Unchain My Heart(83)

I remembered how I’d gotten into trouble after the last time I’d crawled into the hospital bed with her. Grimacing at the pain of my gunshot wound, which was also bandaged, I leveraged myself up onto the bed. She scooted over, delight on her face.

“Hug time,” she whispered as I pulled her against my chest. “But we really need to stop making a habit of coming to this place. I don’t want to see it for a long time once I’m out of here.”

“I promise. Even when you have our babies, I will organize a peaceful home birth for you, okay?”

“You’re funny. I never said that was what I wanted. What . . . what if there are complications?” A small frown appeared between her eyebrows.

I ran my thumb across her cheek and along her jaw. “Baby, don’t worry your sweet little head about that right now. First thing’s first.”

“Like?”

I chuckled. “Like me cornering your old man while he’s lying in a hospital bed and asking him for his blessing on us getting hitched.”

“You really meant that, didn’t you?” She grinned, twisting my hair with her fingers as she scrutinized my face for the truth.

I nodded. “I'm not a coward. I’ll man up . . . because you are worth it.”

“Ryder?”

“Yes, babe?”

“I love you. That is all.”

“Now go to sleep so you can get better and I can get you the fuck outta here.”

“Hmmm . . . sleepy, very sleepy.” She yawned as I planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

What a week.





Chapter Fifty-Nine — Ryder


After saying goodnight to Jade, I hobbled out of the hospital, and threw the crutches on the back seat of Jade’s car. At least I could listen to music as I drove back to the clubhouse, but I needed air, so I wound the windows right down on both sides.

It was time I faced Cobra again, after I told him about my decision to quit the club if he was going to force me to choose. We had to talk it out like the brothers we were. Since we were kids, we’d never been able to go more than a week or so without clearing the air. We were both stubborn and unwilling to give in first, but our arguments would eat at us until one of us compromised. Then we’d shake hands and promise to never do it again—till next time—when it would happen all over.

This time I’d made up my mind. There’s no going back. Jade had endured a lot of pain, physically and emotionally. It was time to stand up for what I really wanted: a family of my own. Yeah, I had the brotherhood of the club, but it was nowhere near anything Jade and I had. This was our destiny, and no amount of obstruction would keep us apart any longer.

I poured myself a drink and sat at the bar. A few lunches with Bill and I was starting to like the taste of scotch, and actually preferred it to beer lately. I was getting old.

“Brother.” I lifted my chin as Hammer came toward me. Fuck, he looked like shit. Dark circles under his eyes and a week’s worth of stubble had aged him too. The jeans and T-shirt he was wearing looked as if he’d been in them for a week. “You smell. When was the last time you had a shower?”

He grinned at me, his eyes weary, yet glistening. “Just gonna have a drink with you, then I’m off for a shower and a sleep. But first I need to share my good news.”

“There’s good news? Fuck, that makes a change,” I muttered.

He stroked his week-old beard, smiling like he’d won the lottery. “Yes. You know what a persistent fuck I am. I stayed up all night long, cracking the code into one of the most sophisticated systems in the world.”

“You did? Why?” This would be good; Hammer was a genius hacker. He could find a needle in a fucking haystack with his computer.

“I got into the police database. I’ve been trying for years, and finally I’ve had a fucking breakthrough.”

I gasped. This was good news, but also dangerous as fuck. If Hammer was caught, it was treason.

“You’re a fucking genius, man. What did you find that can help us? Anything?”

“I found some stuff on Demon. He didn’t drown in the car that sank in the river. It was all a setup to make everyone believe he was dead. He’s been lying low in Mexico all these years, hiding out. And now he’s back.”

The drink I’d taken a mouthful of spluttered all over Hammer’s shirt.

“Demon’s alive? Fuck me running.” I gaped at Hammer as it sank in. “Does Cobra know?”

“Nah, only just found out five minutes ago. That’s why I needed a drink. I need to have a shower and a few hours of sleep before telling Cobra. I need to double-check my facts.”

“What aren’t you telling me? Spit it out, brother,” I growled, sensing there was way more to this finding than what Hammer was letting on.