Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ghost

W ATCHING ALANA’S EYES close and her not responding to anything we yell or do kills me. Something deep in my soul breaks as tears roll down my face as Colton and I try to get her to wake back up until a hand lands on my shoulder and I look up to find my dad behind me. He looks down at Alana as Cage, Joker, and Pops drop down next to Colton and me so they’re close to their girl. They don’t try to wake her up as Pops rests his hand on her chest and I watch as his hand slowly moves up and down letting us know she’s still breathing. Still, I don’t stop the tears from falling down my face as I hold her hand gently while the sirens indicating the ambulance is close fill the silent air around us.

We were sitting in the clubhouse when Vault got the call from Playboy letting us know they found Alana. I jumped out of my seat so fucking fast and raced to the door of the clubhouse with Colton right behind me. We jumped in my truck and took off without hesitation or giving a fuck about anything anyone else had to say. Our only thought was getting to our girl and pulling her into our arms. Of holding her close and making sure she was okay. The only reason I even knew where to go is because King put up the map on one of the TVs and I studied it the entire time we were waiting for the call about whether our girl was there or not. I barely heard Vault and the others putting some kind of plan in place to go in and get her if she was there.

The second we pulled up, I barely had my truck in park before Colton and I were jumping out and racing deeper into the clearing where I could see a few men standing around. My vision was locked on Kyle where he was kneeling on the ground with Alana right next to him. The devastation in his eyes was hard to miss even from a distance. When my eyes finally landed on Alana, all the breath was sucked from my lungs and it felt as if I were drowning. Alana was covered in blood from her face down to her waist. Her wrists looked as if they were raw and her skin was hanging from some kind of torture. Even when I dropped next to her, Alana’s eyes were unfocused and I could hear how raspy her breathing was. Colton and I looked at one another before immediately turning our eyes back down to our girl.

We listened as she told us in a broken voice that she fought back against Terrence. Pride filled me hearing her assure us she didn’t freeze this time until her next words stopped my heart from beating. Telling us she killed him and doesn’t regret her decision even if she lives the rest of her life in prison. When she trailed off after saying ‘Daddy’, my heart once again stopped beating. I don’t give a fuck if I have to take the blame for killing Terrence, Alana won’t spend a fucking second in prison for any reason. The look on Colton’s face tells me he feels the same way I do as Cage, Joker, and Pops drop to our side.

“Sir, we’re gonna need you to move,” a man says as I turn to glare in the direction of an EMT standing behind me. “We can’t get to the patient with all of you in the way.”

My dad tries to pull me away from Alana’s side as Pops and Joker stand and back up while Playboy pulls Colton away. I try to shrug my dad’s hand off my shoulder to no avail as I watch Joker and Pops pull Cage away from his daughter. He’s fighting against their hold as more of our guys show up and help keep Cage away from Alana. It finally takes my dad, Slim, and Brandon to pull me away from my girl’s side. I don’t let them take me far from her as I watch every single move the paramedics make. The first thing they do is put one of those braces around her neck as carefully as they can. Her hair is covered in blood and I’m just noticing it when they move it out of their way. This blood is dry and has been there for much longer than the blood covering the rest of her body.

Colton, Alana’s family, and I watch on as they wrap something loosely around her wrists before bringing out one of those backboards they roll her onto. Through all of this, Alana doesn’t open her eyes or whimper in pain. Her body is limp and unmoving except for what they do to her. The only clear space on her face is where her tears rolled down her skin, taking the blood with it. My heart shatters as they load her on the gurney and start to head back toward the ambulance. Colton and I race to stay behind them with Cage, Joker, Pops, Brandon, and Kyle right next to us. We crowd the paramedics as they load her in the ambulance and go to get in before closing the doors on us.

“Not fuckin’ happenin’,” Cage growls, reaching out and preventing the door from closing all the way. “Kaden and I are fuckin’ ridin’ with you. Make it fuckin’ happen no matter what it takes. Pops, get Joker, Colton, and the boys in Kaden’s truck and follow us. Someone get Grim, Bailey, Sky, and Haley to the fuckin’ hospital now.”

