I chuckled then. “I don’t think they work for you, Jasper. Their bosses might have something to say about you randomly firing their staff.”
Jasper’s laugh was weak and raspy. “So much to learn, new girl.”
Dylan was watching me with an odd expression, and I lifted an eyebrow. “What?”
“Your innocence is refreshing,” he said simply. “The dynamics are changing … you’re changing them.”
I still didn’t really understand what he meant by that, but I could tell he meant it as a good thing, so I smiled in return.
Our conversation was interrupted by a doctor reaching over to hook Jasper up to another IV. His first one was pretty much sucked dry up on the pole above his head. The woman turned to me then. “I’m going to start you on some fluids,” she said quickly. “All of you are dehydrated, and it will help us assess your injuries better.”
I nodded, not in any sort of mood to argue. Even though I really hated needles. Dylan helped me into a half sitting position, lifting me just enough that I could get the thick jacket off. Underneath was the bra and nothing else still, but I didn’t care. Caring required energy I just didn’t have.
Dylan’s gentle fingers pressed against my ribs again. I flinched, but the pain was dull, only really kicking in when I breathed too deeply.
“You’re going to be fine,” he told me, his dark eyes softer than I was sure I’d ever seen them. Everything about Dylan was dark, including his gorgeous skin, but his ultra-scary vibe, the one that had sent spikes of panic through my blood the first time I saw him, was no longer there. Not for me. Something had shifted for us in the forest; I trusted them now, which was possibly the stupidest thing I’d ever done in my life, but it didn’t make it any less true.
“I’d like to assess her before making that call, Mr. Grant,” the medic tentatively interrupted. Clearly she wasn’t over the whole fear thing he inspired.
Dylan leveled her with a steady, calculating stare, and she swallowed hard, her eyes wide and pupils dilated. I could almost smell her fear. When he finally nodded, she swallowed again, her breathing audible even over the sound of the engine. Stepping closer, she quickly ran a hand along my side, pressing and probing, asking me what hurt. While she was evaluating me, another person hooked up my drip, and when that needle came into view, I focused on it.
“It’ll only hurt for a moment,” the second medic said. “I’m very good at my job.”
Somehow I fucking doubted it. No one was good at needles, they always hurt far more than they should. Before I could refuse, a swab was wiped across my skin, and then the needle was coming for me. I flinched just before it made contact and the medic pulled back. “If you move, it’ll be much worse.”
I glared. “Right now I’ve got a woman feeling me up and another medic about to stab me. Let’s just say I’ve been in more comfortable positions in my life.”
“Always so difficult,” Jasper rasped. “You’re definitely the Deboise heir.”
If I could have moved, I would have flipped him off.
Dylan reached out and took my hand, holding it in his firm grip. “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he promised, and I let out a sigh before closing my eyes.
“Okay, just do it,” I grit out.
Another brush of cool alcohol wipe across my skin, and then a short pause while the medic waved her hand to dry the alcohol before inserting a needle with the smallest prick of pain. I squeezed Dylan’s hand so tightly I worried I might be cutting off circulation, but he never complained or tried to get free. Deciding it was easier to just keep my eyes closed until we got to the hospital, I tried not to think about Beck. From the moment Dylan climbed in with us, I knew Beck was going back to icing me out of his life. He’d sent his friend to keep an eye on us rather than doing it himself.
I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit it cut me up inside to have Asshole Beck back.
But it was also good. I needed this lesson. To learn to protect myself, because if there was one thing I knew about the heirs of Delta, they now had the power to really hurt me. I couldn’t let that happen. I had such little left in my life, if I lost one more thing…
I wasn’t sure I’d survive.
15
The doctors wanted to keep me in overnight, but I refused. Desperation to put some distance between the boys and myself pushed me to run, and to run fast. I had to get my emotions back under control. I also needed to have a conversation with Debitch, because there were things I needed to ask her. Important things. If she wanted to use me as her heir, then she would need to bring more to the party. For too long I’d let her hold all the cards, have all the power, but that shit was over today.
When I was dropped in front of the Deboise estate, the gates slid open, and I found a cart waiting for me. My ribs were aching again after all of the prodding and poking, so I gently eased myself onto the seat and hoped that the painkillers would kick in soon.
The trip back to the giant mansion was fast, and when I got off, Stewart was waiting in the front hall, his face creased in concern.
“Ms. Deboise … Riley. I was so worried about you,” he said as I limped inside. Reaching out I patted him on the arm.
“I’m fine, Stew, don’t even worry about it. Riley Jameson is one tough cookie.”
“It’s Deboise.” Her cold voice had Stewart jerking back from me, a mask falling over his face.
I smirked at Catherine as she slinked into the room, dressed like she was off to fucking fashion week—or an upscale funeral. Knee-length, perfectly tailored black dress, dark hair piled up on top of her head, makeup flawless and dark.
