Winter's Touch (The Last Riders Book 8) (17 page)

“Let me hold her until you sit down. I don’t want you to drop her.” He held out his arms, and she turned to see that no one else had come into the nursery.

“Okay.” She placed the baby in his arms.

As soon as Viper knew Shade had the baby, he and the nurses came running into the room.

“Knox!” Viper grabbed Megan, preventing her from trying to snatch the baby back.

“I got her. You can let her go.” Knox took Megan, leading her away from the nursery.

“I called the doctor. He’s on his way.” A nurse took his daughter from Shade, and Viper anxiously watched as she put the infant back in the incubator, straightening the tubes Megan had twisted loose.

“Wait outside,” one nurse ordered him, as she worked on the baby.

Feeling helpless, he didn’t move. “I’m not leaving my daughter.”

The window outside the nursery was filled with the Last Riders. Cash must have called them when he had run out of Winter’s room.

Shade went outside to join them, leaving Viper inside.

The Last Riders made room for Dr. Price to rush inside. He immediately went to work on her tiny body that was slipping away as Winter still slept, unaware. She was never going to be able to hold her baby and say her goodbyes.

Rachel held the door open as if she were going to convince him to leave. He couldn’t leave before one of her parents told her how much she had meant to them. He remembered how many times he had regretted not saying goodbye to Gavin, and he wasn’t going to have the same regrets with his daughter.

“Please don’t go, sweet girl. You’re going to break your mama’s heart like you’re breaking mine. I haven’t even been able to hold you yet.

“I’m not a nice man, but I was planning on being a good father to you. I would have held you when you cried. I even told your mama I didn’t mind changing your diaper. I would have all the boys afraid of me when they tried to date you, and I would have made an ass of myself when you married. We would have loved you so much. You would have never doubted that God meant for you to belong to us.

“Your mama thinks she’s the jealous one, but I am. I’m jealous of the angels who will hold you and keep you safe until we can join you. I want you to know that every time you hear your name, I’m thinking of you. Aisha, you will be alive in our hearts.” Viper broke, crumbling to his knees, crying.

“Sweet girl… Please, God, don’t take my baby.” Tears fell down his cheeks as he begged God for Aisha’s life. The pain of losing Gavin, was nothing, compared to losing his child.

“Greer.” Viper heard Rachel calling for her brother, thinking she was going to ask his assistance to help him leave. He started to leave on his own, but stopped when he heard her pleading for Greer.

“You can help, Greer.”

“No, I can’t. If that doctor can’t save her, I can’t either.”

“You saved me, and you saved Pappy. You can. Please, at least try.” Rachel pushed Greer into the nursery. “Look at her! For once in your life, think of someone besides yourself.”

Greer stared down at the baby while the doctor reached for the needle the nurse was handing him.

“Move.”

The hair on Viper’s arms stood up at the expression that came over Greer’s face.

The doctor and nurses tried to stop Greer as he raised his hands to touch Aisha.

“Viper, please trust me.” Rachel took his arm, raising him to his feet. “They have to look away, or it won’t work.”

Dr. Price tried to pull him away, “Stop! I’m trying to—”

“You can’t help her anymore. Let him try,” Rachel pleaded, begging them to give Greer a chance.

“Can you save her?” Viper asked the doctor.

He shook his head.

“Then let him try.”

“Turn around,” Greer ordered everyone.

Viper turned around to face the doorway. Everyone who had been watching turned around when Shade repeated what Rachel had asked. Even the doctor and the nurses had moved to his side, facing away so Greer was shielded from anyone tempted to see what was happening.

Viper could hear the rustling movements of Greer’s clothes, as the man asked, “Aisha, where are you? Aisha, you are going where you don’t belong. Hear my voice, spirit world. Help me heal this child. With my touch on your head, my voice will reach out for you. Aw… I see you, Aisha.

“With my touch on your heart, it will beat again. With my hands on your chest, you will breathe again.” Seconds passed before Greer started speaking again, his voice becoming weaker.

“Breathe Aisha, just breathe.”

Viper refused to loose hope, it was all he had left.

