The last twenty-four hours has aged me twenty fucking years. Lighting up a cigarette, I sit on the bench outside the hospital, not giving one fuck about the rent-a-cop’s threats of ticketing me for smoking on the grounds. My goddamn nerves are shot and I need the nicotine to keep my head clear of bullshit and focused on the task at hand.

Getting Shy back.

Doc has been touch and go ever since he was brought in. According to Jinks, he has only been awake for a few minutes at a time since the surgery that removed the two bullets from his chest and repaired the damage they caused, but he is breathing on his own. The ICU nurses haven’t let anyone but Jinks go back, and even he has only been given a few minutes. Though, it isn’t like I have spent much time here or attempted to see him. Hell, I don’t even want to think about facing Doc, conscious on not, until I have Shy back. I fucked up, promised a man, my brother, that I would protect his daughter with my life.

And I failed.

The only thing I can focus on is getting shit together and arranging the meet with Teague to get her back safe.

No matter the cost.

I haven’t been able to eat or sleep since Shy was taken. Not that I have tried very hard. Every time I even close my eyes, I hear her scream my name, like she did on the phone. At this point, I wouldn’t fucking blink if I could control that shit. Nothing matters without her here, and it is very clear to me how little give a damn I would have left if anything happens to her or the baby.

“Jace just called. Merc’s at the clubhouse with his crew. They’re all on board,” Stone says, dropping down beside me. “When Teague reaches out, I’ll tell him we’re ready. Gonna be callin’ any minute,” he adds, holding up the black prepay he uses for calls.

“Great,” I mutter, blowing a cloud of smoke. “How’d you do it?”

“Do what?” he asks, glancing at me.

“Keep it together when that fucker took Ro,” I continue, flicking the ash onto the pavement. “It’s takin’ all I got not to storm Teague’s fuckin’ house, gun’s blazin’.”

“He’s ready for that,” Stone says, not telling me anything I don’t know. Jinks hacked into Teague’s security footage, and pulled up satellite images. The whole estate is locked down tighter than Fort Knox. “You wanna know what kept me from losin’ my shit? It was Ro. There was no doubt in my mind that I’d get her back because there wasn’t another choice.” Looking down at his boots, he yanks a hand through his hair and blows out a breath. “Took me too long to get my shit together when it came to that woman. Fear, stupidity; I don’t have a good fuckin’ reason why I waited as long as I did. I sure as shit wasted a lot of years. Once I got my shit together, I knew I was wakin’ up wrapped in her every goddamn day. If this shit’s taught me anything, it’s that a man isn’t strong for his woman. He’s strong because of her.”

“Y’all motherfuckers have brains after all,” Huck laughs, heading our way. “Even if ya sound like you should be writin’ greetin’ cards for pussy whipped men.” Snatching my smokes and lighter from the table, he lights one up.

Stone’s phone vibrates in his hand. “It’s Teague.” Putting the phone to his ear, Stone pushes to his feet. “Stone,” he barks into the mouthpiece. My eyes follow him as he paces in front of me, as if that is going to do fuck all for the situation. “Put her on.”

Stone pulls the phone away and pushes a button. “Stone?” Shy’s asks, her voice sounding pained.

“Yeah,” Stone replies. “Got Huck and Schrader here, too. How you holdin’ up?”

Throwing down my cigarette, I wait for her response. “I’m okay. Teague hasn’t hurt me.”

I know she is lying. She isn’t okay, even if she wants everyone, including herself, to believe it. The tone in her voice, and the way she said that last sentence tells me one thing. Teague may not have hurt her, but someone sure as fuck did. “We’re comin’ to get you, Babe,” I tell her, ready to get on my bike now.

“You have everything in place?” Teague asks, taking back control of the call.

“Name the time and place,” I ground out. “I’ll wrap your shit up with a big red bow.”

“Should I be insulted you aren’t inviting me to the clubhouse?” he asks arrogantly.

“No,” Stone answers before Huck or I can. “You should be thankful. Only one reason I’d ever have you set foot on my lot.”

“It ain’t for coffee, asshole,” Huck grumbles, tossing his cigarette to the ground, then stomping it with his boot.

