I blew out a relieved breath. “Don’t do that.”
He winked. “I think I’m all good. And I remember I was out there for a dead body…but that’s about it. I was hoping youcould help run me through everything we did before it all went downhill.”
“Of course. I haven’t written up my report on the body yet,” I admitted. I also hadn’t told anyone that I was having nightmares. That was something I’d have told Pyre, if I wasn’t mad at him, though my anger was draining away day by day. Sitting here looking at Owen in his hospital bed seemed to be taking care of the rest of my irritation. “But the short version is that he was stabbed, likely by one of the guys that tried to kill us. That connection is your job though.”
I knew who stabbed that guy, but I would never say anything to Owen. I couldn’t give Forge up. We could have died. Both of us. The only reason we hadn’t was because of Forge and the club.
That was part of the reason I couldn’t be too mad at the guys for breaking into my funeral home. It was hard to hold a grudge when you owed people your life. Plus, after speaking with my friends, I just knew it wasn’t worth detonating a relationship over. We needed to talk, Pyre and I, and we would once I pulled myself together, but I was going to forgive him. I probably always knew I would, which was part of why I’d been so mad at him to begin with.
“One of my guys got an ID on the body. Dan Channing.” Owen rubbed his forehead, careful not to touch near where his injury was. “Said some of the evidence was missing though.”
“Oh? What evidence?”
“Murder weapon, for starters.”
I winced. “That’s not good, but honestly anyone could’ve taken that while we were…busy.”
“Yeah. Not sure why they’d bother. Did you get any descriptions?”
“Sorry. It was dark and everything sort of happened so fast. I can tell you what I’m able, from examining the body, but that’s it.” There was no way I was mentioning Forge. I wasn’tsure Owen would share my belief that he shouldn’t be held accountable for anything as a thank you for saving us.
And I realized that part of working with the club meant I should check with Cypher about what I should or shouldn’t tell Owen. No wonder Ainsley resigned as sheriff and took a job with Sentry Securities. This was a hard space to be in.
Guilt at holding back on him made the next words nearly get stuck in my throat. “Why don’t I go to the station later today and give a statement?”
“Yeah,” he said with a sheepish grin. “Anything you tell me might get lost somewhere.” He lightly tapped a finger against his head.
Laughing, I reached out and pulled the tray of food sitting nearby over. “What did they bring you? Oh look, Jell-O.”
He groaned. “I hate Jell-O. I want a steak.”
“You get…” I made a face. “I honestly don’t know what this is.”
“Chicken delight,” he grumbled.
I cringed. “Do I even want to know what’s in that?”
“No. Trust me, you don’t.” He brightened up, a smile spreading over his face. “But you could get me something.”
“Oh…I don’t-”
“Hey, asshole, I thought you might be sick of hospital food-” Warrant broke off as he walked into the room and saw me sitting there. He had a six pack in his hand that he hurriedly hid behind his back. “Oh. Hey, Rae.”
“Hi, Warrant.” I smiled at him. I was sure my expression was a little off because a look of concern crossed his face. He didn’t know it yet, but I was planning my revenge on him.
“Oh, thank fuck. What did you bring me?” Owen said, missing the tension in the room between me and Warrant.
With the beer still hidden behind his back he held out his other hand. “Steak sandwich. Mom made it for you.”
“She’s an angel. Deserves the damn world,” he said, digging into the bag and taking a huge bite from the sandwich. “Tell your dad he better watch out or I might steal her away.” His mouth was full of food, but he kept talking, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head in bliss.
“Fucking weirdo. Stay away from my mom.” But Warrant was watching me. As soon as Owen started talking again about how damn good the food was, he asked, “You still pissed?”
“At you? Or Pyre?” I asked, my smile turning slightly mean.
“Both.”
“Maybe.” I wasn’t giving anything away. Once I exacted my revenge on the apple thief then I’d fully forgive him. “I’d better get going.” Reaching out I grabbed Owen’s hand and squeezed. “I’ll go make that statement.”
