“Ryder?” She gasps, her voice breaking. “Is that you? Oh my God, is it really you?”
“Yeah, baby. Is there anyone else who calls you Little Trouble? Do I need to kill them? Because I will, just as soon as I figure out how to stand up without falling on my face.”
“You’re awake,” she says, her voice thick with tears. I canpicture her, pacing, one hand twirling a strand of hair like she does when she’s emotional.
“Are you crying?” Shit. I can’t stand the thought of her crying when I’m not there to comfort her. To wrap her in my arms and tell her everything’s going to be okay. “Please, don’t cry. You know I’m useless when you cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she insists, sniffling loudly in a way that contradicts her words. “You’re okay. I’m happy. These are happy tears, you idiot.”
“Turns out I’m not that easy to kill,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. “Though this nurse is giving it her best shot. I think she missed her calling as a CIA interrogator.”
“I need to see you,” she says, her voice urgent. “How can I see you? God.” The line crackles as she moves.
Is she running? What is she doing? “Cora?”
“Liam!” she shouts. “I need to get to Novaspan Medical Center.”
“Never heard of it,” Liam’s deep voice comes through. “Where is it?”
“Fuck,” she curses. “I don’t know. Ryder, do you know? I’ll get to you, even if I have to learn to fly a helicopter in the next hour.”
“Cora,” I try to get her attention back. “Where are you?”
“At Dad’s estate. But I’ll get to you. I’ll contact Zane Mercer and ask him.”
“No. Don’t move,” I order, sitting up in bed despite the pain. The room spins for a moment, but I grit my teeth through it. “I’ll come to you. Wait for me. I’m on my way. Just don’t do anything crazy, okay?”
The nurse shoots me a withering look that clearly says, “Over my dead body.”
I glare back at her, silently communicating that it can bearranged. “I’ll be there in a few hours,” I tell Cora before hanging up and handing the phone back to the nurse.
“That’s not why I gave you my phone,” she says, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re not supposed to be up. You’re here for at least two more days. Did you miss the part where you almost died?”
I shrug, wincing at the movement. “Sorry, not sorry. My woman is waiting for me. I need to go.”
“And how do you plan to get there? Crawl?” she asks, eyebrow raised.
“If I have to,” I mutter, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The room spins again, and I grip the edge of the mattress to steady myself. “Though I’d prefer to walk. It’s more dignified.”
I reach for the IV in my arm, my fingers wrapping around the thin tube. With a sharp intake of breath, I yank it out. Blood wells up, a crimson river flowing down my arm.
Fuck.
“Jesus Christ!” The nurse leaps into action, her earlier sarcasm evaporating. She grabs a wad of gauze from the cart, pressing it against the bleeding site. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to paint the walls?”
I wince at the pressure. “I told you, I’m leaving.”
She glares at me, her eyes flashing. “Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England. You’re not going anywhere like this.” She pauses, a wicked glint appearing in her eye. “Unless you want to try removing the catheter yourself, too? I’m sure that would be a delightful experience.”
The blood drains from my face at the thought. “Catheter? What the... Why do I have something in my dick?”
She rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall outof her head. “How else did you think you were handling your business for four days, genius? Magic?”
I groan, sinking back into the pillows. The fight drains out of me. “I’m not staying here.”
The nurse sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re going to be the death of me. Fine. If you’re determined to do this, at least let me help you. I’d rather not have to explain to Mr. Mercer why his golden boy is bleeding all over the place.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to think of anything else—ice cream sundaes, puppies, Cora’s smile—anything but what’s happening down there. “I think I’ve stumbled into a horror movie,” I mutter. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
