Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“What happened to him?” I asked, staring down at Hale, who was indeed asleep in his king-size bed with a bandage covering his entire left shoulder and part of his chest.
Slash, who had been lying down on a large black velvet dog bed on Hale’s side of the bed, lifted his head to look up at me.
“He was shot, but it went through clear, which is a good thing. Just some cleaning and stitching up. He will need to get up and move when he wakes up. Not much though. Just enough to use the bathroom, and then he needs to lie back down. If—make that when—he gets difficult, text me. Ransom will be back later today to check on him too,” the doctor said, glancing at the other man. “Once he’s had some sleep.”
“Your…leaving me with him? Like this?” I asked in horror.
He had been shot! With a gun. And there was a doctor in his bedroom. One that was questionable because he looked like he was better suited herding cattle.
“I offered to get a nurse,” Dr. Burl said. “But he was adamant that we get you. He may feel differently after the morphine wears off. Until then, yes, we are leaving you with him. Any questions, just call. This isn’t his first gunshot wound. He’s had worse. Just stay here with him.” He pointed at a plush black cowhide sofa that matched his bedding. “There is a blanket and pillow there. Get some more rest. He won’t wake for a while.”
“And we aren’t far if you need us. Ransom is going to bed, but I will be awake,” Noa told me.
“You’re going to bed with me,” Ransom said, his brows drawing together as he looked down at his wife.
She sighed. “I think I should stay here.”
“No.”
“Ransom—”
“I said no. You’re going with me.”
Her shoulders lifted and fell again, and she gave me an exasperated look. “I left my number by the bed too,” she told me. “When this one decides I can leave his side, I’ll be back.”
They were all serious. Hale had been shot, no one was panicking, and they were leaving me to take care of him?
There was no way I was awake. This was insane.
“Shouldn’t he be in a hospital?” I asked what one would think was the obvious question.
Noa cut her eyes at Ransom.
“He’s fine here. Burl is better than a hospital,” Ransom replied.
Yep. They were all freaking crazy.
Thirty
Hale
A sharp pain shot through my entire upper body, and I winced as my eyes snapped open. I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom for a moment as last night’s events replayed in my head.
Rich would be indebted to me for the rest of his goddamn life. If I hadn’t moved in front of him when I did, the damn bullet would have gone right between his eyes. Instead, the fucker who had pulled the gun was dead, along with his brother and cousin, and I managed to escape with a simple through-and-through. It had, for the most part, been successful. Not nearly the bloodbath we had been prepared for.
Another breathtaking throb, and I sucked in a breath. Turning my head, I looked over to see if I was on a drip but found Bay, curled up on my sofa. Asleep. I’d forgotten about that. In my drugged state last night, I’d told Ransom to go get her. I’d wanted her to stay with me instead of some nurse Burl was going to send. The corner of my mouth curled up as I thought about her reaction to this. She wouldn’t have taken it well. I wished I’d been awake for that.
I should probably call Burl and get a nurse here. Bay wasn’t going to want to change my bandages or help me go piss. I squeezed my hand to make sure I could still use it. I might not need help going to the toilet. Lifting my arm wasn’t going to be happening anytime soon though. She was nice to look at though. Maybe that was what I’d been thinking last night. Wanting to have her to distract me from the pain. I hadn’t been wrong about it. She was a distraction.
Before I’d had to leave last night, I’d enjoyed her company. It wasn’t weird, having her in my room either. Which surprised me. I would have thought having a woman in my personal space would bother me. I never brought women in here. I had another room for the ones who had been vetted and I allowed into my home. Complete with a theater screen for the porn and a stripper pole for my entertainment. It had been a while since I’d used it though. Normally, when I needed a fuck, I just went to the club and picked out a girl to take to a private room.