“Spirits, guide me to bring her back to those who love her. Rachel?” Greer called out to his sister.

“I’m here, Greer.” Rachel turned to her brother, and Viper saw Rachel take Greer’s hand. Viper quickly turned his gaze forward again. “Take my hand, Viper.”

He took her hand, feeling the scorching heat enfolding his palm. He began shaking, her heat becoming too intense to hold on to. Dr. Price took his other hand as it began shaking. Then, one by one, everyone in the nursery linked their hands to make a chain.

Dustin and Tate moved from the doorway, bridging the gap between them and linking their hands together, stretching their arms out to reach Shade. One by one, each of the Last Riders held out their hands to help guide Aisha home.

Viper didn’t know what he was experiencing, but the outpouring of love for his and Winter’s baby was a gift. In a world that didn’t believe in miracles anymore, he was seeing one tonight.

“As a spirit, I leave your world, giving you my thanks.”

“Thank you,” Rachel said.

“Thank you,” Viper repeated, using the same humble tone that Greer and Rachel had used.

One by one, each person in the line did the same.

When Viper felt the scorching heat leaving his hands, he turned to the incubator to see Rachel trying to catch Greer. Viper caught his other arm, holding him until Dustin and Tate took Greer from him. Then Viper slowly moved toward the incubator, holding his breath.

The doctor moved to the other side, checking the baby’s lungs. Aisha’s skin was a healthy pink, her tiny legs kicking, and her arms were reaching out.

Dr. Price turned off the respirator, removing the tubes. “If I hadn’t seen her stats before, I wouldn’t believe my eyes.”

“Can I hold her?” Viper asked, when he got his breath back.

“Just for a minute. She’s not out of the woods yet.”

Viper put on the gown and gloves the nurse held out to him. When he was ready, he gently held his daughter for the first time.

Clearing his throat, he stared down at the tiny replica of Winter. “Hello, sweet girl. Daddy’s here.”

“
I
sn’t
she the most beautiful thing in the world?” Winter said in an awestruck voice, staring at the tiny being she and Viper had created. She pressed her hands against the shield preventing her from holding her baby. “I want to hold her.”

“Just for a minute.” Dr. Price nodded at the primary nurse who was standing nearby.

She raised the top of the incubator and lifted Aisha from the warming pad before placing her in Winter’s arms.

Winter couldn’t help herself; she began crying as maternal instinct overwhelmed her. When Aisha’s face scrunched up and she began crying, Winter started to hand her back to the nurse.

“She doesn’t like me.” Winter cried harder.

Viper moved from behind her, kneeling down beside her wheelchair. “She’s sensing your distress.” He stroked a finger against Aisha palm, and their child grasped it, clinging to it as she cried.

“I never wanted anything as badly as I wanted her,” Winter managed to say, tears clogging her throat. “I used to imagine what she would look like and all the things we could do together. Now all I can think about is, what if I’m not going to be there for her.”

Viper’s solemn gaze lifted from his daughter to her. “You’re going to be there for every damn second of it. Do you understand me, Winter? Every second. All your tests are coming back clear, and I will make fucking sure you live to raise her, even if I have to sell my soul to the devil.”

Viper believed he could plan every minute of their lives, refusing to believe that some things were inevitable. Death was one of them.

“You can’t promise me that.” Winter started to regain her composure, seeing the faces of The Last Riders watching them from the hallway.

Beth was standing next to Razer; Shade stood behind Lily, his arms wrapped around her waist; Cash and Rachel stood hand in hand; King and Evie were also holding hands; and Knox’s arm was around Diamond’s shoulder as they stood at the back of the crowd. They were there to give their support. Even Bliss and Drake, who was holding Darcy so she could look into the room.

Looking down into Aisha’s eyes, Winter knew how precious time was. If God took her tomorrow, she didn’t want this time marred by worries about tomorrow. She would take one day at a time, and if God decided to take her, she would leave enough memories to last Aisha a lifetime.

