26. Manny

26

MANNY

I don’t know where I am, but I feel so much love around me. I see my girl and Bandit embracing, Hustler and Audrina sitting together, their heads low. Cash and Deanna hug; for some reason Deanna is crying. So is Stella. What happened to make Stella cry? Everyone is so somber. Did somebody die?

“Emmanuel?” I turn at the sound of a familiar voice.

Shocked when I see my grandmother, I know I must be dreaming. I scrub my eyes, trying to see if this really is a dream.

“Maw-maw?”

She smiles, cupping my face. “My little angel, I’ve missed you.”

“Wait? What am I doing here?”

Her smile fades. “You’re in the hospital, my darling, but don’t you worry, everything is going to be fine.”

“Why is everyone crying? Why am I here?”

Her eyes crinkle. She’s exactly how I remember her; small, sweet, her blue eyes like the ocean. “You were shot, honey. Everyone loves you so much, can’t you see?”

I glance back to the scene, realizing they’re all in a waiting room. Nobody is speaking and every time someone comes out of the double doors, everyone looks up. “They’re here for me?”

Grandma tsks. “Of course they’re here for you. Who else would they be here for?”

I frown. “Am I dying?”

She squeezes my cheeks with her hands, just like she used to do when I was a child. “No, my precious Emmanuel, it’s not your time.”

I stare at her, taking in every single moment. “I miss you and I think about you all the time.”

She grins. “I know because I hear your prayers, and whenever you feel that love flowing back to you, know that it’s me telling you that I miss you, too. I’m proud of you. I always knew you’d make something of yourself. Life hasn’t given you an easy route, my boy, but you’ve fought your way through it, and you’ll fight through this, too.”

“What’s it like?” I ask her. “Where you are?”

She smiles again. “It’s peaceful. It’s everything you’d imagine. I know you worry about me, but don’t do that, you have a life to live. I’m always here, watching over you.”

“Can I stay?”

She shakes her head. “Not this time, Emmanuel. You have so much more to do.” She starts to fade and I reach for her.

“No, Maw Maw! Don’t go, please!”

She blows me a kiss. “I’ll send you signs, just like I always do.”

“Wait? What? What signs?” I panic, needing to hear her say the words.

“Open your mind and your heart even more. You’ll feel it, just like when you’re baking and can’t get that caramel right. You’re overheating the mixture, and you keep stirring the caramel instead of tilting the pot.”

“Maw maw!”

“I love you.”

Tears fill my eyes as I watch her fade away. “I love you. Please don’t go!”

A jolt tips me over and I’m falling. I hit something hard, but it doesn’t hurt. I hear voices all around me.

“Clear! Come on, man.”

Oh, shit. Maybe Grandma was wrong? They’re pumping on my chest. I jolt. Well, this is no picnic. So much for being completely unconscious.

“Not losing you today, buddy,” says another voice. “Clear!” I jolt again.

“Got a rhythm,” says the first voice. “That’s it, stay with me.”

“He’s stabilizing,” comes another.

Someone else starts barking orders and I drift off, giving in to the darkness as it sweeps me under once more.

“He looks too pale,” Lace says. “When will he wake up?”

“He suffered severe internal trauma and blood loss,” someone says. “He’s gonna need recovery time, but he should be waking up soon.”

“But he’s stable, right?” Bandit, I’m sure that’s Bandit.

“He’s through the worst of it.”

I try to open my eyes, but they feel so heavy. My throat hurts and I try to move.

“Oh my God, Manny!” I can feel Lace touch my arm, but my eyes struggle to open. My beautiful girl. “Can you hear me?”

“Yeah,” I croak.

“Get a nurse!” Someone calls. “He’s awake!”

I wince. “My chest.”

“Does it hurt?” Lace asks. “He needs more pain meds. Someone give him something.”

“Let the doctor see him,” I’m sure that’s Riot, but I can’t be sure. The last time I heard his voice, he was yelling at us.

I crack an eye open, and my vision is blurry.

“That’s it, easy tiger,” a male voice I don’t know says, and I feel the pain in my chest subside. “Do you know where you are?”

“The hospital,” I groan.

“Very good, and do you remember what happened?”

I cough, I need water. “I got shot.”

“Doc, is he gonna be okay?” Bandit sounds frantic.

“I’ll give you the same answer I gave you a few minutes ago, he needs to rest and recover. Y’all have five minutes, then I’m kicking every one of you out. I don’t care if you’re the NOLA Rebels MC.” Everyone goes quiet, and I hear the door close. A few murmurs sound around the room, and I wonder just how many of them are in here.

Lace comes into focus. “Baby girl?” I whisper.

“Oh God, Manny!” She folds herself into my arms. “You scared us!”

