Page 28

Emma

T he eight hours we were sitting in the waiting room seemed like a lifetime. Every time we heard footsteps, we all looked up hoping for news. Finally, we all stand to attention as the doctor enters the waiting room and calls my name. We jump up from our seats, our muscles stiff from the uncomfortable chairs we’ve been sitting in for hours, anxiously awaiting news while we try to devise a plan of action.

“Ms. Miller, I’m pleased to report that your brother’s surgery was a success,” the doctor says.

He has dark kind eyes and a professional bedside manner, exactly the kind of person you want caring for your loved ones.

“Can we go see him?” I immediately ask.

He nods, “You may,” he says hesitantly before cautioning, “However, because he had some seizures and our concern about any potential swelling on his brain from where he fell and hit his head after being shot, we’ve had to put him into an induced coma for him to properly heal. You can see him, but he won’t be able to talk to you.”

“But he’s going to live?” Mason asks, as anxious as I feel to hear the response.

“He’s not completely out of the woods just yet, but his chances of recovery are significantly improved now that the surgery was completed successfully,” the doctor says calmly.

“Thank you,” I reply, my eyes filling with tears of gratitude.

I don’t care how long it takes as long as I get my brother back. He’s a fighter, if he survived the surgery, I just know he will wake up.

“Please follow me, I’ll take you to him,” the doctor says, leading the way to a private room in the ICU where Jacob is.

He looks so small and vulnerable in the bed, lying there hooked up to countless machines that slowly beep and whir, keeping him alive. His eyes are closed, face slack, but he looks peaceful, and other than the bandages, otherwise unharmed. I go over to his bedside and take his hand in mine, it's large and warm but his solid presence is absent.

“I’m here J-Bird, Emmy’s here,” I say softly. “You’re going to make it through this do you hear me?” I add though I’m not sure if he can hear me at all.

I can see the confusion on the guys’ faces as to why I called him J-Bird, they’ve never heard me do so before. I look to them, answering their unspoken question.

“He’ll kill me for telling you guys this, but maybe if he can hear me, it might make him wake up to tell me off,” I say with a sad smile, looking at my brother and stroking his face softly before turning my gaze back to the others. “I’m the one who came up with the nickname J-Bird when I was a little girl. He used to sing so beautifully to me when I was small, I said he sounded like a Jaybird.”

Jax smiles at Jacob. “If you wake up now, I promise I won’t even tease you about that one, buddy.”

As much as we will it, Jacob doesn’t stir. We sit by Jacob’s side talking to him and filling him in on everything that’s happened since the fated raid.

According to Bess, Kane and the majority of his men got away. But there’s a manhunt out for Kane for the murder of Venom. Breaker and several other key players of the Iron Serpents have been arrested and are likely to serve lengthy jail times for several crimes that Venom managed to uncover before his untimely demise. The police still want to speak with Mason and Jax, convinced about their involvement, but for now, they’re sticking to their story. Fortunately, no cops saw any of the Iron Serpents there. However, Bess is trying to convince Mason that he and Jax would be an integral witness for the murder case when they catch Victor Kane.

For now, the guys are choosing to try to get to Kane themselves first. They don’t have much faith in the cops since they fucked this up and people died. If we miss our shot to get at Kane there won’t be another.

“I’m going to call Jessica and speak to Max. Now that we know Jacob is going to be okay, I should let them know that he’s in the hospital,” I tell the guys who nod in agreement.

The phone rings out and I feel a flare of terror that Kane has already managed to get to Max. I dial again and after an agonizingly long time, Jessica finally picks up.

“Emma, this isn’t your scheduled time to call,” she says sounding a little perturbed, in the background I can hear the sounds of children’s happy voices.

“I know, I’m sorry, but something happened to Jacob. He’s in the hospital,” I say, feeling annoyed that I need an appointment to speak to my son but trying to remain calm.

“Oh my goodness, what happened? Is he okay?”

“He’s in an induced coma right now, but the doctors are confident he’ll pull through,” I reply, deliberately avoiding her first question. “So, can I speak to Max?” I say impatiently.

