“That’s why they didn’t hurt me?” My eyes searched Ryder’s as he nodded. I kicked my feet and flailed my arms around as the pain of losing my father took complete controlofme.
“Raine, sweetheart, you have to calm down.” Ryder put his hand on my cheek as I gasped for air. “You’re still pregnant and the doctor said that with the stress of everything you have been through, it is a miracle that our little peanut of a kid is stillhangingon.”
I started taking in sharp breaths. I couldn’t believe it. After all of it, in the first trimester, there was no way that was true, butitwas.
“Crickett? Collin?” I askedRyder.
“They’re at home. I told them I wanted it to just be us when you woke up,” he said while brushing my hair away frommyface.
“Are they okay?” My heart was breaking even more thinking about how the rest of my family was handling allofthis.
Ryder tried to smile. “They’re just happy you’re all right. They’ll be on theirwaysoon.”
Ryder
When the nurse came in to check on Raine, I slipped out into the hallway to callmydad.
“Hey son.” Holt’s gruff voice came through the linequickly.
“Raine just woke up. She’sdoingwell.”
I could hear Crickett yell, “What aboutthebaby?”
“Tell her the baby is fineaswell.”
“Glad to hear it, Ryder. We’ll head yourwaynow.”
“Any word from Bear about the bikes?” I asked before letting my old manhangup.
“They’re already at the shop and fine. I have one of the prospects checking them out for a third time just to be on thesafeside.”
“Thanks.”
With everything that had happened, I was beyond paranoid that someone was out to get all of us. I knew I was probably just overreacting, but one death in the family was all I could takerightthen.
It didn’t take long for Crickett, Collin, and Holt tojoinus.
“Hey sweetie.” Crickett tried her best to put on a brave face, but it only lasted seconds. I stood in the corner as I watched Crickett climb into bed with Raine. They sobbed together for a least an hour as the three of us stoodquietly
I wanted to comfort Collin, but I had no idea where to even begin. Finally, he broke the silence. “At least he went out fighting for our family.” Collin sank down into a chair as his body startedshaking.
Holt put his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t hold it in. There’s no shame in letting youremotionsout.”
“Dad was the first to say that the life we live is dangerous. I just never thought that it would be him. I always thought that my old man was fucking invincible.” Collin was choking on his words, staring down at thefloor.
“None of us are invincible but Abel would tell us to never fear the reaper. He would be sitting here proud of us for saving Raine, not upset because there was a casualty. War has casualties. It’s just a bitter fact about our lives.” Holt was right, but it didn’t matter. Nothing was going to make the situation allright.
We were all grieving. We were together and we were family, but we were missing our heartbeat. Abel had been our guiding light, our core, and it was gone. I didn’t know what to do. He had always directed us, protected us, known the answer. Nothing was ever going to be the sameagain.
* * *
Raine spenta few days in the hospital and I didn’t leave her side for one second. Crickett brought me changes of clothes and took turns with Collin and Holt, keeping uscompany.
The bar and the garage were both closed for business while we all dealt with what we had to. My dad was doing his best to keep everyone in the club calm, but people were freaked out and worried. I couldn’t blame them, but the threat was gone. The Sinners had gotten what they wanted, so there was no more reason to beconcerned.
“Ryder, that was our turn,” Raine remarked as I passed the street for ourhouse.
“We’re going to be staying at your dad’s place for a bit. Crickett doesn’t want to be alone right now, and I think it will be the best foryoutoo.”
