CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Two days later, Mountain, Izzy and Boone sat in a waiting room of the Albany hospital waiting for Dr. Ethan Bright.
Boone looked over at Mountain and asked, “Why exactly are we here again?”
“Because I want to find out exactly what is wrong with you,” Mountain replied in a firm tone. “I think someone has been lying to you for a long time now, lying or just not getting you the care you needed. Either way, its neglect and I think it needs to stop. This may not be the doctor you need to see but he can recommend someone who can help you.”
“Help me do what?” Boone asked.
“That’s what we’re here to find out.”
Just then, Boone’s name was called and all three got to their feet.
In the office, Dr. Bright searched their faces and asked, “What can I do for you?”
“Eight years ago this young man was shot,” Mountain explained. “The bullet lodged in his back and he was paralyzed. Two years ago, he fell and since then he’s had severe pain in his legs. He hasn’t seen a doctor in all this time but I think there is something going on and it’s high time, he found out what that something is.”
Dr. Bright looked over at Boone and asked, “Was the bullet ever removed?”
Boone shook his head. “From what I remember it was too close to my spine. The doctors I saw then didn’t want to mess with it. But that was eight years ago.”
“Well then, let’s begin by getting a better picture of what’s going on.” Dr. Bright called in his nurse and recommended getting Boone down to x-ray.
Three hours later, they were right back where they started. When Dr. Bright came into the exam room, he had a smile on his face. “Young man today is your lucky day.”
“How is that?” Boone frowned.
“I got the x-rays from the night you were shot and compared them to the x-rays we took today. Apparently, when you fell two years ago the jolt you took, dislodged the bullet embedded in your spine. The bullet never penetrated the spine but there is still some damage there. It didn’t move far but far enough we can operate and remove it.”
Izzy gasped. She took his hand and held it tight. “Is there a possibility that he could walk again?”
Dr. Bright sat down and studied his notes for a moment. When he looked over at them he said, “It might take some time and some hard work on his part but I think there is a real possibility he could walk again.”
Boone crushed her fingers in his excitement. He turned his head and stared at her, then excitedly glanced over to the doctor. “How soon can you get the bullet out?”
“Can you come back tomorrow morning for a pre-op physical and blood work?”
“You bet.”
“If things check out, we can do the surgery tomorrow afternoon.”
Boone turned excited eyes to Izzy. “I will be able to walk again. I can have my life back!”
“Damn that sounds good.” She beamed at him.
“It won’t be as easy as you think,” Mountain interjected. “You’ll have to really work for every inch toward your final goal. There are going to be times when you’re screaming in pain and just want it to go away. Are you ready for that? There are going to be times when you don’t think you can take another step? Are you going to be ready for that?”
Izzy just stared at him like he was crazy. “Why are you telling him that?”
Mountain turned to look at her for a moment then gazed at Dr. Bright. “Because it’s going to happen. And that’s just the beginning, isn’t that right doc?”
Dr. Bright nodded slowly. “Yes, that will be just the beginning. You’ve been in that chair for eight years. Even after we remove the bullet, there is still going to be significant nerve damage that you have to learn to overcome. It will be a little like learning to walk all over again. You’ll take one step forward and two steps back at times but you have to remember, if you want this bad enough you’ll have it but it’s going to take time and real effort on your part. The medical staff can help you, your sister and friends can help you but we can’t do it for you. You have to be willing to reach down deep inside yourself and find the strength and the will power to get where you want to be. And that my young friend…is on you.”
Boone nodded. “I think you’re trying to scare me but it isn’t working. I can be as stubborn as Izzy. I can and will do this.”
“Good because you have seven months to get walking,” Izzy informed him.
“Why that time frame?” Boone frowned.
“Because I might need help walking the baby at night,” she explained while staring at Mountain. She hadn’t told him yet. She saw his eyes widen in surprise then she saw him smile.
He didn’t say anything just watched her closely. His gaze went from her face down to her belly and his smile widened.
Boone on the other hand grabbed her and hugged her close. “You mean I’m going to be an uncle?”
“Yep.”
“And what does the dad have to say about that?” Boone wanted to know as he turned to study Mountain.
“The dad is more worried about what the granddad will have to say,” Mountain told him. “I think we should get married before we tell Dominic about his change in status.”
