Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(104)

I never wanted any of that. Standing here watching that couple, knowing I could’ve had that and not sure if my family will live to see a day like these people were sharing…well, now, it’s all I wanted.

I thought of Pea entering the world alone.

I hope he isn’t scared because Mommy and Daddy would make it okay.

We will.

Just give us a chance.

Hang in there Pea, Daddy loves you.

So fucking much it hurts.

I watched the family drive away from the curb before finding my way back into the hell that was now the waiting room of Lutheran Medical.

The doors opened and two doctors walked out, one lifted his eyes, pulling off the mask as he searched the room. The other doctor pointed to where we were sitting as they made their way to us. My eyes locked with the first doctors and I tried desperately to read his expression, to prepare myself for what he was about to say but he remained neutral. I kicked off the wall I was leaning on and started toward him, my brothers rose from their seats, flocking around me.

Anthony and Maria who were sitting across the waiting room, gravitated toward me, fear in their eyes as they stared at the doctors.

I felt someone take my hand and when I looked down, Maria’s hand was wrapped tightly around mine. I lifted my eyes but she looked straight ahead at the doctor. I don’t know why she took my hand, maybe she did it for selfish reasons, maybe she did it for me, or maybe she did it because Lauren would’ve wanted her to. Whatever the reason was, I was glad she did and I squeezed her hand back. I vowed to prove to this woman how much I loved and respected her daughter. And with that vow, came the realization that Lauren didn’t even know how I felt about her.

What if I never get the chance to tell her? What if I never get the chance to thank her for taking the detour and storming past the roadblock that guarded anyone from getting close?

“Are you the family of Eric Nicholson?”

Bones.

The other doctor opened the chart, glancing at it.

“He has a Robert Montgomery, listed as an emergency contact.”

“That’s me,” I croaked.

“Is he okay?”

Jack walked up beside me, placing one hand on my shoulder as he and the doctor exchanged a look.

“What? What is it?” I asked, as I diverted my eyes back and forth between Jack and the duo of doctors.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Montgomery. One of the bullets hit his lung and the other pierced through his heart. We couldn’t get the bullets out because we couldn’t stop the bleeding. We tried everything we could to save him but the blood filled his lungs.”

“No!” I shouted, trying to absorb what he was saying. “He’s dead?”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” the doctor said, offering his condolences as the other doctor bowed his head regretfully.

Jack gripped my shoulders, turning me around to face him.

“Bones is dead? Jack, Bones is dead,” I rambled, as he grabbed a hold of my shoulders and stared at me solemnly

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered.

“Bones is dead,” I repeated. “And I didn’t get to say goodbye or thank him.” I pulled away from Jack. “He jumped in front of those bullets, trying to save Lauren, trying to save my kid.”

I took a step backward, running my fingers roughly through my hair as I glanced around the waiting room at my brothers and the Bianci’s.

“He died trying to save my family and he was alone when he died, no family, no brother. I didn’t get to say goodbye, and thanking him while he bled out on the ground isn’t enough. It’s not enough,” I shouted angrily, turning around to the doctors. “Can I see him?”

One of the doctors nodded.

“We’ve closed him up already. Give us a few minutes and we’ll take you downstairs,” he explained.

Downstairs.

The morgue.

My best friend was just another lifeless body in a freezer.

“What about my daughter?” Maria asked.

“I’m sorry but we haven’t heard anything on the other woman,” the second doctor informed us. “Just give us a few minutes. We will take you down, sir and hopefully get another doctor to give you an update on the young woman,” he offered, before turning around and leaving us.

Maria’s lip quivered as she glanced at Anthony.

“Why haven’t we heard anything?” She screeched frantically.

I didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. First getting word on Bones and being told he didn’t make it, made me slightly relieved we hadn’t heard anything on Lauren or the baby.

No news is good news, right?

Say I’m right.

One of the doctors returned a few minutes later, informing us that his colleague was still trying to get information on Lauren and asked me to follow him. I stepped onto the elevator, along with the doctor and watched as the doors closed.

The memories hit me hard, and as the elevator dropped so did my heart. We went from kids, to rebellious teenagers, finally becoming men we were proud to be.



I’m a prospect, earning my keep, going to be a Knight one day, Rob.

Why do they call you Bones?

Because I was born to break bones.

Well I need a nickname too.

A Road name. How about Riggs?

Riggs?