“I’m fine. Just a few scratches, that’s all.”
“Okay.” Mick extended his hand. The man jumped down from the gurney and shook it.
But Mick jerked him so hard that his thin body slammed against Mick’s big frame. And he whispered in his ear. “If I find out that yourgolly gee, woe is meroutine is an act and there’s more to this story, I will track you down like the animal I am and rip you apart. Limb by limb.” Then he looked the driver in his eyes. “You feel me?”
The man swallowed hard. And started nodding furiously. “Yes sir,” he said.
Then Mick released his hand and left the room.
But Mick didn’t go back to Teddy’s room. He went outside to make sure the capos out there were all made men and no newbies, which was who they were. He also made several phone calls, including ordering a detail to round up all the CCTV cameras they could find in the area of the accident. It seemed innocent enough, but he was taking no chances.
By the time he made it back into the hospital room with Roz and Nikki, Mick felt overwhelmed with relief. Teddy had returned from Xray and was wide awake, alert, and sitting upin his hospital bed. Other than a few abrasions on his face and arms, he looked okay. But what helped Mick was that Nikki and Roz were smiling. Mick had been waiting to exhale, and the look on their faces allowed him to do so.
“All the tests are negative,” Nikki said.
“Thank God,” said Mick.
“But they want to keep him overnight for observation.”
But Teddy was adamant. “Observation my ass. It’s called a shakedown. They aren’t shaking me down. No overnight. I’m getting out of here.”
“The police still need to talk to you and most likely ticket you for reckless driving first, Teddy. You know they’re on their way.”
“Reckless driving. Sure buddy.”
Mick looked at him. “You didn’t run that red light?”
“Yeah, I ran it.”
Mick frowned. “Then what’s your problem? You don’t argue about a ticket you know you deserve or they’ll be more than happy to slap your Sinatra ass with a resistance charge. And you are staying overnight.”
“But I hate hospitals, Pop. They creep me out.”
“Nikki will stay and hold your hand,” Mick said, and Nikki and Roz fought hard to suppress their grins.
“Fuck you, Pop,” Teddy said, and they couldn’t hold back any longer. They laughed.
But even Mick knew it was a laugh born more out of great relief that Teddy had dodged a massive bullet, than joy.
CHAPTER FOUR
Early the next morning and Mick was on top of Roz pumping hard inside of her as if he was starved for her. He had her wrapped into his arms as he did her, and Roz had her chin over his broad shoulder allowing him to ravage her body. She was enjoying every second of it too. But tears were staining her large, clear eyes as if she knew it was only a temporary fix for a major-ass problem that was not going away.
But yet in still it felt so good to Roz when he began pouring into her that she was arching and crying out in elation. Nobody but Mick knew how to put it on her. Nobody but Mick.
But when he had poured out and all of her sensations began to ease, and after they laid there several minutes just trying to recover their equilibrium, Mick pulled out of her, laid on his back, and then grabbed her and laid her on top of him. And they laid that way for another several minutes.
Until Roz finally spoke. Their lovemaking wasn’t the only thing hot and heavy. Last night was still hot and heavy on her mind too. And not just because of the terror she felt when Nikki called and told them about Teddy’s accident, but because of her anger with Mick. That was still there. That wasn’t going away so easily. “My birthday is coming up soon,” she said.
“I’m aware.”
I’m aware? Was that all he had to say? She wanted him to reassure her that he’d at least plan to make an appearance at her party, but she couldn’t even get that out of him. That was why appeasement never worked with Mick. Only hardball did.
That was why she decided to cut the bullshit and go there. “Coming home late I’m used to. You always come home late. But not coming home at all? And for three nights in a row?” She lifted her head from his muscularly-barreled chest and looked at him. “How would you feel if it was me pulling that shit on you?”
“It wouldn’t be you,” Mick responded.
Roz searched his face. “How can you be so sure?”
