“She'll be okay,” We both look up at Stryker. “Your mom is a strong woman, and this could be something as simple as a pulled muscle. Pulling a muscle anywhere is painful, but in your back it's excruciating.”
I clasp Wrench's shoulder and squeeze. I don't know if Stryker could be right, but I pray that's all that's wrong. Losing Mom would mean losing Dad because there is no way he'd go on living without her. God, knows what that would do to my brother. I can't even bear to think about that.
“Mr. Anderson?”
“Yes,” I jump out of my seat and face the doctor.
“I'm Dr. Malik,” I shake his outstretched hand. “I'm in charge of Brooke's care.”
“How is she?”
“I know you must be extremely worried about Brooke right now, but I want you to know that she's going to be just fine.”
Oh, thank God! Everyone is cheering behind me. I wave my hand at them to be quiet; I can't hear a damn word the doctor is trying to say.
“Thank you. Brooke has no broken bones or ribs, but she does have some bruising that will take a while to heal. Also, her eyes are bloodshot and will take a few days to settle down. So don't be alarmed when you see her.”
“And the baby?” I roll my neck, I can hear the whispers, but fuck them right now!
The doctor smiles. “The baby is just fine. If you follow me, I'll take you to Brooke now.”
“Wrench, I'll be as quick as I can. If you hear anything about Mom before I get back, call me, and I'll come right back.”
Wrench nods. “Just go to Brooke. Give her my love. I'll let you know about Mom as soon as I know anything.”
I wish I could stay until we have news about Mom, but I wouldn't be able to settle until I've seen Brooke. I need to see with my own eyes that she's okay. Once my mind is settled, I can check on Mom.
Please let her be okay. I don't know what the hell I'd do without my mother.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brooke
I'm okay, Hawk.” He brings my hand to his mouth again and kisses it hard. Hawk has been really affected by what happened, but I'm okay, our unborn son is okay. I don't have any lasting injuries, just some deep bruising that will heal in time.
What happened today is a little foggy, but I remember everything at the same time. I remember smashing Hank in the face with a shovel. I pulled all the strength I possessed to get to my feet and knock that prick out. I could hear him spitting his crap at my man, and I had to stop him. I remember the sound of a gun going off, but I couldn't wake myself up enough to open my eyes. I heard someone being beaten before I lost consciousness altogether. Somewhere inside of me, I know the Snakes Henchmen killed Hank, and I can't bring myself to feel bad about it.
Hawk drops his head down on the bed, my hand in his, and I stroke his hair with my free hand. I knew he'd find me. I knew he'd save me. I didn't lose my life today, my little boy didn't lose his mommy, and that's thanks to the man who loves me.
Hawk lifts his head, and I can't stop myself from crying. Seeing the tears falling from his eyes makes me cry.
“Don't cry, baby.” Hawk wipes my tears away with his fingertips.
“I'm sorry. Seeing you cry set me off.”
“I thought I'd lost you, Brooke,” Hawk lays his hand on my stomach gently. “I thought I'd lost both of you. Knowing you're both still here with Gabe and me... I guess I'm a little overwhelmed with how relieved I am.”
“It's going to be okay now, Hawk. We're all going to be okay.”
“I hope so, baby. I really do.”
There's something else bothering him, and I have to wonder if someone got hurt because of Hank.
“Hawk, did something happen at the farm? Did Hank hurt anyone?”
Hawk shakes his head, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “No one was hurt. Something did happen though. Not at the farm, but here.”
“What?” I get the feeling something bad happened.
Hawk sighs, and leans back in the chair he's sitting in next to the bed. “So many people are outside waiting to hear how you are. Mom was the first one here after she dropped Gabe with Tammy,” It was a relief to hear Gabriel is okay and safe with Tammy. That was the first thing I asked Hawk when he walked through the door, how our son was. I couldn't settle until I knew Gabriel was okay. “Mom was so worried about you. She blames herself for this happening.”
“What?” I can't keep the shock out of my voice. “Hawk, you have to go to her. I need you to tell Taylor that none of this was her fault. She kept Gabe safe, and she called you right away like I knew she would. Because of that, you saved me. Please go to her.”
“I can't.” He whispers. “Baby, something happened to my mom while we were waiting for news about you. One minute she was talking with Wrench and Lynette, the next, she was screaming and sobbing in pain. I don't know what's happening to her, Brooke.”
My eyes dart from side to side. I'm trying to take in what Hawk has just said. What happened out there has to have something to do with how sick Taylor has been on and off these past few weeks.
“BlackJack rushed Mom to a doctor. She was in agony, Brooke.”
I stroke Hawk's face with my hand. I've never seen my beautiful man look so scared. I'm scared for Taylor also right now. I love her as a friend and a mother. None of us want to lose her. If I went out there right now and asked any of those people what Taylor means to them, I know they'd all speak more than just highly of her. She means so much to everyone around her.
“Baby, why are you here with me? I know you love me, and you were worried about me, but I'm fine. Go to your mother.”
“I can't leave you.”
“Yes. You can.” I lean into him and kiss his lips softly. “I'll be just fine. Ask Marnie to come sit with me until you get back. Take as long as you need. Once you know what's going on with Taylor, let me know. Give her my love, and tell her I'm thinking about her.”
Hawk kisses me while getting out of his chair and taking a seat on the bed in front of me. He wraps his arms around me. I rub his back and hold him slightly. I feel emotional as we hold each other. Hawk is so scared for his mom, and that fear won't go away until he sees for himself that she's okay. God, I hope she's okay.
No matter what I think, I have to be strong for the man I love. “It's going to be okay, baby. Taylor is strong. I know she'll come through whatever this is.”
“I love you, Brooke. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” I gently pull away from him. “Go on, handsome. I'll be okay.” Hawk kisses me and leaves. I feel him, and I wish I could make this better for him. I hate that he's hurting so much right now.
“Brooke?
” I open my eyes with a smile on my face, but I start crying the second Marnie climbs onto the bed and wraps her arms around me. She kisses my head over and over again, and I laugh because she's like a mother hen. “I thought I'd lost you.”
I pull away slightly and look at my sister. I wipe a tear from her cheek. “I'm okay, Marnie.”
“He could have killed you, Brooke.”
“But he didn't.” I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckles. “Please don't think like that, Marnie. Hank can't hurt us anymore.”
My sister narrows her eyes, and I realize that I've said the wrong thing. No one outside of the MC yet knows Hank is dead. However, it won't be long before someone finds out, I know that, but I should have thought before I spoke!
The look on Marnie's face says she didn't know anything, and I imagine the police would have contacted the family, and it would have gotten back to us.
I'm still not sure why the doctor hasn't called the police to report what happened to me. Not that they know the truth of what happened, but they know I was attacked. Any idiot with eyes can see that.
Maybe they did, and Shepard already spoke to the sheriff. Shepard would have handed over some money, and the sheriff would make it all go away. I imagine the sheriff will cover-up Hank's death, and he'll write a false report. Not that I give a damn, Hank got what he deserved. However, I don't want my sister to have Hank's death on her mind.
When it finally hits me, I don't know how I'll process it. If I can spare Marnie from it, from hating Hawk and me for our part in it, then I will. I love my sister too much to risk losing her.
Marnie tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “It's okay, sweetheart.” She knows. I know she does. I can see it in her eyes. Nothing gets past Marnie.
“Marnie,” I swallow the lump in my throat. How am I supposed to keep this from her? The second she was told the Hank did this to me, I know she worked out the Snakes ended him. She knows they wouldn't have gone looking for me without murder in mind.