I refused to let him shoulder the guilt for that, since I was equally to blame. “We both said some things we shouldn’t have.”
His gaze dropped to his side and he winced. “Let’s not do that again.”
“Deal,” I agreed. “The cops were arriving as we left in the ambulance. They came by and took my statement last night. Now that you’re awake, I’m sure they’ll want yours, too.”
“You came with me?” His gaze shot to the chair I’d slept in. “You’ve been here all night?”
“Yes. I told the nurse I was your fiancé, so she’d let me stay. So, play along, if they ask.”
Still looking shell-shocked, he nodded.
“Can I get you anything? Water? Food? A nurse? What do you need?”
He cast a worried glance at the IV standing beside him. “Do you know what they gave me for pain?”
“No. I’m sorry.” I should have asked, should have paid closer attention, but I’d been focused solely on his survival.
“Don’t let them give me anything else.”
That was a tall order, and he had to be in a world of hurt. I started to shake my head.
“Please. I can take it, Mila. But I can’t fall off the wagon again. I have too much to lose this time.”
The way he looked at me like I was the most valuable thing in the world formed a lump in my throat.
Before I could swallow past it and assure him he was never shaking me, there was a knock on the door. Apparently, visiting hours had begun, because Link strolled in like he owned the place. “Hey Hound, Mila,” he said by way of greeting.
I glanced at the door, wondering if I should make my escape, but Hound squeezed my hand. After holding his hand all night, I hadn’t even realized I’d entwined our fingers once again. I couldn’t seem to help myself; I needed to touch him.
“Stay?” Hound asked.
Since I couldn’t deny him when he looked at me like that, I slumped back in the chair.
An amused smirk played across Link’s features as he approached. “How you doin,’ brother?” he asked.
“I feel like a million bucks,” Hound replied sarcastically.
Link chuckled. “I bet.”
The two of them talked for a while, and then Link left so Wasp could have a turn. After Wasp, Havoc came in, wheeling one of my suitcases behind him.
“Julia said you could use a change of clothes,” the big guy said. “She found this bag open by the bed and tossed in the bag of toiletries from the bathroom.”
Julia’s thoughtfulness tugged at my heartstrings. I asked him to send her my thanks before accepting the suitcase and digging through it to find what I needed. Then I left the guys to talk, and headed for the bathroom to shower, change, and brush my teeth.
When I returned, Eagle was visiting with Hound. I resumed my spot in the chair, and Hound reached for me.
Eagle was followed by Specks, Frog, Tap, Jake, Bull, Zombie, Rabbit, Buddha, and Tank. It seemed that everyone who could make it in, had. Then, right before visiting hours ended, Levi strolled in.
My cousin entered with a cocky smirk directed at Hound. “If you wanted a day off so badly, all you had to do was ask,” he said.
Hound let out a low chuckle, and then winced. “Yeah. I forgot to call in today. Sorry about that.”
“I’ll let it slide this time.” Levi’s gaze shifted back to me. “Hey Meals. You still pissed at me?”
My cousin was a complicated man, but when the rubber met the road, he was ride or die down to his very core. Between visitors, Hound had told me Levi was the one who’d pressed Tap to pull strings and get Toby’s flight records. Even when I’d walked away from him, Levi had still been looking out for me.
“Can’t blame an asshole for farting,” I replied, flicking him shit so he’d know we were cool.