The EMTs don’t even bother trying to argue with Cage as we step up in the small space. I take the small seat right against the wall separating the front of the ambulance from the back. Cage takes the bench seat across from Alana’s stretcher. I can see him fighting with himself to reach out and grab her hand as the paramedic back with us works on hooking her up to various machines and starts an IV. After what feels like a lifetime passes, the ambulance finally pulls out and we’re racing to the hospital with lights and sirens providing us a break in the cars on the road in front of us.

Cage and I don’t say a word as we watch the guy with us work on Alana. There’s only so much he can do back here since she isn’t awake to talk to him about what’s going on with her. He does manage to draw several tubes of blood and informs us he’s trying to get everything started so it’s less for the hospital staff to do once we pull up and they get her back in a room. Honestly, I think the only reason he’s telling us what he’s doing is because he’s nervous with both of us back here with him and is trying to fill the silence. I don’t give a fuck what his reasons are as we finally pull up to the hospital and everything moves rapidly.

The back doors are flung open and Cage jumps out before they pull out the stretcher Alana’s laying on. The paramedics race her into the hospital where Cage and I are forced to go to the waiting room instead of staying with her. I fight with the staff until they say they’re gonna call in security to have me removed from the building. Cage steps up and drops his hand on my shoulder before pulling me away so I don’t get kicked out. He leads me into the waiting room where we find several men and women spilling in as they all surround us. I don’t pay attention as Cage relays information, not that we really have anything to tell them because nothing was said. The main thing is that Alana didn’t wake back up during the trip here and we have no clue why.

W e’ve been sitting in the waiting room for an eternity. I’m sitting on one of the hard chairs with my mom on one side and Colton on the other. None of us are talking as I stare straight ahead with the image of my girl covered in blood front and center. I can’t see anything else except for that. It’s not until my dad steps in front of me that I’m pulled from my thoughts as I look up at him to find him standing with Vault and Ted Monroe, our friendly cop.

“Need you both to come with us for a few minutes. We’re not goin’ far,” Vault says, as we stand and follow them to a small conference room where Pops, Joker, Cage, Brandon, Kyle, Playboy, Slim and Grim are already waiting for us. “What you’re about to be told in this room is not to be repeated for any reason. I don’t want a single fuckin’ person to learn what you’re all about to hear. I’m doin’ this for a reason and you’ll understand once you’re told what’s goin’ on.”

Vault turns to look at Tom as he stands in front of all of us. He clears his throat before starting to talk.

“When I got to the house where Alana was bein’ held by Terrence, she wasn’t wrong by tellin’ several of you that she killed him. She stabbed him in the neck and managed to hit the artery. He bled out there on the floor. No charges will be pressed against her because there was more than enough evidence there and from the looks of her body that it was self-defense. How you proceed with her is up to all of you, but I’m tellin’ you now that she won’t be goin’ to prison for defendin’ herself. I’ve already closed the case and my boss has agreed with me after hearin’ everythin’ that’s been goin’ on and seein’ all the evidence of abuse she’s suffered at Terrence’s hands over the last year,” Tom informs us with a grim smile on his face because this is gonna fuck with Alana’s head if she knows the truth.

After a quiet conversation with Vault, Tom leaves us in the room alone. I look at everyone around me as Cage steps forward and we all know he’s about to say something.

“Alana will know she killed him. She won’t have the satisfaction of seein’ his body with one of us takin’ the kill shot. If she doesn’t know she ended his life, she’ll always wonder if he’s really out there just waitin’ to come after her again,” he states, his voice hard and cold as he looks at each one of us. “However, I don’t want anyone outside of this room to know what’s happened to Terrence. As far as they’re concerned, one of us took the kill shot and ended his fuckin’ pathetic life.”

“No,” Colton says, stepping up to Cage without hesitation. “Alana isn’t ready to hear that she took a life. She’s been through too fuckin’ much and doesn’t need this on top of everythin’ else. We all know what we sign up for when we join the club. I personally have no doubt in my mind that I can kill some stupid fuck hurtin’ someone else and go to sleep that night because it’s the right thing to do. Yes, I know Alana says she doesn’t regret her decision, but it’s not the time to tell her she actually killed him.”

