“Yes, of course. Jared knew what I needed. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Except I do. Because that’s what you do for people you love. You want the best for them.” But she also didn’t want him to feel like he had to change. That he wasn’t good enough the way he was. “Thanks for worrying about me, though. For wanting to keep me safe.”
“I will do a better job. Nothing will happen to you or Jared.”
“I think you were right,” Jared said as he sat with his own sandwich. “You need to stay with her at all times. Be her personal bodyguard.”
Her eyes widened. “Personal bodyguard?”
Maybe she hadn’t let herself think about how serious this was. And she probably should.
Because there was a person going around cutting off heads.
“You really think I need that? Or do you mean just while I’m in the hospital? It’s not like I go anywhere, anyway.”
“Yes, I think you do,” Jared said. “And I want North with you whenever you leave the house, yes. Which won’t be happening until we kill Beltran. But I also want North to know where you are at all times.”
“I will,” North confirmed.
“Good.”
“But . . . but . . . what about you, Jared? Won’t you need protection? It’s you he wants,” she said.
Urgh, she felt sick at the thought of this asshole touching Jared.
“You can’t leave the house either. In fact, you probably shouldn’t be here in the hospital. North, you should take him home and stay with him,” she ordered.
“Hey, easy,” Jared soothed, standing to rub his hand up and down her arm. “I’m fine. I’m safe. I can take care of myself, remember?”
“Yes, it’s you we need to watch over,” North told her. “You’re the vulnerable one. Has the doctor been around? When can we take her home?”
“He was coming back at four,” Jared replied.
“Good,” North said.
“You need to eat, baby girl,” Jared told her.
She shook her head. She couldn’t eat when she felt this ill. Like she was going to vomit. “I can’t eat.”
Jared frowned. “Do you want something else?”
“I should have gotten soup. That would probably be easier for her. I’ll order some,” North said. “Although I don’t like her having food that I haven’t seen being prepared. I made these myself.”
He had?
Wow. That was so sweet.
“It’s not the type of food that’s the problem,” she said. “I just can’t eat. I’m too emotional. I just . . . I’m scared for you guys and I’m sore and tired.”
“You have to eat, baby. Food will help you feel better,” Jared told her, cupping her chin in his hand. “Come on, try some for Daddy.” He picked up the sandwich and held it to her mouth. “If you can’t eat this, then Daddy will have to make you a bottle and feed it to you.”
Oh. Shit.
Why did that appeal so much? The idea of Jared holding her tight? Rocking her in a chair? Feeding her with a bottle?
She licked her lips.
“Does that face mean she likes that idea?” North asked. “I will purchase some baby bottles. What type of formula?”