“Fair enough,” Teague admits. He rattles off an address, followed by listing everything he expects us to have for the exchange. “Five hours. Don’t be late,” he snaps, then the call disconnects.

My guess is Maxwell Teague believes he has us right where he wants us. That’s where he’s wrong. Vic always said that a desperate man is capable of reckless things. I am not desperate; and, for the first time in my life, I am not about to be reckless. This is it. The moment I have been planning for since that fucker started making demands that I knew we had no way of fulfilling like he wants. I am aware of the promises I have made in order for this to happen. I accept what has to happen. I also know that if this goes off like I planned, this shit all ends tonight.

Dropping to my feet, I head for the hospital doors, deciding to do one more thing before I climb on my bike. “Where the fuck are ya goin’?” Huck calls out.

“I need to see Doc.”

When I reach the electronic doors to the ICU, I see Jinks standing there talking with a tall, female nurse with long red hair. “Hey.”

“Yeah,” he deadpans. The look on his face says he isn’t happy to see me, though I expected as much. He hasn’t said two words to me since our fight in the waiting room.

“Need a minute.”

Jinks turns back to the nurse. “You let me know if anything changes.” Nodding slowly, she turns and heads down the hallway toward the cafeteria. “What?” he asks me, keeping his voice low.

“Teague reached out. Exchange’s in five hours,” I reply, then swallow hard, knowing he won’t like the next thing I have to say. “Need you to get me in to see the Old Man.”

Narrowing his brows, his entire face hardens. “You give me one goddamn reason why I should stick my neck out to do you any favors.”

“I don’t have one,” I say honestly. “All I want is the chance to say what I need to say to him before I go make shit right. Want him hearin’ it from me.”

Jinks seems shocked with my answer. He studies me for several minutes, not speaking. About the time I am about to walk away, he walks over and slaps the buzzer. “Last door on the left. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Nodding my head, I wait for Jinks to distract the nurse before making my move for Doc’s room. Quickly moving down the hallway, I shove my hands into my pockets, hoping to hide my shaky hands before stepping inside.

All the lights are off except for one above the sink. Doc lies in the bed completely still. The only movement coming from his lifeless form is the rising and falling of his chest. There are wires hooked to his body, all running to machines that beep and flash numbers that I couldn’t tell you anything about.

“Doc?” I ask, but he doesn’t move.

Stepping closer, I shake my head, unable to believe he is lying here like this. Two bullets tiny bullets did this to a man who has always been larger than life in my mind. I don’t know how to even process that shit. This fucker is stronger than anyone I know. Goddamn superhuman. Owned his mistakes, but made no apologies for who he was or how he lived his life. He was proud of everything he had accomplished in his life. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Closing my eyes, I yank a hand through my hair, wishing like hell he would wake up and yell at me, kick my ass, something, anything. “I fucked up, Old Man,” I breathe, remembering what he told me the day I earned my patch.

“Wearin’ this patch doesn’t mean you’ll never fuck up. It means you’re man enough to do whatever it takes to make it right.”

“I’m gonna fix it, Brother. I promise you that.” Scrubbing a hand over my face, I open my eyes and look at him. “Don’t know if you’re listenin’. That’s probably a good thing. If you can, I want you to know that when I bring her home, Cheyenne’s my Ol’ Lady. Kid she’s carryin’ ain’t my blood, but I want it carryin’ my last name. Want it callin’ me Pop.” Blowing out a breath, I square my shoulders, even though I know he isn’t able to see me. “You’ve got your own battle to fight, Old Man. Let me fight the one that brings her home.”

“You in love with my sister?”

Turning, I see Jinks standing in the opened doorway. Stepping forward, he stares me down, waiting impatiently for my answer. “I’ve always had love for Shy,” I reply, honestly. “Can’t think of a time when she wasn’t important to me. Didn’t see the depth of all that before; I sure as shit see it now. So, if you’re askin’ if I plan on givin’ her up when this shit with Teague’s over, the answer is no.”

“Okay,” he nods, seeming satisfied with my answer. “Let’s go get her back.”