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My throat feels like it has a desert in it. “Water,” I croak out. He gets the cup on the table by him and tips the straw towards me. I take a couple of sips, then lean back. “Did they get the bullet out?”

“Yeah, baby. It went in and ricocheted off the bone and hit your carotid artery. That’s why there was so much blood and you passed out. The doctor got the bullet out, stitched your artery, then stitched up your arm. You have to keep it in a sling for a while. They are going to keepyou for a couple of days to watch for infection. The babies are fine. They did a sonogram just to make sure.” A tear slips from the corner of my eye, and he kisses it away. “You feel up to a little company? They won’t stay long, they just want to see you before they head back to the clubhouse. Leilani wants to know what clothes you want her to bring back tomorrow.” I nod and he goes to the door to let them in.

Dad rushes to me, stating, “My beautiful baby girl. You gave us such a scare. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?”

“I’m okay, Daddy. Just hurting.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. “Leilani is going to get you some clothes to bring with us tomorrow. Anything in particular you want?”

“I have several different maternity summer dresses. If you could just bring me one of those. My underthings are in the drawer. I can’t think of anything else, except my deodorant and toothbrush and toothpaste.”

She is typing everything into her phone, so she doesn’t forget. She leans down and kisses my forehead, saying, “Okay, baby girl. We’ll get it. I’ll let the others know that you’re okay and we’ll head home. Bacon is refusing to leave. He’ll be outside your door if y’all need anything. We love you.”

“I love you both.” After they leave, I look at Cotton. “Finn, I’m getting hungry. Will they let me eat?”

“I’ll find out, baby.” He pushes the button on my bed and lets the nurse know that I am awake. She comes bustling in the room a few minutes later, and I instantly think of my Grandma Farrell.

“Hi, there sweetheart. I’m Ila. I’ll be your nurse this evening. How’re you feeling?”

“I’m hurting a little, about a five right now. And I’m getting hungry, is it okay if I eat? I want to get some cheese bread with ranch,” I say rubbing my stomach.

She smiles as she bustles about, “I believe you can eat, there isn’t anything in your chart stating that you can’t. Just be warned where you were under anesthesia, you may get an upset stomach. Would you like a menu for the cafeteria or a list of places that deliver? After you eat, I can give you something for the pain if you need it.”

I smile at her. “I already know what I want and that they deliver. I’m not worried about the sickness, these two have kept me sick. Whoever calls it morning sickness, must not realize that it happens all day long.”

She laughs. “Okay, sweetheart. I’m going to take your vitals, then I’ll let you do your thing.”

“Thank you, Ila.” After she leaves the room, I look atCotton, and he is already on the phone ordering my pizza, his pizza, cheese bread, salads and extra ranch. I get his attention and tell him to get Bacon something too. He smiles at me and orders one for him. I’m sitting the bed up to where I am comfortable when I hear him say ten extra pizzas for the nursing staff. I smile at him. He is the sweetest guy when he wants to be. After he hangs up, we talk about the house and how much longer it’ll be before it’s ready. He talks about anything and everything, except what happened earlier. I run my hand through his long white blonde hair.

There’s a knock at the door and Bacon pokes his head in. “Sorry, Saige. But Lt. Grady’s here, and he needs to get your statement. Is it okay to let him in?”

“Yeah. Oh Cotton ordered us all some food. It should be here soon.” He grins at me and lets Lt. Grady in the room.

“Saige, I’m so sorry to have to do this now, but I need to get your statement about what happened earlier.” I tell him everything that happened, and he writes it all down. “Well, your statement matches everyone else’s. But why would she try to do this to you? You two have a history?” I explain everything with Cotton’s help about Dayna’s obsession with him, the fight we had, her being banned from the clubhouse, and about the shooting and explosion.

“Y’all have that shooting and explosion on record. Bacon out there was injured in it, protecting me. She had a guy with her then. What was his name, Cotton?”

“Matt Rivers. He was with her tonight too, he and Bacon fought, and Bacon got him cuffed to a bar. That’s what took him so long to get in the room. But he got there in time to save you.”

Lt. Grady looks down at the papers he has. “Okay then. If you’ll read over this and sign it, I’ll get out of your hair.” I take the paper and read it, then sign at the bottom. “Thank you for your time. I hope you heal up fast. Good night.” He leaves just as the food gets here. Thank goodness, I am starving. It feels like it has been days since I ate something instead of nine hours.

I push myself up with my good arm, and Cotton sets my boxes on the table and slides it over me. He hands me a huge cup of sweet tea, too. We turn the tv on and find a program that we both like. A few nurses come to the door to thank us, and a lady comes in with a cart full of flowers, stuffed animals, and balloons. “All of these are for you, hun. I’ll just leave the cart in here, and this handsome fella with you can read the cards to you. How is that?”

“Thank you so much. Would you like some pizza?”

She smiles. “No thank you, hun. I just ate. Have a good night.”

“You too. Oh my gosh, Finn, what in the world is all that?” He laughs and grabs cards and reads them and puts them back with the item they came with. Flowers from Finn, Bacon, Tonya, and half the clubhouse. Bears from Loki, Beth and Bethany, and there is a card on a bear dressed in sexy lingerie, it’s from Michael. It says, ‘Sorry that you were hurt, but I know it won’t deter your beauty. See you soon. Michael’

“How the hell does he know that you are in the hospital? Bacon, come in here!”

Bacon comes running into the room. “What’s going on, Cotton?”

“Bacon, we need you to call Stone and Tech. Tell them to get up here asap. Also keep your eyes open. Saige just got a bear from that Michael Simms. We need to find out how he knows where she is and what happened.”

I am sitting in the bed just listening to what all is being said, getting sicker by the second. I get up and make it to the bathroom just in time. I get myself cleaned up, and I’m walking back to the bed, when Bacon asks, “Saige, why are you out of bed?”

“I got sick. I ran to the bathroom. It’s okay.” Cotton comes over and helps me back into bed.

“I’m sorry, Butterfly. I should have noticed and helped you.” He kisses my cheek.