“Careful!” Riot scolds. “He’s got a million tubes comin’ out of him. Don’t go pullin’ one out or squashin’ his chest.”

“I’m not squashing him!” Lace retorts, then her tone softens as she sits on the bed next to me. “How do you feel?”

“Like an elephant sat on my chest.”

Tears roll down her face and I want to wipe them away, but I can’t. “I told you I was gonna do everything to protect you. Where’s Bandit?”

“I’m right here.”

I turn, and Bandit’s hand is slipping into mine. “We’re all here, couldn’t keep anyone out, even Tag.”

I chuckle, but then cough, and that hurts even more.

“The doc says you have to rest. We lost you for a few minutes on the operating table,” Lace whispers. “There were some complications. The bullet missed major arteries, but there was internal bleeding. Your heart stopped…”

I feel Bandit reach across to hold her hand in his. “It’s okay, Lacey. We always knew he’d come back to us. Nobody’s keepin’ him down.”

“Got that right.”

“Shep?” I cough. “Is that you?”

Shep’s towering figure looms over the foot of the bed as he smiles softly. “You don’t have to resort to these measures just to get my attention, buddy.”

“I’ll remember that next time,” I say.

He palms the back of his head, his smile fading. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I didn’t mean to,” I start.

“The sniper was after me,” Lace says. “Manny saved my life.”

I know Shep’s going to need answers, but that isn’t today. And none of this is anybody’s fault, even Riot’s. Shade is psychotic. Nobody could’ve predicted what her next move would be. To come back to New Orleans and take a shot in the middle of the day was brazen, to say the least.

“I’d do it again, in a heartbeat,” I say.

She kisses me on the lips and rests her head in the crook of my shoulder. “I love you, Manny. Please don’t leave us again.”

I like how she keeps saying us.

“Yeah, about that?” Shep begins, and I know where this is going. “You never told me you were datin’ two people at once, asshole.”

I smile. “Who said anything about dating?” I’m sure it’s Riot who groans, but it’s not like I’m gonna get punched in the face while I’m half dead in a hospital bed. I still feel the need to add, “Sorry, Riot.”

“Just get better so I can kick your ass,” he says.

Cash is next, moving to stand next to Lace. “Gave us quite a scare,” he says. “Proud of you for what you did. I’m sorry we weren’t better informed to prevent this from happenin’. Shade lived up to her name and lived in the shadows.”

“It’s okay,” I say. “Nobody is responsible for this aside from her. She made her bed… speaking of which, is she…”

“She’s dead,” Cash says. “We won’t have to worry about her anymore, and the doc’s right, you need to rest. We can come back in the morning.”

“I’m staying,” Lace says.

“Me, too,” Bandit counters.

“You too,” Cash mutters. “Fuck’s sake.”

“Please,” Lace begs. “He’s gonna go to sleep again soon and he’ll wake up and won’t know where he is.”

“You gonna climb in here with me?” I joke.

Riot groans again. “Can we just hold off on the sexual references, please?”

I blink, and behind him, I see all of the Rebels. They’re here, every single one of them. “You all came here to see little old me?”

“Not like we’re gonna leave you to fend for yourself,” Tag grunts.

“Plus, we need you to recover and heal so you can get back to what you do best,” Ryder adds.

“What’s that, shaking my ass?” I muse.

“Ugh, I can see a bullet has done nothing for his sense of humor,” Rock groans.

“Dad?” Stella’s voice rings through the room. “Please, can I see him?”

“You kept all my honey’s out?” I groan. “So not fair.”

“Hey,” Lace’s tone fakes annoyance. “I thought I was your only honey?”

I smile up at her. “You are, but I gotta keep the girls on my side for when the boys need remindin’ of their place sometimes.”

“Is that right?” Cash cocks a brow.

I grin. “Yep. Gotta get all the sympathy I can muster.”

“I’m so sorry,” Lace starts again, but Stella pushing her way through the room has everyone turning.

“Manny, oh God, you’re awake!” Bandit moves so she can slide onto the bed next to me. “You look like shit.”

I chuckle, causing another pain to my chest, and she winces. “You gonna help Priest and Bella out by feeding everyone while I’m recuperating?”

She presses a palm to my face. “Of course. I can’t say it’ll be edible, but still.”

“Eggs on toast ain’t that hard,” Bandit snickers.

I move my eyes to his. He looks wretched, like he hasn’t slept in days. “You serve that in my kitchen and I’ll spank both your asses when I’m out.”

Stella laughs.

“I’m out,” Riot says, shaking his head as he walks away.

Lace leans down to kiss me. “You need to rest, okay?”

“Don’t go.” I panic. “I saw my maw-maw, while I was over there.”

