His surgery was a success, but he was yet to wake up. I was sat by his bedside coffee in hand. Blaze had yet to show face and that didn’t sit well with me. Jared was at the hospital every day when Blaze was fighting for his life.
He should be here.
Glancing at the time I slipped my phone back into my pocket. Reaching out I grabbed hold of Jared’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll be back soon”. I whispered. Closing the door behind me I made my way outside for a smoke.
To my surprise Sasha was sat on the very same stairs I found myself sitting on when Blaze was here. We hadn’t heard from or seen her since the day it happened. Regardless of what her and Jared were going through she should be in there with him.
“You’re no use to him out here”. The words were out before I could stop them. “He needs you Sasha”. Lighting up my smoke I sat down beside her. I knew straight away she had been crying. Her cheeks were wet her eyes red and puffy.
“He’s better off without me”. She whispered.
“Is that what you really think, if that’s true then why are you here?”. I knew how much she loved him. She made a mistake and yes maybe she’d regret it for the rest of her life, but Jared was worth fighting for.
“I betrayed him in the worst possible way. He’ll never trust me again. We can’t go back to the way we were before”.
“Did he tell you this?”.
She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to. “Just go in there and be with him. Regardless of everything that’s happened he needs you”.
Blaze showed face around lunch time. Jared was still unconscious, but I wasn’t worried. I knew he was a fighter. He would come out of this.
“Still not awake?”. As Blaze took the seat beside me, I noticed the blood splatter on his white sneakers. Chewing the inside of my mouth I tried not to say anything. I wasn’t good with words sometimes. Didn’t really think before I spoke.
“Not yet. I’m going for coffee; you might want to wipe that off your shoe”. Nodding towards the blood I watched as his eyes followed.
“Look babe I-…”
“You do what you’ve got to do oh and Sasha is here”. Turning my back on him I headed towards the coffee cart.
..
After I got coffee and returned to Jared’s room, I knew something was up. You could cut the tension with a knife. Blaze was standing in the corner his hands balled into fists. That wasn’t a good sign. He was hard work when he was angry, and he took it out on all the wrong people. I was afraid to ask what was going on. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the answer.
Sasha was sat in the chair I had been sitting on with Jared’s hand in hers. She deserved to be here, right now was her time. As my eyes connected with his I nodded towards the door, but he was having none of it.
“I’m staying until he wakes”.
Oh, he was pissed all right. His teeth were clenched, his glare frightening.
“Baby”. I sighed making my way across the room. “Let her have some time with him”. I whispered my hand latching onto his. “We’ll come back”. One thing I did know, my touch somehow managed to calm him down.
“She gets 10 minutes and-“…
“And what Blaze?”. Sasha asked cutting him off.
That was only going to piss him off more. Blaze was intimidating, scary even. Being mouthy with him right now wasn’t the greatest idea. Tightening my grip on his hand I shook my head. I had to get him out of this room before he said something he’d regret.
“I’m going for a smoke”. Pulling his hand from mine I winced as he slammed the door shut behind him. Sighing I ran a hand over my face before turning my attention to Sasha.
“Don’t rile him up when he’s already pissed. You know how he gets”.
“He’s just like the rest of them. A fucking asshole”.
“Hey”. I snapped. “His best friend is lying there because he got shot. No one knows why or who even done it so don’t you come in here and bad mouth him for your mistake. Own your fucking shit Sasha, don’t go blaming everyone else for what you did”.
Now I was angry. Blaze could be an asshole, but I wasn’t going to let her take her shit out on him. He didn’t make her cheat no one did.
“I’m sorry”. She cried.
“You’re apologising to the wrong person. Remember who your family is Sasha. Don’t burn bridges you can’t fix. I’ll make sure Blaze doesn’t come back in but seriously you need to think about your next move. Let me know if he wakes”. I didn’t give her time to reply. This time I was the one slamming the door.
I found Blaze outside smoking a cigarette.
“She’s got some fucking nerve”. He hissed. “She’s the reason he’s here. Her little fucking plaything shot him”.
What?
“Jared went looking for her after she disappeared from the clubhouse. Found her in some bar and guess who showed up 10 minutes later”.
Wait, what was he saying?
“Baby calm down”. I whispered slipping my arms around his waist. We didn’t know the full story. It could have been a coincidence that he showed up.
“She makes me so angry”. He bit out. “I could fucking murder her Ava, family or not she did him wrong”. Taking a large draw of his smoke he flicked it to the ground.
She did do him wrong, but everyone deserved a second chance.
I gave him one.
“It’s none of our business Blaze”. And it wasn’t. This was between Jared and Sasha.
