“Okay. I’ll see you in a few weeks, Sheridan. Give your baby boy a long hug when you get home. I’m sure he misses his mama,” she says before leaving the room so I’m all alone again.
I close my eyes because I’ve already read every poster on the wall and I’m sick of staring at the same four walls and closed door. I can’t get comfortable in the bed because it’s hard and lumpy. This is not good for my back.
“Little Fairy!” I hear Axel shout from outside my room and my eyes snap open.
I can’t help but smile and laugh because I knew it was only a matter of time before he lost control and forced his way back to me. Axel is not a patient man and I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did if I’m being honest.
“Sir, you can’t be back here. If you don’t leave, I’ll be forced to call security,” I hear someone admonish him. That’s not going to stop Axel from finding me.
“I’m in here,” I call out, my throat still sore as I try to swallow. They really haven’t allowed me to have anything to drink because they don’t know if I’ll need surgery.
The door of my room opens seconds later and Axel fills it completely with a doctor standing behind him. In seconds, Axel’s at my side and pressing his lips against mine. We don’t break apart until someone clears their throat behind him. Looking over his shoulder as Axel buries his face in my neck, I see the doctor that’s been overseeing my care since I woke up.
“Sir, you’re not allowed in here yet,” he says, trying to assert some form of authority over Axel.
“I’m not leavin’ her side. You’ve got her in a room all alone while you wait on results or whatever the fuck is goin’ on. There is no reason at all why she can’t have someone in here with her. I know my girl and she’ll be bored as fuck layin’ in a bed with nothin’ to do and nothin’ on that TV in the corner. Try to kick my ass out and I’ll make sure you don’t have a job by the end of the fuckin’ day. Let her dad back here too,” Axel states, his voice muffled against my skin as the doctor pales with each word said to him.
“Right away,” he says before racing from my room while I start laughing.
“Nothin’ funny about this situation, Little Fairy,” Axel says, removing his face from my neck and looking at me with worry in his eyes.
“Yeah, there is. You come in here and threaten the doctor and I thought he was gonna piss himself. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did out there,” I tell him, copying my thoughts from minutes ago.
“I wasn’t here. They forced me to leave the hospital because I spent four fuckin’ days full of rage with no outlet. All of my time was spent with Leo. Rooster wouldn’t let me out to search for you and I only went to the clubhouse when they called church. Even then I was the last to know,” he informs me as we wait for my dad to be allowed back with us. “Worst four fuckin’ days of my life, Little Fairy.”
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t any better for me if that makes you feel better,” I say, knowing he’ll get upset because I’m joking at a time like this.
“Not funny, Sheridan. You scared the shit out of all of us. We had no clue where you were. Then your dad took off on his own while most of us were tryin’ to grab a few hours of sleep. All you need to know right now is none of them willeverbother you again. Foxy and Jess will be headin’ to the police station once the women are done with them. That cop is no longer a threat and Brick found the asshole who hit you that day. He’s not a problem for you either,” he tells me just as my dad walks in the room and gets his first look at me.
I can’t imagine I look very good right now. I’m more than ready for a shower to clean the grime and blood off my skin. A nurse did the best she could to help me, but there’s only so much a sponge bath can do.
“None of you are gonna get in trouble, are you?” I ask, looking between my dad and the man I love.
“Nope. Don’t worry about it, Little Fairy. We took care of everythin’,” Axel assures me, his voice low and gentle before he turns to my dad. “Mr. Russell, you know I love your daughter. I’ve loved her since the second I met her in high school and I was stupid and didn’t tell her then. I should’ve claimed her years ago instead of not wantin’ to ruin my friendship with her. With your permission, I’d love to claim her as my ol’ lady and ask her the most important question of our lives.”
“There isn’t another man in this world I’d ever give my blessing to, Axel. I’ve known you’ve loved my daughter since the first time you followed her home. You could never hide how you feel for her when you look in her direction. The only two who had no clue were you and her. Your parents and I thought we’d be planning a wedding right out of high school,” my dad says as I start laughing because I can imagine that being true.
Axel turns to me and I watch as he gets down on one knee while reaching into his cut. He pulls out a ring I’ve seen before. It was our senior year of high school and the ring was sitting on his dresser in the box. I know it’s custom made and there will never be a ring in the world like it. Axel designed the ring himself. I only know that because Marcus told me about it when he found me outside. I was upset thinking Axel was about to propose to some other girl I didn’t know about considering I knew everything about the guy who stole my heart in a matter of seconds.
The band of the ring is platinum with small diamonds and purple sapphires. There’s a large diamond in the very center of the band and four more purple sapphires on each side of the diamond. The center diamond is shaped in a heart and is flawless. On each side of the diamond is a small skull as if it’sholding the gem on its head. I’ve always loved this ring because it absolutely fits everything Axel is about in this world. The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if he could have incorporated a bike into it somehow.
“I had this ring made durin’ our senior year of high school. I know you saw it because Marcus shared your conversation with me. I’ve held onto the ring for all these years because no one was ever worthy of it other than you. Little Fairy, I’ve loved you since the second I saw you in the hall being cornered by Jess and tremblin’ like a leaf in a wind storm. That was the first time in my life I ever felt protective over another person who wasn’t blood or in the club. That’s how I knew you were the only girl I’d ever fall in love with and marry one day. It took us a long journey to get here and I’m sorry for all of my fuck-ups along the way. All I know is I don’t want to stay on this ride alone any longer. Sheridan Russell will you do me the greatest honor of bein’ my ol’ lady and wife?” Axel asks me, his voice gentle as tears fill my eyes and I nod my head yes while holding my hand out for him to slide the ring on my finger.
The second it’s in place, Axel stands and leans over the bed to claim my lips with his. And there is no simple kiss between the two of us. He claims me despite my dad being in the room and the fact that someone could walk in any second. I’m breathless in seconds and give him back as good as I get.
“She’s still my daughter,” my dad says, finally interrupting us.
Axel slowly pulls his lips from mine and I can’t help but look down at the ring sitting on my finger.
“I never asked about the purple sapphires. Why did you choose them?” I ask Axel while inspecting the ring once again.
“They remind me of your eyes when you're happy. Your eyes sparkle and light up as if all the light in the world is shinin’ from them. I’ve never seen anythin’ like it before,” he answers me as a knock sounds on the door of my room.
We look over to find the doctor standing in the doorway with a tablet in hand. He’s hesitant to come inside very far and I can’t blame him after Axel chewed him a new ass.
“We’ve got all the results from your tests and imaging back. You’re very lucky, Miss Russell. There is some slight swelling around your spine but I believe it’s from the car accident you were in since you’re still healing from that. All of the wounds on your body are superficial with the exception of the two hits you took to the head. Those are already healing though and won’t require stitches. You have a concussion and will need to be watched. You’ll likely experience headaches, dizziness, and nausea. If any of those become overwhelming, you need to come back to the hospital immediately. We didn’t detect any kind of bleeding on your brain, but we may have to check again. For now, I recommend wearing a brace on your left wrist. I know you didn’t get out of the cast that long ago. I’d like to ensure there is no further damage that’s been done to the area after being confined in the handcuffs that dug into you. Are there any questions any of you have?” the doctor informs us as I sigh in relief.
“The first question is how much longer do I have to be here? Secondly, can I take a full, hot shower when I get home?” I question the doctor as Axel holds my hand in his.
