Chapter 84
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I WASN’T ABLE to see Cassidy for another two hours. She was resting comfortably, or so they said, but she was out, so I took her hand and raised it to my mouth, kissing her palm. I could do nothing but wait.
Her parents arrived an hour or so later and rushed into the room. After checking on Cassidy and kissing her cheek, Wendy wrapped me in a motherly hug. “Hi, honey.”
I nodded and pulled away from her.
“Your friend Payton is going to take Maverick to her home and we’ve asked her not to say anything until we can explain to him what’s going on.”
“Thanks.” I felt like the walls of the room were closing in on me, the panic rising suddenly and far too quickly.
“Son?” Patrick asked.
“I need a minute,” I rasped, and stepped out of the room. Bending at the waist, I anchored my palms on my thighs and took several deep breaths.
Visions of Cassidy being shot flew through my mind, only it was me doing the shooting… just like in my nightmares.
“Carter.” Jaxon wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me to a chair along the wall. “Take a beat.”
“I did this,” I whispered. “It’s my fault.”
“No, you didn’t. You saw it comin‘ and got to her faster than anyone could. This could have gone much, much worse,” Jaxon said.
“She might not be able to have any kids. That’s on me,” I argued. “I should have fuckin‘ tied her to a chair instead of lettin‘ her go into work.”
“Look, I know nothing I say is gonna make you feel better, but you identified the threat and got to her faster than anyone could have. If you hadn’t, he could have gotten her leaving the building and she might be somewhere you couldn’t get to her. Trust me, brother, it could have been worse, and she’s alive because of you.”
I dragged my hands through my hair.
“Carter?” Wendy called. “She’s asking for you.”
I shot to my feet and made my way back to the room, stepping to the bed. “Hey, baby.”
“Where’s Maverick?” she asked.
“He’s with Payton, honey. He’s safe.”
“I want him here,” she said, grabbing my hand and squeezing. “Please, bring him here. I need to see him.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll get Hawk to bring him.”
“Don’t leave.”
I smiled, leaning down to kiss her gently. “I’m gonna have Jax tell Hawk. I’ll be right back.”
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“He’s okay?
“He’s great, baby, I promise. No one’s told him anything.”
“Wait,” she said. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell him yet.”
“Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it, honey,” Cassidy still hadn’t released my hand.
“We should probably wait.”
I kept hold of her hand as I sat in the chair next to the bed.
“Are you in any pain, honey?” Wendy asked.
“Not right now,” Cassidy said. “Everything just feels kind of tight.”
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Wendy fussed while Patrick sat on the other side of her, his hand on her arm like he was afraid she’d disappear. Two doctors walked in a few minutes later and closed the door.
“I’m Dr. Nelson,” the surprisingly young, attractive female surgeon said.
“I’m Dr. Waring” the older man with her said.
“Perhaps we should get some privacy, so we can talk,” Dr. Nelson said.
“I’m fine,” Cassidy said. “They can stay,”
I linked my fingers with hers. I had an idea of what was coming and knew she’d have a difficult time processing.
“There was quite a bit of internal damage, which we were able to repair, however, we are still concerned about the damage to your uterus.”
Cassidy gasped. “What happened to my uterus?”
“The bullet damaged the uterine wall and I was afraid I’d have to perform a hysterectomy.”
“Did you?” Cassidy asked, tears sliding down her face. I kissed her hand, laying her hand against my cheek.
“No, I repaired what I could,” Dr. Nelson said. “But only time will tell if there will be any further complications. It’s possible you might not be able to carry another child, Cassidy.”
“What?” Cassidy burst into tears.
“We don’t know for sure yet, honey,” I said.
“But you want a hundred kids,” she cried.
“There are other ways to get kids, baby,” I whispered, stroking her cheek.
“It’s not a definite outcome,” Dr. Nelson said. “We have every hope that your body will do what it’s designed to do and finish off the healing process. We’ll keep a close eye on you and monitor you as you heal.”
