“I’ll do it,” I said, taking the phone from him and pressing it against my ear. “I’m nicer than you.”
“You think I’m mean now? Just wait until I punish you for almost dying,” he threatened.
I wasn’t scared. I pushed up on tiptoes to pat Kieran on the cheek. “I love you too.”
“What was that?” Doc said into the line.
“Oh,” I said, pulling back. “Doc, this is Hazard. Ghost is hurt. He needs you immediately.”
In the background, Rett yelled, “He got shot!”
“Where was he shot? Is he conscious?”
“In the shoulder, and yes,” I replied.
“Can you get him back to Mr. Vaughn’s apartment?”
I glanced a Kieran who was obviously listening to the entire exchange. He nodded.
“Yes, we can be there in just a few minutes,” I agreed. “Thank you so much, sir!” I disconnected the line immediately and gestured to Kieran. “Carry him to the car,” I instructed.
“Who’s bossy now?” Kieran muttered.
I glared at him. Now was not the time for his disagreeable attitude.
Ghost made a sound. “I can walk.”
“No! You shouldn’t.” Rett fussed, hands fluttering everywhere. Then, very softly, he whispered, “Please don’t die.”
“Help me up,” Ghost grunted, holding out his good hand. Rett and I both rushed to do it, grabbing his hand to tug him to his feet.
Ghost wasn’t quite as big as Kieran, but the man weighed a ton. Probably all those nuts he ate.
Kieran made a rude sound and nudged us both out of the way. Clasping Ghost’s hand with just one of his, he pulled Ghost up in two seconds flat.
Showoff.
The second he was on his feet, Ghost reached for Rett with his left arm since his right shoulder was shot.
“Come here,” he said, easily tugging Rett close.
It felt intrusive to stare as he grasped Rett’s chin with his good hand and pushed his face up to meet his stormy, bleak eyes. As intrusive as it was, I couldn’t look away. Watching them made my stomach flip the way it always did when I was with Kieran. It made me wonder if we looked as drawn to each other as they did.
Rett’s lower lip wobbled, and Ghost laid his thumb against it. “I’d never accept death when life has you.”
Rett’s pale cheeks pinkened and he tried to drop his face, but Ghost still held his chin. His eyes darted every which way, trying to avoid Ghost’s stare.
Ghost made a light sound. “You hear me?”
Rett nodded once, and Ghost pulled him in, wrapping his good arm around him.
Kieran thrust a set of keys in front of me, shaking them to get my attention. “Pull the SUV up front,” he instructed.
Well, this was surprising. “You’re going to let me drive your car?”
Kieran’s mouth twisted. “No. I’m going to let you pull it up to the front so I can help Ghost out to it.”
“I don’t need help,” Ghost retorted.
