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Chapter Three

Chantal's POV

When Lyla told me Milla'd been shot I thought she was pulling a cruel twisted joke. Lyla isn't the type of person to do that but I challenge anyone to have their head on straight when they find out the love of their life was the victim of a drive by. I didn't even have time to think, let alone consider the consequences when I hopped in my car and drove to St. Thomas. I knew she'd be at that hospital because of the club ties and the proximity to where the wake was held. I started swearing and hitting my steering wheel. It should have been me there, not her. I was supposed to go to the wake but out of respect for her father stayed back. He didn't want me fighting with Milla's retarded, thug of a husband and stressing her out. Well I'd be fighting the brute now; stupid, selfish prick probably used her as a human shield. Yeah I was being unfair but I was terrified.

I pulled into the lot at St. Thomas and noticed that it was practically empty, there should have been people here. Milla was in there, possibly dying, she shouldn't be alone. That was the thought I needed and I parked my car walking into the hospital like I owned the place. I stopped the first nurse I saw, not caring that she looked overworked and cranky.

"I need Milla Oritz's room." She rolled her eyes and jerked her head to the side.

"Look for leather." I looked where her head had gone and noticed a few guys with patches in the hallway, I saw Lyla's Son standing outside a room. They called him Opie but he was anything but a simpleton. He was smart, and patient a good man, the complete opposite of Milla's dumbass.

I walked up to the room with purpose and Opie gave me a warning look but I ignored it and walked in the room. There was Milla in the bed, her arm was kept in traction cast and she was so pale. I felt the tears pour down my face as I rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. I gasped at how cold it was. This wouldn't have happened if she wasn't with that biker asshole.

"Oh baby, what happened to you?" I kissed her hand and pressed it to my cheek. She was breathing evenly but I could practically see the pain she was in. I was staring at her, trying to memorize her face, the beautiful cheekbones and smooth brow. I couldn't see her dark eyes but they were in my memories. I leaned over the bed and kissed her forehead and wouldn't you know it that's when the dumbass decided to enter the room.

"Get out, just get the fuck out." He went to make a grab for me but I darted out of his reach.

"No, no fucking way am I leaving her. I knew, just fucking knew that something like this would happen. That ring on her finger's like a death sentence." He made a grab for me again and I darted, this time backing into Opie while Lyla went to stand between us.

"This would have happened whether she was my wife or not!" He shouted and moved toward me but Lyla put her hands on his chest and he was in his right mind enough not to push her.

"You so sure about that bikerboy? Where the fuck were you? When I got here she was fucking alone, what if she would have woken up without you scared and confused huh? I was right you never think about anyone other than yourself. You're a fucking prick!" I shouted, unable to control myself. Milla's entire life revolved around this tool and he couldn't even stay with her while she was fighting for her fucking life. Hell she was having his baby, something I knew terrified her. I pushed him too far and he sidestepped Lyla raising his hand to me. I must have really pissed him off because everyone said he was the last guy who would ever hit a woman.

"Easy brother you don't want to crack a woman in the middle of a crowded hospital." Opie said reasonably and the moron backed down.

"I shouldn't have called you, you're making things worse Chantal." Lyla said sadly and I was about to respond when there was a moan from the bed. I went to her and took her hand.

"Sweetheart?" Her eyes were opening and I got a brief peek of that beautiful brown when her man pushed me out of the way and took my place. I took a deep breath and watched the exchange. The thug looked honestly distraught to see Milla like that. He updated her on her condition but looked ready to break down any minute., he was putting up a strong front for her but he was starting to crack. Suddenly Milla started coughing and it broke my heart. I offered to get her some meds and of course he jumped at any excuse to get rid of me.

Eventually he had to leave and I stayed with Milla who was sedated and had to have her collar bone surgically pieced back together. I found a friendly nurse and told her I was Milla's sister in law and she told me that Milla would be lucky if she got even seventy five percent range of motion back in her arm. The moron came back late at night and took my spot by the bed. Rather than fight him this time I went home and went to sleep, there was nothing I could do and I wanted to be fresh when I saw Milla the next morning.

I got to the hospital much later than I intended. I had a steady job now and had to go in for at least a couple of hours. I never told Milla but she inspired me to get out of the business, well go behind the camera at least. Now I worked as a distribution manager at a small porn company. I used my demographic knowledge to make them money and it felt good not to have to fuck for my paycheck.

"Hey boys." I said to the two Sons who seemed to be permanent installations outside Milla's room. They nodded at me and I went in the room to find Milla sniffling.

"Hey." She saw me come in and tried to use her good hand to wipe up her tears. I grabbed some tissues from the nightstand and sat on the chair next to her, cleaning off her face.

"What's wrong, other than the obvious?" I ran the tissues down her neck, making sure to get most of the tears.

