Page 56 of Papa's Beloved
Gambit, Stormy, Nitro, and Lucia all sat close to us. I put my arm around Nay’s shoulders and pull her closer to me.
“Are you ready to tell us what happened today, Beloved?”
“There’s not much to tell, honestly. We’d just finished eating at Ruby’s. Tully comes in and says the phones are down. After checking, I get a bad feeling. I knew something was wrong. You were in danger.
“We were headed toward the door when Linden showed up with two guns. They were all carrying. He told me to come with him and no one would get hurt. I told him I’d shoot his dick off and he needed to back off.
“He and I exchanged a few more words. When he realized everyone with me also carried, he left. He said we weren't finished and I agreed. We’re not finished until he’s dead.”
“Mother fucker is a dead man.”
“He threatened to shoot one of us if she didn’t go,” Lucia adds.
Gambit and Nitro both growl, then repeat my proclamation. The next several minutes, we spend quality time soothing our women’s frayed nerves. I can’t help but go over the day's events. From when we first came under fire until the calvary showed up. I can’t think of anything that would’ve kept Wrath from being shot.
When Doc enters the waiting room, we all rush to his side. He’s not a surgeon, but he knows the one who performed surgery on Wrath. The doctor let him scrub in and observe.
“The bullet did some damage, but he’s strong. He’ll make a full recovery.”
Cheers go up around the room.
“Alright brothers, we’ll all take turns sitting by his side. With Linden on the loose, I want a brother with him at all times,” Gambit says.
Murmurs of agreement go up around the room. One minute Nay is by my side and the next she’s making a mad dash out of the waiting room. I run after her. She runs into the women’s bathroom. I go in after her. I find Her on the floor kneeling. In front of the porcelain goddess puking out her guts. I rush to her side and kneel beside her. Nay’s Hair is in braids. Since I don't need to hold her hair. I pat her back soothingly until she's finished.
“Are you alright, Beloved?”
Nay
WHAT SEEMS LIKE HOURSlater, Doc comes to give us an update on a Wrath. I can't tell you how relieved I am that he's gonna make a full recovery. I know my uncle was behind all this.I can't stand that I'm bringing this to the club. I know it's not my fault, but I still feel guilty.
Gambit has just finished talking about guard duty when my stomach roils and I feel like I'm gonna throw up. Luckily, I used to work here and I know where the bathrooms are.
I make a mad dash for the nearest bathroom and make it just in time to lose my breakfast.
I’m on my knees puking my guts out when I feel a presence behind me. I know without looking or asking, it’s Papa. He rubs my back and murmurs soothing words while my stomach continues to empty its contents.
When I’m finished, I lean back. Papa wraps his arms around me.
“Are you alright, Beloved?”
“Must be my nerves. It’s been one hell of a day.”
“I can’t disagree with that statement.”
“I need my purse. I have a disposable toothbrush. Of sorts.”
Papa laughs. “Of course you do, Beloved. You’re always prepared.”
“Maybe I should have been a girl scout. Do you think they allow hookers?”
This time my man throws back his head and laughs loud and long. I rummage through my purse and find my little pack of finger toothbrushes. You fit it over a finger and brush your teeth. It comes with toothpaste already infused into it.
I finished and tossed it into the trash. The door opens and a bewildered woman takes in the scene before heading straight to a stall. She doesn’t say anything at all. A rare person who knows how to mind their own business.
Papa and I head back to the waiting room. Gambit insists we both go home. Papa may have only gotten a graze, but he could use some extra rest. Not to mention how tired you feel when the adrenaline stops racing through your body.
I’m emotionally exhausted but happy when I climb on the back of his sled and we head home. Stormy and Lucia are riding back in the SUV. Tully is driving. Gambit, Hollywood, Smoke, Nitro and Blue are riding back to the compound with us.