Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

Twenty-One

A hand touched his arm while he was sitting on the hard plastic chairs in the hall. He looked up, his eyes locking onto Declan’s concerned gaze. “What?”

“Didn’t you go to the club?”

“Yeah, and I ended up with a paperwork mission. When I got that done, Ryland copped over the ring her dad proposed to her mom with.” Holding out the ring, Memphis said nothing as Declan took it to get a closer look.

Letting out a whistle, the auburn-haired man said, “That’s stunning.”

The double-heart infinity ring was 14 Karat gold with a star-burst shaped diamond in the middle. “He designed it for Kenni’s mom. Ryland told me Hans sent for it to be commissioned, and Frank paid it off by taking over the street contact web for Hans to utilize.”

Handing the ring back, Declan nodded appreciatively. “Nervous?”

“What if she says no? What if all this explodes in my face, and me proposing ends up with my dad choosing a casket?” Memphis asked softly, trying to keep his voice down so that no one else heard.

Declan laughed, “Memphis, word of advice?”

“Please.”

“Breathe. That’s all you can do at this point. Just breathe, and take life as it comes,” the man said calmly. “Earlier, I saw you break down. Then, I watched you reup and take charge. I didn’t realize all the games you guys played as kids were training techniques you used to ground one another. Kennedy’s… well, she’s Kennedy. She’s temperamental, but a good girl with a loyal, loving heart, and a clear vision of her future.”

Memphis nodded, knowing that Declan was speaking the truth. “She’s everything to me. I’m happy about the baby, and that we’re together, but can we last?”

The man nodded. “Understandable fears, trust me. Now, Phoenix had his turn, so it’s time for you to take a leap of faith, Memphis.”

Knowing the man was a consistent source of wisdom based on his own experiences, Memphis took the advice to heart. “Thanks, Declan. I needed that kick in the pants.”

Opening the door, he looked over at his father and girlfriend, who were playing cards while the I.V. drip fed medicine into her system. Her red hair was freshly washed, and her eyes now held a playful gleam to them. She looked up, and it was like all her stress and worries faded to nothing as her eyes landed on him. “Welcome back. Your just in time to watch me whoop your father’s ass in Crazy Eights.”

“I am never betting against you again when it comes to her, Memphis,” Thomas scowled, throwing down his hand and moving to the wall.

Memphis walked over, kissing her gently before smoothing her hair back from her face. “We’re in this together, right, ma chérie?”

“Absolutely,” she agreed eagerly.

“I’m not about to spew a bunch of nonsensical stupidity when you prefer to have the truth straight up. I’m also not going to beat around the bush,” he said, sitting next to her bed. “Kennedy, since we met when we were ten-years-old, I found someone worthy of being my equal. I found a firestorm of capability and confidence. I was a kid with a crush. As the years passed, I fell in love with the most beautiful, brassy, brilliant b***h ever to walk into my life.”

Thomas stared at his son in shock as the young man pulled the eloquence he was using out of thin air. Keeping quiet, he waited for the situation to come full circle.

Memphis continued, “Kennedy, I know that I’m confusing you right now, but the day we brought you in, I told you I wanted you to be a part of my dreams forever. I meant every word of it.”

She raised a brow, wanting to speak. Yet, seeing how his leg bounced and how he kept picking at his nails, she waited for him to get the words out first.

“Kennedy, I talked to Ryland and Declan, and got their blessing for this,” he stated, smiling at her.

“You did what? Why? What’s going on, Memphis?” Her eyes watered, her throat constricting as she fought to keep herself in check. He’d faced Diablo Azul and the Scorpions just to go through with this plan, so what was he trying to say?

He smiled, tucking a strand of hair out of her face as he brushed her tears away. “Kennedy Francois Rubin, the fire to my dragon, will you marry me?”

Thomas stared wordlessly at his son as he spilled his heart out before popping the question. His mind reassessed the conversation, and he now knew for sure that his boy would have asked sooner or later on his own. Finding out Kennedy was pregnant simply pushed the task ahead of schedule.

