Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Annabell

SEEING DOMINIC FIRE his gun started things moving in slow motion. I watch the bullet hit Alex' body before he slowly starts falling to the floor in front of me. A scream erupts from me and I can't seem to stop myself from doing it as I watch a man I've lost so much time with fall in front of me. While he's falling to the floor, I manage to grab the gun from his back. Without hesitation or thought, I point his gun at the three stupid fuckers in front of me and pull the trigger hitting each of them in the head. My only thought is Alex and making sure he's okay and not going to leave Valor and me. I don't think either one of us will survive this world without him. Valor might be able to, but I know I won't be able to because Alex is the man I want to live my life with at my side. We've already been through so fucking much and I don't honestly know how much more the two of us can take.

"I love you so much, Angel," Alex tells me, his voice weak and hoarse as his face scrunches up with the pain filling him.

"I love you, Alex. You're not gonna leave me today. I need you to stay with me. Please," I plead with him, leaning over and pressing my lips to his as Alex' eyes slide closed. My tears hit his cheek and roll down the side of his face even though he doesn't seem to feel them touching his skin.

My heart breaks as I start to scream once more while pulling his head into my lap. I barely register the steps coming our way and then down the stairs into the basement or wherever we're being held. A hand falls to my shoulder and I look up to find my dad, Playboy, Tank, Valor, Chrome, and so many others standing in the room around us. They're blocking my view of the men I killed. Valor reaches down as if he's going to touch Alex and I smack his hand away. He looks down at me in shock and the room goes completely silent.

"Baby girl, we gotta get him out of here so he can get medical attention. Vault needs to be taken to the hospital before he loses too much blood," my dad says, his voice soft and gentle as he crouches down next to me and tries to distract me from Valor taking his brother from me.

"No!" I scream, my voice breaking as I hold Alex tighter to me.

Rationally I know we have to get him out of here and to the hospital so he can get the medical attention he needs. I can't let go of him though. In my mind, if I let him go, he'll leave me and I won't see him again. The fear filling me is overwhelming and I find myself unable to breathe or anything else.

"Breathe with me, Pretty Girl," Valor says, getting down on my other side and looking at me without attempting to take his brother from my arms.

I breathe with Valor until everything comes into focus again. Tears still roll down my face and land on Alex' face and head as I hold him against me. His skin is starting to turn cold and his chest is hardly rising and falling with the shallow breaths he's taking. Alex isn't opening his eyes and that's all I want to see. I want to see his eyes and for him to tell me that he's okay. I can barely hear the words being said behind my back as I lower my eyes back to Alex instead of keeping them on Valor.

"It's my fault," I tell Valor, still not looking at him and only looking at the love of my life. "Alex was shot because of me. That man is the one I dated in college. A man who hurt me and I left behind because he put his hands on me. That's why he was after me. If Alex hadn't tried to save me when they took me from the clubhouse, this wouldn't have happened to him. If he hadn't pushed me behind him, I would've taken the bullet for him."

"That's exactly why my brother pushed you behind him, Pretty Girl. He knows that you'd do anythin' to protect him and you're doin' it even now by not lettin' any of us touch him after everythin' the two of you have been through. But, you need to let us take him, Annabell. The longer he stays here, the greater the chance that we'll lose him. I'm not ready to lose my brother, Pretty Girl. And I know you're not ready to lose him either. So, let me take my brother and get him the help he needs," Valor says, his voice pleading with me as I look down at Alex again while more tears continue to fall and I know that I have to let him go. "Chrome and I will be the ones to carry him up and load him in one of the SUVs. You can ride with him. I promise you that, Annabell. No one else will touch him and you can hold him again in just a minute."

I look up at my dad and he nods his head at me. Turning back to Valor, I nod for him to grab Alex from me. Chrome steps up and grabs his legs while Valor takes his upper body in his arms. Both men move slow through the room and up the stairs until they disappear from sight. My dad helps me off the floor and Playboy slips his shirt over my naked body. They soon usher me through the room and up the stairs. I don't pay attention to anything as I'm led through the rundown house we were being held in. This place is fucking disgusting and I'm glad Alex is out so he doesn't run a higher risk of getting an infection from the nastiness of the house or basement.