“Cage is right,” Pops says, stepping forward. “Alana is strong enough to handle this news. She’s already accepted it in her heart and soul that she killed him. If you try to make her believe she’s not the one who took the kill shot, she won’t believe you and it might cause a rift in your relationship with her. Our girl is a fuckin’ warrior and I know in my heart she’s strong enough to handle this. You two can tell her and we’ll be there for support, but she has the right to know what really happened without bein’ fed lies.”

Colton’s shoulders slump in defeat as he steps back next to me and I nod at Pops and Cage. Before we can say another word, the door is flung open and Skylar stands there with the doctor at her back. We all turn our focus on them and wait to hear what’s going on as Cage and Joker pull their wife in their arms and hold her while tears stream down her face.

“I’ve just come from Alana. First of all, she’s awake and has been since shortly after being brought into the hospital. We’ve performed several tests on her and taken several images to ensure there isn’t a brain injury we’re not seein’ with the amount of blood covering her hair and head. She does have a nasty bump on the back of her head, but the skin was barely broken up and has already sealed itself. We cleaned it thoroughly before placing a bandage over the area as more of a reminder that she’s injured than anything else.

“Her wrists have been rubbed completely raw. We’ve cleaned those wounds and she has stitches around both wrists now. Bandages are wrapped around them to help prevent an infection setting in. She’s got some bruising on her ankles that’s superficial and a large bruise on her abdomen. Alana has had an ultrasound and at this point we don’t see anything happening to the baby. As a precaution we’re going to keep her on bed rest until she can get in with an obstetrician for further testing. The blood she was covered in for the most part wasn’t hers. She has no cuts on her body with the exception of her head. There are multiple bruises though.

“Alana wants to be released and I’m not going to hold her here against her will after the war she’s been through. Stress is the last thing she needs right now. She’s to remain in bed and have the least amount of stress on her as possible. The only time I want her out of bed is to go to the bathroom. No showering or baths right now. One of you can give her a sponge bath in bed, but that’s it. She’ll have to take the antibiotics I’m gonna prescribe and a prenatal vitamin until she gets in with another doctor. Will she have help at home?” the doctor informs us as I get stuck on the word baby.

Alana’s pregnant?

Did she know she was carrying our baby?

When the fuck did this happen?

Looking at Colton next to me, I can see the shock on his face that I’m sure mirrors my own. Cage and Joker turn to stare at us with anger in their eyes as Pops and Grim step up next to them in case they go to attack us. Skylar slaps both of them in the chest before rushing to us and pulling us into a hug as tears stream down her face. Colton and I hug her back and hold her as the doctor leaves the room after letting us know a nurse will lead us to Alana’s room in a few minutes.

“We’re not gonna hurt them,” I hear Joker say as I lift my head from Skylar’s shoulder to find Pops and Grim stepping back. “No, I’m not fuckin’ happy my little girl is pregnant considerin’ she’s not been claimed or married. However, I know these three are in love and they’re gonna step up and do the right thing. You might have a battle to convince Cage, but that’s him.”

“As long as they step the fuck up, we won’t have an issue. Did you know she’s pregnant?” Cage asks, as we start to leave the room and go to our girl.

“No. I’m not gonna say we’ve done much to prevent it from happenin’, but she hasn’t been gettin’ sick or anythin’ since bein’ in Pine View. Not sure if that’s changed since Terrence took her, but neither one of us have heard or seen her gettin’ sick,” I assure them as a nurse steps forward and leads the five us to Alana’s room while everyone else heads for the waiting room to fill the rest of our group in on what’s going on.

By the time we enter the room, I notice Alana’s been changed. She’s no longer in her clothes that are covered in blood. Instead, she’s wearing a pair of hospital scrubs as she rest on the bed. Her eyes open as we rush to her side and she gives us a smile, her entire face lighting up.

“I love you,” I tell her, carefully taking her hand in mine while resting my other one on her stomach. “Did you know about the baby?”

“No. I haven’t felt off or anything. I got sick a few times when Terrence had me in that house, but I thought it was from the head injury,” she answers, looking from Colton to me and back again. “Are you mad?”

