Page 136 of Riot

“I thought you were dead.”

He chuckles. “Far from it. It’ll take more than that to keep me down, babe. You know that.”

“We’re on our way, we’ll be there in a few hours.” I pat Cookie’s head while he sleeps next to me.

“I can’t wait to see you.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” His voice cracks and I know he feels it too.

There’s some ruffling in the background and then I hear Manny’s voice. “God speed.”

“Thanks, Manny. Keep my old man safe. I’m coming to bring him home.”

“Roger that, Miss Kitten.”

I smile and hang up.

Not long now. I’ll be back in his arms and I don’t plan on ever leaving.

Manny stands before me. “Gotta brace, Miss Kitten.”

I shake my head. “Why? Manny, you’re scaring me.”

He holds my shoulders. “It looks worse than it is, just remember that.”

“Oh, no.”

He pulls me into a hug. “You crazy kids are gonna make it, I can tell. If you have this much love for one another this early on, I’d say you got it right.”

It hurts to laugh; my entire body feels like I’ve been run over by a truck. Hawk stayed outside with Cookie since we can’t have dogs inside the hospital. I wish he could come in and see his daddy.

“I’m so scared, Manny.”

He kisses my head. “It’s gonna be alright. You have all of us.” He looks over his head, the biker named Bandit stands by the door, guarding it. “Right, handsome?”

Bandit flicks his eyes to Manny. “Not standin’ here for no reason.”

He whispers in my ear, “All the cute ones have a little sass.”

This time I do laugh. “Is your mind always on the pepperoni?”

“No, just trying to take your mind off things.”

“I need to see Riot.”

“We can’t until the doctor comes out, so just hold on.”

I turn to Bandit. “When will they be done?”

His eyes shift from Manny to me. “When they’re done, but like Manny said, gotta brace, baby girl. It ain’t pretty in there.”

I bite my lip as Manny swings an arm around my shoulder. The boys are all back in the waiting room, aside from Cash and Charles. Suddenly, the door opens and an older man comes out. He looks around, spots me and then gives me a nod. “You must be Halo?”

I nod. Is this Charles?

He closes the door behind him. “I’m Charles.”

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