Ruthless Sinner (Ashby Crime Family)

“Oh no,” Kat added with a laugh. “Please, take your sweet ass time. In fact, I’ll give you a thousand bucks if you take your time.”

“I’ll add another thousand,” Virgil offered around a big bite of corn on the cob. “If you just go for a walk through the hospital. Clear your head.”

“I’ll get in on that action,” Terry offered, barely able to contain his laughter. “Sorry, bro.”

“Fuck you Terry.” He let out a loud, booming laugh. “Go on,” I growled at my youngest brother. “Before I change my mind.”

Cal made a quick exit out of the room instead of using the small bathroom inside the goddamn room. I shrugged, realizing I’d been had.

“Want some chicken, Ava? I hear it’s good for the skin.”

She flapped her arms and giggled, reaching for the small piece I held out to her. She took it in both hands and sucked on it. “Mmm,” she cooed, and I shit you not, I think my heart might have melted a little.

“Yeah, it’s not so bad,” I said proudly to my siblings, sitting up a little taller as Ava sat on my lap, content with her chicken.

“Good preparation,” Virgil offered with a laugh, drawing stares from both Kat and Maisie.

I pretended not to get what he meant and shifted my gaze to Sadie, who somehow managed to stay wherever the fuck she was in her head, even through all the noise and the chaos.

I thought—stupidly—that dinner with our boisterous family might be enough to wake her, or at the very least, pull back from where she clearly preferred to be.

“Guys,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper as shock and hope warred inside me. “Shut the fuck up and look!” I pointed to the bed where Sadie lay, completely still except for the fluttering lashes.

The room fell silent as one set of eyes after another turned to the bed. To Sadie.

“Shit, she’s waking up!” Kat’s whispered words echoed what we were all thinking, at least what I was thinking. “Do you think she’s been awake before?”

I shook my head. “The doctor would have told us. Or Thomas.”

Maisie frowned and turned to me. “Where is Thomas?”

I shrugged. “Someone has to be at Lucky Lopez. Don’t worry, Provo and Evan are with him.” I knew they all thought I was a prick for not inviting him, but Thomas understood. He spent every free moment here with Sadie and wanted us to have some time with her too. Just in case. He didn’t say that, but he didn’t have to.

“Seriously, Jas? I thought we were past this shit.”

I sighed, my eyes never leaving Sadie’s face. “Unlike the rest of you, Thomas understands. He’s always here with her if he’s not sleeping or at the club. He volunteered to stay behind, so we could have this dinner with her.”

“In case it’s our last,” Kat added with a grunt.

Sadie’s eyes opened, and I was on my feet, at her side with Ava Rose babbling softly in my arms. She looked around the room slowly before her eyes landed on mine. A moment of fear flashed in her eyes, and I reached out to touch her. “It’s all right, Ma. You’re all right.”

She blinked and looked around the room again. “Huh? Where am I?”

“The hospital. Don’t talk. Let me get the doctor.”

“Where’s Mo?”

I blinked. “Mo? It’s me, Jasper.”

Sadie’s eyes slammed shut, and fear speared through me. What if she didn’t understand me? What if her brain was all fucked up?

“Mo,” she said again. “Where is Mo?”

“Mo isn’t here.” Why in the hell was she so concerned with Mo? Her eyes closed again, and my heart stopped. She wasn’t waking up.

“I’ll go find the doctor,” Virgil grunted, giving Sadie’s hand a quick squeeze before he beat a hasty exit.

Sadie’s eyes drifted open again, trying to take in all the details, probably wondering why we were all so worried about her. ““Thirsty.”

“Okay. The doctor will come check you out first.”

“Thirsty,” she groaned and pointed her finger towards the cup of half-melted ice on the table. I hoisted Ava on my hip and managed to grab the spoon and fish out some crushed ice, spilling some on the tray table. How did women do shit with babies in their arms? Then I carefully put the spoon to Sadie’s barely open mouth. Luckily, Ava didn’t start bouncing on my hip until I put the spoon back in the cup.

“Where’s the fucking doctor? Kat, call Thomas. I think she’s finally awake!”

Terry laughed and clapped his big hands loudly. He winked and raised a glass of Velvet Fire. “To Sadie, finally awake, soon to be raising hell. Again.”

Just then, Cal returned, and Ava Rose reached out for him to take her back. I have to admit, I felt a pang of jealousy, but then a round of cheers went up all around the room.