Golden Atonement - Chapter 62

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Reaper

Stepping out of the elevator, I looked both ways, seeing the reception desk to my left. Walking over to it, I noticed a pretty blonde nurse sitting behind the desk, typing away on a computer.

Clearing my throat, she looked up at me and smiled. “How may I help you?”

“I’m looking for Julie Moore’s room.”

“Are you family?”

“You can say that. Her husband is my brother.”

The woman nodded. “She’s in room 213. Mr. Moore is still with her.”

Saying nothing more, I walked down the long hallway and stopped outside her room. Taking a deep breath, I lightly knocked before entering. The second I stepped inside, I wished I had stayed at the clubhouse. Savage and the others told me it was bad, but I wasn’t expecting this.

Julie lay on a bed, motionless. Her heartbeat was only visible on the machine next to her as a ventilator slowly moved up and down, breathing for her. Next to her sat her husband, holding her hand, saying absolutely nothing.

Walking over to the woman, I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Hey, beautiful girl. Thought you could use some more company. Sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

Pulling a spare chair closer, I sat on the opposite side of her when I heard Slaughter speak, “Everyone is giving up on her. They don’t think she will wake up. She’s strong, Reaper. Stronger than everyone gives her credit for. She proved them all wrong with the baby. I know she will again.”

“I hear you have a beautiful baby girl,” I murmured before adding, “Remi is visiting with her now.”

“She’s so little. The docs say there might be complications. How am I gonna tell Julie when she wakes up?”

“You tell her the truth, brother. Have you gone to see your daughter yet?”

Slaughter shook his head. “No. I’m waiting for Julie to wake up.”

“Brother,” I said, leaning forward. “Your daughter is all alone in the NICU. Has been for months. She needs to see her father.”

“I can’t,” my brother whispered, shaking his head as a lone tear rolled down his face. “I can’t do this without her. She wanted a baby. Not me. I just wanted Julie. She’s all I ever wanted. I told her we could adopt. There are so many kids that need a loving home, but she wanted one of her own. Everyone told her that it was impossible, but she had to prove them wrong. Now look at my girl.”

“Chapman, look at me.”

Slaughter turned his head, his eyes red and swollen from the pain and anguish he was feeling.

“What are the doctors saying?”

“I’m sure everyone’s already told you.”

“Yes, they have, but I want to hear it from you.”

Slaughter sighed, then turned to look at his wife. “They said when the placenta fully detached, it caused an embolism that went straight to her brain. They say she felt nothing, but I’m not so sure. One minute she was awake, the next nothing. They managed to get the baby out fast, but she was so little. She was barely twenty-seven weeks old. I never got to see her. They rushed her out of the room. Julie’s doctors were able to get her heart beating again, but apparently the damage was already done. Every test they’ve run says the same thing. That my Julie is brain-dead. That the machines are the only thing keeping her alive. But miracles happen all the time, right?”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, brother. They do.”

“The hospital administration wants me to take Julie off the machines. They say if I don’t soon, her body will start to deteriorate. Something about her organs being close to shutting down. But I know my girl, Reaper. She’s a fighter. She won’t ever give up.”

“Brother, listen to me. If there was anything the doctors could do, don’t you think they would have tried it already? From my understanding, Julie’s doctor even called in a specialist for her.”

“Dr. Robinette,” Slaughter muttered.

“Brother, I hate this for you. I really do, and I’m not telling you to give up hope, but you have a baby girl downstairs who’s ready to go home. She’s beaten all the odds, brother. The doctors say she’s healthy and thriving. She’s gonna need her daddy.”

“I’m a dad.”

“Yeah, brother. You are a dad.”

Slaughter leaned forward and whispered as tears streamed down his face, “You hear that, baby? You did it. I’m a dad now. We have a baby girl. You did it, Julie.”

“Mr. Moore?”

Turning in my seat, I stared at the pretty brunette wearing a white coat holding a medical chart in her hand. When Slaughter ignored the woman, I got up and introduced myself. “I’m Maxwell Doherty.”

“I know who you are, Reaper. My husband is with the Sons of Hell. You know him as Frank. My name is Claudia.”

“I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Claudia. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for Julie and Chapman. If there is anything I can do for you, just let me know.”

“Thank you for that,” the woman said, then whispered, “Can we talk out in the hall?”

Nodding, I said nothing, following the doctor out of the room, where I saw Savage, Whiskey, and Digger waiting.

“The girls are with Remi and the baby,” Savage quickly said. “We’re only here ‘cause Lidi called us.”

Turning to the woman, I asked, “What did you need to tell me?”

“There is no other way to say this, but it’s time. I got Julie’s latest test results back. Her body is shutting down.”

“Shit,” Whiskey growled, turning away from us before punching the wall.

“I’m so sorry, but I need to tell Chapman, and I’m afraid he will not take it well. One of you needs to make him listen or he’s going to watch his wife fade away in front of his eyes.”

