Page 134 of Tracking Luxe

I love you, Luxe. I love you, remember I love you.

He’d been telling her goodbye.

******

"Couldn't do it, Rube. Couldn't pick up another rifle. I should have gotten him out there much sooner, he wouldn't need a transfusion right now if I had----I just fucking froze. I was shaking so goddamn much if I’d taken the shot I would have taken out more than just that cockfucker." Preacher’s sigh puffed out, the despair in her man's voice pulled at Ruby’s heart. Leaving her seat, she knelt on the floor in between his spread legs, his head hanging down in melancholy. His eyes dry, voice full of agony. She did the only thing she knew what to do, she pulled Preacher into her arms and held him tightly.

Her husband had once been a marksman sniper for the army, known to always get his target, but that kind of work had suffered on Preacher ever since. His PTSD attacks were few and far between now, but it always stayed with him and Ruby knew he would carry this, too, the fact he couldn't hold a rifle to stop the Russian's holding Grinder, to know Grinder had endured hours more worth of terrible beatings would torture Preacher. She held him even tighter feeling his big body sag with a hard exhale. She had her husband. Always would. Whatever he needed. "He's going to be fine, baby. He's going to be fine." She began praying right there on the hospital waiting room floor while she held onto her man and hoped she was right.Hey, God, It's Ruby Priest... we need your help.

******

Across the waiting room, Zara pulled her gaze away from Ruby comforting her hubby, the bigger man looked depleted of energy as if he'd only been holding on by a thread until his girl had arrived at the hospital. She turned and leaned into Rider's shoulder, her own biker-man was quiet. A pillar of strength for his brothers, but she knew the worry behind his blue eyes. He’d arrived long after everyone else had and she wondered why the delay. But now wasn’t the time to ask him. First, they needed to know about Grinder’s health. "Honey. Do you want anything to eat? I could run down to the cafeteria and pick something up for everyone." Waiting on news was worrying.

It wasn't looking good right now.

Rider's attention snapped down to her. She loved when he did that, become wholly focused on her. His hands reached out and he curved them around her nape drawing her in until her round belly pressed up against his hip. "You should be sittin’ down, Icy. Do you need anythin’? let me have one of the prospects drive you home."

So much concern he carried and still he was always caring for her needs. She smiled and leaned further into his touch knowing by now he had a need to take care of her and boy did she love him for it.

But even the strongest of men needed a helping hand at times and she tried to be that for her biker-man, even if it only meant listening to his club concerns.

No one expected this and yet Rider had been worried for an attack for months.

"I'm fine, honey. I'd rather stay here with you." His full palm slid across her growing belly. “The peanut doin’ okay?”

“He’s good. Active today. I think he’s got your heavy feet.” Wherever Rider was in the house she would hear him clomping around. Big feet. Big man.

“It’s ahetoday?” he flashed her a closed-lip smile.

Zara wrinkled her nose. “I’m hedging my bets. What if he’s a boy and knows we’ve been calling him a girl the entire nine month.”

“Could be one of each….”

Her head sprang up. “Shut your dirty mouth.” Her poor lady bits cringed in horror for that terrifying thought. She would never recover birthing two Rider sized babies.

He chuckled a little and buried his face in her neck, his thick voice a tired whisper, his palm under her shirt now cupping her belly. “I don’t know, Icy. I’m pretty potent.”

“The ego on you, biker-man.”

“I have enough to satisfy my little ice-blonde, don’t I?”

Mmm. He really did.

Turning in his arms, she leaned into his hard-protective chest. The room was a collective gathering of worry full to bursting with the RS members, old lady’s and prospects. Even several members of another crew who had helped Rider were here.

None of their own were going home until they knew Grinder was going to be okay, even then she suspected no one would leave him unguarded.

Just what did her biker-man have to do to get Grinder free? Her fear dissipated and replaced with surprise as heavy footsteps drew everyone’s attention towards the door. They expected Grinder’s family, no one expected Hawk to push through the double doors.

His glower just as she remembered.

Tall, unkempt long blonde hair touching his wide shoulders, Hawk was just as she remembered in his club leather. Heavy brows and wary eyes scanned everyone as they each noticed the club’s VP was back in town after a year of being away.

Another second for the noise levels to rise in reaction. Zara smiled.

Family went above and beyond for each other. These men, would the generous spirit ever stop surprising her? “Look who the fuck it is.” Grinned her biker-man. The two friends met in the middle and slapped hands and their bond was more than apparent to see, despite the time they’d spent apart. Hawk scowled, his trademark facial expression.

“Where else would I be?” that was explanation enough of why he was back suddenly. “Fucking plane was late getting in. How is he?”

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