After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,115

to do in jail to survive but still remained out of trouble as best he could. Price has gone too far this time and if Grey and Jaron won’t…” Sammy’s jaw ticked. “I’m going to take care of him, so Jaron doesn’t have to. He needs to behave for you. His family.”

“Sammy, you—”

“He’s done a lot of shit, Piper. A lot. Things that he needs to die for. I have no idea how he even became mayor in the first place. Clearly, he’s paid off everyone to cover his tracks, but he doesn’t know that I know people too.” Sammy looked at me then. “I’m going to uncover all of his dirty little secrets and make him fucking pay for hurting you and Jaron. For hurting the other girls and women. I will avenge you. All of you.” His head turned back to the front and I realized then that the conversation was over.

Before I even had a chance to respond, a man dressed in white, came into the room. He was looking at a clipboard in his hands. He was young with dark hair and features, but you could see the lines in his face from the stress his job had given him.

“Mrs. Mercer?” he finally asked, looking up then. His eyes widened a bit as he saw all of us sitting or standing around in the waiting room.

“Yes?” Eve stood up, keeping her hand locked in her husband’s.

The doctor frowned, looked down at his clipboard and back at us. “Piper?”

Eve gasped.

My eyes widened. “W-What?”

“Are you Piper?” The doctor asked me.

“I am.” I stood, holding Brynlee tight against me. I could feel all eyes burning into me over the doctor referring to me as Jaron’s wife.

“I’m Dr. Rainn. Will you step out into the hall with me please?” Dr. Rainn asked, looking past me.

“No. You can tell me here,” I insisted. “This is Jaron’s family.”

“Fine.” He looked back down at me. “Jaron was shot twice. Once in the abdomen and once in the shoulder. His right kidney was severely damaged and had to be removed. His liver, stomach, and intestines were also hit. The wound in the shoulder didn’t hit anything vital and both surgeries went well. But he has a long road ahead of him as we now have to worry about infection—”

“But he’s alive?” Eve asked, coming up to my side.

“Yes, ma’am. He is alive. You can see Jaron now, but I will warn you, he isn’t awake.”

I nodded, looking back at Jaron’s parents.

“Let me take Brynn,” my mom said, coming up to me. “I know you just got her back a few hours ago but…”

“No, I…I know she’s young, but I don’t want her to see her daddy like that.” Or for her to see me break down. “Thank you, Mom.” I looked at my dad who was still sitting by the far wall. “And Daddy.”

He nodded once.

“We love you, sweetheart.” Mom took Brynlee from my arms and kissed my cheek. “Now go see Jaron. He’s going to need you.”

I nodded, petted a hand over my daughter’s head, and went up to Jaron’s parents. “We aren’t married,” I said, grabbing Eve’s hands. “I promise you that. We would never get married and not invite you.”

She threw her arms around me, knocking me back a step. “I know. Jaron did tell me he was going to marry you one day.”

I leaned back, finding Eve’s red rimmed eyes staring down at me. “He said that?”

She gave me a soft smile. “You were kids. We had gone to see his Aunt Brogan and Uncle Coby and the rest of you. It was the first time he had seen you in a couple years. He told me…” She laughed lightly, a lone tear rolling down her cheek.

Greyson placed a hand on her shoulder.

“His words were, ‘I’m going to marry her, Mama. And I’ll follow her around the world until I convince her to say yes.’”

“He…” I swallowed past the hard lump that had suddenly taken up residence in my throat. “Really?”

She nodded. “You must have been talking about traveling or something. But that’s what he said. I never really believed him but now…” She shook her head. “He has you down as his wife and you’re not even married yet. God, I never realized…I just…He’s so much like his father, it’s unreal. He’s a stubborn one and can be a jerk at times, but he loves you. He loves you so damn much, Piper. Go see him. Our boy needs