Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Well isn’t that unique,” She said smiling. “Payton sure loves talking about you. She comes in during her lunch break and visits with all of our rug rats. My husband owns Kawasaki Motors on the corner of 80 and Bill Owens. I was there that time last year that y’all auctioned off that beauty of a bike at the rally in Tulsa.” She rambled on and on as she went about straightening wires and cords around Harleigh’s incubator.
The rally she was speaking of was one we’d donated a bike to, and made a pretty penny on. It was in honor of a falling brother of ours, and every member of Free worked on that bike to make it special. The proceeds we’d collected after auction went to the daughter of the fallen soldier.
“Is your husband Joe?” I asked.
“Sure is, do you know him?” She asked as she opened the doors. “Come over here. Lose the shirt first. This is how we’ll do it. First, I want you to put those wires there over your left arm. Then you’ll gently scoop her up in your hands, and then lay her against your chest.”
I did as instructed. My palms supported her entire body with room to spare, and she was so damn small it made my stomach ache. Her skin was translucent that I could see every vein and artery running underneath her skin. Her hair was dark brown just like Payton’s, minus the bright green highlights that is.
“Good! Now, just transfer her to your chest. Perfect. Have a seat, and I’ll situate these wires around you.”
Transferring one hand to support her tiny little bottom, I pulled my phone out and handed it to Eleanor. “Will you take some pictures for me; I want to show them to my wife when she wakes up.”
After taking dozens of pictures, she left me with Harleigh, informing me to press the red call button if I needed anything.
“Oh, Harleigh. Your mommy and I love you.” I whispered and kissed her head.
I sat like that until they kicked me out four hours later.
“We will do the breast milk that we collect from Payton. We’ll be doing it every two hours or so. Her doctor said that would be perfectly all right, and we love it when babies can have mom’s milk. Feel free to call us anytime to check on her. Visiting hours open back up at seven in the morning.” Eleanor explained to me as she walked me out later that evening.
I nodded and thanked her, making my way across the hall to the ICU. According to Jessie, Payton was in the first room on the right, which I found with no problem. I stopped outside the door, scared shitless to see her. I wanted my rambunctious Payton. Not a hurt Payton.
Murmurs came from around the corner, and I recognized James’ voice. I would have ignored it, but it sounded tense, and unsure. “We’ve got to tell him. We just plain have to.”
“He just got in a god damned wreck. What do you think he’s going to do when he hears about this?” Sam demanded.
I stopped short as I heard that. I didn’t want to interrupt and then risk the chance of not hearing what was going on, so I stopped.
“You’re probably right, but he has a right to know.” James fumed.
This would just continue if I didn’t make them tell me. I rounded the corner, and stopped dead when I saw everyone there. It was some sort of waiting room of some kind. Half-empty coke bottles, candy wrapper trash, and chips bags surrounded everyone in the room. Blaine and Elliott were curled together on the furthest love seat. Sam, Cheyenne, and their youngest were on the floor with their backs to the wall. Jack, Gabe, Ember, and LG were on a couch. Payton’s dad and brother were leaning against the wall closest to the door, and the kids were all wandering about playing.
“Max!” Ember exclaimed as she threw herself out of the chair.
I caught her in my arms and buried my face into her hair. My eyes started to sting, but I choked it back, and took a breath to steady myself. “Tell me what’s going on.” I whispered to her.
She looked at me, and then placed her hand on my cheek just like our mom used to do. “Tell him.”
She wrapped her arm around my waist in silent support, and Sam sighed in aggravation.
“I’ll have your word that you won’t do anything until tomorrow morning.” He demanded.
He looked wary. In fact, he looked like he’d gotten into a fight.
Surveying the room, I found that Jack, Gabe, Elliott, James, and even Tony did, too.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked nervously.
“Your word.” Sam commanded.
“I won’t. Now tell me.” I said roughly.
He took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. “Our surveillance saw a lifted Ford Excursion retuning to the abandoned hotel we’ve been monitoring. It left in pristine condition, and returned in near totaled condition. O’Hare was the one who got out.”
I processed that for a moment, and then breathed in deeply through my mouth, and then letting it out slowly. “What happened to y’all?”
“We took it upon ourselves to have her partners taken in for drunk and disorderly down at The Watering Hole.” James smiled.
What he really meant was that he started a fight with them; then when Luke showed up, they were arrested and our boys weren’t.
“So where’s O’Hare?” I asked.
“Still at the hotel. Hasn’t left.” Tony said.
“How do you know?” I asked him.
I was sure I knew the answer, but I still wanted confirmation.
“Luke.”
“So he’s arresting her?” I asked him.
“Yes. He has sufficient evidence with the car in the parking lot, and the fact that the building is abandoned. Witnesses at the scene confirmed the make and model, as well as that there was a woman driving.” Sam said.
I nodded. This was it. She was going to be arrested. If she was arrested, then I would never have to deal with her again. Which to most would be a good thing. However, I didn’t feel that she deserved prison. That bitch needed to fry. I needed to get my shit together though, because this wasn’t a good attitude to have at this moment.