“No, Jordan. Nothing happened. I’m just so sorry, this is all my fault. He did this because of me.”
The tears Blake was doing so well to hold back betray him now, and it breaks my heart. Eric crosses the room and pulls Blake into his arms. He’s whispering something into Blake’s ear. I can’t hear what he is saying, but I hope he’s telling him this isn’t his fault.
“Come over here, you dope.” Holding out my hand, I wait for Blake to step back from Eric and wipe away his tears before he takes my hand and allows me to pull him down into a one-armed hug. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. You hear me, kid?”
“How can I not? If you hadn’t met me, you wouldn’t have been shot.”
My heart breaks when I see him bury his face into Eric's chest again, shoulders shaking as he sobs.
“You stop that right now! I would take a bullet for you every day if it meant that you were safe.” There is no hesitation in me. I would do exactly that.
Eric’s eyes meet mine and I can see through them that he was equally as proud as he was terrified at the thought of this happening again.
“Maybe we should try and eliminate the danger in a legal matter without any of you getting hurt again. I’m not sure I would survive another night like this one.” Eric tries to smile and I appreciate his attempt at keeping it together for Blake.
“You’re right, Dimples. This gown is not flattering in the slightest, and this polyester is itching me everywhere. I'm going to need a full body scrub after this.” I point at Blake’s face as he visibly calms down in Eric’s arms. “There’s that smile, now. Don’t worry, I will be okay, and we’re all going to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
“Damn right.” My dad’s voice makes my head snap too quickly in his direction.
“Ouch! Okay, everybody, move to this side of the bed. I can’t keep turning my head without it hurting my shoulder.” When I see the detectives walk across the room into my line of sight, I remember what everybody is here to do. I got completely distracted by Blake.
“Well, Officers, Have you caught him?” I ask, finally giving them my full attention.
“I am Detective Barnes and this is my partner Detective Sanchez. We can confirm that we have Mr Jace Kemsley in custody. However, in order to successfully prosecute him, we need your full statement and cooperation.” Oh, these poor officers have no idea that there is not only one but two criminal attorneys in this room.
“As Mr Bell's appointed attorney, I would like to interject here. By all means a witness statement will be provided when Mr Bell is feeling better. I assume you have made contact with the owners of the establishment the incident occurred at and made a request for the CCTV? I have no doubt that the cameras will have captured the assailant, not to mention the sheer amount of witnesses. Have you had a chance to organise a line up?”
Holy fuck, my boyfriend is hot. Standing there in sweatpants and a dorky Iron Man T-shirt with one arm securely wrapped around Blake’s shoulders, he still manages to command attention and respect.
My eyes flick to my dad, and I can see how impressed he is. I might have thought he would be bothered that Eric just asserted himself as my attorney when that has always been my dad’s job. I’m glad I was wrong. He looks more than happy to sit back and let Eric take the lead.
Detective Barnes, however, looks tongue-tied—his mouth opening and closing before standing up to shake Eric's hand. “We look forward to meeting with Mr Bell at the station when his statement is ready.” He then turns to me. “Speedy recovery, Mr Bell. I will have an officer stationed outside your room for now, just until we can be sure there isn’t an accomplice.”
Well, fuck. I hadn’t thought of that. The guy, Jace, apparently was alone, but then again he did have a bunch of brain-dead friends that might have huffed too much glue or something and decided to finish the job for him.
“Thank you. I appreciate that, detective. I will be in touch as soon as I break out of this joint.”
With a final nod and a wave to the group, Detective Barnes drops a business card on the end of my bed and the two of them leave.
“I hope I wasn’t overstepping,” Eric says to my dad, who just smiles and pats him on the back.
“Not at all. If you need anything, I’m here,” he offers, before turning to Blake. “Now, I can tell my wife is on the verge of kidnapping you for the night. I would rather she not react drastically, so how about you come with us? We can grab something to eat and you can get some sleep. We will protect you.”
I keep my gaze focused on Blake’s face. Any sign of discomfort and I will pull the plug on this. My mom can be a bull in a china shop sometimes and Blake might not want to be smothered. When I spot a faint blush creeping up his neck as he nods slightly, I relax again.
“Told you my parents would want to adopt you. Prepare to be suffocated with love and food.”
Blake laughs, but I’m very serious. I’m guessing that Pete filled them in on the Blake story—or at least what he knows of it—while I was asleep. Which has set my mother’s maternal instincts into overdrive. I would hate to see what she might have done if Blake had rejected the offer. She probably would have set up camp at the shelter.
“I gave your parents the keys to my apartment. They are going to stay there with Blake, and I am going to stay with you until you are sick of me and kick me out,” Eric whispers against my cheek. With my parents busy gathering their things to leave, he takes the opportunity to lavish kisses all over my face. It’s extremely schmoopy and gross. AndI love it.
CHAPTER 27
Jordan
Turns out healing from a gunshot wound is not fun. It’s painful. Really fucking painful. Here's hoping the doc will give me some more of the strong pain killers today. I am attending my two week post-op appointment with my bodyguard and carer, AKA my mother, and my boyfriend. In that order. I tried to tell them I was fine to go alone, that way they could stay, hang out with Dad and Blake, but ‘No’ was not taken for a full sentence. I guess since I can’t actually drive myself, I will let them tag along.
“Hey, we should go out for lunch while we’re down here,” I suggest, as I slip my hand into Eric’s, strolling side by side behind my mother. I’m not sure she can hear me, but I'm not going to start yelling at her like she's deaf.