I watched as Cassidy shut down. I knew it the second her tears stopped, and she started nodding at everything the doctors said. She’d checked out and wasn’t listening to anything they were saying. I did my best to focus on the doctor’s instructions because she’d need to know eventually.
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Cassidy was sleeping and Patrick was making a food run while Wendy quietly read a book, so I stepped into the hallway to
call Hawk.
“Hey, Ace.”
“Hey. Cass has to be here for at least a week, so I’m thinkin‘ I’ll come pick up Maverick tomorrow and bring him, if that’s okay.”
“No problem. We told him you and Cassidy were doin‘ somethin‘ so he got to stay the night with us. He’s happy, man. We got him.”
I sighed. “Thanks. ‘Preciate it.”
“You wanna talk to him?”
“No, because he might want to talk to Cass and she’s asleep.”
“Good thinkin‘. Okay, just swing by tomorrow whenever. We’ll be here.”
“Thanks again.” I hung up and made my way back into the room, interrupting an argument between Cassidy and her mother. “What’s goin‘ on? You okay?”
“Fine.” Cassidy glared at her mom.
“Hey,” I said, and sat beside her again. “What’s up?”
“She thinks you two should break up,” Wendy provided.
“Mom,” Cassidy snapped.
“Why?” I asked carefully.
“Because she’s decided that what’s done is done and since she can’t give you children, she’s useless to you,” Wendy said.
“Mom, shut up!” Cassidy hissed.
I stood and smiled. “Wendy, can I have a few minutes with your daughter?”
“Only if you plan to talk some sense into her.”
“Of course I do.”
Wendy smiled, kissed my cheek, and sidled out the door. I went back to the bed, but instead of sitting on the chair, I sat on the mattress beside Cassidy.
“We don’t have to make any decisions now,” Cassidy whispered, not meeting my eyes.
“Look at me, Cassidy,” I demanded quietly.
Her eyes flew to me and I raised her palm to my lips. “I’m not goin‘ anywhere.”
“I know you say that now because I’m lying-”
“I swear to fuckin‘ Christ, Cassidy, you keep talkin‘ like that and I will handcuff you permanently to this bed. You’ll be stuck
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with me literally”
“You don’t own handcuffs,” she grumbled.
“Yes, I do.”
“You do?”
I nodded.
“Do I want to know why you have those handcuffs?” she asked.
“It’s not because of anything fun,” I informed her. “Look, this sucks. All of it. But we’re in it together and if you talk about us doin‘ anything goin‘ forward alone, I will lose my fuckin‘ mind. I don’t love you because you can or can’t give me kids. I love you and Maverick with every part of me, and you are enough. You’re more than enough. If we want more kids and we can’t get them the traditional way, then we’ll adopt or use a surrogate, or whatever.”
“But you want a lot of kids.”
“You’re not hearin‘ me, honey,” I said. “I want you more than I want more kids, Cassidy. I’ve tried livin‘ without you. It doesn’t work and if you try to separate me from our kid, you’ll regret it.”
“Dipshit bolt.” I could tell she was trying not to smile.
“Fuckin‘ nut,” I retorted.
“I’m giving you an out, Carter,”
“Fuck me, Cass, I don’t want an out.” I pulled our chains from around my neck and helped her put hers on, before pulling her engagement ring off my chain and sliding it back onto her finger. “You’re my world, baby. I can’t live without you. Either of you.”
I leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head. “I haven’t brushed my teeth since this morning.”
“I don’t care,” I said, and kissed her. After breaking the kiss, I stroked her cheek. “I’m gonna get your mom. No more talk of us breaking up, yeah?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“I talked to Hawk and I’ll pick Maverick up and bring him tomorrow. Tonight he’ll stay blissfully unaware that anything’s wrong, yeah?” She nodded, her face contorting in pain. “How bad?”
“Bad, but…” she said, and pressed the button for the pain pump, quickly falling asleep.
