I took the sleeping child into my arms as tears streamed down my face. “Hello, Emerson,” I cooed as I kissed her soft forehead. “How’s Allie?” Looking back to the doctor, I could barely get the words out.
His gaze darted away from me briefly, and I knew it was over.
“I am so sorry.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Would you like to say goodbye?”
My brothers stood behind me as I took the hardest steps I’d ever had to take.
With my daughter clutched in my arms, I made my way to the bed where my wife lay still. She didn’t even look like herself. Her body was limp, her skin ashen, and her gorgeous lips had lost their pink glow.
“You did so good,” I whispered as I stood rocking my little girl. “Emerson is so beautiful and strong just like you.”
Standing there, I sobbed.
“I don’t know how to do this without you, but I will find a way. I will be the best father I can be and I will never let Emerson forget who you are. I love you so much and I am going to miss you every day.”
My blood boiled. Allie was innocent in all of this. She deserved to be a mother, to watch her daughter grow up. We had been robbed of so much in an instant.
Sinking down on the foot of the hospital bed, I sat gaping at the little miracle sleeping soundly in my arms. She was one last gift Allie gave me, one last piece of my wonderful wife that I would never take for granted.
I didn’t want to leave Allie’s side, but I knew it was time. As I walked back out to the waiting room, all my brothers gathered around me, meeting the newest member of our family.
“Maccon,” a familiar singsong voice called to me. Turning, I saw the sorrowful face of my sister as she ran to me. “I came as fast as I could.”
“Thank you for coming, Piper. Want to meet your niece?”
My sister took Emerson from my arms as she started crying. “She’s absolutely beautiful.”
A nurse came up to us while we were fawning over our little miracle. “I am so sorry, but we need to take her to the newborn intensive care unit.”
As the nurse took my daughter, my heart was crushed again. “Is she all right?”
The nurse gave me a sympathetic smile. “We have to be careful with premature babies, but she’s a strong one. She’s going to be fine, will probably only stay with us for a few days. It’s just a precaution, that’s all.”
“Will you go with her?” I asked Piper.
Giving me a quick hug, she sighed. “Of course, big brother. I won’t let her out of my sight.”
“I’m so sorry, son.” My father pulled me into his arms. “It’s your call. What do you want to do?”
I took a step back, straightening up as I looked at all the guys huddled up. “We’re going to make them pay for all of this, for Katherine and for Allie. We’re going to destroy every last one them if it is the last thing I fucking do.”
Reese put his hand on my shoulder. “Aye, brother. They have no idea who they messed with. Let’s give ’em hell.”
Chapter 4
Maccon
After three sleepless nights at the hospital, I finally got the all-clear to take Emerson home. It should have been the happiest day of my life, but I was empty. The one person I wanted by my side couldn’t be there.
“You sit in the back with her. I’ll drive.” Piper grabbed my keys out of my hand before I could protest.
“Thanks.” I clicked Emerson’s car seat into the back of my pickup and climbed in beside her.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of my fussing daughter as she took her first car ride. I tried everything to soothe her and failed miserably.
“Allie would have known just how to keep her calm,” I muttered to myself.
Piper glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Hey, bro?”