“I honestly don’t think Ethan has any clue. He only took off and came to Houston because he needed someplace to grieve after Daniel Hawthorne’s death.”
“Dammit!”
“What?” Blayne questioned.
“I should have told him I knew about Hawthorne. Hell, all the guys have known Ethan is gay for years. Ethan always thought he was so secretive. His relationship with Hawthorne was known by everyone on our team. We said nothing because he said nothing.”
“Not surprised. Often closeted gay guys think they’re so hidden and have no idea the world is waiting for them to come out.”
“So, what now?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Blayne admitted. “I’m unsure if I’m still in shock over getting shot or if all this is way out of my knowledge set. But, I don’t have the foggiest idea what to do.”
“I’m going to talk to our producer and manager. If anyone knows what to do, it’s those two.”
“Let me know if you need anything from my end,” Blayne said.
“Just heal,” Zach said. “I know it’s what Ethan would want for you right now. Let us figure this mess out. You should stay out of it.”
“No offense but fuck that shit. I’ll have my lawyer work things from this end. You work things from yours.”
“But it’s not what—” Zach started before hearing the clicking sound of a call disconnected. “He hung up on me.”
* * * *
Blayne
Kira was a whirlwind when she got to the hospital. She demanded to see her clients from the FBI agents, who tried to stop her from entering the room by telling her that only family was being admitted. After a few choice words Blayne could hear from inside the hospital room, the agents smartened up and opened the door.
“What’s going on?” Kira asked as soon as the door was closed. “I got your nine-one-one text.”
Blayne spent the next few minutes filling Kira in on everything that had transpired that morning. “So, they came in here, took Ethan and left us with the goon squad out front.”
“Blayne,” Dr. Reich chided from the other side of the room, “they’re not goons. They’re just doing their job, and right now, their job is to protect you.”
Blayne was about to say something, but he shut his mouth before uttering something he’d regret. He took a calming breath and let it out in one huff. “Dr. Reich, I know you’re right, but…” he said as his voice trailed off.
Kira lowered herself into the seat Ethan had slept in all night long. “I get that you’re scared. And I love giving law enforcement a hard time as a lawyer,” she admitted. Blayne noticed the sheer amount of pain her face exhibited as she acknowledged it. “But they are here to protect you. Someone shot you less than twenty-four hours ago.”
“They didn’t try to kill me. They tried to assassinate Ethan.”
“We think,” Kira said as she interrupted him. “We don’t know that for sure. What if you were the target for some unknown reason? What if we got you out of here, and the person tries again and succeeds this time?”
Blayne knew she was right, so he kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t happy about it, but he knew what she was saying was true.
“If that’s true, why don’t we all go to the FBI building?” Blayne asked. “Wouldn’t it be safer for all if we were there instead of a public hospital with only two armed guards?”
“Blayne—”
“Don’t ‘Blayne’ me. Is this really the most secure place for me if I’m in danger?”
“Probably not,” Kira said with reluctance.
“See?” Blayne said, nodding his head in vindication.
There was a sudden series of three knocks on the door then Arnold Giest-Mueler walked into the room.
“How are my patients doing?” the surgeon asked as he took in the facial expressions around the room. “I’m clearly interrupting something. I can come back?”