“There is nothing more you can do?” Digger asked.

“No. I’m so sorry. The fact is, Julie was pronounced brain-dead the day she delivered her daughter. We only resuscitated her at her husband’s insistence. We thought he just needed some time to come to terms with her death, but now I fear it’s more than that. He’s holding onto hope, and hope will not heal his wife.”

“What do you need us to do?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck when we all heard an alarm going off.

Running back into the room, we all stopped dead in our tracks. Slaughter sat on the bed, holding Julie in his arms, tears flowing down his face as he rocked his wife close, singing Garth Brooks’, ‘To Make You Feel My Love’.

“There ain’t nothing that I wouldn’t do. Go to the ends of the earth for you, to make you feel my love. I love you, baby. I’m gonna miss you somethin’ fierce. Wait for me at the gate, baby. I’ll see you soon.”

Fuck. I hated this for Slaughter.

Turning away, I wiped my own tears as my brothers all sniffed, looking everywhere but at the couple on the bed. Slaughter had been in love with Julie since high school. Sweethearts, they married right after graduation and never looked back. I didn’t know how he was ever going to get over Julie’s loss, but I knew all of us would be there for him.

Slaughter laid his wife to rest three days later on a misty, smoky Tennessee morning with her entire Tennessee family around her. Family flew in from all around for the funeral, even Ghost and Ari, who insisted on being there for everyone. It was a solemn occasion, but beautiful. The only one missing was Ace, but he sent a beautiful flower arrangement of white lilies. Julie’s favorite.

Laid next to Roxy and Moonshine, Julie was in good company, and I, for one, knew they were there to welcome her home.

“It’s been a week now,” Savage said. “He’s getting worse.”

“As much as I hate it, Savage is right,” Digger spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck. “God, Stella is going to kill me. She loves that baby, but maybe getting away for a bit will help him.”

“The problem is getting him to leave,” Chipper stated. “I don’t see him going willingly.”

“He won’t,” Ravage piped up. “I know Slaughter. Brother was born and raised in these mountains. His wife is buried out back. He ain’t going anywhere.”

“Well, we have to do something.” Trout sighed. “Because he’s barely sleeping, he doesn’t eat. Hell, he won’t even hold his daughter.”

“He just lost his wife,” Bullseye muttered, silencing the room. Phantom reached over, taking her husband’s hand while he continued, “I know what he’s feeling. It will never go away. He’s going to have to learn to live with the pain. It will get easier in time, but right now, if you all know what’s good for you. You will leave him alone. Let him grieve in his own way.”

“Bullseye’s right.” I sighed. “I hate this for him, but I will not force Slaughter to do anything he doesn’t want to. Give the man some space. In the meantime, I’ve got something that might take his mind off everything for a while. King contacted me yesterday. It seems the Russian Bratva is heading to Rosewood, and he’s asked that we give him some backup.”

“You think that’s a good idea, brother?” Savage sat up. “I mean, he’s barely functioning.”

“He’s still a patched brother in this club. Not leaving him hanging alone. Besides, the Sons of Hell are still in his mountains. If it’s too much for him, he can be back here within an hour. Bullseye, I’m gonna need you, Phantom, and Ravage to head home. I’m sure Massacre has everything under control, but I don’t want to push my luck.”

Savage chuckled. “I’d be more worried about Player putting a cap in his ass.”

I grinned at that.

“Ghost, any word on Thena?”

“Not yet, but I have a few leads.”

“Good.”

“Uh.” Bullseye frowned, sitting up. “Please tell me the cut Ghost is wearing is the real deal. Cause if it is, I’m moving back here.”

Rolling my eyes, I groaned, “Yes. Ghost is back for good, but you are still the VP until he can get his family packed and moved back to California, and what the hell do you mean, you’re moving back here? I still need you at the main chapter.”

“You’ve got Ravage.” Bullseye grinned. “He’s not as good as me, but he will do in a pinch.”

Ravage flipped Bullseye the one finger bird.

“I’m serious, Dylan. I need you there.”

“No, you need my wife there. Look, Reaper, I only took the chair because Sandman would kill everyone and not think twice. Got love for you, brother, but you are fucking exhausting. My wife can do her shit at the cabin here. This is my home, Max. It always has been. Please don’t make me choose between home and the club, because I will choose home every time.”

Taking a deep breath, I nodded.

What could I say? Bullseye had given so much for the club already. I couldn’t deny his one request.

“Alright. After Ghost is back home in California, you can jet. But let me be very clear. If I need you, I better not hear any shit. Got me?”

“Um.” Savage sat up and glared. “Do either of you care what I think?”

“No,” the both of us said in unison.

“Fuckers,” Savage growled, sulking back into his chair.

“Alright,” I said, leaning forward. “Tomorrow, we leave for the Sons of Hell. Savage and Whiskey, you two are going with me along with Slaughter. So, get him ready.”