“Yeah,” Dad agreed.
Drake banged on the door and yelled, “Grub’s up!”
“I got this, Dad,” I said. “I’m all in.”
“Fuckin’ finally!” he retorted. “Let’s eat.”
I nodded and followed him into the kitchen.
Raquel
THE NEXT DAY, I was released into my brother’s care. There was no point in me staying in the hospital when I had someone who could take care of me, and I wanted out.
The problem was, Orion wouldn’t let me go home. I was ushered to the cabin without delay, and without any personal items.
“You’re not going back to your townhouse, Razzle,” Orion decreed. “Make a list of what you need and I’ll have Sierra pack it when I go pick her up.”
I held my hands up. “I can’t make a list, Orion. I can’t hold a pen or a phone.”
“You tell me what you want, and I’ll write it down.”
“Honey, it would help if I could direct traffic, so to speak, so I don’t forget anything.”
He dragged his hands through his hair. “Raquel, I’m not taking any chances, so, no.”
“You can’t say no. I need underwear.”
“I’ll pack your underwear.”
“Gah! You’re driving me crazy with all this,” I snapped. “I’ll have my brother take me.”
“Like hell you will. Doc’s in agreement with me.”
“Yeah, well, I know how to get around my brother.”
“But you don’t know how to get around me.”
I held my hands up again. “If I had use of these, there’d be a lot of ways I could get around you.”
He smiled…finally. “There is that.”
“Please take me with you, Smoky. You’ll protect me.”
Orion sighed. “If Wrath and your brother can come with us, I’ll take you.”
I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”
My brother made time for me and instead of Wrath, Rabbit tagged along which didn’t make Orion happy, but he knew he’d help keep me safe.
We pulled up to the townhouse and my brother and Orion did a sweep while I waited outside with Rabbit. Once the all-clear was given, I walked inside and led Orion upstairs while Rabbit and Tristan waited for Sierra.
“I’ve got a duffel and a suitcase in my closet,” I said, and Orion grabbed both and set them on the bed.
I spent the next fifteen minutes instructing Orion on what to pack, including a set of sheets from the linen closet because there was no way in hell I was sleeping (more than one night) on the sheets in his room at the cabin.
“Babe, you don’t actually need this many pairs of panties.”
“Oh, really?” I asked.
