My heart starts to pound in my chest. For the first time, I can see light ahead of me.
“Babe?” Badger says. His voice sounds so close.
Come on, eyes, open. Let me see him. Ever so slowly, my eyes begin to open only to flutter closed. The brightness of the room is too much.
“Gadget, flick the light switch,” Badger says. “Come on, Honey, open those eyes for me.” He’s cupping one side of my face. I can’t help but lean into his touch. It’s soothing.
Finally, I open my eyes and I’m met with the most gorgeous hazel eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re the same eyes I’ve thought about since the first time I walked right into him.
“Hey, Honey,” I croak due to my mouth being so dry.
“Here, drink some water,” he says, turning toward the table behind him to grab the cup sitting there waiting for me.
I take a few sips, knowing better than to suck it down like I want to. I don’t need to embarrass myself further by puking in front of this man.
“Thank you,” I say quietly when he pulls the cup away and puts it back on the table.
“Nothing to thank me for, Honey,” Badger murmurs.
“I’m gonna go let them know you're awake. I’m glad you’re awake, deirfiúr,” Gadget says, leaning over me to kiss my forehead.
A growl coming from the other side of me causes me to jump. “Brother, you can quit that shit with me. She’s my fuckin’ sister.” Gadget laughs as he shakes his head at Badger.
As my brother leaves the room, leaving me alone with Badger, I’m not sure what to say. Glancing at him, I don’t get a chance before he has his lips against mine.
Oh my, I really have died and gone to heaven.
Chapter Nine
Badger
The last month has been fuckin’ torture watching the woman who captured my heart without even meaning to lay in that bed.
Honestly, thought I’d never see her open those eyes again. The doctor kept saying Jordan would wake up when she was ready. That her body had to heal.
I refused to leave her the entire time, not wanting to chance her waking up and me not being here. The night I found her lying in a heap is still too fresh in my head. Every time I close my eyes, I see Jordan lying there ready to die. Then she technically did in the car on the way to the hospital, only I was able to breathe life back into her body so there was a chance the doctor could save her.
Never again do I want to have to do that. Since the doctor came and informed all of us of everything, I’ve sat here talking to her when no one else was in the room. I shared secrets with her I’ve kept buried deep within me. Not even my dad or Bear know about those.
I even told her how I finally was able to escape my mom’s hold when Bear let Momma B loose on her. From what my dad and everyone else told me, they knew something wasn’t right when one day Bear noticed the fear in my eyes at the mention of my mom. He’d gone to my dad, told him about it. My dad turned around and asked them to get me away from her. Which finally happened on my eleventh birthday.
That was the worst yet best day of my life. Worst being my mom took it all too far, bringing others into what she was already doing. The best because the Devil’s Riot MC took me away from the life of fear, giving me a chance to start over.
I’ve always had a hard time trusting the women around me, even Momma B for the longest time. Until Kenny, I kept women at a distance. Kenny refused to allow me to do so with her. She became one of my best friends, though I think she more or less liked to torture me by making me go shopping with them when they all went. But she never let me go into my head when she was around.
Kenny even came down here to check on Jordan and I both. She sat with me for a long time, just sitting in silence, waiting for me to open up. That’s the thing about Kenny— she can go either way depending on her mood. If she wants to know something, she makes it happen. So, I told her about my feelings toward Jordan and my fears, though I left out all things about my mom. She doesn’t need to know any of that. No one needs to know besides the ones who already do.
Today was no exception for sitting here waiting on Jordan to wake up. Though the difference was I kept noticing her fingers twitch or her head move the slightest amount. I didn’t say anything to the nurses because I was tired of their usual answers.
Then it happened— she finally opened her eyes. I couldn’t take it anymore, so when Gadget left the room, I kissed her.
The jolts that sent waves of shock through my body were liberating. I should have known sparks would fly between us. I’ve heard stories of what it feels like to find your other half. Shit, I even witnessed it happen between my brothers and their ol’ ladies.
Pulling away from Jordan’s lips, I leaned my forehead against hers. “You scared the shit out of me,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry,” Jordan murmurs.
“Don’t apologize, babe. Never apologize for something you didn’t do. None of this shit is on you,” I mutter a little harsher than I mean to.
“But . . . ” I cut her protest off by taking her mouth once more. This is something I could get used to. I’ve never kissed a woman before. Not like this.
Lifting my head from her lips once more, I hold her gaze as I say, “You and I are just beginning what I intend to be our forever. It took you dying in my arms for me to get my shit together, I’m not backing down on this. I want you to be my everything. And just so you know, I’ve already claimed you in front of not only my club but the Emerald Isle MC as well.”
With each word, Jordan’s eyes widen to the point I thought they’d pop out. By the time I finish, her jaw just about drops.
“Did you just say Emerald Isle MC? My cousin was here? Where is she? I thought she was . . . ” Her voice trails off as she shakes her head.
“Thought she was what, Honey?” I ask, brushing the hair away from her face.
“Nothing. She couldn’t have been here. Did Timber or anyone else come by here?” Her voice quivers.
“Yeah, Timber was here, and I’ll say now that if I were a lesser man, I’d have run the other way in the face of that club. They rival our own, from the stories I’ve heard. It true the Prez’s ol’ lady was held captive by another club?” I ask, lifting a brow.
“Umm, I’m not sure. I don’t usually get to hang around the club. It’s mainly my cousin and Timber when I get the chance to go down there.” She diverts her eyes as she answers my question. I’m sure she knows more than she’s letting on, but I won’t hold that against her. I’d never hold anything about her past against her. If and when she’s ready to talk, I’ll make sure she can always come to me.
“Honey, I’m not gonna force you into talking about anything, so don’t think you can’t just tell me. Your days with that sick fuck are over. I told you I’d protect you from the monsters and I stand by that. Got me?” Cupping her cheek, I make sure I have her eyes on mine when I finish talking. I need her to get that I mean every damn word coming out of my mouth.
“Why do you keep calling me ‘honey’?” Jordan asks, her brows furrowed.
“Well, I’ve already told you that, but since I guess you don’t remember, I’ll tell you again,” Smirking, I sit on the edge of the bed facing her. “My road name is Badger because I love honey. So, since I love honey so much, what better name to give the woman who stole my heart?”