Winter cupped Aisha’s head, using her fingers to stroke her fine hair. “I love you, Aisha. You’re going to have to get used to me. I will always be by your side, just like your daddy and The Last Riders. All babies are given a guardian angel, but you have dozens.” Winter raised her voice, hoping everyone could hear her. “I was gifted with The Last Riders when I married your father, and now I’m passing them on to you. My love will always surround you and keep you safe, but when I can’t, God knows their love will be there in my place.”

Winter brushed Aisha’s cheek with a soft kiss before reluctantly handing her baby back to the nurse, who placed Aisha back into the incubator, closing the top.

“Lucky?” Winter said as she took the tissues Viper held out to her.

Winter saw Willa crying as Lucky moved forward to give Aisha a blessing. She had received permission for Lucky to enter the nursery, but he had waited, giving them a moment alone to greet their daughter together.

“Psalms 32:8. ‘
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye’
. ” Lucky laid his hand on the incubator as he spoke.

Winter and Viper bowed their heads as he prayed over their daughter.

When he finished, Winter gave Lucky a misty smile. “Thank you. Whatever I or Viper or The Last Riders can’t fix, I know He can.”

“Are you already thinking I’m going to screw up being a father?” Viper raised an imperious brow.

Winter raised one back at him. “No, but she is a Last Rider, and the Lord knows, if she takes after me, she’s going to need all the help she can get.”

* * *

“
T
hat’s enough for today
.” The nurse helped Winter sit in the chair by her hospital bed.

The simple act of moving out of the bed had involved enough pain that she felt as if she would pass out. She had already broken out in a cold sweat. Thankfully, though, once she was settled on the chair with a cushion in place to support her tailbone, she was actually more comfortable than being in bed.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“Could you hand me my brush and my cell phone? I want to put my hair up,” Winter asked.

“I’ll take care of it,” Viper said, coming through the door.

The nurse left as Viper went to the table beside her bed, picking up the brush and hair tie. Instead of placing the brush in her hand, Viper moved behind her, gently brushing the knots out of her hair.

“That feels good.”

“I aim to please.” His face was serious as he worked on her hair.

She stared out the window, seeing it was raining outside. “It looks like it’s going to storm.”

“Yes.” Viper expertly twisted the hair tie around a ponytail.

“You’re being quiet. Is the baby—”

“Aisha is fine. She’s sleeping.”

“If it’s not the baby, have my test results come in?”

“Not yet.” Viper sighed, moving around to face her. “We need to talk.”

“Okay.”

Winter tried to read her husband’s expression. She relaxed when he pressed a reassuring kiss to her lips.

“What do we need to talk about if it isn’t the baby or me?”

“Jackal.”

“Jackal?” Puzzled, she waited for Viper to explain, but the cell phone ringing from her bedside table interrupted them. “Could you hand me my phone? Penni keeps calling to check up on me. I was about to call her back when you came in.”

“I know. When I just called to talk to her to let her know how you’re doing, she said she was going to call you when I said you’re doing better. I want to talk to you before you do.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to tell her that Raul is dead just yet.”

“Why not?” Winter was shocked at his answer, but she waited for him to explain.

“You’re not going to like this, but I asked Jackal and Hennessy to do a job for the Last Riders.”

“What did you ask them to do?”

“We’re not releasing the information that Raul is dead. When Fat Louise was in Mexico, she told us about a group of women who were being held captive.”

“She told Beth about it, too. It’s horrible and disgusting how those women were treated.”

Viper nodded. “I think so, too, and so do the Last Riders, which is why Knox is keeping Raul’s death a secret. Crash used Raul’s texts to find the location of twelve of them. Jackal and Hennessy are going to Mexico to attempt to rescue them from the men who bought them or gave them to as gifts to.”

“Penni would understand. She would probably help…” Winter stopped, finally understanding why Viper didn’t want her to tell Penni that Raul was dead. “Jackal loves Penni, doesn’t he?”

“Yes. He only broke up with her after the bombing to protect her from Raul, but if she finds out that Jackal is trying to save those women or that he cares about her, nothing will keep Penni away. Hell, we both know Penni, she would set up a rescue herself.”

“Yes, she would.” Winter had talked to Penni during the three months since Jackal had broken up with her. The woman held on to the hope that they would get back together.