My dad and Playboy lead me to the SUV they're loading Alex in. Tank doesn't leave our back. I know he's watching everything around us so nothing more happens before we can leave here. It's what he always does and nothing will ever change that about him. Valor and Chrome get Alex loaded in the backseat of the SUV and hold his head up so I can slide under him on the seat. Chrome gently places his head back in my lap and I place a hand on his cheek while the other one rests on his chest so I can feel his heartbeat. It's very slow and weak as I keep my eyes on Alex. Everything else fades into the background and I don't pay attention to anything else but him.

Two people climb in the front of the SUV and we're off. I know whoever's driving is speeding away from this hell that we were kept in. I've got so many questions to ask, but now isn't the time. Right now, all of my attention has to be on Alex as I lean over him and begin to talk to him as if he's awake and listening to me. I tell him about the future I want to have with him, how much I love him, what I've done over the last few years when we've been separated, and anything else I can think of. I also talk to him about going to Hound's grave and making sure he always had fresh flowers and that I'd sit and talk to him for a while before I left him again. Lastly, I pray to anyone that will listen that Alex comes back to us. I tell him to fight for us so I don't have to learn to live without him once again.

"We're almost to the hospital, Pretty Girl. Things are gonna move fast when we pull up. I've already called to let them know we're on our way. You're gonna have to let them take Alex and give him the help he needs. Can you do that for him?" Valor asks me, his voice soft as he turns and rests a hand on Alex' arm so he's touching some part of his brother.

"I can do that," I whisper in response, my voice breaking again as I keep my eyes locked on Alex and looking for any sign that he's going to wake up and tell us he's okay. There's nothing.

The second Chrome pulls up to the hospital, everything happens quicker than I can blink. Still, I don't take my eyes off of Alex as he's loaded on a gurney and then rushed away from us. Valor takes my hand and leads me in the hospital. Instead of following Alex as they take him through a set of double doors, he leads me to a seat off to the side before going to talk to the lady at the desk. I don't look at anyone else around me as my eyes lock on the door Alex went through. Even when I'm surrounded by my family and the Nomads, I don't remove my eyes from that door. Nothing is more important than finding out Alex is okay and that he'll be fine. Until I hear those words from a doctor and see him with my own eyes, I'm never going to stop waiting for him to open his eyes and look at me with all the love filling him.

We've all been moved to a surgical waiting room. None of us know what's going on other than Alex was rushed into surgery and that we're now waiting for any news about his condition. Valor is sitting with Chrome and my dad, Playboy, and Tank haven't left my side as I stand and pace the room we're in. Thankfully, we're the only ones in here and no one is staring at me any longer. I'm covered in Alex' blood and only wearing my brother's tee-shirt. Playboy's only wearing his cut and jeans. I don't honestly give a fuck what anyone thinks of me, but the judgment was felt from everyone waiting downstairs the entire time we were there.

Valor got me a pair of scrubs to change into and I have yet to get cleaned up and changed. They've all tried to get me to change and get looked at by a doctor. I've refused everything because the need to know what's going on with Alex means more than anything else. If I miss the doctor coming out, I'll never forgive myself. Even though they were expecting him to be in surgery for a while since they really don't know what's going on with him at this point. The doctors didn't want to wait and have him lose even more blood than what he's already lost. That's about all we found out before the doctor disappeared behind those same doors Alex went through previously.

"Baby girl, there's still plenty of time. Can one of us take you in to help you get cleaned up? Then you can change and come back out to wait with us," my dad asks me, his voice pulling me from my head as I relive every moment I've ever spent with Alex from the second I first met him.

"No. If I miss the doctor coming out to talk to us, I'll be upset and not know what was said for myself," I tell him, continuing to pace back and forth in the room as everyone remains silent as we all wait for any word on his condition and what's going on.

