“I didn’t want you eating eighteenth century burgers. I went to the diner in town. I thought you could all eat something.” The box looked heavy. Stepping forward, he made to relieve her from the box, but Jessica held it tightly. “Why are you here?”
“Bernie told me what was happening. On my way out I saw you all waiting.” She wouldn’t look at him. “Let me help you, Snake.”
He wanted to get more out of her but decided against it. Taking the box from her, they entered the hospital. When one of the women behind the reception desk tried to stop them from eating, the brothers silenced her with a look.
Snake watched as Jessica handed out burgers and coffee. Everything was wrapped up, and there was still heat coming from it. Once they handed everything out, she took a seat beside him. He took a bite, moaning at the succulent meat.
“You still owe me a date.”
“Okay,” she said, no longer arguing.
“You’re confusing.”
“Don’t talk about it. I’m confusing myself right now. I promised myself that I’d stay away.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Everyone needs to have a friend at a time like this.”
“I’m surrounded by friends. I don’t need you.”
“Why are you always following me if you don’t need me?” she asked, firing a question back at him. “We all need someone, Snake.”
“You’ve made it clear that you don’t need me.”
The rest of the hospital fell away as he stared at her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her raven hair fell down to her waist, and he could imagine wrapping the length around his fist as he fucked her hard. He would bet every cent to his name that she had a nice tight pussy, soaking wet as well. Her blue eyes held him captive. What he loved the most was when she licked at her bottom lip, driving him crazy.
“I want to be here.”
She took hold of his hand, locking their fingers together. He didn’t like the thrill that he got from her touch. No woman had him torn up like this. He was a Snake. He struck his prey when they least expected it.
He didn’t pull away. Tightening his hold on her hand, they sat together and waited.
“You’ll hear something soon,” she said.
Twenty minutes passed before Devil came out. “She’s alive,” he said. “She’s stable, and her blood pressure is coming down.”
The whole club breathed a sigh of relief.
“What did she have?” Mia asked. “The baby?”
“He’s in neonatal at the moment. Ripper said he came out screaming, but he’s overworked himself. They’ve got him on oxygen, and they’ve hooked him up.”
Snake didn’t know what to say.
“You can all come and visit her, two at a time,” Devil said.
“Wow, someone must have scared the doctor.”
“Why?” Snake asked.
“Only close family is allowed to visit at a time like this.”
“Look around you, Jessica. We’re her closest family. No one is going to get rid of us.”
“I can see that.” She smiled.
“Snake, are you coming?” Devil asked.
“Go,” Jessica said. “I’ll be here when you get down. I won’t run away.”
Nodding, he released her hand, missing her touch the moment he did. He walked up with Dick. Curse and Mia were before him.
“Has Ripper gone to see the baby?” Snake asked.
“No. He doesn’t want to see him, not yet.”
“This is going to be a long road for the little guy,” Mia said.
“We’re all here for them. This was a damned scare.”
Sitting outside with Dick, they waited for Curse and Mia to go through.
“Fuck me, that had to be the hardest couple of days,” Dick said.
“It could still get worse.” Snake leaned on his knees waiting for his turn to go and see Judi.
“Yeah, it could.”
Neither of them spoke as nurses and doctors walked past. He listened to the quiet commotion of what was happening around him. Snake didn’t like it; in fact he hated it.
Curse and Mia left, and Snake got to his feet going inside the room. Lexie was sitting on one side while Ripper sat on her other side as close as he could get to his wife.
“Hey,” Judi said, smiling.
She looked weak, tired.
“Hey,” Snake and Dick said at the same time.
“I’m so sorry for scaring you.”
“What’s going on now?” Snake asked, gripping the bars at the end of the bed.
“I’m waiting for the epidural to wear off. I can’t feel my feet or legs. I’m numb from the waist down. I’m going to have a horrible scar.” She stuck her bottom lip out. “I’m trying to convince Ripper to go and see our son.”