The Biker's Fate Chapter 328

Lily

GENTLE FINGERS STROKED my head, and I sat up with a gasp. I still wasn't entirely awake, but I was lucid enough to see Maverick smiling. His eyes were still closed, but he was smiling. I glanced around and found my parents, along with Ace, Cassidy, Liam, and Tillie.

Cassidy was awake, and I whispered, "When did they remove the tube?"

She scooted her chair closer to me. "About an hour ago."

"How did I miss that?" I rubbed my aching back. It was killing me, probably from falling asleep in the chair. I regretted not letting them bring in a bed for me, but if they had, no one else would have fit in the room.

Cassidy squeezed my arm. "You were exhausted, sweetheart. You obviously needed to sleep."

I focused back on Maverick. "Has he woken completely yet?"

"Not yet."

I lifted his hand and kissed it gently. "Wake up, Möosh," I ordered. He didn't obey, but that didn't surprise me. It could take a long time for a patient to wake up after surgery. The body had to process the trauma and the effects of anesthesia.

"What did they say about his oxygen level?" I asked.

"Ninety-eight percent after they took the tube out."

I kissed Maverick's hand again. "That's really good."

"How are you feeling, honey?" Cassidy asked.

"I'm okay, Cass." I pushed up from my chair. "I do need to pee, though."

"Baby girl, you okay?" Dad asked gruffly. He stood and closed the distance between us.

"I'm good, Daddy. I just have to use the restroom." He walked to the bathroom with me and was waiting for me when I came out, walking beside me as I headed back to my vigil.

"You need to rest, Lil."

"I just slept for two hours."

Dad frowned. "That's not really what I meant."

I sighed as I took my seat again. "I know, but I'm not leaving him, so please don't ask me again."

Dad shook his head as he stroked my cheek, but he walked back to his chair without comment.

"Don't argue with your dad, Lil," Maverick rasped.

I gasped and jumped to my feet, leaning over him. Finding the call button, I pressed it and then sat on the edge of the mattress. The rest of the family circled the bed.

"Hey, Möosh." I stroked his cheek. "Can you open your eyes?"

He smiled. "No."

I chuckled. "Try harder."

He blinked and managed to squint a little. His nurse, Sandra, walked in and shooed everyone away so she could check him. I refused to leave, keeping firm hold of Maverick's hand, and watched every move she made.

"I'm going to let the doc know you're awake," Sandra said. "Everything looks good. Can I get you anything?"

He shook his head.

She nodded to me. "He can have water if he's thirsty."

She left, and I leaned over him, kissing him gently. "You scared the shit out of me."

Maverick smiled. "Sorry, baby doll. Is Tillie okay?"

"I'm here," she said and rushed to his side, tears flowing down her cheeks. "You saved me."

"You kinda helped, sis."

While the family spent a few minutes with him, I poured him some water and forced him to drink a little. "It'll help your throat, Möosh."

"Sit down, Lily," he demanded. "You need to rest."

"If you think I'm leaving you, you're high."

"Then get your ass up here." He patted the mattress beside him.

"Mav—"

"Now," he pressed. He grimaced as he shifted his large body to the side.

"You're going to hurt yourself," I growled.

He held his arm out to me (the one not hooked up to the IV), and I settled myself against him as gently as I could. As soon as his arm came around my waist, I burst into tears. I buried my face against his chest and let the stress of the last two days go.

"I'm okay, baby doll. I got you." He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head as my sobs wracked my body.

Mom leaned over me, kissed my cheek, and then pulled a blanket around me.

Maverick

Lily lost her battle with sleep, and I refused to wake her when the doctor came in to examine me. "You're gonna need to work around her," I whispered. "I'm not moving her."

Hawk and Payton had taken the kids down to get something to eat while my parents stayed behind. When the doctor left, I glanced over at my mom. "Can you hit that pain pump for me, please?"

Mom rushed to help, stroking my cheek. "Do you need me to call the doctor back in?"

"I'm good, Mama," I assured her.

"If anything happened to you..."

"I'm good, Mom. I wasn't about to leave any of you." I focused on my dad. "What happened to Brick?"

Dad crossed his arms and whispered, "DOA."

I relaxed. "Good."

"Don't like that he got a shot off," Dad said.

"He didn't shoot me," I said. "Jenny did."

"That bitch," Mom hissed. "I'm gonna make sure she hangs."

"We don't hang people anymore, baby," Dad said.

"Then she'd better make sure the police find her before I do."

"Jaxon's already got her down at FBI holding," Dad pointed out.

"Well, then your brother had better let me have ten minutes with her without cameras."

I chuckled. "I've never seen you so bloodthirsty."

Mom burst into tears. "She took my babies! That bitch is gonna pay."

Dad pulled her into the shelter of his body and wrapped his arms around her. "Okay, baby. She'll get what's comin' to her."

"How did you find us?" I asked.

"Ryder." Dad slid his hand to Mom's neck and stroked her gently. "He said that now that Brick is dead, Char will probably double down, so he's getting everyone ready."

"I really thought Ryder was gonna be a problem," I admitted.

Dad chuckled. "Ryder's in, bud."

"So's Sadie," Mom interjected. "That woman's going to be our best friend... I can feel it."

"Think she already is," Dad said, and Mom nodded.

I slid my hand to Lily's belly. "Is she okay?"

"She had some cramping, but Alec checked her and determined it was just from stress," Mom said.

"Shit," I hissed. "This wasn't supposed to touch her."

"Can't keep it all from us, honey," Mom said. "But she was covered."

I kissed Lily's head, biting back a yawn. "Thanks."

"You should rest, honey." Mom kissed my cheek. "We'll be right here."

I nodded and closed my eyes. My world was right again with my girl in my arms.