Dead souls mc complete s.., p.53
Dead Souls MC (Complete Series #1-5), page 53
Faster.
And faster.
And faster.
“If you aren’t careful, that nurse is going to barge in on us,” Makenna said with a grin.
But I couldn't help it.
The woman I had fallen in love with loved me in return.
“After all this?” I asked. “After all this, you love me?”
“I know. Weird, huh?” she asked.
“But Ana-”
“The mere fact that you would bring her up tells me I’ve chosen the right man,” she said as she pressed her finger to my lips. “Your care for my daughter is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And she loves you, let’s face it. If she had the choice between me and you for the rest of her life, I’d be the dead one.”
“Don’t you dare joke around like that,” I said.
“All I’m saying is-”
“You’ll always be protected so long as you’re with me. The both of you. Death is not coming for any of us if I have anything to do with it.”
Her expression softened as my eyes danced between hers. The mere joking mention of something happening to Makenna boiled my blood. I wrapped my good arm around her as she sank her head to my neck, curling against me as we laid there in that slim hospital bed. I rubbed her back. I pressed kisses into her forehead. I felt her sigh against me as her lips turned to kiss my neck. How I had gotten so fucking lucky was beyond me, and I had every intention of doing whatever it took to keep them safe during this debacle with the crew.
“I’m never leaving your side, Brewer.”
Her voice was so sweet and laced with so much truth and dedication. I pulled her closer into me, closing my eyes so I could cherish the moment. I drew in a deep breath as my heart settled back out. Makenna’s body draped over mine as I held her tightly to my body. I wasn’t going to let her go. Not if I could help it. I knew she would have to leave in a few hours to pick up Ana from her sleepover, but until then I could lie there with her and take in every single moment I had with her.
But I knew one thing was for certain. One thing above all else that rushed through the corners of my mind.
Those fuckers were going to pay.
28
Makenna
“Maybe since we’re in a hospital, your little one will sense it and come on,” I said.
“Trust me, I wish it worked that way,” Monroe said. “I’m ready to have this little man out of me.”
“So, it’s a boy?” I asked.
“Two boys,” Everly said. “Which is why, if you and Brewer work out, it’ll be nice to have a little girl in the mix.”
“Stop pushing her, Everly,” Monroe said. “A lot has happened these past few days.”
“What? I knew almost immediately with Grave, though I didn’t want to admit it to myself,” Everly said.
“Don’t worry,” I said with a smile. “I think Ana and I will be sticking around for a little while.”
“Good. Because we’re going to need some feminine energy in this group of testosterone-ridden flunkies.”
“I heard that,” Knox said.
“For you,” Rock said as he handed me a glass of water.
“Thanks,” I said as I smiled up at him.
“How’s he doing?” Diesel asked as he pointed to Brewer’s room.
“Out like a light with the drugs right now,” I said.
“The nurse had to check on them twice because his heart monitor kept going off the rails,” Everly said with a grin.
“Woman. We just got him patched up a few days ago. Why are you trying to kill him?” Grave asked.
“Because I love him too much,” I said. “I can’t help it if I want to kiss on him a bit.”
The guys all looked around before smiles trickled across their faces. And I thought Everly and Monroe would never stop giggling about it. Brewer was healing quickly. Though he still had a lot of pain medication running through his system, he was doing a lot better. The bullet in his shoulder went through and through, and now that he had been stable for a few days he seemed to be getting a lot stronger.
And while he was in surgery in the abandoned warehouse, I got to know the guys a little better.
“How are you doing?” Diesel asked as he sat next to me.
“I’m doing better,” I said. “Now that we’re out of the woods of the first three days, I’m a little more settled in his strength.”
“No one can fucking take Brewer down,” Rock said. “That’s the first mistake those assholes made.”
“Should we do something about his house?” I asked.
“Already taken care of,” Mick said.
“Well look who finally decided to show up,” Monroe said with a smile. “How are things on your end Mick?”
“Good,” he said as he bent down and hugged her. “Mom’s better and my sister’s stable. How are you doing, though? You look like you’re ready to grab the scalpel yourself.”
“Don’t tempt me. These rolling silver trays are looking might tempting,” Monroe said.
“You get your mother situated, Mick?” Diesel asked.
“I did, but it’s still touch and go. My sister was a mess when she came home and found her gone. But I tracked her down,” Mick said. “Though there’s an unfamiliar face here I have yet to meet.”
“I could say the same thing,” I said. “I’m Makenna. Brewer’s neighbor.”
“Oh, you’re much more than that,” Everly said as she rubbed her stomach.
“Then it seems like our family’s gotten bigger. I’m sorry I’m the last to meet you,” Mick said as he nodded towards me. “Had a family emergency that took me out of town.”
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“For now,” Mick said as he sat down. “My mother’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and my sister refuses to put her in a care facility. She came home from work and Mom had just disappeared.”
“Oh my gosh. Is she all right?” I asked.