"Sis, I promise you that the doctor won't say a word until you're here. Valor will make sure of it," Playboy says as Valor steps up and walks over to us.

"Please, Pretty Girl. Go get cleaned up and changed. I'll keep the doctor here and make sure he doesn't say a word until you're back. There's a bathroom right in this waitin' room so you won't even have to leave. The door can be left open until you change," Valor says, trying to get me to change my mind as I finally stop moving and look at the four men standing in front of me.

Taking a deep breath, I know they're right and I should clean the blood from my body. It's doing nothing but giving me a reminder of what just happened. I mean, it's not like I'm going to forget watching Alex take a bullet anytime soon. Maybe I should clean my body off and make sure that I don't have any wounds. I mean, I'm the one who cut up those fuckers, but it doesn't mean that I didn't accidentally nick myself or something while I was going after them.

"We need to talk about what happened too, Baby Girl," my dad says as Valor walks me to the bathroom and leaves the door open while he grabs a ton of paper towels.

The other three men follow us and stand guard in front of the door as I remove Playboy's shirt and set it on the counter in front of us. No, I don't want to be mostly naked in front of Valor, but Alex' blood has soaked through the shirt and is making it stick to my body. If I'm going to get cleaned up, the shirt has to come off. Valor doesn't look at my body in any other way as he wets the paper towels and cleans off my body the best he can with them. I'm numb as Valor cleans me up and then leaves the room so I can put the scrubs on. As soon as I'm dressed again, I look in the mirror and realize my mistake. I'm a fucking mess and there's no way in hell people aren't going to realize something bad has happened to me.

Walking back to the waiting room, I get surrounded by my family and the Nomads. I know they want me to tell them what happened, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk about that or not. I just stopped crying and I know I'm going to start all over again.

"Baby Girl, we really need to know what happened and if there are other fuckers out there we should be lookin' for," my dad says, getting me to finally sit in the chair Valor was in before he helped me.

"I know," I state, my voice cold and robotic as I take a deep breath and look at the floor in front of me. "I decided to clean my car after working in the office on the paperwork for a long time. I haven't cleaned the car since moving to Pine View and it needed it. I'm not sure how long I was out there before I heard a commotion at the gate. Looking over, I saw a white van there and the doors were opening as three men got out. They all had guns and Martin was talking to them about something. It wasn't until they pointed their guns at me that he relented and opened the gate up.

"It all happened so fast. The men rushed me and pulled me from the car. I was fighting to get away from them when Alex showed up and he took out the three men who originally got out of the van. Before we could head for the clubhouse, three more men got out and got Alex. We were shoved in the van and he took me in his arms despite hurting his shoulder again. He landed on it and I know it was killing him. We weren't on the road that long before one of the guys hit us with a pipe. When I woke up, I was tied to a bed wearing only my bra and panties. Alex was chained to a chair and they'd already beaten him. He was covered in blood and bruises. I couldn't do anything to help him right then. But, I worked and worked until I got my wrists free," I tell the men as all of their eyes drop to my wrists and take in the injury I caused myself when I was trying to get free.

"It's okay, Annabell. You're doin' a really good job," Tank says, crouching down in front of me. "Keep goin' and tell us everythin' you remember."

"Two of the men came in and, um, they started touching me all over my body. I didn't want them to and I froze. Alex was yelling at them the entire time. Eventually, I passed out from the pain in my head and just because I needed to get away from the assholes touching me. It brought me back to that night when I first met you all. When I woke up, Alex told me they didn't rape me or anything like that. He wouldn't tell me everything they said, but I know it wasn't good. I've learned to read between the lines over the years. Anyway, I finally got myself free, but Alex was passed out. When he woke back up, I got him loose. By then, I had two of his knives and he still had his gun.