"I don't know what to do Chantal. It's just another thing to add to my list." She took one of the tissues from me and blew her nose. I looked at her with raised eyebrows and she broke down, "I just found out that sex is no longer allowed. With my heart, the blood pressure, the arm it's a no go. Juice is such a sexual being I can't deny him that! I mean, do I let him go to croweaters, or can I in all good conscience deny him that?"

She cried in earnest and I chuckled. Here it was the perfect chance to put a wedge between them and I couldn't do it. Hurting her was the last thing I wanted to do and even if I'd be doing him a favor in the long run I couldn't allow her to agonize over this.

"Yeah, you can deny him that. I know you two had that bump in the road but he's, I can't believe I'm saying this, he's proven that he can control that side of him." She looked relieved.

"I just feel so pathetic right now. I'm trapped in this bed and so much is going on."She sighed and pressed herself deeper into her pillows.

"At least you're being kept in the loop. I know you'd be going crazy otherwise." She nodded before she looked at me seriously.

"I have a favor to ask you." She said in a tone that was all business.

"Anything." I meant it, if I could do it I would.

"Back off on Juice. I know you two hate each other but it stresses me out when you're at each other's throats. He's my husband that means he'll win every time. I'm sorry to be so blunt but nothing else seems to get through to you. I don't need that shit right now." Wow, I never really thought about what I was putting her through. I just wanted to tell off the dumbass.

"I'll try." She nodded and closed her eyes, the meds she was on must have tired her out. While she napped I read the book I brought with me. As I read Great Expectations I couldn't help but see parallels between my story and Pip's. We both had this unrequited love that drove us to try to better ourselves and make us desirable to our loves. The difference being that Estella was a cruel bitch and Milla was a saint who did everything she could to spare me but like Estella she married a thug, though I could admit that he'd rather die than hurt her. Milla didn't go out of her way to hurt me and stomp on my heart but I could see her mom going all Miss Havisham and setting her on the unsuspecting world. I felt my phone ring and saw that it was Tina, one of the few Cara Cara friends I retained. Since Milla was sleeping I could answer.

"Hey Chanty! Long time no talk Chica. Anywho, think you could use some extra cash?" That was Tina, talk, talk, talk.

"What do you mean?" I reached out a hand and smoothed the hair behind Milla's ear.

"Just got a call from Lyla, the Sons are hosting a porn party for some Chinese guy and they want entertainment, it's five thousand for each of us for an afternoon of work. What do you say, need the extra cash?" This had me thinking, if the Sons were throwing a porn party it meant that Milla's boy would be sexually frustrated in a room of porn stars. He needed monitoring. "Count me in, what are the deets?"

"I'll pick you up around two, we'll get all dolled up and blow the minds of those business men. Maybe I can blow that hot Son, Mr. Mohawk." She giggled and I bristled.

"Touch him and I will kill you. He's Milla's husband and if you fuck with him I will fuck you up." I growled and I knew she backed down.

"Ok, ok, you know I wouldn't hurt Milla. It was just a joke. So two?" She sounded apologetic so I let her off the hook.

"Two, I'll see you then babe." She hung up and I caressed Milla's face again. What I was doing was for her.

I stood in the corner of the restaurant getting felt up by a Chinese guy and more annoyed by the minute. When Milla's Dad had seen that I was part of the group he was pissed, then I'd said I'd do it for free and that killed his protests. Milla's husband and I kept distance between us, he didn't want to ruin the deal and I didn't want to actively break my promise to her. It was fine watching Tina get him drinks and run her hand over his head that was just part of his personality but when Miranda and Connie sat on his lap I was ready to kill.

I put off the guy for as long as I could and was rewarded when Lyla's well meaning man ran in the back and tore the place to hell. I didn't have to worry about Milla's husband anymore, he joined the fray and beat the hell out of some chinamen. I pushed my back into the corner and pulled any girl I could to me. Getting hurt wasn't in the plans and no one paid extra. Once it was done we were dismissed and Milla's guy stopped me.

"You didn't have to watch me you know. I wouldn't have done anything." He was trying so I took a deep breath, she wanted me to behave so I could.

"Well I could lie and say that I wanted to see you fuck up, I didn't. I know you aren't getting all of your needs met and I didn't want the little head controlling the big head." He just shook his head and actually smiled at me.

"She told you what the doctor said huh? I've gone without before sweetie and if it means keeping Milla secure in us I'll be celibate as a fucking monk. It's not like I don't have a right hand." That made me smile and I nodded.

"Yeah, you're annoyingly loyal. I have a suggestion. Why don't we have a truce, a real one? Milla doesn't need us back biting and fighting but she needs both of us in different ways. I'll leave you alone if you leave me alone and I promise to stop hitting on her but I swear I don't mean to most of the time." He looked at me then held out his hand. I took it and forced myself to stop from slicing his hand with my nails.

"Truce but if you do anything else to upset her I have no problem fucking you up." I didn't take his threat seriously but I nodded. He gave me a hard look and the deal was struck. I nodded again and we turned and went our separate ways but I knew we'd meet again later.