He nods and asks, “Can I touch him?”
“Of course you can,” I say, and give him a little push. He steps forward and slowly puts his hand in the gap, touching his little brother, as my dad moves to stand beside Cole, allowing Doc to take a seat.
“Just give it to me straight, Doc,” I demand quietly after watching Cole for a few minutes doting over his baby brother and try to keep my emotions under control now that he is here.
He doesn’t need to worry any more than he already is.
“She’s okay,” he confirms, and I slowly close my eyes. He grips my shoulder and murmurs quietly, “Her placenta had erupted due to the force of the kicks, and we had to surgically remove it.”He takes a deep breath, “Brother, there is a very high chance she may never be able to get pregnant again.”
My whole world tilts, and my breath stutters, and he admits, “If she were to get pregnant, if she wins against all the odds, she will be at extreme high risk.”
“Fuck!” I choke as I drop my head, and he whispers, “She’s in a private room. Do you want me to take you to her?”
I nod instantly, then look at Ice, who smiles sadly and whispers, “I’ll stay,” knowing I can’t leave my youngest son unattended, and I nod with gratitude as I look at Dad, who confirms, “I’ll bring Cole as soon as he’s ready, then take him home.”
“Thank you,” I say to both of them, and Ice mentions, “That’s what family is for, brother, now go see your wife.”
Five minutes later, Doc guides me into a room, beeping echoing, and my knees nearly give out at my wife, my beautiful, strong wife, looking so small in the hospital bed.
She has wires in her arms, her jaw and temple are bruised, and she looks fucking pale.
“She has extensive bruising on her stomach but should heal,” Doc mentions as I walk over to Ash, then states, “She’s not allowed to lift anything heavy for six weeks, and brother, I will be having a prospect outside of her door, so don’t fucking try anything stupid, she needs you.”
I nod, not surprised he can see where my mind is going as I take a seat and carefully lift up my pixie’s limp hand and press it against my lips as my tears fall before I sob for all the pain I have caused.
I hear Doc close the door, and I drop to my knees before Ashley’s bed, breathing becoming difficult, and I know I should walk away. That I should let her live her life without me reminding her of what I did. I know I should set her free becausethis is all my fucking fault, but I can’t, I can’t let her go even though I know she will never forgive me.
How in the fuck can I get her to stay with me without forcing her against her will?
Chapter 25
Ashley – Two Days Later
Beeping echoes, and I squeeze my eyes tight, the thumping in my head making the beeping sound louder than it probably is, as pain shoots through my stomach, making me tense. I turn my head as I slowly open my eyes, but wince at the light, then blink several times as I look around the room.
I swallow, my throat extremely dry. I’m in a hospital bed, and my breathing becomes choppy as my eyes go to my stomach, and I try to swallow again.
It is still round, just not as big as it was for thirty weeks pregnant. I know without a doubt that there is no baby in there, my son could be…
My eyes tear up, and I take deep, steady breaths as flashes of Talen’s boot hits me, making me flinch.
“I have missed you, Ashley, and I have to tell you, my boss wasn’t too pleased when I explained I was claiming you after how much of a fight you gave, only for you to go and dump me for that MC fucker!”
His voice, his nasty words echo, making me flinch, and stupidity hits me so hard, I’m struggling to breathe.
He was the one who raped me. I chose a guy who raped me and didn’t even realize it, believing meeting him just outside the store was normal. Even though my body repelled him, I never stopped to think about why. Instead, I ignored my gut feeling and pushed forward, determined to move on from Tyler.
I brought that monster, that rapist, around my son!
I blink as I feel my heart rate pick up, and I go to move, needing to, I don’t even know what I need, but I can feel the panic hitting me, the pain that my youngest son is… I can’t even think of it, I need to see someone, a medical person, anyone to tell me I did not lose another baby but as I go to move my hand something heavy keeps it down and I turn my head to see why I can’t move it only for my heart to stutter and my stomach to tighten despite the throbbing pain rushing through me.
Tyler is asleep, his head on my bed, both his hands gripping my one like I’m going to disappear.
Bags line underneath his eyes, his hair is more of a mess than normal, and he looks restless as his face twitches, his grip on my hand tightening every time his brows twitch.
“You’re awake,” I hear, and I look towards the door and lock eyes with Tank.
“I thought you worked nights mainly,” I croak, hoping not to wake Ty up.
