Catching Forever (BlackPath MC Book 2) (8 page)

     Dra

No! It’s all I can think. Why would this woman jump in front of me, when it should be me protecting her? I catch her and roll us but I can feel with my hand she has blood coming from the back of her shoulder and from her head where we fell. Callie, baby, you have to be ok. Please help her!

  “Call for an ambulance! Callie is shot!” I’m oblivious to the commotion around me. I see Tazer has Hacksaw by the throat on the floor beating on his face but I don’t see Devil and I don’t see Chief. Then we hear another gun shot from outside. Tazer freezes mid hit and he’s off Hacksaw and out the door with Krill right behind him. As fast as it began, it is over. Hacksaw is getting himself off the floor with Buzz’s help, but Jeb is missing. Dad has the phone in his hand trying to get help for Callie. I just want her to open her eyes. “Baby, please open your eyes. I love you. Please baby, don’t leave me.” She’s so still. It should be me.

  “Hold tight son, ambulance is on the way. We have to go check what is going on outside. I’ll be right back.” Why would Callie jump in front of a bullet for me? Our first fight is going to be over her learning to stay the hell behind me. “Callie, baby, open them beautiful eyes for me.” It seems like it has been forever. What’s taking the ambulance so long?

  I see Dad making his way back in with Chief beside him. Jeb and Tazer come in behind them, with Krill bringing up the rear. Jeb has a shirt tied around his arm. It looks like he took a bullet to the upper arm.

  “Dra, give my daughter to me. Is she breathing ok? Let me take a look.” Chief is talking to me but there is no way I am leaving Callie’s side.

“You can sit beside us, but no one is taking Callie from me. She’s mine. Fool woman.” I can tell Chief does not like it, but he is not going to fight me right now. I hear the sirens in the distance and I know help will be here soon.

“Did you get Devil? Is he dead? Because if he isn’t now, he will be soon.” I can see the anger in Chief’s face. Tazer and Jeb have the same looks. I know I need to focus, but the anger I feel is not going away.

  “Can you make room for us? We need to be able to get to the patient. Sir, you’re going to have to move.” I give the paramedic a death glare.

“Son, let them do their job. She needs to get to the hospital.” Dad is trying to reason with me, I finally realize he is right and give her to the paramedics.

“I’m going with her in the ambulance.” I dare anyone to try and stop me. No one speaks up until I hear Chief.

“We’ll be right behind you. You may think she is your woman, but she will always be my baby girl.” I know he is hurting right now, but I just can’t leave her.

They load her on the gurney and I swear the sheet has a better color that she does. I follow close behind and when I walk out the front door I see all the members of the Troubled Fathoms MC are gathered around Steel and Devil. If I weren’t so afraid for Callie right now, I would put him to ground. The end of my gun would be the last thing he would see.

The trip in the back of the ambulance to the hospital is one of the longest of my life. The back doors of the ambulance are opened and there is a frenzy of doctors and medical personnel trying to help with Callie. I step out and one of the women takes my arm and says, “Sir, you will have to wait in the family waiting room.” I know this is normal, but my mind can’t comprehend leaving Callie.

“I can’t leave her. She needs me. She’s pregnant. Nothing can happen to her baby.” I’m beyond reason and going out of my mind with worry

“Sir, the doctors can’t help your wife if you don’t let us. You need to go to the waiting room. The doctor will evaluate her and come give you an update when he can.” I know she’s right, so I walk into the waiting room to wait while the woman I love has to fight for her life.

     Devil

   What the hell have I done? How did I let this get so out of hand? I wanted to end Dra for trying to claim my woman, but I never thought Callie would get hurt. I wasn’t thinking. I just reacted to his hand on her. Now I don’t know if Callie or my unborn child will make it. What if I killed them both? I deserve whatever happens to me.

  I could barely see Callie when they took her to the ambulance. I couldn’t live with myself if I killed my family. I should have just let Callie go. She deserves better.

  From the minute I first I laid eyes on Callie, I knew she was too good for me. I knew if I stayed in her life, I would be her downfall. If she will just pull through this, I will set her free for her own good. I not only let her down, but I’ve let my family and club down.

I don’t know why I’m still alive. If I had been in Chief’s place, I would have put me to ground instead of the beating he gave me. All I can hope for is to find out how Callie is and maybe dad and my brothers can get out of this alive. I’ll accept whatever punishment they have to give.

Right now we are locked down waiting for either the law or the Troubled Fathoms to serve justice. I just need to hear about Callie.

“Boy, what were you thinking? How the hell are we getting out of this?” We both look as the door opens and a big mountain of a man comes in. I don’t know if this is the man who will end us or not, but he doesn’t look happy.

  “I need Steel and Devil.” Dad and I both look at each other. Hacksaw and Buzz start to get up but the man stops in front of me.