“Even without the baby, I would be proud to marry you.” Izzy framed his face with her hands. “I love you Talon Morgan.”
“That’s a good thing because we will be married and I believe marriage should last forever.”
“Me too.” Izzy kissed him. “Me too.”
Mountain grinned. “I wonder how Melora is going to handle being a big sister?”
Izzy chuckled. “It will blow her mind but I think she’ll be ok with it.”
“At least your kids will be close in age,” Boone suggested. “Yeah, you and Sam have more in common than you realize. You’re both fathers, then grandfathers, then fathers again. That’s just a little bit backwards, don’t you think?”
Mountain laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess it is but it’s so much fun too.” He checked his watch. “As much as I’d like to debate all of this, we need to go.”
Dr. Bright waved at them and went out the door.
“Where are we going?” Izzy asked.
“Back to the clubhouse. We have a wedding to attend.” Mountain held up his hand. “No not ours, but we all need to be there anyway.”
“Who’s doing the deed?” Boone asked as he turned his chair around and made his way down the hall.
“Gator and Reva but Reva doesn’t know it yet. That’s why you all didn’t know about it. Gator wanted to surprise her. He’s been waiting seventeen years for this day and he wanted to make it special for her.”
Izzy chuckled. “I don’t think she’ll mind. She is plain nuts over that man, even after all this time.”
Mountain pulled her into his arms. “That’s what I want for us. Being so crazy in love that will last a lifetime.”
“Good,” she whispered. “Because that’s what I want too.”
He chuckled in her ear. “Although my lifetime will be considerably shorter than yours.”
“Please don’t say shit like that.” Izzy smacked his chest. “Yeah, I know you’re older than I am but I want to grow old with you.”
“I want to watch you grow old with me,” he spoke quietly. “I know I’ve lived what seems like a lifetime already, but I’ve been lonely. I’ve never found another woman that seemed to be the other half of my soul. I thought I had that for a little while when I was with Carla but back then, I was stupid and walked away from her and the baby she was carrying. I hope someday, she can forgive me for that.” He gazed into her eyes. “Then when I first met you, I got the shock of my life.”
Izzy frowned. “I was a shock to you?”
“Oh yeah, I saw you standing there next to my daughter and I just froze. All my life I’ve been dreaming of a woman. I could never see her face but I could see her standing in the shadows, waiting for me to find her. As soon as I saw you, I knew you were that woman. I tried to hate you too. Blame everything that happened to Melora on you…” His eyes looked sad. “I tried everything to stay away from you but I couldn’t. That night when you came to me for the first time, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I should have turned you away, but I just couldn’t do it. I know I’m twice your age but that night I didn’t care. All that mattered to me was being in your arms and when I was it was like coming home.” He shrugged. “I can’t explain it any better than that. To me, you belonged in my arms. Your past doesn’t matter, only you matter. I called you my woman but you’re so much more than that. You are my life and I would do anything to keep you safe and happy.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. “My life was nothing until I found you.”
Mountain hugged her to him. “Come on, let’s get to this wedding so we can start planning our own. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”
Izzy stood there for a moment and just stared at him. “I hope you don’t want a big wedding.” She wrung her hands. “I know girls dream of white dresses and veils and huge cakes but that’s just not me. I’d rather be surrounded by family and friends and right now, I don’t have that many of either. I’ll marry you any time anywhere but I can’t do a huge wedding.”
“What do you want your wedding to be like?” he asked as they walked down the hall and kept their eyes on Boone way ahead of them.
“Just as simple ceremony with Melora as my maid of honor and Boone giving me away. You would be waiting for me and the words we would say to each other would come from our heart.”
“What about your father?” he asked softly.
“Yeah, well I didn’t know about him when I was planning this out in my head.” She chuckled. “I suppose it will be him and not Boone when I walk toward you.” She rubbed her forehead when they stopped at the elevator where Boone was waiting for them. “Damn, how did my life get so complicated so fast?”
By the time they got to the clubhouse, the dooryard was filling up with all sorts of vehicles. Most were bikes but there were a few cars as well. There was even a limo or two. What really surprised her was the line of men standing guard all around the fence line and clubhouse. There was a mixture of men she knew and some she didn’t know.
When they got inside, she understood why.
Leon and Calderone were in attendance as well as Dominic Marconi. A few other men stood around in suits and she had a feeling they had arrived with Dominic.
