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After taking my medicine, I curl up in Wicked’s arms and let my eyes slide closed. I dream of Brindley growing up and us loving her and supporting every single dream she has. If she’s the only child we have, then I’m okay with that. I’ll still have a houseful of kids because our nieces and nephews will always be welcome in our home. That’s how I’m going to have to look at our future as we move forward.
Chapter Nineteen
Wicked
FOR THE LAST week, every day is spent at the hospital with my wife and our daughter. We get there as soon as visiting hours start and don’t leave until we’re told to go home. Each day, we talk to the doctor about Brindley’s progress and how she’s been doing. Thankfully she hasn’t had any more problems after the day she wouldn’t eat. If anything, she’s been eating more than before. Our girl is a little piglet. I’ll take it though because it means she’s gaining weight and getting stronger every fucking day.
The doctor feels as if it’s only going to be another week or so before we can bring her home as long as there’s no problems that creep up. By the time we bring her home, it will be closer to when she’s due. All I know is every damn night I hold my wife in my arms as she cries herself to sleep because our daughter isn’t at the compound with us. It breaks my heart knowing I can’t fix this for her. For us because it fucking kills me knowing Brindley is still in the hospital and we can’t be there with her around the clock. I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t have to. I hate this fucking shit and feel as if a huge chunk of myself is missing.
Quinn is slowly coming to terms with the fact that she’ll never have any more kids. It’s a slow process, but she’s not holding everything inside like we were worried about her doing. Harley and I have had so many conversations with her about the situation and she gets a little better with each talk we have. That’s the only thing that slowly heals my heart because I thought this was going to be Quinn’s breaking point. She’s not letting it be that though. She’s gone with the attitude that we’ll still have a houseful of kids because of all the other kids in the club. They’ll always be welcome in our home so she’ll still get her wish. They just won’t be our children.
Today, I won’t be the one going to the hospital with Quinn. Harley is going with her and Brick and Steel are already there. Brick will be returning to the clubhouse in a little bit when my dad gets to the hospital to keep watch over Brindley with Steel. Rossi and his men are showing up today. They were supposed to already be here, but something came up and they had to wait to leave. So, they’ll be arriving today and we’re gonna have a meeting with them before they go out and do their thing.
“Baby, are you ready to go?” I ask Quinn as she comes out of the bathroom.
“Yeah. Mom’s already called me and she’s ready to head to the hospital. Gage is gonna take us and my dad will bring us back. Mom is forcing him to leave the hospital because he hasn’t been away from there since Brindley was born. Brick has at least left to take a shower and get something to eat here at the compound. My dad refuses to leave her side. I can’t wait to see who wins that fight,” Quinn says, laughing for the first time since we left the hospital.
I miss seeing her laugh and smile on a daily basis. The only time she ever smiles is when we’re with Brindley. To see her laughing about her parents gives me hope that she’s healing and moving forward from everything that happened. I want to see her like this every damn day and I know it’s going to be hard for her right now, but the more I can get her laughing and smiling, the better I’ll feel.
Walking my wife out to the common room, I find Harley and my dad waiting for us. I walk them outside to my truck and hand over the keys to my dad. He gets in the driver’s seat while Harley lets Quinn sit up front. She has more room and is still moving a little slow from the surgery. Every day seems to get a little better though. Especially with her pain level because she’s hardly taking the pain medicine these days.
“I love you, baby. Give Brindley a kiss and hug for me. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I tell Quinn once I’ve helped her up in the seat of the truck.
“I will. Be safe and I’ll see you soon. I love you, Maddox,” she returns as she leans down to give me a kiss.
Shutting her door, I back away from the truck and watch my dad drive away from the clubhouse. Before I can head inside, two SUVs make their way in the parking lot and I know it’s Rossi and his men. So, I remain outside but pull my phone to let Venom know our guests are here. The SUVs park in the first row of spots before shutting off the engines and the doors open on both vehicles. I watch on as Rossi gets out of the second SUV while Tomasso and another guy get out of the first one. There are more men with them and they all surround Rossi and the other two men as they head for me.