“I’m Devil.” There’s no way I want anyone else taking my beat down. He looks at my dad.

“Are you Steel?” I try to get between the two but the big man backhands me back into the wall.

“That’s me.” The big man shakes his head and drills me with a death glare.

  “We’re leaving for the hospital. Your two men can leave but not come to the hospital. They will be watched to make sure they don’t leave town. I’m Blake and for some reason Callie wanted to make sure you two were taken care of, but I tell you this Devil, if Callie isn’t ok, you will be going to ground and I will be sending you there. Do you understand? Callie has been shot twice now on your watch, and I hold you responsible. Now let’s get to the hospital to check on her.” This is Callie’s Uncle Blake. He is a hell of a big man.

  “Have you heard any news on her?  They haven’t told us anything since they put us in here.” He doesn’t look like he wants to give us any information.

  “I talked to Hawser a little bit ago. No news yet, but he gave the ok for me to take charge of you after a little convincing. Stay away from Dra, Chief and Ty. They are out for blood, but I know if Callie wakes up and anything has happened to you two, she is going to be irate. By the way, you can both consider yourself detained. I am a U.S. Marshall, and if you try to run I will shoot you on the spot. Now let’s go.” I think Callie forgot to fill me in on everything about her Uncle Blake. No wonder Blake and Chief don’t get along. I don’t know how I will get out of this, but at least I will get to check on Callie.

       Dra

  They haven’t let us back to see Callie yet, but the doctor came out to let us know her condition after hours of sitting here. The surgery to get the bullet out was minor. She has a severe concussion and cut on her head. The baby is still fighting to stay alive, so it must be a lot like Callie. We should get to see her soon. Chief filled out all the necessary paperwork and now we are just waiting again and drinking what the hospital passes off as coffee. Can’t expect much from a vending machine.

Dad let us know Callie’s Uncle Blake have Devil and Steel in another waiting room in the hospital but none of us know why Blake is even here. My woman is full of surprises. We are not going to have a dull life that’s for sure. Now if I can just tie her down to keep her safe. That is going to be a bigger job than I thought.

Another surprise is Blake is a U.S. Marshall. Who would have thought that? Apparently he and Chief have unresolved issues.

Just as I am about to get up to go ask the nurse one more time how long it will be, the door opens and the doctor walks in the door and goes and sits across from Chief in one of the stiff chairs.

  “Mr. Black, I’m Dr. Clayton. I am taking care of your daughter. Your daughter is being taken from recovery to a room in ICU and she will be there for about two hours. I want to watch her, but if she has no complications from the concussion I think she will be fine. Since this is her second concussion in the last few months I am being cautious. The pregnancy we’ll know more about in time, but so far so good. Nothing we can do but wait and pray. We will give her antibiotics through an IV, a pain drip and then give her a script when she goes home. We are not giving her anything that could possibly hurt the baby. She’s young and strong and that works in her favor. The baby’s heart beat is strong. You have any questions? Our ER is going to be full soon. There’s been a wreck, so I will check back in with Callie, but will be in ER for a while. It’s going to be a long night for us all. My advice is to go home and come back tomorrow. Leave your numbers with the front desk and they’ll call if there’s any change.” The doctor looks tired. Not as tired as I feel though.

  “I will be staying here tonight. Can I stay with her? Can we see her now?” I know I am throwing questions at him fast but he needs to understand I won’t be going anywhere.

  The doctor looks at me and then to Chief, “I will let one at a time go back to see her, but only for a few minutes. Don’t give the nurses any trouble. Are you all relatives?” I know Chief and Tazer will want to see her but everyone else can wait until morning.

  “This is her dad, brother, and she’s my woman.” The doctor looks down at my cut and then to Chief and Dad.

“I see. Well, ok. One at a time and only one can stay after she is in her room for the night. I’ll tell the desk nurse.” Finally, we get to see her. There would not be enough men in this hospital to make me leave.

“But that little lady needs rest. If her vitals decline, everyone will be out.” Dr. Clayton doesn’t hold back, he is firm with us.

  Chief stands and shakes the doctor’s hand as do the rest of us.  Chief looks at me like he has something to say but is considering his words carefully. “I think I need to stay with Callie. I don’t want her feeling pressure from you. I can tell you have feelings for my daughter, but I don’t want her under any more stress than she has to be. We have to let her decide what she is going to do. She’s been through enough. Everyone needs to put their own feelings aside.” I can understand Chief’s point of view, but that’s not happening.

“I’m glad you can recognize my feelings for Callie, but I don’t just have feelings for her, she’s mine and I’m not leaving. You can do what you want, but I will be in her room.” I stare Chief down. There’s no way he will change my mind. “She made her mind up when she jumped in front of a bullet for me.”

