What the hell, am I going to do? I can't lose my sister. I don't know what I'd do without her. Marnie is all I have left of my family. Once my mother and brothers find out Hank is gone, I will never see them again. Not that I want to see my brothers, but seeing my mom again would have been nice once in a while.
I am happy with my chosen family, and I knew what I risked losing when I walked away from the farm. However, when Marnie walked into the clubhouse that day, I knew I'd be okay because I still had my sister.
“Shh,” She holds me close to her, with my head on her shoulder, and she strokes my hair gently. “It's okay, Brooke.”
“He hurt me, Marnie.” I'm sobbing on her shoulder, and even if she didn't click before, she will now.
“I know he did, but he's gone now. You're safe, Brooke. Now you can live a fear-free life with Gabe and Hawk. God knows that man loves you. He'd do anything to protect you. I don't have to worry about your safety anymore.”
I wrap my arms tighter around her waist. My sister is the only real mother-figure I ever had growing up, and it still feels as though we have that bond. I need Marnie in my life. I won't cope without her.
“Please, don't hate me, Marnie.”
Her shoulder moves up and down as she laughs. “Brooke,” She nudges me, and I lift off her shoulder, and lean my head on the pillow. Marnie turns on her side, her head propped on her hand as she looks at me. “I could never hate you. I love you. I know right now you're all sorts of confused. It's been a long day, but you're here, you're safe, and you will heal.”
I blink. Marnie is right; I am confused. I'm confused because I know that she knows the truth and she hasn't said anything. Marnie has just brushed it under the carpet and is going to pretend she knows nothing. I don't know if that's for herself or me. I'm just happy she isn't walking out that door and never looking back. She might have hated Hank, but that doesn't mean she could deal with knowing my MC family killed him. However, I know now that she will.
“I checked on Gabe for you. Tammy said that he's just fine, and she's happy to keep him until Taylor picks him up. Not that she's going to be able to do that now.”
“Yeah. I really hope she's okay.”
“God, Brooke,” Both Marnie and I sit back against the headboard and look at each other. “She was in so much pain. I've never heard anyone scream that loudly in my life. It was awful.”
I close my eyes and breathe deeply. I pray that Taylor will be okay. Whatever is wrong, it's been going on for weeks. She's in the best place to get the help she needs now. God only knows what would have happened to Taylor had she been at home when this happened.
“Hawk didn't want to leave me here, but I told him to go. I could see how torn he was, but I'm okay, we don't know if Taylor will be.”
“He looked terrified when he asked me to sit with you.”
I entwine my fingers with my sisters and smile when she kisses the back of my hand. “Taylor and BlackJack raised their sons in a loving home. Hawk, Wrench, and even Stryker have an amazing relationship with their parents. All three of them will be scared out of their minds right now.”
“Taylor will be okay, Brooke. Whatever is wrong, the doctors will deal with, and she'll be just fine. You'll see.”
I hope she's right. Just thinking about losing Taylor has the knot in my stomach tightening.
“I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt again so soon.” I chuckle as Marnie strokes the small bump in my belly. “You're so lucky, Brooke,”
I can feel my nose burning with emotion. I can't even begin to imagine how she feels knowing she will never be a mother while she's with Paul. I'm not going to stop fighting to get her away from him. One day soon, I will convince her that she's strong enough to leave him. No matter what it takes, I will get her away from that racist pig.
Marnie deserves to be free to live her life the way she wants to live it. She deserves to find and fall in love with someone who will love and cherish her. Someone who will put her first, and never raise their hand to her. Marnie deserves more than the hell she was thrown into.
“This will be you one day, Marnie.” She stares at me unblinking. “I know how unhappy you are with Paul. I also know how badly you want to be a mother,” Ever since she had that miscarriage five years ago, Marnie has longed for a child. Being forced to marry a man who can't have children is the ultimate punishment. “You have to leave Paul, Marnie. Only then will you have the life you've always deserved.”
“It's not that easy, Brooke.” I don't imagine it is. I highly doubt Paul would let Marnie walk away and be happy. Men like him never do.
“I know it's not, but I'd help you, and the Snakes would keep you safe.” I won't mention Draven Vidal, knowing I work for a Mafia Don who would help protect my sister would just freak her out. Everyone knows the horrors stories of men like that. Usually, they're completely true. However, if it came to it, I wouldn't hesitate to ask Draven for help. “I just want you safe, Marnie.”