“Yeah. That’s the second time that’s happened this year,” Knox said. “You sure you can’t step in on your mother’s behalf and do something?”
“I feel like shit that I wasn't here,” Mick said. “How’s Brewer holding up? I came as soon as I checked my phone.”
“He’s good now,” Rock said. “It was touch and go there for a while, like I told you on your voice messages. But now he’s drugged and sleeping it off.”
“Through and through?” Mick asked.
“Yep,” I said. “He’s resting now, but I’m sure when he’s awake you could go in and see him.”
“I appreciate that. And as for your question about his house, I’ve already got it taken care of. I went by a couple of days ago and stayed in his place to clean it up. Got the windows replaced. The carpets cleaned. I replaced the parts of the carpet that couldn’t be cleaned. Also fixed that damn door of his. They really did a number on that thing.”
“Did you take a look at his sliding porch door?” Grave asked. “I think I knocked it off its track coming in from the back.”
“You did a lot more than that,” Mick said with a chuckle. “But I got it fixed.”
“Mick runs our books for us, but he’s a hell of a fix-it man, too,” Diesel said. “This man can fix anything that’s broken. Though he can’t shoot a gun to save his damn life.”
“So, it was probably a good thing you weren’t there then,” I said with a grin.
Everyone around me chuckled as I took a sip of my coffee. I felt a real connection with the people around me. And I had to admit, it took me setting aside my prejudices to experience it. But the girls were fantastic and blooming with life in their bodies, reminding me of my own pregnancy with Ana. And the guys were undeniably supportive. I sat within the ranks of a true, bonafide family. As makeshift as it was and as backwards as they came, they all had love for one another.
And the fact that they considered me one of them made me excited to introduce my daughter.
“So, where’s the little one?” Diesel asked.
“Right now? School. I’ve taken some time off work to help Brewer with his condition, but Ana still has school to attend.”
“Well if you need one of us to go get her or anything, let us know,” Knox said.
“I really appreciate that, thank you,” I said with a smile.
“How old is she again?” Rock asked.
“Five. And as sassy as they come some days,” I said.
“So, she’s Brewer’s type as well,” Rock said. “Looks like he found himself two perfect little ladies for his life.”
“You got anyone special?” I asked.
“Hell no. I like my women like my coffee. Bold, fast, and loose.”
“How can coffee be loose?” I asked.
“You’ve never seen Rock drink coffee,” Grave said. “It’s like he’s got a damn hole in his face.”
I put my hand over my mouth to keep myself from spewing my drink everywhere.
“Rock likes his women a little on the trashier side,” Diesel said. “Not too trashy, but enough to make him feel less like shit for not getting attached.”
“Hey, I don’t judge. I’m not a relationship expert by any means. But as long as they know where you stand before they, you know, do their thing with you? Go for it,” I said.
“I like her. Can I have her?” Rock asked.
“Sorry. Already spoken for,” I said as I sipped my coffee.
A groan hit my ears and my head immediately whipped over to Brewer’s room. I saw him moving around in his bed and I stood to my feet. I left everyone in the waiting room as I strode in, trying to get to his side before he opened his eyes.
I didn’t want there to be a single second where he was alone in this place.
“Hey there, sleepyhead,” I said as I sat down on the edge of his bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” Brewer said. “What the fuck is up with always being tired?”
“You were shot. You’re drugged. It happens,” I said.
“How’s Ana doing?”
“She’s at school. She’s asking about you a lot. I told her you weren’t feeling well and that doctors were helping you get better. Then, she could see you.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing her now,” he said.
“Then maybe I can bring her by once I pick her up from school. But I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“That little girl is the best kind of overwhelming there is.”
I smiled down at him as I brought a cup of water to his lips. He rose up before taking the cup in his hand and tossing it back. He really was getting stronger. The initial pain of his wound was dying off and he was beginning to look and feel like his old self again.
But there were still a lot of unanswered questions.
“I never wanted to involve you in all this, you know,” he said as he set his glass down. “I’m sorry you’re involved now.”
“Please don’t be. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now,” I said. “When I saw you hurt, Brewer. It-”
I laced my fingers with his good hand before bringing his knuckles to my lips to kiss.
“When those men busted in your door, I panicked. So many things ran through my mind, but the one thing I kept returning to was how my last words to you were the fact that you were a mistake. And then I recalled the name of your mechanic shop and called in a Hail Mary attempt to get someone to come help you because I knew I couldn't. And I wished I could have, Brewer. I would’ve run over there in a heartbeat if I knew there was something I could’ve done.”
“I would not have wanted you to do that, Makenna. Do you hear me? They would’ve hurt you. Killed you, even.”
“But when you came out of that house in those guy’s arms, this horrible pain filled my chest.”
