kisses him on the cheek and then gasps when she sees the little one. “Oh, she’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad to see you awake, Skirt. We were so worried. Poodle has been going out of his mind.”
“Ye worry too much. I was just napping.” His eyes do not move from his daughter, and they well with tears. “Shucks, I can’t believe we made this. Where is Aidan?” he asks. “What’s her name? Does anyone know?”
“No, no name yet. Dawn was waiting on you. Aidan is still asleep. The boy sleeps through anything. He’s safe, though. Don’t worry,” Reaper informs him, wrapping his arms around Sarah.
Skirt looks over to his left and sees Dawn. “I love ye. Ye did good, Dawn. Ye did real good.” His eyes fall on Patrick, who’s still lying next to Dawn. Sunnie is by his side, asleep, holding his hand. Skirt looks at me, searching for answers. “Is he going to be okay?”
“I think so,” I say, meandering over to check Patrick’s vitals. He sounds good. “I think the worst of it is over.”
Skirt glances to the right and sees Melissa. “Melissa,” he whispers with wide eyes. “What? Is she okay? What happened? Is Poodle okay? Ellie?” he asks.
“Stop moaning and bitching. Everyone is fine,” Moretti pipes in.
“Who the fuck is that?” Skirt asks, rocking his daughter when she starts to fuss.
“Moretti woke up,” I grumble, and then a loud bang sounds from the playroom. “And Tongue captured a guy who knows something about the attack. He’s in there.” I jerk my chin to the door that hides the horrors of what the club does best. “Moretti doesn’t have a memory. So he’s testy,” I whisper out of the corner of my mouth.
“I was unconscious for too long.” Skirt looks at Dawn and their little girl.
“You know, Jo tried to save you. She ran into your house, but the smoke got to her before she could do anything.”
“Well…” He coughs to clear his throat and kisses his daughter’s forehead. “I guess we’re naming this little one Joanna, aren’t we? Sounds like a brave name.”
I think about everything Jo has been through, the struggles she faces and is about to face, and know this will bring so much joy and reassurance to her soul. “Really?” I rub my eyes as they water. Damn allergies.
“Yeah, I’ll call her Joey, I like that. I hope Dawn does too.”
“I like that,” Dawn whispers sleepily and reaches her hand across to touch Skirt. “Oh, God, you’re awake. It isn’t a dream.”
“No, babe. I’m here, Lips. I’m here. We’re all okay. I love ye, Dawn.”
I take a step away to give the new family some privacy. Poodle is at the bottom of the steps, staring at his best friend in shock. “Skirt?” He stumbles to the floor, and Sarah snickers.
“Bromance,” she mumbles with a roll of her eyes.
“Poodle!” Skirt lifts up Joey and grins. “Look what we made.”
Poodle runs to them and enters between Melissa and Skirt’s bed. He grabs Melissa’s hand and then leans down and gives Skirt a hug. “Fuck, it’s good to see you.” Poodle chokes up and then tightens his arm around Skirt’s head as he gives into the emotion. This isn’t only about Skirt, but about his fear for Melissa too.
Tongue steps from the shadows by the playroom door and has my heart skipping up a notch, his blade gleaming in the light of the treatment room as he licks his tongue across the polished metal.
“You’re right, Tongue. It’s time to show this guy what happens when they fuck with us.” Reaper, Tool, Bullseye, and Tongue head toward the playroom door.
“Hey, Prez? Can I come this time?” I ask, following behind them.
Each man turns their head to look at me. Reaper lifts a brow. “I thought you took an oath?”
“I can keep him alive.”
“We don’t want him alive,” Tongue snaps at me.
“I can keep him alive so he gets prolonged punishment.”
“Didn’t know you had it in you, Doc.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Tool.”
“I’m starting to see that,” Tool adds as Reaper opens the door.
It’s the first time I’ve been in here, and I don’t think it will be the last. I’m tired of not doing what I said I would all those years ago.
I want to pick and choose who I get to save.
I don’t want to play God, but I know how to play executioner.
My jury surrounds me, and I have no doubt it’s going to be a unanimous decision to let me gut him