Chapter 4
1193 Words
Noelle’s POV
I woke up the next morning alone. I took the time to stretch out and evaluate my injuries myself. I was still in a lot of pain but I knew I had been through worse. I pushed the button on my bed to call the nurse and a few minutes later she came walking in smiling. “Good morning Miss Morgan! It’s great to see you awake. Are you in pain? I can get you something for it if you are.” It all came out of her mouth at once.
“There is pain, yes, but no pain meds from now on. I want to know when I can go home, and if possible I would love some breakfast.” I told her.
She looked at me like I was crazy for a second then quickly recovered. “Of course, I will put a note on your chart for no pain meds. Jacob was here just 20 minutes ago and asked us not to bring you breakfast from the cafeteria. He said he was going to get you a proper breakfast. As for going home, I will call the doctor now and have her come in to update you. Do you have any further questions?”
“Yes, is there still someone outside my door from Jacob’s club?”
“Yes, he has been there all night. I think he is leaving when Jacob returns.”
“Good, send him in here.”
She turned and walked out and as the door was shutting I could hear her speaking to the i***t Jacob had left behind. A few minutes later, the aforementioned i***t came strolling through the door without a care in the world. He came up to the side of my bed and sat in the chair closest to me.
“Your nurse said you requested me ma’am.”
“I did. You can leave, go home. I don’t need a bunch of overgrown man-children watching over me.”
“Sorry, no can do.”
“Excuse me?” I gave him my best mom-face, eyebrows raised, daring him to tell me no again.
“Look, you are important to Jacob, and what’s important to him is important to the entire club. Of all people, you should know that.”
I took a moment to decide where I wanted to go with this. I decided on the best course of action and put it into motion.
“Tell my stupid brother I want to see his face in my hospital room in 20 minutes. As for Jacob, I want to see his ass here in 10. Clear?”
“I’ll relay those messages now.” he stifled a giggle.
“Good. Now go back to the damn hallway, since you won’t leave me alone.”
I rolled over, giving him my back so he would understand I was serious. A few seconds later, I heard the door softly open and close. I allowed my thoughts to begin to gather. I can’t get caught up in this mess. I have children to think about and their uncle being a part, a major one, was already bad enough. I had never even told Jordan in the 7 years we were together who my brother was and what he did for a living. I knew what the club was and how it operated. I love my brother so I chose to turn a blind eye for years. I knew I was flirting with danger with Jacob and I was already allowing myself to fall for him, but I also knew I needed to end that now for the sake of my children.
Jacob and I actually met 9 years ago on my 15th birthday. My brother had just joined the club and brought the higher ranks with him to our house to take me to dinner for my birthday. At dinner, my brother told me who they all were and that he had joined them after prospecting for them for a year. Daniel, my brother, is 5 years older than I am and his father was gunned down when he was 2. He was VP of the club at that time. I fully believe I began falling for Jacob that night but fear kept me away from him after hearing the stories from my mom about the club.
My thoughts were cut short a moment later….
“Sis?”
I rolled over to face my brother, who had tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I just got back to town early this morning and Jacob told me what happened. It took time to calm me back down, then I got the call from Mike telling me you were demanding my presence.”
“It’s fine Daniel. I’m glad to see you are still in one piece.”
“Noelle, how long has this been happening to you?”
I looked away. I knew this would come up as I had hidden this from him and begged my mom and dad to do the same. I hid it for fear of the consequences for Jordan, but now I no longer cared what they did to him. I didn’t want him in my life or the lives of my boys.
“Almost the full 7 years. It started small, but now… let’s just say they know me very well in this hospital.”
“What about my nephews?”
“No! He’s never laid a hand on them. I would have called you and ordered his murder myself.”
“Noelle, I have tried not to allow my life and my choice to bleed into yours, but there is no longer a choice. For the safety of you and the kids, you are now a part of this. Jacob and I talked this morning and you know he has been trying to get you to give him a chance since you turned 18.”
“Daniel, it’s not safe for my kids to be in the middle of this. As much as I like Jacob, and would love to give him a chance, I can’t put my children in this life.”
“Noelle, you and them will be associated either way. Through my connection to you, or both mine and Jacob’s. Either way, you and those boys will be around, you will be protected by the club.”
At that moment, I realized I no longer had a say in that part of my life. I could choose if I wanted to give Jacob a chance or not, but having the club in our lives was no longer an option but now a fact. My brother would go to these extremes for our safety and I knew it was not to be argued with.
“Okay, Daniel, I understand.”
My parents were not going to take this well at all. Suddenly I smiled…
“You get to be the one to tell mom and dad though.”
His smile instantly faded and he hung his head. He knew that would be a battle all on his own.
- Writer
