Page 16

Lynx

Taking a seat on the chair beside Jessikah’s bed I place my head in my hands.

I know Crowne is right, but I can’t find the words.

How do I apologize for something that never should have happened in the first place.

I should have been there to protect her.

Fuck, to protect them. Now Tina’s husband is dead and both she and Jessikah are under sedations after spending close to twelve hours with a madman.

“Is it okay if I come in and say something to Jessikah?” Neo asks, as his head pokes in. I nod, not lifting my head from my hands.

With his head tilted to listen to the sounds around him, he slowly approaches her bed, I look to the right and see him place his hand on hers, before he takes a deep breath.

“Jessikah, I am so sorry for my part in this mess. I wish I could take everything I said to you back. I wish I could have protected you better. I was so blinded by dirty, skanky pussy that I sacrificed my loyalty to the club. I will make sure you are protected for the rest of my life, no matter what happens.” He looks behind him, wipes at his face and turns to leave the room as Skoden walks in.

“Nimisenh, you will always be my sister. I will protect you like a younger brother would. You are my family,” he says, before he steps back and closes the door.

“Pres, watch the door,” he says as he pulls out a bundle and a lighter.

Quickly lighting the bundle so the smoke begins, and then blowing out the flames, allowing the smoke to continue from the wrapped bundle.

He begins to mumble what sounds like a prayer in Ojibwe as he moves the smoke around her body and then around the room. He bows his head as if he is asking for something from the spirits above, then stops waving his hand over the bundle allowing the smoke to stop.

“What did you do, Cassius?” I ask, praying the nurses don’t come in the room.

“I said a healing prayer as I smudged away her negative energy, and then I asked the creator to give her the power to heal and come back to us,” Skoden states, tucking the bundle into his cut.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because when Brownie asked me to do this for Tina, it worked. The negative energy was removed from her room and her body and allowed the positive healing to shine through. I figured if it helped Tina, then it will help Jessikah.” He shrugs, leaving me speechless as he opens the door and walks out.

Leaving me alone in a room with the woman that my protective instincts want to save, but my heart is telling me she needs to heal, she needs to pick me.

“Jessikah, I’m sorry for any part I had in this.

I shouldn’t have let you leave. I should have put Neo in his place, and I should have made sure you were in a place where no harm could come to you.

But shoulda’s woulda’s and coulda’s aren’t going to bring you back to me any faster.

When you come back to me, I am going to make sure you know how much you mean to me.

I will spend the rest of my days making you feel the love I plan on showering you with.

Come back to me, please,” I say, sitting down in the chair and kissing the knuckles on her hand.

My eyes grow heavy, and I give into the sleep that I have been hiding from for the last three days.

The dreams are vivid. First, I can see her smiling at me, then I watch her lying on the floor on top of the man who spent hours doing unimaginable things to her and her friend.

I couldn’t stop the pain that shattered through me seeing her lying on top of him the stake she used on his junk between them.

“Reduce the sedation amount by a fourth. Let’s see if she can start sustaining on her own.” I open my eyes as the doctor and a nurse are going over her vitals.

“Go home, shower and get a good night’s sleep, Mr. Gallant. If anything happens, I will have the nurse call you.” I begin to shake my head.

“Trust me, she isn’t going anywhere, and the only thing you are doing is helping to drive your mental health into the bucket.

Go home, get some sleep. The other lady is here and will sit with Ms. Gorman until you come back.

” I look toward the door and see Crowne and Tina there.

Tina is in a wheelchair, her face is black and blue, with shades of green.

She has a cast on her arm and her leg and the one hand is in a brace with large screws holding her fingers in place.

“Paul, go home. I will call you if anything happens. I promise,” Crowne states, pushing Tina into the room. Looking at Jessikah, and placing my head in my hand, before I stand up and make my way to the door.

Stopping in front of Tina and Crowne, I bend down to Tina’s level and tell her “I will make sure you are protected for the rest of your life.”

She nods her head and then states, “Brownie said the same thing.” One side of her mouth lifts.

Tina doesn’t understand how important she just became to not only me, but to the entire Royal Bastard MC: Northern Ontario Chapter. This woman stayed by Jessikah’s side and they fought together to overcome such a horrific ordeal.

Standing up, and continuing out of the room, then out of the hospital to my bike. Throwing my leg over my beautiful chrome girl and lowering until my ass until it hits the leather seat.

“Why? Why her?” I ask the graying skies, as the clouds roll slowly overhead.

A storm brewing outside as heavy as the one waging war inside my head.

If I had paid attention to my surroundings, Jessikah would be safe, and Tina wouldn’t look like she went twelve rounds with the heavyweight champion of the world in both boxing and MMA.

Starting up my engine, I head home. A shower and maybe some sleep before I come back in the morning. I need to make sure I am the first person she sees when she wakes up.