Chapter Thirty One

Jagger talked to the police chief near the closed doorway in the waiting room of St. John's Hospital. Skye leaned against her dad, sitting in a chair in front of the wall of windows. As each hour passed, her anxiety grew.

When Dio arrived at the hospital, he was alive but unconscious. The doctor had already wheeled him into surgery in the time it took for her to get there. That was four hours ago. No one had come out to give her an update. Waiting was the hardest thing she'd ever done.

Beside her, her dad stiffened. She followed his gaze to the chief.

"What's wrong?" she whispered.

Her dad moved his head slightly in a negative motion but kept looking across the room.

"Dio's not in trouble, is he?" she whispered.

Her dad patted her knee. "Jagger will take care of him. Don't worry."

On the other side of her, Aunt Brooke leaned closer. "Gunshot wounds have to be reported. He's probably asking how it happened and who shot him."

Skye frowned. That would insinuate a crime had been committed, and they'd have to investigate Dio's part in the shooting. Not knowing what went down except that Havlin Motorcycle Club was hunting Los Li members, she felt Jagger wasn't telling the chief of police the truth.

Protective of Dio, she would've done the same.

Mariah walked in with two trays of coffee, followed by Brett, who carried more. Skye took one that was offered because she was tired of everyone telling her she needed to take care of herself. But her stomach wouldn't hold anything.

Mariah took the seat on the other side of Aunt Brooke. "Has the doctor come out yet?"

"Not yet." Aunt Brooke cupped her hands around the coffee. "Thanks for the drinks."

"My mom sent them. She wanted you to know that if you need drinks or food, call her, and she'll deliver them, so you don't have to leave Dio's side." Mariah motioned for Brett to sit by her.

The chief of police dipped his chin to the members of Havlin standing in the waiting room and left. Jagger approached them. When her dad stood, she stood. She needed to know what was happening with Dio.

Jagger reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "There will be no investigation."

She exhaled in relief. Having the police after him was the last thing Dio needed in his condition. Since she'd already heard the Havlin members took care of the Los Li members, she understood an unspoken crime was covered.

If "took care of" meant someone from Havlin had killed the Los Li members that shot and left Dio for dead, she was glad. She would've shot them herself for what they'd done to him.

The two swinging doors opened, and a man wearing green scrubs walked in, removing a mask. He gazed around the room, picking out Jagger.

Everyone waiting for news moved as one toward the doctor. Skye's dad tucked her under his arm and pushed his way to the front.

Jagger lifted his chin, motioning toward Skye. "That's his old lady."

"I'm Dr. Everett." He gazed around at all the bikers before settling on Skye.

Maybe because she was shaking.

Maybe because tears rolled down her cheeks.

Maybe because, at any moment, she felt like she was going to die if he gave her bad news.

"I removed the two bullets that ricocheted during..." The doctor swallowed heavily. "Target practice."

That was the story Jagger gave the hospital? Skye leaned forward, wanting the end results of the surgery. Was he okay? Was he alive?

"The entrance of the bullet in the back of his shoulder caused the most damage. I had to remove part of the scapular plate and replace it with a metal liner, and because it was knocked out of position, he'll need physical therapy to rebuild the muscle to hold it in place." The doctor removed his head covering and wrung it in his hands. "The other bullet entered low, behind his ear, missing the brain stem, and exiting high on the right side of his cranium. A very clean wound with only damage to his skull, which won't have any lasting effects. Right now, we're concerned with bleeding in his head and will be watching him for the next seventy-two hours."

Seventy-two hours? That meant he was alive .

"Will he be okay?" she asked.

The doctor's hands stopped moving. "As long as he makes it through the next couple of days with no hemorrhaging, he should have a full recovery."

She grabbed onto her dad, covering her mouth to contain the sobs of relief. The rollercoaster ride of thinking he was dead, thinking she lost him, thinking she couldn't save him, thinking that she'd never get to tell him she loved him again broke her.

"The anesthesia is wearing off and the nurses are getting him ready to transport him to his room. Once he can have visitors..." He gazed at the bikers. "He can have two-three visitors at a time. Let me remind you that the next couple of days are paramount to his recovery."

She nodded insistently. Nobody would hurt him. She would make sure of it.

Dr. Everett dipped his chin and left through the swinging doors. Skye hugged herself, unable to stop the shakes, abusing her.

"He's going to be fine, honey." Aunt Brooke hugged her.

Mariah joined the hug. "You saved him."

Her dad pulled her to his chest. She let his strong arms cocoon her.

No, she was lucky that all her years of swimming gave her the confidence and calmness to think of a way to get him out of the marsh without panicking when the tide was coming in—because inside, she was an immature, totally-in-love, overstimulated, scaredy cat who now clung to her dad because she was afraid of losing Dio.

