Chapter 17

Rudy

It’s been a week and a half of living in a hospital room with Spook. He’s unresponsive and has been in a coma since he arrived.

After five hours of surgery repairing his lung that was punctured and removing debris out of his back, he’s been stable but still hasn’t opened his eyes.

The doctors tell us that due to the swelling of his brain with the blast and the trauma to his body, his body has shut down in order for him to heal. They keep reiterating that when he’s ready he’ll make it known.

What they don’t understand is that not only is his life up in the air, but so is Greer’s. She’s just as nonresponsive as him except her eyes are wide open. She hasn’t spoken since she got off the phone with Queenie the day of the bombing. She’s being force fed. Mitz and Queenie literally have to get in the shower with her to make sure she’s clean.

Poor Ryland, even though she doesn’t realize it at her young age, is missing out on time with her momma too. The Devils have joined together and taken responsibility of her along with Mitz, Queenie and Trigger who hasn’t left his sister’s side.

Greer will hold Ryland for a bit and every time we pray that Ryland will awaken Greer from her trance. Everytime a little bit of emotion shows, Greer blocks it and hands Ryland over to the waiting hands.

I need this knucklehead beside me to wake the fuck up, so he can wake my daughter up to before she takes her depression too far.

Last week, Poison caught Greer sitting on the tub with a razor blade in her hand. If it hadn’t been for his quick thinking, Greer quite possibly wouldn’t be here with us now.

We’ve told Greer over and over that Spook was alive. She just stares at us and shakes her head. She so caught up in her psyche that she doesn’t understand anything anyone is telling her.

I know the only way to prove it is for her to see Spook for herself, but with the possibility of Dimitri getting his hands on her, I won’t allow her at the hospital.

Bringing myself back to the present, I lean in my chair that is parked beside Spook’s bedside and grip his hand. I squeeze waiting for a response. “Spook, I need you to get your big ass up. Greer needs you, man and I’m sure you need her too. She’s losing it and the only one who can bring her back is you. Fuck, we all thought Poison and Banshee being near would knock her out of this funk. But, no such luck.” I creep up. “I need that girl that used to joke and laugh at anything and everything you say. She needs her man back, so she feels your strength and knows she’s safe.” I squeeze his hand a little harder. “Just think about all that your missing, fucker.”

***

Spook

I’m drifting. That’s all I know. I feel as though I’m weightless and soaring around in the clouds. It’s an invigorating feeling floating about and not having a fear in the world.

As I start to glide to the biggest cloud, I hear the faintest noise and look down to see me; a frail, unmoving body with wires and tubes entering and exiting my body. Beside me is a man I’ve grown to respect over the years and he looks forlorn.

I want to tell him not to be dejected over me. I’m free. I feel no pain, no sorrow. I’m light as a feather and exploring the skies.

I hear him grumbling to me, but I’m unable to hear his words until he speaks her name, Greer. The high I was on minutes ago disappears and in its place is a sense of urgency.

I float closer to him and he continues to speak. “She’s losing it and the only one who can bring her back is you. Fuck, we all thought Poison and Banshee being near would knock her out of this funk. But, no such luck.” The mention of their names brings about jealousy and anger. She doesn’t need them and they don’t need to be near her. “I need that girl that used to joke and laugh at anything and everything you say. She needs her man back, so she feels your strength and knows she’s safe. Just think about all that your missing, fucker.”

He falls back into the chair exhaustedly. How the fuck long have I been here? I look at my body and the monitors steadily beeping. How the fuck do I take back my life? Contemplating how, a bright light shines from my body and I feel as though I’m funneling through the air and back into my lifeless body.

Once I’m settled, I start trying to move my arms and legs without incident. I try to peal my eyelids open, but they feel as though they are glued shut.

I open my mouth and try to speak, but the only word I can hear is Greer’s name, but it’s enough to have Rudy jump to his feet as I can feel his presence over me.

“Goddamnit, boy, it’s about fucking time. Let’s get your doctor and figure out what the fuck we need to do to get your ass out of here faster.” Rudy says hastily and I nod.

I need to get to Greer and Ryland. I need to get better for them. I need her as much as she needs me if not more. She’s the quiet to my storm and the light to my dark.