“No,” Colton states adamantly. “We’ve all been talkin’ about how we see our future and kids are a part of that. Whatever decision you make, we’ll support you completely.”

“I want our baby. Our little one will be surrounded by love and know we’ll support them completely and encourage them in whatever the hell they want to do with their lives. They’ll have the biggest family and will have so many people to go to whenever they’re in need,” she says, resting her hand on top of mine as Colton adds his hand on top of hers.

“How are you feelin’?” I finally ask her, leaning down to press my lips against hers briefly before Colton copies me and we move just enough for her parents to surround her bed with us.

“I’ve been better. I’m not in as much pain right now. They gave me something to help take the edge off that won’t hurt the baby. That’s the one thing I made sure of before I let them give me anything,” she says, tears in her eyes as she looks between all of us. “Did I kill him? Is Terrence gone?”

We all look at one another and know Skylar isn’t supposed to know the truth of this situation, but Alana’s gonna need all the support she can get moving forward. So, after a nod from Cage and Joker, I turn my attention back to our girl and give her the truth she needs to hear.

“Yeah, Tink. You got him in the artery. Officer Monroe has already been by and told us it was in self-defense and no charges are bein’ pressed against you. There’s more than enough evidence on your body and in the house along with what he’s done to you over the last year to close the case. His superior signed off on it after hearin’ what happened. Terrence can no longer hurt you, Alana. I’m so fuckin’ proud of you for fightin’ back against your biggest demon and slayin’ the monster that’s held you captive over a year now,” I tell her as Skylar places her hand on Alana’s leg to support our girl and ground herself as Cage and Joker step up and wrap their arms around her.

For several minutes, Alana doesn’t say anything. Her tears dry up and she gives us a small smile that actually reaches her eyes so we know she’s not putting on some kind of front to appease us.

“Good. I never thought I’d be okay with taking someone’s life. In this instance, I know it was the right move to make. I mean, I wasn’t honestly aiming for his neck or an artery there. My only thought was stabbing him so he wouldn’t put his hands on me again. Then, it was making sure you guys could get him after I got out of there in order to ensure he was never able to come for me or anyone else again. Terrence wouldn’t have stopped if he remained alive. Did you know he's working with Liz?” she asks us, looking around the room as Skylar buries her head in Cage’s chest as we all start laughing.

“Yeah, Sweet Angel. Your mom, Aunt Bailey, and Sally went the fuck off on her. She tried spewin’ more shit about Ghost and her bein’ together and him fuckin’ her while she was in the cells. It finally came out that she’s been workin’ with Terrence for a while and only kept goin’ after Kaden to get to you and drive a wedge between the two of you. I don’t think she was expectin’ to come up against someone as loyal as you. Anyway, your mom went full on mama bear on her ass with your aunt and Kaden’s mom gettin’ their shots in too. She’s a fuckin’ mess,” Colton tells her as Alana looks to her mom before she laughs while holding her stomach from the pain it causes.

“That’s fucking epic,” she says as a nurse walks in the room with a wheelchair in front of her.

She goes over Alana’s discharge paperwork and gets it all signed before handing over a list of obstetricians in the area and letting us know she’s already called in the prescriptions Alana will need to take moving forward. I lift her in my arms and place her in the wheelchair that’s mandatory for her to leave the hospital. Cage and Joker take Skylar out to grab my truck and move it to the door so we don’t have to push her across the parking lot. By the time we make it to the waiting room of the emergency room, Doc is waiting for us with everyone else. Doc is gonna help us get her set up at home and give her his own quick exam before leaving us alone for the night.

All I want is to get our girl home and lay her in bed where we can lay with her. Colton and I need to hold her in our arms and feel for ourselves that she’s really with us and not still with Terrence. Colton and I need Alana as much as she needs us after everything that’s been going on since she arrived in Pine View. I know we won’t be left alone with our family in town, but she needs to be in bed and we’ll ensure it happens regardless of how bitchy she gets until she’s let off of bed rest. It just means time spent with our girl and that’s all we care about. We can propose and claim her in our room as long as the club’s officers are there to witness it and of course our family members.