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Chapter Forty-Two
“Hadwee!” The sweetness of her voice brought an instant smile to my face. My body ached, and I was still a little hazy due to the pain meds Doc had given me to help me sleep. But I forced myself to sit up anyway.
“Thought this might make you feel better.” Leo smiled.
Macy ran across the floor, but he managed to grab her around the waist before she launched herself onto the bed. She squirmed in his arms, making us both chuckle.
“Hadley is sore, remember. You have to be gentle,” Leo warned the little girl who instantly looked up at me, examining my body with her eyes. They focused in on the sling that cradled my arm.
“Hadwee sore?” she asked softly as Leo lowered her to the ground.
I nodded. “Just a little, sweet girl.”
I held in my laughter as she attempted to climb onto the bed without jostling it. She crept ever so slowly toward me, a strangely intense look on her face. Leo stood back and watched her curiously, his arms folded across his chest. She moved closer, almost into my lap, pushing her little head forward. My heart all but exploded when her gorgeous little lips pressed softly against my arm. She pulled back and then decided that it wasn’t quite enough, leaning forward and kissing it one last time before she gave a satisfied nod.
“Kiss betta,” she whispered.
Tears brimmed my eyes, and I forced a smile, the sweet little girl warming my heart. “Thank you,” I answered, my voice catching.
She grinned, a look flashing across her face as she rushed to pull up the sleeve of her shirt. She moved closer, holding her elbow out to me. “I got sore, too.”
“Oh,” I giggled. “You need me to kiss it better?”
She shook her head, pulling her sleeve back down. “Aunt Carwee did.”
“That’s great.”
I looked over at Leo, who seemed to be watching our interaction, completely mesmerized.
“You okay?” I asked him.
He shook his head, his eyes coming back into focus and he grinned. “Yeah, I’m fine. How you feeling?” he asked as he took a seat at the edge of the bed and pulled Macy into his lap.
I licked my lips. “I’m okay. Feel like all I’ve been doing is sleeping. I really should be helping out more.”
It had been two days.
Two days since I’d left this room.
Two days since I’d been able to sleep through the night without waking up screaming.
Two days since we’d lost Slider.
Two days since I’d officially become a widow.
Simon was also gone and strangely, I felt nothing.
Guilt settled around me. I wondered if I should feel something. I’d been married to him, and at some point, I had loved him with everything I had. But I think, in reality, the day he put his hand on me, and he walked out that door was the day he died in my mind and heart.
I had mourned then for the love that I’d lost. Now, I just felt numb to his death.
Slider on the other hand, had been a friend for such a short time, but my heart ached for his loss so much more. His vibrant personality, his addictive laughter. His presence had filled everyone around him with so much joy. He was so loved, so cherished and in my heart, I prayed that he knew that. He never deserved the hand he was dealt.
Guilt still swirled in my stomach, but the club had managed to keep me occupied, the girls visiting me regularly throughout the day, and Skylar making sure I was fed every few hours. Even the club girls had come and offered to help clean up or watch a movie with me.
It just showed how strong this family really was. When push came to shove, they all pulled together and did whatever they needed to do in order to help support each other.
Leo had chosen to keep Macy away for a few days until I’d had time to rest. She would be sleeping with Rose, Blizzard, and Jayla until my nightmares calmed a little.