“You see, that’s where you’re wrong. My sister would do that for anyone. She’s good like that.” Tazer has a smile on his face like he is thinking of all the things she might have done. One day, I would like to hear them all.

“Doesn’t matter. I won’t be leaving.” That is my last word on it.

  “Well then. It looks like my daughter might have found someone to take care of her this time. Ty and I will stay in the waiting room here. She asks for us, you better make sure to haul your ass out here and get us. Are we clear?”  That’s the best I will get from Chief so I’ll take it. “I’m going in first to see her. Dra, you and then Ty. Everyone else can wait until tomorrow. Sounds like a plan.” Chief gets up and goes to the front desk and the nurse takes him back to see Callie.

“Son, you need to stay calm. This is Chief’s daughter and he needs to see her just so he can rest a little. One day when you’re a dad, you’ll understand.” Dad doesn’t have to tell me he’s thinking what if that had been me. “I’ll bring Betsy tomorrow to see Callie if she’s up to it. I know Betsy is worrying herself crazy over her. She’s taken a real liking to her.”

“No dad, she loves Callie. Callie filled a void that Gram has had since Mom died. Dad, I love Callie, and I will do what I have to, to keep her. The club better be ready to back me. If I have to fight for her I will. That includes the U.S. Marshall. I will put my patch on her and wait on her until she is free from Devil if that is what she needs. When she is free I will put a ring on her finger. After we have her child to raise, I will put my baby in her, so everyone better be ready for it. This is happening.” Dad eyes me and I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look up and Krill is standing beside me. Tazer is sitting across from me and he is smiling.

“You better make sure Baby Girl is on board with that. That girl has a mind of her own and don’t like to be told what to do.” He is sitting there shaking his head. “Dad was always worried about me raising hell, but I’ll be damned if my little sister hasn’t out done me this time. You seem like a good enough man Dra, but I would be asking her, and not telling her, if you want to keep her.” Tazer just keeps grinning to himself.

“We will always have your back brother. Do what you have to.” Krill lets me know I have his support.

“Listen to your heart, son. That’s what I did with your mom and I never regretted it. Not one day.” Dad likes Callie if he is comparing this situation with his and mom’s. I now know I have all the backing I need.

      Chief

  I sit here looking at my girl. She looks so small in that bed. She has wires running out of her. Her head is bandaged and I can see the bandages under her gown. How did this happen to her? I am supposed to protect her, but this girl is one hard person to protect. She’s been that way since she could crawl. Breaks my heart every time she hurts. The first time she took off walking I swear she ran. She crawled and then she was pulling up and it was no time until she was letting go. She was a daredevil even then. Tommy and I tried to baby proof everything in their tiny apartment. Then one day she let go and took off running as fast as her little legs would carry her. Then there was no keeping her still. Tommy, how in the hell am I supposed to protect her? I see her heart beat but there is a fetal monitor on her, too. I reach over and turn the volume up. That little heartbeat is strong. If she’d lost this baby it would have broken her, and if I had lost her it would have broken me. Tommy, please look over our girl. Don’t take her away from me yet. I still have years to spend with her. I put my hand over hers and my larger hand swallows hers. I take my hand back afraid I might hurt her. I feel the tears running down my face and I see as they fall on her hand.

“Dad, I’m ok. It’s ok.” I can barely hear her soft voice but she sounds like an angel. My angel. She starts to cough. “Can I have a drink?”

“Oh baby. I’ll get a nurse. I love you, Baby Girl.” I push the nurse call button and then I hear her again.

“I love you, dad. Is everyone ok? Where’s Dra?” That’s Callie, always thinking of someone else.

“Stay quiet and be still until the nurse gets here. Dra is fine.” I guess my girl does have feelings for Dra because she settles right down.

The nurse comes over to Callie. “Well hello, Mrs. Steel. Welcome back. You can have a little sip until you get used to it. Does your head hurt? Need anything for pain? You have a pain drip. Just push that button.”

  “My head feels like I was hit with a sledge hammer. I want to see Dra before I get meds. Dad can I see Dra?” Yeah, my girl cares for Dra.

“Listen, Dra will be here in just a little while. I’ll send him in. Only one of us at a time are allowed. Ty wants to see you, and your Uncle Blake is here. I’m going to send them in one at a time and then Dra is staying the night with you. Is that ok?” I know if Dra ever gets back here he’s not leaving. I bend over and give Callie a kiss on the head and I can finally breathe.

“Mr. Black, you go ahead. I’ll be here and it probably won’t be long until she is ready for those meds, then she’ll probably be out for a while.” The nurse is trying to be helpful, but I wish Callie would go ahead and take her drip so she’d be out of pain. I know she won’t until she sees Dra.

