“Gunny,” Cameron barked.
Priest’s body stiffened.
“Back off. The boy didn’t mean anything by it.”
Priest sucked his teeth, and stepped back. I couldn’t tell for sure, since I stood behind him, but it appeared like his gaze moved down Gavin’s body. Judging from Cameron’s face, which I could see since he stood at an angle to me and at Gavin and Priest’s shoulders, I hit that mark spot on. Because Cameron’s gaze visibly trailed downward, his head dipping, just like Priest’s. I didn’t know what they were doing, but I checked the floor. Gavin hadn’t wet himself, so that was a good sign.
“Apologize.”
The word came out more growled than spoken, but I looked at Gavin, afraid he’d unleash his sometimes unruly temper. His gaze remained locked on Priest. There was a hint of fear in his gaze, but the heat I saw there didn’t worry me in the way I thought I’d need to be worried. It wasn’t anger turning the flames up in his eyes. My lips twitched.
“Alrighty then, can we get to why we’re actually here, or do the three of you need me to ask around for a measuring stick?”
This time, I knew Cameron and Priest looked down because Priest said, “Nope. I don’t need a ruler. I have the kid’s number already, but if you see one, grab it for me, because I get the feeling someone likes having his ass paddled.”
Gavin’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but he didn’t utter a single word.
“Boy…”
Gavin looked at Cameron. “Sir.”
“Gunny gave you an order.”
Gavin turned to me and said, “Sorry, Squirt.”
He cleared his throat, his gaze bouncing from Cameron to Priest and back.
“Good boy.” Priest tapped Gavin’s cheek with the palm of his hand. “Show the princess where her daddy is. She’s fretted all night.”
“Yes, sir,” Gavin said. The respect and submission were so obvious that even someone who didn’t know Gavin, the life he craved could’ve picked it up.
“They have him on a bunch of medicine if the bags hanging from the IV poles are any indication. They also have him on a machine to help him breathe.”
“He has a DNR.”
“I know, and I mentioned it. There was some confusion when he came in from the nursing home, and the doctors didn’t know until after they did it. They are waiting for you to make the ultimate decision.”
Cameron and Priest swore behind me, and if I did such a thing, I would’ve echoed it. Instead, I nodded.
I don’t think I can do this.
24
HAYDEN
Aphone ringing pierced the fog of sleep, and I jolted awake. Looking toward the annoying racket, I noticed Jackson Holt standing nearby, a cup of coffee in front of his smug, smirking face and another in his opposite hand.
“You gonna get that?” he asked, laughing.
I grunted and scrubbed my hand over my face before pulling my arm from under Declan’s head and sitting up. Marcie’s turtle toppled into my lap. Declan and I had fallen asleep on the couch with that damn stuffed animal still perched on my chest.
I picked it up and said, “It’s Declan’s,” before reaching for my phone, but the ringing stopped, so I wiped the sleep from my face and popped my neck.
“What’s mine?” Declan asked from behind me. His voice muffled as he pressed against my back.
Jackson cracked up. “Deckie-weckie, did you need your stuffie-wuffie?”
“Fuck off, Jackie boy. It’s Marcie’s. And you know it because you were with Katie when she carried it down here last night.”
