Page 6 of Hell & Back

She nodded her head against his shoulder.

“Good, cuz Darren really needs you right now, honey. You wanna go to him now?”

She nodded her head and reached for Darren. He immediately pulled her to him, settling her in his lap with his back to the chair, right in the middle of the floor. He wrapped his arms tight around her and settled his chin on top of her head. He closed his eyes and breathed her in, aware that everyone was moving away to give them space. Seeing her fall apart like that broke his own heart damn near in two. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “You okay, baby?”

“No,” she croaked. “I won’t be okay until someone tells me Tuck is going to be fine.” She waited a beat then added, “I’m sorry I reacted like that. I never thought I was the kind of person that would fall apart so easily.” She clutched his shirt in her fist above his heart.

“You were given some pretty shocking news. I think you’re entitled to react anyway you want to.”

A bottle of water appeared in front of them. Jed had gotten it somewhere and offered it to Kylie. “Here, sugar. You need to drink this.”

She wiped her cheeks, then took the water. She offered him a wobbly smile. “Thank you, Jed.”

She took a big drink, twisted the lid back on and dropped her head to Darren’s chest once again. He set the bottle on the floor next to them, aware that everyone was trying to give them as much privacy as the size of the room allowed. He held Kylie’s head to his chest and closed his eyes while he sent out a silent prayer that Tuck would be okay. Although the brothers were speaking quietly amongst themselves, their words were heated. He opened his eyes to see what was going on. By the expressions on the brothers’ faces, they were thinking the same thing he was. Blood would be shed. Personally, Darren would settle for no less than total annihilation of the other club.

Holding Kylie close, he allowed her time to process what was going on. Eventually the number of silent tears soaking his shirt slowed to a stop and the tremors racking her body as she cried finally ceased. It was another minute or two before she took a deep breath and leaned up to look around the room.

“What’re you looking for, baby?” he asked.

“Tissues. I can’t breathe.” Her nose sounded stuffy from all the crying.

“Can we get some tissues over here?” Darren called out.

Bellamy appeared in an instant with a box of tissues she’d found on one of the side tables. She offered a small smile as she handed them over.

“Thanks, Bellamy.” Darren took the tissues, sparing Kylie the need to find enough energy to appear okay in front of her friend.

Kylie blew her nose, tossing the used tissues in the waste basket Jackson had placed close by. Able to breathe better, she leaned down against his chest once more. “I’m so embarrassed that everyone saw me fall apart like that.”

“Baby, no one thinks any less of you for how you reacted. Hell, if I’d had half a chance, I think I would have fallen apart right along with you. The only thing stopping me was my worry for you and the baby.”

With her head on his shoulder, she tipped her head back far enough that he could see her eyes and whispered, “I don’t love you any less.”

“What’s that, honey?” He leaned down to hear what she was saying.

“I don’t love you any less than Tuck. If it had been you that was shot, I would have reacted the same exact way. I can’t live my life without either of you now.” Her hand cupped his bearded jaw. “You know I love you, right?”

“Of course, I know that. Never doubted it for a second.” He tucked her head under his chin again and kissed the top of her head. It was only minutes before she fell into a deep sleep.

“You okay down there?” Race asked after a few minutes. He, Trick, Jackson and Dagger came over.

“Yeah. I’m good. My ass fell asleep a while back, but it’s all good.” Darren rested his head on the seat behind him, his grip around Kylie never lessening.

“Here. I asked a nurse for a blanket. I thought she might be getting cold down there on the floor.” Bellamy shook out a blanket and draped it over Kylie.

“Thanks, Bellamy.” Darren helped her wrap it around Kylie, making sure to cover as much of her as possible.

“You need anything else?” Race asked, watching his wife take a seat across from them. “Cup of coffee? Water? Food?”

“God, no food. Coffee wouldn’t be bad.”

Race spoke over his shoulder, sending Chris and Lance in search of coffee for Darren and some of the others. Focusing on Darren again, he said, “Once we know Tuck is going to be okay and you can make it to a meeting, we’ll discuss how we’re going to handle this.As a club.”

It sounded like Race was afraid Darren might go off half-cocked and try to take care of the Phantom problem all on his own. Before Kylie, he might have. Now that he was with her and Tuck, there was no way he would risk leaving her alone on the off chance he got himself killed. No way was she going to be raising her baby alone. And no way was anything happening to Tuck other than a full recovery. Nothing else would be acceptable.

“I understand. Believe me, I understand. I’ve got too much to lose by going it on my own.” He shifted his butt, trying to find a more comfortable position.

“You wanna get up and sit in a chair with her?” Race asked.

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