“Fucking became my business when he got shot. This is club business now darling and if she isn’t going to speak up and tell us the truth then she fucks off and doesn’t come back”.
“Blaze”. I get that this was now business of the club but surely Jared got a say.
“Club vote Ava. I’ve got shit to sort out. I’ll be back soon”. Kissing the top of my head my arms tightened around his waist. Leaning forward I stood on my tip toes and placed my lips against his.
“Don’t be too hard on her Blaze. We all make mistakes, and we all deserve a second chance”. Hearing him sigh I knew he knew what I was getting at. “Go, I’ll phone if he wakes”. Watching his back as he walked away from me, I headed back to Jared’s room.
Now all I had to do was get her to tell me exactly what happened.
Easier said than done when she had already left.
Sasha was gone.
“Stupid girl”. I muttered taking a seat beside Jared’s bed.
Why would she run? If she loved him as much as she says she does, then why would she leave him when he needs her the most. Running a hand down my face I squeezed my eyes shut and mentally counted to ten.
I feared what the club would do to her if she didn’t return, because they will find her.
“Bet you thought I had left”.
Opening my eyes, I jumped from my seat. “Damn right I did. Jesus Sasha, you have no idea what has been running through my mind”.
“I didn’t do this”. She croaked “I would never put him in danger. I didn’t know he would come after me and I didn’t know Gregg would show up”. Tears spilled from her eyes as she walked closer to Jared’s side.
“You need to tell the club this and you need to tell Blaze where he can find this Gregg”. The club wouldn’t stop until he was put to ground. They would retaliate, it’s the only way they knew how to get revenge.
He shot a brother, and they would make him pay.
“I will but right now I can’t leave, I don’t want to leave him. If he wakes up and tells me to go, then I will but until then I’m staying”.
I couldn’t make her leave and I wouldn’t.
“You need to sort this out with Blaze, he’s your family. He’s angry right now but he’ll come around. You have nothing to worry about”.
There was movement. Movement from Jared.
“Ava he’s wakening up”. She got to her feet letting go of his hand.
Thank you, Jesus.
Watching as he slowly peeled his eyes open, I could feel the lump appear in the back of my throat. Jared was awake, he was okay.
“Jared”. I whispered. He still looked dazed but being doped up to your eyeballs on painkillers would do that. “How are you feeling?”. Walking closer I took hold of his hand and squeezed. Jared played a big part in my life. I didn’t know what I would have done if we’d have lost him.
“Been better”. As he tried to sit up, I placed my hand on his shoulder. No way was he following in Blazes footsteps. I would not allow him to leave before he needed to. “I’m alright darling. Just a little sore but I’ll live”. I wasn’t sure if he had noticed Sasha yet.
“I’ll go get the doctor”.
“Ava”. He wheezed his voice rough. “Just get me home”.
“Not happening Jared. Not until you’ve been cleared and don’t even think about getting the guys to bust you out”. My tone was sharp, but he wasn’t leaving until he was fully recovered.
His eyes fell onto Sasha.
The silence was awkward.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Jared was pretty cut up about what she did. I wasn’t sure if he wanted her here or they were done for good.
“Get out”. Turning his head away from her I watched as the tears welled in her eyes. This wasn’t good. “I’ll deal with you when I’m home but right now you don’t need to be here”.
She did as he asked.
“Oh, and Sasha”. Her hand froze on the doorknob. “You stay at the clubhouse”. Instead of answering him she rushed out the door slamming it behind her.
“Really Jared?”. Sighing I took the seat she had been sitting on. “Was that necessary?”.
“She’s lucky sending her ass to the clubhouse is all I’m doing. Bitch needs a reminder of who she belongs too”.
“You’ll push her further away if you keep treating her like that”. I knew firsthand how this works. They have been on and off for years and unless he finally makes her his old lady she’ll walk. “You might end up losing her for good”.
“Let me worry about that yeah?”. His tone was bitter, he seemed annoyed.
“I’m glad you’re awake”. Changing the subject, I grabbed hold of his hand. He needed to know that what I said, I said out of anger. “About what I said-…”.
“Already forgotten about Ava. What you said made me think about what I wanted”. Squeezing my hand, he gave me a half smile. “Tough words darling but I needed to hear them”.
“I shouldn’t have said it. It’s none of my business but please know I just want what’s best for you. I owe you so much Jared”.
“Ava”. He sighed.
“You’ve played such a big part in my life and Everleigh’s. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you”.
“Ain’t going anywhere darling, and Everleigh will always have her uncle Ared”. He grinned.