"He had so many injuries." She exhaled harshly, hurting for Dio. "Two bullets. He was shot two—"

Her dad squeezed her. "Remember what the doctor said. Dio was hurt when target practicing. The shots ricocheted and hit him."

She closed her mouth. That was a lie. Men had tried to kill him. But to tell the truth would mean the Havlin members would be held responsible for killing the men who shot Dio.

But she knew the truth.

Her dad, as if reading her mind, faced her, holding her by the shoulders. "It's what needed done. If you're going to love Dio, you must understand that he lives a hard life. That things within Havlin aren't always black and white. If you have trouble accepting—"

"I don't," she blurted.

"If you do, you talk to Dio, me, or your aunt." He kissed her forehead. "We're family."

She nodded, understanding her role better as Dio's old lady. It wasn't for her to question Dio or the club but to know that they would protect her, even taking a bullet for her—to the detriment of themselves.

The doors opened, and a nurse walked in. "Dio Fanta's family?"

She whirled around to the nurse standing at the swinging doors. "That's us."

"He's awake but very groggy. We've put him in his room to rest and give him time to wear off the good drugs, but..." The nurse smiled. "He's asking for Princess."

She stepped forward. "That's me. "

"I'll show you to his room." The nurse stepped through the door, holding it open. "Right now, only one person at a time can see him until normal visiting hours. Then, three people at a time can see him."

She nodded, hurrying beside Dio's nurse.

"Skye," yelled Dio, further down the corridor.

She walked faster, passing the nurse. "That's him."

"He's going to be a handful." The nurse laughed. "Go ahead. He's in Room 312."

She jogged past three rooms and found the door. Pushing it open, she slipped inside.

"Skye!"

She hurried to the bed, taking him all in. Shocked at his appearance, she couldn't open her mouth to say anything. The last time she'd seen him, she wasn't sure he was even alive.

Now, a white bandage covered his head. The hair that used to hang past his shoulders was gone and she suspected they shaved his head to treat the bullet wound. Half his face was colored yellow from the antiseptic used before surgery, and his leather vest was gone.

She dropped her gaze to his shoulder but couldn't see the damage under the white and blue gown. The change in him scared her. He looked vulnerable with his eyes closed as if lost to her.

"Princess?"

She took the two steps to his side, afraid of touching him and causing more pain. "I'm here. Right here by your side."

He blinked. She could see his vision adjusting as he went from a dream to reality .

"I'm..." He licked his dry lips. "Gonna spank your ass for risking your—" He groaned. "Life."

Tears fell. She wasn't sure how much he was aware of when they saved him at the marsh.

"You can do whatever you want to me. I'm just glad that you're alive." She sniffled. "You scared me."

"Didn't plan on this." He lifted his hand, but the IV tubing kept him from touching her. "Give me your hand."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Give me. Your hand."

She slipped her hand in his and cried out in relief when he squeezed her hand tightly. His strength did more for her than the doctor's speech. "The doctor said you were going to be fine. You're going to have to rest and—"

"I only need you." He tugged her hand. "Come here."

"I'm as close as I can get." She leaned against the bed rail. "You're not supposed to move."

"Get up on the bed with me."

"I can't."

"Skye?" He let go of her and patted the bed. "Where's the fucking button for the nurse?"

She put it in his hand. "You need to calm down."

The alarm went off. The nurse hurried in, looking at him and assessing the situation.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Fanta?" She turned off the call button.

"Put the railing down and let her get in bed with me. "

The nurse put her hand on his leg. "Oh, we can't—"

"She's my old lady. She either gets in my bed or I'll leave the fucking hospital." Dio grunted. "If you can't do it, get me someone who can."

Skye mouthed, "I'm sorry."

The nurse stepped beside her, put down the railing, and said, "If you hurt yourself, it could mean more days spent in the hospital."

Dio closed his eyes. "Come here, Skye."

"I shouldn't—"

"Now."

She walked around the bed, where he still had one arm free, gingerly put her hip on the mattress, and rolled to her side, facing him. His good arm went around her, and he exhaled heavily.

Underneath her cheek, his heart raced. Aware of the nurse watching, she laid perfectly still.

"Now, get out," said Dio.

The nurse tsked . "I'm glad my shift is over in an hour. Hopefully, tomorrow, you'll be in a better mood."

When they were alone, she closed her eyes, but the tears slipped out anyway. "I love you."

"But your arm around my stomach."

She hugged him to her. "Does that hurt?"

"Feels good." He inhaled deeply. "Love you most, princess. Thought I lost you there for a bit."

"Same," she murmured, holding him tightly.

"I'm gonna close my eyes for a few minutes," mumbled Dio. "Don't leave me."

She held him, knowing it would take the whole hospital to pry her away from him.