Page 47 of Puck (The Lost Boys MC)
I pointed to him. “Call him five times. If he doesn’t pick up, go find him.”
Texas looked over at Stone and our president nodded, so Texas followed my orders. I hated that they did that, as if the newer guys in the crew weren’t capable of making good decisions in times like these. But Texas didn’t even have to call twice before Asher picked up.
And when he hung up the phone, a grin crossed his face. “Asher and his V.P. are okay. They’re on their way here now. They were looking for Clancy and his boys, actually.”
Clancy groaned. “Fuck. I’m so sorry. My boys, they just—”
“Daddy, don’t beat yourself up,” Brigid said, “any of us could’ve lost our concentration if we saw any one of our family members go down.”
I nodded. “She’s right. You’re a father first, so don’t hold that instinct against yourself. Not even when conducting business.”
The two of us stared at one another for a very long time before Clancy nodded his head. And while I didn’t have any time to interpret the relief that washed its way through my veins, Notch snapped in front of my face to get my attention.
“Whenever you’re ready, I need that arm of yours,” he said.
I shrugged off my coat. “Ready when you are.”
They hooked me up to Kieran before they continued to find the source of the bleed from his shoulder. I watched as my own sister pulled out the bullet, but then he started bleeding even more. Brigid freaked out as her father barked for answers. As Notch tried his best to tune everything out, I watched my own blood pour into this man’s son.
Whose sister I loved with every passing second I was around her.
Suddenly, I started feeling woozy. “Uh, guys?”
Notch didn’t even look up at me. “Just one more pint. Stay with me, Puck.”
“Jared?” Mom asked. “What’s wrong?”
And when Ruby looked up at me, my knees grew weak.
“He’s gonna pass—”
Then, the entire world went black.
“He should have woken up already. Why the hell is he not waking up?”
I heard Mom’s voice before Brigid chimed in.
“Lori, you have to trust them. If Notch says there’s nothing to worry about, then there’s—”
“My son isn’t up yet!” she shrieked. “I want to know why!”
Notch sighed. “Miss Lori, it’s just a vasovagal reaction. Many people pass out when giving blood, and that’s all that happened.”
“Where is he?” Clancy asked. “Is he awake yet?”
Brigid sniffled. “No, Daddy. He’s not awake yet.”
Their voices slowly came into focus and my body felt heavier than lead. The mattress beneath my back cushioned me as I willed my fingers and toes to move.
But they simply couldn’t.
“It’s okay, princess, he’s going to be all right,” Clancy said softly.
I heard Brigid softly crying and it shattered my soul. “He helped save Kieran. He has to wake up.”
“Trust me,” Clancy said softly, “he will.”
“Why don’t we give him some time to rest,” Notch murmured as his voice grew further away, “because even if he didn’t fully pass out, he’d still need to rest.”
“I don’t want to leave him,” Brigid whispered.
I felt someone take my hand before Clancy spoke. “I’ll make sure to have Rowan check up on him every so often. Okay, a leanbh?”
She drew in a broken breath. “Oh-oh-okay.”
Then, the person holding my hand squeezed it before my mother’s whispered voice sounded in my ear.
“Rest easy, sweet boy. I’ll be back soon.”
And with her soothing voice against the shell of my ear, I slipped off back to sleep.
Twenty-Six
Brigid
I couldn’t hold my emotions back any longer. I didn’t care who saw me crying over Puck or who disapproved of my actions. As Daddy walked me out of the room, I peered over my shoulder, watching as Notch took his pulse one last time. Then, he pulled Lori away from her son and guided everyone else out of the room.
“Daddy?” I whispered.
He rubbed my back. “What is it, princess?”
I sighed heavily. “Can I just have a few minutes to myself?”
He kissed the top of my head. “Of course. Come find me in the kitchen when you’re done. I’ll make you some food.”
I nodded mindlessly. “Thanks.”
As everyone passed by me, they grabbed my hand or my shoulder and squeezed it. And when I knew everyone was gone and that I was alone, I broke down in tears. I sank to my knees, put my face in my hands, and sobbed so hard and so viciously that my chest started to ache.
It felt like my heart had been shattered into slivers meant to slice my veins wide open.
“No-ho-ho-ho-ho,” I choked.
I’d tried being the backbone for the family. I’d tried bringing a little class and sophistication to all of this. But seeing my brothers like this—and seeing my father like this—broke something inside of me.
However, it didn’t hold a candle to watching Puck drop like a sack of potatoes.
