Page 28

Dom’s hand on her neck had her looking up at him, tears hovered on her lashes. “He’s fine, Princess. We’ll get some meds into him, and he’ll be up and driving us nuts in no time. You’ll see.”

He’s his fathe

r. She should trust him, but everything in her screamed something was wrong. “Please, Dom, please can we take him to a doctor?” Her voice quivered in fear.

“Alright, Dee, we’ll take him.”

She sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

*****

When Deedee had come rushing downstairs with Jax in her arms, his heart had nearly burst from his chest at the panic written across her delicate features. As soon as he felt his sons head, he knew it was just a fever. There was no labored breathing, nothing to indicate it could be more.

With the flu rolling through the state, he knew it was only a matter of time. Every year, with or without the flu shot, Jax always contracted it. So while he knew his son’s medical quirks, she didn’t; therefore, now they were on their way into town to see his pediatrician, who thankfully could fit them in. As soon as they walked into the office, him carrying Jax who was now awake but still sleepy, Deedee rushed to the reception demanding for him to be seen immediately.

“Princess,” he growled behind her.

“Don’t you princess me, Dominic Slade,” she told him with such fierce anger and worry that he let her be. Jax may not be her son, and she may have only known him a little over a week, but she was in full-on mama bear mode. He was proud as fuck.

Cradling Jaxson in one arm, he wrapped his other around Dee’s neck seeing she was nearly in tears again. “I called for Jaxson Slade about an hour ago. Doc Mullins said he could get us in,” he explained to the receptionist.

“No problem. Please have seat, and I’ll tell him you’re here.”

As she walked away, he strong armed Dee into sitting down. “He’ll be fine,” he murmured to her again as she rubbed Jax’s forehead.

“How you feeling, a stór?”

“Tiwed,” he mumbled.

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

Shaking his head, no, he reached for her, and she gladly took him in her arms. Running his own fingers through her hair, Dom didn’t think life could be more perfect.

It wasn’t long before Doctor Mullins came out to greet them. “Mr. Slade, how are you?”

“Hey doc, I’m good. Jax here seems to have quite the fever, though.” He indicated his son who’d fallen asleep on Dee’s chest while she rocked him.

“Follow me back if you can then.” He laughed watching Dee struggle to get up without waking him.

Helping her up, they followed him to one of the patient rooms where Dom laid Jax on the exam table as the door closed.

“Now, tell me the problem,” he asked after washing his hands.

“I went to wake him from his nap, and he felt warmer than Dom said he normally does, and his face is pale. He was clammy, and I couldn’t wake him up either,” Dee said in one short breath making it sound like one long word.

“Deidre,” Dom called her. When she looked to him, he told her, “Take a breath, he’ll be fine.” Turning to the doctor, he said to him, “I tried to explain about the flu, but she wouldn’t listen.”

“Dominic!” Dee scolded him.

Chuckling, Dr. Mullins began his examination and all the while, Jax barely moved. Which did start to worry Dom.

“Jaxson? How are you feeling, buddy?” Mullins asked him as he shook him awake for the second time.

Seeing Deedee twisting her hands together, he stepped behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders giving a light squeeze.

“I tiwed, doc,” Jax murmured weakly.

“Does anything hurt?”