Getting the Axe - Nikki Mays Page 0,15

for my own sanity.

“Look at it this way Elle,” I look up at Mason hoping that he’ll have something good to say. “At least now he’ll be out of the office for a while. Your dreams can come true.”

I’m about to respond when Noah’s doctor comes out, while still looking at me like I’m a serial killer and asks to speak to Noah’s family.

“I’m his mama doc,” Dee states. “But we’re all family here. You can just tell us all so that I don’t have to repeat anything.”

“Are you sure about that?” I can’t even be offended by the way he looks over meaningfully at me while asking that question.

Dee just waves her hand in the air. “Yes, it’s okay, accidents happen.”

The poor doctor just blinks at her a few times, seemingly unsure as to how to reply. Join the club, Dee Ross needs to come with an instruction manual.

“Okay then, if you’re sure.” He pauses but continues when Dee just nods her head in agreement. “After running some tests we found that the axe was embedded deeper than we originally thought. We’re currently prepping him for surgery and you can go back to speak with him for a few minutes if you would like. The surgery…”

I zone out or possibly blackout after the word surgery.

Noah

I groggily look around my room with eyes that feel like sandpaper. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara desert as I try to like my lips. I try to move a wince in pain when I move my shoulder.

Shit. That’s right. Surgery. To remove the axe that the woman who drives me insane stabbed me with.

Speaking of my assailant, she’s currently asleep in the chair next to my bed. She’s curled up into a tiny ball that can’t be anywhere near comfortable. Her pouty mouth is open just a little, letting out the cutest little snore that I’ve ever seen. I can’t even stop the smile that comes over my face. It might also be because of all the pain meds that I’m probably on. Because I feel pretty damn good as long as I don’t move around.

I hear a snort and turn my head to the right. Sitting on the other side of my bed is my mother. She’s sitting there wearing a smug expression on her face.

Fuck, I think as I rub my right hand down my face. I am way too drugged up to be dealing with someone as cunning as my mother. Hell, I’m not even able to deal with her when she has that look even when I’m not drugged up.

“Hey, ma.” My voice is rough. It sounds like I’m a pack-a-day smoker.

Ma reaches over and hands me a cup filled with water. I take it and drink from it greedily. It tastes like the best thing I’ve ever drank.

When I’m finished, I hand the cup back to my mother who places it back on the tray.

“How ya feeling sugar?” My mother asks sweetly…too sweetly. I love my mother to death, but sweet isn’t one of her attributes.

I narrow my eyes at the woman who gave me life. “Like I’ve been stabbed with an axe and had to have surgery.”

She purses her lips. She seems to forget that I can be just as much of a smartass as she is. I learned from the best, obviously.

“No one likes a smart ass son.” She drawls.

I smirk. “You should probably keep that in mind then.”

She raises an eyebrow. “You’re acting like I won’t slap you upside your head just because you had a little procedure.”

I snorted. This woman. “Ma, I’m tired and my shoulder hurts. Can you get on with whatever you have to say? I’d like to pass back out for a while.”

“Lower your voice, Noah.” She hisses at me as she moves closer. “That poor girl only fell asleep a short while ago.”

“Yes, let’s worry about the sleep pattern of the person who tried to kill me.” I drawl.

She slaps my right arm. “I raised you better than that. You know damn well it was an accident. And she has felt awful. That poor thing has been crying non-stop. Even Marc and Declan stopped making fun of her.”

I look over at the woman next to me and can see the tear stains on her cheeks. Well, shit, that makes me feel like an asshole.

“Anyway,” Ma continues while giving me the stink eye. “I’m only here to let you know what the doctor said. Then I’m going home because