“Jackal wants Shade to go talk to her, make her realize the futility of trying to reach him or see him. To rescue those twelve women, Jackal and Hennessy will be placing their lives on the line. He doesn’t want to get her hopes up because he could be killed or even end up in a Mexican prison for years. He’s going in without backup. Well, besides Hennessy.”

“God.” Winter knew how much Penni was suffering, and Penni never did anything half-assed.

“I know Penni is hurting, but so are those twelve women. Without Jackal and Hennessy’s help, those women will be stuck with those men for life or until one of them kills them. Penni’s pain will be over when he gets home…if he gets home.”

Winter turned her face away from Viper to stare out into the pouring rain. “I won’t tell her.”

Viper knelt down by her legs, brushing her tears away with his thumb. “If it makes you feel better, the Last Riders and the Blue Horsemen are chipping in to build the Predators and the Road Kingz new clubhouses.”

“What will happen to the women Jackal manages to save?”

“We’ll help them find new homes and lives. It won’t be the first time we’ve given someone a new start.”

Winter turned back toward him. “Like who?”

Viper’s expression became shuttered.

Winter sighed. “I probably don’t want to know, anyway.”

Viper gave her a half-smile. “Believe me, some things you’re better off not knowing.”

Winter nodded then turned at the sound of her cell phone. Viper picked it up, handing it to her.

“It’s Penni.”

Winter took a second before answering. Twelve women could regain the freedom stolen from them. The time Penni would spend apart from Jackal would be like a brief nightmare considering what they had been through.

“Hi, Penni.” Winter chatted with Penni for twenty minutes, bragging about how beautiful Aisha was and avoiding any mention of Raul or Jackal, hoping Penni wouldn’t bring him up.

“How are you doing?” Winter probed after Penni had asked how she was.

“I was wondering if you would give me Crash’s phone number. Shade won’t give it to me.”

“Why do you want Crash’s phone number?”

“Jackal changed his phone number, and I was hoping he could help me find out what his new one is.”

Winter swallowed hard, hearing the heartbreak in her voice. “Give him time, Penni.”

“I just need to hear his voice.”

Winter didn’t know how to make it easier for her. Staring up at Viper, she figured out what to say.

“Jackal has a lot on his shoulders right now, but I’ll text you Crash’s number.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. We all have to have faith that everything will work out. I had faith that I could have a baby when I thought Viper and I were having problems. My daughter is alive today because faith came from an unexpected source. If you love Jackal, hold on to that. When you needed him he was there. Maybe someone else needs an angel by their side to protect them the way he did you.”

“I can do that.”

“I know you can.”

“Give Aisha a kiss for me.”

“I will.” Winter disconnected the call then texted Penni Crash’s number under Viper’s watchful gaze.

“You called Jackal an angel?”

“Those women need one. God willing, Jackal will find them. Everyone needs someone on their side, whether it’s an angel or just a friend who’s willing to listen.”

Tenderly, he cupped her cheek. Viper knew how much it had cost her not to tell Penni the truth about Raul. “I will always be by your side.”

Winter nodded gratefully. “I know that, and you’ll be by those women’s side when Jackal finds them and goes home to Texas. You won’t stop until you find them a safe place to stay. Just like you did with Genny.”

Viper dropped his hand from her cheek. “I might have messed that one up.”

He didn’t try to deny Genny was someone he had given a new life to.

“Lisa may not have been the best foster parent in the world, but you kept Genny where you could see her and helped when she needed you. You can only offer a new life, not to live it for them. I don’t know what hellhole you dragged Genny from, and I won’t ask, but I’m sure Lisa didn’t compare to that.”

Viper shuddered. “Lisa was a fucking saint compared to where we found her.”

“Good. I miss Genny, but she’s young and now touring with Mouth2Mouth. It will give her the opportunity to see the world and decide where she wants to be at the end of the day. You gave her that choice. You.” Winter reached out, taking Viper’s hand in hers. Genny was another burden Viper carried on his shoulders.

Not all angels fly in the sky. Sometimes, they come in, riding a motorcycle.

* * *

“
D
id
you really think I was going to let you die?”