“Over where?” Stella whispers. “The other side?”

“Yeah, it was weird, but really cool. She told me what I was doin’ wrong with the caramel.”

I sound earnest enough, but I hear a few snickers around the room. “Laugh all you want, but I’ll remember that when the time comes to taste test.”

“I think he’s gonna be fine, if that mouth is anything to go by,” Tag says loudly.

“So glad you’re okay, bud,” Jett pipes up. “Gave us a scare.”

“Nothing’s gonna keep me down, well, unless anyone else fires a bullet at me,” I quip.

“That is so not funny.” Stella shakes her head.

“Okay, time to rest, everyone out,” Cash orders.

Stella kisses me on the cheek and everyone files out.

“You two,” Cash barks. “Two more minutes.”

“But we’re gonna stay…” Lace starts.

“Shep’s organized somethin’ with a private room, not what you know around here, so no arguin’, the man needs to recover. He doesn’t need the two of you mopin’ around here like two lost puppies.”

Lace sniffs and I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. “Nice goin’, Prez. When I’m done recoverin’, surely I should get another patch, kinda like they do in Boy Scouts when you complete tasks.”

He shakes his head. “Your only task here is to keep on breathin’, son.” He gives me a chin lift. “Nothin’ and nobody is gonna rip this club apart.”

“Ride or die,” I say as he smirks.

Cash leaves, and the minute he does, Bandit leans down to press a kiss to my lips.

“Fuck, scared the shit out of us,” he says.

“Miss me that bad?” I smirk.

“You’ve no clue how it felt seein’ them cart you off into that ambulance.” He shakes his head. “Scared the shit out of all of us. Never, ever wanna see somethin’ like that again.”

“Can’t have our girl injured,” I say, looking at our beautiful Lace, who lifts her head from my shoulder.

“I love you, Manny,” she whispers.

“Love you, too.” My eyes flick to Bandit. “Not sure about you, though.”

He cocks his head. “I’ll bet I can change your mind about that.”

“You think?”

“I know.”

I grin. He may not be ready to say it, but I am. “I love so many things about the two of you. Maw-Maw reminded me about how much I have to live for.”

“And you do.” Bandit’s eyes are earnest. “We have so much more to do.”

“What about Eli? What will we tell him?” I breathe.

Bandit shrugs. “Well, it’s early days yet because none of us have even been on a date, but when the time comes, we explain that Daddy’s in love, and you can’t choose who you love.” He stares at me. I think that’s as close as I’m gonna get, and I’m okay with it. “You can’t put a limit on it or a lid, and I’m okay with that. Love is love and we’ve nothing to be ashamed of.”

I cough. “I thought we were just gang banging.”

Lace laughs. “Manny, oh God, we can’t take you anywhere.”

“I think he’s well on the way to recovery,” Bandit laughs.

With the two of them by my side? Nothing could be any truer.

Four weeks later

“It’s healing nicely,” Lace tells me, her eyes hopeful. “How do you feel?”

“I’m sad to say my gym days are over,” I sigh. “But if you’re okay with a dad bod, then that’s good with me.”

She laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck as we kiss. It’s been a slow recovery, unfortunately. I was lucky in the sense that I didn’t have any major internal damage. The bullet was lodged in my upper chest, closer to the shoulder. I’m a lucky son of a bitch, an inch or so lower, and it would’ve been lights out. I don’t like not being able to work. Cooking is my life, and I’ve had to make adjustments in my healing, including no sex. I cracked a couple of ribs going down in the fall, so that’s been no picnic either.

“I’m okay with that.” She presses her lips to mine.

“You guys know when you start without me, I get cranky,” Bandit says from the doorway.

A slow grin spreads across my face. “You finally made it?”

“Hey, I’ve been busy. The clubhouse is a mess since you’ve been away.”

“Do not tell me anyone’s been in my kitchen messing it up. I’m back to work next week,” I sigh.

“It’ll be fine,” Lace soothes. “Nobody has been doing anything to your kitchen.”

Her hand wanders over my chest and I freeze when she places her hand over my heart, and her fingers brush my scar. “We have matching scars now,” she whispers.

I stare at her beautiful face. “We do, and no, that doesn’t mean it’s Bandit’s turn for a bullet,” I say, before he can get a word in.

“Wasn’t plannin’ on it.” He moves toward the bed, leaning down to kiss Lace, then me. His lips are soft, but his scruff scrapes my skin. I feel the tingle all over. “I was plannin’ on somethin’ else, though.”

My heart races in my chest. “Yeah?”

“Uh, huh.”

Lace giggles. “We’re dying to give you a little TLC, right, babe?”