“Wicked, it’s a pleasure to see you,” Rossi says, holding out his hand for me to shake once he’s close enough.
“It’s good to see you again as well, Rossi. It’s been a long time,” I return as the door opens and Venom steps outside.
“This is Tomasso and Gabriel. They’ll be helpin’ with the situation as the other men in the family handle business back home. We’re ready to get this shit taken care of for you. Wicked, how is your family doin’?” Rossi asks as we head inside.
“My daughter is still in the NICU. We’re hopin’ she can come home in a few weeks. That will happen as long as she doesn’t have anythin’ else go wrong. Right now, it’s mainly her havin’ breathin’ problems. They’ve been lowerin’ her levels of oxygen on a daily basis though. So, I’m hopin’ she’ll be home soon. That’s where my wife is right now. She just left to go see her. That’s been the hardest part of this entire situation. Us bein’ here and her still bein’ in the hospital,” I answer him honestly.
“I can’t imagine. If you need anythin’, don’t hesitate to call. We’ll do what we can to help out,” Rossi says as we make our way inside the clubhouse.
“I’ll show you to your rooms so you can get settled,” Venom says, walking with them toward the right side of the clubhouse. “You let us know when you’re ready to meet and we’ll call church. We’ve still got some breakfast left if anyone is hungry.”
“Thank you. We haven’t eaten anythin’ yet. Wanted to get on the road and here as soon as possible. We’ll put our things in the rooms you give us and come out to eat. Once we’re done, I’d like to get the meetin’ started. The sooner we have all the information, the sooner we can get this shit handled,” Rossi says as they continue to walk away.
I take a seat at the table Otter and Willow are at. Their twins are sitting in highchairs between them as they munch on something.
“How are things goin’?” Otter asks me as Vanessa brings me over a plate of food and cup of coffee.
“Thanks, Nessa,” I tell her before turning back to Otter. “They’re okay. Quinn is doin’ a good job wrappin’ her head around not havin’ any more kids. We talk about it almost daily. She’s opened up to Harley about the situation too. I’m not sure if she’s talked to her dad at all, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn she has. I thought for sure she’d be holdin’ this shit in, but that’s not the case at all. Quinn wants to be open and honest about what she’s feelin’ and thinkin’ right now. She’s still processin’ everythin’, but the talkin’ helps. Brindley can come home in a week or so if everythin’ remains goin’ as good as it has been.”
“That’s great news. Have you guys opened any of the gifts yet?” Willow asks as she helps the kids eat.
“Not yet. We don’t want to until we know for sure Brindley’s comin’ home. Somethin’ about jinxin’ things if we open everythin’ now accordin’ to Quinn. So, we’re gonna wait until we have a date and then we’ll get to that,” I tell them. “How are things goin’ with this pregnancy?”
“Good. I’m tired as hell, but that’s to be expected. These two keep me running all over the place so at least I’m getting my exercise in,” Willow answers, laughter filling her voice as my best friend looks at her with soft eyes filled with the love he has for her.
The three of us talk and eat until Venom calls church. We all stand and make our way back to the meeting room and take our seats after making sure there’s extra for Rossi, Tomasso, and Gabriel. Venom doesn’t hesitate to call our meeting to order today.
“Church in session,” he calls out, slamming the gavel on the table in front of him. “If you haven’t met them yet, I’d like to introduce you all to Sal Rossi, Tomasso, and Gabriel. They’re here to help us with the problem we have in town. Horton and the cops on his payroll need to be taken down and it’s too damn big for us alone. We simply don’t have the resources or connections to get the job done. Rossi, what do you need from us?”
“First of all, I’m happy to be here helpin’ with this situation. There’s nothin’ more that we hate than assholes like Horton who make others suffers because they’re so fuckin’ depraved and into some sick shit. Secondly, what do you want us to do with these fuckers? Are we buryin’ them or sendin’ their asses to prison for the rest of their lives where you can make their lives hell on a daily basis?” Rossi returns, looking around the table until his gaze lands back on Venom.
