“You did the right thing, deartháir beag.”Little brother.
“Dec, she flat lined seconds later. I wasn’t going to leave her. Theymademe leave her.” A choked sob works up his throat as his hands tremble. “How do I raise this baby without her?” He looks so broken that I’m concerned for his safety. When his words work through my brain until they stick, it makes my chest hollow and tears sting the backs of my eyes. There’s no fucking way that she’s gone. She can’t be.
“Kieran Patrick, you listen to me.” I turn him to face me and place my hands on his shoulders. “You will not jump to conclusions. She has the best doctors on the East Coast working on her. You know this because we hired and relocated them here. Rowan’s with her while they get her all fixed up, and until you get back to her, your one job is to protect this baby.”
I can see the moment it clicks for him and his back straightens. He swipes his teary eyes and nods. “He needs me.”
“He needs his Da.Youare his Da, Kieran. Go be with your son.”
With a new look of determination crossing his features, he suits up and turns his back to me as he walks over to his baby, sits in the rocking chair beside his incubator, and intently listens to the nurse explaining to him what every tube and wire means. He can’t hold him yet, but he can reach his hand into a hole at the side of the box and touch him. I watch ashis finger gently strokes the side of my new nephew’s arm.
He’s incredibly tiny, which tells me he may be here for a while. His little face is covered by a mask forcing oxygen into his lungs. His eyes are covered as well, keeping me from getting much of a look at him. But it’s clear that he’s extremely small.
Once I’m positive they’re settled and don’t need me, I step into the hall to give him some time with his son. My phone’s eerily quiet, which sets me on edge. I can’t allow anything to happen to any of them. With renewed determination, I plant my feet. I’ll be here until I fall flat on my face, but they will know they’re protected.
31
Chapter Thirty-One
Jakob
I’ll admit it; I was livid when Declan left abruptly last night. We were with all my friends and the ice had been broken. Everyone was starting to get along. I thought he was ditching me until Lee called me a little later in a panic. Not only was he not bluffing, but something was seriously wrong. Dieter and I left the bar after explaining what was happening and made our way to the hospital. We weren’t in the waiting room long before all of my friends flooded it as well.
“What the hell are you guys doing here? This is a family thing.” Mac snapped at them as soon as they sat down.
“Last I checked, three of my family members are sitting in this waiting room, and one is back there somewhere, Byrne. One of them is almost your wife, and another is your brotherso you may want to cool it.” Miles snaps right back.
“One of them is his brother?” I smirk, unable to help myself while eyeing one of my best friends.
“Shut up, anyone who’s family to you is family to us. You know that.” He grumbles.
The twins are sitting on the opposite end of the waiting room with some of their friends. I know them all because they’ve been around longer than I ever was, but this also isn’t all of them. Knox is in season, and so is Xavier, which means they’ve gone from seven to five. They’re kind of like the younger versions of mine and Dieter’s friends, lifers.
We’ve been sitting here in silence for hours when the sound of phones pinging rings throughout the waiting room, and I realize that mine is included in that. I check my phone to see a text from Rowan.
Byrne Family Group Chat
Rowan: Nix was just brought into an OR. That’s all the info we have. Kie is with her.
My sister jumps to her feet and walks away, presumably to call Rowan’s wife, who’s Nix’s best friend.
Mac: She’s got this. She’s a fucking warrior.
Sully: Can one of us tag one of you out?
Flynn: Sul and I can come back and you two can come out.
Clara: Babe…
Rowan: No.
Rowan: It’s okay, Pretty Girl. Leave the kids with Killian and let Ian drive you up here.
Declan doesn’t answer, which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. He’s a shell when he feels helpless. I exit out of the group chat and pull up our text thread. I know he won’t seeit for hours, but I send it anyway.
Jakob: Hey, baby. I love you. It’s going to be okay, they’re going to be okay. I’m so proud of you, baby boy.
Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I push to my feet and start pacing. This is going to fuck him up. I know this moment, this situation, isn’t about Declan even in the slightest. However, I can’t stop my mind from going straight to him. His and everyone else’s priority is Kieran, Phoenix, and the baby. While I wouldn’t say they aren’t my priority. I’m definitely spiraling on how to best take care of him after all of this.
