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The moment the doors open, Dad is standing off to the side. He must know what I need. His arms wrap around me, my head hits his chest, and I’m letting out silent tears while he holds me. “Oh, Delilah, he’s okay, you’re okay. Though, I’ve got some questions.”
“I’m sure you do,” I joke. It’s time to pull myself together. There isn’t time for tears or fears. Fletch will be okay, he has to be okay, and no matter what happens, I’m going to be with him, forever.
“Come on, let’s get you all back to Fletcher. He’s crawling out of his skin as it is.” Dad guides me until his arm is wrapped around my shoulder. I remain quiet while he says hello to Beau, Asher, and Madelyn. Thankfully, he’s doing all of this while walking down the long corridor, the noise of machines, the chatter coming from each room, the bustling of nurses and doctors. My eyes swing from left to right, looking for Fletch, when we stop outside a door. There he is, on the bed, shirt off, a bandage on his neck and on his arm, blood saturating one. I’m standing stone-cold still. I’m about to crumble. He could be in so much worse shape. Mentally, I know this, but tell that to my damn heart.
“Woman.” One word. Fletch says one word, and it means more than I’d have ever imagined.
Chapter 21
Fletch
“Idon’t know where to touch you.” Delilah comes to an abrupt halt after finally moving her ass into the room. Really, this is overkill, but it’s also how things work in an emergency department with a shit ton of reports that need to be written. Luckily, the little girl is okay. She’s back in her mom’s possession. The damn report is going to be eight inches thick by the time everything is said and done. A welfare check turned into a drug distributor case. Marshall Kennedy Senior and Junior are now behind bars. The little girl, whose name is Emory, and her mom, Cassidy, are together. Marshall, the older of the duo, was holding Emory over Cassidy’s head, holding her hostage until she did the drop he demanded. Emory’s dad, the younger of the two Marshalls, wasn’t much better. Strung out on his own product, he did and went along with everything his father wanted. It was a shit situation that only turned shittier. The last I heard, Cassidy’s mom, Jackie, is on her way to Peach Springs, and hopefully, she takes her daughter and granddaughter back home with her. They both deserve a clean break and to find some good after the hell they’ve been through.
“Come here, Delilah. You won’t hurt me.” I lift up my good arm, ready to have her next to me. She needs it, and fuck if I don’t need it. The last thought I had before I passed out was not making good on my promise to come home to her. I can’t say I’m too happy about falling to my damn knees with a baby in my arms, but I guess it happens with how much blood I had lost from the shot to my arm.
“I’m not getting in bed with you, Fletcher Wild. Your family is here, and so is my dad,” she whisper-hisses. Beau lets out a chuckle, letting on that he heard her. I narrow my eyes, and he raises his hands in defeat. That’s right, fucker. I love my brothers, love all of them, but I’ll beat their asses if they so much as hurt Delilah from laughing at her antics.
“Woman, sit your ass down and give me your eyes.” I’d be on my way home already if it weren’t for my arm, a through and through by a high caliber rifle. Fucking bullets from an AR-15. I’m lucky the bullet didn’t stay lodged inside my arm.
“Fine.” My hand reaches for hers the second her ass meets the bed, and she’s sitting near my hip. So close I can smell her, yet I want her closer. Always do and always will.
“Closer.” She leans down. I lick my lips, and her eyes darken with need. “I’m okay. Once they do an X-ray, the doctor will stitch me up, and then we can go home, alright?”
“Home,” she repeats.
“Yeah.” I lift up, pressing my lips to hers in a quick kiss, too fucking quick, but like she’s said, we’ve got an audience, and I’m not about to embarrass her.
“Alright, you two lovebirds. The nurse is about to take you to X-ray. We’ll wait in here for you.”Chief Taylor doesn’t say a word about Delilah and me. Probably because I gave him a quick rundown before he went to meet everyone. I laid it out, told him I loved her, and it was the real deal, marriage and kids. Taylor pretty much said we’d talk later and to worry about getting better first. I’m not too worried about how the conversation will go. He had his chance to make my injury worse, and he didn’t take it. Therefore, I’m thinking he’s on board with me dating his daughter.
“I’m going with him,” Delilah states. I don’t have the heart to tell her any differently.
“She’s good,” I tell Taylor over her shoulder.
“Alright, well, now that we’ve had our eyes on you, we’re going to head home. Answer your phone. Colton sent a text, and Owen said he’ll call you once you’re home and settled,” Asher states.
“Delilah, we’ll go to Fletch’s and change the sheets and stock the fridge, if that’s okay with you?” Madelyn asks her best friend instead of me. I’m more than okay with that, going as far to hold back my smirk. I’m not an asshole to my brother’s woman, but I also understand the reason she’s asking Delilah. She’s making sure she won’t walk in on anything we don’t want her to see.
“I’d appreciate that so much, thank you,” Delilah responds.
“Will you hand me my phone? I’m pretty sure after they manipulate my arm, stitch me up, and do whatever else they want, I’m gonna be wiped,” I ask Beau.
“Not a bad idea. You good?” Beau has been in the family house the longest, didn’t seem set on anything in particular so far, and that’s okay. No one said he needed to settle down as young as our parents did.
“I’m good. Appreciate you coming out.” I wrap my palm around my phone.
“Not a problem. Holler if you need anything.” We nod at one another, then he backs away and heads for the door.
I glance down at my phone and see Colt’s message.
Colt: You good?
Me: I am. Got Delilah here with me, and I know she’ll be taking care of me.
Colt: Don’t know how you do it. Variety is the spice of life.
Me: You think that until you find a good one. Thanks for checking in. See you soon?
Colt: I’ll be over tomorrow, let the masses come over first, then I’ll stop by.