The inside of the clubhouse was decorated with grey and red ribbons. The altar sat in front of the tiger paintings on the wall as seemed to be custom for weddings in the clubhouse now. Rufus and Diablo resided over the newly wedded like sentinels to a happy future, on one wall while Cade the white tiger graced the other wall. Each table had a white tablecloth and the main table sported a bouquet of flowers hand-picked from the area Reva loved, her waterfall garden.
Gator was standing beside Sam, Deke and Iceman.
Mountain walked over to speak to the men.
Izzy and Boone went to join Dominic. “Hey, I didn’t think I’d see you this soon,” Izzy told him.
“I couldn’t stay away.” Dominic smiled. He embraced her and laid his hand on Boone’s shoulder. “My business didn’t take long and I was free to join you again.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a long envelope. “I thought you might like to have that.” He handed it to her.
Izzy stared at him for a moment then opened the envelope. Inside were several legal documents. One of which was her birth certificate. Another was a trust set up years ago. The amount of money in the trust astounded her. Her eyes widened. She scanned the document quickly then pushed it back into the envelope. Handing it back to him, she shook her head. “I’ll take the birth certificate but I don’t want your money.”
“Why not?” he asked while looking stunned. “I haven’t supported you all these years. I think it’s the least I can do now.”
Izzy glared at him. “I don’t want your money. I won’t take it. You told me you searched for me all these years and that’s all I needed to know.”
“But as my daughter you should have had a better life,” Dominic urged.
“My life wasn’t all that bad. I survived it,” she assured him. “I don’t want or need your money. That’s not how I work.”
“It’s how everyone works young lady.” One of Dominic’s men came over and joined them. “Everyone wants something, its human nature.”
“Benny, back off.” Dominic growled.
“Introduce me, Dominic,” the other man insisted.
“Isabelle, this is my attorney Benjamin Singer.” Dominic nodded at the other man. “Ben, this is my daughter Isabelle, and her brother Boone.”
“When Dominic came to us and told us he finally found you after all these years, we were astounded and gladdened by the news. Years ago, he set up this trust in case you were ever found. It’s grown to an enormous amount and you can access the money anytime you need it.”
Izzy shook her head. “I have all I need or want already. I don’t want the money and I refuse to take it. I didn’t earn it, so it isn’t mine to take.” She moved closer to Boone and started reaching for the handles of his chair to leave.
Benjamin Singer grabbed her wrists. “Don’t be so righteous, it doesn’t really suit you.” He snarled. “You are his daughter the money belongs to you.”
“Take your hands off my sister, right now.” Boone growled.
“Ben, stop being an ass,” Dominic grumbled.
Suddenly, Mountain was standing there glaring at the man holding Izzy’s wrists. “Take your hands off my woman or be prepared to lose some teeth. I think gumming your food for the rest of your life might not suit you,” he gritted out.
Ben made a show of lifting his hands away.
Mountain glared at him for a moment then turned to Dominic. “What is going on here?”
Izzy stepped in front of him. “I was trying to tell Mr. Marconi that even though he claims to be my father, I don’t want or need his money. That’s when his attorney objected.”
Mountain curled his lip. “She’s right. I can provide for both Izzy and Boone. They may not live in a mansion but they will have everything they need or want.” He wrapped his arm around Izzy’s shoulders and pulled both Izzy and Boone away.
Before they got too far, Izzy turned to her father. With tears in her eyes she whispered, “All I ever wanted out of life was someone to love me and tell me that I mattered. I found that and so much more with Talon. Boone is my brother and he loves me for who I am…just that, nothing more and nothing less. I know you don’t understand this, but it’s something money can’t buy. But now I have more than I ever hoped I could have. I have a man who loves me and I have a little piece of him growing inside my body. When my child is born, he or she will know how very much I love them. I will teach this baby the lessons Melora taught me, how to care about someone other than myself and how to never take what I haven’t earned with my own two hands. I don’t need millions of dollars, or diamonds galore. I just need someone to love me.”
Dominic stood still as he blinked his eyes at her, a stunned expression on his face.
She turned and pushed her brother toward the life she wanted for him and for herself. Some people might look down on the MC’s of the world but she knew better. She knew this MC was a real family. She finally found the home she’d been looking for all her life and it was here..