"The guys came back down and realized we were free. I went off on them because they had the dumbest plan for you guys to kill Dominic and let them walk away free. Something about telling you they found us and then they could take over all of Dominic's business. I ended up attacking both of them with Alex' knives and then stepped back. Dominic showed up and came down then. He went off on the guys for me getting the better of them before they all pulled their guns. Alex shoved me behind his back. When the shot rang out, he was hit and I grabbed the gun from his back as he went down. I didn't hesitate to kill all three men. Dominic was going to try to keep me with him because he said I was his and only his," I tell them, tears spilling over again as my voice breaks and I'm flooded by the thought of Alex in surgery because of me. "If I stayed in Benton Falls, this wouldn't be happening right now. Alex would be okay and living his best life."

"No, he wouldn't, Pretty Girl. He's been fuckin' miserable because he wants you at his side and has since the day we left Benton Falls. Vault has been workin' his ass off to make himself into a man you'll be proud to call yours. We would've fought Dominic one way or another because he's been floodin' our city with drugs. This has nothin' to do with you and the past you have with Dominic," Valor says as the door of the waiting room opens and a doctor steps through the door.

I want to collapse to the floor as I take in his scrubs covered in blood that I know is Alex'. He looks around the room as Valor grabs my hand and pulls me forward with him. We stand in front of the doctor and wait for him to let us know what's going on with Alex and how he's doing.

"Mr. Stone got very lucky. The bullet missed everything but his spleen. We've removed that and made sure that there's no further bleeding internally. Mr. Stone will be in the hospital for up to a week so we can make sure no infection sets in. He's on antibiotics as a preventative measure right now and we'll continue to give them to him while he's here. At this point he doesn't need a blood transfusion, but we'll be keeping a close eye on him. If he has to have one, we'll make sure he gets it done immediately. His shoulder was dislocated and we put that back in place and it's in a sling now," the doctor informs us, his voice kind of detached as he relays the information about Alex to us. He says more, but the words don't register as I focus on the fact that he's going to be okay.

"When can we see him?" Valor questions the doctor as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

"He's in recovery right now. We've got his room waiting for him. Two of you can go in and see him at a time. Right now it's crucial that he rests and gets as much sleep as he possibly can. I don't want him upset or anything else when you go in to see him," the doctor states, angering me because he's definitely judging us because the men surrounding me are bikers.

"We aren't going to do anything that will hurt my man while he's recovering. I can guarantee you, we're more civil and disciplined than most other people you have coming in here to visit patients. Don't let a fucking cut and your lack of knowledge cloud your judgment. One of these days you'll need these men for one reason or another and I hope they're there for you despite you being a fucking asshole right now," I snap, my voice hard and cold as I look away from the doctor and let the tears I've been holding back the last few minutes fall.

"I'm sorry. I'll send a nurse in to take two of you to his room when we know how long he'll be in recovery," the doctor says before leaving the waiting room and Valor's hold on me tightens as my dad puts a hand on my back in comfort.

Pulling away from all of them, I sink to the floor and bury my head in my knees. Someone else sits by me and doesn't say a word to me as they let me cry with the knowledge that Alex is okay and going to make it. He'll be back to himself sooner or later and riding his bike again. Relief floods me and I have no clue how to handle everything flooding my system. I'm completely overwhelmed and ready to break.

"I've got you, Annabell," Tank says, pulling me into his arms as I completely break down in the waiting room. "Let it out, sweetheart. Don't hold this shit in. We're all here for ya."

It doesn't take long before I'm surrounded by the men of the Phantom Bastards. They shield me from anyone getting a look at me while I lay in Tank's arms and cry and shake uncontrollably. I lose all track of time, not that I've really had it since the second we were taken from the clubhouse parking lot. No one says a word as they let me cry. A hand rubs up and down my back and I instinctively know it's Valor. He's giving me comfort when I should be comforting him. Valor should be pissed as fuck that I'm the reason his brother was just rushed to surgery and got shot. Instead, he's comforting me and has taken care of me since the second they found us. I love this family and I'm so thankful that they found me that night so many years ago.