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Chapter Sixteen

Adelaide

I absentmindedly tapped my fingers on the bar, listening to the construction crew that was finishing up the rebuilding of the part of the clubhouse that had burned down. Tristan was holding church, and the club girls were more than likely still passed out in their rooms after the party that was held last night in celebration of my coming home from the hospital.

Zyla came out of the back, fully dressed and showered, her hair done perfectly, her make-up on point, just like she always used to be. She was Jesup’s ex, and she had taken off with another man who had more money a few years ago. I honestly wasn’t shocked to see her back here. Besides, we all went through our own shit. I wasn’t one to judge.

“Good morning,” she chirped.

I tiredly ran a hand down my face. “I wish it was,” I grumbled. “I’m exhausted. I’ve been up since two this morning with morning sickness.” This baby was kicking my ass, and it was nothing more than a bean. I was getting taken out by a fucking bean .

She gave me a sad smile, pain flashing in her eyes for a moment before she smothered it. “Shit sucks, doesn’t it?”

I cocked my head to the side, my curiosity piqued. “You ever been pregnant before?” I bluntly asked her.

She swallowed thickly, looking down at the bar as she picked up a random glass and began to wipe it down, removing fingerprints and watermarks. “Once upon a time,” she finally said, leaving it at that.

Before I could respond or pry a little more, a loud bang on the clubhouse doors drew my attention, and Zyla and I both looked at each other before I grabbed my gun from the small of my back. I slid off my barstool and moved toward the door. River, who had been left out here to protect me, motioned for me to stand down, his blue eyes warning me to heed his order. With gritted teeth, I stood back, watching as he shoved the door open, his gun drawn in front of him.

I gasped when I looked down at the body lying in front of the door. Joey was laying on the concrete, his face bloody and beaten. Joey, who was supposed to be fucking dead .

“Joey!” I screamed, not bothering to question how the fuck someone who was supposed to be dead was currently laying on the ground in front of me.

Joey was here. That was all that mattered to me.

I set my gun down on a random table and looked over to Zyla, who was staring with wide, shocked eyes at the man laying at my feet. River crouched next to Joey, pressing his fingers to his neck for a pulse. “Get Tristan!” I barked at Zyla as I grabbed Joey under his arms and dragged him into the clubhouse, not waiting on River to help me.

Joey was alive .

He was fucking alive and here. He was back with me.

The doors to the chapel flew open, and Tristan rushed out with Jesup hot on his heels. “Zyla, get me a first aid kit,” I ordered as I sat on the floor, placing Joey’s head in my lap, unable to pull his heavy body any further. I noticed River slip out the clubhouse doors, most likely to go check the grounds and the surrounding area for anyone else.

“Joey, can you hear me?” I asked him, my hands shaking as I ran them over his body, tears clogging my throat and burning the backs of my eyes.

Nothing. Not a sound.

My heart constricted in my chest.

“Tank and Damion, go with River to check the grounds,” Tristan instructed the two men. Tristan placed a hand on my shoulder, dragging my tearful eyes up to his. “Let me and Jesup get him on the couch, Addy. It’ll be more comfortable for both of you.”

Reluctantly, I nodded. I didn’t want to let go of Joey, terrified he’d suddenly leave me again, but I knew Joey needed to be on something softer.

Tristan and Jesup lifted him from the floor, and I watched as they carried him across the room to the couch. I quickly sat down on the worn furniture, placing Joey’s head back in my lap as Zyla brought me a first aid kit. I began cleaning up his face, grimacing at the deep cuts.

Someone wanted to hurt him, not kill him. They wanted to send a message.

“Jessie…” Joey grumbled a moment later, his twin’s name nothing more than a slurred word.

“Joey, what’s wrong?” I gently asked as I ran my fingers through his soft, dirty-blond hair.

“Adelaide, get Jessie,” he slurred, his eyes slitting open to look up at me. I knew he was telling me because he trusted me to save her. Trusted me more than he trusted his own men.

What the fuck was happening?

I looked up at Tristan, hoping he heard Joey’s command. I couldn’t bring myself to leave Joey’s side, not after getting him back so soon. It was selfish of me, but I didn’t care.

I wasn’t leaving him.

Tristan nodded once at me. Pain flashed in his eyes for a moment before he smothered it. I swallowed thickly. I knew he hated seeing me with Joey like this, but I couldn’t—would never —turn my back on Joey.

“Hey, man, we’re on it. Do you know where she’s at?” Tristan asked him.

“With Charles,” Joey mumbled, beginning to pass back out.

I looked back up at Tristan. “Go,” I told him. “Tank and River will hold everything down here.”

Tristan grunted and leaned down, pressing his lips to mine. Pain lanced through my chest as I kissed him all while my fingers momentarily tightened on Joey. Now that Joey was back with me, it felt wrong to kiss Tristan, like I was betraying the man who had saved my life three years ago. “Call me if anything happens,” Tristan instructed.

With that, he and Jesup strode out of the door before I could respond.

I looked down at Joey. Cupping his face in my hands, I leaned down and brushed my lips with his, not giving a fuck who was in the room and witnessing it.

“Thank you for coming back to me,” I whispered.

Joey slowly brought his hand up and laced his fingers in my hair, deepening the kiss for a moment. My heart swelled in my chest, and tears spilled down my cheeks as I eagerly kissed him back, so fucking happy that he was back with me where he belonged.

“I’ll always come home to you, pretty girl,” he rasped.

Then his eyes shut again, darkness pulling him back under.