I bit my lower lip. “I’m a prospect now, Lex. If I don’t follow an order this simple, I’m gonna pay a steep price.”
She shook her head and I admired that she didn’t roll her eyes. “So what I want doesn’t factor here?”
Part of me wanted to give her what she wanted, but I saw both sides of this fucked-up situation. “I’d do that for you Lex, but Blood said Cal and Aunt Mallory want to see you.”
Her face darkened with what I imagined was guilt before she sighed. “Right. I shouldn’t have called Dad.”
That was the wrong conclusion. I tilted my head and softened my tone and my expression. “What are you going to do in Gainesville?”
She turned to me, her hazel eyes practically empty. “I’ll gather some of my roommate’s clothes, get my car, and drive back to the hospital so I can help Ines out.”
I nodded once. “That’s cool of you, but she’s in ICU right now. It’s not like she’ll go home that fast. Her parents were there. I’m sure her family’s going to take care of her.”
She shook her head. “Okay, but why didn’t her dad stop to talk to me after you came in?”
I had to resist touching her cheek. Instead, I leaned a little closer. “Lex, I wasn’t there that long before they got your papers to you and told you to talk to the cop. Hell, I’m still pissed I didn’t get to sit in there with you.”
With a pointed look, she tilted her head. “He asked about the accident, Raff. It’s not like he’s going to pin it on me, even if… never mind that doesn’t matter. I was in the backseat for heaven’s sake.”
Her last words had me biting back my smile. Every so often, Alexandra talked just like Aunt Mallory, and I dug that. She didn’t care that other people gave her crap about the phrases she used, and I liked that too. Most of all though, I loved how close she was with her mom because something told me she’d be the same way with her own kid… or kids.
I shook my head and focused on her words. “You proved my point. Seeing as he only asked you about the accident, it should have made no difference to him for me to be by your side. The fact he wouldn’t let anyone else in the room says something to me, and I don’t like it. Somebody should have been with you. The only reason I brought up the cop was to point out that the questioning gave Ines’s dad plenty of time to wander past me and go to a different waiting room or whatever.”
Her expression softened and she nodded. “You’re right.” She suddenly shot me an annoyed look. “I still wish we were going back to my place. I told the nurse to fill my ‘scripts in Gainesville.”
I leveled a dry look at her. “Pretty sure somebody can fix that.”
She nodded dejectedly. “Guess I’ll call the hospital.”
I grinned and pointed a finger at her. “Don’t. I’ll get my mom or Jasmine to call them. I should have asked this earlier, are you hungry? This looks like a lousy exit, but we can stop and get you something to eat if you want.”
She shook her head. “No, we aren’t that far from the state line and I’d rather get home.” Her eyes went wide. “Crap. I need to call Dad… or Blood. I don’t know if he talked to Dad or Mom or —”
I touched my finger to her lips again. “I told Blood that I’d update Cal, and you know he isn’t going to tell your Mom shit until he knows you’re okay.”
She blew out a deep breath. “Okay, good. That’s a slight relief. I’ll—”
With my fingertip to the base of her chin, I tipped her face up half an inch. “Let me, Lex. You’ve been through the wringer today. Hell, if I’m not mistaken, you just stopped shaking ten minutes ago.”
Her eyes locked with mine. “You’re way too observant, Rafferty. No wonder Steel and the Devil Lancers wanted to recruit you.”
In reality, I was only observant where Alexandra was concerned. If she wanted to think that was why the Devil Lancers had wanted me to join their motorcycle club, I wouldn’t argue.
“Let’s get you home.”
Her hand grabbed mine. “Call Dad first, please. I don’t want him to worry.”
I dipped my chin and pulled out my phone.
Cal answered within the first ring. “Talk to me, Raff.”
“She’s fine, and we’re almost to Florida. Should be at your place in two and a half hours.”
He sighed. “Thank God. Did she give you shit about bringing her to Jacksonville?”
My eyes slid toward Alexandra. “She did, but she’s on board now. Did that plan change?”
“No. I’ll see you soon.”
