When we walk in the hospital, Melissa breaks from us to head to her office for the files she needs while the rest of us make our way to the fourth floor.Riot is sitting in the chair outside Sutton’s room and stands when we approach.He took one of the other brother’s spot after the funeral today so that he didn’t have to be around anyone for a while.The loss of Rocky is hitting everyone hard.We’re all having a hard time processing it.
“Prez, Havoc,” Riot greets.“There’s been an update, and it doesn’t seem good.Ian was headed to check something out with her doctor before he called you.”He looks over at me with a slight frown.My stomach drops.I’m not sure any of us can take more bad news for a while.
Ivy and Raegan waste no time and rush in the room.Ivy stands shocked at the foot of Sutton’s bed with a hand over her mouth.
“I still can’t believe this.Who would do something like this to an innocent person?”Ivy’s voice trembles as she holds back a sob.“Who would want to hurt someone like her or Rocky?It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Someone who’s pure evil,” Raegan states as she lightly traces her finger over Sutton’s.“That’s who.”
“It doesn’t seem like it’s her.”Ivy looks over to Raegan.“She seems bigger than what I remember a few months ago.”
“Maybe she’s swollen from the burns?”Raegan answers, but it sounds more like a question.I watch as Raegan tilts her head and starts to examine Sutton.Her eyes are inspecting my woman from head to toe.
Tears well up in Ivy’s eyes, and she waves her hand around fighting a losing battle.“Never mind, I’m just…sad and can’t believe this is happening.”
Riot comes over to Ivy and stands beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.I know they hooked up when she was last here.When I’d asked what was going on with them, he’d said that it was casual and nothing more.Said that she preferred to keep it that way since her career was the most important thing in her life right now.
“I’m sorry about Rocky,” I hear her say to my best friend.
“Thanks, babe,” he tells her.
“Want to talk about it?”
I walk over to the window and give them some space to catch up.A few moments later, Ian walks in.
“I saw Melissa down by her office, she said you were here.Dr.Kemp is on his way here to talk with you.Thought I could help with any questions,” Ian tells us.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?”Raegan clutches her chest, bracing herself.I’m frozen in place, and the buzz in my ears makes it hard to hear everything else he’s saying.
Stone goes to Raegan’s side.“Just tell us the news, so we don’t have to wait,” Stone snarls like a dog fed up.I think we all feel the same way right now.It’s starting to seem that every turn we take, we’re hit with bad news.
“She’s developing pneumonia, and our fear is that she’s not far from getting sepsis.Normally the immune system can contain the infection to one site, but she’s covered with burns that are vulnerable to this.”
“So, we’re going to lose her,” I choke out.
Dr.Kemp walks in and is able to read the room.“I know this isn’t the news you were hoping for, but do you have any questions?”
“This can’t be happening,” Raegan gasps.“No, there has to be something you can do or give her something to make her better.”She turns to Stone, looking up at him, then places a hand on her tiny bump.Stone sees the movement, and he traps her hand under his like he’s protecting the unborn life they made.“I can’t lose another person I love.”
“STONE!HAVOC!”we hear shouted from down the hall.
“Get in the corner and stay down,” Stone orders Raegan and Ivy.They rush over to the opposite wall away from the door and glass viewing window.
At the sound of Melissa’s frantic calling, we move into motion towards the door.I watch as Stone’s stepmom runs down the long hallway.Reaper, who’s been standing watch outside the room already has his piece out ready for a target to shoot.She’s running like the dogs of hell are chasing her.She’s got a folder in her hand.Riot, Stone, and I all pull our guns from under our cuts, holding them down, pointing at the floor until we see the threat.
“What’s wrong?What’s happened?”Stone questions.
He pulls Melissa into the room as Riot and Reaper stay by the door to be a lookout.They have their backs to us but can hear the conversation.
“Something’s not right.It can’t be,” she mumbles, trying to catch her breath like she sprinted up all four flights of stairs.
“What are you talking about?What’s not right?”I ask, matching her same energy.
“Phillip told me about what Rocky was saying to Stone on the phone.How he saw Sutton,” Melissa slowly says as she catches her breath.
“Wait, what?Rocky said he saw Sutton?How?”Raegan interjects and comes over with Ivy.“Why didn’t you tell me that?”She looks over at her husband.“How could he have seen Sutton when she’s been here and Rocky was at the house?”
“We don’t know what he meant by what he was saying,” Stone tells his wife.“We aren’t sure what he saw or was looking at.”