“I don’t know… The social workers said not to distress him in any way…” she says hesitantly.

“For god's sake Jess, he’s my son, and he should know that his uncle is in the hospital,” I snap, losing my patience.

“Fine, but try not to upset him,” she replies haughtily, irritating me further.

I’m his mother. She doesn’t need to tell me not to upset my son. I have to bite my tongue, not wanting to piss her off and stop her from handing the phone over, so instead I say, “Thank you.”

“Mommy!” I hear Max’s happy voice on the other end of the line, and I feel so relieved that he’s happy and safe that I have to sit down.

“Hi, Sweetheart, how are you?” I ask, getting a little choked up.

I smile as he launches into a long-winded ramble about everything that’s captured his imagination since we last spoke. His voice is a balm for my troubled soul, and I close my eyes, allowing his innocence to soothe me, just for a little while.

“When can I come home, Mommy?” he asks.

“Soon, Maxie, real soon. Your Uncle Jacob’s had an accident, and he needs Mommy to look after him for a while. So, I need you to keep being a good boy for Auntie Jess. Can you do that for me?” I say gently.

“Yes, Mommy. Is Uncle Jacob going to go to heaven like Daddy?” he asks timidly.

I clutch the phone to my ear as my heart breaks a little for my brave little boy.

“No. Uncle Jacob will be just fine, don’t you worry. Okay?”

“Okay, Mommy,” he agrees, his childlike faith in me complete. “Auntie Jess says I have to go now.”

“Alright, Sweetheart. Mommy loves you,” I reply, trying to hide my frustration that Jess won’t allow me to speak for longer.

“I love you too, Mommy,” he replies sweetly before Jess comes back on the line.

“Hi, Emma, I’m sorry, I realized that I didn’t even ask how you’re feeling with Jacob in the hospital,” she says sounding chagrined.

“I’m doing okay, thanks Jess,” I reply wearily.

“Look, I know it’s not a good time, and I haven’t told the social workers, but I need you to trust me with Max and tell whoever it is that’s been watching the house to leave. They’re scaring the kids.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, thinking of Bess’ associate who’s been passing by.

“Just because they’re not bikers covered in tattoos doesn’t mean that these spy-looking guys in suits are any less conspicuous, Em,” she says dryly.

“Guys? As in more than one?” I ask, panicked.

“Well, it’s hard to tell they all look the same, but yes. I assume you hired some private security firm? Frankly, I’m a little insulted—”

I interrupt her. “Jess. I didn’t send those men. Are they there now?”

“What do you mean you didn’t—”

“Jess, are they there now?” I ask again forcibly.

I can hear the sounds of her moving around in the house to go look out of the window. “Yes, there’s a black sedan car outside, just down the road, I can’t see very clearly as the back windows are tinted but I think there are two men inside,” she says, her voice now more panicked.

“Alright, lock the doors and windows and stay where you are, don’t answer the door to anyone other than me, do you understand?” I say, trying to remain calm.

“Emma, what’s going on?” she says sounding confused and scared.

“I don’t have time to explain Jess, just please do as I ask, you and the kids might be in danger. I’ll be there as soon as I can, just sit tight.”

I hang up the phone before she can waste any more time asking questions.

The guys are already on their feet, standing to attention having gleaned what must be happening from my side of the conversation.

“We need to go to Jessica’s now. Kane knows that the Iron Serpents messed up their deal this morning. If he knows that Jacob is Max’s uncle, he might choose to make his move soon as retaliation. Either way, they know where Max is, they could strike at any time. He’s not safe there anymore. We have to go get him,” I explain as I grab my purse.

The guys nod in agreement. “Ty and I will go on the bikes. We take on Kane’s men if they’re still there while you and Jax get Max. J-Bird will be fine here, they’ve got officers posted outside,” Mason says, and we all nod our agreement.

“Let’s go,” I reply determinedly.

There’s no way I’m letting Kane get anywhere near my son without a fight. We just have to pray we get there in time.