Page 23 of Riding the Edge
Chapter Seven
It wasn’t long after I expressed my frustrations to my unconscious son that he actually opened his eyes. I had just finished accusing him of fucking with me, telling him I’d rather be in the can with a cellmate who went by the name of Mr. Big, then having to be stuck in this room with his mother another minute. Patty was becoming unbearable; the food was horrid, and the sight of doctors still agitated the fuck out of me.
As I finished my tirade, a knock sounded behind me. At first, I figured it was Patty or her sister returning to bust my balls a little more. Instead, I turned and found Linc standing in the doorway, holding a bag from my favorite pork store.
“I come bearing gifts,” he said.
“If that’s some vegan-friendly bullshit—”
“Thank fucking Christ, you’re back,” my niece Kelly, interrupted, stepping into the room. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see the pain in the ass with bright pink hair. However, I could’ve lived without seeing her face so badly bruised. She looked ten times worse than when she showed up on my doorstep with a shiner. Then, it was some elusive ex of hers that put his hands on her, this time it was one of my enemies and that didn’t fucking sit right with me. I crooked my finger, beckoning her to come closer to me.
“Get over here,” I growled.
Closing the distance between us, she moved to hug me, but I quickly pinned her arms to her sides and lifted my hands to her face. Gently brushing my fingers over the bruises covering her skin, I peered into her eyes, hoping she could see the sorrow reflected in mine.
“Are you okay?” I asked gruffly.
“I am now,” she replied. With a nod, I leaned in and pressed my lips to her forehead.
“I’m sorry,” I said hoarsely. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Wolf,” Linc called from behind her. “This shit with Yankovich was out of anyone’s control.”
I knew the kid was right but the longer I sat in that hospital replaying the last few weeks, the more I started to doubt my choices. I wondered if I had revealed the truth of him being Cain’s son when he first had asked if we might’ve been able to put the pieces together sooner. Yankovich’s motive would’ve been discovered and his brother wouldn’t have had the chance to ambush my house, shoot my son and terrorize my niece.
“We saw Patty outside, and she said Nico is stable,” Kelly said.
“That’s right,” I replied, clearing my throat. “Maybe you can get the stubborn shit to open his eyes,” I add, stepping out her way. Giving her a moment, I focused on Linc and the brown paper bag he’s holding. “What’s in the bag, kid?”
“A salami and mortadella hero.”
“Oil and vinegar?”
“Just the way you like it.”
For a byproduct of two junkies, Linc was a good kid. He was loyal, respectful and tough as nails. There aren’t too many people in this world who can handle all that he has and yet somehow, he’s pushed through watching his ex-girlfriend be murdered and regained the use of his legs after multiple surgeries. If he ain’t a warrior, I don’t know who the fuck is.
Snatching the hero out of his hand, I glance at Kelly and watch her take a seat on the edge of Nico’s bed. Bringing my eyes back to Linc, I stepped closer and lowered my voice.
“You check in with Parrish?”
“No,” he replied, jutting his chin towards Kelly. “I didn’t want to leave her. Besides, she insisted on coming here to see Nico.”
“I haven’t been home. Enzo went by to get me some clothes but other than that no one has been there to clean the mess,” I say. Reaching behind me, I dig into my back pocket and pull out my credit card. As long as they’re living under my roof, they are my responsibility.
“Take it,” I demand, splaying my palm against his chest. “Go get a room for the two of you at the Hilton Garden Inn and while you’re at it, go to Lorenzo’s and order a fucking steak.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon,” I said. “You get Kelly situated at the hotel. She’ll be safe there and then you go check in with your president. I’ll send a crew out to clean up the house and get you guys back home as soon as possible.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he replied, narrowing his eyes. I was no fool and apparently neither was Linc. If anyone knew the bad blood, I harbored it was Linc, seeing as he was the brother tied to the chair beside me. “Has Jack been here yet?”
“Uncle Al,” Kelly calls. “Nico just squeezed my hand.”
At the sign of life, I dropped the sandwich and spin around. Rushing to the bed, I watched him squeeze Kelly’s hand again before his eyes fluttered open. The relief I felt trumped how I felt when the doctors updated us after the surgery. There was nothing like looking into your kid’s eyes after he had suffered through such an ordeal.
Once Nico started to focus, he realized where he was and reached to pull the vent from his mouth. Linc hurried to get a nurse and Kelly and I both, attempted to calm him down. It wasn’t so much fear I saw reflected in his eyes but, rather anger. I knew for certain, my son was cut from the same cloth as I and it would only be a matter of time before he wanted revenge.