He shifted his weight, his eyes landing on the young woman in question as she stared at Memphis. Would she agree? Or would she turn him away?

“Honesty, loyalty, trust, communication, compromise, and listening. Declan’s six rules for the team will be the foundation for our marriage,” she replied.

“Quoi?” Thomas breathed, praying he heard her correctly.

She giggled, “Yes, Memphis. I'm not going to say that we’re gonna be living happily ever after or any of that s**t. We got issues, and we got tempers, but we also grew up knowing how to focus on solutions rather than problems. So we’re having a baby. Like I said when I gave myself to you, I trust you.”

Cupping her face, Memphis grinned, “I love you so much, Kenni. Amber said bed rest, she didn’t say you couldn’t go home once your meds were adjusted to the right level.”

Pulling out the ring, he watched the way her smile fell from her face. The look of someone who had seen a ghost crossed her features, and he saw her lips start to tremble. “Where…”

“Ryland thought it would be best to return it to its rightful owner. He asked me to propose to you with it,” Memphis explained, suddenly anxious.

Rooted to his place as he leaned against the wall, Thomas couldn’t help but watch the scene unfold. He sensed it as soon as her eyes caught sight of the ring in his son’s grasp that it was something more than an heirloom trinket. Licking his lips, he softly called over to the young woman. “Kenni, tell me the truth. Is that your mother’s ring?”

Her shock was palpable and all-consuming as the air thickened with tension. “Yes. My mother always told me the story behind how my father asked her to marry him. How he’d gone out of his way to get dressed up, buy flowers, and take her to her favourite diner before proposing. She always told me how he swore on the moon and stars he wouldn’t treat Tem any differently if they had kids in the future.”

Unloading the memories felt like finally putting down the weight she’d been holding onto. She pulled Memphis close as tears streaked her face. “It’s funny how I always believed Tem would be the one wearing it, but I guess Mom had other plans. Honestly, I don’t know how you do it, but you always make me happy with your little surprises and silent actions. I’ll love you for the rest of my life, Memphis, but if you ever f**k up, no one will find your body.”

Laughing, Thomas left them alone in the room. Moving to the nearest chair, he fought to bring his emotions under control. Someone sat beside him, and he turned his head to look at Ryland Rubin. “She said yes, officially. Her health is good, too. She just needs some rest, no stress, and meds.”

“Oh, I figured out that much on my own. Was wondering why you were laughing your arse off,” Ryland answered.

Thomas snickered, “She also threatened to make him disappear if he did her wrong. You got no worries, though. I raised my boy better than that.”

“I ain’t worried. Bells will be lookin’ out for them, too. My niece is getting hitched to your son, and that sorta makes us family, so what do I call you?” The biker said as he leaned forward.

His eyes wide, Thomas blinked at the question. He hadn’t thought of it that way, but now that he did… “By name, Ryland. You can call me Thom or Thomas. I have a tendency to shoot people that call me Tommy, however. Mon Dieu, I’m going to be a grandpa this time next year.”

Ryland laughed, “Glad to meet you, Thomas. You should come to the bar or the club sometime. Be nice to get to know you. I gotta say, my brother would be mighty proud that your boy took responsibility for Kennedy. Since he was man enough to ask the old-fashioned way, I was kind enough to hand over her mother’s ring. She really threatened his life?”

“Not the first time, and it will not be the last, but yes,” Thomas groaned. “Then again, that’s how they get along.”

The man’s throaty chuckle made him smile as Ryland shook his head. “Damn kid is every bit her father’s daughter, that’s for sure.”

“Meaning?”

Ryland paused, then, “Francis had the same personality as his daughter. Seeing my niece all grown up is like looking at a blended version of her folks. Right down to the eyes that seem like they look through you.”

Thomas frowned, “Oh?”

“Eyes like iced-over steel, Thom. Her mother was the same,” the man replied. “A gentle heart, yeah, but she had the soul of a Scorpion.”