Butchered Beasts 1: Darren & EJ

Chapter 29

EJ POV

Pain. That was all I was feeling. Oh. And my own heart beating. Pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. It's supposed to be one of those things your body does that you don't ever really feel or notice. Like digesting food. Or fighting off a cold. Your body is not supposed to be able to feel that, and I physically can feel my heart beating. Why the fuck can I physically feel my heart beating? Why does it feel like my left neck, shoulder, and chest area feel like it's on fire? It feels like my collarbone is broken. My arm doesn't want to move and I can't stop screaming. Holy shit did this hurt! I can still recall breaking my collarbone when I was three. I don't remember the pain being this bad.

Or feeling my heart beating.

My ears were ringing from the gunshot. And maybe the pain. Over the ringing in my ears, I heard Darren telling me, or maybe the crazy bitch with the knife, to stay down. I wasn't sure who. And I also wasn't about to object. It had been such a great day today. But all this shit tonight? I just wanted to forget about it. When would Darren hug me? I wanted one now. I tried to open my mouth, but it just all felt so difficult to do. I just laid there because what else was I going to do? I could feel myself getting sleepy. I was so sleepy. And it took so much effort to stay awake. 

It was past my bedtime, anyway. But I want to see his eyes one more time. Just one more time. Those perfectly, dark, obsidian eyes. They were so beautiful. When a spot of light reflected in them, it was like seeing stars from the night sky directly in his eyes. They stole your breath away. I could feel myself getting sleepy. I was trying to keep my eyes open. I wanted to keep them on Darren. And those beautiful eyes. And his delicious muscles. I could see him. He was so close. He saved me.

My hero...I smiled.

I close my eyes to blink again. But the darkness is so comforting.

My hero.

Darren POV

Keeping my eyes, and the gun, trained on Ashley whose hands were above her head while Destiny lying dead near my girl. I hear the thundering of bikes. It sounded like the whole club, and then some was here. Thank fucking God. I let myself close my eyes to blink. Nothing more. I don't need this snake sneaking out and getting away. As I open my eyes, I glance down at EJ thinking, 'I need to check'—but my thought is cut short. My then brain short circuits.

Her eyes are closed. Mouth parted slightly. I can't tell if she's breathing.

No.

My ears begin to ring. Everything goes in slow-mo as I drop to the floor, checking for a pulse. I hear shouting as doors are kicked in. My hand not on her wrist goes to her cheek. My girl. I feel tears filling up my vision, looking at her lying here so pale, so fragile. I feel a body on each side of me. Crew and Keys rushed to my side.

"Barely," is all the more I can whisper out.

"DOC!" Crew thunders in that deep ass voice he has. Deeper than mine. Keys is pulling me back by the shoulders, from the love of my life as Doc slides in like we're back in the corps. He's got his hand on her left wrist, making sure there's blood flow to the arm still. Even if it has to go to save her. I'd do it. In a second.

"We need supplies." Keys says, pulling me harder toward the half bath, just across from her, where the clean towels are. My body starts to function on its own again when things are handed to me, but I still have no brain function. I don't know how to do this.

"I'll call a bus." Crew stands up and walks outside to get the address from somewhere or someone. I didn't know. I couldn't take my eyes off the rest of my life as she fought for her life. As she fought for both of us to have a life after today. Because if she's gone...the kids!! I sprinted upstairs looking through their rooms, bathrooms, and playroom. They weren't here.

"KEYS!" I shouted! Needing to know where the fuck the kids are! They cannot be missing! No! I cannot lose them or her. I needed all three of them in my life to make me whole. I can feel myself starting to spiral. I can feel the spins coming. I stumble onto the couch in the living room as I half run half stumble down the stairs. "KEYS!" I shouted again. This time sounding like pure pain and agony. I needed to know the kids were okay. Where are my kids? 

Crew comes running in the front, and I hear Keys asking, 'What' over and over.

"My kids," is all I can whisper. I even choke on that. The lump in my throat made breathing impossible. Pair that with the dizziness, and I was seeing fucking spots. Fucking fabulous. I tried to keep myself awake because I had already lost the battle of standing. But, try as I might, I feel myself going out.

My wife.

My kids.

No. Please, God.

Keys POV

His kids? Then it hits me. EJ's kids. Calloway and Emery. I pull out my phone and start scanning through the footage for the kids. It's mainly an empty house all day today. EJ sleeping...keep going...where are they? THERE!

THERE! "I got them! They left yesterday evening with EJ and haven't been back since. I'll call her parents." I told the room as I left it to call her parents. Darren was out cold on the floor. Crew was on his way to the sink to jolt him out of it. 'Marines are fucking sissy' is what Crew says when Darren tries to get 'sensitive' with him.

They're hilarious together. As I'm stepping out, the ambulance is pulling in. I point them in through the front porch and they sprint in there with the cot. Crew can make shit happen.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"I'm sorry, sir. This is Sean with Beastly Builds."

"Yes? What can I do for you?"

"Sir, your daughter's been attacked at her home. I'm sorry that I'm the one calling. I just made the 9-1-1 call and had to wait for them to get here before calling you. I will call you back as soon as I know what hospital to go to. But...please hurry. And, you might want to bring the kids. It's not good."

I heard the man suck in a sharp breath that came back out sounding like it'd been he was choking on it. I couldn't imagine what he was going through.

"Oh. Here they come. Give me a minute. Where are you guys taking her?"

"City, downtown. We gotta go. We're racing time here. And Doc is keeping her going."

"Did you hear that?"

"We'll be there in twenty minutes."

I hung up and raced back inside. Darren was up now and coming toward me. I shook the keys at him and raced back outside, Crew, Joker, and Bear crowded in the truck. We whipped out of the drive and hustled to the hospital.

"Thank you," Crew said into the phone. "The rest of the guys are going to hand the house. They'll do clean up after the cops have been there. Keys, when we get there, send over all the video footage from tonight. Everything. We keep the originals for ourselves. In three different places."

I hit the gas, not stopping until we got to the hospital. The car ride is tense as we pull into Emergency. I stop by the door to let them out. I'll hack the system and call Crew with her details.

Hang in there, EJ.

Darren needs you.