She smiles at me, her wall firmly in place once again. “Do you know the baby's sex?”
Nice subject change, Marnie.
I roll my eyes playfully. The surprise announcement Hawk and I planned went out of the window when he blurted it out to everyone. He didn't tell them the baby is a boy, which means I can throw a gender reveal party!
I really want to keep it a secret from everyone until then. However, Marnie needs a little cheering up – which is just my excuse for the fact I'm dying to tell her!
“We found out recently through a blood test. Hawk and I planned a party so that we could tell everyone that we're pregnant. That's ruined now, but I realized we could make it a gender reveal party instead.” I smile with all of my teeth on show, trying not to laugh at the look of disappointment on her face.
“You're going to make me wait?! Brooke,” Marnie whines like a child, and I can't help laughing behind my hand. “Ugh! Fine, I'll wait.”
I take her hand in mine and rest it on my baby bump. I see the dreamy smile on her face. “Say, ‘hi’ to your nephew.”
Marnie's fingers flex on my belly. “Hi, DJ,” My mouth drops open. How the hell did she know we'd chosen to name the baby DJ? Well, Dante, but it amounts to the same thing. “I'm your aunt Marnie, and I am going to love you just as much as I love your brother.”
“Why did you call him DJ?” I'm curious.
“I know how much you love Hawk. It just makes sense that you'd name the baby after his father. Of course, you can name him whatever you like. It was just a thought.” She shrugs.
I smile because she knows me so well. “I can't believe how well you know me, Marnie.” She laughs. “His name is Dante. Not that Hawk wanted that, which is weird because most men are vain when it comes to their sons taking their name.”
“I think it's perfect.” So do I.
I don't want to fall asleep. I need to know how Taylor is. I need to speak with Tammy and check on my son, but I can't fight it any longer.
“Sleep well, sweetheart. I'll be right here when you wake.” I know that she will, and I'll sleep easy knowing she's right by my side.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
BlackJack
I hate hospitals. Loth them, in fact. I came here to support my son through his pain, the pain of what happened to Brooke today. I've never seen Hawk as scared as he was today. That fucker Webster got what he deserved. A bullet in the gut. It was one thing to beat the crap out of his own daughter. It was quite another to spit his racist shit at my son, my beautiful boy, my pride and joy.
Son of a fuckin' bitch!
It's not the first time I've heard it. People like Webster are ten a penny. They think because my wife has a black daddy, it gives them the right to spit their pathetic views at her. at my sons. Hawk more than Wrench because that boy is as white as I am.
It fucking kills a man inside to have his little boy come home from school crying his eyes out, crying because the kids at school were picking on him for the color of his skin. For the fact, his ski
n color was different from his little brothers. All the kids who yelled how his mother was a black whore who found his baby brother in a bush or did she steal him from a white family? She should be in prison for what she's done.
There were the few kids who didn't understand how Dante could have tanned skin if Dominic didn't. Those were the kids who befriended Dante; they were just curious as to how it could happen. I mean, it's basic common sense to know these things. Not every child will be the same color as the next. My brother had a darker skin tone than I have, but it didn't mean we had different parents. It was sheer ignorance on the parents of those kids part, not the kids themselves.
One child even asked if Dominic was adopted, and how it could be when both boys looked so much alike. Sad indeed to think people in this town could be so behind the times.
Hawk's anger because of this was so out of control by the time he reached nine that I was more than just worried about him. I feared he'd turn into an even angrier teenager, and he'd become someone he was not born to be. Taylor soon pulled him out of it with martial arts. The beautiful soul Taylor is, taught Hawk how to manage his anger, and how to let go of the words of lesser men and women. She taught Wrench the same thing.
Me, on the other hand? I have a kill count that would rival a mass murderer. No one, and I mean, no one calls my wife or kids racist names and lives to tell the tale. I don't give a damn who they may be. That included Hank Webster beating on is own daughter and almost killing my unborn grandchild! Not to mention the words he spat at my son, the vile things he said about my grandson. So, I shot the motherfucker in the stomach. Then I helped my brothers beat the cunt to death!
I'm not saying everyone we come into contact with is racist, far from it, but there are those who stand out in my mind. I don't want this shit for my grandchildren; they deserve a better world to live in.