“Right.” Bandit grins. “But you can tap out anytime you wan?—”

I hold up a hand. “I’m not an invalid,” I sigh. In truth, the two of them have molly-coddled me within an inch of my life. If it isn’t them, it’s Deanna, Summer, Stella or Indi, or someone from the club making sure I’m not bored out of my brain or trying to overdo it. The amount of love and appreciation I’ve felt over this last month has been heartwarming.

“We know that, but if you feel the need to stop, or your chest hurts...” Lace starts.

“I know, I know. I’ll use the ridiculous mushroom, candy corn, and french fries.” I can’t resist an eye roll.

“If you weren’t still technically in recovery, I’d spank that ass,” Bandit warns.

“Ooh, you sure you wanna awaken that beast, tiger?” I smirk, leaning up as I kiss him and he grips my chin in that way he does and our tongues meet. My dick, already at half mast, springs to life. I turn my head, my lips finding Lace’s as she joins in. Then Bandit kisses her, too, and it’s one big love fest.

“So horny for you,” Lace whimpers. They’ve been torturing me by having sex in front of me. Well, it was my idea. I couldn’t even jerk off, but Lace and Bandit took turns sucking me off so I could get relief. It was so hot. Her hand snakes down my body and into my briefs. “Someone’s already getting hard.”

My tongue is in her mouth as she gasps, my hand squeezing her breast in her little sleep top as I pinch her nipple and she yelps. Bandit kisses my neck, his hand joining Lace’s as they both fondle my dick and I groan, already feeling the pre-cum at my tip.

Bandit shifts, tugging his shirt off. His jeans are already loose but not off, and I want them both naked. As if reading my mind, he drops his jeans and his boxer briefs and stands at the side of the bed, watching Lace’s hand move inside my briefs as he strokes himself.

“Been thinkin’ about this for a long time,” he drawls. “Haven’t we, baby?”

“Mmmhmm,” Lace coos, nipping my bottom lip with her teeth. I pull her satin tank down as her tit pops out and she rises to her knees so I can suckle. I’ve loved suckling her tits when I’m super needy, which is often, and Bandit loves to watch.

“Fuck,” Bandit hisses. He leans over the bed, tugging at Lace’s sleep shorts as she awkwardly maneuvers out of them. I break free long enough for her to remove her top, and then suckle her other tit.

“Such perfect tits,” I mutter.

Bandit turns her so she plops on her ass as she leans back, then spreads her legs as he moves up her body. She cries out when he parts her pussy lips and licks her center. “So sweet,” he murmurs.

He reaches for my cock and tugs it, palming it as I sit back and enjoy watching him eat Lace out and jackhammer my cock with his palm.

I spread my legs, too, wanting so much more. Lace is a vision as she cries out, orgasming quickly as Bandit lifts his head and grins up at us. Before I know it, he’s straddling over me, our lips meeting as I taste Lace’s sweetness on my tongue.

“Isn’t she perfect?” he mutters against my mouth, our dicks touching.

“Fuck, yeah.”

Bandit lowers his mouth to kiss my jaw, then my chest, hovering over my scar as he presses his lips against the raised skin. “You’re perfect, too.”

I groan, my dick kicking as Lace fingers her pussy, watching us. “You guys are so hot when you get it on.”

I laugh. “Get it on? I’m sure there’s a theme song in there somewhere.”

Bandit grunts, licking a path down to the hair below my navel, teasing me as he kisses the top of my thighs and doesn’t touch my cock.

“Touch it,” I whine.

“Brat,” he scolds. He cups my balls and I hiss. “So full for me.”

“Oh, boys,” Lace cries, her fingers inside herself as she watches us. Bandit’s eyes raise to her as he takes the tip of my cock into his mouth and I groan.

“You might need to get over here and help me.” Bandit licks my head like a lollipop and Lace explodes as we both watch her.

“I think she likes it,” I chuckle.

“I think she does,” he agrees, taking more of me as he groans. Lace grips my base as he pulls me out of his mouth. “Your dick is like heaven.”

His dirty words make me harder and almost send me over the edge. I want him to take me. I want to experience sex with him, but we’ve been patient, working up to that point until I was shot.

They take turns sucking my dick, and it’s too much. Seeing the two of them sucking me, then kissing and tonguing my cock, has me exploding. I can’t hold it as they both hold their mouths open and I empty my load between the two.

“Goddamn,” I pant. “I can safely say that was worth waiting for.”

Seeing them like this, all of us together, only makes my heart grow all that much bigger.

They smile, Bandit not even wiping my cum off his face. Jesus, it’s a vision.

All of us have grown even closer, without the sex, this past month, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Never again will I doubt anything we have. We can only grow stronger from this, and I’m here for it. Every single minute of each and every day.