Page 109 of Riding the Edge

Chapter Thirty-three

With neither of us able to get much sleep, we were up and out of the house before the sun came up. Maria was due at the hospital at eight o’clock and we were told the surgery wouldn’t start until ten. Since we had a little time to kill before her kids got there, we took a walk. Hand in hand, we were an odd pair. Maria was dressed to the nines, and I sported a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, pairing it with my leather vest.

After Jack gave me back my patch, I put my cut back on. I didn’t ride much because the club seemed to be at a standstill. Not that I was complaining, the longer the devil stayed sleeping, the more time I got to spend with Maria. The plan was to get through the surgery and deal with the consequences of Jack’s insanity when Maria was on the mend.

I should’ve known better than to plan.

I should’ve known the Satan’s Knights don’t stand still for no one.

On our way back to the hospital, my phone rang. A second later Maria’s rang too. Lightning crackled in the distance as the storm began to roll in.

Apparently, Riggs was calling me to inform me the deal with the cartel had gone down yesterday. He didn’t give me a chance to ask him why I wasn’t informed and went on to tell me frantically that he was not going to make it to the hospital in time for the surgery. On the other line, Lauren cried to her mother, telling her Riggs hadn’t come home last night.

Taking the phone out of Maria’s hand, I calmed Lauren down and assured her Riggs was fine. I went as far as to tell her; I had sent him on a personal errand last night and he ran into some tire trouble. When she stopped crying, I told her to drop the kids off as planned and come to the hospital. Then, I got back on the phone with Riggs and ripped him a new asshole.

He knew Maria’s surgery was today.

He fucking knew his woman would need him and still, he followed Jack into the flames of hell.

And fucking Jack—man, he won’t stop until he’s torn us all apart and pinned us all against one another.

After Riggs revealed Blackie took a bullet for Jack, I tossed the phone into the street, into oncoming traffic and cursed the Bulldog for darkening an already dark day.

“Al,” Maria calls from behind me. Regretting the outburst, I clench my fists and inhale a sharp breath before turning to her. “I have to check-in,” she says, pointing to the face of her watch.

“If you have to go—”

“Go?” I hiss, closing the distance between us. “I ain’t going anywhere, Lady.”

“It’s fine,” she insists. “Anthony, Adrianna, and Lauren will be here. If Riggs needs—”

“Riggs needs to learn his family comes before his patch,” I growl. “Now, let’s get you checked-in. Riggs will be here when you wake up from surgery. Until then, I got your girl.”

Taking her mouth, I kiss her tenderly.

You and me.

When we break, I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze before ushering her inside the hospital. There we were met by Anthony and Adrianna. I give the three of them a moment and make my way to the nurse’s station, letting them know who her doctor is and that she is scheduled for surgery. The nurse hands me a clipboard full of papers, none of which I know how to answer correctly.

Fucking hospitals.

I’m about to make my way to Maria and ask for her insurance card when I catch sight of Anthony embracing her. If life had a highlight reel that moment would make the cut and the one that followed too. Pulling back, Maria thumbs away her son's tears and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

“Here, Wolf, let me help you with that,” Adrianna says, diverting my attention away from mother and son.

“She’s going to be fine, you know?” I say hoarsely.

Lifting her eyes to mine, she gives me a sad smile.

“Yeah, she is,” she replies, taking the clipboard from my hands.

As I comb my fingers roughly through my hair, the nurse calls her name. From there everything seems to move in slow motion. Maria hands Adrianna her purse and takes off her jewelry. Anthony continues to fill out the paperwork and I stand there idly, unsure what to do. As she’s getting ready to follow the nurse, Lauren rushes into the hospital and right into her mother’s arms. They hang onto one another and through their tears, they profess their love for each other. Anthony hands off the infamous clipboard and I wonder if between all of us if we managed to complete the first page. Taking his sister in his arms, he pulls her away from Maria and again, that lump in my throat takes my breath away.

“Promise me you’ll be okay,” Lauren pleads.

“I’m going to be just fine,” Maria assures her. “Quit crying. You’re too beautiful to cry.”

“Lau, they’re just taking her to put the gown on.”

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