Chapter 42

Ailee


I woke up two hours later still feeling exhausted but I won’t let it stop me. I took a quick shower to wake myself up some more. I put on some light makeup to cover the bags under my eyes. Since it was warm out today I put on a lightweight green sundress. I can’t stand anything heavy on my body right now. It feels like I’m being weighed down and makes me hurt even more. Once I’m done Callen helps me to the SUV while Finn brings our gift. We are going to Kelley’s house for the shower. I have never been before so I’m curious what it looks like. With three different people living there I’m sure they are going to have different styles. We drive for twenty minutes before we arrive. The mailbox and all the beams on the front porch are covered in blue balloons. A large banner above the door reads baby shower in blue. If you haven’t guessed they are having a boy. I say they because as Kelley and Gretchen explained it to me, even though Gretchen is carrying the baby and it is Brick’s sperm, all three of them are the parents. That kind of relationship isn’t for me but I do respect their dynamic. I love seeing them work together. At the end of the day you can almost feel the love they have for each other and their kids.

Callen knocks on the door and under a minute it swings open to reveal a flustered Gretchen. “ Thank heavens you are here. Ailee, come in and say ‘Hi’ to everyone. Finn, please distract my wife. She is running around like crazy trying to make everything perfect which is sweet if she wasn’t so frazzled. Callen, relax, have a beer, eat something. Sorry you are the only two guys here.” Gretchen huffs out. I laugh and pull her in for a hug that she looks like she needs. Or maybe it is me that needs it. I turned to the guys laughing, “ You heard the boss.” I know better than piss of a pregnant woman. I have heard horror stories about what could happen from some of my guards.

The party was going great. We snacked and chatted. There were silly games we played. I loved the onesie decorating station. No one could compare to Merigold’s designs but it didn’t matter to Gretchen, she loved them all. There was even a pool on the day Gretchen would give birth, the time and the weight of the baby. Finn and Callen even got in on that. But I could feel my fun time coming to an end. I was talking with Merigold and Anna when I broke out in a cold sweat and my throat went dry. I held off as long as I could. I didn’t want to stop spending time with them. But I needed some air and something to drink. “ Ailee, are you ok?” Anna asked. “ Aye. I’m just going to get some water.” I told her. I stood up to walk to the kitchen when the room started to spin. NO. NO. Not now. I need more time. I’m not ready. When my vision blurred I knew I needed to find Finn.

I was going to the last place I saw him when I felt weaker than ever before. I knew I wasn’t going to make it. I heard someone shout my name but could make out who it was other than it was a woman. I felt myself falling but I never hit the floor. Two large arms caught me and I heard Finn shout “ Callen. Code Green.” I knew that code. We only used it in dire emergencies concerning me. “ Hold on Ailee. We are getting you to the hospital.” Finn said, picking me up. With the last bit of strength I could muster I told him “ Out of time Finn.” “ Feck no. Don’t you dare give up. Fight damn it.” Finn yells as he runs. I can feel myself bouncing in his arms even though he is holding tight to his chest. I can’t even hold my head up. I want to tell him that I have been fighting but I’m so tired. I hear Callen on the phone barking out " Cormac. Code Green. Eta thirty minutes. Get me an escort so I can go faster." I try to take a deep breath but it hurts and I can't get enough air. I feel something being placed over my face and air being pushed at me. Finn is giving me oxygen. I don't think it is going to help. I thought I had more time. I need more time. I hadn't told Lug how much I love him. I thought I had more time. I wanted to do something special for him then tell him. The last thing I see is a blurry Finn holding me in the car before I pass out.

Lug Nut

We were having church while the ol’e ladies were throwing a baby shower for Grethen. I told Ailee I would be over after I was done with the meeting and we would relax and watch movies. I noticed she has been extra tired lately so I wanted to have a quiet evening at home so she can rest. I know she has been doing her best to hide it from me but I noticed. I just didn’t call her out on it. I’m doing my best to pay attention to what Axle is saying. He brought up the idea of us branching out to security personnel. Offering ourselves up as bodyguards. He got the idea because the place Jace and Jax go to for hockey practice has had some vandalism issues. I’m listening, sort of. My gut is telling me something is wrong but I can’t place it. I’m sure if there was something wrong with Ailee someone would tell me. But we are in church and we aren’t allowed phones in here. We are just about to end with us all agreeing to look into Axle’s proposal. We need more information before we agree to anything. “ One more thing before I call it.” Viper says.

Ace stands up and retrieves a shirt box from the back of the room. He walks over and places it in front of me. “ I know I’m not in Ailee’s life yet but I’m working on it. So I’m hoping that will change. I still say you aren’t good enough for her. No one is. As far as son-in-laws go I couldn’t pick a better man for the job.” He claps his hand on my shoulder and stands back. I open the box to see Ailee’s leather kutte. I run my hand over the design. ‘ Property of Lug Nut’ written in the emerald green that is on the bands they all wear. Merigold’s design is outstanding as always. I love what she did for Ailee and me. I will have to thank her big time for this. “ Claim your girl Lug.” Ace says. “ What do you say we call church over. Lug has some claiming to do.” Viper says. With a round of cheers Viper bangs his gavel. We walked out to the main room with my brothers slapping me on the back congratulating me.

When I got to the main room, what I saw made my blood freeze and my heart stop. Callen was standing in the middle of the room with bloodshot eyes. No sign of Finn or Ailee. Merigold and Lilly were standing beside him wiping silent tears from their eyes. “ Where is my girl Callen? Where is Ailee?” I shout. Callen steps forward “ Lug, you need to come with me. Ailee collapsed and is in the hospital. I fear time is not on our side.” I know what he is trying to tell me. He is saying Ailee is dying. I am terrified and pissed off at the same time. I can’t do anything about my fear right this second but I can do something about my anger. I turn to Ace, pull my arm back and punch him in the face as hard as I can. “ You son of a bitch. You could have saved her months ago but you were too selfish to get off the skanks to help your own daughter. You are a pathetic excuse of a father. You said you were going to try and make things right with her now you are too late.” I shout at the top of my lungs. I don’t care right now.

I feel a small hand on my arm. Who the fuck thinks they can touch me right now? I turn and see Merigold looking up at me. She is the only one that is brave enough to get close enough right now. “ Lug, leave his sorry ass alone for right now. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it. Ailee needs you right now. Don’t waste what time you have on him. You can do it later.” Merigold says pleading. She is right. I don’t have time to deal with Ace right now. Without a word I head to my bike with Callen following me. I place Ailee’s kutte in my saddle bag and take off. I know where I’m going and I break the speed limit getting there. The cops can chase me if they want. I'm not stopping. I get to the hospital in fifteen minutes. It would normally be a thirty minute drive. Callen and Ace pull in next to me a minute later. I guess I wasn’t the only one speeding. It doesn’t surprise me that Callen did. Ailee is extremely important to him. I didn’t expect Ace to show up but I don’t have time to dwell on it. I grab the kutte out of my bag and go inside.