“Kate!” Hatch bellowed, bringing her and Gina rushing into the room. Followed closely by Rooster, Razor, Dani, and all of our kids.
“What the hell are you doing out of thehospital, Mummy?” Poppy admonished.
“Figuring out why your father wasn’t answering his phone,” I hissed.
“Maisie, honey, just how much pain are you in?” Katie asked.
I grimaced. “Level forty-seven.”
“Fuck!” Hatch snapped. “Get her something!”
“Sit back, Hatch,” Gina ordered. “I need to get this pain block in your knee.”
“I need my wife’s pain managed before you do that.”
“I’ve got her covered, buddy,” Katie said. “Let Gina getyourpain sorted.”
“Get her covered and back to the hospital,” Hatch growled.
“We’re going to do that as soon as both of you are stable pain-wise,” Gina said.
“Now, goddammit, I want her back there now!”
“Jesus, Dad, you wanna stow that attitude when you’re talkin’ to the women who are tryin’ to help you?” Flash snapped back.
“Flash Wallace, don’t poke the fucking bear,” Katie ordered as she started an IV in my hand and shot me up with the best pain meds I’d had in my life. “Jesus, you need to learn some respect.”
Flash frowned. “What did I do?”
“You are failing to see that your father is not only in excruciating pain, he’s terrified for your mother, the person he loves more than anyone inthis world. More than you, buddy, so how about you stow your fucking attitude andcut him some slack!”
“Go Katie,” Poppy murmured.
“Katie’s right, darling.” I smiled gently at my son. “You need to give Daddy some grace right now. He’s in a lot of pain and scared for me. There’s more going on than you’re even aware of, and if it was happening to Tate, I think you’d be acting a lot like him.”
“Everyone out!” Katie ordered.
Jamie walked over and kissed my cheek, followed by Flash, then Poppy, although, Poppy was the only one who kissed her father’s cheek as well, before the rest of the group left the room, leaving just the four of us.
I glanced over at Hatch and grimaced. I was feeling no pain, while I was fairly certain my man was feeling all of it. I reached for his hand, and he grabbed it like a talisman, holding it tight as Gina and Katie worked in tandem to assess the severity of his injuries outside of his knee.
“We need to get X-rays, big man,” Katie said. “You’re going to need to strip down to nothing and get a gown on. You want Flash or Jamie to help you do that, or one of the brothers?”
“Booker or Mack.”
“You got it.”
“Be right back,” Gina said, and the women left the room.
“Don’t leave,” Hatch rasped.
I smiled. “I’m not going anywhere, love.”
The door opened and both Booker and Mack walked in, proceeding to help Hatch remove all of his clothes and that’s when I completely lost my mind.
“Bloody hell,” I bit out.
“Close your eyes, Sunshine,” Hatch suggested.