I brought his hand to my heart and held it there as I caught my breath. The memories assaulted me. The emotions and the fear were still fresh in the forefront of my mind. His hand gripped my shirt and tugged me towards him and I fell into his body. Into his strength. Into his embrace. He kissed my head over and over again, smoothing his broad hand up and down my back.
“I knew then and there how much I loved you,” I said. “And I kept telling myself that if you made it out of this alive, I would do anything in my power to make things work with you. If you wanted me.”
“You have no idea how much I want you, Makenna.”
“Whatever we have to do to figure this out, we will,” I said as I rose up. “Whatever you feel you have to do in order to keep my daughter and I safe, I’ll abide by. Because I love you, Brewer. And I figured out three days ago that losing you isn’t an option.”
His hand came up and cupped my cheek and I nuzzled into it. I turned my lips into his skin and pressed a kiss there, trying to feel every part of him I could. I wanted more. I wanted my naked skin against his. But I would have to settle for his hand until he got to feeling better. Until he healed more and I didn’t risk re-injuring him with all the ways I wanted to apologize.
With all the ways I wanted to show him how much I loved him.
“I’ll do anything to keep the two of you safe, okay?” Brewer asked. “Whatever is required of me and whatever I have to do, no harm will come to you or Ana because of the life I lead. It’s my job to make sure the two of you have whatever you could possibly want.”
“We just want you,” I said with a whisper. “We only want you, Brewer.”
I watched him try to sit himself up as pain washed over his face. I wrapped my arms around him as my eyes widened, trying to figure out what the hell he was doing. But the second I pulled him upright, he crashed his lips against mine. My head tilted back while his lips massaged me, his hand threading through my hair and fisting it in the palm of his hand. He pulled my head off to the side. He tilted me for greater access as his tongue explored the inside of my mouth. I melted into him. Tears of love and happiness flooded my eyes as my hands fell to his strong, pulsing chest.
His heart monitor was screaming at us, and the sound of footsteps coming around the corner broke the moment.
“Really. The two of you need to cut it out,” the nurse said.
I giggled as Brewer’s forehead settled against mine.
“Sorry,” he said. “Just had to go see a woman about a thing.”
“Well keep that ‘thing’ for when you get out of here. Your heart needs to rest,” the nurse said.
“No,” Brewer said. “My heart needs to soar.”
I placed my hand against his rapidly beating heart as my smile ached my cheeks.
“I love you,” I said as my fingers splayed along his chest.
“I love you too, Makenna. With everything I am and everything I have.”
29
Brewer
After spending time with Makenna in my arms and on my lips, I relinquished her to go pick up Ana from school. I was excited to see that little girl again. It astounded me how she had worked herself underneath my skin so badly. Now that they were going to officially be in my life, I needed to talk with Diesel about how to keep them safe through all this. I knew Knox and Grave were essentially stationed home, but that was because their women were pregnant. And even then, Grave lived out in the middle of damn nowhere while Knox and Monroe had moved into the wooded area surrounding Redding. They were shielded from all the bullshit in town and were still able to get to the crew whenever we needed them.
Something told me the best option for Makenna and Ana would be to get them out of town until further notice.
A knock came at my door just as I closed my eyes. I didn’t really feel like talking with anyone, but I figured it was probably one of the guys. I already missed Makenna. I wanted her back in bed with me. So, the soonest possible distraction needed to be taken up so my mind wouldn’t wander about how I was trapped in a hospital bed and how badly I wanted Makenna’s body next to me.
It was probably Rock anyway. And that asshole’s face always cheered me up.
“Come on in,” I said.
“Knock knock.”
I looked over and watched as Mick appeared.
“I figured you died,” I said with a grin.
“Nope. Mom again,” he said.
“Shit. What happened now?” I asked as he shut the door.
“My sister called a few days ago in a panic. She damn near had the entire town searching for her this time.”
“Where did you find her?” I asked as I watched Mick sit down.
There was something off about the way he was walking.
“In the back of a restaurant trying to order her mother’s meatloaf at a damn burger joint,” he said.
“I’m sure the guys have already ridden you about this, but let me join the ranks. You need to get a judge to rule in your favor to take over medical decisions for your mother. Your sister can’t take care of her any longer.”
“Trust me, I know. And I think she knows this time, too. I hate that I wasn’t there though to put bullets in the eyes of those assholes that stormed your place.”
“I take it Diesel already sent you over there to fix it up?” I asked.
“You really trashed that thing. Didn’t your mother teach you to take care of your shit?”
I chuckled as Mick slouched in the chair.
“Yeah, I got it all fixed up. The carpet was a real doozy, though. I had to replace parts of it.”
“Thanks for doing that,” I said.
“We all know the only shit you can fix is cars,” he said with a smile.
“And I do it well, too.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got shot by a fucking bullet.”
“So, about as good as you can be.”
“From the details the guys gave me and the fucking carnage you left behind at your place, I’m surprised you got out of there alive. Are you going to even ask what I did with the bodies?”
“Trust me, I don’t want to know right now,” I said.
