Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition by Elizabeth Knox (top 5 ebook reader txt) 📕

She pulls in a deep breath. “Blade couldn’t get ahold of Cowboy earlier. He didn’t answer, so he had Spider track him down. His phone was off and an hour away from here. After more digging, we found out he was in an accident. He was emergency airlifted to Reno. We haven’t found out much. You know, privacy rules.” Her hand holds my forearm with a fierce grip.

My body starts to tremble. It doesn’t make sense, but what if he is the baby’s dad and I never get a chance to find out? I never got to tell him. So many questions swirl around my mind. No, I didn’t know him well, but I care. He was such a sweet guy when we met.

“I’m going to the hospital to see if I can find his parents. They may be there, and hopefully, they’ll tell us something.” Spider picks up his cut from the couch and threads his arms through it.

Together, Jazz and I stand, wanting to go with him. Spider pulls Jazzy to him and whispers, “Let me go see what’s going on. As soon as I hear something, I’ll call. I may be running around and not get anywhere.” He kisses her forehead and wraps her up into his body. The intimacy between them makes me feel like a voyeur into their lives.

I turn away, not feeling comfortable in their moment, and walk to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Rooted deep in me, I feel a yearning for a family, a home to go where your people are. I have never seen one filled with love and trust. My life was a far cry from what the movies portray or what I have seen around me. My parents are deeply religious, yet at the same time, so far from what the word ‘family’ actually means. The Battle Born MC showed me that love, trust, and family is real. Unfortunately, it’s just never been in the cards for me.

In this moment, I believe that I’m okay with not having a love of a lifetime. All because I have a chance at something greater—to be a mom. This morning taught me that it doesn’t matter how I get my life situated with nursing school and what I do for work because my greatest accomplishment will be the family I build by myself.

The front door closes and Jazzy walks over to me. “Looks like you’re deep in thought by yourself over there.”

I give her the quick and fast run-down of what I was just thinking and add on, “I do hope he’s okay. I don’t think I can get to sleep until I know something.”

“You know, I’m really freaking proud of you. You may have come kicking and screaming, but at the end of it, you’re dealing with it.” She sighs. “And yeah, me too. I hope he’s okay, because we all need some good news. Cowboy is a decent guy, and he could use a break too.”

Thirty minutes pass before Spider calls and updates us on Cowboy. He had broken his arm and is sedated. Once the swelling goes down and he wakes up, they’ll know more. He’ll likely have a concussion. My heart beats furiously in my chest the whole time Spider gives us the update. Jazzy and I both deflate—Cowboy is okay.

Cowboy

My head pounds like a thousand lightning strikes are going off. The pain that shoots through my body is like nothing I have ever felt in my life. Can you throb from your head to your toes? Through my eyelids, I can tell it’s daytime with the red hue coming through. I don’t dare try to move or even talk. My mind is here, but it’s swimming in a fog of pain medication.

Even my throat is raw and that doesn’t make sense at all. It feels like I ate hot coal. I start to cough and my ribs protest. “Shit,” I croak out between coughs.

“Shit is right.” My mom threatens, “If you hadn’t just been in a car accident . . . well, you can imagine what I was going to say.” Her hand touches my cheek, and I crack my eyes open slowly to look into her exhausted, worried face.

“Hey, Momma, you sure are a sight for sore eyes.”

“Boy,” my dad starts, “don’t be talkn’ to your momma like that. You left town and didn’t even come by to see her and then drive your truck into a ditch. You got a lot to explain when you’re feeling better.”

“Yes, sir.”

There wasn’t a chance to say more before a nurse comes in and checks me over. She explains, “Hi Colton. I’m Jessica, your nurse. We lowered your pain medication so we could evaluate your injuries better.” She asks me several more questions and takes notes right before the doctor comes in to explain the rest.

“You have several fractured ribs and a fractured right forearm. Your concussion is minor, if your symptoms don’t worsen. I believe that when you went limp after I assume hitting your head, and it worked in your favor. Usually, trauma victims tense up and it worsens the injuries. In all, after rest and time to heal, you should be back to normal. Do you have any questions for me?”

“When can I leave?”

“I don’t see any reason to keep you here as long as you have someone to watch you at home?”

Between my mom and Vegas, they both agree there will be someone to watch over me. And . . . that’s when I look around. Prez, Axl, Dana, Tank, and Kat are standing and listening intently. The doctor excuses himself, and I want to beg Dad to take my mom home.

Kat watches my face, and her grin says she read my thoughts clearly. Jessica starts to go over my discharge papers and meds. I hand it all over to my mom and toss back whatever pills she gives me. I remember