through my hair. “Man, I didn’t want any of this. You know that,” I emphasized.

“I know,” he said, turning his eyes toward Jack. “I don’t give a fuck about your goddamn club business. This shit is personal to me now. That’s my fucking family in there, my blood and you’re family ain’t keeping me at bay anymore. You hear me, brother?” He snarled.

Jack held Anthony’s stare but remained silent as I brushed past them, needing a break from everyone. I made my way through the parting doors, taking big greedy gulps of air as I ignored the stares of people outside watching me. I leaned against the wall, propping my boot against the bricks and watched as a man pulled his SUV up to the entrance. He walked around the car, opened the backseat and removed one of those infant car seats. He wore a big grin on his face as he slammed the door of his car and told the security guard he’d be right down, he was taking home his newborn daughter today.

A great day.

One that man would never forget.

It’s amazing how one man’s life can be complete while another man’s falls apart.

I don’t know how long I stood out there waiting for the man to come down but the moment I saw him wheeling his wife out of the hospital, I knew that’s why I stood outside and waited. I wanted to catch a glimpse of the happy family, and happy they were. Both mom and dad beamed from ear to ear as they worked their precious bundle of joy into the car.