Page 36 of Forsaking All Others

I raise an eyebrow.

“How is he supposed to know Theo is in the hospital if he ain’t answering the phone?”

“I left him several messages all of which I know he listened to because I checked. He can be mad at me, but he does not get to take that shit out on our son.”

I’m not about to argue that point—when the woman is right, she’s right. Still, as much as I can get on board with Holly shining her hate on Colt, I need him to deliver the fucking guns to the funeral parlor.

“You have any idea where he might be?”

She shakes her head.

“He’s supposed to head out north tonight on a rig.”

“And I’m guessing you think that’s still a go?”

She pulls in a breath and drags her fingers through her hair.

“I honestly don’t know.” She lowers her hands to her thighs and looks back at me. “And I can’t worry about it right now. Mav, what if something is wrong with Theo? I’m not…” Her voice cracks and tears fill her eyes.

“Hey…” I murmur softly. Draping an arm around her shoulders, I pull her into the crook of my arm and press my lips to the top of her head. “Let’s not jump the gun, okay? They’re probably just being really cautious, baby, you know how these fucking doctors are.”

She doesn’t respond, she simply burrows closer to me and fuck me—I like it. I like it so much that I block out everything else.

Chapter Ten

Maverick Burnside

“That’ll be twelve fifty,”the cashier says.

Using my shoulder, I hold the ringing phone to my ear and dig into my pocket for a couple of bills. Handing them to the young girl behind the counter, I grab Holly’s sandwich and try to juggle the two cups of coffee.

“C’mon King, answer the phone,” I growl.

About twenty minutes ago the doctor came out and spoke with Holly, telling her Theo was done with his tests, but still out from the anesthesia. He also revealed that he would be moving him to a recovery room in the pediatric unit instead of sending him back to the emergency room. Wanting to be there when her son woke up, Holly followed the doctor to the recovery room, and I took that as my cue to grab her something from the cafeteria. I also took the opportunity to call King and see where we were with the guns and locating Colt, but the motherfucker isn’t answering my calls.

I pause at one of the tables in the cafeteria and lower the coffees on top of it. Freeing my hands, I disconnect the call, and shove the cell phone and the sandwich inside my kutte. I need to be with my men right now, but I can’t bring myself to leave Holly here alone. I’m no doctor or anything but all these tests—well, it seems like a bit much for a stomach bug.

I grab the coffees and head out of the cafeteria. I take the elevator up to the sixth floor and start for the pediatric wing. As soon as I turn the corner, I spot Ghost standing in front of the nurse’s station. The expression on his face is guarded, but the closer I get, the more noticeable the cracks in his armor become. He hates that he’s here and I don’t blame him. If I lost all that he did, I wouldn’t want to be around kids either. Why the fuck King would send him is beyond me.

“Ghost,” I call, reaching the other end of the nurse’s station. He lifts his head and relief settles over his face as he grinds out a thank you to the nurse who was helping him and makes his way toward me.

“How’s Holly?”

I shake my head. The woman is dead on her feet, riding on empty, but she’ll never admit that much.

“You know Holly,” I say, meeting his gaze. “She just keeps going until she crashes, been doing it her whole life.”

“Yeah,” he agrees.

“They took Theo down for a bunch of tests, but, man, I gotta tell you—I don’t like where this is headed.” My eyes dart around the busy hallway before settling back on him. I know Ghost has love for Holly and all, but with all that’s going on with the club, he shouldn’t be standing in front of me. “You come here for an update on Theo or you got something for me?”

He crosses his arms, his mouth tight and grim.

“Right,” I mutter. “Come on.”

I lead him down the hallway to the alcove where the vending machines are located. Placing the two Styrofoam cups on the windowsill, I turn to him.

“Lay it on me.”

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