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I didn’t say it, but I would never choose her. She was no longer on the list.
“If you ever threaten Sky again, I’ll be the one to put you down,” I told her, even though I was thankful.
“Understood,” she said.
I kissed her forehead as my thank you. It would be my last act of compassion for her.
We waited on pins and needles. Stepping outside, I smoked a whole pack of Camel Reds. When it was all over, the doctor came and told me Sky would take some time to recover and even more time to heal. But I had my wife and unborn child back. Hopefully for good.
It took a bit for me to believe in my good fortune.
I didn’t plan on losing them again.
Putting Pagan in charge in my absence, I stayed by her side in the hospital.
Chapter 26
Sky
Waking up and seeing Kingpin was a dream come true. He leaned in close, but I didn’t smell whiskey, but I did smell cigarettes. Nevertheless, I wanted to smile, but my face didn’t work.
I remembered the night in the cabin like a nightmare. If I didn’t think of it, I could hardly recall. When I tried to move to touch Kingpin’s beard to check if he was real, I couldn’t without excruciating pain. Every ache made me remember Junebug dragging me through the woods, slashing me, and threatening to cut my baby out. It’d been hell. Every time she cut me, I died and went to hell.
“A death by a thousand cuts,” she chanted.
I was being slaughtered, but I wouldn’t die. Wanting me to suffer as much as I could, she was careful not to kill me. It was probably the only reason I’d survived. Closing my eyes, I tried to will the memories away.
“Sky, I’m here.”
Kingpin laid kisses on my hands, my face.
My eyes were heavy, and his face faded.
Had I truly made it out?
When I finally woke up again, I was in a hospital. I could tell by the fluorescent lights, blinding me. Kingpin was still with me at my bedside. This time I felt myself smile. I tried my voice.
“Hi.”
“Hi, love.” Kingpin smiled back. “Take it easy.”
“Am I alive? Are we alive?”
“She’s still drugged,” Kingpin said to someone.
“No, the baby,” I said. I’d been talking about my baby when I’d said we.
“Yes, sugar, you’re still pregnant,” my mom answered.
“Mom,” I cried out.
Her face appeared, her smile. She held my hands. “Hush, sugar. It’s all okay.”
Comforted, I drifted to sleep, but somewhere, I understood if my mom was here, things probably weren’t okay.
When I awoke the next time, she was still here. So was Kingpin. I sat up a little.
“Is this ever going to end?”
