Wilde Ride (28 page)
A voice answered with, “I know where Ella is.” They told me her location, and then you know the rest of what happened that fateful day. It pretty well sucked ass takin’ a bullet to the chest, but I’d do it again in a fuckin’ heartbeat, if it meant savin’ someone I love.
I can remember wakin’ up in the hospital and not being able to talk because of the fuckin’ breathing tube down my goddamn throat. I looked up in a panic and the first pair of eyes I made contact with was Ella’s gorgeous brown ones. They were filled with tears as she looked at me and I felt her fingers as they stroked the back of my hand.
My eyes looked down and I saw my ring on her finger. When I looked back up and our eyes connected again, she nodded and simply said, “Yes.” That one little word made me relax long enough so that they could pull the damn tube from my throat. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but I took it like a man. The first scratchy words out of my mouth were, “Kiss me.” And what a fuckin’ kiss it was.
Four months later when she told me “I Do” was one of the best days of my life. I never thought it could get any better, remembering her walkin’ down the aisle in that sexy as sin white dress, I thought I was gonna burst. My chest was so tight. I was waitin’ for somethin’ to ruin it, like everything else in my life. Now that she is mine, I will never let anything happen to her again.
Then she gave birth to my babies. Now that was the best day of my life. I got the call while I was at the Wilde Ride, tying up some loose ends before I left to spend quality time with Ella. I had someone set up to run the bar because she was put on bed rest, tryin’ to keep the twins inside of her as long as possible. I was never so scared in my entire life when I got that call. She was 36 weeks along in her pregnancy, so it wasn’t too early, but it was still early and it was the first time I had left her side since she was put on bed rest. I hated every second of it.
I raced home to see her crouched over in pain. Payton and Karen were there givin’ her support. Payton was rubbin’ her back and Karen was countin’ with her and goin’ through some breathing exercises to try and make it easier. I ran over to Ella, pickin’ her up and carryin’ her to my truck. Once we were all situated, we headed to the hospital.
When we got there, Ella’s OBGYN, Dr. Chaulk, rushed us into the delivery room. Apparently Ella was in labour for quite a while and didn’t want to bother anyone in case it was a false alarm. The doctor said if we had waited any longer, she would have delivered them at home.
I changed into green scrubs and had to take a few deep breaths before goin’ into the delivery room. I’m not gonna lie. I was totally shitbaked. I, Ryder Wilde, was going to be a father and it scared me fuckin’ senseless, but I still couldn’t wait to get that first glimpse of our babies. I pulled my shit together and walked in, ready to give Ella all the support she needed.
On May 9
th
, 2012 at 12:01 am and 12:15 am, my gorgeous wife gave birth to our two beautiful babies. They were and still are the most amazing little things I have ever seen. The nurse handed them over to me, situating one in each of my arms and I held them next to Ella and said,
“Hi Mommy,” I croaked, my throat tight with emotion. I leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Hi Daddy,” she replied, with tears spilling down her cheeks. You could hear the joy and exhaustion in her voice. She pushed herself up on her elbows placing soft kisses on our babies’ heads. Goddamn, I love my family somethin’ fierce.
Two of the nurses helped to clean up Ella and the babies and get them settled in the room. Picking my little miracles up, I placed Harley and Hendrix in their mother’s arms while I went and got Payton and Karen.
When they came in, I leaned into Ella and took Hendrix while she was holding Harley and got our first family picture taken. I have a copy of that picture everywhere. Hung up at the bar, in my truck and tucked in my wallet. I waited a long time to get my family and I couldn’t be happier to add to it. I love my wife. She keeps giving me the best gift possible, a happy life.
As for the pricks that tried keepin’ me and my family apart, let’s just say they got what they had comin’ to them.
The day I got shot rescuing Ella, the Del Mar Police Department did a raid of the premises and of another property. Obviously they found some girls that had been abducted and held against their will and they found a shit load of cocaine and heroin.
Most of the members of Mayhem and The Devil’s Disciples ended up in the joint after being sentenced to fifteen years. At first, I couldn’t stomach the thought of keepin’ in contact with the guys that planned on sellin’ my woman for sex and killin’ my babies, but Gunner contacted me through a letter and wanted me to visit so he could explain their actions.
During my visit he told me that Axel and the members of The Devil’s Disciples had threatened to torture and kill them and their families, if they didn’t go along with the plans. They did what they had to, to protect their families. I can’t be pissed at Axel anymore for the role he played in what happened to Ella because he’s gotten his punishment, death.
Matt got sentenced to five years with the possibility of parole after three, for his attempted rape on Ella. Not fuckin’ long enough in my books. If it was up to me, the asshole would’ve gotten life. He was incarcerated at the same prison as my brothers.
About two years ago, Ella got a call notifying her that Matt was up for parole and gave her the option to attend the hearing and give a victim’s impact statement. Around that time Ella became very edgy and started having night terrors causing her to scream, wakin’ the whole house up. We all fuckin’ suffered, watching her relive the trauma of Matt’s attack.
A couple of days after receivin’ that phone call, I went to visit Gunner and set the hit in motion. Three days before the hearing, we received the call from the prison informin’ us Matt had been shanked in his cell. Fucker bled out on the floor before anyone found him, couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Ella’s slept like a baby ever since. She has yet to question me on it, but I’m sure she knows the part I played in his death. If she does ask in the future, the answer is simple. I did what I had to do to protect what’s mine, my family.
As for Brent, apparently the message I sent
was
received. He quit his job and moved back with his mommy and daddy. I do feel a little bit bad for beatin’ the shit out of the guy for somethin’ Matt did, but he was still movin’ in on my territory. I couldn’t have that, could I?
I look down adoringly at my wife and interlace our fingers. “Let’s hit the road, babe. The sooner we leave means the quicker we arrive at the cottage and I can get your fine ass in bed and start makin’ us some more babies.”
“Okay, baby. I love you,” she says.
“I love you too,” I return, lifting her hand and kissing the tattoo on her wrist.
“Forever,” we both say together. It’s kinda our thing we say to each other now.
We walk over and hop on our bikes, shifting our children over so that they are sittin’ on the seats between us and the gas tank. I lean down and speak into Hendrix’s ear, “You ready, bud?” He nods his little helmeted head.
I glance over at my wife and daughter. Ella is saying something into Harley’s ear. Harley looks over at me and gives me a, two thumbs up gesture. Ella and I smile at each other as we rev our engines and pull out for our journey. Yup, life fuckin’ is good.
All in all it was a wild ride, but it was our ride.
The End!
The Ride Series will continue with the story of Payton and Jack.
Table of Contents
Chapter 17 - Double Ds and Text Messages
Chapter 18 - Night on the Town
Chapter 19 - Party at Wilde Ride
Chapter 21 - Victoria’s Secret