“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.”
“That’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?”