Hard Ride (Men of Valor MC)

“Fuck, I think she’s waking up,” I hear Gage say. My eyes start to flutter. I want to see him and my daddy more than anything.

“Hell, yes she is. She’s a Johnston. Come on, baby girl, it’s time to open those eyes. It’s been too damn long,” I hear my dad. I slowly open my eyes. The scene before me is of two men hovering over me like a mother hen.

“I’m up. You guys talk like two old biddies.” My voice is raspy. I’m thankful nonetheless that there isn’t a tube shoved up my nose.

“Shut it. You love to bust my chops,” Daddy says, a watery smile on his face.

“Yeah, but I was having a great dream,” I tease. Gage’s hand cups my cheek. He’s not saying a word, letting my dad have his time but keeping his presence known.

“Welcome to the living. You can dream later. I’m glad you’re up, baby girl. I’m going to let the nurse know you’re awake and let you have time with Gage. I love you, Nova.”

“I love you, Daddy.” He kisses my forehead. I close my eyes while I cherish this. It’s not every day my dad shows this softness. He’s not that type of man. He’s always told me he loves me, how proud of me he is, but seeing him keeping the tears at bay, it’s melting my damn heart. He nods and leaves my side. I move my head, Gage’s hand still cupping my cheek.

“Gage.” My voice is soft.

“Hey, babe, you okay? Need anything?” he asks. His beard is more than a day’s worth of growth covering his face, there dark circles beneath his eyes, and it looks like his clothes are a wrinkled mess.

“I’m okay, I promise. As long as you’re here, I’ve got everything I need.”

“Thank fuck you’re okay. You had us worried.” His lips meet mine, soft, sweet, and gone too soon. I try to lift up, going after him, but my side gives me a twinge.

“Well, hell.” I look at my side, moving the covers and hospital gown, needing to see just what the deranged Officer Brady did to me.

“You don’t need to look at that right now,” Gage states. I roll my eyes, ignore him, and look down only to find gauze covering the wound.

“Not that I can. You want to let me know what happened? All I remember is you holding me. The rest is kind of a blur.” When I saw the look in Officer Brady’s eyes, I knew if I didn’t attempt something, he’d do something far worse than hurt me. He may have been lost down memory lane, but the hungry look in his eyes when he spoke about Stella gave me more than the willies.

“I don’t really care to talk about it.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Okay, well, I’ll wait until Daddy comes back with the nurse or doctor and ask them.” Gage is being standoffish. If he regrets being here, that would really suck. My heart will break, that’s for sure, but I really don’t understand the way he’s acting.

“Fuck, time and time again, I mess shit up with the way I talk. How I don’t talk or show my emotions. And just now you were shutting down because of the shit I just pulled.” Gage stands up, pacing back and forth alongside my hospital bed. There’s nothing for me to do or say. I move slowly, trying not to jostle my wound, look down at my wrists, and see they aren’t even bruised, thank goodness. I let Gage finish his tirade until he calms down.

“Are you even listening to me?” he asks.

“Yeah, but you’re acting like a two-year-old, so I’m letting you get your tantrum out of the way.” I shrug my shoulders. A slight smile appears on his handsome face. Gage comes back and sits on the edge of the bed. “Always busting my balls, woman. It wasn’t good, Nova. When your heart stopped beating, my world crumbled beneath my feet. A world without you, it’s just that, a life, but there’s no color. Fuck, woman, you’ve been out of surgery, which we were told you wouldn’t have needed if you didn’t have some underlying issue with your blood clotting. Apparently, not even your dad knew about that, and we’ll have to get further testing done once we’re out of this hell hole.”

This time, it’s me who cups his cheek. He realizes that I want him to come closer to me. “Lie down with me?”

“Yeah, baby. I will.” I scoot over gingerly, making room for him. His arm moves beneath my neck, and I’m at peace, here with him. The whole ordeal is swept away by his embrace alone.

“I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I would fight to be here with you, always. When can I bust out of here?” I ask. He kisses my head and starts to respond when my dad and the nurse come in.