Jett opens the door when I knock it.
Nova says nothing to anyone in the room, she just walks silently toward the bed that Willow is sleeping on.
She hardly looks like Willow right now. Her usually immaculate brown hair is limp. There are dark circles under her eyes, cuts, and bruises all over her face. There's a cast on her arm. I had no idea she'd broken anything. And, of course, there's the gauze and plastic protective covering around her neck, covering what could become infected.
I watch my girl, we all do, all speechless as she sheds her leather jacket and her boots while humming. She pulls herself onto the bed next to Willow. Lynette reaches out just in case Nova hurts Will in any way. She won't. Shepard grabs Lynette's hand and shakes his head.
Nova wraps one arm around Willo
w's stomach and folds the other under her own head, and then rests her head against Willow's. “Everything is going to be okay, Will. I've got you now. No one can hurt you ever again, I promise. I promise.”
There are no words to describe how much it hurts to hear the woman you love in so much pain.
“It's okay, baby girl, it's okay.” Nova simply nods as Shepard strokes the back of her hair.
“This can never happen again.” Jett's right, it can't. “Never again will another motherfucker get his hands on a Snakes girl. No matter what it takes, Tank.”
“No matter what it takes.”
One Month Later...
I'm a changed woman these days. I keep myself out of trouble. I'm not planning on taking on any Exorcist jobs now or in the future. I'm not saying that I never will again, but for right now, it's put to rest.
Tank and I have put our wedding on hold for a while. Just until Willow is well enough to be a real part of it all. She's getting better every day, stronger. She and I are bonded now in a way no one could ever have imagined. I spend time with her every day, and I make sure she knows that I will always be here for her, no matter what.
My relationship with my dad is stronger than ever. After everything that happened, I came to the conclusion that life is too fucking short to be petty over the silly things. Or anything,
My little girl is walking. Walking! How did that happen so quickly? I know they say if you blink you'll miss how fast your child grows, but I didn't realize how true that was until Ember suddenly rushed toward me one day without falling over.
Ember's adoption came through two days ago. Tank is now officially her father, her name changed for the world to see. Ember Leigh Marshall. And she loves her daddy.
“All done, sweetheart.” I kiss the top of Willow's head. Lynette helped Will bathe and dress, and I've just blow dried and braided her hair. She can do all these things for herself, but she's on so much pain medication and anti-inflammatory's for her throat, that she's a little clumsy, if not shaky at times. Plus, she does find it hard to brush her hair when she has to stretch so far.
We probably drive her crazy, but everyone is extra helpful of late. We almost lost her and it affected each and every one of us in a way I can't even explain.
Jordan hasn't been the same with Willow since she was found. Don't get me wrong, he's here for her, helping her in every way a man should help his sick woman, but something is missing for both of them. She's distant with him, but then, no one could blame her for that, she's been through so much. He just needs to give her a little time.
But then, he's distant too. I can't put my finger on it, but he's different these days. I'd never say this to my sister, but I think Trace is cheating on her. She almost died and he's cheating on her. If I find out that's true I'll kill him!
“He still hasn't been to see me.”
That's the same thing she's said every day since three days after she was rescued. That was the first and last time Hammer came to see her. Every day it gets harder to hear the heartbreak in her voice. I know she's in love with him. And not because he saved her life, but since she was a little girl. Not fair to Trace, but she's never admitted her feelings for Hammer because I know she wouldn't do that to Trace, she loves him too. But I'm not sure it's the same.
I know Willow feels like Hammer is staying away because he can't bear to look at her and see the girl she is right now. But that's not the case at all. Seeing up close Willow's throat being cut like that must have felt like Deja vu to him. Cindy all over again. The man thinks he's cursed. And he thinks by staying away from Willow, he's protecting her. When in reality, he's hurting her so much.
Tank's tried to talk to him, but Hammer says nothing. He refuses to talk about what happened and how it affected him. He really needs to talk about it. But he's a stubborn man. Ain't they all the same?
“He'll come see you soon. You just need to concentrate on getting well again.”
“I miss him, Nova. I've known him my whole life. I thought we were friends.”
“You are friends, Willow.” I sit beside her on the small couch in her room at our parent's house. Willow moved back home for a while so Lynette could take care of her. Trace is busy with the club and Lynette didn't like the idea of Willow being stuck home alone in the house they share all the time. Plus, I don't think Willow could bear being back in the place she was kidnapped from.
“You almost died, Will. In exactly the same way as Cindy. Can you imagine what that did to him? He's struggling a little right now, but he will come around.” She nods and leans her head on my shoulder, I wrap my arm around her shoulders.
I smile as my man walks into the room with our little girl. “Illow!” My sister lifts in her seat and chuckles. It always makes us laugh when Ember tries to say Willow's name. Tank sets Ember on her feet and she rushes to Willow. She loves her aunt.
I walk over to my man and smile before kissing him.
“How's she doing?” He asks.
“Missing your brother. She thinks he's disgusted with her.”
“That's not the case, baby.”
“I know.” I lean my head against his chest.
“Think my mom will take Ember for the night?”
He chuckles. “Why? Planning to ravage me all night?”
I look up at him with a smirk on my face. I want much more than to ravage him. “That, along with sucking your cock until you explode down my throat before I ride you, fucking your brains out.”
He groans down my ear and pulls me tighter against him. I've been so damned horny for him all day, I think I've waited long enough. God, I've been like a nymph all week! I'm surprised he hasn't got friction burns on his cock.
“Naughty girl.” He growls.
“You know, I can hear you, right?” We all laugh. And hearing her laughing gives me hope that Willow will be just fine. Whether or not things work out with her and Trace remains to be seen. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and hers wants Hammer.
Not that I can blame her, the Marshall brothers are everything men should be, hot, sexy, brooding bad boys. But not all girls are as lucky as me, not all girls have a Tank slam into them and turn their lives upside down.
The End!