I walk back into the waiting room and as soon as I open the door I see the eyes of the man who put Callie here and I feel a rage that no man can contain. I take big steps towards him and Ty and a man I hadn’t seen in two years step between us. Blake is here. The son of a bitch I swore I would kill if I ever laid eyes on again.

“Back off, Chief. These men are in my custody and unless you want the entire Marshall’s office to come down on you, back off.” I give Blake a searing look.

“Always hiding behind that badge, aren’t you? One day you won’t have it, and we will settle our score. What is this son of a bitch doing here?” Blake knows I will tolerate him, but Devil is a different story.

“Callie asked me to come before. She asked for my help and I’ve never been able to tell her no, about anything. She won’t want them hurt and they are being detained by me. If she wants to press charges, then Devil goes to jail, but we both know our girl.” Blake shakes his head.

“Callie is awake.” Dra jumps to his feet and I now have everyone’s attention. “She’s still groggy and she won’t take her drip for pain until she sees Dra is ok. You can go back one at a time or you can wait until tomorrow and Dra can go back and she’ll take her meds.” I look around. I was watching Devil out of the corner of my eye and when I said she asked for Dra it took the wind right out of him. I feel satisfaction in that.

“I’ll wait until tomorrow if you say she’s ok, Dad. I’d rather her have her pain meds.” That’s my boy. I look at Blake and wait. Blake goes in front of Dra.

“Tell her I’m here and I have Devil with me. It will ease her mind. Also tell her I will see her tomorrow and I love her.” At least Blake hasn’t lost all his mind. He still puts Callie first.

“Thank you both. I will tell her Blake, and I’ll tell her for you, too, Tazer.” Dra turns to leave but Devil speaks up.

“Will you tell her I’m sorry?” Dra turns and glares at Devil and nods his head quickly and he is gone.

“Ty let’s get something to eat so we can get back here. Waiting room is ours tonight.” I am headed toward the door.

“You know I’m not going away. I’m transferring to Colorado. I’m going to be close to Callie and you’re going to have to deal with it.” I don’t have to deal with the asshole. I am almost to the elevator with Ty behind me when the doors open and I thought I was leaving the two men I hated most behind me when who steps off the elevator but Diamondback himself. Fuck! Could anything else happen today?

“Well, Chief we meet again. Where’s my daughter? And who do I need to kill for hurting her?”  Diamondback is in true form and for once I agree with him. I just can’t figure out how he found out so soon.

“Don’t make me regret calling you old man. Is this how you’re going to repay me, by making me arrest you?” Blake had made it over to us and now I know the years of being undercover definitely fried his brain.

“You called him? Why the hell would you do that?” I just don’t know why Blake would even think to do this.

“Callie had me get in touch with him. Do you think he came all the way from west Texas in a few hours? He was already on his way here. I just told him to put a move on it and some of what happened.” Blake is loving this.

  “Why would Callie have you get in touch with him?” I am on that edge again and I am going to go ape shit on someone soon.

“Cool your jets, Chief. Diamondback was part of Callie’s surprise for everyone. You don’t give that girl enough credit. She knew you were scared for her to meet him. It was the only way to take his power away.” Blake points to Diamondback. “She took control of the situation. You were afraid he would come out of the woodwork for her, so Callie was taking the big scary away by controlling when he got to meet her. She called me in as her back-up if I was needed. He wouldn’t see me coming. She’s pretty damn smart when people get out of her way. Have some confidence in her to know what she can handle.” Blake is loving every single second of this. I do have confidence in Callie, I just don’t think she needs to take everything on herself.

“Ok. Let’s all talk. I’m going to tell everyone just how this is going to go.” They will listen to me.

“There you go again, trying to take charge of everything. This is Callie’s show. We will wait until she is ready.” Blake is pressing his luck.

  “Lucky for you that is exactly what I was going to say.” I stare Blake down.

“Ok, neither one of you ass jacks told me where Callie was.” Diamondback needs to get back on that elevator and leave until he is wanted.

Blake goes and stands in front of Diamondback and looks down at him. “I told you when I called the first time, and I will only say this one more time, Callie is in charge. The four of us are going to a motel and staying tonight and we will come back tomorrow. Diamondback, you’re with your guys. If you try to return here tonight, I will arrest your old ass. Are we clear?” Then he turns to Devil and Steel. “You two are with me and we are going to the same motel your men are at. We all will return in the morning.” Blake goes towards the elevator and the others follow him. I guess his big ugly ass is good for something.

When the elevator doors close behind them I turn and look at Ty, Krill and Hawser. I shake my head.

“I never spanked that girl as a child. I think I might should have, because she can stir up more shit than anyone I know. Hawser, your boy is going to have his hands full if she decides to stay with him, is all I can say.” I just don’t know what to think.