"Wait for your president, son," I say in warning. "Going off half-cocked is going to get you hurt--or worse."
"They have my brother," Ryan says. Ian's eyes bore into the side of Ryan's head, essentially begging him to look his way. When he finally does, Ryan shakes his head in response. "What? Suddenly Duke's not your boy?"
"Don't." Ian's tone is ice cold. "You of all people know not to question my loyalty. Especially for Duke."
"Shit." Michael's head is tilted toward the glass. He's got the curtain pulled back, surveying the rest of the emergency room. "Feds are coming. We better break this up."
Everybody moves into action, with Michael and Ian heading out to contact the rest of the club. Ruby gives me a wry smile as she grabs Mindy's arm and drags her from my room. I barely hear her mutter, "Trust me," on their way out. Within moments, Ruby's screaming at the top of her lungs about Mindy trying to fuck her husband.
My eyes widen in response as do Alex's. We stare at each other in shock before a smile lights up her face. She winces in pain and sighs unhappily. Her hand finds its way to the bandages on her face. Nurse Vicky shows up a moment later and escorts Alex back to her room. Ryan's eyes follow the retreating duo, but he doesn't follow.
"I know what you want to do, but don't you even think about it."
"I'm not leaving him there. We wait until six and they'll ambush us. We won't have to worry about RICO and the bitch-ass feds because we'll be dead."
"I'm not saying six. I'm saying you take it to Pres. You rush in alone and you will end up dead. They want Mancuso. He's the only way you walk out of there alive and with our boy."
Ryan bounces, antsy on his feet, unable to stay still. His eyes dart around the room. He sucks in a shaky breath and throws his arms in the air. One step back toward the door and then another.
"Son, don't." My words do no good. Ryan rushes out of the room and disappears around the corner. I grab at my abandoned phone on my bed next to me and call Ian. He doesn't answer. Neither does Michael or any of my brothers. Fuck. Think, Jim, think. I focus on finding a solution to solving the problem my son's about to create, but I can't.
Except one.
"Okay, legs. Don't fail me now," I say to myself as I move to sit up. It's painful at best, but not so blinding that I can't keep moving. Once I'm sitting up all the way, I slowly pull the IV out of my arm and detach everything else that's keeping me bedridden.
Ruby's and Mindy's screams are barely audible now, their voices trailing down the crowded space. Christ, I hope they don't get themselves arrested. A shrill alarm sounds, followed by a clicking noise and the sprinklers going off. Everything gets coated in cold water, including the floor. I'm no pussy, but even I'm nervous about sliding around on the wet linoleum. I don't let it deter me, though. I slide off the bed, despite the slight wobble of my legs, and walk out of the room as inconspicuously as possible. Which isn't fucking easy considering my bare ass is on display for all to see. When we get home, I'm going to kill my son for making me do this. A man gets stabbed, he should be able to recover in fucking peace.
CHAPTER 22
Ruby
My crazy-ass daughter-in-law turns toward me and sneers. She lunges forward, but the cuffs on her wrists make tackling me improbable. Detective Davis stands behind her, one hand wrapped around her upper arm.
"Settle down, ladies."
I roll my shoulders and try to ignore the pinching of the metal on my wrists. Davis eyes me questioningly, like he doesn't believe that we're genuinely pissed at each other. He's been giving us these looks since before they slapped the cuffs on us. I don't pay him much attention, though. I'd rather he be out here with us than inside with my guys. I guess in a strange way I should be grateful to the sorry fuck. If it weren't for Davis trying to score points with the feds, I never would have gotten the chance to meet Alex and Michael. They would have forever lived in my heart as a pair of crying infants who Mike took from me. But now? Thanks to this eager beaver, I have all of my kids in my life.